Kays Translations

Chapter 32: Wrapped in Glittering Snow

Fiona was startled, but far more delighted than surprised.

She barely managed to stop herself from throwing her arms around Ren.

Large tears of joy welled in her eyes.

“Fiona-sama!? Why are you crying?”

“I-I’m not! It’s nothing. I just have a few things on my mind, so please don’t worry!”

Her jewel-like eyes sparkled as she wiped away the tears.

She insisted that nothing was wrong, but the sight of Ren made her realize how much had changed since they last met.

It had been almost a year.

Ren had grown taller, and his features looked more mature. They had once been about the same height, but now Fiona had to look up at him slightly.

Surprised by the difference, she huddled deeper into his coat to hide her flushed cheeks.

“Ah—right! Why are you here, Ren-kun?”

Once she had regained her composure, Fiona asked with obvious relief.

“I came to collect the application documents for the entrance examination.”

That answer alone was enough to astonish her, but she was also curious about why he had come to this particular tree.

She asked him about that as well.

“I came over because I saw you here, Fiona-sama.”

“Y-You saw me?”

“Yes. I was about to leave after using the restroom when I happened to notice you. More importantly, you’ll catch a cold without a coat. Why did you come outside?”

“Because I was hoping I might see you.”

Fiona turned her face away and deliberately lowered her voice.

The wind rustling through the branches easily swallowed her whisper.

“Hm? What did you say?”

“Fufu. That’s a secret.”

She raised an index finger to her lips.

“But I really am surprised. Meeting you here was unexpected enough, but I never imagined you had decided to take the academy’s entrance examination.”

“Huh? I thought Ulysses-sama would have told you.”

“Eh? You’ve been corresponding with Father?”

“No, we actually met and spoke in person.”

“Father never said a word about it.”

Fiona had not even heard that Ren and Ulysses had met during the summer. Until this moment, she had not known Ren was in Elendil at all.

(I thought he would have mentioned it… Why didn’t he?)

Ulysses, for his part, had simply acted according to his own sense of propriety.

He knew how Fiona felt about Ren, but he had no intention of engineering a reunion for his own convenience. He also respected Licia, who had remained at Ren’s side all this time.

That was Ulysses’s way of showing consideration, whether anyone understood it or not.

He would undoubtedly receive an earful once Fiona questioned him about it.

“…”

A strong gust swept through Fiona’s long black hair.

The cold made Ren worry about her, so he suggested that they talk while walking.

“Why did you come outside without your coat?”

“I left it inside the academy…”

“In the middle of winter?”

“Yes. I was a little distracted!”

Ren asked whether she could go back and retrieve it.

Not wanting him to grow cold because of her, Fiona hurriedly said she would, but the lights in the corridor leading toward the library were already being extinguished.

Because the New Year was approaching, the library was closing earlier than usual.

“Do you have another coat in your dormitory?”

The meaning behind Ren’s question was clear: he would lend her his coat and escort her straight back to the dormitory.

That plan would only be a problem if Fiona did not want to return yet.

There was little chance she would object, but Ren still left the choice to her.

Fiona understood what he meant. Afraid that she might be reading too much into his kindness, she answered cautiously.

“I do. But what about you, Ren-kun…?”

“I’ll be fine. I tend to run warm, so this much cold doesn’t bother me. There’s no need for you to rush back inside just to fetch it, Fiona-sama. I’ll walk you to the dormitory.”

With that, Ren started down the path.

“Let’s go,” he said.

Feeling as though she was being spoiled yet again, Fiona nodded. She did not refuse his offer to escort her.

Being overly reserved would only trample on his kindness, so she followed without further protest.

Simply watching his back from half a step behind made a happy smile tug at her cheeks.

“By the way, will you be all right without your escort?”

Ulysses had previously told Ren that Fiona was assigned a guard.

Edgar might even have been watching from somewhere nearby.

“I’m still on academy grounds, and knights patrol the road to the dormitories, so I’ll be fine.”

“Oh. So you don’t always have someone visibly beside you on the way to class?”

“Fufu. That’s right.”

Of course, Fiona might have been guarded from somewhere beyond her notice.

Edgar was a Sword Saint of the Mighty Sword Style. It would hardly be surprising if he could protect her without revealing himself.

In any case, knights patrolled the town in large numbers.

With so many noble sons and daughters living there, public security was exceptionally strict.

(Still, I shouldn’t simply assume everything is safe.)

Ren continued through the academy gardens with Fiona while giving the matter serious thought.

Walking half a step behind him, Fiona watched as he led the way while carefully matching her pace. Then she tilted her head.

“Ren-kun, you know this place surprisingly well.”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

“You seem to know the academy’s layout, and you even know the way to the dormitories. Did you study a map?”

“…Something like that.”

Fiona kept finding new reasons to speak to him, her voice bubbling with happiness.

“Ren-kun, have you also visited the Lion’s Holy Office?”

“Yes. Ulysses-sama gave me a letter of introduction.”

No matter the subject, she seemed genuinely delighted simply to be talking with him.

But as the dormitory drew closer, her spirits gradually sank.

The thought that they would soon have to part was painful.

“I wondered whether I would ever get to talk with you like this again.”

The feelings she had held back until today slipped out before she realized it.

Fiona caught her breath and immediately added, “It’s nothing!”

She forced her smile back into place, determined not to reveal how desperate she had felt.

She did not want to burden Ren.

Yet Ren answered at once.

“The Imperial Capital and Elendil are close to each other. We can talk whenever you like.”

His voice was as calm and matter-of-fact as ever.

Fiona stared at him in surprise.

It felt as though a fresh breeze had swept through her heart and carried away every hesitation that had weighed on her.

Ren smiled, as if telling her there was no reason to be so pessimistic.

For the first time, Fiona could replace her old fears with a brighter thought.

“I can keep trying. It’ll be all right.”

Her whisper vanished into the wind and falling snow, but it marked a clear change within her heart.

A few more minutes brought them to the dormitory.

Fiona returned Ren’s coat. Then, just as they were about to part, she walked several steps ahead of him.

Her footsteps were so light that she looked ready to break into a dance.

“I’m going to work even harder from tomorrow onward.”

She spoke without looking back, her voice carrying a hint of deeper meaning.

The wind stirred the skirt of her Special Class uniform.

Snowflakes glittered like diamond dust around her as she finally turned to face Ren.

Her silk-black hair streamed in the wind.

“Is there something in particular you’re working toward?” Ren asked.

“Yes. I’m going to do my very best.”

Puzzled by her sudden declaration, Ren could only watch as Fiona answered in a buoyant voice.

“Because…”

“I absolutely want you to turn around and see me.”

She wore a dainty yet determined expression she had never shown anyone else.

Her dignified voice left no doubt about the strength of her resolve.

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