Chapter 96: The Final Snow Festival (2)

On the Snow Festival,

“A few years ago, I lost my parents. To a child who couldn’t sleep because of hunger, I told the lie, ‘Tomorrow will be a better day.’ Ten of us shared moldy bread and endured the winter with each other’s body heat.”

Eileen continued her speech in the square as countless people watched her.

“What terrified me most back then wasn’t hunger or poverty. It was the fact that I would have to keep lying to the children tomorrow.”

As Eileen spoke, the people recalled their impoverished pasts. Parents with children wiped tears from their eyes with the backs of their hands.

“What we needed more than anything was hope. The hope that tomorrow would be different, the certainty that one day, we’d laugh and talk about this as just a memory.”

Eileen remembered her time at the orphanage.

Without the anonymous donor, she might have given up entirely.

“And finally, winter passed, and spring came. The children no longer went hungry. They laughed and played in the yard. But one thing remained the same. I still told the children before bed: ‘Tomorrow will be a better day.’”

Eileen smiled as she spoke.

“And now, that’s not a lie.”

The crowd erupted in cheers.

“Even in the coldest winter, flowers bloom. Even in hard times, hope emerges. Like winter flowers that sprout through the harshest frost, like stars that shine in the darkest night, we have endured.”

The speech was almost over.

Behind the stage, Ascal was gagging.

His condition was unusually bad today.

It must have been the pork soup from last night.

“To ensure we never forget our past, we celebrate today. No matter how hard the future becomes, we will remember today. The Snow Festival. Even in winter, flowers will bloom.”

Waaaaah—!

The saintess’ speech was a success.

“Your turn is next, Hero Ascal.”

The crown prince grinned at Ascal, who looked visibly burdened.

“Who would’ve thought a hero would be born in the Empire? Life is full of surprises.”

“I’ve told you countless times, the hero isn’t me—it’s Fer.”

“But a horse can’t deliver a speech, can it?”

Fer whinnied in agreement.

Honestly, though, it seemed like Fer could give a speech.

“Good luck, my man.”

Yulia, in her regal demeanor, walked up and kissed Ascal on the cheek. She leaned in to whisper:

“You’re retiring soon, aren’t you? Just endure a little longer.”

“Well then, let’s do this… Ugh, the nausea.”

Yulia patted Ascal’s back.

“Hang in there, Ascal. Today is an important day.”

The crowd still didn’t know Ascal was the hero.

The reason was simple.

“I can’t wait to see everyone’s faces when they realize the Empire’s hidden dragon is actually the hero.”

It was all part of the crown prince’s plan.

The saintess would appear first to heighten expectations.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the hero will appear shortly.”

The crowd, still unaware of the hero’s identity, buzzed with anticipation. Excitement was at its peak.

The chosen saintess, Eileen.

And the hero, Ascal.

They were the Empire’s hottest topics.

The Empire’s hidden dragon and sacred star—the rising icons of the next generation.

- I heard the hero’s identity will finally be revealed today.

They’re from the Empire, right?**

Step, step.

From behind Eileen, a figure emerged.

- Move, I can’t see!

- Who is it? Who?

- Oh, that person is…

All eyes turned in one direction.

“Well done, Eileen.”

“Hero.”

Eileen’s face lit up as she saw Ascal step onto the stage.

Ascal looked down at the square.

It was packed with people.

Everyone was staring at him.

Finally, the crowd began to realize that the person standing before them was Ascal.

- The Empire’s hidden dragon, here?

- Was the hero announcement a lie?

- What’s going on?

Buzz, buzz. Chatter, chatter.

‘Speech. Where’s the speech?’​

Ascal pulled out the speech Yulia had written for him.

But as he stared at the letters, his mind went blank.

Perhaps it was because he was so tense, but he couldn’t make out a single word.

“Uh, everyone…”

Even his words came out stuttered.

From behind, Yulia watched him with concern, ready to rush onto the stage at any moment.

The crown prince stopped her, holding her back.

“Brother.”

“Trust him.”

The crowd grew even more restless.

Buzz, buzz.

In Ascal’s mind, he could almost hear imaginary voices.

- Wow, so the Empire’s hidden dragon is actually this much of a coward?

How could someone like this be entrusted with such a high position as the next chancellor?

Impeach him! Impeach Ascal!

Of course, it was all just his imagination.

“…!”

But suddenly, Ascal’s face lit up.

“Uh, Hero? Are you alright? Should I pat your back?”

“That won’t be necessary!”

That’s right.

If the speech was already ruined, why not ruin it even more?

