Late at night, in the barn.
Bright moonlight seeped faintly through the cracks in the door, scattering a layer of pale, gentle silver frost across the floor.
Winter Tree stood where he was, the silvery-white moonlight from outside spilling over his thin frame.
He made no particularly large movements.
But his slightly trembling arms and the boots that kept shifting in place already revealed the turmoil in his heart.
"Lillie, you really— you really can't stay in the village anymore!"
The clear eyes unique to a boy his age were now completely red, and there was even a trace of tears in his voice.
In stark contrast to him was the girl standing quietly in the shadows before Winter Tree, who was bathed in moonlight.
Her plain white linen dress was like a wildflower beaten down by rain in the mud. She could not be called especially beautiful, and under the shadows covering her cheeks, her unremarkable features were almost reduced to a vague outline.
Only those crystalline eyes, reflecting the moonlight and utterly calm, were particularly eye-catching.
"Winter Tree." Unlike the boy's urgency and agitation, her voice was as gentle and clear as the evening breeze. "I understand how you feel, but..."
"Running away is useless. It has no meaning."
"How could it have no meaning!?"
Winter Tree's tone was agitated. His hands subconsciously reached out as if to grab her shoulders, but he had only just raised them when he seemed to realize something. They froze stiffly in midair for a moment, then shifted to gently hold her forearms and wrists.
"We can leave together. River Valley Town, Newm—anywhere is fine! I can hunt. I can do hard labor. I can protect you, I swear!"
"As long as we leave the village, you can... you can..." Looking at