Chapter 5: A Snow Day’s Mischief and a Prince’s Invitation

The year’s first grand snowfall cast a serene, icy spell over the royal capital. Yet, instead of silence and desolation, an unusually fervent and joyous atmosphere thrummed through the city, brought to life by the frigid flakes.

Within the little princess’s garden,

From time to time, the cheerful, boisterous laughter of young girls drifted forth.

Red-haired Oulina, frolicking like a playful puppy, no longer recoiled from the heavy snow she once dreaded. Now, well-fed and warmly clothed, she felt not a trace of fear.

Instead, a powerful surge of conquering excitement welled up in her brave, almost ‘manly’ heart.

The little girl scampered across the snowy ground, leaving behind a trail of cute, messy footprints. From a distance, she resembled a vibrant red flame, flickering and dancing atop the pristine white.

Her lively spirit infused warmth into the hearts of those who watched, making them forget the biting cold.

“Linna, Linna! Snow, so much snow! Come and play with me!”

Oulina bounced in place, vigorously waving her hand at Linna, who stood nearby.

The silver-haired girl smiled gently, her exquisite face appearing like a natural snow spirit against the white expanse. Her beauty and charm were truly captivating.

When Oulina and Linna were seen together, it was as if scorching fire met delicate ice. Far from being discordant, their contrasting presences enhanced each other, adding a unique spark of humanity to the scene.

Ling Guang stood to the side, watching the playful girls with a contented smile. As always, she silently guarded the precious bond she so cherished.

Everything on the white snow seemed wonderfully warm, save for one exception—Sasaki, who was currently in a rather awkward predicament.

“Hey, little Linna, your brother is still here, you know? Won’t you talk to your brother?”

His voice, laced with a pleading tone, wavered in the air.

Sasaki, accompanied by his chief aide, Heip, stood awkwardly to the side, looking utterly out of place amidst the harmonious scene.

As for why Sasaki found himself in such a situation…

The year-end approached, and with the heavy snow, Sasaki had a rare moment of leisure. He decided to visit Linna.

He arrived just as Linna and Oulina were enjoying breakfast together.

Upon seeing Oulina, the outspoken Sasaki exclaimed in surprise,

“Eh? Isn’t this the little girl Su Mu picked up? What’s she doing here?”

Linna’s face instantly darkened.

She had gone to such great lengths to persuade Oulina to stay and keep her company. If Sasaki’s thoughtless words scared her away…

Linna glared at Sasaki, then silently walked over to him. She stomped forcefully on his foot and hadn’t spoken another word to him since.

Thus, a rather comical scene unfolded.

The crucial point was that Sasaki still had no idea how he had offended his precious little sister.

Sasaki sighed inwardly, feeling exhausted. His right instep still throbbed faintly.

‘Girls are so hard to understand. The younger Su Mu was much more obedient and adorable.’

Thinking of his sweet younger brother, who used to cling to him so much, Sasaki couldn’t help but smile, momentarily lost in thought.

His quiet chuckling caught Linna’s attention.

Coincidentally, Sasaki’s gaze was directed towards Oulina, and coupled with his strange laughter and expression, it was hard not to overthink things.

Linna pouted, glaring disdainfully at her good-for-nothing elder brother. She admonished him,

“Big Brother, what impolite things are you thinking about now?”

Sasaki snapped back to reality, frantically waving his hands. “No, no, I wasn’t thinking about anything at all.”

His attitude clearly indicated otherwise!

Heip covered his face, unable to watch. He grumbled helplessly in his heart, ‘This Highness of mine is truly beyond saving…’

Then, Sasaki was once again met with Linna’s fierce, adorable stomp.

Sasaki winced in pain, crouching down. He said aggrievedly, “Sister, at least don’t keep stomping on the same foot with such force.”

“Hmph, serves you right!”

Linna ignored him, walking over to take Oulina’s hand. “Let’s go play somewhere else. Don’t mind him.”

Oulina glanced at Sasaki, then at Linna, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

“Linna, let’s have a snowball fight!”

With that, Oulina crouched down and molded two small snowballs. She handed one to Linna, then winked, subtly gesturing towards Sasaki.

Linna understood immediately, stifling a laugh.

“3… 2…”

The two girls counted down together.

“1!”

As they reached ‘1’, they spun around and hurled their snowballs at Sasaki.

The snowballs burst against Sasaki’s body, a winter’s festive salute, leaving behind streaks of white. Oulina winked at Sasaki, who, understanding her cue, grinned at the two girls.

