Boo-hoo, it's so cold!

[Everyone, I'm back again!]

[Please follow, send gifts, add the book to your library, and leave paragraph comments, awa.]

[Follows, people keeping up with the story, and gifts are what motivate me to update, ovo.]

[There's a picture from the author at the end of the chapter~]

[Please give this book a little support. It feels like it's about to die, and I might stop updating tomorrow, qwq.]

[This is the last update for today~]

At noon, sunlight filtered through the ice-crystal dome of Zapolyarny Palace, refracting into a seven-colored halo.

Baichen lay sprawled over the windowsill, bored out of his mind, drawing kittens on the frosted glass with his finger.

A day and a half had passed, and Bronya had never mentioned the Harbinger matter again. She had simply kept him in this luxurious cage like a rare pet.

"Bored?"

Bronya's voice came from behind him.

The Tsaritsa had changed into a set of casual silver-white clothes today, and her long ice-blue hair was loosely pinned up with a diamond hairpin. She looked a little less imposing than usual.

She held a hefty tome in her hand and seemed to have just returned from her study.

Baichen turned around, his eyes suddenly lighting up. "Can I go out for a walk? Just around the palace..."

Bronya raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into something between a smile and a smirk. "Are you sure?"

"Of course!" Baichen puffed out his chest. "I'm not a child anymore. It's not like I'll get lost, right?"

The Tsaritsa didn't answer immediately. She merely studied him with a meaningful look in her ice-blue eyes. A moment later, she nodded slightly. "Go on."

Her ready agreement made Baichen hesitate instead.

He gave Bronya a suspicious look, and after making sure she wasn't joking, he excitedly ran to the dressing room and pulled out a fluffy white coat to put on.

"I'll be back soon!" he called as he tied his scarf, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

Bronya kept that mysterious smile on her face as she watched the boy bounce toward the door.

Just as Baichen's hand was about to touch the handle, she suddenly spoke.

"Oh, by the way, it's thirty degrees below zero outside."

Baichen froze.

He slowly turned around and saw Bronya elegantly sipping a cup of black tea, her eyes sparkling with the success of her prank.

"You... you did that on purpose!" The boy puffed out his cheeks in anger, like a kitten with its fur standing on end.

Bronya set down her teacup and spread her hands innocently. "I agreed to let you go out, but I never promised the weather would be suitable for a walk." She tilted her head. "What, are you scared now?"

Goaded into it, Baichen gritted his teeth and flung the door open-

A biting wind instantly poured into the room, carrying tiny ice crystals with it.

Baichen held out for only three seconds before admitting defeat. He shakily closed the door, his whole body trembling from the cold.

A layer of frost had formed on his eyelashes, and the tip of his nose and his ears were as red as ripe apples.

"Hmph..." he sulked, his teeth chattering. His bedraggled appearance drew a soft laugh from Bronya.

That laugh completely ignited Baichen's anger.

He angrily yanked off his scarf, threw aside his coat, and pattered back to the bedroom barefoot. He plunged headfirst under the covers and buried himself there like an ostrich.

[Bronya's favorability +2%, currently 77%]

[Status acquired: mild frostbite]

Bronya followed him in at an unhurried pace and sat down beside the bed. "Are you angry?"

A muffled "Hmph" came from under the covers.

The Tsaritsa lifted a corner, revealing the boy's sulky face. "It's not as though you can't go out..." Her fingertips brushed his frost-reddened ear. "Beg me."

Baichen snatched the covers back. "No way!"

Bronya wasn't annoyed. She rose gracefully and left. "Suit yourself. But just so you know, there's an ice sculpture exhibition this afternoon, right in the central plaza..."

The sound of the bedroom door closing was especially grating.

Baichen poked his head out from under the covers. After making sure the Tsaritsa had really left, he thumped his pillow in frustration.

System, check in!

[Check-in successful!]

[Acquired: blazing ore ×3 (stored in system inventory)]

[Effect: emits heat continuously for 6 hours, range 1 meter]

Baichen's eyes lit up, and he immediately took a piece of crimson ore out of the system inventory.

Its warm touch instantly dispelled the chill. The ore radiated gentle heat in his palm, like a little sun.

"Great!" he cheered. He quickly got dressed, stuffed the ore into his pocket, and charged confidently toward the door once more.

He was smarter this time and opened the door a crack to test it first.

The wind was still biting, but waves of warmth came from the ore in his breast pocket. At least he wouldn't freeze stiff.

Baichen took a deep breath and stepped outside-

Then immediately retreated.

"Why is it still so cold?!" he said, rubbing his arms with a miserable look.

The blazing ore did work, but its range was too small to withstand Snezhnaya's extreme cold.

"Need help?"

Bronya had appeared at the end of the corridor at some point and was toying with an ice crystal in her hand.

She seemed especially free today, just waiting to watch the boy make a fool of himself.

Baichen bit his lip, torn.

On one hand, he didn't want to bow his head to this awful Tsaritsa. On the other, he really did want to go out and have a look.

In the end, curiosity won out over pride.

"...Take me to the ice sculpture exhibition," he mumbled, staring at his toes.

Bronya pretended not to hear him clearly. "What?"

"Take me to the ice sculpture exhibition!" Baichen raised his voice, his face flushing bright red.

The Tsaritsa shook her head. "That's not right." She walked slowly toward him and lifted the boy's chin with her fingertips. "You should say, 'Lady Bronya, please take me to the ice sculpture exhibition. I'm begging you.'"

The two stared at each other for a full ten seconds.

In the end, Baichen gave in.

He lowered his eyes and said in a barely audible voice, "Lady Bronya... please take me to the ice sculpture exhibition..." After a pause, he added in a voice like a mosquito's hum, "...I'm begging you."

