“Looks like Murmur is a fluffy white cloud of lamb wool right now.”
While touring Nicasia’s magnificent winter chalet, Esme suddenly brought up an utterly random topic.
Where in this world are there horned bundles of pure white lamb’s wool?
“I was just thinking the same thing?”
“Murmur’s lamb wool pajamas aren’t as fluffy as this coat she’s wearing now.”
“Oh~ ho ho! Does everyone like it? I specially picked this coat for Lady Murmur!”
This warm and squishy lambswool coat that I, Murmur, am wearing really was a winter vacation present from Citrine.
But it’s not to the extent of being called a giant lump of lamb’s wool.
“When I feel it with my hands, I can understand what Nicasia meant by ‘fluffy.'”
Still, it doesn’t give off the impression of rolling around like lamb’s wool!
“Well, Murmur would be fine. You look incredibly cute even when standing still!”
Esme, who truly said something absurd, gently patted my head.
If we’re going by that logic, in my eyes, you fifth graders from the Elementary Unit are all cute, squishy little ones.
What are you talking about when you complain about side dishes and grumble about wanting to sleep in?
Anyway, if we leave it at that, someone will inevitably start talking about how cute, how squishy, or how short everyone is.
“What Murmur wants is for Nicasia to show us around the chalet.”
“If Murmur is curious, of course I’ll show you.”
Nicasia took my hand, which was covered in a mute glove, with her leather-gloved hand.
“They say this chalet was built quite a while ago. There’s a story that it was made for a beloved wife.”
“So that’s why it’s so big and massive, huh.”
Esme tilted her head back and marveled.
Indeed, a three-story mansion isn’t something you see easily anywhere.
It wasn’t a log cabin but a palace made of large, shiny marble, and its presence on three floors was extraordinary.
“And well… This might sound a bit boastful, but it’s a chalet that only our royal family can use.”
“It’s a private chalet!”
“Can we really play here if it’s a place only royalty can use?!”
Esme gasped, but Nicasia laughed.
“It’s not as solemn or scary as Esme thinks. Even in the Ermania Union Kingdom or the Gallagorun Kingdom, there are similar chalets that only royals can use.”
In a way, it’s because if royalty or emperors mingle with ordinary people on vacation, it causes a huge commotion, so this is where they escape.
Actually, this chalet was located halfway up a rather deep mountain.
Moreover, it was classified as a third field, distinct from both the Gallagorun Kingdom and Cosmos Academy.
“Hmm… Now that you say that, I don’t think there’s any need to be so terrified.”
“Please relax. My mother has allowed us to stay here comfortably with friends.”
Nicasia smiled brightly.
“Nicasia’s mother seems a bit different from what I’ve heard.”
“Rumors?”
“I heard she’s terrifying when angry. But I also heard it’s hard to make her angry.”
Citrine sighed softly and shook her head.
“That’s not different from the rumors… It means that when she’s not angry, she has an incredibly good and warm nature.”
“That’s right. I’ve also heard plenty of stories about Nicasia’s mother!”
When Monica waved her hand vigorously, Nicasia coughed awkwardly and blushed.
“At times like this… Being royalty is embarrassing.”
Nicasia turned red and didn’t know what to do.
Well, if your friends know so much about your mother whom you haven’t explained in detail, it would be awkward, wouldn’t it?
“Ah… Ah, right. Let me briefly explain the chalet. The place we’re walking through now connects to the front yard and garden.”
Nicasia pointed with her hand.
“Do you see the building with the pointed roof over there? Beyond that, there are stairs leading up to the hot spring.”
“I’ve been looking forward to the hot springs!”
“Me too! Let’s bathe every day in the hot springs!”
Esme and Monica gleefully sparkled their eyes like children.
“Is this area really part of the garden?”
“Yes, it is. Citrine. Everyone takes great care of it.”
Citrine covered her wide-open mouth with her hand and pointed at some sculptures in front of her eyes.
“I didn’t expect there to be so many priceless artworks here that you couldn’t buy even if you wanted to.”
“Ah, but… I’ve seen them since I was young…”
Though embarrassed, Nicasia explained every nook and cranny of the chalet to us.
She told us the stories behind the chalet, warned us not to enter the warehouse with the red exterior walls, and took us on a tour of the entire garden.
The expressions of the adults watching us from afar were thankfully warm, contrary to my worries.
“Eek…!”
Just as I was thinking that, a cold snowball whizzed past my head, Murmur, and hit Nicasia’s chest with a “plop.”
“Nicasia! Murmur! Let’s have a snowball fight!”
…Now I get it; the lack of words earlier was because of the cold!
