The story of how I, who became the beloved child of Winter Fenrir, was healed from despair

(Bonus Short Story) The Sakura Festival and the Snow Country: Day of the Festival★2

(From El’s Perspective)

This is my first solo outing in the cold wind.

Come on, courage! Energy! Let’s do this!

…

And so, I blew through the icy arcade.

A gift of sakura petals.

I felt like, “I can do it!” just as my concentration faltered, and I almost crashed into the wall.

I ended up sinking into Fenrir’s fluffy fur as he slid in to catch me, feeling a wave of relief.

All the effort made me feel exhausted, and I took a ten-minute nap right there.

Quick naps are essential, you know?

Fenrir laughed as he spoke, and so began our Sakura Festival.

…

──Simple.

That word sums up the Sakura Festival.

Since it was put together hastily, there were no grand stalls, just food laid out on tables like a soup kitchen.

Instead of festive music, people played instruments or sang at their leisure, giving off a “relaxed day off” vibe.

The only real activity? Gazing at the sakura blossoms.

There were no tourists from outside, just the people currently in the kingdom of Felsnow—an intimate, quiet festival.

“This is how it should start. This is perfect.”

“So, it’s all going according to El-sama’s plan?”

“If you want to build excitement in the second half, conserve your energy until then and maintain just enough activity to keep people from leaving. Then, boom, you hit them with the grand finale!”

“You used to plan events at your old job, didn’t you?”

“Hold that dark grin of yours in check, Steiglear. Fenrir too, okay? It’s all in the past.”

“I’m just glad El bounced back.”

Fenrir pulled me close, and I let him hug me.

Come on now, you’re making it hard to leave…

Steiglear’s hourglass for measuring time was comical and made me laugh. When the sand ran out, I mentally reset—fully charged!

…

I bought some light green fabric from the cloth merchant and covered my head with it to hide my animal ears. If people knew I was the Winter Princess, they’d be surprised. But when I gestured by putting a finger to my lips for secrecy, they simply bowed in reverence and let me go. Um, thank you for your faith…? I’m still not used to it.

I strolled leisurely, walking at the same pace as the townsfolk.

Many were like me—shopping a little extra at local stores and wandering around at a relaxed pace.

Oh, look, a snowman!

This freshly built snowman was covered in sakura petals, with a flower crown made by children on its head. The townspeople had decorated it with a painted stick and a tied-up necktie—gifts from everyone.

But it was starting to melt.

As the day progressed, the sun was warming things up.

The snowman flailed its arms as if asking for help.

When people with ice-blue nails held its hands, they shared some of their ice magic to help the snowman maintain its form.

It was as if everyone was holding hands through the snowman.

“Nice, isn’t it?”

“Indeed… Oh, look over there.”

Hm?

Following Fenrir’s gaze, I noticed a young man—probably from the autumn people—hiding in the shadows of a house.

His hair was a mix of red and orange, like autumn leaves, and he wore loose-fitting black clothes.

He seemed shy, just watching the plaza alone.

Though, judging by the way he tapped his shoe in rhythm with the Felsnow folk’s flute music, it seemed he wanted to join.

A cold breeze blew toward the snowman.

“Go ahead.”

<♪♪♪>

The snowman made a beeline for the young man, who straightened up in surprise.

It extended its wooden hand.

The youth hesitated, but a soft smile spread across his face.

“Is it okay… even for me?”

<♪♪♪>

The young man took the snowman’s hand.

He took a deep breath, relaxed his tense shoulders, and probably imagined something cold as he infused a little ice magic.

The snowman’s melting body solidified once again.

“I-I did it.”

<♪♪♪>

“Whoa!”

The snowman twined a wild strawberry vine around the young man’s arm and led him into the town square, where the people of Felsnow had gathered.

Gradually, more instruments joined in the music.

A young conductor girl adjusted to the situation, tapping out a slow tempo from a foreign folk song.

“! This is…”

“It’s a folk song from the autumn country’s hot spring town. I learned it at the Empire’s music school… If you’d like.”

“Yes, I would love to join.”

The two exchanged awkward smiles.

The girl quietly thanked him, “Thank you for fixing the snowman made by the princesses of Felsnow.”

My animal ears twitched with excitement.

Yes! We did it!

Taking small steps toward each other. When you can’t do it alone, sometimes it helps to get a third party involved.

“Hehe, I’m so happy.”

“You’re looking suspicious, El-sama. But it turned out well, didn’t it? The autumn people are famous for their folk music and dance. I hope he’ll join in.”

“Shall we ask him?”

“Fenrir will!?”

“Of course not. If I showed up now, I’d steal all the attention, wouldn’t I?”

He sure knows his worth. You’re such a cool wolf.

“Snowman…”

Riding the cold wind that Fenrir conjured, the snowman twirled comically, swirling around the autumn youth.

It spun so much it lost its balance, and the youth had to catch it, prompting applause from the crowd.

The people of Felsnow appreciated how he treated something they valued with the same care.

Gradually, the mood picked up.

The simple, small community’s music felt so comfortable.

“Looks like ‘snowman’ was the better choice after all. For foreigners, the term ‘snowman’ is more familiar.”

“I thought a giant snowman might be intimidating… It was for me, at least. But a small snowman feels like it might invite you to come closer, don’t you think?”

“Is it really that different?”

“Do you always have to contradict me?”

“Fenrir-sama is the master of compliments, so I’ll stick to being the one who provides balance and cool logic.”

“Oh, look! Sakura!”

The petals adorning the snowman were caught in the wind.

Everyone gazed at them in awe.

“In a little while, the sakura will all scatter at once. That’s the big moment in the afternoon.”

“Until then, let’s take a quiet patrol around.”

“The people of Felsnow sure are spoiled!”

Steiglear looked up to the sky, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“I think so too. To have Fenrir do so much for us—and for everyone to love him—it’s such a wonderful atmosphere here!”

“……”

Fenrir seemed unsure how to respond. His tail swayed as he made a rare expression.

“──Ah, I’m glad I became Fenrir. Heh…”

How can you say something so heartwarming!?

I felt overwhelmed by emotion. For him to say he was happy to have changed from a prince to Fenrir… What a beautiful soul.

We all hugged Fenrir—me, Steiglear, the snowman, and everyone else.

Oops, we stood out a little. Sorry!