Chapter 2.1 – The Greatest Worry in Life

“This year, there’s hardly any snow.”

Wendy turned a page of the book that wasn’t capturing her attention and suddenly looked out the window. Although clouds were gathering, the sky was still clear. Soon, the sun would set, and when her father and brother returned from work, they would have dinner, chat for a while, prepare for bed, read a bit, and then head to sleep.

Recently, Wendy’s days had always been like this. She was spending the quietest and most peaceful time of her life, just over twenty years.

“I must be getting old.”

It wasn’t something Wendy, who had just crossed the threshold into adulthood, should say. However, she found herself puzzled by how different she felt compared to previous winters when she would get excited over nothing.

Truly, nothing was enjoyable this winter. She didn’t feel like doing anything. She even quietly let her birthday and Christmas pass by.

Her family showed various reactions to this change in Wendy. The Earl often worried, wondering if she was unwell, while the Countess felt relieved that Wendy was finally maturing. Jayden seemed quite bewildered.

Until last year, Wendy, who was always out and about, often caught colds, and he would scold her to hibernate during winter. This year, seeing her staying home and doing nothing, he scolded her again, asking if she was really going to hibernate.

“Is it because there’s no snow enough?”

Once, when Jayden asked with genuine concern, Wendy shook her head weakly. Wendy’s belief that good things happened when it snowed was no longer reliable. That belief began with Lucas, but now it was causing her distress.

“That’s no longer something I can trust.”

“What?”

“I think bad things happen when it snows.”

“Wow, really.”

“That’s life, I guess.”

“Why are you talking like an old soul?”

Jayden, convinced something was seriously wrong, checked Wendy’s forehead for a fever. And then.

“Hello, Wendy.”

“…Hello, Lucas.”

Jayden didn’t come home alone. Wendy was bewildered by Lucas’s unexpected visit. Handing his frock coat to the butler, Lucas smiled gently.

“Why the face? Am I not welcome?”

“No, it’s not that…”

As Wendy hesitated to explain, she caught Jayden grinning behind Lucas.

‘Brother, seriously…’

Jayden, who had been pestering her about why she seemed down, had clearly brought Lucas over on purpose for Wendy’s sake. Jayden, unaware of the full situation, thought it was the best thing to do for Wendy, but she wasn’t pleased at all. Moreover, Jayden seemed to be asking with his eyes, ‘Didn’t I do well?’ Wendy responded with a glare, silently saying, ‘Why did you do something unnecessary?’

“Oh my, Lucas, you came too.”

“Hello, Mother. I’m here to impose for a day.”

“Impose? You’re always welcome.”

While the Countess of Rosewood and Lucas exchanged warm greetings, the silent battle between Jayden and Wendy continued.

‘Why are you acting like this? I brought him because you seemed down lately.’

‘Who asked you to care? Just leave me alone, that’s caring for me.’

‘What? Are you going to be like this? Making your brother feel bad?’

Jayden felt incredibly wronged. Who was the one who used to be overjoyed whenever Lucas came over? Now that he brought him, instead of being thankful, Wendy seemed uncomfortable and even annoyed.

Meanwhile, the conversation between the Countess and Lucas continued.

“You came just in time for dinner.”

“Is Father not here yet?”

“No, he’ll be late today. Shall we eat now? Everything’s ready.”

“Then I’ll just change and come down. Let’s go, Jayden.”

Lucas naturally intervened in the tense sibling standoff, pulling Jayden by the neck, while the Countess patted Wendy’s shoulder.

“Wendy, get ready for dinner.”

“Now?”

“The men said they’d change and come down.”

“Why change clothes? We can just eat.”

“Lucas is staying over tonight.”

“What?”

It wasn’t unusual for Lucas to stay over. The Countess always kept a room prepared for him so he could visit anytime without feeling uncomfortable. However, Wendy, whose mind and heart were already troubled, didn’t want to face Lucas. Especially not in the same house until the next morning, without any way to avoid him.

‘That useless brother…’

He never brought Lucas over when she begged him to, but now, when she didn’t want to see him, he went out of his way to bring him and upset her.