“You rascals, ambushing me! Take this!”

Sasaki unexpectedly scooped up a handful of snow from behind him and tossed it towards Linna.

Oulina quickly pulled Linna away, their adorable laughter ringing through the air. Sasaki chased after them, laughing unrestrainedly.

In that moment, completely shedding his royal identity, he was merely a child who had never truly enjoyed such simple pleasures.

Heip and Ling Guang watched their prince, a gentle smile blooming in their eyes simultaneously.

****

As Su Mu passed by Linna’s palace, the joyful laughter from the garden caught his attention, slowing his hurried steps.

He couldn’t help but pause, gazing towards the garden. Even though he couldn’t see anything, a longing for that happiness stirred within him.

‘Never mind, I’ll finish what I need to do first. Just bear with it for now.’

Su Mu thought, resuming his pace, but a pair of slightly cool hands grasped his right hand.

It was Bai Ji. “Your Highness, go inside and take a look.”

Su Mu froze for a moment, then smiled and shook his head. “No need. Let’s head to the alchemy workshop first.”

Bai Ji did not let go.

Suddenly, she felt a pang of grievance, a dislike for her own clumsy mouth.

In the silent pause, another warm hand covered his. “Master, little Oulina has been away from you and staying here for some time now. She misses you.”

Saying this, Aier used her other hand to seize his left, forcefully pulling him towards the courtyard gate.

This reason struck a chord in Su Mu’s heart. He no longer refused, smiling helplessly. “Alright, alright, I yield. Your clever little mouth truly knows how to get to me.”

Following Aier’s convenient excuse, Su Mu set aside his urgency, ready to go inside and see Linna and Oulina.

Linna’s guards and maids all recognized Su Mu. Along the way, they offered respectful bows and greetings, posing no obstruction.

There was no need to ask for directions; the joyful laughter could be heard from afar.

As he approached, Su Mu immediately spotted Linna and Oulina’s playful figures, with Sasaki chasing behind them.

It seemed a massive snowball was flying through the air, heading straight for him.

Su Mu made no attempt to dodge, for Bai Ji had already stepped in front of him. The snowball hit her forehead squarely, exploding into flakes that scattered everywhere and dampened her bangs.

Bai Ji silently moved aside, clearing the path forward.

Su Mu came before her, gently brushing the hair from her forehead. “It’s just a small snowball fight, you didn’t have to block it.”

Bai Ji nodded obediently.

However, if there were a next time, she knew she would still do it. Such an insignificant gesture could earn her the prince’s intimate touch—a huge profit.

Linna had already noticed Su Mu’s arrival. She and Oulina approached him, smiling affectionately. “Brother, you’re here!”

Her sweet, adorable voice filled him with undeniable affection.

Su Mu chuckled, patting Linna’s head. “Have you grown taller?”

Linna stood on her tiptoes, measuring with her hand above her head. “Have I?” Then, a little shyly, she added, “I think so.”

Oulina stood silently to the side, feigning aloofness, but the occasional sidelong glances betrayed her joyous mood.

Su Mu extended his hand, perfectly at Oulina’s height, and smiled warmly at the red-haired little girl.

“What is it… I’m not a child anymore… Really…”

Oulina grumbled, yet her body was quite honest, leaning in and voluntarily rubbing her head against Su Mu’s palm.

Su Mu felt a profound sense of contentment.

It was the satisfying feeling of a pampered, aloof red kitten finally becoming a little more compliant.

“You haven’t caused any trouble staying with Linna, have you?”

Su Mu asked casually, a thoughtless remark.

Before Oulina could speak, Linna bristled. “Brother! Why are you being so polite? Is our relationship one where we’d cause trouble?”

The little princess placed her hands on her hips, her delicate pink cheeks flushing with anger.

Su Mu realized his mistake belatedly, quickly patting his head and soothing her. “Look at my clumsy mouth, little Linna, I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry, okay?”

Before Linna could reply, Oulina’s clamor followed. “Am I some kind of unreasonable, ignorant kitten or puppy? Besides, if I caused trouble, it wouldn’t be your business. Who do you think you are, my dad?”

The little red tiger was clearly much bolder. As she spoke, she climbed onto Su Mu’s shoulder and tugged at his ear.

Su Mu allowed Oulina to frolic around him, a long-unseen sight, and calmly stated, “I am your dad. What else?”

Oulina huffed angrily, “Bullshit! I’m your mud butterfly!”

A vein pulsed in Su Mu’s temple, a familiar surge of high blood pressure.

