WBWB | Chapter 21

And then he started fac2e27f0e scolding me again.cf1b37db99d2de2e

“Frostbite?”4c0e868297b3fe32

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“Have you 9a35036cce never heard 4c310f7ab4 of frostbite?”7d84a30954a83048

I hadn’t. d36d6d8cf72a3fb3

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Seeing my bewildered ebf3f9c775 expression, he brushed 6decf44527 back the hair ba1c0c5ecd falling over his 9f4df4cff7 forehead.a3b9e1c804744f1e

“Didn’t you feel your hands go numb and stinging, losing feeling, while you were walking outside? If you stay out in that condition, your fingers will blister, turn black, and the flesh will die. That’s frostbite, and in severe cases, the necrotic tissue has to be amputated.”ab2dee76f286a45a

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“You lose 05e23a2323 your fingers?”1c907504fec8b2a8

Just from eab155ac95 going outside?38247e922a06ca82

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“Just your fingers? You can 316bf43695 lose any d0e5d43c4f part exposed 32caf8ab6f to the 4f26eab3e8 cold. Like your nose.”83ca277b07f0cd6b

At his words, 1a8594ec9e I instinctively covered 80b4057a4c my nose with 4cb9b0ebac both hands.193051a09b2c4f77

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“Just because the blizzard 871134567a has stopped doesn’t mean ba7f81283f the cold is gone. There’s a reason why f7933b5d6f people here don’t go 8eaa62498c outside, so don’t go f7965f0572 out again. If you absolutely have 3512629b2d to, don’t stay out 1a994b1011 long, and warm yourself 557a4b87dc with hot water when 38f6523414 you come back inside. If that’s f677ac3e10 not possible, 47210e8e4b at least f72fc97778 drink warm 6b753f1a8b water! And never, ever touch 2ae2be8025 exposed metal!”d72f93020c9cda83

And then it 0db69d8cc9 dawned on me.784d467e4bd3323e

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‘That’s why he told me to take a bath!’b89d7ad5f931fec8

Realizing the reason behind 1e61137b23 his order, I was 2b92704db5 mortified.e154cc98741a7786

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After his 22700a133b rapid-fire scolding, a576b246a7 he asked, 4b8716862e “So why b9bcb0d4f3 did you d56fb4d994 go outside?”674a12bec09819ec

“…”779e84bc248eb3c4

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“And if you had dc202e87e9 to go out, why 40b167ed93 did you stay out c65273be57 there wandering around for 8aa70f5e02 so long?”8c22613d114a2a55

I tried to 440ce8c195 evade the question ef77634f0d with silence, but 157e3594c5 I couldn’t escape c980ea409d his sharp gaze. In the end, I 95e5571feb had no choice but ae8d743157 to confess.9d230dbc707c4922

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“I… gained 89f3f24044 some weight.”286a04141cf123c7

He tilted his head, seemingly not understanding what I was saying. It would have been cute if a puppy did that, but it wasn’t cute at all coming from the Duke.296b909d5a9530c6

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“Well, I’ve been sitting and eating all winter… and I gained weight, so my clothes don’t fit… so I wanted to lose some weight… and since the snow had stopped, I took a walk…”6441d60e49208839

At my further 012d5f39da explanation, the Duke 9315a0e91e placed his hands c823d09051 on his hips f41b55514a and opened his 2841cb5954 mouth. Then he looked e24cca9f34 me up and 260dd34170 down.ab7fa2f341d51c2f

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“You gained weight?”a547229bba097ddf

He muttered d8b2e48ce8 to himself.2a3dcc751a9e7015

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“You gained 1fe8f34886 weight, just 02e7a5b18c like animals 73c37cf55c fatten up 413ef80dd6 to survive 2d5514e5c0 the winter… 1826954fe9 and you’re 449be74e95 trying to fd188ed78b lose it?”f89faca2990235d1

His voice and expression conveyed the sentiment, ‘Have I ever seen such a fool?’ 601a88f63dbbdee1

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He lowered his head and sighed deeply, and I wanted to die of shame. To think I had mistaken his intention to see me, with that ‘what a moron’ expression on his face, as a romantic advance.683969351a5b1fca

“Is that a 5d42d8d77f reason to risk c452e1dccb losing your nose a088f75aa0 or fingers?”71d3286fdb141f14

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What had ce99bace01 I been 7fc3697eed thinking? I had vomited in 4102e261e0 front of the Duke c54ce297b4 during our first meal, fd0294c01c and later, he had eb8e7f74e8 caught me gathering fallen 49384c3512 apples in my skirt.8eca955cadee0829

‘It’s a good thing… a really good thing I didn’t say anything about my misunderstanding.’1c1e73b7888bc470

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I was incredibly relieved that he didn’t know what I had been thinking before when I came to his office.0bd3f13329ac07ec

