NOVEL NEXT Ch22 - Kingdom Envoy★
22: Kingdom Envoy★
Morning. I woke up to the sound of bells. …
“Ah!”
“What’s wrong, El!? Did you have a nightmare!?”
“Eek, Fenrir, your voice is so loud…! It’s echoing in the igloo!”
The sound reverberated in my head, making me feel dizzy. Glea seemed to be feeling the same way, but he looked so happy, so I guess he’s strong after all.
“It’s okay. I heard the bells and remembered… the emissaries are coming today.”
“You forgot about it?”
“Fenrir’s fur is just too comfortable.”
“I forgive you.”
When I clung tightly to Fenrir, he smiled and forgave me, while Glea seemed to lose the argument, swallowing his words. Sorry.
“Will you meet them, El?”
“…Yeah.”
I hesitated a bit but decided to meet them. After all, I had certainly inherited Fenrir’s magical power, and I had called this winter partly myself. I shouldn’t just pretend not to know.
“Don’t worry.”
Fenrir spoke strongly, giving me confidence. I stepped out of the igloo, with Fenrir walking ahead to protect me.
“Thank you.”
I clung to his hind legs, sincerely thanking him. Alright! I gathered my resolve and stepped outside.
The mix of the chilly morning air and the warm steam from Levi was a strange sensation. The morning sun was dazzling.
“Good morning, Winter Princess.”
I shared a smile with Levi. I am Winter Princess El… not Fujioka Noel. As I blinked and opened my eyes, the world seemed to take on a bluish tint, like the color of my eyes.
Glea prepared tree fruits he gathered from the mountaintop for breakfast.
Fenrir, I, and Glea stood side by side, waiting for the emissaries while gazing into the distance along the ice path.
The sound of bells was getting closer… they were almost here… they’ve arrived!
The sled emerged from the forest, pulled by reindeer adorned with decorative cloth, with golden hair gleaming in the back. …Four people.
The sled stopped just ahead of us. Snow gently swirled up and stuck to the emissaries’ clothing.
“‘Fenrir-sama, the emissaries from the Felsnow Kingdom have arrived. Thank you for your guidance.’”
The four of them gave a beautiful bow, with their hands clasped as if in prayer and one knee deeply bent in a unique gesture.
By the way, the emissaries are… quite young. A girl and a young man in front, and two older men behind? The two in front had strikingly beautiful features that seemed to float in the snow, with a dazzling presence.
I looked up at Fenrir.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Ah. Fenrir is in a higher position than the kingdom, not equal. Got it. I gave a slight bow in accordance with Fenrir’s standing. Well, Fenrir’s words don’t reach the kingdom’s side. It seems Glea will be translating.
The emissaries… were staring at me in astonishment.
The strange silence was troubling…
“Nice to meet you.”
I gave a gentle smile.
“Ugh!”
The young man clutched his chest and hunched over. Hmm!? Is he okay!?
“Glea, he looks like he’s in pain! Help him…”
“There is no need.”
Glea’s eyes were extremely cold. What’s going on!?
“Oh, brother! I’m sorry, Fenrir-sama, he seems to have aggravated an old injury from the journey.”
The young woman rushed over… what a beautiful sight. “Thud.” …
Did I just hear a strange noise? The young man was holding his leg and looking in serious pain. This seems bad.
“Hey, Glea!”
“It is indeed an injury. But I won’t heal it.”
“Why not!?”
“Unicorns only heal women.”
“Gosh!”
The racial traits are so troublesome! It’s painful to watch someone suffer and not be able to help. I quietly approached so as not to frighten the emissaries.
Oh! Sorry! The young woman and the older men flinched. The young man kept his head down.
“Are you okay? If your leg hurts, let’s cool it down. It’s the right calf, right?”
I touched where he was holding his leg. It might be improper to touch the leg of the opposite sex, but this is an emergency, so I’m sorry.
“Take care.”
I cooled it through the cloth. Hmm… seems alright. I then made a thin ice ring over his pants. It will keep cool for a while. I’ll make sure to dissolve it before the pants get wet.
“Here. Healing fruit.”
I offered a share of the tree fruit. Since it healed Fenrir and the others, it should help the young man too.
“I’ll… accept it.”
The young man looked up at me. Wow, his face was red and teary. Take care of your leg.
“Christopher-sama!? We should taste test it first… Ugh.”
Thud, thud! What’s that strange sound!? The sturdy older men were trembling as they stood rigidly. The young woman looked at me with a dazzling smile.
The young man bit into the tree fruit.
“…What a rich sweetness…! It’s sweeter than any winter bounty I’ve ever experienced. And it fills my body with magical warmth.”
“I’m glad.”
It seems he liked the taste. It also has effects for magical recovery and improving healing.
“We are deeply grateful.”
The young man knelt and took my hand… oh, he looks like a prince. Wait? Did he just call me Christopher-sama…?
“As expected of El-sama.”
Glea came over and gave a sharp chop to the connected hands.
“Ouch!?”
“If you hold hands for too long, Fenrir-sama’s magic might overflow and become too potent for a human.”
“Oh, I see… But you didn’t have to be so severe about it!”
Glea’s eyes were icy! I was about to complain, but I decided to keep quiet. Seems like Glea wasn’t impressed. I couldn’t help but heal the young man, though.
Glea took my hand and healed it.
“I’m sorry. Unicorns only heal girls.”
I gave a wry smile to the young man who seemed to be in pain. Stay strong.
“We deeply appreciate your kindness. The new Winter Princess… the one who inherited Fenrir-sama’s magic… Is that correct?”
The beautiful young woman spoke with a voice like a bell.
“Oh, yes. That’s right.”
I realized too late that I had nodded too quickly. Her tilting head and upward gaze smile were so powerful.
Her “Oh my!” reaction was also incredibly elegant. Wow.
“I’m sorry, Fenrir. Was there a formal procedure for the meeting? I started with a greeting first…”
I turned back to apologize.
“It’s alright. My beloved daughter.”
Fenrir spoke with a soft gaze, and when he exhaled, a cold breeze wrapped around me, making my silver hair sparkle.
The kingdom’s side let out sighs of admiration.