With that, they made their way to the tall pine trees near the event area.

The soft crunch of snow beneath their boots was the only sound for a moment—until Eleonora suddenly looped her arm through his.

Aestrea stiffened.

“…What are you doing?”

She leaned in slightly, her voice smooth and warm.

“Oh my~ It’s cold, isn’t it?”

“…You have mana. You don’t get cold.”

She laughed softly.

“My, my~ You’re no fun, are you?”

Aestrea sighed but didn’t push her away.

When they reached the tree, Aestrea quickly spotted a rolled-up scroll tied with a red ribbon.

He bent down, grabbing it from the snow.

Eleonora clapped her hands lightly.

“Oh my~ Such sharp eyes~ I do love a man who’s quick with his hands.”

Aestrea paused mid-motion.

“…You’re doing this on purpose.”

She smiled sweetly.

“Doing what, dear~?”

Aestrea squinted at her before handing her the scroll.

“…Read the next one.”

She giggled before unrolling it.

“I sparkle in the night, cold and bright,

You may catch me if I fall,

But in the warmth of your hands,

I will disappear to nothing at all.”

Aestrea sighed.

“Snowflake.”

Eleonora tilted her head.

“Oh my~ So fast again. You must really love snow, hmm~?”

“…It’s obvious.”

She stepped closer, her breath warm against his ear.

“Are you sure~? Or are you just trying to impress me~?”

Aestrea stared ahead, ignoring her.

“…Let’s go.”

With that, they headed toward the frozen lake where snowflakes were still lightly falling from the sky.

The second scroll was hidden beneath a delicate layer of frost, sparkling like it had been placed by magic.

But something changed.

Eleonora’s teasing shifted.

It became less playful, more… seductive.

She started leading instead of following, her movements slower, smoother.

When they reached the next spot, she turned to Aestrea with a knowing smile.

“Oh my~ Would you like to open it for me, dear?”

‘…She changed her personality…?’

‘That… was fast.’

Aestrea exhaled sharply.

“You can do it yourself.”

She pouted, but there was something deliberate in the way she ran her fingers along the edge of the scroll before slowly unrolling it.

“Though I am not alive, I wear a hat.

My face may smile, but I do not laugh.

Carrots are my nose, twigs are my arms,

I last all winter, until I am gone.”

Aestrea closed his eyes.

“…It’s a snowman.”

Eleonora giggled.

“Oh my~ Always so quick, always so sharp~ I do wonder…”

She stepped closer, pressing a single finger against his chest as her breasts pressed against his arm.

“…Are you just this efficient in everything, dear?”

Aestrea paused.

And then…

Something shifted in his gaze.

“…You’re pushing it.”

Eleonora smiled.

“Oh my~ Am I~?”

Aestrea let out a slow breath.

Then—

He stepped closer.

Eleonora’s smile faltered slightly.

Aestrea leaned in, lowering his voice just enough.

“…If you keep pressing those breasts against my arm again,” he murmured.

“I won’t mind touching them, you know.”

Silence.

Eleonora’s eyes widened slightly.

For the first time, she froze.

Aestrea tilted his head slightly, smirking.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

Eleonora blinked.

And then—

Her face turned slightly red.

Yet, she smiled again, but this time, there was a slight twitch at the corner of her lips.

“Oh my~” she murmured, placing a hand on her hip.

“How bold of you, dear~”

Aestrea shrugged.

“You started it.”

She chuckled softly, but there was a slight heat in her cheeks that she clearly tried to brush off.

“Hmm~”

“So, you don’t mind touching my—”

“—Milkers?” Aestrea finished for her, tilting his head.

Eleonora stiffened.

Aestrea leaned in slightly, his voice dropping lower, smoother.

“Didn’t expect that, did you?”

Her fingers twitched.

“Oh my~” she exhaled, regaining her composure.

“What a dangerous young man I’ve paired up with~”

Aestrea simply smirked.

“Not dangerous. Just returning the favor.”

She narrowed her eyes slightly before turning away.

