?


    It was both frustrating and amusing.


    Carissa supported the limping Rafael as they slowly made their way down the mountain. His hair was a mess, sticking up in a strange, wet clump after hitting the snow, creating an odd, wild look.


    His face was a patchwork of bruises-blue, purple, and red. The red came from a cut that had bled, luckily, the wounds were shallow and,bined with the cold, had stopped bleeding quickly. A lump the size of an egg swelled on his forehead, a sight that was both pitiful and funny.


    Fighting, strategizing, and governing were all his strengths, but games like this? He was utterly lost. Sliding down the slope had turned into aical disaster.


    Who knew skiing could be so hazardous?


    Everyone knew not to underestimate water, but mountains could be just as treacherous- especially mountains that only got covered with snow during the coldest days of winter, hiding sharp rocks just beneath the surface. The terrain here was nothing like the Southern Frontier, and back then he at least had armor. Here, he had none.


    Rafael was mortified. He never expected that a simple act of skiing could result in such a humiliating tumble. He had hoped for a rare day off to bond with Carissa and create some meaningful memories they could cherish when they were older.


    Well, this was certainly unforgettable. Carissa would likely remember this day for the rest of her life.


    "Your foot hurts, doesn''t it?" she asked, noticing his worsening limp.


    "It''s not too bad," he replied, turning his head slightly. "Honestly, you don''t need to help me. I can manage on my own. Having you support me makes it seem like I''m disabled."


    Carissa held on tighter, a yful pout in her tone. "No, I want to walk with you like this."


    If this had been any other time, Rafael would have been thrilled. But right now, he felt defeated and utterly helpless, plus there was an excruciating pain in his foot. He suspected he might have fractured a bone. Otherwise, it wouldn''t hurt this much.


    With Carissa supporting him, at least he could lean on her a little, making the trek down the mountain a bit more bearable.


    He couldn''t help but wonder why he hadn''t reacted in time to stabilize himself and leverage that moment to spring up. His once-proud Lightfoot Skill had utterly failed him.


    In that instant of chaos, all he could think about was how embarrassing it would be for Carissa to witness him fall. Then, his reflexes had betrayed him, and he had rolled down the slope instead.


    Rafael lifted his heavy gaze to the equally heavy sky. The only thing he felt grateful for was that the trek up the mountain had taken so long, while the descent was swift-though perhaps a bit too swift forfort.


    Lightning and Skyhawk waited for them at the base of the mountain. Rafael kept his eyes downcast, and as he caught sight of his trusty mount, a wave of frustration washed over him. He wanted to bury his face in Skyhawk''s mane and weep.


    s, he couldn''t do that. He felt the sting of tears welling up in his eyes as he swung himself onto the horse, trying in vain to tame his wild hair. The more he struggled, the worse his mood became.


    Carissa nced at him, wanting to offer some words offort-but nothing seemed appropriate given how ridiculous he had looked during his fall.


    "Maybe we shoulde back in the spring. I bet this ce will be filled with blooming flowers then,'' she suggested.


    "Yeah." Rafael nodded, though a thousand thoughts of refusal chumed in his mind.


    Tonight would be perfect for a thunderstorm to strike Richspire Peak and erase it from existence. He never wanted to set foot here again.


    As they entered the city, Rafael became acutely aware of the curious stares he received due to his bizarre hairstyle and the colorful bruises on his face. He felt a swell of indignation, but forced himself to act nonchnt as he rode alongside Carissa back to Hell Monarch Estate.


    Upon their arrival, Dn happened to walk out just as they approached. The moment he saw Rafael, his jaw dropped in disbelief. As realization struck him, he burst outughing.


    "Oh my god! Your Highness, what happened to you? This... Hahaha!"


    Though Dn felt a twinge of sympathy for Rafael, the sight was tooical to resist. He swore he was trying to hold it together, but it was impossible not tough.


    Rafael shot him a dark look, his expression thunderous. Dn''sughter quickly faded from hearty chuckles to awkward silence as he mmed up.


    Carissa shot Dn a re of disappointment.


    Seriously? Couldn''t he show a little awareness?N?velDrama.Org (C) content.