It was exactly what it said: its name was Snow.
Is the name derived from the term ‘snow tree’? What on earth is its identity?
“Snow…”
Irene muttered the name, but nothing happened.
I feel like I’m going to find out something when I go to the Snow Tree.
She did not know why, but she was strangely convinced by that abstract idea.
“By any chance, can I visit the snow tree one more time?”
“Not possible. It’s too dangerous.”
Irene asked carefully, but the answer came back as a firm rejection.
“There may still be remnants left, and new monsters may have appeared. I can’t send you to a place like that. Above all, you have just regained consciousness recently. If you overdo it while you have yet to recover completely, your physical condition may worsen.”
Noel did have a point. As he said, there may still be some danger in hiding out there. Moreover, it had gotten late, and it was already dark outside.
But I have to leave tomorrow.
If she left tomorrow, she did not know when she would be able to come here again. Since there was no promising date for returning, Irene wanted to see the Snow Tree before leaving.
“Actually Noel, I heard a voice.”
“...Is that the voice you mentioned last time?”
At Irene’s words, Noel asked with a look of surprise. As she nodded, Irene felt like a child making up excuses to get what she wanted.
I didn’t want to tell him until I was sure.
It was at the point when she was on the verge of collapsing. Her vision was spinning, and her mind was hazy so she could not tell if the voice was really someone’s voice or just an auditory hallucination. That was why she did not want to tell him until she made it clear, she did not want to confuse him over nothing.
But I can’t help it.
If she did not give a reason, Noel would never agree to her going to the Snow Tree.
“It asked for my name because it was terribly sick. The moment I told it my name; my body lost its strength. As my mind wandered, the voice rang in my ears again. It mentioned something about a contract being established, and its name was Snow.”
“...do you suspect that voice is the Snow Tree’s voice?”
“Of course I think it’s absurd that a tree can speak. But still, I want to go back to confirm whether that voice was really the Snow Tree’s voice or was it simply just an illusion? Besides…if we go back, there is a chance we might figure out the source of the monsters’ emergence.”
“...”
Noel’s expression grew serious.
“I will make sure to stay close to the mercenaries, so you don’t have to worry…” Irene added cautiously, seeing his worried look.
“Let’s go.”
“Pardon?”
As she was trying to reassure him, he suddenly rose from his seat. As Irene was staring at him, stunned with disbelief, Noel reached out his hand towards her.
“I will protect you, so stay close to me.”
Irene’s eyes widened for a moment at his unexpected words. She then carefully grabbed his hand with a slight nod.
“Yes.”
♔♔♔
The night out was a secret. It would be best if they were not seen by anyone.
“You have to hold my waist tightly.”
“Ye-yes.”
Irene was first lifted onto the horse, and side-saddled in a modest manner. Noel then followed and settled behind her, wrapping his large and firm body around her small and fragile one. It was also sudden to her that she was held in his arms, but she could fall off a racing horse at any moment, so Irene had to hold onto Noel’s waist tightly.
Neigh!
As Noel lifted the horse’s reins and slapped it hard on the side, with one cry, it galloped through the open side gate.
The horse exited the castle and bolted towards the snowy forest. They stuck together so close that she could feel his body temperature. At that, she felt bashful. Only when the chilly wind brushed against her skin, did she come to her senses.
It’s dark.
Irene looked around in Noel’s arms. Although the moon was big and the ethereal light was bright, it was still night, so it was difficult to distinguish the surroundings.
“Tell me if it’s cold.”
When Noel’s voice was heard over her head, Irene shook her head.
“It’s not cold thanks to the blanket.”
Since the night temperature was low, Noel wrapped a blanket around Irene’s shoulders, so she was able to block the wind. Rather, the truth was…
It’s warm.
She had never been so close to him before. She had borrowed his shoulder to lean on for a short nap and shared the same bed with him as they fell asleep during the night. Nonetheless, the gap between them had never been this narrow. They were only a heartbeat away from each other.
As they entered the area where the thousand-year-old Snow Tree was located, snowflakes landed on their cheeks and melted. However, strangely enough, as soon as they entered the forest, the temperature rose, and the blanket became meaningless. It was snowing but at the same time; it was warm...