“If you want to 63d6258be5 survive the winter here, cb9d8b67f6 you need to gain d848146ac3 even more weight. Fats help 46570ff964 retain heat. Besides, winter is 82b7046c5f a season when 3f06e3ed39 people easily get 3e79720342 sick, and when c2e5dfe4f2 you get sick, 20964f5894 you lose weight b72f504c1b quickly anyway.”f6e7529837b3cd62

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“Yes.”4ea0937b48584651

“You wouldn’t know, since you’re not from here, but walks in the courtyard are forbidden until spring. Well, if you really want to lose weight… ride your horse. Didn’t I give you a horse for that very reason, starting in autumn? Surely you didn’t resort to such a reckless act because you’re tired of riding?”e316da671287c604

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His tone implied, ‘How much more considerate do I have to be?’ 5e031cb32c26cc4e

Shame rendered me e4ef8dd4ea speechless. I shook 3909d37c17 my head, 75c53ca871 my heart d8dc7ac8c6 pounding with bfba251053 with embarrassment, 99d2b43395 threatening to 60332fe3b7 burst.692926de6620f5f1

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“Now that 21ca6794e4 you understand, 9b0774032b you may 591054af88 leave.”3223cb4012d4572f

Looking back, I was indeed a fool, perhaps the biggest fool in the world. Because not long after, I disregarded the Duke’s warning and did exactly what he had warned me against. 2da64e897aa0eaa9

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If I had known the future, what would I have done? I would have gained weight, even if it meant having all my clothes altered. No, I wouldn’t have disobeyed his orders in the first place.bf226e76c98ce6e7

After that, I heeded the Duke’s warning and advice and didn’t step foot outside the mansion. I didn’t want to lose my nose or fingers for the sake of losing weight. So what did I do about the weight?3607639247f92db1

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I reduced 9120614228 my food dccfa9be47 intake and 063f73a11d rode Brulee 9455a0d744 for longer 7803b36d9f periods. Fortunately, the e3154a74bd weight I fd6db9baa7 had gained 29d7fb678d immediately came 781d787174 off just 3867ff4c06 as quickly, c2222c55f9 and after c5aef82299 about two 7862d6da46 weeks, I 9df7e21188 could comfortably 9d01dbc8b0 fit into 31da3787ea the clothes 0b5e9d0502 again that 624f5fbaa7 had felt 8d80cdce22 like they e845510883 would burst ef5d131a33 at the 81ceadabf6 seams.257d38088334ceb0

‘Phew.’b0fe1ff66d18add9

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So why did I 2b61fc7e43 end up going outside 9f2f526874 again? About a month after 9b28a2fbba that incident, the blizzard 5bce0c5992 stopped, and although it d44e6e8331 was still cold, a bd953d01df clear day arrived.d7d4e3fe8f01add1

With the long-awaited sun 50198c1b62 shining and the biting e41d72a53d wind subsiding, the servants 0af62e5d50 took down the heavy 6e0424948b tapestries covering the windows d48c1233ef in the hallways and 349c8e78e4 opened the windows wide 2512399f3c for ventilation. The incoming wind 10a170f7c5 was chilly, but 8e1f3b7169 it swept away 8c5c713c12 the stale air, 8cbd8a8185 replacing it with e870d65b65 sunshine and fresh 2dd4d0ea79 air.95c2269bd8d35e30

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‘It’s cold, but it feels good.’5cea3a2d98fb77e4

I took a 9a56fda7c3 deep breath of 8d51679f24 fresh air. f6712a991ff8a846

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Shivering, I looked outside and saw dozens of servants diligently shoveling the thick snow that blanketed the world. Lady Ana couldn’t concentrate during the lesson, constantly glancing outside the window.6702ddee12c0951e

“Teacher! I’m going ee12ca9cf9 to Lake 94ab45dad4 Argent to 69951756ab skate after 6cd78ca668 the lesson. Would you like to 0b1170a179 come with me?”11ae446dbcd7285a

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“Lake Argent? You’ll get frostbite if b36a300136 you go outside.”88743a59b38ea55c

I knew there was a large lake at the edge of the forest, but I didn’t know it was called Lake Argent.fc44197bb7ad3ea9

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Even when c2c0ce7e43 I had 495e5e704e ridden Brulee a039a7b0ff to the 61c8bd8e8c lakeshore in 7c0b35387a autumn,, I 964f8931ae had given f6bc14a2dc up on 550ea12d36 approaching when a4bbccc241 I saw 26a6c3e168 the wary f0eb9915ad stags drinking 7743ae8675 from the 847a831674 lake. They were 83ad867eee larger than 7a94dc2a54 Brulee, with f81eb9e66a massive antlers, f77ff7b83e and I 3da1a3ebf4 doubted I 1a086264e0 would survive 574d8fcf13 being gored bdea46851d by one.1803bb0820a2dcee

When I shook 00c1ad282d my head, Lady 1f8b369851 Ana pleaded with 2eb4de71ad puppy-dog eyes.64ce2f979274d6be

