Chapter Text
“Wait, I think I have the perfect thing here.” Freminet started to look for something in his pockets with uncommon enthusiasm, while Collei was patting on the floppy ears of the snow bunny they made.
“Here it is.” Freminet pulled out something from his sleeve; it was a playing card. Collei giggled “What do you have in mind?” then with a quick flip - poof! A top hat jumped out of thin air!
She clapped, genuinely amused “You’re mastering new tricks every day!” He looked away shyly, “Th- thank you.” she can’t know if he was blushing from the compliment or was it the cold that made his freckled cheeks flush. He walked on his knees towards the bunny and slowly sat the hat on its head.
Collei crossed her legs next to Pers admiring their creation, such a cute rabbit! But looking at the hat again she can’t help but notice “Isn’t that Lyney’s hat?” She rubbed her nose, trying to warm it up.
“Well, he clearly wasn’t wearing it, so we might use it for now.” He was adjusting the position of said hat to hit the perfect spot between the ears. “Wouldn’t he get mad?” “Not at all.” He said casually, removing the little cat pin.
“I believe he might even be honored.” His pleasant expression wore an unusual mask “’Oh? Well, indeed!’” Freminet waved his gloved hand dramatically “’And who am I to refuse such a legacy of mine to be handed down?’” Collei snorted a laugh at his impression, such a calm voice with Lyney’s way of speech make for a bizarre combo.
His mask dropped quickly as he laughed with her, face palming “This is ridiculous, I’m sorry.” He sat down on the soft snow “No, it’s funny!” He grinned in a way he only shows to her.
“Anyway.” He turned to the rabbit. “What should we name her?”
“She strikes me as nobility, maybe she’s a baroness…” “She can be a duchess.” She gasped “Yes! But what would her name be…”
Duchess Bunny? sounds too basic for her… Duchess Carrots? That doesn’t sound right… “Duchess Oreilles?” Freminet popped out the answer. Her eyes only sparkled in response.
“Her grace Oreilles! This name is more than perfect!” Freminet began to introduce the character: “Her grace Oreilles. With her adorable nose and fluffy ears.”
“Oops!” Collei warned; “But you shouldn’t mention her ears being fluffy in front of her, Freminet! She might explode from anger at you.” With mild awe, Freminet faced the duchess with a fixed posture, going along with Collei’s act, “Our apologizes, your grace! Hope the gifted top hat of ours makes up for our shameful mishap.” He gently bowed in respect, Collei followed on his step and bowed too. A few seconds in silence then they explode instead - of laughter.
Duchess Oreilles’s lifespan won’t be long, but at least she can witness the world’s most sincere kind of joy. The warmth that won’t kill her but make her wish she could live a bit longer to witness more of it - to perhaps understand why she loves the only thing that contrast her.
On the frozen snow they laid down, staring at the dead-blue clouds, at least Collei was. She didn’t realize he was only looking at her.
“Should you even bow to dukes?”
“I… I’m actually not sure.”
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