“Lega… Lady Weilin, you need not worry how this old man knows your name.”
The Grand Elder’s expression suddenly darkened, turning solemn… so solemn that even Weilin subconsciously listened intently.
“Your magic, hmm… such terrifyingly powerful high-tier magic must certainly be obscure and contain many taboos. It doesn’t matter if you’re unwilling to tell this old man. The same goes for your origins. No one knows anything about you, nor does anyone know… why you wish to pledge loyalty to the Illusory Snow Queen.”
“Given the level at which Lady Weilin operates, this old man will not say much more.”
“I have only one request…”
“Do not betray… Huan Xuezhi.”
“What she detests most in life is betrayal. She has never truly trusted anyone, yet she is willing to trust you—a person full of suspicious points, someone even I find dangerously extreme… Moreover, she even told you about Huan Moxi…”
“That girl Xuezhi… has been alone for far too long.”
“You are the last trust she has extended… and her final hope for something ‘genuine.’ If you betray her too, Huan Xuezhi’s heart will surely fall into an abyss of eternal damnation. …Lady Weilin… you likely don’t yet know what kind of person Her Majesty was before, do you…”
“I’ve said my piece… This old man takes his leave. If Lady Weilin ever has need of me in the future, please do not hesitate to ask.”
After speaking, Doma Chitose turned around, his footsteps gradually fading into the distance.
That aged figure, slightly hunched under the sunlight, presented a stark contrast to the Saint Realm Mage who had stood proudly in the academy square, his voice booming like thunder… It was as if he had suddenly transitioned from a vigorous middle age into life’s twilight.
He could still live for another two thousand years.
But what he had entered was the twilight of the Snow Kingdom itself.
Doma Chitose’s life, it seemed, truly mirrored the rumors—a specter destined to witness the history of the Snow Kingdom, from its founding, to its prosperity, and finally, its end.
On the day the Snow Kingdom is truly erased from the history books, this old man’s heart, his very convictions, will surely shatter and be destroyed alongside it, buried together with this nation of a thousand-year blizzard… even if his body still lives.
“Oh.”
Watching Doma leave, Weilin responded belatedly.
Feeling it was perhaps too perfunctory, she pursed her lips slightly and added, “…I know what kind of person Huan Xuezhi used to be.”
This sentence, it seemed, was also Weilin speaking to herself.
She knew. That love letter of Huan Xuezhi’s wasn’t written to anyone in particular. It was written by Huan Xuezhi to this world.
Back then, she hated the cold snow and yearned for the colorful world beyond.
Huan Xuezhi could never have imagined that three years ago, when she accompanied her father the King out of the Snow Kingdom and into that outside world, it would be both her first time… and her last.
From then on, the heavy throne, the Divine Crystal colder than snow, the elusive Fate, endless conspiracies, cowardly subjects, and a Snow Kingdom teetering on the brink…
…as well as an icy coffin, prepared long ago.
Thus, she was forced to kill that innocent, god-like enchanting radiance within herself, to freeze her heart, just to face everything she once detested most.
It was precisely knowing all this that Weilin had to step forward and pull Huan Xuezhi back from the abyss.
?
The Cold Dove Hall had been renovated to look new.
When Weilin entered again, not a single Snow Maiden obstructed her path. Weilin didn’t even know when she had been granted this privilege of ‘unimpeded access.’
“Greetings to Her Majesty, the Illusory Snow Queen.”
The young lady’s voice was calm, neither servile nor overbearing. Just as she was about to perform the customary ritual of a subject kneeling on one knee, Airi, who was standing beside the Illusory Snow Queen, hurriedly ran over. Supporting the young lady before she could bow down, she said joyfully, “…Her Majesty says that Weilin no longer needs to kneel in the future.”
“Is that so… I understand…” Weilin’s fine eyebrows rose slightly in surprise.
She scanned the room and didn’t see Huan Moxi. Then, facing Huan Xuezhi, she began, “Your Majesty, this afternoon…”
Before she could finish her sentence, Huan Xuezhi took over calmly, “I am already aware of the match’s termination. Your mission was completed brilliantly. I grant you permission to stay… However, this does not mean I can fully trust you yet.”
“Mhm, I understand that perfectly.”
“…If there are no other urgent matters, Weilin may take her leave first. I have already arranged a new residence for you. Also, tomorrow morning at eight o’clock, come to the Cold Dove Hall. There is an important matter I will announce before all the civil and military officials in court.”
Her icy eyes, more exquisite than the world’s most precious gemstones, rested quietly on Weilin’s composed face. Her peerless snow-like countenance remained as cold as ever.
“…Actually, there is one matter,” Weilin said, frowning.
“Hmm?”
“It might be somewhat inappropriate for me to bring this up, as this concerns your royal brother, Your Majesty… But this is something I simply cannot tolerate! Forgive my boldness in reporting this: Second Prince Wu Gu may harbor treasonous intentions.”
