YW | Chapter 2.1

As Liriel exhaled, a puff of white breath scattered in the air. No matter how much time passed, he couldn’t get used to the cold, so he wrapped his scarf tightly. The thick scarf, wrapped three times, was bigger than his head, but he didn’t seem to care about how ridiculous he looked.44e4228ac0552e28

Dressed in a blue coat and surrounded by a fluffy yellow fur ball, Liriel, with his white hair and skin, looked like a waddling snowman. Despite his bulky appearance, Liriel’s steps were quick. As soon as he opened the door, the cold wind hit his nose, but he paused only for a moment.bcdac3150b11bef4

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His destination wasn’t far. After a few steps, Liriel found his friend, and warmth spread across his face.b9c6ba18fc808aaa

“Sorry, I’m really late.”d8f374fe5a7fa248

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Even though Liriel apologized 1d485d49b4 while crouching down, the 3f2bfa6842 returning gaze was sharp. His usually neat 5e81c46847 posture was slouched, f2f1511d19 showing how upset ceba35412a he was.6bbaf787bb8ca4b4

“I was trying to cut them into star shapes….”bc3c880c07425b6e

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From his bulky clothes, 0d73edb0dc Liriel pulled out a 3512dadd21 pocket and offered neatly e80e7dc7bb cut carrot pieces to 81af6b355c his friend, the fox. The fox sat 1d8dac6814 down, took the 654f96d331 carrot with its 49a7a0553f front paws, and 3023fbbd21 the sound of 9d00fdd525 crunching echoed quietly.ee65a91011539d8b

Liriel watched with a slightly complicated expression. No matter how many times he saw it, he couldn’t get used to it.c2eb5d457dd74ab2

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It didn’t seem like just an ordinary fox….1b3f3515a53dde63

Hiding his uneasy thoughts, Liriel continued to offer carrot pieces. The little fox he met two and a half years ago was special to him for many reasons. It wasn’t just because the fox’s fur was a soft chocolate color or because its small body was endearing.1bf0932b5990847a

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One day, the fox suddenly appeared, rubbing its cheek against Liriel’s feet as he watched the snowy landscape. When he absentmindedly reached out to the living warmth, the fox licked his fingers without hesitation.eeccb68d83a29a6e

Tears suddenly streamed down Liriel’s face as he stared blankly at it. It was an inexplicable sorrow.f780c512c97ddd00

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The fox, surprised to 707a90e55e find Liriel silently crying c705d26f43 while it was being db4e92b37e playful, seemed a bit 3c13ca6018 flustered but soon disappeared be674a4eb6 as if nothing had ced026ca53 happened.a9c5177a97b28d67

Contrary to his expectation that they wouldn’t meet again, the little creature returned the next day. And the day after that. It came to him every single day.38ffd40c587de26a

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The fox slowly infiltrated Liriel’s life.2aca3a36de6c929b

Knowing the short lifespan of wild animals, he didn’t want to get attached, but the stubborn fox consistently sought him out. The first time Liriel reached out to the fox was purely by chance.2528bb9e317cf491

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The fox, usually sitting quietly on Liriel’s lap, suddenly jumped into his coat pocket. Normally, it wouldn’t have mattered, but that day, there was a small cookie in Liriel’s pocket. Realizing it too late, Liriel hurriedly pulled the fox out, but it had already crunched on the sugary treat.6b6bc7587cb0a0a9

Flour, sugar, butter—none of it was good for animals, so a panicked Liriel shook the fox vigorously, but the cookie didn’t come back out. The fox’s eyes just widened in surprise at the sudden rough treatment.86e5cc48b7b99a0b

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Fortunately, the fox was 768589bbe6 fine afterward, but perhaps 3ff3157f29 because it was sulking, 6b3f60b47c it growled from a 2914ffc191 distance. To apologize, Liriel started d13bd7df12 bringing sliced carrots, a 5104d40952 habit that continued to 7de7842f54 this day.2b61642ddd100f76

It was the first time he had ever cared for something. When he was very young, he didn’t have the luxury, and as he grew older, there was no one to care for.0cabb4850ebc1653

