Snow continued to gently fall from the calm but cloudy skies, bleaching the world into a freezing white. The days have passed and landed on the 9th day of celebration for the New Year’s Festival. Over the past few days and despite the winter cold, Ame persistently argued against both Sada and Dara’s warnings and went on trips to visit the festival.

It was already too rare to leave the house before, but Ame had planned to use the festival to slowly establish more trust and freedom. Besides, it would be too foolish to not get a better familiarity in her own town or miss out on some New Year’s fun.

After enough “tears” and pleading though, Ame managed to convince Sada that she’ll be alright to visit the Festival. She was then able to get permission to enjoy the celebrations from the second day onwards. However, it seems that she only allowed to go if she had Dara and a few guards to accompany her.

Ame could only begrudgingly agree. Nonetheless, she made sure to enjoy as much as possible and try to enjoy the games and food of the various stall. She did felt a little bad though due to how nervous Dara and her presence made many of the stall and store owner…. It got especially bad (and very funny) a few times because of how some didn’t have enough change for one gold coin. I had to tell them not to mind sometimes but eventually just let Dara handled it.

Of course, other times, Dara became the problem due to him releasing a weird pressure when cheering me on in games. However, because of how embarrassing it was, Ame just decided to not mind it. You lose if you mind.

Besides, her gaming skills was decent either way…… cough cough, even if she has to use a “bit of luck from her pet cats” to win a few prizes. As her previous father always said, if you don’t have luck, then make it.  

As the days gone by, she had eventually received an invitation to another drink of tea party hosted by Ehuang and Nuo. Although she can’t trust them yet, it is not like she hates them very much. At the least, they are better than her own mother who has yet to even try meeting her outside of formal occasions.

Watching the snow falling as she reminisced, Ame sighed from her thoughts. She could also hear laughter continuing to resound in the courtyard of the third wife Nuo during this whole time. Ame silently watched as the twin kids immersed in their fun with the snow.  

After some time, the nursemaids gently grab Dai and Cho before carrying them into the corridor. The scene of an excited Sada flashes through Ame’s head as she recalls how the maid cheerfully closed the door and pranced over to Ame after being invited to tea again. With beaming eyes, Sada chirped, “Milady, what joyous news! Not only has milady’s position risen, but Madame Nuo has surely become fonder of you! That is wonderful news for Milady!”

Ame didn’t answer at the time as she instead entered the bathroom upon her return from training. Sada has selected a white matching outfit for her, and with swiftness, Ame is soon dressed and heads out towards the tea peart early while being closely followed by Sada and two guards. One guard was female, the other was male, but both seemed to have resolute ambience characteristic of professionals or those with experience.

Morph and Kiro on the other hand remain hiding in her room, out of the reach of the white fluffy monsters known as the twins. It seems that they were played with and treated a bit roughly when she was looking.

Coming out of her reverie as she watched the twins continue trying to throw snowballs at each other, Ame stands up from the side of the corridor. She had been merely watching Dai and Cho play in the snow due to being too early for the meal at Ehuang’s place. With a smile, Ame watches the nursemaids wipe off the snow on the twin’s faces and hats and then give them a little bit of steaming (medicinal) soup to drink. Suddenly, an idea hits her, and she asks, “Ah, Dai, Cho, why didn’t you create any snow angels?”

The twins stare at her blankly, causing Ame to frown and turn towards the bewildered nursemaids. The pink haired maid swiftly says, “I am sorry, Third Mistress. May you please enlighten us.

    Ame brows furrow in perplexity. ‘Did this world or this part of the world not know about them? Or was it natural for rich families to not know of such commoner games?’ She silently wondered.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

However, not wasting more time on such a train of thoughts, she turns towards the twins and says, “Shall I teach you how to make snow angels...uh, or monks?” Ame wasn’t sure what to call them, but well, the name wouldn’t matter too much.

Dai instantly shouts, “Yes, please!” With Cho chiming in, “Please, Big Sister!”

   Seeing as the snow hadn’t yet been cleaned from their courtyard, Ame lays down and begins to move her arms and legs sideways. Once done, she rises and says, “See Snow Monks.”

 Dai and Cho eagerly lay down into the snow and do the same. With proud faces, they clumsily rise to their feet and stare at the snow monks (cough…. snow angels). Dai puffs out his chest and says, “Mine’s bigger.” Cho refusing to lose replies, “Mine’s stronger.”

