The Snow Flower and Charlotte's Shadow
The envelope Marie handed me was surprisingly heavy.
It was a luxurious parchment envelope, but after the long journey, the corners were frayed and worn white.
The surface was damp, as if it had repeatedly frozen with frost and then thawed.
"Thanks, Marie. You can head back now."
"Yes, miss. Have a peaceful night."
Marie quietly closed the door behind her, leaving only the crackling of the firewood in the fireplace.
I sank deep into the sofa, fiddling with the envelope.
'Already here?'
It had been about a week since I'd parted ways with Leoness.
The road to the north must have been treacherous.
For a letter to arrive this quickly, she must have written it right upon arrival.
I carefully tore open the seal.
-Rustle
A rush of cold air seemed to pour out as soon as I opened the envelope.
Inside were two sheets of paper densely covered in writing, and some hard object wrapped in cloth.
I unfolded the letter first.
An elegant yet forceful handwriting. But there were smudged ink spots here and there, as if written in haste.
To My Dear Friend,
It's only been a few days since we parted, yet it feels like years have passed. Even so, this lady has safely arrived in the north as I write this.
The journey here... was truly dreadful.
The carriage jolted endlessly, and the escorting knights had no flexibility whatsoever.
Had you been by my side, at least the boredom could have been eased, but staring alone at the blizzard outside the window was so dull I nearly died of it.
It's not that this lady missed you, so don't misunderstand.
So dishonest.
I smiled and read on.
As you said, this place is no different from hell.
But with the help of that 'Merilda' person you mentioned, this lady is doing well now.
Just as you described, she is truly capable.
Ah, and I've included a small gift in the envelope.
I picked it up while walking the ramparts. A white flower blooming in the snow—it resembled the flower from the giant tale you told me back in the prison.
Since it was just a flower underfoot, I nearly discarded it, but you came to mind, so I'm sending it.
It's been magically preserved, so no worries about it wilting.
I hope you'll think of this lady now and then when you see this flower. Take care of yourself. Until we meet again soon.
Your dear friend, Leoness von Austria.
The letter ended there.
I stared at the letter and the softly glowing flower for a long while.
A warm feeling bloomed in one corner of my chest.
The sense that I wasn't alone.
The knowledge that even in this unfamiliar world, someone was thinking of me—it became my pillar of strength.
I carefully folded the letter and placed it in a drawer, then set the crystal orb on the bedside table.
The flower glowed faintly even in the darkness.
Gazing at that light, I thought,
'I'll write the reply first thing tomorrow morning.'
It was too late tonight.
///
The next morning.
"Mm..."
Dazzling sunlight tickled my eyelids.
I stretched and opened my eyes.
A fluffy bed, warm blankets.
A refreshing morning incomparable to sleeping on the cold prison floor.
But.
"..."
Something felt off.
One side of the bed felt heavily pressed down.
And a warm body heat against my side.
I slowly turned my head.
"Hehe... You're awake?"
Right beside me, Charlotte was lying prone.
She propped her chin, staring intently at me.
She beamed bashfully as our eyes met.
"Good morning, sis!"
"Eek!"
I jolted back in surprise.
"Y-You, when did you get here?"
"Just now! I was waiting for you to open your eyes."
Charlotte answered brightly.
She wasn't in yesterday's dress but pants and a shirt for easy movement.
She must have come prepared to visit.
"If you were gonna wait like that, why not just wake me? I'm fine with it."
"Sis's sleeping face was too pretty. I wanted to keep watching."
Charlotte scratched her cheek shyly.
At those embarrassing words, I cleared my throat and sat up.
"Good, you're here. Eaten breakfast?"
"No! I skipped it to eat with sis!"
"Figured as much."
I got out of bed and slipped on a robe.
Then, Charlotte's gaze lingered on the bedside table.
"Huh? Sis, what's this?"
What she pointed to was the snow flower from Leoness.
The white flower trapped in crystal sparkled iridescently in the morning sun.
"Ah, that?"
I answered casually.
"A gift from a friend."
"A... friend?"
Charlotte's voice shifted subtly.
Her excited tone plummeted vertically.
She stared piercingly at the flower.
"What... kind of friend?"
"Hm? Just a friend."
"What's the name? Where's she from, sending something like this?"
Charlotte pressed persistently.
"A friend I met at the academy. She's far away now."
"Hmmm..."
Charlotte leaned close to the flower and sniffed.
She tapped the crystal orb with her fingertip, then murmured blankly.
"But..."
Charlotte's eyes sank deeply.
"It has no scent."
"Huh?"
"Trapped in the crystal... like a preserved corpse."
Charlotte stared at the flower with an expressionless face.
Her eyes were chilling and gloomy, unbelievable for the sunny child from moments ago.
"Sis likes stuff like this? Lifeless, just frozen in place?"
"Uh... well, it's pretty."
"Hmmm... I see."
Charlotte, who had been gazing at the flower, turned back to me.
"I... I'll give sis a gift too, later."
"Yeah? Looking forward to it."
"Yes. Much prettier than that one... something that suits sis."
A strange possessiveness laced her voice.
"Something no one else can touch, only I can see."
"Uh... thanks."
"Sis will definitely love it."
A chill ran down my spine, but I forced a smile and brushed it off.
Just kid talk, nothing serious.
"Wait a sec, I'll write the reply and then we can go eat."
I sat at the desk and picked up a pen.
Charlotte dragged a chair over beside me, propped her chin, and watched me write.
Her gaze followed my hand intently.
The flower you sent is pretty. Thanks.
I'll put it on my desk and look at it every day.
You stay safe too. Don't push yourself.
Let's meet again healthy in three months.
After finishing the reply and sealing the envelope, Charlotte asked softly.
"Sending this to the friend who gave the gift?"
"Yeah."
"Sis... must really like that friend."
"Not like that... well, we're inseparably bound."
I vaguely glossed over explaining the shared life force.
At my words, Charlotte stared silently at the envelope before murmuring softly.
"...I'm jealous."
"What?"
"Nothing! Come on, let's go eat!"
Charlotte flashed her sunny smile again as if nothing happened and tugged my hand.
But the grip on my hand was much stronger than usual.
///
After that day, the days were thoroughly peaceful.
Strolling the garden behind the annex with Charlotte.
Fulfilling her wishlist too.
"Sis! Look at this!"
Charlotte held out something with her mud-caked hands.
"What's that?"
"An earthworm! Found it digging in the flowerbed!"
"Eek! Get it away!"
"Hehe, sis is such a scaredy-cat!"
Charlotte chased me with the earthworm, and I screamed and ran.
After dashing around, we were both out of breath.
We collapsed under the tree shade.
"Haa... so tiring."
"Sis's stamina is awful. I could probably beat you."
"I can still take a kid like you."
"Hehe. Liar."
Such peaceful days.
Then one morning, an utterly unexpected visitor arrived.
"Miss."
Sebastian came to me with his expressionless face.
"What is it."
"The main house is looking for you."
"Me?"
"Yes. Family dinner tonight in the main house. His Grace commands your attendance."