WTBFCY Chapter 37

The two people who barely made it onto the train without missing it sat facing each other. No, to be precise, Noah had already reclined the back cushion and was lying at an angle. Even before starting the journey, he already looked quite exhausted.

"What kind of place is Hoern?"

"......Well, I know it's a region with heavy snowfall."

Regina naturally shed her awkwardness as Noah's tone in answering with closed eyes was the same as always.

The two were conversing no differently than usual. As if there had been no incident of him being seriously injured and Regina running away and being caught again.

"Snow?"

"Yeah, in midwinter the snow piles higher than roofs—they build walls of snow along the roadsides."

At that moment, Noah's bangs fell across his eyes. He frowned slightly as if the platinum blond hair tickled his eyes. Regina stared absently at that face. Noah surprisingly knew many things and, though he seemed annoyed, answered every question without fail.

He might be a kinder person than she'd thought. The thought suddenly occurred to her.

"Hoern's closer than you'd think. You'll arrive after a nap."

"Ah... Yes."

Because Regina hadn't spoken for a while, Noah opened his closed eyes. Hearing his words, Regina took out a blanket, spread it, lowered the backrest, and lay at an angle. Having turned halfway on her side and closed her eyes, she didn't notice Noah hadn't looked away.

She also didn't know that various complex emotions including turmoil flickered briefly in those eyes.

"Ugh, compared to the capital, this really is the middle of winter."

The Hoern fiefdom they arrived at was different starting with the air itself. The moment she got off the train, the strong wind striking her skin made Regina shrink. The air she breathed was cold enough to sting her throat.

"The capital's uniquely warm too."

Floomp.

"Mmph!"

Saying that, Noah pulled his coat from his luggage and covered it over Regina's head as if pulling a blanket over her. When her vision was suddenly blocked by clothes, Regina, who had ducked her head, pushed aside the coat with her hand and looked back.

"We threw away most of your clothes, so cover yourself with this until we buy new ones."

"Oh... Yes. Thank you."

Noah had been bothered by Regina's light clothing since he'd discarded several clothes to stanch his wounds. Only after seeing Regina waddle in the oversized coat did his mood improve somewhat.

The two wearing thick clothes left the train station and went down into the village within the fiefdom.

"There are lots of people on the streets despite the cold weather."

"This weather would be considered warm here."

"Haha, that's right! In Hoern fiefdom, this temperature is spring, spring!"

The one who suddenly interjected into the two people's conversation as they passed a sign reading 'Welcome to Hoern Fiefdom' was a large-framed middle-aged man. He wore a coat made from animal hide and fur.

"Hello."

"Good day to you, miss! You two look like travelers—how about staying at our inn?"

When Regina greeted him with his rough but hearty voice, the man laughed loudly and pointed to the building beside him. Noah, who had been about to look for lodging anyway, glanced over the building and nodded.

"We will. Ah, and we're looking for someone. Have you seen a young woman with red hair from outside within the last month? Her name might be Rose, or she could be using a different name."

"This is a tourist area! Especially in winter we have a snow blossom festival, so many people come and go—it's hard to remember them all."

"A red-haired woman? She hasn't stayed at our inn. There are three inns here, so ask at the others too."

At that moment, someone's voice came from behind the man. When Regina tilted her head slightly to the side and peeked out, a small girl who'd been hidden by his large frame revealed herself. The girl with dark brown hair tied on both sides had cute freckles sprinkled across her nose bridge.

"Nancy! Where have you been until now? Dad's been looking everywhere for you!"

"I was with you the whole time, Dad. I keep telling you to lose some belly fat. Your stomach's so big it blocks me from view, Dad."

"Haha, I should! My daughter Nancy has much better memory than me, so she's probably right! Hahaha!"

The man who laughed heartily said he'd guide them inside and lifted his daughter. To the girl wrapping her arms around her dad's neck, Noah posed another question.

"Then can I ask one more thing? Have there been any rumors around here about someone who suddenly disappeared and reappeared, or died and came back to life?"

The girl, whose line of sight had risen high in her dad's arms, looked down at Noah with round eyes at the strange question. After staying silent for a moment as if chewing over her memory, she soon opened her mouth as if remembering.

"Not a person, but I've heard a similar story."

"What? Really? What story?"

Regina approached Noah's side and asked instead. The girl's eyes suddenly sparkled when she saw her.

"You're a pretty lady. Prettier than the doll Dorothy bragged about! Will you play with me for just an hour? Dorothy said she can't play today because she caught a cold, so I'm bored. I'll tell you if you play with me."

At Nancy's words spoken with a bright smile, Regina looked back at Noah in confusion. Then he made a different proposal.

"Rather than just playing, how about you help her instead? She happens to need a coat and is in trouble, so she'd be really happy if you went shopping for clothes together."

"Really?! Great! Dad, put me down! I want to go with the lady right now!"

"Oh my, Nancy, you shouldn't bother the guests..."

At the mention of going clothes shopping, Nancy patted her dad's thick arms. When the man set his daughter down, Nancy ran over on short legs and clasped Regina's hands.

"It's fine! I'm helping! Right, handsome mister?"

"Right, exactly. Then will you answer my question now?"

"Henry's cat. The black cat belonging to Henry who lives in the biggest mansion in our village suddenly died and came back to life. I heard Henry crying and blubbering about it because he was scared. I answered, so I can go with the lady now, right?"