Annoyed, Wendy glared at Jayden. Heading towards the second-floor stairs with Lucas, Jayden met Wendy’s eyes and frowned.

“Stop it. Wendy doesn’t like it.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Sure, you didn’t.”

Anyone could see Wendy was upset, yet Jayden insisted otherwise. Lucas, finding it ridiculous, pushed Jayden up the stairs. In the military, Jayden was a reliable colleague and friend, someone Lucas could trust anywhere, anytime. But whenever he was with Wendy, he became unbelievably childish.

The Earl Rosewood’s residence, familiar as his own home, the employees accustomed to his sudden visits, the childish bickering between Jayden and Wendy, and Lucas naturally fitting in between them all.

While it was a very familiar environment for Lucas, something felt off…

‘Is she in a bad mood?’

Wendy seemed somehow deflated. She was always, especially in winter, a lively child, but now she wasn’t herself. Jayden’s unusually childish teasing was probably because of that.

‘Maybe she’s still not feeling well.’

However, Wendy didn’t look particularly unwell. Except for her cheeks, flushed from being angry at Jayden, her complexion was rather fair and bright. Moreover, she avoided meeting Lucas’s eyes and quickly looked away whenever their gazes met.

***

“I can’t sleep.”

Lying in bed, Wendy kept tossing and turning. She lay straight, then turned to her side, and even lay on her stomach. But instead of falling asleep, she grew more restless.

“Ah, really.”

Wendy pulled the blanket over her head. She knew why she couldn’t sleep. Lucas was in a room just a few steps away.

“Throw yourself at him if you must.”

It was as if Helen, with devilish wings, was flying around her ears, whispering. Like a mosquito buzzing annoyingly when you’re trying to sleep in summer. No, it was worse than that.

“Why did she suggest something impossible?”

The advice to throw herself at him was absurd, but even if she wanted to, it wasn’t feasible. Overnight stays weren’t allowed, and even when Lucas stayed at the Earl’s residence like today, it was the same. With Jayden’s room nearby and her parents in the house, what if she got caught?

Wow, she shuddered at the thought, hating it.

“It’s too quiet.”

Even though it was late at night, it was so quiet it felt eerie. As if something was absorbing all the sound.

Wendy sat up abruptly, then dashed to the balcony and pulled back the curtains.

“Wow.”

Snowflakes were falling thick and fast. It had already piled up, turning the whole garden white and bright. There had been a couple of light snowfalls, but this was the first heavy snow of the winter.

“No wonder I couldn’t sleep.”

Wendy quickly ran to the dressing room. She threw on whatever she could grab over her pajamas, put on a coat, and pulled out her gloves. She hastily tied her long hair into a single ponytail and put on boots that reached her ankles.

“Alright.”

She quietly opened her bedroom door and peeked into the hallway.

The hallway, lit only by small wall sconces, was dark and quiet. It seemed that the servants had also retired to bed, so Wendy entered the corridor. She tiptoed down the stairs like a cat curled up tightly.

She must not get caught by the Countess. If she caught another cold, she would surely be forbidden from going near the snow.

***

“Wow.”

The garden was entirely covered in snow. The bare branches wore a cloak of snow, casting rich shadows, and the small rose bushes beneath them bloomed with snowflowers. Most enchanting of all was the snowfield, spread out like a fine white carpet.

Why is it that seeing untouched snow makes one want to leave the first mark?

As if enchanted, Wendy leaped onto the snow without hesitation. The softness was short-lived; it was deeper than she expected, and snow got into her boots, while her long skirt brushed against it.

“Ah, it’s going to get all wet.”

Her feet and ankles were cold, and Wendy hesitated. But the wide, pristine silver carpet was too tempting.

“I’ll just soak in warm water before bed.”

That way, she wouldn’t catch a cold. Wendy grabbed her long skirt and began walking again. She waddled to keep her balance, looking comical enough to make anyone laugh.

“Oh.”

From the second-floor balcony, Lucas watched Wendy frolicking joyfully.

He had just finished the work he brought with him and was about to take a nap when he noticed it was snowing. Outside, it was already quite piled up. He thought the soldiers would have a hard time clearing it tomorrow, but then Wendy came running out.

