Chapter 225: Within The Falling Snow
The Demon Lord had a busy day walking around the Lord Castle to inspect the condition of the estate that day, followed by his aides and a few of his vassals. They were talking about the reparation for some worn-down gates and the tightening of security for the New Year ceremony in the Temple when the snow started to fall.
For a moment, the Lord stopped walking in the middle of the hallway and just stared at the falling snow. His entourage, who had to stop with him, could see the nostalgia filling the silver eyes. Those sharp eyes were softening, and his cold face was filled with tenderness.
It was something that happened in an instant. But it happened so naturally these days that his aides and vassals no longer felt it was jarring. Most of them knew what it felt to fall in love, and they easily caught it in the Lord’s face.
"Didn’t you pick up Young Master Valen during the winter in that kingdom, my Lord?" Dhuarta asked.
If the realm of nature had no seasons, the human realm would have opposing seasons from the demon world. And it was winter when the Lord had his disguise on, approaching the tragic hero on the balcony of the palace.
"Mm," the Lord smiled in response. It wasn’t a rooftop, but, well...it was pretty similar. Seemed like they had a connection with falling snow, which was nice, to think that such cold weather contained their warmest memories.
"Oh?" Dhuarta suddenly exclaimed and approached the railing to look at the yard better. "Isn’t that Young Master?"
They were standing at the side of the castle not far from the research tower, and they could see the tower’s front door. As Dhuarta had pointed out, they saw the beautiful half-druid walking--no, skipping out of the tower with his little elemental bird in tow.
Even from afar, they could see his bright expression and hear the crisp, joyful laughter full of youthful spirit. His head was tilting up to the sky, the dark hair flowing behind as he jumped up and down between the falling snow. A pair of imps holding a fur coat and blanket followed him anxiously, telling him to be careful of the slippery ground, but the young master just responded with laughter.
Even more behind, following the mirthful pair of master and familiar playing around under the first snow of the season, were the Lord’s two vassals and a grumbling, shivering elf hugging a little gecko.
"Oh, that’s where they are," Dhuarta commented as she saw her twin brother and the vampire. "I should play more in the research tower, seemed like a cozy place."