Episode 44

"That may be so..."

"But why does it have to be snow? Couldn't Madam have been speaking metaphorically?"

"There is a legend."

"A legend?"

"In Ronda, snow is considered a divine blessing. So, lovers who pledge their love amidst falling snow are said to be happy forever."

"In that case, it must snow."

The Count, who had been resting his chin lazily, declared with finality.

The aide scratched the back of his head, furrowing his brows.

"We have no choice but to make it snow."

Could the male lead make snow fall from a clear sky?

But why...

Are you looking at us?

"You lot."

---

"You said he's supposed to be the male lead. Is this acceptable?"

"The trivial and bothersome tasks are passed on to the subordinates, while the male lead only needs to do impressive and significant things."

A slightly rough voice, deprived of sleep, whispered in my ear.

Clap.

A thunderous applause shifted the atmosphere.

"Come on, stop your private conversation."

The sleep-deprived aide gathered everyone's attention.

With a weary expression, he began to speak.

"Yes, we... we have to make snow, we...."

The aide who covered his face with one hand, seemed half out of his mind.

Right after the Count dropped the bomb and left, the three of us, supporters—or rather, victims—of the Count's romantic endeavor, were stuck in the conference room.

Ute cautiously raised his hand and asked.

"Can't we use magic?"

"Why would a great wizard work here?"

"Selcing is a land of magic and divinity. Can't we hire someone temporarily with our wealth?"

"Wizards are not gods... Even if we brought the best mage from the academy, they couldn’t make snow."

Magic is not omnipotent.

'Only one person per dynasty is bestowed with the ability to control the weather.'

I recalled the basics I learned as a student and glanced at the aide.

"What about illusions? As long as it looks like snow, surely there’s someone who can do that?"

"Certainly, if it’s just that—"

"Illusions won’t do."

Just as a sparkle appeared in his brown eyes, Ute extinguished it.

"Because sincerity must be truthful."

"What nonsense is that?"

That's what I'm saying.

Instead of agreeing with the aide, I offered another suggestion.

"We don't necessarily have to confess in the capital. Snow falls in the north, doesn’t it?"

"At this time of year, there’s so much snow people can't get through."

The doctor from the north cut in sharply again.

"The trains would all be blocked, and even if we managed to get through, it wouldn’t look aesthetic."

Brown eyebrows rose crookedly.

The aide grumbled as he swept his bangs up.

"The fact that we're even discussing this is ridiculous. What can we do? Just endure a bit of hysteria and postpone it until next year—"

"No!"

No, no...

A sharp scream echoed through the conference room.

The aide’s glasses slid down his nose.

"No, it has to be this year."

"Why insist—"

"Do you really not know any great wizards?"

"Me? Me?"

"You do all sorts of things behind the scenes for the Count, like investigations and recruiting people..."

"I've buried everything already, excluding my head! And you? Rumors say you’ve been involved with several men and women, surely one of them was a great wizard?"

It was truly a complete disaster.

Faced with the heartwarming sight of shifting blame, I was at a loss for words.

"You—"

"What."

"Nothing..."

The aide took his gaze from me and quickly shifted his interrogation to Ute's personal relationships.

Ute thumped his chest and protested.

"My only friend in this life is Sonnet!"

"Wait. You... have no friends?"

"Yeah. Even if I think of someone as a friend... they keep confessing to me."

His melancholy green eyes appeared forlorn.

Unmoved by this, the aide raised his voice.

"You're lucky with Posa! My only friend is that damn Edwell!"

"..."

"What wealth and glory am I supposed to enjoy! I shouldn’t have gone to the academy!"

"..."

"I should’ve left for the north or south!"

"You entered the prestigious academy as the top scholar and yet here you are..."

Ute comforted the aide by gently patting his back.

The brown-haired aide seemed genuinely dissatisfied with his current social circle.

"Forget magic. Let’s think of another method, hmm?"

"Yes, aide. Putting our heads together might yield some ideas, right?"

"How can humans control natural phenomena in the first place!"

I wholeheartedly agree.

While Ute tried to soothe the aide, I busied myself thinking.

Snow only falls in winter.

This year, the capital is warmer than usual.

To create a perfect confession, snow is necessary.

Snow, winter, confession, snow, winter, confession...

'Want to bring winter even in the summer?'

"Ah."

At that moment, the sales pitch crossed my mind.

Tink, a light bulb went on.

---

As I’ve emphasized many times,

"Huff, huff..."

Climbing is not my forte.

"Why is the elevator under maintenance now!"

My thighs burned.

The stairs I had climbed a few days ago remained high and steep. Though climbing was not my preference, I had no choice.

'I have to meet that person.'

To think I would return to the place I had run away from...

There was a high probability he was simply a smooth-talking vendor, but even with a low chance, I had to act.

'Who knows what new variables might arise if we delay until next year.'

Thud!

By the time I climbed the last step, my entire body was drenched in sweat.

And... the observation deck was empty.

The New Year's commotion seemed like a lie.

"Oh, right!"

Blinded by the odds, I overlooked a basic fact.

merchants who roam tourist spots usually move on after a few busy days.

"What to do..."

Resisting the urge to lie down, I advanced forward.

Colorful ribbons fluttered densely.

The sound of fabric brushing against fabric resembled that of crashing waves.

'Come to think of it, what did he want to write?'

Having fled suddenly that day, Ute wasn't able to write his wish on the ribbon he brought at an overpriced rate.

Though I disliked the swindling tactics, I was curious about what wish that man, who claimed to have none, might have written.

Because Ute Velvet often looked into the very distant future.

"Lily?"

When I turned at the sound of someone calling, the man I was searching for stood there.

The middle-aged man who sold ribbons at five times the price.

His bright blue eyes were dreamy.

"No."

"But you look like Lily..."

His tanned forehead narrowed slightly.

The man, blinking as if hit by a sandstorm, muttered in despair.

"Yeah, it's not. It’s definitely not."

"Yes, it’s not."

"Lily wouldn’t look at me like that. And your eye color is different. Just like mine—"

"Anyway, you’ve mistaken me."

"If I’d just looked a bit longer that day, I would have known right away. Why come here after fleeing like that?"

"Why are you still here when the prime selling season is over?"

The man was completely empty-handed.

"You have nothing left to sell."

"...I wanted to confirm again. It was too vivid to be a fantasy."

His curly red hair tangled in the wind.

Eyes the same color as mine stared intently at me.

"So, you? You seem to be looking for me."

"I'm looking for 'bring winter even in the summer'.”

"Aha, that?"

"I’m interested. What exactly is it?"

The middle-aged man gave a fluent explanation.

"If it’s that..."

Even taking into account the merchant's characteristic exaggeration, it seemed useful.

"I'll buy it! How much?"

"You can't."

"Why not?"

"To be precise, it’s gone. All sold out."

"Sold out? Who bought it? Why? For how much?"

"A customer bought them all to give to his fiancée!"

"..."

"If I use my connections, I might be able to save you. But in return, you—"

"I'll handle it myself. Goodbye."

Oh well, it is what it is.

'I need to think of another way.'

As I turned back to the stairs, a panicked voice struggled behind me.

"You seem really desperate!"

"No matter how greedy I am, I don't accept suspicious favors."

"If you knew who I was, you wouldn’t treat me like this!"

"I know."

"You know? You know who I am?"

"Yes. I know."

"Who am I then?"

---

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