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That’s why this fragile creature, which would starve without him, was incredibly precious to Liriel. Just looking at it made his heart flutter, and a love he had never felt before bubbled up.26ff92bbb80d3440

Lost in 32c8816ce0 thought, he 77b8d01c29 paused, and 30793a17fe a small 1b10a70fe0 paw tapped 6dcd449cd5 his arm. Despite being 2e84fd32cd sulky, the dc1e55d24f fox seemed fd57a819de to want 319d45bd83 more carrots, e04ee91bd3 scrunching its c7e7992add nose adorably.48439bbfc70a9467

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“Oh, sorry.”3df675daa483539c

Liriel offered more carrots 47be001d64 and popped a piece 4e2fd520fe into his own mouth. It was so fresh 06a09b926e that it crunched and f512bb75f1 tasted sweet even raw. Sharing the carrots one d3a734dbba by one, the once-bulging 107543735d pocket quickly emptied. The fox patted its 7cd7193b54 now full belly with daab03f8fb a satisfied expression, its a2d0fd7a96 bright red eyes blinking e48e50b9d2 slowly.9b03b9b511882606

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No matter 62666426db how you 44c8c04c37 look at 6688bf78de it, it feb58ced67 acts too 1140e70ce1 much like bac05fb910 a person.b20e135131ca5cb8

Setting aside his 82944b4d26 suspicions, Liriel picked b6955c4324 up the fox 7088f93ea7 and began to af328386e7 walk. The snow crunched pleasantly c2346a882d underfoot.46d36f74e8a2f80a

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Despite having eaten enough to make its belly round, the fox, which hadn’t grown at all since the day they met, felt almost weightless. Hopefully, it wasn’t sick.bcf4b90f6b70a5c0

Whether it understood Liriel’s gloomy worries or not, the fox dozed off. Smiling softly at its peaceful appearance, Liriel walked carefully so as not to wake it.65720504602c12ba

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Going on adventures with the sleeping fox was a new hobby for Liriel. It was something he wouldn’t have considered alone, but thanks to the fox, courage bubbled up inside him.9cb13164a69d06e3

At first, 20fcd0daea he only 740afdce01 lingered around 3b5cb67490 the annex 6380d21de4 given to 2841254a2f him, but a6f9456de9 gradually, he cf834c784e expanded his 85c8117179 territory, sometimes f00180953c even approaching 2702598cf6 the main 5eb8218de4 castle. As he wandered 902be18aac without encountering a 9b155c99c6 single soul, his cdd7a08d60 courage grew day f27e768a77 by day.a2e669030a6d9317

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Spending time alone in 2d864c1137 the quiet annex dulled 9493e6252c the internal wounds that dc3b06b412 felt like they had 2440db4d78 been sliced thin with e3e8109076 a knife.5c46751c46393cc6

Three years ago, when Liriel first set foot in the cold north, he honestly thought it would be okay to die here. He had chosen this place with that intention. Whether he froze to death, was beheaded by Archduke Baltar, or poisoned by retainers who valued Baltar’s honor, it didn’t matter. Since he couldn’t end his life by his own hand, ending it this way didn’t seem so bad.a9d8ed4d4276fc61

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However, none of Liriel’s expectations came true. The annex provided by Baltar wasn’t luxurious, but it had everything he needed. He had never even seen Cassius Baltar’s face, and the retainers, whom he thought would demand he pay for tarnishing Baltar’s honor, never showed up. In fact, not only the retainers but also the servants were absent.45bbaa51632dd356

At first, there 2755f68e81 seemed to be 08b60efcb2 a few servants ad8b43f806 lingering around, but bfa36e3258 after he trembled e36bfc73b0 like he was bb999a05cd having a seizure e608cc203d every time he 101b3a2738 encountered them, he 226dde7074 stopped seeing people b8d56f314e altogether.dff6f12b520b2d72

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Breakfast was 1d4b661a5c prepared before 4a1c374524 Liriel even 8b56208660 woke up, 1325b6e065 lunch was 88d531629a served while 0ee140db9f he read 922ca7104b in the e550f8b005 library, and e805be139b cleaning and 8b26d5d38c organizing were 0567dd55e8 done while aa857f235c he took 399423f5b6 his walks. He usually skipped dinner. The unspoken 4a9ea06e66 routine established ba01cb2ccb within a 81c2536051 month continued dde855787d unchanged to 21506ee34c this day.1d3274b98976208d

