Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)

Chapter 479 - Kindness Is The Language Which The Blind Can See

When I’d come to see Anise the first time, I did pause outside of this door. Checked my map and saw the Tracking component showing off that he was in there.

That nearly everyone, other than the few who were now just void black lines in a roster, were here. Gathered in the safety of the tower like I’d hoped, even if I didn’t do all that much in the way of warning them.

Edgar Miles was the first normal human of this world that I’d spoken to. The first person in this city that I’d taken an interest in enough to visit repeatedly - when they weren’t even selling me food.

Speaking to him made me feel like I was being listened to by an elder that *wasn’t* just assessing me for what I was. He was just talking to a young woman at first, not a Princess of the kingdom.

> I mean... no one after him necessarily treated me any different on that front. Even after I glammed up at the spa... <

It was just a bit more striking with him because I knew on some level. That my sneaking around in my world was surely not as hidden as it could have been. My eye color, hair color, proportions... hiding it all under a cloak meant very little.

"Anyone I met more than once knew I was special. Because I was. Because I am."

"...What was that?"

"Just being self-admiring. That Whitecrest gentleman surely brought it out in me."

"Are you sure it wasn’t knowing that Kyrie is apparently watching you?"

Sharp kid. Though I need no one at all to feel vain about myself. That’s simply one of my truths... and I guess it’s time to share some of them with an old man. Actually, I wonder how much he has been told already about werewolves and such?

I knocked. Then waited. Felt bad for doing so after a minute, but knocked again louder. Tested the doorhandle and found it unlocked of all things. I suppose it is as safe as anywhere can be up here, but still!

The room they’d given Edgar was smaller than the one Anise had... and the interior was arranged carefully, clearly putting his condition in their thoughts. Every piece of furniture seemed placed at enough distance to allow him plenty of room to test his surroundings with his stick.

> He would have had to relearn this place. I’m sure he can’t yet wander around without it... like he did in his own apartment. <

He was resting in a chair that had been angled toward the heating vent and the cane of his was placed on a little hook that someone had mounted into the wall. A side table within arm’s reach had a glass of water sitting on it, likely waiting for him to wake up from his nap.

"You still have a firm step like you own the ground beneath you. It’s been some time, Citra."

"...Is that a compliment or a criticism?"

"It’s an old man being cross after being startled awake."

Despite his slight tone... he was looking healthier than I feared he might. I knew he’d been having health problems before I left that were being handled thanks to pushing Claire to help, but given all these changes in circumstances...

"Well, I do apologize for that. How are you doing other than being surprised?"

I wanted to use | Matron’s Monitor | to confirm things, but it would probably be wiser to let him wake up fully before I go holding his hand for an extended period. Though he might not mind.

"As good as anyone else on this floor. Plenty of people to chat with but not enough to do. And I haven’t been able to visit the spots I loved. But we are alive for the time being."

My young companion lingered behind me, just past entering the doorway. I could almost feel her hovering between going back out or not as he spoke. Feeling like this was a meeting she shouldn’t intrude on despite my guiding her here.

"Speaking of people to chat with, I have two to introduce to you. First, the one trembling by the doorway is Zoé Morin."

"I’m not trembling."

"Oh? Well you are at least cowering back there."

Chuckles begin from the chair and they settle as he begins to sit up, before he takes a long pull of water. Ah... I feel like I’m being pulled into his slower pace already. It’s nice.

"I see you were such a bully to people that you like. I guess that means you didn’t enjoy my company all that much after all."

"Far from the truth, Edgar. Which is why I came here today to get some things off my chest. And that leads me to... actually, how are you with animals?"

"You know I fed birds as a hobby. Also this is all very sudden without even a quick hello."

Well, I suppose it is. And I didn’t even bring a gift, exactly. I really have been slacking on my common courtesies lately... I’ll have to ask Kyrie’s chef to make him something nice and send it down.

"Birds are birds, wolves are wolves, and snakes are snakes. There are quite a large difference in each and I’m told that the comfortability that individuals have with each can vary."

"Is this about the werewolves? Or about the rumors of your son?"

My throat makes an awkward grumble noise. Of course. He has been here for weeks at least, there is no way that he hasn’t heard of the supernatural creatures protecting the people here.

And I’ve been back for... is this really still only the third day? It feels like someone is trying to pack too many events together onto a limited amount of sleep. It’s lucky that I *am* a werewolf and have the stamina for it!

Anyway, that means plenty of time for gossip to get around. Plus, Kyrie quite literally sought him out that first day to learn terms to call me!

Which means he probably knows about the pup... or at least that I had a child. But I still don’t know about dropping canine fur right into his lap. What if he’s a *cat person*...

"Yes. About all of that and more. First, if you don’t mind, I’d like to freshen up your water and then get some for me and the guest I brought."

"Of course. There are tea bags too, if you’d like."

"Then I’ll tell you all about the beast kingdoms in my world... and let you hold Asha for as long as you’d like."

The small bit of confusion on his face morphs into a smile. The same strong but weathered one I’ve seen when he talked about his wife.

"Hope, huh? It’s a good name. Make yourselves at home."