CHAPTER 661: CHAPTER 661

"It does look like it is time to go back... however, I have never experienced a stroll on a snowy street."

"... sister you want to take a stroll?? Suddenly? In this cold??" — Theressa asked baffled by the decision I was taking and the crown prince was to side with her as well.

"My lady, I agree with your sister. The weather might affect you and... a walk on snow... your feet might get burnt by the cold."

"It will not be for long. I solely wish to feel a few snowflakes reach me as they fall."

"But... sister..."

"It is fine if you do not want to go with me. It will only be for a moment. You may wait for me here if you like."

"I would not do such a thing." — Troubled the crown prince sighed although I said that to Theressa and my guards who did know about the real reason behind this outing. — "I will join you, my lady. Although it is best we do so now before the snow starts falling harder."

"Uh... alright." — I walked alongside him, making it to the entrance where we could feel the air freezing our skin immediately. Nonetheless... — "Hm... truthfully... I think going alone is good."

"Pardon?"

"I think I am to go alone. I simply want to take a walk around here. I will not take long, in the meantime, you may wait in the carriage."

"My lady that is..."

"Marianne, I don’t think that is wise." — Theressa stopped me while I pulled away from the crown prince.

"I want to go alone. It will be fine, if I take more than ten minutes you may go find me if that makes you feel better."

"My lady your brother is still a fugitive." — The crown prince stopped me this time, firmly, completely against it in his ultramarine. — "Going alone, it is reckless. You were attacked recently at the palace, going into the streets alone now is—"

"Paul will not kill me."

"..."

"M-marianne... his highness is correct, please..." — Theressa begged, troubled by how my words left him speechless without a hint of compassion in my tone.

"Five minutes." — I then said, shutting them both down. — "I want to walk alone for five minutes... You can join me after that." — I looked into his eyes. It was not just for the purpose of meeting the danger anymore... but nobody knew that. Much less Zeleskiaz. — "Yes?... please?"

Silent nods were the responses. Vitor and Theo would still follow but the distance would be granted in a disguised freedom.

However, at the moment I turned away, I decided to forget the objective and only feel the cold I spent many days watching warmly wrapped at home while it piled up outside my window.

Puffing up and seeing the breath disappear in front of my eyes made me smile and the touch of the snowflakes touching the only bare skin of my visage sent a shiver down my spine. One delectable as it seemed to melt on it for I was still well covered.

"It is all so white..." — I muttered, actually recalling the sensation I felt the last time I was two souls. — "..... To be happy, huh..."

’Not easy but at times not as difficult.’ — I thought, joyful by the shape of feeling complete and content even while knowing there will be hazards once this moment finishes. — "Alive I am... haha~ yes... I am alive~" — I said confidently at the sight of my body and my feet on the snow, expulsing a fool’s chuckle that as if dissipating smoke reassured me in the air that I truly exist in this complicated world.

There were few but people did walk in the cold. Soon the five minutes would be over. Yet a group of people caught my attention, some stopped to stare at something on the ground while others continued their way and from my spot I peeked curious about what gathered them there.

"What to do..." — As I approached I started to listen to them say. — "Should we?"

"It is best to report this to the guards..."

"We do not know..... If fake... trouble..."

"Yet we must.... The Ninth it says..."

’!? The Ninth?’ — I immediately stopped, knowing that whatever was there had something related to me. Moving slowly this time to look at what it was.

"... but we should not doubt. She is the promised..."

"Even so, mute she was yet now she is not. Power she has from Izeneya."

"Yes... and a god’s thoughts might not be comprehensible by those like us..."

"I cannot believe you."

"We’d better call the guard."

"Uhm, excuse me. I see you are troubled... has something happened—!?" — I asked, acting as if none of what they said reached my ear. Stopping dry, shocked at what I found on the ground surrounded by them.

"N-Ninth!?!" — They fell to the floor as if in the presence of royalty. Yet little could I care about it. — "May thy worth bridge our Primal Regnant’ road again!!!"

"A blessing this is!"

"How great for us to be able to greet you on a day like this!

"... what is this?" — I asked, shutting down their merry greetings, while absorbed in what was in front of me.

"Ah... N-Ninth... we are ignorant of the events. The woman is one young with Ruinam, as it is she must have fallen unable to bear the sickness..."

"Do not look, dear ninth."

"It is best you continue your way."

A dead woman, too blue to even know if there was ever warmth in her was what these people were looking at... but I sure knew I couldn’t just easily leave... for I recognised the woman... for it was the maid that served my meals at the cabin Paul kidnapped me.

"Rats must have eaten her fingers..."

"With the sickness, it must have been difficult for her to dismiss them if still alive."

"Yes... poor woman."

"... what is that on her lap?" — Swallowing the revolting feeling, I asked, looking at the folded paper, sealed but with a message still slightly seen, having blackberries around it as if they were decorations.

"Let’s see... ?! Um... this..."

"What is it?... Oh, lords! Er, Dear Ninth, it might be better if this is left in charge of the guards—"

"It is meant for me to read is it not?" — Knowing I had no time left I extended my hand, demanding from the man that picked it up right after I asked to hand it over to me. — "Please give it to me."

Reluctance governed his countenance yet even so the piece was soon given to me without much of a fight.

[ This disease, my ruin, the Empire’s. The Ninth shall acknowledge this tragedy once she sees it. ] — Was the message any could see yet I opened the seal reading more of it. — [ The bones will also disappear. This promise will be fulfilled, Calla’s chosen. Yours, no is not, mine shall all be. ]

A good menace, more of a declaration of war. The time was up and just as Theo and Vitor came to my side seeing this was not a simple conversation on the street Zeleskiaz also appeared.

They took care of the formalities and we returned to the Royal Palace. The letter of course, I took it with me secretly and it was not only by the fairies and my treasures that the sender’s identity was confirmed but also by the very Fenrir’s protection over the Chambers that once were his, once were Calla’s... and now are mine.