“WHAT a shock! Queen Laetitia, you’re really good for both a human and someone who didn’t grow up here!”
The result of the snowball fight was Lady Kate’s defeat. With snow stuck to her cat ears, I could tell she was really surprised.
“Hehehe! Despite how I look, I had my older brothers to train me,” I grinned.
We had snowball fights in our homeland of Elltoria whenever it snowed. They saw it as a form of training.
Big Brother Yurius used spells to create a massive amount of snowballs, pelting me with them all at once. Big Brother Bernard threw so fast, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was a gorilla in his past life. Then there was Big Brother Claude, who would always fake me out, lead me around, and lay traps. They were all tricky opponents in their own right, which resulted in me becoming a master snowball warrior.
Lady Kate had outstanding reflexes as a member of the Wildcat clan, but she had an honest personality, and this made her moves easy to predict.
Lady Natalie and I ended up making a good team with her own snowball talents, which eventually led us to victory.
“Urgh, I’m so mad! I’ll definitely beat you next time!”
With that declaration, Lady Kate headed off to the front desk of the arena.
Now left behind, Lady Natalie wore a confused look on her face. “Where did Lady Kate just go? Don’t tell me she wants to have another battle right now…”
“She went to go claim her loser’s prize.”
“Loser’s prize…? Ah, you mean…?”
Lady Kate returned with a small bag.
She opened it up to reveal a sweet scent wafting out.
“Are these chocolate cookies…?”
“Yep. You like chocolate too, right, Lady Natalie? You can have one.”
“Wow! Really?”
“It’s to celebrate your first real snowball fight.”
Lady Natalie and Lady Kate amicably shared the cookies.
It was difficult for humans to defeat beastfolk in snowball fights, so many of them were hesitant to even try. That’s why I thought it would be a way for humans and beastfolk to further bond through beastfolk losing the occasional match.
I had the staff from the snowball fight venue participate in distributing some of the treats I made at the villa. I came to the festival today to see everyone’s reactions to my plan.
It was a bit more expensive to use the venue here, but now anyone who lost could receive sweets, and four consecutive victories even won you an extra luxurious baked good. The snowball warriors throughout the building were already covered in snow, fighting valiantly to claim that prize.
“It looks like this distribution method is working out well for now,” I said.
“Looks like it. …If the winner gets to eat your baked goods, then I feel like joining them too,” King Glenreed replied.
“Hehe! You’d just send them all running if you had a snowball fight, Your Majesty. You can have this if you’d like something sweet.”
I pulled a small box wrapped neatly in cloth out of my pocket. It was customary at this festival to give presents to those who took care of you throughout the previous year.
“Thank you for everything this year, King Glenreed. This treat is called Fondant au Chocolat. Melted chocolate seeps out of it if you warm it up, but would you care to give it a try now?”
I used a fire spell to warm it up to his liking. The oozing sweet, rich chocolate made it the perfect treat for winter.
“Yes, your sweets are very appealing…but hold still for a minute.”
What does he mean?
I looked up at His Majesty, waiting for what would come next…
“Ah…!”
“I’m thankful for you too. This is a token of my appreciation.”
I felt a soft sensation around my neck that reminded me of Lord Aroo’s fur. He’d draped a silver scarf around me.
His Majesty’s long fingers fumbled with the scarf to wrap it up nicely for me.
“You were raised in another land. I got this for you since you probably can’t handle the cold as well as us…”
“…It’s very warm.”
I thanked King Glenreed and tugged the scarf upwards. I wanted to cover the smile that was forming on my lips.
“Thank you so much, Your Majesty. I know a lot happened this year…but I’m truly glad to have met you.”
“…Yes. So am I.”
When I saw the smile on his face…
I hope we can spend next year together too.
That was the wish I felt in my heart as I nestled up closer to him.