Although Roland had already encountered a snowstorm when he was in the outer forest before, the snowflakes that were quietly floating in the city also had a special taste for him.

Roland stretched out his right hand out of the window, and the snowflakes floated on his gloves for a long time, and the hexagonal pattern was very beautiful.

Roland's thoughts couldn't help but go back to the past.

Roland remembers the winter of his sixteenth year, when he and Rand sneaked out to camp in the mountains outside the city. At that time, the mountains were infested with wild beasts, and the city issued a special notice for pedestrians not to travel alone at night. And the two of them were not afraid of death, so they were stunned to do the opposite, and finally Rand was bitten by a poisonous snake, and his hand was swollen for two months before it subsided;

When he was fourteen years old, it snowed heavily for a week in Twin Moon City, and the snow on the ground was more than half a person's height, and the whole city was closed, and work and school were suspended. Roland said that he wanted to sneak out of the palace at this time to have a look, and although Rand was afraid, he still spent three days secretly digging a hole under the palace wall with Roland. As a result, not long after the two left the palace, they were chased by the dog in captivity outside and ran back to the hole;

At the age of twelve......

Roland first encounters Rand on the battlefield.

-------

Roland dusted off the snowflakes on his hands, and at this time, the lights were on, and the streets were lit with oil lamps, which was very beautiful against the backdrop of the snow scene.

A waiter came to report: "Young Master Roland, His Royal Highness Rand has invited you to the palace for dinner." ”

Roland was slightly stunned and said, "I'm the only one?"

......

You're the only one.

"I see. ”

Due to the unbearable onset of illness in his body, Roland found that he began to become a little afraid of cold. So these days, he doesn't go out often.

When Gray saw that Roland was about to enter the palace, he pulled out a thick quilt-like cloak out of nowhere, and insisted on tying it to Roland. Roland threw it away in disgust, and Gray took the trouble to pick it up and make it up, and in the end Roland had to compromise.

"When I come back from the palace later, you will come and pick me up. Roland said.

"Isn't it? You're a big man and you still want someone to take you back?"

Roland glared at Gray and said in a low voice, "There are some things to investigate." ”

Listening to Roland's words, Gray immediately changed to a serious expression.

And Roland's mood at the moment was a little apprehensive, because since they came back from Castlevania Evangeldale, Roland had never seen Rand again except for a meeting with the Minister of Economy.

Rand has been busy with the affairs of the city and other things in the Moon Country lately, and has been busy all day in the dark. And Roland is just a lazy idler now, and it seems somewhat strange that Rand, a busy man, wants to invite Roland to dinner at such a time.

Roland has also heard some rumors more or less recently, saying that Rand is not so handy in handling government affairs in the court. Rand often argues with the minister at court, and he doesn't know what he's worried about right now. And arguing with the ministers doesn't quite look like Rand's style of doing things, so Roland always feels that Rand seems to have some other purpose when he sees him this time.

--------------

Roland entered the palace at the agreed time.

Although the decorations in the palace have been damaged a lot, they have been restored to their usual appearance after repairs over the days.

The waiter led Roland and led him to the parlor. Roland used to be here when he was a kid playing, but he never sat here for a meal.

The status of the royal family's guest must be honorable, and Roland has never had this qualification.

The red-painted wooden door was slowly pushed open, but the dining room was not brightly lit as Roland remembered, only a few silver candlesticks on the long dining table, which glowed dimly.

Roland, it seems, is the only guest today.

At this moment, Rand appeared from the other end of the room. He raised his hand to signal Roland to sit down at one end of the table, and he sat down at the other end.

The waiters all retreated when the table was full, and Roland and Rand were the only ones left in the room.

The table was large and long, and although Roland and Rand looked at each other, they were far away. The room was dimly lit, and Roland felt a little cold. The fine food has also become a little hard to swallow.

"What's wrong?" Rand asked strangely, looking at Roland.

“...... Nothing, I'm just a little tired. Roland reluctantly picked up the fork in his hand and stuffed it into his mouth, but he felt that the taste was the same as chewing wax, and he was somewhat absent-minded.

After that, neither of them spoke, and the scene was a little deserted.

Roland wanted to break the coldness, but he didn't know how to speak.

Suddenly, Roland found that he and Rand no longer seemed to have anything in common.

Except for the day Roland woke up and met Rand, the two of them haven't been in touch since. Roland didn't know what Rand had asked him to meet out of the blue today, was he just trying to see himself?

Obviously, Roland and Rand are still very young, but when they are together, they can only seem to reminisce about the past. The future of the two working together is something Roland can't see.

Rand will eventually become king, and Roland can no longer accompany him. Roland understands these facts, and so does Rand.

And the original knot in his heart can never be untied, it is a nightmare that Roland wants to forget, but he can't forget. Rand knew that Roland wanted to leave, but he did not support or keep him. Now the biggest tacit understanding between the two of them is probably the only thing left to never mention that matter, right?

Because both of them know in their hearts that if they must sort out the cause and effect, the only thing that will be broken in the end is the already fragile friendship between them.

Roland saw the bandages on Rand's cuffs and asked, "How are the injuries on your body?"

Listening to Roland's words, Rand's body was slightly stunned, and then he began to feel his wrist and said casually: "Oh, it's much better." ”

Rand was expressionless when he said this, a very rare occurrence for Roland.

Then Rand stood up directly, turned his back to Roland and walked to the ledge on the side, standing in the moonlight for a long time.

Obviously, Roland didn't have much interest in this dinner.

Roland looked at Rand's back and suddenly felt that the person in front of him was very unfamiliar. Today, Rand didn't wear a formal suit, but just wore a loose robe casually, and his hair was scattered behind his head, which looked a little careless. But even so, Roland could find that Rand seemed to be more capable than before, and the gentle boy he had before seemed to be gone. In that kind of ability, there seems to be a bit of indifference.

Roland didn't know if it was the encounters of these days that changed Roland's heart. Although there is no right or wrong, such a result will still make people feel embarrassed.

"Rand, how did we get back to Two Moon City that day?" Roland asked tentatively.

Rand's body froze slightly, and then he slowly turned around, looking at Roland's eyes flickering slightly, Roland felt that the familiar friend seemed to be back.

Rand said slowly, "That day...... After the explosion, we fell off the wall. Augustin's fight with Tyrion came to an end, and Tyrion was beaten half to death. Later, Augustine decided to clean up the mess and banished all the other creatures in Evener from the city, including us. I remember that we were blown out by a demonic wind on a hillside far from the city of Evenger. I saw a turbid spring, felt thirsty, and got closer, and I was swept into it. When I woke up, I found that we were back in Two Moons. ”

I see. That makes sense.

Roland was still thinking about how Rand dragged his broken leg back with him, but now that he thinks about it, this situation is quite excusable.

While Roland was thinking about something, Rand had already poured two glasses of red wine and handed Roland one glass. Roland took the wine, only to find that somehow, Rand's hands were shaking.

Is it your own delusion?

"What's wrong?" Roland asked.

"I didn't ...... It's nothing, it's just that it's cold and my body is a little uncomfortable. Rand said, raising his glass and touching Roland, then drank it down.

Roland looked at Rand and didn't speak, and drank the wine from his glass.