Thanks to Carlisle's precise rainfall and Puck's surge of magic, the entire Roswaal Mansion was covered in silver after just one day. Although it was only localized snowfall, this sudden winter wonderland still thrilled Subaru.
After all, this was an event she had carefully planned.
Just yesterday, before Carlisle began making it rain, Subaru had already run through the nearby villages, excitedly announcing that she would be hosting a "Snow Sculpture Contest."
"The champion will receive a mysterious grand prize!" she declared confidently, patting her chest as her eyes sparkled.
As for that mysterious grand prize, Subaru secretly glanced toward the package sitting in the corner of her room. Inside was a school uniform she had personally sewn during her spare time.
Hmph. Do not underestimate my needlework!
You see, she had not only mastered housework and cooking. Her sewing skills were excellent as well. Craftsmanship? Superb. After all, in her original world she had even made her own cosplay outfits.
Now the villagers had already begun gathering around the Mansion, enthusiastically piling snow to create sculptures. Subaru leaned against the window, watching the lively scene outside as the corners of her mouth slowly curved upward.
"That... Subaru." Carlisle looked at the school uniform and hesitated slightly. "Although this outfit is very beautiful, if the champion turns out to be a male villager..."
"Huh?" Subaru blinked. "Couldn't he just give it to his daughter or his wife?"
"What if he is single?"
Subaru's expression froze. She scratched her hair, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
"...Then I will just make a men's outfit!"
Trying to hide her oversight, she quickly pushed Carlisle toward the door.
"Alright, alright, do not dwell on that! Rem, Ram, and Emilia-sama have already gone. You should participate too. President Roswaal and I will be the judges of this competition!"
Carlisle looked at the girl's hurried attempt to change the subject, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
The two of them quickly arrived at the competition site, which was already bustling with people. Villagers gathered in groups of three or five around their half finished snow sculptures, while children chased each other and played in the snow, their laughter echoing through the air.
"Alright, right here! This spot is super great!"
Subaru pushed Carlisle onto a flat patch of snow, spinning around like a cheerful little bird.
"You can do it!" She stepped backward a few paces. "I am going to check on the progress of the other contestants' works."
As soon as she finished speaking, she dashed away, leaving only a trail of deep and shallow footprints behind her.
Carlisle watched her retreating figure. The villagers' laughter, the rustling sound of shoveling snow, and the joyful shouts of children blended together, making his mood gradually lighten.
"So... what kind of snow sculpture should I make?"
---
Subaru, Roswaal, and Puck stood before the snow sculpture. Two people and one cat silently examined the "artwork" in front of them. Emilia, wrapped in a cloak, looked at them with eyes full of anticipation.
"It's... a very artistic piece." Subaru forced a smile. "This must be the legendary abstract style, right?"
Puck squatted on Roswaal's shoulder, scratching his face with a tiny paw.
"As expected of my daughter! Although I do not understand it at all, it still has a unique charm when you look at it!"
Roswaal tilted his head slightly.
"So what exactly is this supposed to be?"
The snow sculpture before them was truly difficult to describe.
It looked like a lump of snow that had been kneaded at random, or perhaps some kind of swollen and deformed plant. If one tried hard to find a reference, it probably resembled a chubby withered tree that had been struck by lightning.
Emilia blinked and asked expectantly,
"How is it? My work."
The two people and one cat fell into an eerie silence.
"Well..." Puck bravely floated in front of the sculpture and gestured with his tiny paws. "Lia must have sculpted... a tree? Probably?"
He turned back toward Emilia with a hopeful expression, only to be met with a pouting face.
"Honestly!" Emilia stomped her foot, causing fine snow dust to rise from her cloak. "This is clearly Puck!"
"Pfft!"
Subaru quickly covered her mouth with one hand, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
"What is wrong?" Emilia tilted her head in confusion. "Subaru, is something funny?"
"N nothing!" Subaru took a deep breath and tried to keep a straight face. Then she turned toward Puck with a bright smile.
"Did you hear that, Puck? This is you."
She deliberately poked the strange spherical protrusion in the center of the snow sculpture.
"Look. Even the rounded physique is reproduced perfectly."
Puck froze in mid air, staring at the distorted snow lump that was supposed to represent him.
"...Lia, is this how Dad looks in your eyes?"
Roswaal's heterochromatic eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Oh my. So our little princess sees Puck in such a simple style, does she?"
Emilia quietly protested,
"I just thought round looked cuter..."
"That is not right!" Puck floated in front of the sculpture like a cat with its fur standing on end, angrily waving his small paws.
"If this really is me, then I am ridiculously fat!"
Subaru clapped her hands together, struggling to suppress her laughter.
"Alright, alright. Since we know what it is, we can score it. Five points! Keep up the good work!"
"Eh?!" Emilia's amethyst colored eyes widened. "Why so low?"
"Because aside from the round physique, it does not resemble Puck at all." Subaru mischievously poked the snow sculpture's belly.
"I am not fat at all!" Puck huffed and spun in the air.
"Look! Such an elegant and streamlined figure!"
"Yes, yes, good luck next time." Subaru waved dismissively as she turned and began to slip away.
"Wait! What does Roswaal think?"
Emilia looked hopefully at the clown standing beside her.
Roswaal maintained his unchanged smiling mask. His heterochromatic eyes curved into crescent shapes.
"Three points."
"Why is it even lower than Subaru's?!" Emilia asked in surprise.
Roswaal elegantly raised three fingers.
"One point for creativity. One point for effort."
His fingertips lightly tapped the top of the sculpture.
"And the last point... for this philosophically profound abstract shape."
After saying that, he hummed a tune and walked away.
Emilia lowered her head in disappointment.
"I worked so hard on it..."
Seeing his daughter's aggrieved expression, Puck gently landed on her shoulder and comforted her.
"Even if the proportions are a bit exaggerated, the Puck made by Lia is of course the cutest!"
He deliberately puffed out his belly.
"It is just that those two tasteless people do not appreciate it."
"Puck..."
"Do you want to make another one?" He patted Emilia's silver hair with his small paw. "This time Dad will serve as the model himself."
Emilia's eyes instantly brightened like rekindled stars.
"Mm!"
She nodded vigorously, snowflakes scattering from her cloak.
"I will definitely make a piece that will astonish Subaru and Roswaal!"
Puck had already floated toward the snow pile, striking a majestic pose with his tail held high.
"Come on, Lia! Let us give those two a big surprise!"
...
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