They say only children and dogs get excited about snow.

Watching her, Wendy seemed like a puppy, too excited to know what to do. Despite the difficulty, she waddled around joyfully.

Even when she slipped and fell, she didn’t return to her room.

“What if she gets sick again?”

A coat and gloves didn’t seem enough.

By now, Wendy must have enjoyed the snow enough.

Lucas turned, grabbed his coat, and headed outside.

***

“You’ll catch a cold, Wendy.”

“Ah!”

Wendy was so startled she couldn’t even scream and sat down. Fortunately, the snow was soft, so even though she landed on her bottom, it didn’t hurt, but she felt like her heart stopped.

“Oh, ah, Lucas.”

Holding her chest, Wendy groaned.

Lucas extended a hand to her.

“Sorry, did I scare you?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Give me your hand.”

When Wendy reached out, Lucas pulled her up. Once she was upright, he carefully brushed the snow off her head and shoulders. Her coat and gloves were wet, her hair was too, and the cold had turned her cheeks red.

“How long since you recovered from your cold, and you’re out here like this?”

“I was just about to go inside.”

“You should go in right away.”

“Hmm.”

A short sigh mixed with a laugh escaped her pouting lips. She loved the snow so much, yet she was too frail for it.

With no other choice, Lucas wrapped the scarf he had brought around Wendy. It was a soft white scarf with blue gemstone brooches at the ends.

It didn’t seem like something Lucas would choose, so Wendy looked up at him curiously.

“Is this yours, Lucas?”

“Of course not. It’s a birthday gift. Belated, but happy birthday.”

“Thank you.”

At least Lucas hadn’t forgotten her birthday. Sharing an office with Jayden meant he couldn’t not know, but it was nice of him to remember every year despite being busy.

“You left your scarf at the restaurant last time, didn’t you?”

“Oh, yes.”

“It was quite worn out. I thought it was a good opportunity.”

“Then that scarf… Never mind.”

“Did you cherish it? Melinda kept it safe. I’ll bring it next time.”

“No, it’s okay. I just grew attached to it because I used it for so long. But Lucas.”

“Hmm?”

“Isn’t this wrapped too tightly?”

From inside the scarf, which covered half her face, Wendy grumbled discontentedly. Her narrowed eyes were quite sharp, and Lucas chuckled mischievously.

“It’s cold. Your face is red from the cold.”

“Maybe you should keep some distance from my brother. You’re becoming more like him.”

“How could you say such a harsh thing?”

Lucas adjusted the scarf to make Wendy more comfortable. He also carefully pushed back the black hair stuck to her forehead from the melting snow.

“Let’s go inside now, Wendy.”

“I’ll stay a bit longer. You go ahead.”

“Wendy.”

His low, coaxing voice scattered with white breath.

Wendy avoided his gaze, pulling the scarf up to her nose.

“I won’t be long. Besides, the scarf is warm.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“Just walk. Look over there. Don’t you think you’d regret not walking on that snow?”

Lucas glanced in the direction Wendy indicated.

The soft, untouched white ground filled his view. Honestly, he didn’t think he’d regret not walking on it. Only his feet would be cold, and his shoes, pants, and coat would get wet and be a hassle to deal with.

But if he left Wendy alone, she might play outside until she lost track of time and fall ill again. Then he might regret not bringing her in like at the Christmas market.

“Let’s walk together.”

“What? Why?”

“We might regret it.”

With both hands in the pockets of his slim frock coat, Lucas took the first step.

His larger footprints marked the white snow before Wendy’s.

“Hurry up. Don’t mind if I step first?”

Lucas turned halfway toward Wendy. Snowflakes fell on his hair, shoulders, and body, melting softly in the moonlight.

Lucas extended a hand to Wendy, who stood staring blankly.

She wished he wasn’t so kind. She wished he was indifferent, as he was with other women. Then she could give up more easily than now.

Wendy gazed at his hand, wishing so.

“Come on.”

Yet Lucas was always gentle. Despite his lighter clothing, which must be cold, he offered his hand to walk with her.