Bronya smiled in satisfaction.

She snapped her fingers, and a maid immediately brought over a brand-new set of cold-weather gear-a silver-white fur coat, warm boots inlaid with ice crystals, and a scarf embroidered with Snezhnaya's national emblem.

"Put these on." She personally tied the scarf around the boy's neck. "These were specially made from snowfield fox fur. They can withstand temperatures as low as fifty below zero."

Baichen was surprised to find that the outfit was exceptionally light and warm, not nearly as bulky as it looked.

Bronya then took out an ice-blue brooch and pinned it to his collar.

"This is my token," she explained. "Wear it, and no one will stop you."

[Item acquired: Tsaritsa's ice-crystal brooch]

[Effect: cold resistance + symbol of status]

The streets of Snezhnaya were livelier than Baichen had imagined.

Despite the freezing weather, the marketplace was still bustling with voices.

Vendors hawked steaming beet soup and meat skewers, while children chased one another and played among the ice sculptures.

Baichen was like a country child visiting the city for the first time, unable to take everything in.

"Careful!"

Bronya suddenly put an arm around his waist and pulled him to her side.

A carriage made of ice crystals hurtled past, nearly hitting the distracted Baichen.

"Th-thank you..." Baichen thanked her, still shaken, then suddenly realized that the Tsaritsa's hand was still resting on his waist.

Bronya seemed to have no intention of letting go and continued onward with her arm half around him.

Passersby bowed one after another, casting curious glances at the boy.

Baichen awkwardly shrank back, only for the Tsaritsa to take his chin and force him to look up.

"Stand straight," she ordered quietly. "You represent my image now."

The ice sculpture exhibition in the central plaza truly was breathtaking.

A giant ice dragon coiled above the fountain, lifelike ice roses refracted the sunlight into seven-colored rays, and there was also a scale model of Zapolyarny Palace, so finely detailed that even the patterns on the windows were clearly visible.

"Do you like it?" Bronya asked, idly twining her fingers around the boy's hair.

Baichen nodded honestly. "It's amazing! I've never seen anything like this in Inazuma..."

The moment the word "Inazuma" left his mouth, he regretted it. Bronya's gaze instantly turned cold, and the surrounding temperature seemed to drop another few degrees.

"That lightning puppet..." She gave a soft snort. "What artistic creation is she capable of besides swinging her blade and chopping things?"

Baichen wisely said nothing. The atmosphere between them grew somewhat tense for a moment, until a burst of cheerful music broke the silence.

At the other end of the plaza, a group of dancers in brightly colored clothes were performing.

They stepped lightly, spinning and leaping across the ice like a flock of dancing firebirds.

"They're wandering performers from another country," Bronya explained. "They come to Snezhnaya to perform every winter."

Baichen watched, entranced, unconsciously swaying gently to the rhythm.

Bronya noticed his movements, and a trace of softness flashed through her eyes.

"Want to try?"

Without waiting for an answer, she pulled the boy into the dancing crowd.

Baichen scrambled to follow her steps and nearly slipped several times, but each time the Tsaritsa held him steady.

"Relax," Bronya whispered in his ear. "Follow my rhythm."

Gradually, Baichen got the hang of it.

Their dance steps went from awkward to coordinated, and in the end, they even managed a few simple turns.

Bronya's hand was warm and strong, guiding him in graceful arcs across the ice.

[Bronya's favorability +3%, currently 80%]

Tired from dancing, the two rested on a bench by the plaza.

Bronya bought two cups of hot cocoa and handed one to Baichen.

The sweet drink chased away the last trace of cold, and Baichen narrowed his eyes in contentment, like a cat basking in the sun.

"Are you happy?" Bronya suddenly asked.

Baichen was taken aback, then nodded. "Yes! Thank you for bringing me here..."

The Tsaritsa's gaze fell on the towering palace in the distance. "If you stay, you can be this happy every day." She turned to the boy. "Snezhnaya has the best art academy, the finest theater, and..." Her fingertip wiped a cocoa stain from the corner of his mouth. "Me."

Baichen lowered his head without responding. Bronya didn't press him, merely sighing softly.

"How is your decision coming along? About the Harbinger proposal."

"I..." Baichen twisted his fingers together. "Could you give me a little more time?"

Bronya agreed with unexpected readiness. "Of course." She stood and held out a hand to the boy. "Come on, it's time to go back. There's cream stew for dinner, the one you like."

On the way back, Baichen's feelings grew much more complicated.

The gentle side Bronya had shown today had shaken his resolve somewhat, but the empty spot on his chest constantly reminded him of his promise to Ei.

System, what should I do?

[According to data analysis]

[Accept: Bronya's favorability increases significantly + gain Snezhnayan privileges]

[Refuse: may anger the Tsaritsa + affect current comfort level]

[Note: does not affect the main storyline]

Dinner was indeed as Bronya had said, astonishingly lavish.

Besides the signature cream stew, there was bread baked golden brown, honey-marinated berries, and a whole snowfish drizzled with lemon juice.

Baichen ate with relish, temporarily putting his troubles behind him.

"Tomorrow is the last day," Bronya suddenly said at the end of the meal. "Whatever your decision, I will respect it."

Baichen looked up in surprise, not expecting the Tsaritsa to relent so easily.

Bronya elegantly wiped the corner of her mouth, her ice-blue eyes unfathomable.

"But before that..." She stood and held out her hand to the boy. "Come somewhere with me."

(The picture is in the author's notes.)

Please click that poop-colored button, everyone, boo-hoo. Please send some free little gifts too, thank you, everyone, qwq. A big gift would be even better!

If the author wakes up one morning and sees the numbers are a complete mess, they might burst into tears and be too heartbroken to update, qwq.