Watching the unreasonable antics unfold, Linna couldn’t help but burst into laughter, her earlier aggrieved mood instantly forgotten.

Sasaki, feeling a little jealous, said, “Su Mu, you really know how to win over children…”

“Brother, you’re so free today. I’m surprised to see you here at Linna’s,” Su Mu said with a smile.

Sasaki laughed heartily. “You rascal, you’re subtly pointing it out, aren’t you? But it’s true, I haven’t spent enough time with her. Thankfully, you’re here, so Linna’s childhood isn’t so bleak.”

“You’re being too polite yourself,” Su Mu replied with a faint smile. The boomerang he’d just thrown at Linna had unexpectedly come back to hit him so quickly.

Seeing Su Mu in a bind, Sasaki laughed even harder. He reached out and ruffled Su Mu’s hair, just as Su Mu had done to Linna.

“Linna, here, here.”

After ruffling Su Mu’s head, Sasaki didn’t retract his hand but looked expectantly at Linna. “Little Linna, here, here~”

The silver-haired princess pursed her lips, gazing at Sasaki with such disdain, as if he were an amoeba. Her icy words were merciless.

“Are you an idiot?”

Sasaki instantly turned to stone.

Now, it was Su Mu’s turn to laugh unrestrainedly.

“Aren’t you two having a snowball fight? Keep going!” Su Mu said with ill intent.

No sooner had he spoken than two snowballs came flying. One struck Sasaki, the other flew towards Su Mu.

Sasaki was instantly covered in snow.

The one flying towards Su Mu was blocked by Bai Ji.

“Ha! You’re cheating!” Oulina cried out.

Sasaki wiped the snow and water from his face, then turned to see Su Mu completely unharmed. He glared resentfully at Heip, who was enjoying the show.

Heip, who had been thoroughly entertained, quickly turned his head, feigning indifference, avoiding his prince’s gaze.

Su Mu once again wiped the snow from Bai Ji’s face, then smiled. “You all continue playing. I still have things to do. I’m preparing a grand celebration for the end of this month, the last day of the year. Remember to all come!”

Seizing the opportunity while everyone was present, Su Mu announced the event in advance.

Everyone had no objections, readily agreeing and expressing their anticipation.

Before leaving, Su Mu, with a strong sense of stealth, slipped over to Ling Guang, who had been silent the entire time. He grinned. “You have to come too~”

Ling Guang, expressionless, didn’t even glance at Su Mu as she replied, “I won’t.”

“Oh, so defiant. You’d better not go, then. That way, there’ll be no obstruction, and I can just sell off little Linna.”

Su Mu hissed in Ling Guang’s ear, feigning a menacing tone.

“You wouldn’t do that,” Ling Guang replied without hesitation.

“Heh, want to bet?” Su Mu smirked, his smile unbridled and carefree.

Ling Guang fell silent. Finally, she sighed and said, “You! Your personality is still so vile!”

Su Mu knew she had compromised.

He chuckled to himself. “Little miss, I can still get you…”

Ling Guang glared at him.

Su Mu grinned shamelessly. “Remember to dress nicely that day. Your clothes should ideally have some red. I wouldn’t want my carefully prepared celebration to have its atmosphere ruined by a cold, armored person like you.”

Ling Guang snorted. “I don’t have clothes like that.”

Su Mu sized Ling Guang up and down, then spread his lips into a wide grin. “Are you sure? If I prepare the clothes for you, I can’t guarantee how ‘sexy’ they’ll be.”

Ling Guang’s eyes blazed with furious embarrassment.

Before Ling Guang could erupt in violence, Su Mu immediately made his escape.

“Frivolous! Vile! Evil prince!” Ling Guang muttered through clenched teeth.

Suddenly, she felt a chill at the back of her neck.

It turned out Su Mu had pulled a sneak attack, stuffing a large handful of snow down the back of her collar.

When she turned to look, Su Mu’s boldly laughing figure was already fading into the distance.

For some reason, Ling Guang didn’t feel particularly angry. Instead, she unconsciously broke into a relaxed smile.

‘He really is… a fellow who knows how to win people over.’

Ling Guang casually released a faint martial aura, and with a gentle shake, the snow and water on her body evaporated without a trace.

Over by the princess, the joyous snowball fight continued.

Ling Guang watched, lost in thought.

‘What clothes should I wear when I go there?’

The invincible and decisive Lord Radiant Knight, for the first time ever, found herself racking her brains over such a trivial matter.