A cat—that was unexpected information. Even though she'd answered, Nancy seemed frustrated that Regina stood there blankly without leaving, so she tugged at her arm. Noah took the luggage Regina was holding and handed over a coin purse.

"Buy clothes and necessary things. I'll ask about Rose at the other inns in the meantime. When you come back here, we'll visit this Henry kid's house."

"Ah... Yes. I understand."

Regina answered as Nancy half-dragged her along.

Nancy was a capable child. Not only did she take her to a place selling practical and cheap clothes, but she even picked out a good winter coat by examining the leather's condition. Thanks to that, Regina had plenty of money left even after buying clothes. When she bought a small hair ribbon and lots of snacks in gratitude, the cute face sprinkled with freckles bloomed brightly.

"Thank you, lady! It's really so pretty! Oh, I want to show off to my friends—can I go first? If you follow this road straight, you'll reach our house. You won't get lost!"

"Yeah, okay. Be careful!"

"Yes, see you later!"

Nancy ran off in the opposite direction, excited to show off to her friends. Regina waved to her, then started walking along the road she'd been told. Walking an unfamiliar road and sightseeing had its own enjoyment.

The road where houses stood in a row had low walls reaching shoulder height extending long. The houses' roofs being pointy cone shapes also looked quite unique. As she walked admiring the similar but different roof forms, she noticed a black tail moving leisurely on a wall some distance away.

"Huh? A tail?"

When Regina tilted her head and took a few steps closer, a black ball of fur that had been hidden by a street tree's branches was curled up. Amazed at how it was lying with exquisite balance on the wall much narrower and thinner than its own bulk, she approached closer—only then did the black furball lift its head.

Meow.

It was a cat, jet black all over. As if telling her not to come closer, it stared at Regina and meowed once.

It was when their eyes met—those clear amber pupils.

"Snow!"

A young boy's voice suddenly came from behind. The moment Regina turned around at the sound raised high with delight, unfamiliar memories poured before her eyes. Like white snow piled on tree branches suddenly falling in a heap, it happened in an instant.

The life of a stray cat born in a cold region was quite rough. First, prey was scarce, and at the slightest cold wind, food in the forest ran out early. Even if he went down to the village searching here and there for warm places, when heavy snow fell, people's hearts hardened too, making scraps hard to come by.

"Shoo, get lost! Ugh, unlucky black cat!"

Moreover, if it was a black cat, that hardship increased tenfold.

"Mrooow!"

Nimbly dodging the long branch the old human swung, he ran out with dried jerky clamped in his mouth.

Tap, tap-tap-tap.

But he was confident. Whether black-furred or striped, he was healthier, cleverer, and faster than other cats. Sneaking into kitchens to snatch food was child's play. Compared to when he couldn't walk properly and waddled like a duck as a kitten, he'd practically grown wings.

For a human, this would be his prime.

After tearing into the jerky enthusiastically with sharp fangs and thoroughly licking even what stuck to his paws, his mood improved considerably. He arched his back in a long stretch, shook himself once, and started walking again.

The place he'd been visiting frequently lately was this village's largest mansion. It had a garden, a kitchen incomparably larger than ordinary houses, and being spacious, many hiding places too—a location all cats coveted.

Swish, tap.

And it was equally difficult to enter. Not only did a huge dog guarding the mansion gate drool while baring its teeth, but mousetraps were placed throughout the mansion.

However, none of this posed a problem for him. Leaping to an unbelievable height, he stepped on gaps in the mansion wall and clung there, then extended his legs long and climbed up lightly. While the stupid dog barked looking in the wrong direction, he leisurely hid himself in the garden's tree branches.

His long black tail swayed leisurely in good spirits.

From the moment he entered, it was his world. Getting caught in mousetraps was something only foolish cats did. He ate only small amounts of food at dawn when few people were around, unnoticeable, and slept in warm corners he'd claimed.

With a warm back and full belly, this place was paradise, heaven. Ignorant humans might dislike him for his black fur, but thanks to his dark fur, sneaking in was easy and hunting simple too.

Hmph. Laughing at human foolishness, he slicked down his fur with his tongue to groom it, then lifted his head to look outside. Midwinter had arrived at some point, and heavy snow was falling outside the mansion.

Having claimed a spot in the gap beneath the mansion's roof, he watched that magnificent view from high up, swishing his tail back and forth.

"Huh? A cat?"

That black tail catching the eye of Henry, who stuck his head out through the window gap below, was because he'd let his guard down with his attention stolen by the scenery. His fur stood on end at the young boy's voice, and he hurriedly rose from his spot to flee.

Young humans were violent and cruel in proportion to their ignorance.

"Wow, all black fur but only the paw parts are white? It's like he walked through snow. Cute!"

At those words, he stopped mid-leap inside and looked back. Cute—was that said about him? When he, who'd been half-hidden, poked his head back out, Henry smiled brightly.

"Kitty, how about 'Snow' for your name?"

"Mrow."

Snow as a name for a black cat—a naming sense that revealed a deficit of knowledge.

"Yeah, you like it too? Snow, come here! I'll give you something tasty!"

He, who had suddenly become Snow, washed his face a few times with his front paws, then turned his back and left with a swish. If you thought I'd fall for being lured with food, you haven't lived enough in the world yet.

Still, well, it wasn't unpleasant. His white paws were cute and lovable even to him. Snow, who laughed hmph, curled up his body and went to sleep.