The further they ascended the mountain, the more Rafael felt that something was off.


    There were no vibrant mountain flowers or rushing streams as Thomas had described<b>–</b>only bare trees and endless stretches of white snow. At this time of year, the waterfalls had all but disappeared, leaving behind the starkness of early winter.


    It wasn’t that the snow wasn’t beautiful. After spending so long at the Southern Frontier, the prince had grown weary of snow. If only there were flowing water and winter blooms toplement thendscape, <b>it </b>would have made all the difference.


    But there was nothing–not a single orchid to be found. It was almostughable.


    However, to the north of Richspire Peak, there was a steep slope covered in unblemished snow, free of obstacles. It was a perfect spot for sledding and skiing.


    Changing his approach, Rafael led Carissa with a burst of energy, using his Lightfoot Skill to dash across to the northern slope. Reaching the peak, he caught his breath and turned to his wife, his excitement palpable.


    Isn’t it still beautiful? Let’s wait for the sunset, and afterward, we can ski down. It’ll be so much fun!”


    Carissa lifted her gaze and nodded.


    The view was indeed a striking expanse of white and bare branches, exuding a grandeur and destion that held a unique beauty. If only it weren’t so cold…


    The north wind whipped against her cheeks like a knife, and her ears felt almost numb from the chill. Though the hood of her cloak could be pulled over her head, the wind still managed to sneak in around the edges.


    Yet, Carissa smiled at Rafael and replied, “Okay, let’s sit here and wait for the sunset.”


    It was rare for him to show such enthusiasm for something elegant, so she wanted to indulge him and


    keep him happy.


    It was probably around five in the evening, meaning they would need to wait for at least two hours before the sun began to set–assuming they would even be able to see it in the heavy overcast sky.


    She nced at her handsome junior guild member. She would trust him with her life, but she suspected he was only joking about skiing. The slope was quite steep, and skiing would require proper skis.


    Rafael had assessed the terrain and pressed the snow, deciding that with their cloaks as makeshift pads, they could slide down if they gained enough speed. After all, that was how he had done it back at the Southern Frontier.


    Sitting together in the snow at the mountaintop, Rafael wrapped his arms around Carissa, trying to share warmth.


    It was too cold; the wind howled fiercely, leaving little room for any feelings of beauty or tenderness. Instead, all of their inner force was focused on resisting the cold.


    Carissa buried her head in Rafael’s embrace, thinking she must be out of her mind to be waiting for a sunset on a day this cold. After a while, she felt her body growing stiff from the chill and nced up at the


    sky.


    “It doesn’t look like there will be a sunset tonight. Why don’t we head back down?” she suggested.


    Rafael stood up <i>and </i>surveyed the sky, which was a heavy, oppressive gray. The sun was hidden behind the clouds<i>, </i>stingy with its warmth. He felt somewhat deted. He had originally hoped to bring Carissa here for a fun outing, but now, all he could think about was how much morefortable it would be to curl up together by the fire back at home.


    “Alright, then,” he said reluctantly. “I’ll try sliding down first. You just stay put for now.”


    Carissa’s eyes widened. “Are you really nning to slide down like that? The slope is too steep, and we don’t have skis!”


    “It’ll be fine,” he replied confidently. “We always did this at the Southern Frontier. It wasn’t just me. Many soldiers would do the same when chasing the enemy. We’d slide down steep snow–covered mountains- it was faster that way!”


    He lowered himself slightly, turning to face Carissa. He caught a mouthful of the icy wind, yet he still smiled. N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    “Come on, give me a little push. Let me test the waters ”


    “Are you sure?” Carissa nced down the slope, where the drop seemed endless and steep. “If you can’t stop, you’ll just tumble straight down!”


    Withplete assurance, Rafael replied, “Don’t worry. Even if I fall, my Lightfoot Skill is like having wings. Worst case, it’s like chicken wings–I’ll p around a bit and steady myself.”


    Seeing his confidence, Carissa recalled how many steep slopes they had faced at the Southern Frontier. He must have experience.


    With her <i>hands </i>on his back, she pushed him gently. He used his arms to brace against the ground, kicked off, and shot down the slope with a whoosh.


    He soared down, exhration washing over him. Just as he felt everything was going smoothly and nned to stop <i>and </i>turn back to take her with him, he suddenly realized the ground beneath him had dropped away.


    He hadn’t <i>noticed </i>that the slope had a dip hidden beneath the snow.


    He was sliding too fast. When his body hit the dip, he wasunched into the air. In a panic, he couldn’t regain his bnce. He tumbled several times and plummeted straight down.


    Carissa stared in shock as he disappeared from view.


    Didn’t he say that having his Lightfoot Skill was like having wings?


    Now, he was just… plummeting downwards!


    Wasn’t that tragic?


    Terrified, she quickly kicked off her shoes and crouched down, stuffing her hands into them. With her body pressed against the icy surface, she followed after him.


    Skiing was second nature to her. She had been doing it for years at Meadow Ridge. While wearing shoes


    made it awkward, she could channel her inner strength to glide straight down if she held them in her hands.