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It snows practically every Winter Festival, and this year is no exception.

Early in the morning, heavy snow began to fall in Ice Rock City, while the overcast sky blasted gusts of bone-chilling cold wind.

In such harsh weather, the kind-hearted lord did not make the slaves go out to work.

They were all huddled together in the newly-established refugee camp, seeking warmth from each other’s bodies.

Suddenly, the camp began to stir again, a cacophony of excited shouts filled the air, as the benevolent lord had had the soldiers bring wine for the slaves.

Of course, the wine was far from premium, and it was heavily diluted, but for the majority of the slaves who hadn’t had a sip of alcohol their entire life, it felt like a heavenly ambrosia.

The fiery liquor dispelled the cold shivers, and countless slaves praised their lord’s kindness as they knelt on the ground.

At that precise moment, the kind-hearted lord was still nestled in his warm bed.

Outside, it was a blizzard, but inside it was as warm as spring.

The fire in the fireplace had been leaping all night, spreading warmth throughout the room.

Kathy silently walked in and added a few logs to the fireplace. As she was about to leave, she saw Colin sit up in bed.

“My lord, you are awake.”

“Mmm.”

In reality, Colin had been awake for a while, but on this snowy morning, staying in bed a little longer was his way of commemorating his habits from a past life.

“Happy Winter Festival, Viscount! I will get your wash water and breakfast ready immediately.”

Kathy had dressed up specially today, wearing a white dress with a frilly apron around her waist. Her chestnut hair was tied up with a red headband, lending an air of simplicity and elegance.

Her moist eyes, pointy long ears, and delicate features emitted a certain soft and gentle aura.

“Happy Winter Festival!” Colin greeted the half-elf maid with a smile.

Then, he got out of bed and went to the window, gazing at the world outside covered in silver, lost in thought.

The Winter Festival is a unique celebration in the Glorious Empire, lasting from mid-December every year until the beginning of the following January. It is the grandest festival of the year.

There were three children playing in the snow-covered castle grounds.

They were all distant relatives of the Angler family. Colin did not know them well, and after squinting for a while, he only recognized the name of one of the boys. He could not recall the others’ names.

Listening to the innocent laughter from the children, an indescribable loneliness suddenly welled up in Colin’s heart.

Whoosh-

Colin suddenly flung the window wide open.

The bitingly cold north wind, carrying snowflakes with it, rushed inwards, bringing with it an icy chill that seemed intent on seeping into his bones and freezing his blood.

However, Colin did not care in the slightest.

Since advancing to the fourth level knight, his heart, silent and still for so long, had suddenly sprung back to life. It was beating even stronger and more vigorously than before.

Driven by his heart, his blood flowed like a roaring river throughout his body, emitting a heat that melted the falling snowflakes before they could even touch his skin.

“Ah! Viscount, why did you open the window? Be careful not to catch a cold.” Kathy walked in with wash utensils and couldn’t help but exclaim.

Colin gave a chuckle, closed the window, then turned around to let Kathy assist him in grooming.

“My lord, are you having breakfast here, or shall we go to the dining hall?”

“We’ll have it here.”

“Yes.”

Soon Kathy returned, holding a tray.

The breakfast was hearty, consisted of grilled tilapia fish, creamy tomatoes, almond gingerbread, and a cup of eggnog.

However, Colin frowned, “Eggnog? Didn’t I ask you to prepare deer blood wine for every meal?”

Kathy explained softly, “Sir, this is the first meal of the Winter Festival. Traditionally, it must include almond gingerbread and eggnog.”

Colin then remembered that it seemed to be the case.

“Sir, if you insist, I can now ask the kitchen to prepare a cup of deer blood wine.”

“Never mind,” Colin waved his hand.

Going without blood for one meal wouldn’t hurt, he didn’t want to trouble the kitchen again.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do, so Colin decided to experience the atmosphere of the Winter Festival in this world through these foods.

“How do the half-elves usually celebrate the Winter Festival?” As Colin savored the unique combination of gingerbread and eggnog in his mouth, he casually asked.

Kathy, who was standing by, said with a smile, “The Winter Festival in the Half-Elf Kingdom is not much different from that in the Empire, the only slight difference is that we have a bonfire party at night.”

“A bonfire party?”

“Yes, or a bonfire dance ball, but the dancers are all male half-elves. They show off their talents at the ball to attract the attention of the female half-elves.”

“Don’t they invite female half-elves to dance?”

“No, that’s a custom of your human Empire. Half-elf dances are usually solo. At the end of the ball, there will be a panel of respected elders to select the most elegant male half-elf dancer.”

Speaking of this, Kathy seemed to recall something. Her face suddenly turned red, making her look extraordinarily adorable.

Colin was at a loss for words.

“The most beautiful male dance ”

This kind of description gave Colin goosebumps.

But as a gentleman, Colin suppressed his discomfort and asked with a smile, “Then what does the winner get?”

“He will be given the title of ‘Moonlight Dancer’.” Kathy’s eyes were filled with envy and admiration, apparently yearning for this title.

Colin nodded; he had suddenly become interested in this “Moonlight Dancer” and was curious to see how beautiful their dance moves were.

“These customs of yours must have been inherited from the Elf Clan?”

“Yes,” Kathy nodded, “and, before the Elves disappeared from the Bright Moon Forest, representatives from the Elf Clan would participate in the Moonlight Dancer selection ball in Silver Moon City.”

“Oh? Since when did the Elves completely sever ties with you?”

Kathy pondered for a moment and answered, “According to the records in the Savoy family library, the Elves completely disappeared into the depths of the Bright Moon Forest about eight hundred years ago and have never made contact with us since then.”

Having finished the food in front of him, Colin picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth and asked curiously, “Haven’t the Half-Elves ever tried to enter the Bright Moon Forest to search for traces of the Elves?”

“Of course, they have. During the first few years after the Elves disappeared, many of the Half-Elf nobles in Silver Moon City who had strong ties with the Elves sent a large number of Rangers and soldiers to the Bright Moon Forest in an attempt to find traces of the Elf Clan.”

But… the half-elves who entered the Bright Moon Forest… none of them came back…”

“None of them came back?” Colin frowned.

He suddenly felt that the disappearance of the elves was likely not that simple.

The mysterious and dangerous Bright Moon Forest must be hiding something unknown.