“I want to have a snowball fight too! Yay!”
Monica gleefully threw a sparkling snowball at where Nicasia and I, Murmur, were standing.
Her accuracy was terrible, but the snow flew straight and refreshingly.
“Everyone must be cold, so let’s not have a snowball fight ju—Gyaah!”
A snowball thrown by Esme hit Nicasia’s face beautifully.
“Esme! Using magic is cheating!”
“A, a, I didn’t use it!”
You saw it sparkle, didn’t you?!
I, Murmur, let out a snort, crouched down, and started making snowballs earnestly.
“Are you joining too, Murmur?!”
“Murmur is still… Ow!”
Isn’t making snowballs already too much?
Esme laughed heartily and quickly scraped snow from the stone wall to form a snowball.
“Murmur won’t forgive you! Esme attacked first!”
How dare you underestimate me with archery skills!
I threw the snowball with all my might at Esme’s face.
“Ugh…!”
Esme squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her face with both hands after getting hit on the nose.
“How could you hit someone directly in the face from the very beginning?! Murmur used magic too, right?!”
“Esme! Didn’t you say you didn’t use magic earlier?”
Nicasia brushed the snow off her chest, quickly formed a snowball, and hurled it at Esme.
“Kyaa! W-well, it’s more like… Monicaa! Help me!”
Esme desperately dodged while throwing the snowballs Monica had prepared toward us.
“I’ll work hard to make them! I’ll make them and Esme will throw them!”
“T-this! Something’s…! It’s, it’s unfair! Nicasia and Murmur are only throwing snowballs at me!”
Esme trembled like a puppy and crouched down to start making snowballs.
“Switch! Change places!”
Monica grinned and immediately threw the snow she had made at us.
“Why is the snow sparkling…?!”
It wasn’t blessed, was it?!
Nicasia swiftly swatted away the incoming snow with her palm toward me, Murmur.
“Monica! That could really hurt Murmur…”
– Whack!
“Oooh…!”
The snowball filled with blessings added about 2 extra points of pain.
Maybe it just hurt more because it hit my forehead!
“Murmur is fine. It doesn’t sting or hurt. But it hurts…”
“It hurts because it hit your forehead, right?”
As I, Murmur, nodded, Nicasia immediately scooped up a handful of snow and threw it at Esme.
“W-why are you throwing it at meee!”
“You’re the one who suggested a snowball fight!”
“That’s not a snowball fight; that’s throwing a snowman!”
Esme hastily shot out a fireball with both hands and melted Nicasia’s large snowball.
“I trusted you, Esme.”
“Don’t say that with such a refreshing face! Nicasiaaaa!”
Esme, who no longer intended to deny using magic, quickly formed snowballs and shot them like magic bullets.
And Nicasia, whose body seemed to loosen up, lightly dodged those snowballs and tossed a small one at Esme’s chest.
“I know you intentionally aimed for my chest just now! Esme!”
“I was aiming for Murmur’s horns!”
“You know that’s worse behavior!”
“Gyah! Why are you aiming for my chest again!”
Esme couldn’t keep up with Nicasia, who was throwing snowballs smoothly.
“Esme! Esme! Fighting! I’ll cheer you on here!”
Monica occasionally threw snowballs that hit Nicasia’s buttocks and back, but it didn’t mean much.
“Really… We were listening to the chalet’s explanation, and suddenly a snowball fight broke out. Everyone is acting like young kids.”
I, Murmur, approached Citrine, who was shaking her head rapidly.
“Citriiiin!”
“Kyaaaaa?!”
To involve Citrine, who had been standing quietly until now, this is the only method! She’s been chatting with Balkan behind her all along!
I stuffed the snowballs I was holding in both hands into the gap between Citrine’s shoulders.
As expected, Citrine let out an incredibly cute scream and weirdly massaged her back while shivering.
“M-Murmur-sama?!”
“If you wanted to play with Citrine, you should have said so from the start! This will make your clothes all wet!”
Her face turning red, Citrine grabbed my hand and pulled me forcefully.
“First! Let’s rescue Esme from Nicasia!”
“I accept! Throwing snowballs at Nicasia is most welcome!”
Citrine immediately put on a mischievous expression, gathered a lot of snow with me, Murmur, and threw it at Nicasia.
Of course, Princess Nicasia’s agility was amazing, so what was supposed to be a 4-on-1 snowball fight ended in our defeat.
“So, did everyone end up looking like soaked rats?”
“We’re lucky to have prepared baths.”
It was natural for Vestra and Riola to greet us, who had almost frozen after playing in the snow for over an hour, with shocked faces.
But it was incredibly fun! We’ll make a snowman next time!
