Chapter 132. The First Snow Fell

“You seem to like that picture.”

“Ah…..”

On the way back to Evitern Castle.

Ellen let out a short exclamation as she looked down at the picture in her hand, in response to Enoch’s sudden remark.

It was just… a thought that it might be nice to leave behind a memento or two.

She couldn’t reveal all of her inner feelings to him, but…

“…I like having memories left behind.”

Hearing her answer, Enoch smiled gently and pulled Ellen closer into his embrace. Then he asked with utmost tenderness.

“Did you enjoy the festival?”

Ellen answered in a bright tone.

“Yes, it’s the first time I’ve enjoyed a festival so leisurely.”

“Ah, another first? You sure have a lot of firsts.”

His voice had a hint of laughter, but it wasn’t reproachful. He asked again, seemingly curious.

“What else is a first? Tell me what you haven’t done before.”

“…Are you going to make me do everything?”

“If that’s what you want.”

His eyes, gazing intently, were filled with sincerity. Ellen smiled faintly and said,

“I can’t think of anything right now… I’ll think about it gradually. The things I want to do.”

“Alright, tell me anything that comes to mind.”

He smiled with extreme generosity and lightly kissed her cheek. The kiss didn’t end there, but descended in small pecks from her face to her neckline.

Though she squirmed at the ticklish sensation, Ellen couldn’t bring herself to push him away. The feeling of being loved by someone, the sense of being cherished, was too addictive to resist.

I probably can’t go back to the times when I didn’t know this warmth. That’s why I’m all the more afraid of that future someday when he’ll come to hate me.

If I witness the affection disappearing from those golden eyes… it feels like my heart would shatter into pieces.

Ellen closed her eyes quietly as she received his kisses. So that the sadness and fear in her heart wouldn’t be revealed through the windows of her eyes.

By the time they arrived at Evitern Castle, the sun had completely set and it was a dark evening. The castle was still in a festive mood, and they said the fireworks would start soon.

Ellen headed to the attic room on the top floor with Enoch. There were several attic rooms, but this one apparently had the best view.

Soon after, Jasmine and Laila came in with warm mulled wine, cheese, biscuits, and other snacks. Ellen sat by the window, sipping mulled wine and enjoying the scenery outside.

The mulled wine wasn’t too sweet, making it easy to drink, and had a nice star anise flavor. Wrapped in a thick blanket and sipping warm drinks while gazing at the cold scenery outside, it really felt like winter was approaching.

Probably around late November, it will snow. When I was in the capital, I loved the scenery of streets covered in snow. The scenery of Evitern Castle will have a different feel.

“Looks like it’s about to start.”

Enoch, sitting across from her, murmured softly as he looked out the window. Ellen felt somewhat surreal sitting face to face with him like this, watching the fireworks. Like that night at the Spring Ball, which felt like a fairy tale dream.

In fact, not just now, but she often felt that way. That all of this was like an extension of that night, which had been as strange as a fantasy in a fairy tale…

Bang!

Just then, a firework that burst loudly in the night sky pulled Ellen out of her reverie. A vermilion firework that spread out tracing the garden decorated the deep navy blue sky.

Following that, other fireworks also soared high into the sky with long tails and burst with a bang! Large and small colorful fireworks adorned the night sky, momentarily brightening the world as if it were day.

Ellen gazed at the scene, entranced. The scattering sparks left faint afterimages as they slowly melted into the darkness.

“…It’s beautiful.”

“Beautiful?”

“Yes.”

“You’re more beautiful.”

“……”

Ellen ignored his frivolous words and focused on the fireworks. The finale of the long-lasting fireworks display was a large red firework in the shape of a peony. She couldn’t help but marvel at the shape, which was too elaborate and gorgeous to believe it was made of fireworks.

How nice it would be if I could capture this scene in a clear photograph, Ellen suddenly thought. Maybe someday, we’ll really be able to capture the colors of the world faithfully in photographs.

After the fireworks ended, the grand ducal couple came down from the attic room and headed to the bedroom. When they were left alone, Enoch tried to pounce on her like a beast as usual, but Ellen firmly blocked him.

“We need to bathe first.”

“……”

She lectured him on the importance of cleanliness as she dragged him to the bathroom. So the two of them soaked in warm water together and washed thoroughly. But of course, they didn’t just bathe.

Even after leaving the bathroom, Ellen had to endure Enoch’s monstrous stamina for quite a while.

A night both delightful and overwhelming. A heart fluttering yet anxious at the affection he gave.

For as long as their bodies were intertwined, Ellen tried hard not to think any sad thoughts. She just received him with her whole body as he surged forward. Until the dawn came when she would fall asleep as if fainting from exhaustion.