In fact, this was perfect.

It was a chance to completely destroy any expectations people had of him.

Ascal boldly tore up the speech.

Then, he drew Lightbane from its sheath.

「Understood, master! Amplifying your voice.」

The golden blade of Lightbane gleamed brightly, capturing everyone’s attention with its brilliant light.

Ascal raised Lightbane high and said, calmly but firmly:

“I am the Hero.”

That was it.

After speaking those words, Ascal turned around and left the stage without saying anything else.

The crowd, momentarily stunned, processed what they had just heard.

And then—

Waaaaaaah—!

“Ascal—! Our Hero, Ascal—!”

Thunderous cheers erupted across the square.

“Without flowery rhetoric, simply delivering the truth had a greater impact on the people’s hearts. It was a flawless speech, Ascal. We must record this and teach it to future generations.”

“It pains me that the speech I personally wrote was torn apart, but I must admit it was an effective performance.”

Ascal was dumbfounded.

He had casually tossed out a half-hearted line and left, yet it turned out to be a massive success?

‘The Empire… never fails to surprise me.’

The crown prince looked at the scribe’s record with satisfaction.

“Now, you’re free, my friend. Go and enjoy the festival to your heart’s content. Hmm… with your beautiful girlfriend, perhaps?”

.

.

.

The festival was bustling.

As a royal, there was much for Yulia to tend to.

She had spent the day fulfilling her duties as a princess, but something about her demeanor suggested she had more to say.

Finally, after much hesitation, Yulia spoke.

“Are you feeling alright, Ascal?”

“I’m fine.”

“This will probably be the last festival, won’t it?”

“Yes. Once this is over… there’s the Elder Dragon.”

When the Snow Festival ended, they would begin preparing to face the Elder Dragon in earnest. And after that, Ascal would retire from the Empire.

The “last festival” carried that heavy meaning.

Ascal gathered his belongings and cast a disguise spell to avoid being recognized by the crowd.

“I have something to confess, Ascal.”

After much internal debate, Yulia finally spoke, her voice slightly nervous.

“Yulia.”

“Mm.”

“...”

“Do you… have some kind of fetish for coming clean? Like you find pleasure in revealing secrets to others…?”

.

.

.

The Princess’s Confession.

A love confession.

And something else still remains?

Was she an onion, peeling layer after layer?

“This isn’t a joke. I’m serious. You might even end up hating me…”

“Did you embezzle funds and invest them without telling me?”

“No!”

“Then what is it? Just spill it already.”

Yulia bit her lip.

“Not now. I’m not ready yet.”

“Fine, then tell me later.”

Ascal turned his gaze to the festival-goers.

It had been a long time since he’d enjoyed such an atmosphere.

“We’ve got all day.”

“Achoo! Achoo!”

Serena hugged her shoulders, shivering.

She regretted not dressing warmly enough.

But she couldn’t help it.

Today was an important day, and she wanted to look her best.

With a small flick of her hand, Serena conjured a tiny flame using magic.

It offered some warmth.

This was the first theater Serena had ever visited.

Now, it was on the verge of demolition—nearly collapsed, with its roof torn wide open.

Still, it held memories.

‘Because it’s where I first met him.’

It was evening.

Through the broken wall, she could see people walking by outside, smiles lighting up their faces.

When she saw couples holding hands occasionally, Serena felt a painful twinge in her chest.

Come return it. I’ll be waiting.

The place is where we first met.

“…Will you come, darling?”

Darling.

The nickname rolled off her tongue naturally.

But suddenly, gloom settled over her again.

“Haa…”

Yulia was already by Ascal’s side.

Even so, Serena couldn’t give up. Her stubbornness had brought her here, but her chances seemed slim.

“It’s so cold…”

Even with the fire, the chill lingered.

The single earring she wore dangled in the wind, swaying back and forth.

“Ugh…”

She was bound to catch a cold at this rate.

The gaping hole in the ceiling wasn’t helping.

Serena looked up at the sky with frustration.

It was a uselessly beautiful evening sky.

“…A dragon?”

Serena froze.

In the sky above, she saw it—a red dragon soaring through the air.

The dragon drew closer, its massive jaws opening wide.

“What the… why?”

Roarrrrrrr—!

The Elder Dragon let out an earth-shaking roar.

Its fiery breath rained down on the ground.

And as luck—or misfortune—would have it, the flames fell right where Serena stood.

Ascal’s items before the Snow Festival:

- Serena’s earring—still not returned.

- One of Sushia’s shoes—still not returned.

- Yulia’s hair tie—still not returned.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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