“Tonight?”
“Yes.”
“…Alright.”
As soon as I answered, Raynan smiled.
And from behind him, I heard the faintest sigh.
It came from Roman.
Whatever this was, he clearly hadn’t been in favor of it.
Suddenly, I felt like I understood why he had looked so exhausted earlier.
He had probably spent the entire day trying to talk Raynan out of this—only to fail completely.
Now, his expression was filled with something close to resignation.
But even though he had given up, the frustration hadn’t entirely left him.
With his head bowed slightly, he let out another small sigh.
“Don’t mind Roman,” Raynan said smoothly.
“…Alright. But what exactly are we doing tonight?”
“Just a little outing.”
“An outing?”
“This is the perfect time to see something interesting.”
“Ah, I see. Then… will Edwin be coming too?”
“Unfortunately, not this time.”
“Oh…”
I hadn’t meant to sound so disappointed, but it must have come through anyway.
“Edwin might find it dangerous.”
…Excuse me?
I also dislike danger.
I suddenly don’t want to go on this outing.
But instead of saying that, I hesitantly asked,
“Then… what about me?”
“A child and an adult aren’t the same. I’m only being cautious just in case—there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“Right…”
But my skepticism hadn’t disappeared completely.
Raynan seemed to notice.
“You’ll have me and Amelia with you. There’s no need to look at me like that.”
“…Alright.”
If Raynan was speaking this firmly, maybe it really wasn’t anything to worry about.
Thinking back, he had mentioned the possibility of danger before.
But every time, he had reassured me.
And every time, just like he said, nothing had happened to me.
…Right?
For a brief second, a few odd moments from the past flickered through my mind.
But I quickly pushed them aside.
I was fine.
Nothing had happened.
And thinking too much about it wouldn’t do me any good.
****
Raynan’s mention of a casual outing turned out to be far from what I had expected.
“This place is…?”
“The Founding Festival is the biggest celebration in the Empire.”
“Oh, so this is a sight you can only see during the festival.”
“That’s right.”
The streets were lit up brightly, almost like a night market, and they were packed with people.
Everyone’s face was filled with excitement, making it impossible not to feel a little uplifted just by watching them.
“Edwin would’ve loved this too.”
“There are too many people. It would be dangerous for him.”
So that’s why Raynan had been talking about the difference between children and adults earlier.
I still felt disappointed that Edwin wasn’t here, but looking around, I realized that his safety concerns were valid.
“When he’s older and can properly protect himself, he’ll be able to enjoy things like this.”
“Yeah, I guess so…”
Raynan’s words comforted me a little, and with a lighter heart, I started taking in my surroundings.
Everything was fascinating.
Until now, I had only seen people from Roerianja.
But here, everything felt unfamiliar—the people, the atmosphere, even the way they dressed and spoke.
“This streetlight… What is it?”
The trees lining the street were decorated with small glowing lanterns, casting a soft, warm light.
“Oil lamps.”
“Oil lamps?”
“Yes. They’re covered with fire-resistant lids so they don’t go out, even if the wind blows.”
“Wow. They’re beautiful.”
The way they swayed in the breeze made them look like giant fireflies hovering around the trees.
“What are the vendors selling over there?”
“Let’s see…”
For once, Raynan didn’t have an immediate answer.
Instead, Amelia, who was standing right beside me, responded.
“They sell all sorts of things—food, clothing, accessories. Pretty much everything.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Since it’s a festival, people sell things at lower prices. Most folks save up all year just to go on a shopping spree.”
“Even you?”
“I don’t have much of a desire for material things, so I’ve never really gone shopping for myself.”
“But why are you always so excited when it’s about buying things for me?”
“Because Lady Renee is fun to dress up.”
“Let’s just move on.”
Raynan suddenly took my hand and slipped it around his arm.
“Stay close. Not even a step away from me.”
“Alright.”
Oddly enough, despite being the one who suggested moving, Raynan hesitated to take the first step.
It seemed like he had never been to a festival like this either.
“Let’s go this way.”
Seeing him lost in thought, I gently pulled him in one direction.
Raynan followed without resistance.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a hair ornament,” the vendor explained.
The delicate piece had tiny flowers that swayed as if dancing.
“And this?”
“A ribbon that’s all the rage among children these days. Girls tie it in their hair, and boys wear it like a necktie.”
It was a soft blue color with a tiny squirrel embroidered onto it.
“A necktie…?”
“Would you like to buy it?” Amelia asked.
