New World with Four Husbands-Chapter 665: Snow
One by one, everyone went back into the wagon, their heavy coats making the space feel even more cramped than before.
Coco lingered outside just a moment longer, her eyes sweeping over the eerie, frost-laced landscape one last time— the black roses, the towering ice-cracked trees and the chilly bite of air.
Then, with a slow exhale, she stepped inside, pulling the wagon curtain shut behind her with a soft rustle.
The warmth of the enclosed space was immediate, but it did nothing to ease the chill settling in her bones, but she ignored it and crawled towards the foam covered floor.
Coco settled beside Kairo, not surprised to find he had intentionally left a space for her.
The spot was perfect because it was right next to the exit, with a good view outside. She slid into the spot with an absent smile, already relaxing a bit as she leaned against him.
"Thank you for saving me a spot." She murmured towards the hybrid.
Kairo shifted slightly, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer, and Coco allowed herself to inhale his familiar scent, letting it soothe her racing pulse.
"You’re welcome." He whispered back, shooting her a soft look.
Coco barely smiled before she lifted her gaze absently, scanning the wagon to check if everyone had settled in comfortably— only for her eyes to lock with Alhai’s.
He sat across from her, his posture rigid despite the thick coat draped over his shoulders.
His expression was unreadable, but his gaze held hers with an intensity that made her stomach twist. What could he be thinking at this moment?
Is there something he wants to say? Coco tilted her head and before she could decipher it, the wagon lurched forward.
The abrupt motion caught them all off balance and the whole wagon shuddered as the wagon started moving forward, jolting everyone inside the wooden vehicle.
Coco stumbled, catching herself on Kairo’s thigh and he was quick to steady her, his arm instinctively wrapping a little tighter around her.
Around them, others also straightened themselves, shifting in their seats as the wagon jostled and bumped along, the unfamiliar motion sending them all bumping against each other like ragdolls.
Coco let out a small groan as she rebalanced herself, her other hand pressing against the foam-covered floor beneath her.
The padding had been laid out for makeshift bedding, cushioning the wagon’s harsh movements, but even that didn’t stop the occasional jolt from nearly knocking them all over.
The only spot left bare was a thin strip near the exit, to keep it clear for quick access.
Coco let out a quiet sigh, her breath misting faintly in the cold air inside the wagon as she turned her gaze toward the fluttering curtains framing the wagon’s exit.
Pushing one aside slightly, she peered out— only to lock eyes with the two figures steering the wagon directly behind theirs.
Their faces were covered by the hoods pulled low against the biting wind, but she could still feel the weight of their gazes.
They were silently watching her, their gazes sharp and searing against her skin.
Her grip tightened on the curtain. Why are they looking at her like that? Had she done something wrong to them?
However, before she could ponder it further, the wagon hit a rough patch of terrain, jolting violently, and the moment was broken because she had to brace herself again.
Coco huffed and forced her gaze away from the staring men driving the other wagon.
Instead, she turned her attention to the landscape outside the wagon.
The wagon was cutting through a forest at an even pace, making her take a look at the towering oaks and ash lining the road, their branches covered with ice crystals that glittered like diamonds beneath the faint sunlight.
The scenery was breathtaking, in an eerie sort of way.
Everywhere she looked, everything was covered in frost— the trees, the ground, even the leaves that had fallen.
There was a chill to it all that made her skin prickle, like even nature itself was holding its breath.
It’s kind of weird to think that nature might be holding its breath while we’re going through. Coco thought, blinking owlishly.
Actually.. It’s cold.. It’s so different from where we came from. Coco stared blankly at the passing trees, her expression shifting to a frown as her gaze swept over the snow-covered forest again.
Her mother ruled this land, this frozen world of ice and frost, and yet.. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
Just how did she handle it? The biting cold, the endless snow, the endless white? How did she not lose her mind?
The thought was a disheartening one and she found herself shivering involuntarily, as if the cold had somehow crept into the wagon itself and decided to hug her with its embrace.
Kairo noticed and he was quick to drape a cloak over her, causing Coco to tear her gaze away from the chilling view, letting the curtain fall back into place with a soft rustle and look at the hybrid with a raised eyebrow.
Kairo simply nodded.
So, questions about her mother swirled through her mind, but she pushed them aside, knowing that she would have her answers soon enough.
For now, she leaned against Kairo’s arm, focusing on the rhythm of the moving wagon and trying her best to ignore the growing unease at the bottom of her stomach.
Coco couldn’t help, but let out another sigh.
Her gaze lingered on Alhai for a moment, noticing the way he had his legs crossed— an uncharacteristic gesture, from what she had seen so far.
Then her thoughts wandered and found herself wondering what the rest of her mother’s territory looked like.
Was it as clean and well-maintained as the main city, where the wealthy and powerful dwelled? Is it rich with chatter? Or was it like Yogusho village, cozy yet busy?
She couldn’t even begin to imagine what the territory of the ruler of the icy lands would look like.
