Volume 5 Chapter 3 Year-end Snowball Fight
We had a fancy dinner with crab and drank some drinks. There was a dish with sea urchin on rice, and we used leftover sea urchin to make pasta. After that, we had grilled fish and fried fish.
Sir Roxas and Sir Rail got us special expensive food from the chef at Girard family.
Just when I thought I was full enough, it suddenly became midnight.
"Time for the New Year's snowball fight!"
Sir Rail, looking lively, said this with sparkling eyes.
It seems like heroes can handle their drinks well. He drank a lot with Mr. Tsukuyomi and still looked fine.
"Wow, you're so energetic. Young people have so much energy... I'm going to put Eir-Eir and Fam-Fam to bed. Are you going to sleep too, Dad?"
"Sleep is important... I'll go to bed with the kids too."
"What about Stefan? He looks sleepy, is he okay?"
"I'm fine... I'm still young, you know..."
Eir-Eir and Ms. Famine were dozing off on my lap.
Mx. Margaret picked them up and called out to Dad and Sir Stefan.
Dad seemed like he was going upstairs with Mx. Margaret, but Sir Stefan, looking as sleepy as Eir-Eir, shook his head.
"Sir Stefan, you look sleepy... There's a bed upstairs, it might be a bit small, but..."
"I'm fine, Lydia... I may look like this, but I'm still pretty young, I can handle it..."
"But you don't have to push yourself... I know you're young."
"Yeah... My sisters have been saying I'm getting older lately... They often joke that I'm going to turn into a grandpa soon, and I'm starting to feel that way myself..."
"What are you talking about, Your Highness? You're only a year or 2 older than me, and you look like an older brother, so that's why you feel that way."
Sir Roxas shrugged at Sir Stefan, who was staring off into the distance, as if teasing him.
"Roxas hasn't changed at all, that same sharp tongue, it's nostalgic."
Tears welled up in Sir Stefan's eyes. "Oh dear, how cute," Mx. Margaret said as they carried Eir-Eir and Ms. Famine upstairs. "Goodbye for now, kids," Dad said, quickly following Mx. Margaret with a soft sound.
When I said, "I'll go with you," Mx. Margaret replied, "Nighttime fun is for the young. Go have fun, Lyd-Lyd."
Mr. Tsukuyomi, while drinking, said, "That's right, Lydia. You only live once, so enjoy being young. I may not be young, but I have fun every day."
"Don't cry, Your Highness. It's annoying."
Sir Roxas sighed as he looked at Sir Stefan, who was getting teary-eyed.
"Come on, Roxas. You have to be nice to Your Highness since he's like a grandpa. Even if he's a grandpa, he's still strong... He's a tough rival in the snowball fight. After all, as a hero, you can't overlook the master of the holy sword..."
"Rail is saying 'hero' at his age too... It's nostalgic, both of them haven't changed since we were kids. A lot has happened, but I'm happy we can laugh together again like this. It's all thanks to you, Lydia..."
"Sir Stefan, don't cry..."
As I tried to comfort Sir Stefan, Sir Rail suddenly grabbed my hand.
"Princess, you can't do that. You're kind, but you're everyone's princess. I understand you're worried about Your Highness, but if you do that, then I, who am always lively, won't get comforted by you, right?"
"Sir Rail, do you want to be comforted?"
"I do. I really want to be. But I also want to comfort you. Because I'm your older brother."
Sir Rail patted my head and then placed his hand on my shoulder.
Ciel and Lucian are acting all calm and like it doesn't really matter to them. You guys are joining in too. It's a New Year's snowball fight.
"...No, I'd rather not."
I remember that a snowball fight is a game where kids throw snow at each other.
Mr. Lucian and Sir Ciel, who have been quietly watching us, say with a troubled look.
"What if the prize for winning is the right to say goodnight to the princess? Or the right to spend the morning of the new year with her? Can you really stay so cool and act like it's just a kid's game?"
"Alright, let's do it."
"...Okay, I'll join."
So it's decided that we're having a New Year's snowball fight... well, it's already the new year, so it's officially the New Year's snowball fight. Princess, are you ready for the prize?
"...Um, it's getting late, so you all can stay over if you want. It's a bit cramped, though..."
I frown as Sir Rail peeks in.
It's already midnight, and it's cold outside. We have some unused rooms, and Dad Feldur brought a lot of warm blankets.
I think we'll manage somehow.
"Don't worry, Lydia. I'll drink until morning. I'll drink until it's bright out, then I'll go home."
"Don't worry, Lyd-Lyd. I'll drink until morning too. I won't join the snowball fight since it's cold, but you all do your best. Let's see who can put Lyd-Lyd to bed! The losers will have to hang out with me and Tsukuyomi until morning, drinking."
Mx. Margaret said this strongly as they returned after putting Fam-Fam and Eir-Eir to bed.
I'm okay with taking a break tomorrow, so that's good.
Both of them are full of energy.
So, we headed out into the dark outside.
The alley was completely quiet, and new snow was piled up on the shoveled path.
I was wearing the red shawl Sir Ciel gave me and a fluffy white hat with bunny ears that Dad Feldur brought.
Sir Ciel lit up the dark alley with glowing orbs.
"...Isn't it a bit rude to make noise outside at this hour?"
Sir Stefan said this quietly in the silent alley, and Sir Rail laughed brightly.
"We'll just use His Highness's authority to get permission."
"That's not good. It's not right to use the Holy King's authority for something like this."
"Your Highness, don't take my brother's words too seriously."
"Roxas, that's terrible. I'm always serious. I'm cheering for you, but if it's a competition, I won't hold back. Because I'm a hero. Heroes always have to win...!"
Sir Rail started rolling up fluffy snow to make snowballs.
"Are you ready, my fun friends? The mage Ciel, the dragon knight Lucian, and... what about Your Highness? The one who threatens the hero's position, the master of the holy sword...?"
"I don't mean to. It's fine for Rail to be the hero. I'm... what am I...?"
"His Majesty The king gives the hero the order to defeat the demon king, but the king doesn't go on adventures with them. I guess I'm a holy knight, that sounds cool."
"Isn't Mr. Lucian the holy knight...?"
It's a bit strange for Sir Stefan to call himself a holy knight when Mr. Lucian, the leader of the holy knight group Leonsroar, is right there.
When I looked up at Mr. Lucian, he lowered his eyes as if he was thinking about something.
"I'm not really the type to be a holy knight, to be honest."
"Lucian feels more like a dark knight. He'd betray us halfway."
"I won't betray you again, Sir Rail."
"I know."
"Um, Sir Rail... can I join the snowball fight too...?"
"The princess too? Of course! But I don't think there's anyone here brave enough to throw a snowball at the princess..."
"I might actually be strong because I can carry heavy stuff...!"
I said while clenching my hands.
A snowball fight sounds fun. I want to join too.
"How about we make it a team battle?"
Sir Stefan said.
"Sounds good. So, it'll be Your Highness, me, and Roxas on one team. The princess, Ciel, and Lucian on the other team. We'll be the heroes trying to save the princess from the evil king and dark knight..."
"...I see. Then I won't hold back."
"Got it. I won't let Lydia go. Be ready."
Sir Rail's idea seems to get Sir Ciel and Mr. Lucian pretty excited.
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