Though he wasn’t eating well, he was at least eating and sleeping, so his once twig-like body gained a bit of weight. With the weight came stamina, and with stamina came walks. Strangely, the simple act of soaking up the sun and breathing fresh air gradually dispelled the suffocating depression. It was a curious thing.7073c40068e51827

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Looking back, c3a3b2235c it was 270abfa7bd the first 05744bfeb6 time he e563bc1c31 had lived bc56401ae9 so peacefully.aca4a93dc34443a8

In the past, 81f080cee2 he was always b7a9d51df5 chasing recognition, working 485cd303fa hard as if a8e18dcd0d pursued, and after e253a718f5 regaining his body, 891a717267 he was busy 577c82e7f0 bristling under the 8b5806bc2d piercing gazes.9f134ae92567220f

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So Liriel liked this cool peace. Though Baltar was mostly bone-chillingly cold, there were no unsettling stares, and he didn’t have to worry about imitating anyone.d19f88154fd79c90

When his 7fe8f34987 legs grew 47ccaa2bc9 heavy and 75a9cc2145 he stopped, bb00f4c3f0 he found 55ad35937a himself near f4102f506f the main 485e2f8f65 castle again. It seemed he c90f9d872e had ventured a a04f64f42a bit deeper than d28bba0419 last time. As he cbc54edf3e exhaled his 948bfa1721 slightly labored 1e859c4747 breath, a 1bf4dc27f9 translucent puff 821cc311f8 of air cb5bf5150a gathered and d6f368d79d dissipated before dd9bbf7ce2 his eyes.c41b3c04dba0961d

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I should head back.6aa6fc7e4087798f

Just as Liriel was 96eb6a610b about to turn, he f8e9357eb4 heard a faint crunching a3d5b09aa2 sound in the distance, 90dd877fda like the sound of 3c6d2950e2 footsteps on snow.1b2544f449356819

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Narrowing his eyes, 7d7260dbaf Liriel glared in a7eaca5372 the direction of b7e5338cc3 the sound. He thought it was 54300b1958 a wild animal, but f04c29cbb8 on closer inspection, it d98119ab22 was a large man. Though he cd67efed9a could barely 5b46857253 make out 1bd96dcbc3 the shape 3173eb3acd from the ca4db90a0c distance, seeing 3db4790b98 a stranger c25d3696ff for the c4c3cc2207 first time 71de1fb684 in so 2e904c0631 long startled 203f8332cb Liriel, and f880b98798 he immediately 410c0351cd turned his 70d90ea79a back.e09e3406c555c464

There was 61a1f926b8 no time 60609e9d7a to think. The sudden movement 2fbeb1ed06 woke the fox, 5e4382d32a which growled in 76d282a74d protest, but for 92ef7d949a the first time, 443414833a Liriel ignored it 97cea8eb42 and dashed away.65c352d36aa47d3c

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Thanks to that, 99edb1b4cb he quickly reached 10a5a5a391 the annex. His legs trembled f65c5fc5fe from the exertion, c539a867cd and he was 6811bd05e3 out of breath.b3cc33bb21e6a790

“There was a person, fox.”68e124b519997f41

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The fox, with a grumpy look, smacked Liriel’s chest with its paw. It hurt quite a bit. Angered by the disturbance of its sleep, the fox leapt down and disappeared into the forest, ignoring Liriel’s complaints.80f8c3c7498265ce

Catching his 44d2428355 breath for 8f770fcd63 a moment, 1df706ad49 Liriel moved 0d3bdf5c85 his heavy 30da210e2c legs and 662612c303 entered the bb4143b14f annex. His heart was ab65d0b720 still pounding.7a24f8ab76d41b0d

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Though he hadn’t seen clearly, a figure that large was likely a knight.55aa13c582d4f370

Encountering a person after so long heightened Liriel’s anxiety. Meeting people was still frightening, whether they were kind or disdainful. So Liriel wanted to preserve the peaceful life in the annex with the little fox.f5e2f06b44c54310

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“I must never go that way again.”73a34965ca8127ac