“What makes you say that?”
“To answer Your Majesty, it’s because that day, Airi and I witnessed it with our own eyes on the Island of Illusory Snow and Flowing Ice!” Airi also stepped forward to stand beside Weilin, speaking indignantly, “His Highness the Second Prince… was together, sneaking around with that Imperial citizen who attempted to assassinate Your Majesty through self-detonation! There must be some unspeakable secret!”
“In fact, it’s highly likely that the Second Prince orchestrated the Imperial citizen’s victory in the tournament and his approach towards you,” Weilin added coldly.
“Is there any direct evidence?”
Evidence…
Weilin and the Ranger exchanged glances for a moment, then each shook their heads.
Weilin wasn’t ready to give up. Her gaze turned to Huan Xuezhi: “Wu Gu might make a major move soon. Individually capturing his accomplices and subjecting them to harsh interrogation… there simply isn’t enough time for that procedure… Your Majesty, can we not act first and justify it later, just this once?”
Huan Xuezhi gently shook her head. “Wu Gu has always been meticulous in his actions, leaving no flaws behind. Moreover, he governs Mistlight City and enjoys great popular support. Acting first is possible, but if a subsequent investigation yields no results, the hearts of the people in Mistlight City will turn wholly against us. Even the hearts of my own people in Illusory Snow City would be affected…”
The Second Prince’s cunning nature was something Weilin, having been caught in his scheme once, understood deeply.
But, he could only win that one time. Weilin was determined, at any cost, to bring down this bastard.
Just as Weilin was racking her brains, trying to find a crack in the Second Prince’s armor, shocking news arrived, spoken by a Snow Maiden who materialized from the drifting snow.
“Your Majesty, an urgent, critical situation has occurred in Mistlight City…”
Huan Xuezhi’s snowy brows furrowed slightly. “Speak.”
“A ‘Snow Giant,’ summonable only by Ancient Water Magic, has suddenly appeared within Mistlight City. Furthermore… the Second Prince, who is also the City Lord of Mistlight—Wu Gu—half of his body is embedded into the Snow Giant’s head, seemingly merged with it. The emergence of the ‘Snow Giant’ has triggered mass panic. Large numbers of refugees have already fled the city, heading for Illusory Snow City and other cities…”
Ice Soul Life-Transferring Flower… Snow Giant…
“It has appeared after all…”
Weilin sighed, as if she had anticipated this. In the next second, her eyes focused like dark blades. She turned to Huan Xuezhi and declared firmly, “Your Majesty, I request permission to engage the enemy.”
“If Wu Gu dares to act so openly, he must possess absolute preparation and confidence. Are you confident you can defeat him?”
“Before today, I might have hesitated. But now… In any case, Your Majesty need only await my triumphant return, worry-free.”
Weilin seemed super confident too…
Seeing this, the Illusory Snow Queen’s snowy eyes slowly closed as she said flatly, “Granted.”
The Young Majesty believed Weilin was definitely not some reckless fool driven by sheer bravado.
…Although her loyalty was truly baffling in origin, since she had chosen to trust her, such things didn’t matter.
Without a single word of nonsense, the moment she heard “Granted,” Weilin turned around with extreme decisiveness and left, heading for Mistlight City.
“Your Majesty, I want to go with Weilin too…!” Seeing Weilin leave with her orders, Airi couldn’t hold back either and quickly volunteered.
“You stay here.”
“…Yes.” Just three words from Huan Xuezhi were enough to make the Ranger docilely lower her head, refraining from any further pointless requests.
Watching Weilin walk all the way out of the Cold Dove Hall’s main gate, then Teleport away via Spatial Warp, Huan Xuezhi’s gaze involuntarily lingered on the spot where she had vanished for two seconds.
Then she spoke again:
“You Jiu.”
The Snow Maiden who had finished her report immediately turned to the Illusory Snow Queen, bowed her head, and responded respectfully: “Your Majesty the Queen.”
“You and Xue Xi, follow her in secret.”
“Your Majesty… are you worried about her?”
“Weilin’s intentions are good, but she is eager for quick success. The ‘Snow Giant’ is, after all, Wu Gu’s most proud reliance. I don’t hold much hope that Weilin can defeat Wu Gu… but, you must ensure her safety and return.”
“Yes.”
The Snow Maiden named You Jiu began to collapse, transforming into fluttering white snow petals that drifted away…
“—No, forget it.”
Suddenly, Huan Xuezhi uttered these three words unexpectedly. The snowflakes that had already drifted quite far away could only hastily rewind and gather back, reforming into a completely bewildered Snow Maiden.
“This time, I will go personally.”
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[Huan Xuezhi: I just felt Weilin probably couldn’t win, that’s all. It’s not like I was worried about her.]
