"You said so much all at once, how should I react?"
"In other words, you can't even make up your mind?"
"I don't know."
I shook my head.
Snow's story made my chest feel so tight that it was difficult for me to discern the meaning of the feeling in my heart.
This unfamiliar plot actually resonated with a certain part of my thoughts. I had no choice but to deny it succinctly while trying to suppress the words I wanted to express.
"Then, what happens after that?"
"My lord sent my father a dozen servants to help him manage the manor, and I followed my lord."
Xue narrated coldly:
"I occasionally write to my father, and from his reply I learn that he has remarried, and the business of the manor is getting better and better. In other words, he has also started a new life."
"Oh..."
"Now, do I look a little less mysterious in your eyes? In other words, do I look more normal?"
"At least you solved all my previous doubts, thank you."
"Yeah, that's good."
I sat slumped on the edge of the bed with my head lowered.
But after a while, Xue came next to me. She put her arms on my shoulders without any explanation, and stroked my hair over and over with her hands.
Although I didn’t understand the intention of this inexplicably intimate gesture, I still pretended not to care and asked:
"Have you had any contact recently? With your father."
"No."
"Abandoned son" - such words suddenly flashed through my mind.
"That's awesome."
"What do you mean?"
"It refers to your courage. Why can you confide so much information to me with confidence? Is it just because of your subjective trust in me?"
"I am a hopeless person. When I was dying, my conscience discovered it, so I just vented the truth everywhere."
"...Huh?"
"Just kidding."
"I think so... Please admit it more frankly next time."
Well, so, I am indeed the last one...
"It's probably redundant to ask now...but why are you telling me this?"
"You promised to give it a try for me, right?"
The snow is close to my ears, and her voice is extremely clear:
"Then I will entrust everything to you so that you can do your best."
"Oh~~Is this your whim again?"
"In other words, it's a desperate move."
I was slightly surprised and turned my head——
——Snow lightly touched the tip of my nose inadvertently, and I hurriedly hid behind me.
"Sigh... I'm telling you, please pay attention to controlling the distance between us sometimes..."
After all, romantic scenes are completely unsuitable for an old man like me...
"Don't worry, I'm always paying attention."
"Huh?"
"In other words, I did it on purpose."
Snow hugged me again.
......
I delivered the snow to the door.
"Don't forget it."
I emphasized softly.
"Okay."
"One more thing——"
Just as Xue was about to leave, I suddenly remembered something and called her:
"I am eternal."
"......?"
"I am eternal."
I repeated it and explained to her:
"You've confessed too much to me...I feel like I have to at least say something, otherwise it's not fair."
Xue opened her eyes slightly:
"That one just now turned out to be true?"
"Yes."
I solemnly reply:
"But I can't tell you the reason. It's not that I don't want to say it, but it's just too cumbersome to describe it from the beginning."
"I understand."
"...You accepted it very decisively."
"In other words, I have long understood that you are an abnormal person."
"Let me just think you are complimenting me."
I stared at the air, pulled the right corner of my mouth, and tried to make a smile.
Xue glanced at me again, then used her mate-fixing ability to turn into an uncle I didn't recognize, and left.
......
Soon after the snow left, I went out.
I came outside without any purpose. Of course, I knew that now was not the time to wander around, but I also didn't want to sit idle in the room - something was missing there, such as Ferrinold's chatter. The sun is about to set, but I can still feel a vague warmth. Maybe it's an illusion...I hope it's an illusion.
While clearing the messy information in my head and trying to think of something, I walked slowly, step by step.
The snow on both sides of the road has shrunk a lot, and more and more passersby are passing me.
The day after tomorrow is the day when the arrest warrant is issued.
According to the lord's plan, Xue will take all the blame and die as a criminal.
He is the lord, Fulvos is his territory, and he has the power to mobilize all resources in Fulvos.
Snow, who was favored by the lord, still shows an attitude of extreme obedience to the lord, even at the risk of giving up his life.
——I actually planned to rescue Snow from this situation.
It is very obvious who the balance of victory is tilting towards.
In addition, Xue was willing to die, and the lord only regarded this as the "finishing work" of the nobles' political struggle.
The lord didn't care about my opinion at all. He and I both knew that my challenge to him was like hitting a stone with an egg.
If I stand by and let the lord's plan be carried out smoothly, not only will I not suffer losses, but I will also receive a generous reward.
"Huh... so cold."
So, why did I save Xue? Is it because I was impulsive and boasted about Haikou?
The answer is no.
My divine eye has told me:
[The probability of snow melting in spring is 99%]
"Snow melts in spring" - this prophecy with double meaning is like the ironic joke that Elinor played on me.
And there is a 99% chance that it will evoke more distant and unforgettable painful memories for me, as if it is deliberately reminding me:
The last time this chance came up, I was powerless...
