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From now on, Snow and I will have to handle all of this.

Just imagining that time makes me depressed.

But I can't let it show on my face. But you can't show it on your face, it would be disrespectful to the guests in front of you.

I sighed heavily in my mind as I realized that this ball is the hardest part of my job at Epic Seeker.

◆◆◆◆◆ ...

For a dizzying amount of time, I kept a fake smile on my face and repeated the greeting.

It was worth it, but finally the line to greet us was cut off.

Me and Snow took a breath and looked at each other.

'Finally, a breath of fresh air: ......'

...... No, it's still there, Kanami.

............

Easily, Snow crushes my hopes and walks toward the center of the Great Hall.

I can't handle the unexpected on my own, so I'm forced to walk behind Snow.

Then a woman speaks to Snow as she walks.

'Mr. Snow ......, come here ......'

I know, sir.

Snow nods lightly and follows the woman.

Along the way, she tells me in a whisper.

'...... I'm going to talk to my parents now. Kanami doesn't have to do anything.

I nodded silently.

The Snow's parents' house means that the Walker family is one of the four highest noble families. I don't want to do anything when it comes to such a high-ranking opponent.

As I approach the center of the great hall, I find a large crowd of people.

Perhaps the person in the center of the crowd is--

It's been a while: ...... and your mother-in-law: ......

Snow called the woman her mother.

However, as far as I could see, she bore no resemblance to Snow. She has lustrous golden hair that hangs down, her eyes are as sharp as a hawk, and her bearing is pompous. Even though the dress they wear is similar, they are the complete opposite of each other.

'You're Snow, aren't you? ....... I've been hearing your name a lot this year. Apparently, you haven't forgotten my words .......

Snow's mother-in-law is calm and speaks in very strong terms.

'Of course. I will devote my entire life to the Walker family.

'Good. That's what you're there for. Make no mistake about it: ......

And the conversation between mother and daughter, which may not have happened in a long time, is soon over. Snow's mother-in-law tries to turn her head away, as if to say that the greetings are over now.

Is this the end of the greetings to my parents' house?

It would have been better for me if I hadn't been in trouble, but it was still too curt.

As I was thinking about this, Snow chased after my mother-in-law, who turned away from me.

”Just one more moment of your time, mother-in-law. It's about the engagement. As you know, I am making a name for myself through guild activities. I am also confident that I will achieve great things in the guild Epic Seeker in the future. ...... Still, are you in a hurry to get married?

'...... Yeah. At least ...... one (1) guild 'honor' won't make any difference.

Snow's desperate plea was cut off by her mother-in-law's cold words.

'...... yes. ...... okay.

Snow replies with a face down.

And then the Walker family mother and daughter move away from each other.

It's not as far away as it looks.

To Snow, her mother-in-law seems far away.

Left alone, Snow looks around, a smile forming on his face.

'...... I wonder if brother Glenn will take a little longer.

I look at the crowd in the distance and mutter to myself.

Then he walks over to me.

Taking in the powerless steps, I whisper to Snow, worried about him.

From what I heard earlier, Snow's worries are--

...... Hey, don't you want to get married, Snow?

...... If anything, maybe.

Snow didn't deny it.

I won't deny it, but--

It's not clear: ......

...... If you say it out loud, it matters. If it's done poorly, it could be irreversible. So we have no choice but to keep everything vague.

As I recall, he has taken great pains to avoid neglecting House Siddharth before.

It seems that Snow has many such ties to the family.

But you should still make your feelings known more clearly,” he said. Do you think it's because I'm so naive?

...... Right. Kanami is naive. But that's why I'm sure it's the right thing to do.

”Then...

'I can't do so well at ....... I'm afraid to make my own choices. I'm afraid to take responsibility. I'm afraid of making mistakes. So I can't help it.

Snow repeats, ”I'm scared,” and shudders.

Unlike his usual aloofness, Snow is frightened with a thoughtful expression. His vulnerable appearance reminds me of the labyrinthine search I did sometime ago. It was Snow when he was working with Siddharq-san on the construction of the 'Magic Stone Line (Line)'.

The 《Dimension》 conveys Snow's mental state.

There's no doubt about it.

Snow, who doesn't have any room to spare, is so weak.

Normally, she must be just plated with the name of margin. Snow, as a human being, has a remarkably weak mental capacity, even among girls of her age.

Hence her weakness, she can't even express her will to her mother-in-law.

