“No, it’s okay. There must have been too much snow piled up for the branch to bear.”

“…I see.”

Rudvion vaguely stared at the swaying branch.

Even then, the wind spirit was circling around Rudvion.

“Whether it’s during the time as the Holy Maiden or now, it seems natural for me to deal with spirits.”

Suddenly, I remembered that he had searched for Eliseus as the wind spirit.
Rudvion lowered his head shyly.

“It’s a modest improvement. And… it’s all thanks to Lady Eileen.”

He always seemed genuinely shy.

‘Except for his gruffness, he’s somewhat like Mikael.’

I playfully responded, tapping his shoulder.

“Hey, I may have the authority to summon spirits, but Rudvion worked hard, didn’t he? So, don’t think too much about it.”

Expected him to reply as before, but he remained silent.

After a while, Rudvion, who had been silent, spoke up.

“If I think like this, would I be causing trouble for Lady Eileen?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

Although I asked, he seemed more surprised than me.

“…I misspoke. Please forgive me.”

Just like I had done to him earlier, he was now covering his own mouth.

Rudvion looked somewhat different today.

Sharper facial features with visibly gaunt cheeks. In his wavering eyes, there was an unspoken worry.

‘Come to think of it, I didn’t see him in the training ground yesterday either.’

It wasn’t certain, but it seemed that way.

Without further delay, I asked him.

“Rudvion, do you have any concerns?”

At my words, he visibly flinched.

“I don’t have… ”

“Feel free to talk. Your secret is safe.”

I pretended to zip my mouth shut.

Even Emma and Mikael wouldn’t have spoken if it weren’t for them agreeing beforehand.

‘Well, Rudvion is a fellow witness, so there’s nothing to be done.’

He can keep his mouth shut.

Smiling slightly, Rudvion lowered his gaze to the ground.

He seemed to be struggling with some internal conflict.

‘Hey there?’

Even when I waved my hands, there was no response.

Thanks to that, I could make a mini snowman while waiting for him.

‘All done.’

It was quite fun after a long time.

When I was about to add eyes, a nose, and a mouth to the mini snowman, Rudvion spoke with difficulty.

“…Actually, it seems I’ve developed feelings for someone.”

He almost dropped the snowman with that strained confession.

“It’s not Eliseus, is it?”

“Are you talking about the Saint right now?”

Rudvion instantly sobered up.

Faced with a look that questioned how I could make such an assumption, I quickly apologized.

“Uh, really sorry. Do you want to keep talking?”

It seemed serious enough for him to clear up any misunderstandings, especially considering what Eliseus had done in the duke’s residence.

Rudvion composed himself with a sigh.

“She already has a lover.”

‘Wow, just change the subject, and it’s exactly like the original.’

That’s what I thought about his confession.

However, I couldn’t say that out loud. Because…

‘He’s already dealing with a wounded heart.’

It was a heartache he had kept to himself.

Even if that feeling shouldn’t be expressed outwardly, it didn’t mean it wasn’t painful.

Rudvion’s gaze was heavy.

I, too, had to treat him seriously.

“How about meeting another woman? After all, half the world is women.”
“Even if there are many women, not all of them are that person.”

I don’t know who Rudvion has fallen for, but the situation was serious.

Still, maybe it can be reversed.

I hoped Rudvion wouldn’t dedicate his life to someone he couldn’t confess his feelings to.

“Rudvion, I hope you find love that you can achieve.”

“…Is that so.”

“Yes. Liking someone to the point of suppressing yourself is something you shouldn’t do to yourself.”

It was a genuinely pitiful thing to say.

As someone who knew the original Rudvion, I knew how much he had suffered.

“I’ll try my best.”

Rudvion forced a smile.

I patted his shoulder.

“Cheer up, Rudvion.”

That was all I could say.

At that moment, I thought of another solution.

“Oh, right. Winter hunting is happening this week. Want to go together?”

Maybe it will be a change of mood.

Besides, not only eternal beings participated in the hunt.

‘There might be nymphs who enjoy hunting.’

You never know.

‘You might meet a good match there.’

Rudvion unexpectedly had a timid side.

So, dragging him along might be the right type.

“…Well, it might be better not to go.”

“Why? It could be fun.”

The more I stayed silent, the deeper the dilemma became.

After asking several times, Rudvion finally nodded.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Once I heard the affirmative answer, I finally felt relieved.

A faint smile crossed Rudvion’s lips. It seemed his mood had improved a bit.

“What do you have there?”

“Oh, this. It’s a snowman. Cute, right?”

Though made with leaves and rocks for eyes, nose, and mouth, it was smiling.

“Yes, it’s cute.”

“Here. I’ll give it to Rudvion.”

I handed the small snowman to him.

Rudvion, receiving it, had surprised eyes.

“Even if you give me this…”

“It’s just a snowman. I’ll be going now. Cheer up!”

Winter was cold for everyone, but for someone with deep concerns, it was even colder.

I hoped that little snowman would bring him some comfort. That’s what I thought.