"...I don't know."

After a long silence, I took a breath:

"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.
To be continued...