Frightened by the responsibility of her choices, she can't make any choices and is left to her own devices.

'...... has no choice. Let's give up on .......

Then Snow smiles darkly and gives up everything.

It's the easiest thing to do, so she stinks of things, so she gives up. She gives up and accepts it.

Finally, I understand the way of life of the girl called Snow.

What I had felt dimly before was now certain.

Snow Walker has given up everything in her life.

She only wants to be carried away by what comes easy. His unusually weak mind leaves all his choices to others.

And they don't have enough of themselves to say they don't like what they don't like.

This is especially true when dealing with people of the upper class. When he explores the labyrinth with Elmiraad Siddharq and when he faces his own mother-in-law, the plating comes off and a weak snowflake emerges.

The unique position of the Walker family.

A fragile heart that doesn't measure up to it.

It's a combination of all of these things that has made Snow the man he is today.

He makes no choices but to mend his ways.

She just goes with the flow of what comes easy for her. ......

Even now, Snow has given up and chosen the easy and comfortable path.

It was hard to keep hope alive, so she gave up hope.

Snow sticks a dark smile on her face and walks away.

I reach out my hand, trying to stop Snow from walking away.

”-Hmm, what a surprise to see you here. My good friend, the guildmaster of the Epic Seeker.

I'm interrupted by a voice from behind me.

I raise my eyebrows slightly at the appearance of that troublesome person.

''...... here, hello, Mr. Siddharq.''

Of all things, the representative of the upper class, Elmirad Siddharq, appeared at this time.

''Hah ......, you're still the same as always, you ....... If you don't talk back a little more hatred, we won't be able to compete with you either.''

I just want you to understand how much it means to me to talk back to you hatefully: ......

'I'm saying this because I understand. It's up to you how you perceive it.

Mr. Siddharth said, in a dumbfounded way, ”I understand.

Did that mean he was confessing that he was trying to trap me? Or does he simply want to have a hateful conversation with me?

...... Develops a stronger version of ”Dimension”.

I don't feel any more hostility from Siddalk-san than I expected. He's not excited, and he said it in a normal way. If that's the case, then maybe it would be better to take it as it is said, and next time, it would be more acceptable to return the hateful words in a reasonable manner.

As I was pondering with a difficult face, Siddharq-san smiled thinly and shrugged his shoulders before approaching Snow.

'I'm sorry I'm late in saying hello, Snow. How was the greeting with your mother?

”...... Sir Siddharth, good day to you. Yes, the greetings are ...... completed without a hitch.

'That's good to hear. At any rate, it's good that things are moving along without delay.

Yes, that's right: ......

Snow reworks a seamless smile and responds to Siddharq-san.

But I'm not anxious to see him right before that.

Snow is very good at mending.

Perhaps, behind that fake smile, he must be quite weak.

However, I still don't have enough authority to be able to get between the four great nobles.

''Oh, let me introduce you. This is Lord Cain of the Corfeldt family, famous for its maritime trade.

And in that vein, the greeting with the merchant family begins again.

Even though this is the business of the place, I'm fed up with having to go through that painful process again.

Snow is the same way.

My ”Dimension” does not miss Snow's eyebrows moving with a twitch.

''We meet for the first time. I'm a spice trader in the south of Gliard--

The man I was introduced to steps forward and thanks Snow.

I had a bad feeling and looked behind the man. There was a line of people waiting to see us, as a matter of course. If it's not good, there might be more of them than before.

While hiding our inner feelings, Snow and I exchange greetings with the people we are introduced to.

We meet not only merchants, but also nobles from other countries. The new aristocrats from the continent and the great aristocrats from distant lands seem to be seeking connections with the Walker and Siddharth families.

I'm being introduced to them while I'm at it, so I can't stand it.

It's hard to endure, but--I'm sure Snow's heartache is even greater than that.

There is no doubt that she was in quite a shock after her earlier exchange with her mother-in-law. If it were true, I would want to take a break somewhere quiet and cheer him up.

However, there was no time to rest my mind when people kept coming to my house like this.

And after greeting many people, a new topic of conversation is dropped when we are almost ready to be released.

'--So, you say that the marriage of Lord Elmyrad Siddharth and Lady Snow Walker is being arranged?

You don't need to use 《Dimension》 to understand.

Snow's expression froze for a moment.

''Ah, yes. Snow had many fiancées due to his brilliance, but now he is definitely limited to just me. Isn't that right, Snow?

