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Chapter 7
I placed the two snowballs near the sticks I had prepared earlier.
“Hey, Uncle… can I play too?”
At the sudden voice, Dad’s gaze shifted down for a moment.
“You….”
He frowned, clearly unsure who it was.
Dad hasn’t cared about anyone except me.
He didn’t even remember the faces of the maids who came and went every day.
“Oh, I’m Valux.”
“…Valux? Ah, the eldest brother’s child, then.”
“Yes. I don’t have anything to do today, so can I play with my cousin?”
Valux asked with a bright smile.
Dad glanced at me with a slightly furrowed face. It seemed he couldn’t be harsh to a small child.
“Ledeia, what do you want to do?”
He’s giving me the choice here?
Ugh, that’s unfair!
“Do as you like.”
Actually, it was a bit unexpected that he let me choose. I thought Dad would immediately refuse.
“Let’s do it together. I’ve never made a snowman before either.”
Why is he suddenly acting friendly?
If he says “let’s do it together” like that, how could I refuse?
“O-Okay…”
“Oh, good. Bell, you go first. I’ll play for a bit.”
The boy, having received my permission, quickly waved at Bell.
“So?”
“Huh?”
“How do you make a snowman?”
Starting there, huh…
I glanced at Dad, and he slowly nodded.
“You roll snow into balls to make the body and head.”
I showed him a small snowball.
“We make it really, really big.”
“Hmm, step aside. I’ll make it with psychokinesis…”
“No! It’s only satisfying if we do it ourselves. Now, grab a snowball!”
I handed a snowball to Valux. He blinked.
“Roll it like this, go!”
I started rolling the snow across the garden.
He hesitated, then followed me, rolling his snowball.
I hope he doesn’t try to psychically fling me later…
Even as I worried, I let it go when I saw him genuinely rolling the snow with effort.
“Done!!”
After a long time, we made a huge snowman as tall as Dad.
Of course, I couldn’t place the top snowball myself, so Dad helped. One snowball was even bigger than me.
“Wow, it’s amazing!”
I giggled.
I had always wanted to make a snowman as a child, but I had been too scared to ask Dad.
If I got sick, I’d worry him.
Now, having survived once, I wasn’t worried at all.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes! It was one of the wishes I wanted to fulfill before I die!”
Dad gently patted my head. I silently noticed the boy watching the giant snowman.
“Good job too, young master!”
Surprisingly, he didn’t complain and had helped roll the snowball well.
After working hard together, Valux’s cheeks and fingertips were also red from the cold.
“Your body is cold; let’s go inside. How about cocoa?”
“Huh, really? With marshmallows?”
“Of course.”
I nodded eagerly.
The cocoa, with floating marshmallows shaped like little boats, was a rare treat Dad didn’t give often.
“You come inside and warm up too.”
“…Me?”
“Yes.”
Valux’s eyes widened, then brightened with a nod.
Ah, he just wanted cocoa.
He’s surprisingly just a normal kid.
Or maybe everyone loves Dad’s cocoa.
I stomped my feet happily while being lifted into Dad’s arms.
Inside, Dad had already warmed the dining room and led Valux in.
“Wait a moment. I’ll bring some snacks and everything else soon.”
Valux looked around the annex with curiosity, amazed by the new place.
The warm air slowly melted the chill from his cheeks and hands.
“Young master.”
“Valux.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t call me ‘your highness.’ You’re not my maid, so just Valux is fine. Or… well, since I’m eight, calling me ‘brother’ isn’t bad either.”
Calling him “brother” at my age… seems weird.
And I didn’t want to risk him suddenly getting upset later.
“Okay, Valux.”
“…You won’t call me brother?”
He pouted, muttering his dissatisfaction.
Well, I didn’t want to make this fickle kid upset, so I smiled brightly and spoke.
“Brother!”
Adjusting to reality quickly is a form of happiness.
“Hmm? Why, Ledeia?”
Valux replied with a satisfied expression.
…That’s only Dad’s nickname for me.
I thought about saying something, but then remembered how unpredictable he could be and shook my head.
“Thanks for helping me make the snowman!”
“No, it was… actually fun. It would have taken less than five minutes with psychokinesis, but we spent over an hour. Still, it was worth it.”
Valux spoke cynically, more like an adult than an eight-year-old.
Was he saying he liked it, or mocking me for enjoying it?
Either way…
“It’s fun to do it ourselves, without abilities. It’s rewarding!”
“Hmm, I don’t know. I’ve always focused on developing my abilities first.”
He tilted his head.
I heard that in society, recognition depends on how useful and special one’s ability is.
Healing abilities are considered special.
But no one knew about my ability. I rarely had a chance to use it on others. My body was weak as you can see…
Maybe I’ve been using up my life just healing myself.
I also heard that abilities like controlling the four elements or the weather are rare. Some can even manipulate time or space—so rare they appear only once in generations.
Maybe I should reveal my ability to boost Dad’s status…
I crossed my arms, pondering.
If I could get some pocket money in return for healing, I’d have more freedom for future investments.
“Hmm.”
Hmmm~
Hmmm!!
I giggled, and across from me, Valux rested his chin on his hand, watching silently.
“You laugh a lot.”
“Uh… is it bad? Should I stop?”
“No, it looks nice. Your pink eyes are like diamonds. They sparkle.”
I remembered Dad saying once that he’d forgive me only because my eyes were pretty.
“You like pink?”
“Is it weird if a boy likes pink?”
Huh, what? Liking it is fine.
“No? I like blue too. Black too. Pink too.”
“Why’s that?”
“I’m like Dad. Blue was Mom’s eye color, so I like it.”
Valux watched me quietly, then spoke softly.
“…Me too.”
“Huh?”
“I like it too because it’s the same as Mom’s hair color.”
Ah, so he loves Mom. I nodded.
I like Dad too, so it makes sense he can like Mom.
I stamped my feet in excitement as Dad entered with cookies and three steaming cups.
Valux’s expression shifted to one of curiosity.