And, there is absolutely a 1% chance.
In other words, there is a way that will get me out of this predicament.
I must find it.
I want to use it to make up for the regrets of the past.
I want to use it to get rid of my inner depression.
Only by seizing the 1% opportunity can I get rid of regrets and live calmly.
This is the "change" I think about day and night.
Just once.
"I am doing it for myself."
I whispered to myself.
As if sensing my thoughts, Gale asked calmly:
"Can you do it?"
"It's very difficult and almost impossible to succeed, but I have to do it."
"What if it fails again?"
"...Then just wait for the next time. It doesn't matter how long you wait. It doesn't matter how many times you try."
"You are so selfish."
"I have no choice."
I snorted coldly:
"Besides, let's try our best to prevent the current 'melting' first...it's not a good thing to think too long term."
"Haha, I'll wait and see."
"Don't stand by and watch, play your role, you parasite."
"...I am disgusted by your lack of education."
"..."
However, I later realized that what I said was not so much self-encouragement as self-deception.
I didn't notice at that time - I don't know since when, Xue has occupied a special position in my heart. She finally aroused my curiosity and made me take the initiative to try to understand her. But she didn't do this intentionally, she
I just honestly stated her past, and I was just attracted by her story.
Our communication is nothing more than this.
......
I came to a cemetery.
The trapezoidal stone tablets are arranged neatly, with names engraved line after line on the stone tablets.
This place is under the jurisdiction of the Wanderers Alliance and is used to commemorate the dead Wanderers.
Most of the corpses of the Wanderers are difficult to recover, so the Alliance is only responsible for "burying" their names - letting them rest in peace in this way.
Occasionally, I can see several family members of the deceased coming to lay flowers. For example, right now... it seems that a mother and daughter are standing in front of a stone monument. The person who looks like the mother is holding the little girl with her left hand and placing a bouquet of white flowers on her right hand.
On the ground.
I looked at them from a distance for a long time, and gradually felt that the little girl looked familiar, so I slowly walked closer.
But the little girl quickly discovered and recognized me:
Gee, why did this little brat give me a new weird name?
"Hello... I am Miss Xue's friend. I have been to her hotel several times before, so little Edith knows me..."
"Oh, yes, that's it, I'm sorry!"
As soon as he heard that Xue and I had a good relationship, the other party's expression immediately softened a lot, and he even patted Edith on the back:
"Don't say rude words, Edith, apologize to my brother!"
"Well..."
Edith lowered his head angrily, as if he was paying no attention to anyone.
"You... are really sorry! This child has been spoiled and doesn't understand respect..."
"It's okay, it's okay..."
I shook my head.
In fact, the evaluation of "uncle liar" is quite pertinent... I know the reason for that.
"I am the mother of this child."
The other party spoke again:
"I receive a lot of care from Miss Xue on weekdays, and Edith also likes her very much."
"Oh..."
"I heard that Miss Xue is a wanderer. Could it be that you are her companion?"
"No, I'm her drinking buddy."
"Oh——"
Edith's mother nodded slightly thoughtfully, and then, as if responding to my inner doubts, she took the initiative to explain to me:
"I brought Edith here to let her remember her father."
"..."
"Her father was originally a businessman. He relied on the wealth he created to bring us from the west to live in Woolworth... But later he lost a lot of customers because he lost a business competition.
.....He had to join the alliance and earn bounties by performing tasks to maintain his family's livelihood."
When the other party said this, his voice began to tremble:
"...Six months ago, he died in a swamp... He always wanted to play with his daughter more when he had some free time, but he was always busy... Now he finally
Now that I can rest, I definitely want to see Edith more."
"Please have your condolences."
I comforted her.
Edith stood quietly behind her mother, her face still facing the snow, saying nothing.
"I..."
I hesitated to speak, after all, I really couldn't help much, but the other party said optimistically:
"You don't have to worry about us. I found a job and it's enough to cover the expenses."
"...That's good."
"What's more, Barrick's companions took the initiative to help me get a pension... The owner of the hotel is also an old acquaintance of Barrick, and he takes special care of us."
"......?"
...Huh?
Barrick...
"Ah, look... I forgot to tell you that Barrick is my husband and Edith's father."
"Well..."
I looked along the direction of Edith’s mother’s hand——
She is touching a name engraved on a stone tablet with great tenderness:
【Barrick Alexia】
I suddenly remembered that little Edith once shouted excitedly:
"Edith Alexia! My name is Edith Alexia!"
"..."
I think back to what Edith's mother said just now.
That's it...
No wonder it sounds so familiar.
That rough face, with two rows of big yellow teeth showing when it smiles, vaguely appears in front of my eyes.