Chapter 61
“That coat—it’s by one of my favorite designers.”
At Nina’s words, Viktor stopped and turned back.
“So what?”
“Did you give it to her?”
“I heard he’s a famous designer.”
“That designer doesn’t make white coats, though.”
“So I ordered it in white. That way, it would be the only one.”
Nina was left speechless, glaring at him.
Viktor continued,
“I don’t care what you say at social gatherings, but it’s better not to go overboard. I have ears too, you know.”
It sounded like a threat. Nina said nothing more, turned around first, and left the lake entirely. Viktor returned to Scarlett.
Since Nina had spoken loudly enough for others to hear, Scarlett asked awkwardly,
“This coat… it’s from a designer Miss Nina likes?”
“He’s a designer every woman in society likes. Anyway, have you been practicing?”
“Yeah. See? I told you I’d get used to it quickly.”
Scarlett spoke, skating slowly. She quickly recalled how she’d skated as a child and regained her balance. Viktor commented,
“What a shame. Watching you fall over was fun.”
“What’s fun about that? Skating well is what’s fun.”
While skating, Scarlett kept sneaking glances at Viktor. She couldn’t figure out what he was really after.
After enjoying skating for a while, Scarlett asked,
“So.”
“So?”
“Why do you keep being so good to me these days? What is it you want?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I want to live with you again.”
“Because it’s comfortable when I love you?”
“If you didn’t like that line, I’ll come up with something more romantic.”
His reply made Scarlett laugh a little without meaning to. But she quickly forced her expression to harden.
“Absolutely not. I won’t fall for that.”
But despite her hardened expression, there was a warmth she couldn’t hide. Viktor smiled.
Each time she forgot about their divorce, Viktor learned something new about her. The more he came to know her, the more it seemed possible to make her love him again.
Perhaps someday, he might really bring her back to him.
The long December slowly passed, and the New Year arrived.
When January came, snow fell heavily in the capital of Salantie. With snow, the air felt a little warmer, and since the wind rarely blew, the cold wasn’t as harsh.
But once February came, the strong winds returned. Even if temperatures rose then, people would suffer more from the chill.
That’s why the capital of Salantie held its festival during mild January.
Scarlett let out a deep sigh.
“Why do I have to do this…?”
At her words, Liv slipped gloves onto Scarlett’s hands and replied,
“It was unanimous. Everyone on 7th Street wants you to be the Snow Queen for the New Year’s parade.”
“I want to be the Spring Queen, though…”
“You just have that winter look.”
“What does a winter look even mean?”
Scarlett grumbled, but still let Liv apply her makeup.
The New Year’s Festival lasted from January 1st to 7th, and during that time, 7th Street always chose a Snow Queen and a Spring Queen, both figures from Salantie’s legends.
When the Snow Queen led the parade, spectators would throw colorful paper confetti. The path she passed turned into a flower-strewn road, and then the Spring Queen would walk along it, symbolizing the wish for winter to end and spring to come. For Salantie’s people, who endured long winters, it was a heartfelt ritual.
Each year, auditions were held, and most participants were stage actresses or ballerinas hoping to gain fame. But ever since Scarlett had appeared on 7th Street, the role of Snow Queen was decided in people’s hearts. With majority support, she had been pushed into the role.
Scarlett said to Liv as she worked on her makeup,
“My brother’s coming later.”
“Really?”
“Mm.”
At the news that Isaac was coming, Liv’s face brightened—only for her to quickly scold when Scarlett tried to nod.
“Don’t move your head.”
“Ah, fine…”
Keeping still, Scarlett let Liv neaten the white wig she wore. Not long after, Isaac arrived.
When he entered the Snow Queen’s waiting tent and saw Scarlett, he burst out laughing.
“You look amazing.”
“Don’t laugh.”
“Sorry, sorry. Hi, Liv?”
When Isaac greeted her, Liv blushed furiously and stammered,
“H-hello.”
As she nervously twirled her hair, Scarlett cut in,
“Liv.”
“Ah, right.”
Liv snapped back to focus and finished Scarlett’s makeup. When Scarlett stood, she exuded an oddly striking presence.
Isaac offered his hand.
“Those heels are pretty tall.”
“…I’m short compared to the Spring Queen. Honestly, if that’s such an issue, they should’ve just hired an actress.”
Grumbling, Scarlett still placed her hand in his.
When she stepped outside the tent, the tram driver’s children, Charlie and Susan, who had been waiting eagerly, widened their eyes.
“Wow, it’s the Snow Queen…”
“Scarlett! It’s really Scarlett!”
Putting on her best scary face, Scarlett declared,
“Nope. I’m the Snow Queen. Bad children will be frozen solid.”
“Wow! Cool!”
“Scarlett, you’re so cool!”
The children ran alongside her, chattering excitedly.
Scarlett soon stepped onto a wheeled wooden platform. The tram drivers, who had built the parade floats, inspected it carefully.
“We made sure not a single splinter was left. Couldn’t let our Miss Scarlett get hurt. What do you think?”
“No wonder. I can tell you put extra care into this. Oh, even the handrail has fabric wrapped around it.”
“I sewed it myself.”
The thought of the burly tram driver carefully sewing with those huge hands made her laugh.
“Thank you.”
Scarlett said as she took her place. Then she sighed again.
“But this is so embarrassing…”
Liv replied,
“Scarlett, you’re an actress. An actress should stand tall.”
“Except I’m not an actress, and this isn’t something I even wanted.”
At that, Susan gasped.
“S-Scarlett. You don’t want to be the Snow Queen?”
Scarlett startled and quickly reassured her.
“No, no! I love it. I even get to wear this pretty dress.”
“Right?”
The child finally looked relieved.
The float began moving.
All Scarlett had to do was stand still and not smile. She clamped her mouth shut, afraid of spotting something funny. But trying not to laugh made her giggle at nothing.
“Snow Queen, please make it snow less this year!”
“Snow Queen! You’re beautiful!”
“Snow Queen, we love you!”
It was hard not to laugh at all the flattery. To hold it in, Scarlett distracted herself by mentally disassembling and reassembling a clock.
Since flowers were scarce in January, most people threw paper confetti. But sometimes the wealthy scattered real petals, and faint whiffs of floral fragrance drifted in. Though embarrassed at first, Scarlett felt proud, touched by the people’s sincere prayers for a short winter.
The parade passed through streets with few new buildings.
I really do hope this winter is short.
She was thinking this when the float stopped at its destination. Now, she had to step into the black curtain, vanish, and let the Spring Queen appear, signaling the Snow Queen’s departure.
Scarlett walked into the black curtain. As she hid inside, she overheard voices behind her.
“Did you hear? That’s Lady Scarlett of House Dempelth.”
“Oh, the divorced one? My, she’s here?”
“Did you hear? They say Lady Scarlett… isn’t in her right mind.”
Scarlett froze.
“They even sent her to a convent, didn’t they?”
“That’s right.”
“And afterward, she still wasn’t sane. Rumor has it, not long ago, she forgot she was divorced and rushed back to House Dempelth in a daze.”
“S-she forgot she was divorced?”
“Exactly. She’s not in her right mind.”
Outside, the hushed gossip reached her. Scarlett’s hands trembled violently.
Come to think of it, hadn’t she woken up in Viktor’s bed several times lately?
She had grown used to losing memories, enough to accept missing a few days. But waking up in the same bed as Viktor—that, she could not comprehend.
Viktor had said nothing, only blamed himself for the situation.
What do I do…
Scarlett gasped for breath and crouched down where she stood.
