Street Mouse [Yandere Archduke x Female Reader]

18. Creatures of Snow.

The months of winter crawled by at a snail's pace. After the golden decorations had all been taken down everything seemed rather drab, and nowhere was it more so than in the courtyard. The snow had become a bother to walk through, and was quite dull to look at.

Y/N was already eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring, when she could spend time outside, roaming the mountainside with Frosino, picking wildflowers.

But seeing as it was still very chilly, Frosino hadn't been letting Y/N go outside at all, and she was starting to get stir crazy.

It came as a surprise when Y/N was woken up early one morning to a slight tapping on her cheek. Opening her eyes, Y/N saw that Frosino was kneeling down beside the bed, and had been poking her cheek.

"You are finally awake," he said with a smile. "I left a gift for you on the nightstand, hurry up and put it on, them meet me in the hall."

He exited the room quickly, leaving Y/N still half asleep to wonder what had put him in such high spirits.

She slipped off the edge of the bed, and winced as her bare toes came into contact with the cold stone floor of her room.

Wandering over to the nightstand, Y/N discovered a box tied with velvet ribbon. Opening it she saw that inside was a white woolen jacket along with a pair of fuzzy lavender mittens.

Y/N quickly got dressed and put on the new winter clothes that she had been given. After that, she pulled open the door of her bedroom and entered the hall.

Leaning against the wall while waiting for her was Frosino. As soon as he saw her, Frosino grabbed onto her hand, and began pulling her through the castle.

They were both out of breath by the time they reached the main doors in the entrance hall. Frosino paused to button up the dark indigo overcoat that he had decided to wear instead of his elaborate fur cloak, and wrapped his violet scarf snugly around his neck.

He turned to Y/N and with a big smile on his face said: "I have prepared a surprise for you today. Now close your eyes, and I will show you."

Y/N did as he told her and closed her eyes. It took all of her willpower to not peak as the sound of the giant doors opening could be heard, and Frosino guided Y/N outside.

The air was refreshing, and Y/N felt a chilly wind tickle her face as the snow crunched beneath her little shoes. After a few seconds, Frosino told her that she could open her eyes.

Looking out into the courtyard, Y/N squealed at what she saw. A half dozen majestic animals had been sculpted from the mounds of snow that had been drifting in the castle courtyard.

There was a handsome stag who, not even including his antlers stood several feet taller than the Archduke. A snarling beast with over-large teeth,  a thick mane, and goat horns looked like it was ready to pounce. A small dog was frozen, happily chasing after a cat. There was a gorgeous horse that laid on the ground with dignity, and watching over all of the other animals stood a regal two-headed Mountain Ram.

Y/N stared in open-mouthed amazement at all of the crystalline sculptures.

"I am glad to see that you like them," Frosino laughed at the face she was making and informed her. "Alfonse and I have spent the last few weeks making these, that is why we haven't let you go outside recently."

"They are so pretty!" The little girl exclaimed. "It's like magic."

"Indeed," he agreed with her. "After you told me the fairy tales that you had come up with surrounding the castle, I couldn't help but feel that it did not live up to the legend, so I wanted to bring some of those stories to life."

"Oh, don't be silly," Y/N said as she gripped onto his hand with her small fingers and looked up at him with her E/C eyes. "I already like life here better than any of my stories."

"Glad to hear it," Frosino sighed.

"Now," Y/N announced, losing all seriousness. "Can I go play with them?!"

"Of course," Frosino stated with a chuckle, bending down to place his hand is her's.

. . .

Y/N and Frosino were now both in the library, curled up in the same comfy chair in front of the fire.

The two spent the past few hours playing around in the courtyard filled with snow beasts, and were now both chilled and tired.

The cold air had nipped at their faces until they finally admitted defeat and returned inside the castle.

Frosino leaned his head back against the soft upholstery of the wingback armchair he was currently resting it, while Y/N pulled the blanket that was draped over both of them tighter around herself.

"Did you have fun today?" Frosino asked her. Y/N nodded her head as energetically as she could in response.

"That is good to hear," Frosino mused, then he added: "I think it's about time we begin your daily lesson. What do you think?"

In answer, Y/N burrowed under the blanket until she was completely covered by it.

The Archduke laughed at her childish behavior, and said: "well, I suppose that skipping your tutoring for one day won't hurt. What would you like to do instead?"

"I want you to tell me a story!" Y/N cried excitedly as her head reemerged from the quilt.

"I am not that good at telling stories," Frosino objected.

"Please," Y/N begged, looking up at him with pleading E/C eyes.

"Oh, very well," Frosino agreed, lacking the power to resist Y/N's cuteness.

Gazing at the gay fire that burnt in the hearth he began: "Once upon a time..."

. . .

Around an hour later, Tola entered the library, curious as to why Frosino had not summoned her to bring the lunch that day.

She wandered through the circular library until she spotted something that could warm even her icy heart.

Frosino rested his head against the back of the chair, while Y/N was curled up in his lap. They both were fast asleep.

Tola walked over to them, and quietly took the blanket that had slipped off, and tucked it snugly around them again.

After adding another log to the crackling fire, Tola exited the library with a small smile adorning her face.

A/N

Frosino = best dad ever! =~=

Well... At least for now...

Until next time I'll see you one the other side

~J. C. Coltt.~