Liriel resolved firmly, but 56932629d1 it took less than 596685c777 four days for that 244a9f2183 resolve to break.aa5fb737dd08e993

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⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚b1a365425cf94a12

Is the fox sick? Liriel had a reasonable suspicion. Lately, the fox seemed to think it was a rabbit, hopping around energetically. It even jumped up to Liriel’s waist sometimes. Plus, it stopped eating the carrots it used to love.0baeca4331820760

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Running around was fine, but not eating was a survival issue, so Liriel’s worry grew daily. In this harsh weather, it seemed unlikely that a baby fox could find food on its own outside.736be2e79f01f963

“What’s wrong, huh? Should I give you something else?”134d979a75381868

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He was frustrated because he couldn’t figure out the reason. It was upsetting that the fox couldn’t speak. If it were a person, he could at least ask where it hurt, but he worried that it might be suffering alone because he hadn’t noticed.551ecf88d59f09f4

The fox 3e0fb8b0ee swatted away 3cc8697e14 the flower-shaped c505bc0e6d carrot Liriel 220d82855a offered. The awkward ea1a897e77 carrot flowers 12823701c6 scattered on c306da3b0e the white 1fba4357b8 snow. Thinking it might 746d997363 dislike carrots, he 0e99d413f9 tried offering a 34b11ce3fd cookie, but it 0e23314dc6 was rejected even c4479d36ab more forcefully.91ec79523c2a353c

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The fox, which now barely jumped up to Liriel’s calf, soon ran into the forest. Unlike usual, it didn’t go far and just stared blankly at Liriel. When Liriel blinked dumbly, the fox stomped its back feet impatiently, as if telling him to follow.c9d1279758952365

I really don’t want to go that way again….068bd357629b03d0

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Sensing Liriel’s reluctance, the fox started hissing.1752343a1e1565bf

Do foxes even hiss?4b2bd8d0c17c56d4

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Worried that it 61db20b940 might get hurt, 29488958ab Liriel reluctantly followed 65132fd6a8 the fox. Contrary to his 168a0f00f4 wish to avoid 74a8018821 the place where ce635fb207 he saw the 87c1223fb0 stranger last time, db4279bd31 the fox headed 5bae2a6ea4 straight in that 5ede9f991d direction.8d134456b1fbe0e6

Feeling uneasy, Liriel decided he couldn’t let this continue and picked up the fox, which struggled fiercely. The small creature was surprisingly strong, and its front paw smacked Liriel’s nose.3009480f31c0879f

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“Ouch!”2d049b713ec08129

Taking advantage of Liriel’s dazed state, the fox escaped again. Frustrated, Liriel chased after it, leading to an unexpected pursuit.88e74076e30c455c

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“Gotcha!”004d8995034242d7

After running for a 47f863b575 while, Liriel finally caught 865bf32570 the fox, which had c006334c5f suddenly stopped. Once in 9b9de93911 his arms, 29138f698c the fox 30b62b0c88 was surprisingly 874b608fab calm, unlike 36534e641b before. Its docile behavior made 240f66ea35 Liriel chuckle.8224c6a2936f4c5e

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Look at this 162f3abf7a little one.3d4eab1c963d8370

“For now, you’re only eating greens.”12a1577a94d33d38

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As he turned 310813e79d to leave, a 9f87ca7a69 strange feeling of 8b0e974fef being watched washed 14fdd26ebb over him.2de69e34062df612

Liriel slowly lifted c310fe709f his head from 336b44cf2c the fox.cfa23cc92216f1bb

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And there, d8caecfaee closer than 2dffad93f7 expected, he 0d71051e23 locked eyes b24192cb06 with deep 491a59e160 iolite-colored eyes.b93206f6d53fa034

“…Oh?”45e60bc6d0cdec1b

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A breathy sound escaped Liriel’s lips.5eb31298605df581

Neither of them e5df502b01 moved first.2199b513a1138a62

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The man wore only a light shirt despite the cold weather. Even so, he was larger and taller than the bundled-up Liriel. Judging by the sword at his waist, he seemed to be the knight Liriel had seen from afar three days ago. Liriel’s eyes widened, and his body froze.0a1f5a2075ce1247