NOVEL WEB Ch46 - The Circumstances of My Parents
46: The Circumstances of My Parents
In a dark, otherworldly space illuminated by numerous lamps shining like stars, I step as if floating, dancing with a beautiful beast.
That was the dream I had… and then, I woke up.
“Good morning, El.”
How many times now have I been gently greeted like this?
The grogginess from my sleep slowly fades as a warm sense of reality fills me.
Every day is so busy, fun, and fulfilling that it feels like I’ve been living in this world for a very long time.
“Good morning. Let’s do our best today too.”
With a smile, I greeted Fenrir, Grea, and Levi. They tilted their heads slightly at my strange greeting.
Fenrir complimented me excessively, saying, “El has such a cute smile,” which made me blush. But… I smiled brightly anyway.
It’s the way I can show my gratitude. I’ve learned to smile so naturally. Thank you.
When I stretched my arms up, the ring on my finger sparkled, making me even more self-conscious.
A Gift for Levi
“Levi, I brought you a gift.”
“What is it?”
I placed the “fragrance paste” gift into the orange-tinted hot water. It’s made from crushing smooth, wax-like nuts and mixing them with flower powder and herbs.
The bath ingredients slowly spread, turning Levi’s water a slight shade.
“This is… a strange sensation…”
Levi swirled the water playfully, mixing the bath ingredients and the fragrance paste, smiling as if tipsy.
“Oh, is this a new reaction?”
“May I join you?”
“Of course! I’ve always been looking forward to you saying that, Winter Princess.”
“Thank you.”
Excitedly, I slipped into the hot spring. Ahh, it felt so good. The heat soaked deep into my body, and the scent tickled my nose.
“I thought this fragrance would be perfect for you, Levi.”
“Winter Princess, that makes me happy.”
“Oh no… Levi, you’re blushing too much.”
“My apologies.”
Levi blushed so much that the temperature of the water rose. A little heat is fine, but Levi, now tipsy, couldn’t regulate the temperature.
Feeling quite warm, I added a snowflake to lower the temperature. Slowly, the heat diminished. We giggled together. A mistake like this could happen to anyone, right?
My swimsuit melted slightly.
“El…!”
“Fenrir?”
Fenrir, in his human form, arrived, but when he saw me, his fur bristled.
I wanted to fluff him. But wait, that’s not the point.
“What’s wrong? Is there something strange nearby!?”
I looked around, but there was nothing odd in sight. Grea was simply enjoying a boiled egg.
I tilted my head and looked back at Fenrir.
“No… nothing. Sorry for startling you.”
“Really? If you’re not feeling well, make sure to let me know.”
“Understood.”
Fenrir, still acting strange, mentioned he’d found some rare ingredients and had prepared breakfast, then turned and left, avoiding eye contact.
Why did he seem so distant…? My beast ears drooped.
“Could this be Fenrir-sama’s moment of madness!?”
Grea, looking startled, seemed to have picked up some sort of wolf signal.
I was envious. I wanted to understand what was on Fenrir’s mind too!
Feeling a little nervous under Grea’s intense gaze, I grabbed my smartphone. Yes, while soaking in Levi’s hot spring, I had been trying to figure out how to respond to my father’s message. I had gotten distracted, playing around with Levi.
“I already told him I switched jobs… Now, how should I explain the rest?”
I muttered to myself, trying to organize my thoughts. Levi and Grea, sensing the mood, remained quiet.
One option: “I moved abroad.”
Well, technically, Felsnow Kingdom is another country, but I’ve crossed worlds. If my parents wanted to visit, it would be a problem, and they might consider me missing if they checked my visa records. That would cause them unnecessary worry, and I wouldn’t be able to fix it.
Another option: “I got a new job.”
I could obscure the location and focus on the work. But… what kind of job fits a Winter Princess? Taking care of animals and plants? Working at a zoo? That might be the closest comparison, but they’d surely question how I got the job without any qualifications.
Could I just make up a job? No… lies only compound lies, and eventually, I’d lose their trust.
I had hit a dead end.
Too soon. This is way too hard.
I flopped half out of the hot spring and buried myself in the soft snow. My half-beast body didn’t get frostbite, and I welcomed the coldness of the snow. Winter was my ally.
Fujisaki Noel had changed.
Oh, and my swimsuit, which had melted earlier, was now fully restored.
“Ping!”
Huh?
I hadn’t replied yet, but there was an email from my father!
I shot up, snow clinging to me, and stared at my phone. Reflexively, I tapped the email button. What if it wasn’t from my father but from work? What was I thinking!?
No! No negative thoughts! I’m in a good mood from the hot spring, after all!
Shaking off the moisture, I took a deep breath and let the ring sparkle in the morning sun. All right!
It was from my father.
I opened it.
“——!?”
**”Your mother has collapsed. It’s a very rare illness for which they haven’t found a cure.
Noel, I’m sorry to trouble you when you’re going through your own challenges, but I had to tell you because this is a family matter.”**
A small gasp escaped my lips.
My mother had always been frail, but she had never collapsed before. And a disease without a cure…?
While I was frozen in shock, Grea, Levi, and Fenrir rushed over, alarmed by my cry.
“What happened!?”
“Ah… well…”
Tears welled up in my eyes, and before I could speak, another email arrived.
A follow-up?
**”Can you come home and show your face, Noel?
Your mother doesn’t want to worry you, but I think she would like to see you.
She’s at ××× Hospital…”**
“Ahh…”
I felt like all my energy was draining away into the hot water. I folded my knees, unable to meet anyone’s gaze for a moment.
The staggered emails likely came because my father was choosing his words carefully. Just like me, they were struggling with the emotional distance… I’m sure of it.
“Can I talk to you? About my parents.”
Lifting my head, I spoke to Fenrir and the others.
Even though there wasn’t anything they could do, I decided not to bear this alone and to talk it out.
Fenrir and the others relaxed and listened attentively.
“What should I reply?”
Fenrir looked at me seriously.
“If it were me… being kept in the dark with false hope would be painful.
No matter how unbelievable the story, I’d want to know the truth. If it came from a beloved daughter, I think they’d eventually accept it. They would too.”
His gentle encouragement deeply touched me.
I took a deep breath.
I’ll write it.
I’ll tell them the truth, just as it is. I’ve kept them waiting for so long.
Because I care about them, I’ll tell my parents the fantastical truth of my reality.
Instead of clinging to the best possible outcome, I’ll act the way I want to.
I want my parents to know that I’m living in another world, surrounded by wonderful beings like Fenrir, and thriving in a dreamlike winter landscape.
It’s thanks to Fenrir, who always wrapped my heart in warmth like freshly fallen snow, that I found the courage to make this decision.
I sat beside Fenrir, ready to type out my message.
As he transformed back into his silvery beast form, his soft fur brushed against my cheek.
That’s when the ground shook violently.