The twins then glare at each other until Ame begins rolling some snow. The twins swiftly watched and started copying her. Soon, Ame states, “Let’s make a snowman!”

   Ame leads the way by making a snowball into the bottom part of the body, and with the aid of Ame, they pile up more body parts to make their first snowman. She would have suggested a snowball fight, but her situation was precarious enough as it is. She did not care to imagine what would happen if a snowball should hurt either of them.

After decorating and showing them how to fully make a snowman, she then let them excitedly trying to build their own snowman’s and even compete by seeing who can build the bigger or coolest snowman. Tired and cold, the twins are eventually collected by their nursemaids after some time. Dai tiredly shouts, “I’m hungry!” However, Cho smiles shyly and says, “Big Sister, share lunch with us?”

Sada beams in silent reply, and Ame certain thought that it should be about time for the meal for which she was invited. Thus, she smiles faintly and replies, “Certainly. Lead the way.”

The nursemaids lead Ame and Sada to the inside of Ehuang’s quarters where Ehuang and Nuo were noticeably seated, but the figures of Hong and HuiFeng are noticeably missing. Ame bows and greets her mother’s before seating herself down.

They politely chatter as the twins exclaim about making snow angels/monks and snowman’s. Nuo and Ehuang smile at the twin’s antics. Despite being so young, although relatively clumsily, the twins could carefully use their chopsticks and silverware to eat.

  Once done eating, Ame excuses herself, but before doing so, she turns towards the twins. “Dai and Cho as well as Mothers Ehuang and Nuo, it has been an honor to have been graced with this pleasantry,” Ame sincerely said before rising and departing. The twins innocently wave goodbye to both Ame and Sada’s departing figures. Once far enough out of earshot, Ame says without turning, “Sada, you have yet to eat. Go and eat.”

 Sada opens her mouth to protest, but a look from Ame swiftly silences her. Sada could tell that she wasn’t given a choice and clasped her hands before departing. Afterwards, Ame nonchalantly reaches her quarters, but a solemn atmosphere was present during the whole trip back. The guards sensed their young miss’s bad mood and simply glanced at one another and at Ame before returning to their patrol.

Once the door was closed, Ame swiftly heads to the bathroom and begins to throw everything up. A cold gleam is seen in her eyes as she washes her mouth and the filth down the sink.

  Morph and Kiro clearly heard the sounds emitted from the bathroom and stare at Ame with solemn eyes. After a moment, Morph says, “Posion.” Ame silently nods, not trusting herself to speak without voicing her cold rage. Kiro’s eyes darken with anger as he growls, “How dare they!”

“Yes, well, they can easily dare given my position. But the question is who?” After rising her mouth out and breathing to calm her nerves, Ame crisply spoke as she sat down in a chair to think. At the same time, she closed her eyes to sense for any abnormalities.

Morph ponders the thought for a while. “Nuo is unlikely, but cannot be removed. I would lay the blame at the feet of either Ehuang or Ayako.”

“Discard Ayako. If she was to go for my throat, she wouldn’t use such a weak poison.” Ame quietly said.

“But why would Ehuang do this?” Kiro softly asked.

 “Ehuang has begun to regret accepting my presence and is afraid that my presence can be used by Ayako, so I can’t exclude her involvement or knowledge…. However, the poison is too easily detectable” Ame crisply answered.

    Her brows quickly furrowed. “This?” Then, Ame suddenly smirked as a small laugh escaped her lips. “Maybe, we can find small fortune out of this calamity.”

    ‘I am not exactly sure who is trying to poison me, but thanks to them, I finally recalled something so very basic. I can’t wait for the next meal that my lovely mothers invite me to.’ She thought. An eerie smile crept onto Ame’s face, causing the fur on the back of her spirit guardians to stand on end.

 “.... Then, are we to be wary of thy elder siblings?” Ignoring the scariness of their master right now, Kiro tried to proceed the topic and asked. Morph simply snorted at his brother’s question. Kiro thus glares at his brother but waits for their master to answer.

However, Ame doesn’t speak, leaving them in unease. As she immersed into her cultivation, silence returned to the place, and so, Morph and Kiro went to lie back down to think about the precarious situation.