16 Chapter 16

I went home and found out that Winter was waiting for me on the couch. Is he mad? I silently closed the door like I am a wronged poor kitten being watched by a giant dog. Am I guilty of what I did to Ivy? It wasn't my nature at all to speak ill like that. I should mind my manners the next time we meet again. Miss Aria won't be proud if she heard me talking contemptuously.

"You haven't cooked," he remarked

"I'm sorry, I was too busy entertaining the guests" I replied and went to our kitchen

"What do want to know?" he asked

"Know what?" I simply answered without looking at him because I'm scared

A while ago, he's out of control. He knocked his brother because of a girl whom I think his lover. I found out to Rain later that she was the former Lady of Snow and I am just a replacement, an unwanted fellow who seeks to get the attention of a man who has married a long time ago to two ladies I can't even compete with. I sighed and continued my chores. We then ate silently. After that, I volunteered to send foods for Fox and Papa Bear while he just went into our room.

I was bewildered of what happening today. All the revelations like Leaf were already a forgotten and then here goes the former Lady Ivy who came back to life after she's seen by the crowd. It was just too detestable to be true. I sneaked some foods to eat while I am walking. I was startled when I held a warm hand inside the basket.

"How can you be so rude?" the Master said as he stole the one I've got

"That's for Papa Bear" I hissed

"Old man can handle his food" he replied

"What was the Master needed to me?" I asked courteously

"That was as expected of Wind," he said, astonished.

I left a sighed and turn right as I enter deeper into the forest. The Master remained following me until I gave Papa Bear his food share. Papa Bear seemed to be bothered by my presence giving me that worried face, yet I can't speak my mind. I left him and reached for Fox's house. Fox was grateful and invited us in, however, before I rejected the offer, the Master pulled me in.

"I'll speak bluntly, Wind. The issue uprising right now was disturbing. There can't be an additional guest in an area" he uttered

"So?" I said, unexcited.

"There can be only one Lady in every area. The presence of a new Lady of Snow will confuse the world..."

"Thus, you're requesting me to leave or to be Fox's wife to give place to the former?" I murmured

"Speaking of, aren't Fox and Winter both Masters of Snow? How can it not be similar to both me and Ivy?" I asked

"Fox became an animal of the place based on how you name him. He can only be labeled as the Master of Snow if Winter left him to be his heir. Your case was different. Both Ivy and you were entitled as the Lady which should only be one" he explained to my question

"As for the first murmur, no. I am not saying you should give up being the Lady because you are legitimate. All you have to do is prove yourself. Aside from that... " he added

"Why are you telling me all of this?" I said as I stopped his words

"Wind, I am the master of this world. I am at equipoise. I support this world with my magic and when there's a turmoil, it will backfire to me. I know we have many misunderstandings, yet I expect something from you. I believe you can do better than Ivy who apparently should be Passed this long time ago" he said

"Are you telling me you're taking prejudice and pampered me just because I am the recent lover of your favorite villager?" I responded with repugnance

"No" he responded immediately and stood

"I am giving you a warning. The Winter area had been coercing the other areas. Changes happened because this area had been overpopulated lately. If this continues, not just the Fall or the Spring will be affected. It will also influence the humidity of Summer until this whole place turns into Winter. I am not aiming or pleasing you just because Ivy had a past dispute with me neither do I favor you because Winter took you in and love you seriously. I am telling you this as the Master and ordering the Lady of Snow to handle this now"

"We are two Lady of Snow..." I muttered

"Wait? Are those words for real?" I blurted as I understand what he just said

"Oops. I spoke too much. I need to go! Wind, I am anticipating you'll do what I've said"

He smiled as he vanished in the snowstorm right now. He's right. This area had never been calmed ever since I came in. Was this because of me? But, I never wanted to be here the first time I set foot in this place. All I know is I want to go home immediately and if I need to pretend that I am happy accompanying everybody, it won't hurt me to try. At the very least, looking for friendship is not my thing. I just need to use them and then go home.

"Wind, you're spacing out. Was there something bothering you?" Fox asked

"Nothing. I have to go now. Eat your lunch and make sure that you will finish this. I will send your dinner later too" I reminded and patted his head

"I'm not a child anymore, Wind. You know that you can also rely on me if Winter can't do things" he said

Come to think of it? Fox grew taller and looked more mature than before. His cute little face somehow resembled a cool handsome man in a conglomerate family too. He now seems to be a man in his young adult years.

"How could that be? We are eating the same food and living in the same place. Why your height grew while mine didn't?" I blurted out as I pointed out the changes in his body

Fox smirked at me. He's taunting me because I am too small. How could he? After all of my delicacies and hardship for him to be accepted by Winter. This little boy... I was astonished by the chuckle he spurted out when he tried to hold his laugh. I can't stop myself and laughed too.

"It's in your genes to be this small," he said and level his hands on his chest

I punched him lightly and pouted. I hate him! How dare he belittle my height? It should be my 18th birthday and I can't even see myself as someone who's been affected by puberty.

"Hey Wind, I'm serious. You can also rely on me" he reminded and gave him my sweetest smile

"Just you being by my side and encouraging me is enough, Fox"

We made a few more conversation until I forgot about the time and left in haste. Will Winter be mad? Will I excuse myself staying at Papa Bear's place all this time instead of saying that I made some conversation with Fox? Will he be jealous if I told him the truth? As I entered our house, my soul left me. I was too enraged to speak out what's on my mind as I saw this girl wearing a thin sheet of clothing above my husband while seducing him.

I held my breath and threw myself out of the house nowhere to run into. I don't see any knives stabbing me, but it hurts inside. It hurts badly I'd rather die. My tears can't stop falling and I fell in the snow because my vision was blurry. I'm not dumb to understand what they were doing. Is this how it feels to be betrayed? I punched my chest many times to insentient the discomfort, however, it just increased as I now focused myself on forgetting it.

"Stupid Wind! Stand up in the snow and do your duties! The Master ordered you, you must comply by any other means" I told myself

The sobs became louder and louder and it made me hard to breathe. I tried to hold my tears, yet it's not working at all. I shouted. I screamed out the pain inside me and released myself as I break down in the snow.

"How stupid are you, Wind? Do you take him seriously? I thought you hold your family in utmost priority? Why did you change in just a few years?" I mumbled

"You should be delusional. Do you think you forever live in this dream?" I whispered

I threw the snow in front of me. I've gone wild until I passed out. I just want to go back and forget everything about this place, about him... Yes, all about Winter.