* * *

The first snow fell.

On a day in December, Ellen left the bed entranced and headed to the window. When she pulled open the half-drawn curtains wide, the view of the snow-white garden entered her sight. The hills, forests, and mountains visible in the distance were all wearing white clothes made of snow.

Ellen hurriedly returned to the bed and shook Enoch awake. Enoch, it’s the first snow. Wake up and see. At her urging voice, Enoch slightly frowned as he opened his eyes narrowly. Ellen grabbed his arm and pulled him out of bed, suggesting in an excited voice.

“Let’s have a snowball fight.”

The grand ducal couple dressed in winter clothes and came out to the garden. The servants watched the two with great interest, and Roelyn was also peeking from behind the curtains of her room.

Ellen laid out a long red ribbon on the snow field to mark the boundary. Explaining to Enoch that he couldn’t cross this line.

“The person who hits the other the most in 10 minutes wins. Jasmine and Laila will count how many times we hit each other.”

Ellen’s two maids were quite willing to slightly manipulate the game results for their beloved Lady. For instance, even if the Grand Duke hit 10 times, they might say he only hit 7 times…

Of course, they were afraid of the aftermath. But it’s just a snowball fight. They didn’t know what the two were betting on with this snowball fight—

“Don’t forget you said you’d do whatever I want if I win.”

“Don’t forget either. If I win, you agreed to go easy on me at night.”

…The content of the bet seemed like something they shouldn’t know too deeply. If they meddled unnecessarily, they might end up peeking into the grand ducal couple’s intimate night life. Jasmine and Laila exchanged glances briefly and tried to maintain expressionless faces. They couldn’t help their cheeks heating up with embarrassment for some reason, though.

Anyway, the snowball fight began in earnest. Ellen wasn’t very good at hitting Enoch, but she was good at dodging. Her quick, nimble dodging really made her look like a hamster.

Enoch thought in exasperation that he should bring home that small animal soon. It would probably look really similar if placed next to Ellen.

“Stop! 10 minutes have passed!”

The 10 minutes flew by unexpectedly fast. At Jasmine’s shout, the grand ducal couple paused, reluctantly putting down the snowballs in their hands. Jasmine exchanged meaningful glances with Laila, then announced the winner with a solemn attitude.

“The winner of the snowball fight is… Lady Ellen! Lady Ellen hit the Grand Duke 2 more times!”

“Wow—!”

Ellen cheered excitedly. Enoch laughed helplessly at the sight of her hopping around the snow field, which was unbearably cute. Still, he didn’t forget to give Jasmine and Laila suspicious glares.

“Did you two count properly? This isn’t a biased judgment, is it?”

“B-Biased judgment…! How could we dare……”

In truth, it was impossible for Ellen to beat Enoch in any sport. Knowing this, Enoch had been going easy on her… He didn’t expect Ellen’s adorable maids to pull such an obvious trick.

“Well… I’ll let it slide since Ellen is cute.”

“……”

Jasmine cursed him with her eyes as she quietly turned her head away. Our Grand Duke, I didn’t think he was like this, but he’s becoming more and more of a doting fool.

After the snowball fight ended, Ellen made a large 3-tier snowman with Enoch. She said it was her first time making a 3-tier snowman, mentioning another ‘first,’ which made Enoch laugh out loud.

Ellen named this snowman ‘Enoch Snowman’ and brought appropriately sized twigs to create a fierce expression. Enoch chuckled in disbelief.

“Do I look that ugly?”

“You don’t seem to know, but your face isn’t that handsome.”

“That’s rich coming from someone who can’t take their eyes off my face.”

“When did I ever? Isn’t that your imagination……”

Enoch was quite taken aback by Ellen’s increasingly coy behavior, but found it amusing as well. This woman was like this even in bed. His eyes deepened with a strange light as he recalled the memory at dawn.

‘Enoch….. I’ll do it just this once.’

‘……What.’

‘What you want.’

And then you shocked me. Just remembering it made my lower abdomen tighten. Enoch let out a long sigh that felt like it was scratching his throat.

It’s bright daylight now, and Ellen is excited rolling in the snow. She’d probably dislike it if I suddenly kidnapped her to bed. She’d send me looks of contempt, calling me a pervert or a scoundrel.

Yes, that’s right. But…

I can’t hold back.

You’re too cute.

It’s a crime how cute you are, Ellen.

Enoch strode over to Ellen, who was focused on making a small snowman, and scooped her up in his arms.

Surprised by her feet suddenly leaving the ground, Ellen looked at him with wide eyes. Enoch kissed her lips with a smack, then demanded with an incredibly bold and shameless attitude.

“Let’s make snowmen later, play with me now. Just the two of us.”

* * *