“Fufufu~ Fine, fine. I’ll let you have this one~ But don’t get too cocky, dear~”

Aestrea chuckled.

“We’ll see.”

It took a few minutes, but, after regaining her composure (mostly), Eleonora unrolled the next scroll.

“I have no legs, but I run fast,

I have no arms, but I can lift you high,

Some fear me, some love me,

And with me, you’ll soar through the sky.”

Aestrea frowned.

“…A ski lift?”

Eleonora tilted her head.

“Oh my~ Could be~ But don’t you think that’s a little too obvious?”

Aestrea thought for a moment.

“…A sled?”

Eleonora giggled.

“Let’s go find out, dear~”

She grabbed his wrist, gently but firmly, and led him toward the sledding hill.

Step~

When they arrived, Aestrea quickly spotted the next scroll tied to a sled near the top of the hill.

“Guess I was right,” he murmured.

Eleonora grinned.

“Good job, dear~ Now, how about we test the sled while we’re here?”

Aestrea raised an eyebrow.

“You want to ride it down?”

She tilted her head.

“Oh my~ Are you scared, my little moon?”

Aestrea sighed.

“Fine.”

Without hesitation, he sat down on the sled.

Eleonora happily positioned herself right behind him, pressing close—too close.

And of course, she had slammed her breasts against his back.

He stiffened.

“…You don’t have to sit this close.”

She giggled, wrapping her arms loosely around his waist.

“Oh my~ But I need to hold on, don’t I?”

Aestrea exhaled.

“…Whatever. Let’s just go.”

—Fwoop!

The sled shot forward.

Snow rushed past them, the wind whipping through their hair.

Eleonora laughed as they sped down, holding onto Aestrea even tighter.

But then—

The ramp.

Aestrea’s eyes widened.

“…Wait—”

Before he could react—

They launched into the air.

Eleonora’s laugh turned into a surprised gasp as they soared, weightless for a moment—before gravity pulled them down fast.

Aestrea moved on instinct.

He twisted midair, reaching out—

And caught her.

THUD!

Snow exploded around them as they landed.

When the cold settled—

Eleonora was on top of him.

Again.

Her soft curves pressed against his chest, her left leg between his, her hands buried in the snow beside his head.

She blinked.

Then, parted her lips slightly.

Aestrea stared up at her.

Neither spoke.

The world around them felt silent, except for the faint sound of the wind.

Eleonora’s breath was warm, her purple hair falling gently around them like a curtain.

Aestrea exhaled slowly.

“…Are you gonna get off me?”

Eleonora stared at him for a moment longer.

Then, a small smile tugged at her lips.

“Oh my~” she whispered.

Aestrea felt his pulse quicken.

“…What?”

Her voice was low, teasing.

“My, my~ You’re so quick to catch me every time I fall, dear~”

Aestrea frowned slightly.

“Not my fault you keep launching yourself into the air.”

She giggled softly.

“…Or maybe~” she leaned in just a little closer—”You just like having me in your arms, hmm~?”

Aestrea held her gaze.

Then, slowly—

He lifted a hand, brushing snow from her shoulder.

“Maybe.”

Eleonora’s breath stilled for just a fraction of a second—so quick, so subtle, yet Aestrea caught it.

For once, she didn’t have a quick response.

Her light blue eyes flickered, the teasing glint momentarily replaced by something softer, something deeper.

But only for a heartbeat.

Then—her lips curled into a slow, knowing smile.

“Oh my~” she murmured, tilting her head ever so slightly.

“How bold, my dear moon~”

Aestrea didn’t look away.

Neither did she.

Snowflakes drifted between them, melting the moment they touched her warm skin, vanishing just as swiftly as the space between their breaths.

And then—

She moved.

Just a little.

Her fingers, buried in the snow beside his head, twitched—before she lifted one, tracing the edge of his jaw with an excruciating slowness.

“Maybe?” she uttered, her voice barely above a whisper, sweet and sultry like honey dripping from velvet.

Aestrea’s fingers curled slightly against the snow, but his expression remained calm.

Calm.

Steady.

Yet his pulse—oh, that was a different story.