I had been fiddling with the ribbon, the color reminding me of Edwin’s eyes.
“Can I?”
“Of course.”
When I glanced up at Raynan, he nodded without hesitation.
“I think it would suit Edwin, don’t you?”
“Yes, it would.”
Once Roman finished paying for it, Raynan started walking again.
“Oh? Why is there such a crowd over there? Is something going on?”
“Let’s find out.”
“Your Grace,” Roman called softly, as if trying to hold him back.
“It’s fine. I’m here.”
At Raynan’s words, Roman reluctantly backed off.
The crowd had gathered around what seemed to be an outdoor tavern, filled with people drinking and eating at makeshift tables.
The tables formed a circle, leaving an open space in the center.
That space was a stage.
Musicians were playing, and people were dancing in sync with each other.
“They must have practiced a lot. Their movements are perfectly timed.”
As soon as I spoke, Raynan and Amelia both turned to stare at me.
“…What?”
“That’s the Empire’s traditional dance.”
“Oh…? I thought they were professional dancers.”
So the drunkards had just gotten up and started dancing out of sheer excitement.
“Lady Renee… Even if you’re not interested in the outside world, how could you not know about our traditional dance?”
“Ah… I just never liked dancing much.”
At my weak excuse, Amelia and Raynan both nodded in understanding.
“That makes sense. On your first day of lessons, Madam Lorene said you moved like someone who had never danced before.”
Apparently, even the instructor had noticed my complete lack of experience.
Which was fair. It’s not like I had ever needed to dance before.
The lively music mixed with the clapping of onlookers, creating an even more energetic atmosphere.
“Everyone looks like they’re having fun.”
“They do.”
Raynan watched with me, seemingly entertained.
Just then, a drunken man stumbled past me as he tried to leave the tavern.
Of course, I had Amelia, Roman, and other knights around me, so there was no risk of him actually bumping into me.
Still, the moment the man appeared, Raynan pulled me even closer to him.
“We should move on. Too many people here.”
“I agree. We’ve seen enough.”
“Then let’s head this way,” Amelia suggested, gesturing to another street.
This area was lined with different kinds of shops.
I bought a small notebook for Edwin, thinking he might like to draw in it.
I also picked up some children’s toys, ones that were apparently popular.
For myself, I found a beautifully illustrated book and a simple yet charming bracelet.
Shopping like this is actually fun.
“Why is it that you’ve only been buying things for Edwin?”
“Huh?”
Raynan had asked Roman to hold my purchases, and now he was staring at me with obvious displeasure.
“I did buy something for myself.”
“But most of what you got was for Edwin.”
“Well… He couldn’t come, so I wanted to make sure he got something.”
But Raynan’s expression didn’t improve.
Then Amelia leaned in and whispered,
“You haven’t bought anything for the Grand Duke.”
“Oh…”
That’s true.
But it wasn’t intentional—I just hadn’t thought about it.
“But His Grace already has so many luxurious things. I doubt he’d even use something from here.”
“Why assume that? I enjoy using items from places like this.”
“Really? I didn’t know. Then… should we look for something for you next?”
At my words, Raynan’s expression finally softened.
He took a step forward, then paused.
One step to the right, then another to the left.
Finally, he looked down at me.
“So, which direction should we go?”
“Let’s try right first.”
Hearing my answer, Raynan moved without hesitation this time.
We looked around quite a bit, but it was hard to find something that suited him.
He carried himself with such refinement that most of these festival goods felt… cheap in comparison.
“What’s this?”
“A quill pen,” the vendor explained.
“It looks old.”
“Yes, it was crafted by a famous artisan long ago. But it’s been well maintained.”
“Hmm… It seems valuable. Why hasn’t it sold yet?”
“It’s too expensive for most festival-goers.”
“I see…”
The black feather and aged penholder gave it a distinguished look.
“I’ll take it.”
The vendor’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“You’re buying this?”
“Is it not for sale?”
“No, of course it is! It’s just that no one could afford it. Thank you!”
Grateful, the vendor even threw in some ink and a cleaning cloth for free.
Raynan leaned in slightly to examine my purchase.
“This is the first time I’ve watched someone buy my gift right in front of me.”
“You’ve seen the gift, but the wrapping is still a surprise.”
“Then I’ll look forward to the wrapping.”
With that, we moved on—this time in a much lighter mood.
But just as I was debating whether or not to grab something to eat, someone called out to me.
“Oh my, what a surprise to see you here.”
