The Kind Older Sister Is No More

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The night out was a secret. It would be best if no one saw them.

“You have to hold my waist tightly.”

“Ye-yes.”

Irene was first lifted onto the horse, and side-saddled in a modest manner. Noel then followed and settled behind her, wrapping his large and firm body around her small and fragile one. It was also sudden to her that she was held in his arms, but she could fall off a racing horse at any moment, so Irene had to hold onto Noel’s waist tightly.

Neigh!

As Noel lifted the horse’s reins and slapped it hard on the side, with one cry, it galloped through the open side gate.

The horse exited the castle and bolted towards the snowy forest. They stuck together so close that she could feel his body temperature. At that, she felt bashful. Only when the chilly wind brushed against her skin, did she come to her senses.

It’s dark.

Irene looked around in Noel’s arms. Although the moon was big and the ethereal light was bright, it was still night, so it was difficult to distinguish the surroundings.

“Tell me if it’s cold.”

When Noel’s voice was heard over her head, Irene shook her head.

“It’s not cold thanks to the blanket.”

Since the night temperature was low, Noel wrapped a blanket around Irene’s shoulders, so she was able to block the wind. Rather, the truth was…

It’s warm.

She had never been so close to him before. She had borrowed his shoulder to lean on for a short nap and shared the same bed with him as they fell asleep during the night. Nonetheless, the gap between them had never been this narrow. They were only a heartbeat away from each other.

As they entered the area where the thousand-year-old Snow Tree was located, snowflakes landed on their cheeks and melted. However, strangely enough, as soon as they entered the forest, the temperature rose, and the blanket became meaningless. It was snowing but at the same time; it was warm...

Noel slowed the horse down as the trees were thick and it could be dangerous. Irene admired the snow-covered forest as she felt the horse slowing down its pace. The clip-clop sound from its hooves became clearer as it went from galloping to trotting then to slowed to a gentle pace.

“We have arrived.”

The horse stopped along with his words. Noel, who got off first, stretched his arms out toward her.

“I will get you down.”

“Ah, yes.”

Irene leaned over and loosened herself into his arms. She was worried that she might be too heavy for him to carry, but contrary to her concern, Noel was rather displeased because she was too light.

I’ll have to feed her much more when we get back.

Of course, he did not know if she could handle the ‘much’ he was thinking of.

Irene, who set foot on the ground unaware of Noel’s thought, turned her head toward the Snow Tree.

“Wow…” A small exclamation escaped her lips.

She could sense a massive change in the forest’s atmosphere the moment she entered the forest. Unlike before when only deadly silence flowed, the sound of owls crowing and leaves crisping as small animals ran across them. Best of all, the fog was completely gone. It was not at the state like when it was first lifted, but the air was so fresh that it was as if there was no such thing from the beginning.

With that, she expected the snow tree to have changed too. Still, the moment she saw the real thing, Irene was immersed in amazement without even the chance to spot the difference. This was because the change was too overwhelming. The tree’s current appearance was far more magnificent and captivating than what it used to be, days ago.

“It’s beautiful…”

The branches were so large and thick that it was difficult for the eyes to capture it all in one glance. Thousands of branches stretched out toward the sky. From the heaped up fluffy snow that covered the branches, blending in harmoniously with the pure white flowers; to the silver-blue moonlight that illuminated upon them, everything was exquisite to the slightest touch without any blemish. The falling snowflakes twinkled as they were also reflected in that ethereal light. Looking at the big picture, it looked as though a halo of light was rising from the Snow Tree.

It was so unrealistically splendid that she felt like she was watching a masterpiece. Irene could not take her eyes off the Snow Tree for even a second.

“This is the real Snow Tree that you saw when you were a child, right?”

Not knowing that Noel was looking at her, Irene spoke in wonder. Her voice, was exuberant at the dazzling sight. Only then did Noel turn his gaze to the immense tree and reply.

“Mmm, that’s right. This is the ‘real’ Snow Tree I know.”

His expression, observing the Snow Tree was strange.

I went to this place whenever I had a hard time.

Originally, the Snow Forest was a restricted area. However, Noel, who was labelled a half-blood, was allowed to enter whenever he wanted under the authority of the Grand Duke as he was still, after all, somewhat of his bloodline. And he came here mostly when he was hurt.

‘Am I supposed to treat the half-blood the same way as the Grand Duke?’

‘His Grace has no intention of raising it in the first place. That must be why he didn’t take it to the Grand Duke’s residence, it probably will be abandoned here.’

‘Oh, really? I didn’t come into this castle to care for an abandoned child.’

Those who did not know that the child himself was listening, or either did not care if he was, loudly uttered those cruel words. And Noel was hurt by those very words whenever he heard them.

I was helpless back then.

Now he did not even bat an eye when he heard those same words. But back then, each and every one of them, was a sharp needle pricking his heart. The castle was not his home. To him, it felt more like a rubbish dump where people threw away unnecessary things. And whenever he had a hard time, he would come into this forest and spend the day alone. It was possible because no one went looking for him.

Meanwhile, thanks to that, he came across this snow tree by chance. It had been at twilight, before the night had settled, and the Snow Tree in front of his eyes had also been like this...

It’s blinding. It’s like I was dreaming.

The closer he got to the snowy trees, the warmer and cosier he felt, and he wondered if that was the kind of family he had never felt.

I was alone then, but now...

Noel looked at the woman standing next to him. It was as if the nostalgic emotion he felt at that time had once again come back to him. Irene looked at the Snow Tree without saying a word for a long while before slowly approaching it. Noel stood still and watched her have her way.

Warm.

With her hand on the trunk of the Snow Tree, Irene looked up at the branches.

It’s the same as the last time I saw it.

It was a scene where the pure white flowers bloomed on the dry branches.

Then that voice...

“...Snow.”

‘Swish.’

The moment Irene uttered the name, a gentle breeze rushed in. As if answering, the branches swept to one side, creating rustling waves. Irene’s eyes widened. After a while, Irene let go of her hand and returned to Noel’s side.

“Noel, we are going back now.”

“Did you find the answer to what you were curious about?”

“Well, half of it.”

“...?”

Noel looked puzzled at Irene’s ambiguous answer, but she was already hanging onto the horse waiting for him to help her get on it. It was a little challenging for her small stature to climb onto a big horse on her own without a proper saddle.

“...I will help you.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Noel grabbed her waist with both hands and lifted her at once, seating her on the horse. Then, upon climbing lightly on the horse and embracing her, Noel grabbed the reins and headed back to the castle.

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