Eleonora smiled, eyes half-lidded as she leaned closer, her lips hovering just above his ear.

“You know, dear,” she whispered, “if you wanted to hold me a little tighter… you could’ve just said so~”

Aestrea exhaled through his nose.

And then—

His arms, still loosely resting at his sides, moved.

Quick.

Fluid.

Intentional.

Before she could react, one strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him, her softness molding into his frame, her breath catching ever so slightly.

He felt it.

Oh, he definitely felt it.

And from the way her lashes fluttered—so did she.

“…Like this?”

His voice was smooth, deep—almost teasing.

Eleonora blinked, just for a second, before her lips parted in a small, delighted laugh.

“Oh my~” she breathed, tilting her head, her nose barely brushing against his.

“Now, now, dear… if you hold me this close—” she shifted, just enough to feel the heat between them, her voice lowering, softer, warmer—”what ever shall I do with you~?”

Aestrea stared at her, his glowing red eyes darkening just slightly.

And then—

He smirked.

“Surprise me.”

For the first time—Eleonora hesitated.

Just for a second.

Her pupils dilated.

Her fingers gripped the snow beside him just a bit tighter.

Aestrea waited.

And oh, how she hated to lose a game she started.

So, she did what she did best.

She leaned in.

Closer.

Close enough that her lips hovered just above his, the barest of distance between them, their shared breath mixing in the cold air.

Close enough that the tension crackled, like the silent promise of a storm yet to break.

And then—

A single finger trailed down his chest, slow, deliberate.

“You,” she whispered, “are playing a very, very dangerous game, dear moon~”

Aestrea’s grip on her waist didn’t loosen.

His voice was smooth, steady—

“So are you.”

Silence.

Thump….

Thump…

Thump…

Their heartbeats filled the quiet.

For a fleeting moment, Eleonora wondered—if she closed the distance, if she let the teasing slip into something real, something intoxicating—

Would he stop her?

Would he kiss her back?

Would he pull her even closer, taste the heat between them, let the snow melt against the fire they stirred in each other’s veins?

The thought sent a thrill down her spine.

But then—

A voice shouted in the distance.

“HEY! WHOEVER’S UP THERE, GET A ROOM!”

Aestrea blinked.

Eleonora blinked.

Silence.

Then—

“Fucking bastard…”

They muttered at the same time.

For a moment, they just stared at each other.

And then—

“Pfft—”

Eleonora couldn’t help it.

Eleonora burst out laughing, her voice light, breathy, absolutely delighted.

She tilted her head, covering her mouth with the back of her hand as soft giggles spilled from her lips.

Aestrea exhaled sharply, shaking his head with a small smirk.

Eleonora recovered just enough to lean in, placing a single finger against his lips, her light blue eyes practically glowing with amusement.

“Oh my~” she hummed, tilting her head.

“It seems… our little moment was rudely interrupted~”

Aestrea only sighed, glancing toward the direction of the voice before shaking his head again.

“…Happens.”

Eleonora grinned, mischief clearly showing in her eyes.

“Fufufu~ Don’t pout, dear~ There will be plenty more moments to come~”

With that, she gracefully pushed herself up, brushing off the snow from her dress before extending her hand toward him.

“Come now~ We still have a game to finish~”

Aestrea glanced at her outstretched hand for a second before taking it, standing effortlessly.

But even after he was up, he didn’t let go right away.

Eleonora noticed.

His fingers, warm against hers, lingered just a little longer than necessary.

“…Right.”

Eleonora smiled, but this time, there was something softer in it.

Something knowing.

Oh my~

She liked that look.

As he finally released her hand, she turned on her heel, brushing a bit of snow off his shoulder with the back of her fingers, slow and deliberate.

“Shall we, my dear little moon~?”

Aestrea exhaled.

“You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”

Eleonora giggled.

“Oh my~ Very much so~”

With that, she took the lead, walking ahead with an elegant sway in her step, knowing full well he was watching.

Aestrea sighed, rubbing his temple before following.

‘This woman…’

She was going to be the death of him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep