“This coat was designed by my favorite designer.”
Victor stopped and looked at Nina: “So what?”
“Are you the one who gave it to her?”
“I was told she is a famous designer.”
“But this designer doesn't make white coats, as far as I know.”
“So I ordered a white one.
It will be the only one of its kind.”
Nina stared at him, speechless.
Victor continued: “I don’t care what you say on social occasions, but don’t exaggerate.
I have ears to hear.”
His words sounded threatening.
Nina didn't say anything, just turned around and left the lake completely.
Victor turned back to Scarlett.
As Nina talked about the coat out loud for others to hear, Scarlett asked awkwardly: “Is this coat from a designer that Miss Nina likes?”
“All the high society women love her.
Have you improved at skating?”
“Yes, didn’t I say I would get used to it quickly?”
Scarlett skated slowly, remembering her childhood days, and became more confident.
Victor said: “This is unfortunate.
I was enjoying your downfall.”
“What's fun about that?
Good skiing is fun.”
While she was skating, she would cast frequent glances at Victor, trying to understand his intentions.
After a while of fun skating, Scarlett asked: “So, why have you been so nice to me lately?
What do you want?”
“Isn't it clear?
I want to live with you again.”
“Because I love you and this love is comfortable for you?”
“If you don't like this response, I will find something more romantic.”
Scarlett laughed unwillingly, but quickly renewed her expression: “No way.
I won’t fall for this.”
But the warmth of her face revealed her feelings, and Victor smiled.
Whenever Scarlett forgets about their divorce, she learns something new about it.
Maybe if he got to know her better, he could make her love him again.
Maybe one day, he'll make her come back to him.
The long December passed slowly, and the new year arrived.
In January, it snows heavily in the capital of Salantir.
It was less cold during the snow due to the lack of wind.
But by February, strong winds return, and people feel cold even if temperatures rise.
Therefore, the capital celebrates a festival in mild January.
Scarlett sighed: “Why should I do this...”
Liv helped her put on the gloves and said, “The decision was unanimous.
The people of Seventh Street want you to be the Snow Queen in the New Year’s Parade.”
“I wanted to be the Queen of Spring...”
“You look like winter.”
“What does it mean if I look like winter?”
Scarlett grumbled as Liv applied her make-up.
The festival runs from January 1st to 7th, and 7th Street ects the Snow Queen and the Spring Queen from the Salantaire legends.
The Snow Queen passes at the head of the procession, and the audience sprinkles confetti.
Paper flowers form on the road, and then the Queen of Spring passes over them, wishing the end of winter and the beginning of spring, in a tradition that expresses the wishes of the people of Salantaire for a short winter.
Every year, the two queens are ected via auditions, with stage actors or ballet dancers usually applying.
But since Scarlett appeared on 7th Street, she has been the Snow Queen on everyone's minds, and she has been chosen unanimously.
Scarlett said to Liv: “My brother will come later.”
“Really?”
“Yes”
Liv's face lit up, but when Scarlett tried to nod her head, she frowned: "Don't move your head!"
“Okay, okay...”
Scarlett fixed her head, and Liv reattached her white wig.
After a while, Isaac arrived.
He entered the Snow Queen's waiting tent, saw Scarlett, and laughed: “You look wonderful.”
“Don't laugh”
"Sorry, sorry.
Hello, Liv?"
Lev's face blushed: “Oh, hello.”
She started playing with her hair, and Scarlett said: “Liv.”
“Oh, right”
Liv completed Scarlett's makeup.
Scarlett stood up, a mysterious aura surrounding her.
Isaac extended his hand: “Your shoes are high.”
"Because I'm shorter than the Queen of Spring.
They should have chosen an actress!"
Scarlett groaned and placed her hand on top of his.
When she came out of the tent, the tram driver's children, Charlie and Susan, saw her and said in amazement: “Wow, the Snow Queen...”
"Scarlett!
It's Scarlett?"
Scarlett tried to intimidate them: “It's not me, I'm the Snow Queen.
I'll freeze naughty children.”
"Wow!
Awesome!"
“Scarlett, you are amazing!”
Children ran around, chatting.
Scarlett climbed onto a wooden platform with wheels, and the tram drivers inspected the equipment: “We polished the wood carefully so it wouldn't hurt Scarlett.
What does it look like?”
"No wonder, it looks more refined than usual.
Even the handle is covered with cloth!"
“I sewed it myf”
Scarlett laughed as she imagined the broad tram driver sewing with his big hands: “Thank you.”
She stood on the podium, then sighed: “But this is so embarrassing...”
“Scarlett, you're an actress now,” Liv said.
“You should be confident.”
“I'm not an actress, and I didn't choose this!”
Susan surprised her: “Scarlett, don’t you want to be the Snow Queen?”
Scarlett replied, horrified: “No!
I like that.
I wear nice clothes, too.”
Susan was reassured.
The platform started moving.
She had to stand without laughing.
She closed her mouth for fear of seeing something funny, but trying not to laugh made her laugh at nothing.
“Snow Queen, make it snow less this year!”
“Snow Queen, you are amazing!”
“Snow Queen, I love you!”
It was hard not to laugh at the audience's praise.
Scarlett imagined dismantling a watch and reassembling it to control her laughter.
In January, flowers were scarce, people would sprinkle confetti, but some wealthy people would sprinkle real petals, so the scent of flowers would sometimes fill the air.
She felt honored by people's sincere wishes for a short winter, despite her embarrassment at first.
The procession passed empty streets of new buildings.
“I hope this winter is really short.”
The platform stopped at its destination.
She had to disappear behind a black curtain, and then the Spring Queen would announce the disappearance of the Snow Queen, bringing the event to an end.
Scarlett entered the curtain, and while she was hiding, she heard voices: “You heard?
It’s from the Domfelt family… Mrs.
Scarlett.”
"Oh, the divorced one?
Oh my God, she's here?"
“You heard?
It is said that Lady Scarlett is… not in her right mind.”
Scarlett paused.
“Why?
You were sent to a monastery, right?”
“Yes”
"And since then, she has been unreasonable.
I heard that she forgot about her divorce and went to Domfelt's house in a hysterical state."
“You forgot to divorce her?”
“That's why they say she's not in her right mind.”
Scarlett's hand trembled from the murmurs outside.
She remembered waking up in Victor's bed several times recently.
She used to lose her memory for days, so she didn't pay attention to it.
But her waking up in his bed was incomprehensible.
Victor took responsibility without explanation.
"What do I do?"
She took a deep breath, and collapsed into place.