Episode 26

In the small village of Lingrove, there are many upscale lodgings that seem out of place for its size.

This is partly because many nobles come to Beril Lake for summer vacation, but the biggest reason is probably Lingrove’s summer festival, the “Festival of the Lake Spirit.”

The summer festival, intertwined with the legend that the spirit of Beril Lake invites its friends to play during summer, is called one of the three major festivals of Belpator, along with the Founding Festival and the New Year’s Festival.

The festival, filled with various spectacles, was dazzling on its own, but the most interesting part was that one could only enter by wearing a mask distributed at the entrance of Lingrove village.

Both nobles and royals had to buy and wear masks made by the villagers.

The festival was popular among the nobles because it allowed them to hide their identities under crude masks and enjoy themselves.

To blend in and enjoy the festival among the crowd, we also dressed as ordinarily as possible and arrived at the village.

Like everyone else, we lined up at the village entrance and bought masks.

“Lotti, you got a rabbit mask?”

Lothania, who seemed pleased with her rabbit mask, smiled broadly as soon as she put it on.

Beside Lothania, Melbrid, who also wore a rabbit mask, was grinning widely.

Looking up from the adorable children, I glanced at Vitrain and almost choked.

“Aren’t there supposed to be only masks of animals invited by the spirit?”

“There are a few human ones as well.”

“Humans?”

Even at best, the mask with a white-painted face and slanting black eyes looked like a ghost.

Vitrain shrugged as he put the mask on his face.

“It’s a lady.”

It was eerie enough that an eagle was wearing a lady’s mask, and I doubted the aesthetic sense of Lingrove villagers selling such masks as lady masks.

Shaking my head, I put on my own mask.

Mine was an ordinary animal mask. I thought it was a wolf mask, but Lothania informed me it was a dog mask.

“There are no wolf masks, Mother.”

“Why? Wasn’t the wolf invited?”

“Apparently not.”

Without time to wonder why only the wolf was missing among all the animals, I followed the line into the village.

Vitrain, sticking close by my side, spoke.

“Although the guards are following, it’s crowded inside, so please stay close to me.”

Around us, guards disguised in plain clothes and wearing various animal masks were on duty.

The most dangerous-looking thing at this festival was probably the ghostly lady eagle with its white face, slanting black eyes, and formidable jawline, but it never hurts to be cautious.

I held tightly onto Lothania’s hand and stepped into the village.

The inside of the village was a different world. Buildings and sculptures adorned with luminous stones glowed everywhere, and thanks to the stringed lamps, it was as bright as day despite being night.

Clowns in peculiar outfits danced, and bizarre items caught our eyes.

I was mesmerized by a man with a yellow bird on his shoulder who mimicked the bird’s song, and almost lost sight of my group while captivated by a dancer gracefully walking on fire.

“Mother, isn’t it fun?”

Lothania, holding my hand firmly, smiled brightly and asked.

I patted her head and replied.

“It’s so much fun, Lotti. These are all things I’ve never seen before.”

“The best part hasn’t even started yet. Soon, we’ll see elephants.”

“Elephants?”

“Yes, Mother. They are animals with long noses and large bodies.”

“Such animals exist?”

“Yes! And their ears are this big!”

Lothania described the elephant’s appearance with exaggerated gestures.

Though I had read about elephants in books, the way she eagerly explained was so adorable that I kept asking questions.

“Are their ears really that big even though their trunks are huge?”

“Yes! Really, right?”

Lothania poked Melbrid’s shoulder as she asked, and Melbrid nodded so vigorously that his mask almost fell off.

Soon, the elephants would parade, and we needed to find the best spot to see them.

Following Lothania’s lead, I walked and settled in the spot the children chose.

Others who had visited the Festival of the Lake Spirit before were also lined up, waiting for the elephants.

Though everyone’s faces were hidden behind masks, it was clear that they were all excited.

As a princess with little presence, I had never stood shoulder to shoulder with others. Not even more so after becoming the Empress of Belpator.

This experience of standing in line with people who might be nobles or commoners alike felt both unfamiliar and refreshing.

When a man spinning a flaming baton appeared in the distance, people started cheering.

Lothania, standing in front of me, looked up and explained.

“It looks like it’s starting, Mother. The elephants will come out later.”

When I nodded, Lothania sent Vitrain on an errand.

“Duke Kidmillan, get some juice for Mother. Pineapple juice, remember?”

I declined, saying it wasn’t necessary, but Lothania insisted that pineapple juice was a must-have at the Festival of the Lake Spirit.

It seemed that Vitrain had attended this festival before, as he went to get the juice without a word.

While holding Lothania and Melbrid’s hands, waiting for the elephants, someone approached us amidst the loud cheers and laughter of the crowd.

“Princess Lothania.”

Turning around cautiously, as no one was supposed to know our identities, I saw a child wearing a monkey mask.

“Henry?”

Both Lothania and Melbrid immediately recognized him.

Henry Senwood. Lothania’s cousin of the same age and Bonita’s son.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you, Your Highness.”

“Why? I have nothing to say to you.”

Lothania coldly turned away from Henry, but he didn’t give up.

“I have something to tell you about my mother.”

At the mention of Bonita, Lothania glanced at me and quickly covered Henry’s mouth.

“I don’t want to talk about that. Leave.”

“I have something important to tell you.”

Henry was resolute. Although I didn’t know the details, it seemed he had come to Lingrove with difficulty just to meet Lothania.

Given that it involved Bonita, it likely had something to do with either me or Lothania’s ascension to the throne. Lothania seemed to think so too.

After a moment of contemplation, Lothania turned to me and said,

“Mother, please stay here for a moment.”

“Lotti, no. Where do you think you’re going in this crowd? Talk about it later.”

“It will only take a moment. Mel, stay with Mother.”

With a glance at Melbrid, Lothania stepped away from me and approached Henry.

Before I could even reach out, the two children had disappeared into the crowd.

“Lotti? Lotti!”

“What happened?”

Vitrain, who had just returned with juice, asked with a puzzled look. I pushed through the crowd in the direction Lothania had gone and shouted to him.

“Lothania disappeared with Henry Senwood. Vitrain, find Lotti!”

Vitrain frowned, looked in the direction I pointed, and threw aside the juice bottle, instructing the nearby royal guards.

“Protect Her Majesty the Empress. Melbrid, which way did the princess go?”

“This way, Duke.”

Melbrid, who had been unable to follow Lothania due to her orders, led the way through the crowd, with Vitrain following close behind.

I tried to follow them, but the crowd began to move, and I was swept along.

I thought I heard the voices of guards calling for me, but with the start of the main parade, the music and cheers made it impossible to discern directions.

Caught in the throng of people, I was forced to walk along until I finally managed to break free. Looking around, I found myself at the entrance of an unfamiliar alleyway.

Lothania, Vitrain, and even the guards were nowhere to be seen.

All around me were masked people passing by, and I had no idea who to approach or how to ask for help.

At that moment, a voice called out from inside the alley.

“Your Majesty, this way.”

What a relief. I thought I was hopelessly lost.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I walked into the alley, where men with swords, dressed in plain clothes, stood with their masks on.

I realized something was wrong when I was already deep inside the alley.

The men standing motionless with their hands on their sword hilts, waiting for me—were they truly the royal guards meant to protect me?

As I stopped walking, those hiding in the shadows of the buildings began to approach.

The sound of a sword being drawn sent chills down my spine.