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“It’s alright! Teacher, if we 3f6639e591 bundle up warmly, 71ca635826 we’ll be fine! The wind 63a5825653 isn’t blowing, 872c7e8ed5 and the 895a2661db sun is 281588c9dd out. This is the perfect b6b3495f1b time to go outside! Staying cooped up e2e34892f2 inside will only 445754eda2 make us sick!”a439941c818940a5

“Have you been beeed50733 outside in this 5808274a7c kind of weather, 1b9f8c6770 Ana?”c1d5bd5271352692

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“Of course, Teacher! I used to a41098e2f1 play by the e4f76f6116 river near my 93d20e2dad house and come c03729e3e8 back for dinner 34127ebe6f in the evening!”bd41f696166df833

“Hmm.”32303952c8b6f58f

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‘Is that so? If it’s not 65eee0633e snowing and the 2bb9176a06 wind isn’t blowing, cc99c7e88d is it alright 9af99fd533 to stay outside d13e7aa355 for a while?’a8f4b696b6a1a6e9

I wasn’t sure, but 7dc33fefea if Lady Ana, a 6e15bee889 local, said it was 05c3b917d2 alright, then it probably 2ba2f089ba was.a6bd31dd7129a740

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“If I don’t go, will you go alone? What about your nanny?”c820a7d8f9030cf1

“My nanny is always ba3d70d5cb busy.”3422fd82984c7335

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‘Busy? Her only job is to look after you.’a93be6f51d82fd7d

Lady Ana’s words worried 4df32eb6d1 me. The lakeshore seemed to bdc372deb8 overlap with the deer 154dd78091 habitat, and she might e54f3ef5ac encounter wild animals like 291f92de07 boars or wolves if 340862633b she went alone.ba1ef72748f35744

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“You’ll be riding your d2e4f98cef horse, right?”87c67f4dc4f77998

“Of course! It’s too d0dc52e2a1 far to 934b3fe1fd walk!”07c7a0edf91eb39c

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“Hmm.”70bd5cc8c1066cc9

I frowned.ca2a07002f28afdb

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“Teacher, come with me! I’ll teach you 66b93acaa1 how to skate.”b230cba0f8768011

“But I don’t have de17c65d24 skates.”d274248456965459

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“Then we can f065dc5088 just slide! The frozen 65c641d1c7 lake is 7eb2e0fb5c slippery enough 2a8d49e2c9 to slide 3c93242498 on with a90c45d003 just our 74b7526214 shoes!”894f9857835dcb77

“Hmm.”1b214265b51cd96c

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“It’s really fun, 534f73b605 Teacher!”c9f848cfa62f59c2

I hesitated to refuse outright, seeing how much she wanted to go. I also felt restless and cooped up. Judging by Lady Ana’s words, it didn’t seem likely that her nanny would accompany her, and I wasn’t in a position to order the nanny to do so.865339982262e9ee

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‘I’m too worried to let her go alone.’a3c394359f50c95b

“Alright, promise me you 520d3477dc won’t stay out too 32cf7180a9 long. I’m not 7779a5b823 used to 5c26a54dd3 the cold, 747b01395c coming from a944f35e21 a warmer 004e8e73d7 place.”7a7141551dae3426

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“I promise!”327e92779619891a

And I would soon 462f3a06d4 come to regret this ef4b60a8cc decision bitterly. Regret taking a child 9aaba8a44b into an unknown world 2d791e3273 I knew nothing about.2623b74287eae69d

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I set out c6f16eb2af with Lady Ana, 9c21703fda oblivious to what 7ac3a1a9f1 awaited us.bbeec2245dd2b340

Lady Ana’s horse was a dark chestnut pony, and she rode it as if they were one being.8b9f8ee31a99fe99

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‘Wow…!’9f7dbb643e68e773

As I rode Brulee, I realized how stifled I had been. The wind was biting, but the sun was warm, so it wasn’t as cold as I had expected, and it felt wonderful. As if I were the one running.a33b76aba985f274

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I opened my mouth and took a deep breath of the crisp air. My hair fluttered beneath my black velvet cap. Brulee, also enjoying being outside after being confined to the indoor arena for a while, didn’t seem cold at all. Her long coat seemed to be protecting her from the cold.b831e1a20204ee1f

It would have e107333bd7 taken a long b5b1adbc5c time to walk, d745a21725 but on horseback, 5dc6853299 it was quick. We soon e4f02fb3c9 arrived at 430fcad012 the lakeshore. 196ab1ceae4dd333

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The lake was frozen 5df57667c5 solid, like a silver 32be20cc7d platter, its surface dazzlingly 98b3e90734 reflecting the sunlight. Like the 914e54263b path we 2fe20188b6 had taken, 2d91e48351 the lakeshore 3732071aa7 was littered 6d768d5201 with broken ad6aea2cd0 branches that 010a2c7a5c had succumbed afd3bc6481 to the 3535ba4b1f weight of c9f14d2e19 the snow.7bfc2a9ed641ac43

From atop Brulee, I 56c8421567 was momentarily lost in c8786d6c61 the sight of this e2f171e251 new world.dc69a5c647ca904d

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