Her Graceful War Song (Carissa Sinclair) novel Chapter 866

The further they ascended the mountain, the more Rafael felt that something was off.

There were no vibrant mountain flowers or rushing streams as Thomas had described—only bare trees and endless stretches of white snow. At this time of year, the waterfalls had all but disappeared, leaving behind the starkness of early winter.

It wasn't that the snow wasn't beautiful. After spending so long at the Southern Frontier, the prince had grown weary of snow. If only there were flowing water and winter blooms to complement the landscape, it would have made all the difference.

But there was nothing—not a single orchid to be found. It was almost laughable.

However, to the north of Richspire Peak, there was a steep slope covered in unblemished snow, free of obstacles. It was a perfect spot for sledding and skiing.

Changing his approach, Rafael led Carissa with a burst of energy, using his Lightfoot Skill to dash across to the northern slope. Reaching the peak, he caught his breath and turned to his wife, his excitement palpable.

"Isn't it still beautiful? Let's wait for the sunset, and afterward, we can ski down. It'll be so much fun!"

Carissa lifted her gaze and nodded.

The view was indeed a striking expanse of white and bare branches, exuding a grandeur and desolation that held a unique beauty. If only it weren't so cold…

The north wind whipped against her cheeks like a knife, and her ears felt almost numb from the chill. Though the hood of her cloak could be pulled over her head, the wind still managed to sneak in around the edges.

Yet, Carissa smiled at Rafael and replied, "Okay, let's sit here and wait for the sunset."

It was rare for him to show such enthusiasm for something elegant, so she wanted to indulge him and keep him happy.

It was probably around five in the evening, meaning they would need to wait for at least two hours before the sun began to set—assuming they would even be able to see it in the heavy overcast sky.

She glanced at her handsome junior guild member. She would trust him with her life, but she suspected he was only joking about skiing. The slope was quite steep, and skiing would require proper skis.

Rafael had assessed the terrain and pressed the snow, deciding that with their cloaks as makeshift pads, they could slide down if they gained enough speed. After all, that was how he had done it back at the Southern Frontier.

Sitting together in the snow at the mountaintop, Rafael wrapped his arms around Carissa, trying to share warmth.

It was too cold; the wind howled fiercely, leaving little room for any feelings of beauty or tenderness. Instead, all of their inner force was focused on resisting the cold.

Carissa buried her head in Rafael's embrace, thinking she must be out of her mind to be waiting for a sunset on a day this cold. After a while, she felt her body growing stiff from the chill and glanced up at the sky.

"It doesn't look like there will be a sunset tonight. Why don't we head back down?" she suggested.