Chapter Text
Ritsuka pushed open the glass door to Chaldea's backyard, where a thick blanket of snow, left from the night before, covered the open ground in a pristine white. A biting cold rushed in, but she only grinned, her cheeks flushed with excitement. She wore a warm red coat, a loose scarf, and carried a pair of adorable reindeer-shaped woolen gloves that Jalter had given her.
"Waaa… it's so snowy!"
She ran into the yard, spreading her arms wide and spinning around, letting the white snowflakes fall all over her hair and shoulders. Then she bent down, gathered the snow into a round ball, and tried making her first snowball. She tossed it lightly into the air, giggling as it fell and shattered.
Edmond stood silently in the covered hallway a few steps away, his arms crossed habitually. His long black cloak brushed away a few stray snowflakes, but he didn't bother to brush them off. His usually cold golden eyes were now strangely gentle, gazing intently at her – the little Master, who was happily playing like a child in the snowy world.
Ritsuka didn't know he was there. She continued playing in the snow: rolling around like a snow angel, waving her arms and legs and giggling, then sitting up to build a tiny snow bunny with long, dangling ears. Once finished, she used a dry twig for ears and a small carrot that she secretly taken from Emiya's kitchen for a nose.
"Done! Isn't my little Christmas bunny cute?"
She clapped her hands in satisfaction, brushed the snow off her gloves, then suddenly turned around… and caught him.
"Edmond? When did you get there?"
He cleared his throat softly, trying to maintain his usual expression, but a very slight curve formed on his lips – a rare smile only she could see.
"I just… happened to be passing by."
Ritsuka puffed out her cheeks and ran over, tugging at his coat sleeve.
“Please, don’t just stand there staring! Come join me! The snow is so beautiful, don’t you want to try it?”
Edmond looked at the small hand gripping his cloak, then at her expectant, sparkling eyes. He sighed… but it was a sigh of indulgence.
“I’m not used to these… childish games.”
“Please?!” She smiled brightly, pulling harder. “Just a little bit! I want to build a snowman with you!”
He finally stepped out, the snow crunching under his polished leather shoes. Ritsuka exclaimed, immediately gathering snow and pushing it toward him.
“You build the bottom part, I’ll build the top! We’ll make a snowman… just like you! Tall, awesome, cool!”
Edmond raised an eyebrow, but still bent down, his strong hands beginning to gather the snow. His movements were surprisingly slow and careful, as if he were carving a work of art rather than building a snowman. In just a moment, the lower body was tall and sturdy.
Ritsuka stood on a small bench to reach, placed the snowball head on it, and grinned.
“Now I need a scarf! Oh… how about using my scarf?”
She took off the red and white scarf she was wearing around her neck and wrapped it around the snowman's “neck.” Edmond watched her, his eyes subtly shifting.
Then, unexpectedly, he reached out… gently pulled the red and white woolen scarf that Mash had given him off his neck and draped it over the her shoulders.
“This way… you won't catch a cold.”
Ritsuka paused for a second, then smiled, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
“Edmond… you’re so cute~”
He turned his face away, the flaps of his cloak concealing his slightly flushed face.
“...”
But his hand silently grasped her freezing hand, tucking it inside his cloak. Then he slowly pull her body closer, until she was enveloped by his cloak.
The snow continued to fall lightly. A snowman stood in the courtyard with the two real people stood close together, warmth spreading through the biting cold of Christmas night.
Ritsuka nestled her head against his chest, whispering,
“Thank you for joining with me.”
Edmond didn’t reply, only tightened his grip on her hand slightly.
...
...
The Chaldea winter night was bitterly cold, like a frozen hell.
Ritsuka huddled on the bed, her nose red and her eyes glistening with tears from a series of sneezes. She moaned softly, her voice hoarse:
“I’m so stupid...played in the snow and didn’t bother drying my hair…”
The door opened silently. Edmond entered, in his hands was a silver tray: hot herbal tea, honey candy, and a warm woolen scarf he had “borrowed” from Mash’s cupboard without asking.
He set the tray down, sat on the edge of the bed, his yellow eyes scanning her from head to toe with a look that was both reproachful and... concern..?
“Hoh, how wonderful" his voice was low and drawn out, full of mockery. “The great Master of Chaldea, who could stand against even Goetia, was utterly defeated by a few innocent snowflakes. I must admit, this is your proudest achievement to date.”
Ritsuka puffed out her cheeks, her voice barely audible: “Edmond…stop teasing me… I’m so cold…”
But then a cold half-smile playing on one lip, and a hint of tenderness flickered in his eyes.
“Cold? You dare say cold to someone who lived fourteen years in the If dungeon, where the cold corroded even the bone marrow? And yet, after just one childish snow-play session, you’re lying here moaning as if you’re about to enter a coffin.”
He said this, but his hand gently pulled the blanket higher, adjusting her pillow. Then he picked up a cup of tea, blew on it lightly, and brought it close to her lips.
“Drink it. Before I have to pour it down your throat myself, like pouring poison on an enemy from years ago.”
Ritsuka obediently took a sip, the warmth spreading and making her sigh in relief. She looked at him, her eyes sparkling: “Thank you… you’re really worried about me, aren’t you?”
Edmond paused, turning away, his voice suddenly rising in a sarcastic tone:
“Worried? Me? About a stubborn creature who’s always self-harming like this? Oh no, my Master, I’m just protecting Hell’s most precious asset. If you die from a stupid cold, I’ll have to find a new Master – and you humans, unfortunately, not many… are as adorably troublesome as you.”
He finished speaking, then unexpectedly placed the warm woolen scarf on her head, pulling it down to cover her ears, a gentle gesture completely contrasting with his mocking words.
Ritsuka giggled, tugging at his sleeve: “Can you stay with me a little longer…? It’s so cold…”
Edmond looked at her small hand for a moment, then sighed dramatically.
“It’s… I swore I would strike fear into the hearts of the world, and now I sit here watching over a girl with a cold. This is truly your greatest revenge against me, Master.”
But he didn’t leave. He took off his black cloak and draped it over her, then sat closer, letting her rest her head on his shoulder.
Outside, the snow continued to fall heavily. Inside the room, only his voice, a warm, sarcastic whisper, remained:
“Sleep. If you sneeze again tomorrow, I’ll personally throw you out into the snow to ‘toughen your willpower’.”
…But his hand gently stroked her hair all night, never leaving her side.