[TKOSINM] 184 - A Childhood Memory

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, 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 take care of 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.