Without stopping the topic, Mr. Siddharth waved it to Snow.

'Er, ah, yes. Yes. ......'

Snow replied with a fake smile.

'Oh, that is a great congratulations. Then I'll have to prepare a celebration from our merchant family.

Other people who had taken a step back there would join the conversation. Perhaps they decided that if it was a celebration, they should have more than one person to talk to.

Siddharq-san welcomes them without blame for it.

''Hahaha. However, it's not officially decided yet, so please bear with me. However, if you can match the timing, you're welcome to do so. At the very least, it should be after the 'Dancing Competition'. ...... As I recall, it was that time of year, Snow.

Oh, yes.

Snow responds shortly.

Snow's expression gradually darkens as he is surrounded by merchants with various plots and plans.

''Ha, I see. I guess I was a little hasty. Well then, when the engagement is officially decided, please let my merchant family know. We'll have a wide variety of items for you to choose from in time for your wedding. ...... Dear Ms. Snow, if there is anything you need in the meantime, just let me know and I'll do my best to make it happen. We will do our best to prepare it for you.

'Yes, you're right: ....... Um, .......

It looks painful to see.

No, to be precise, it's because of what you see in the Dimension.

Snow's fake smile is brilliant, but from my point of view, it's obvious that he's not well.

--I can't watch it any longer.

Please wait.

I stopped myself with a quiet but well spoken voice.

With that word, the people around me looked at me.

The merchants and the nobles all stopped moving at my words.

I'm not sure what to do about it, but I continue to speak, feeling sick to my stomach and knowing that what I've done can't be helped.

Even though the fiancée is being narrowed down, your marriage is still undecided. I would appreciate it if you would refrain from saying anything that might add to Snow-sama's heartache because of something that has not yet been decided.

Clearly, I told people, ”Don't do anything unnecessary.

...... huh?

Snow was surprised.

Nah: ”Nah: ......

People were confused.

...... Heh.

Mr. Siddharth was impressed.

'Apparently, Master Snow is not feeling well. It would be helpful if you could clear the way.

I pull Snow's hand away, intimidating the people around me, despite my polite mannerisms.

Snow keeps his mouth open and walks as he's told.

The man who interrupted me glares at me with an angry expression.

Brushing it off, I move to a corner of the hall. Then I move from the side door to the balcony. I use 《Dimension》 to make sure that no one is there.

It's chilly outside, and it's just me and Snow under the moonlit night sky.

I take out a rug from my ”belongings” and pull it to the stone couch, then I make Snow sit on it.

Then I put my forehead to my hand and worry.

I can see the condition by 'gazing' but not the mental fatigue. I had to use primitive measures to gauge Snow's condition.

'Are you okay?'

Snow nodded lightly.

'...... okay. But Kanami, you're looking very unimpressive now.

Yes.

I nodded back lightly.

...... From the other side, it's like their chance to make a thousand gold coins was destroyed. Kanami's chance to make a thousand gold coins was also destroyed. ...... no one and nothing good can come of it.

You know, ....... Snow is my partner in the search for the labyrinth. There's no way I'm going to calculate my position or gold coins to help Snow. ......

Irritated by Snow's calm calculation of profit and loss, I blame her in a strong tone of voice.

She accepted it with great glee.

'...... so. ...... Thanks. Kanami is amazing. You can do things I can't.

Snow gave me the biggest smile I've seen since we met.

He laughed with heartfelt joy and then complimented me.

He seems to respect me for ignoring his profit and loss and resenting me.

'Anyway, don't take it easy. If you're having a hard time, you can always turn to someone else.

I replied naturally.

It was uncomfortable to see someone like Snow putting up with it alone. It made me think, ”I need someone to lean on.

As a result, he acted like this.

I regret it, but I don't regret it.

In response to those words, Snow shows a face as if the scales have fallen from his eyes.

'...... I see.'

It was as if he looked as if he had found something for the first time in his life.

And he nodded repeatedly as if chewing on my words.

Snow's cheeks were flushed and her eyes were moist.

The moonlight illuminated Snow's beautiful long hair. The lights of the city of Lauravia shine under the night sky. Bathed in natural show lights, Snow was more beautiful than anyone else attending this ball.

From the bottom of my heart, I'm glad I was able to help this beautiful girl.

Snow looks up at the starry night sky and slowly mutters again.

'I see. ......'

The murmurings disappeared as the night sucked them in.