Story of Season: Winter

Chapter 12's

"How are you? Doesn't it feel comfortable here? The cold you always liked."

"Yes, I like it."

"Then wake up, enjoy what you've been missing."

+++

Snowfall accompanied the residents of the activity this morning. At the edge of the lake that did not freeze even though winter blanketed all year, Delphy sat hugging his knees. Seeing her reflection in the lake water. Remembering every last night that he went through, including a strange dream that he again met.

It was still a question in Delphy's mind, how was the form of the God of Season Dngin? Why he can be his tithe, completely incomprehensible. If he's a Winter God, what about his twin sister, why was he born normal.

Delphy thought the only reason he liked Winter more than anything was because he was born in a stormy winter. But after hearing Ailee's explanation last night, it felt like she needed to rethink. Which normal human likes winter to not need thick clothes to warm themselves like he is today. Well, since yesterday Delphy only wore the clothes he used when leaving for the Ash-Shaif Kingdom, where the summer was still not over completely.

It should be right now that Delphy is in Ash-Shaif Kingdom, standing by Crystal's side. He did not even know if they were still in the Ash-Shaif Kingdom or not, whether or not he had been unconscious for how long he had reached another continent without him noticing at all.

Delphy moved from his seat, walking back to the temple. People look at him with strange looks. Not because of the color of his hair or his eyes, it is common here. The Winter Country's inhabitants are often born with strange looks even though they are just ordinary humans, not the keepers of the season. Delphy who was not wearing thick clothes was the reason why people looked at him strangely.

I don't know how long Delphy's been walking, he's staring around him. It didn't take long for Delphy to understand that he was lost. He himself did not know why he could get to the edge of the lake, initially he just wanted to walk around the temple to know the City where he is now. Delphy doesn't even know the name of the city.

The stomach that started to make a bad sound made Delphy complain, he could not buy anything here even if it was just a piece of bread. There was not a single gold coin he had. Delphy saw a cafe that provides hot drinks and various kinds of bread.

"Okee, we better find a way back to the temple before starving to death." Delphy muttered to himself.

Just decided to step back, Frost who had come from nowhere pulled Delphy's hand into the cafe. Without further ado, he ordered two hot chocolates and a loaf of bread and sat in a corner of the cafe with a view out the window.

"I didn't mean to run away, just get lost." Delphy tried to explain.

Frost stared at Delphy flatly, "I know."

It was a moment's silence until their order came.

"Eat." Said Frost while thrusting the bread he ordered to Delphy.

Without waiting for long, Delphy instantly devoured his bread. From the beginning he was hungry, had not had breakfast and was lost.

Frost sipped his hot chocolate then opened the subject. "What do you think of this town?"

"Peace, I love this town."

"This town is called Figo, which means cold." Frost looked at Delphy intently, "I hope you can keep that peace until the end."

Breathing sounds from Delphy, the girl doesn't know what to answer other than, "well."

Silence enveloped them again. Delphy ate his bread slowly, even though his head felt full for what reason. Frost stared out the window while drinking hot chocolate. They are immersed in their thoughts.

"Well, by the way, how long have I been unconscious?" Ask Delphy.

"Three Months."

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Delphy did not stop raving along the way they returned to the Temple. Although Frost ignored him even when they had already entered the temple.

"I might even miss my own twin sister's wedding. I have to go home now."

Frost's steps came to a halt, "you think, what can you do right now? You don't even know your strengths."

Frost looked at Delphy as he folded his arms around his chest. "Your kingdom may be destroyed by now."

Frost stepped back, though Delphy repeatedly called him asking for an explanation he didn't care. Frost had no intention of giving any further explanation.

On one hand Delphy was angry. How could one give such an incomplete explanation.

Delphy ran after Frost. Without a doubt Delphy raised his fist. He was fed up enough with Frost's uncaring attitude. Unfortunately, it wasn't Delphy's fist that hit Frost's face that an ice glass hit his fist. Delphy's hand was bleeding, the ice glass was broken. I don't know where it came from, but the ice glass seemed to be appearing to protect Frost.

"What's that?" Thought Delphy. His eyes looked in surprise at Frost.

"seen? You don't even know anything about this power." Frost stepped closer to Delphy until now the distance of their faces is only an inch, "if you are smart, you should prefer to find out first who you are. Find out as much as you've been here, not whining home."

Delphy didn't answer anything until Frost disappeared from sight. From the beginning he tried to reject the reality of Ailee. After becoming a cursed princess to have to disguise then fate let alone wait for her.

Just guarding one kingdom was already making him tired, then what now? Guarding a continent? That's never even Delphy's imagined.

Ailee was the only person who could answer each of her questions. Without thinking long Delphy went to see the beautiful woman in his room.

Delphy entered Ailee's room after knocking on the door and was let in by her owner. There Ailee is seen reading a book. But the book does not look like a normal book. The white-coated book Ailee was holding gave off a light.

"Ailee."

"Sit down, ask all the things that are spinning in your head, I'll answer them one by one." Ailee closed her book and sat on the couch right in front of Delphy.

"If I'm the winter god, what about Crystal? He's my twin, it's impossible if we're different."

"You can be different. Because in fact, every god of the season can give his power to anyone. In your case, the god of winter gave his powers only to you even if you're twin sisters."

"Then regarding magic, does it really exist? Do I have that power? But why have I never felt it?"

"Because you always thought you were a damned princess. You don't have the confidence as someone who has the blessing." Ailee paused her sentence, "Now, let me ask. Why do you think your differences are a curse? Doesn't your difference look wonderful if you admit it?"

Delphy fell silent. In his heart, he confessed all of Ailee's words. Someone who has been considered cursed, how can be someone who has blessing?

White hair and different eye colors, how could it be said to be beautiful? Doesn't Delphy look weird? Until now, Delphy has always thought of himself as strange.

Ailee approached, rubbing Delphy's snow-white hair. "Aren't you able to feel it? This white hair of yours, glowing under the moonlight, smooth and beautiful." Ailee looked at Delphy's eyes. "This different color of your eyes doesn't it look cool? Light blue proves that you are a descendant of nobility and ashes prove that you are a god's incarnation."

Delphy looked into Ailee's eyes, no sign of lying there. Ailee said it sincerely. Delphy's appearance is always thought to be a curse even though it is a blessing. The gaze that Delphy had gotten all this time was only the gaze of the person who looked at him strangely, although it changed as he managed to behead King Varsha.

"Then, what about the Whittaker Kingdom? Why did Frost say my kingdom might be in danger?"

"Because you let Prince Erd into your Kingdom."

There was not the slightest surprise in Delphy's mind. From the beginning Delphy always felt Prince Erd was suspicious. Now it wasn't Prince Erd that Delphy thought of, it was Crystal. How did Crystal marry Prince Erd.

"I have to go back to my kingdom." Delphy stood up to prepare for his return as soon as possible.

"There's nothing you can do now." Ailee's words make Delphy stop his steps.

"Why are you saying the same thing? I have to go home to make sure things go right. If my kingdom is in danger, then why are you holding me here?"

"I know you can't accept the truth. You are confused about your own destiny. After becoming a damned princess, you are now a winter god. That must have confused you. I don't intend to keep you here any longer, so seek your own destiny."