Episode 69

It felt as if time had stopped.

My heart dropped, leaving me speechless for a moment.

‘…This face attack is too much, though?’

Under his well-groomed black hair, golden eyes sparkled as they looked solely at me.

To be honest, just from his appearance alone, Ludwig was like a perfect embodiment of my type.

I thought I had gotten used to our relationship by now, but this… was different.

Barely able to move my lips, I finally spoke.

“…Of course. You did really well.”

I wonder if I look as shaken as I feel right now.

Ludwig spoke, his voice tinged with laughter.

“Then, please keep stroking me more.”

Even a fox with a hundred tails couldn’t be more bewitching than this.

Almost as if in a trance, I reached out and stroked his smooth, black hair.

A strange tickle stirred in my chest.

My face, growing hot, was probably as red as the sunset painting the sky outside.

‘This is strange.’

As I slowly withdrew my hand, Ludwig looked at me with eyes full of regret.

At that moment, the carriage jolted violently.

“Huh, what…?”

The distance between us, already close, narrowed even more in the brief moment of shaking.

“Are you alright?”

Before I knew it, my body, which nearly toppled over, had fallen into Ludwig’s arms.

I couldn’t tell if the heartbeat I was feeling was mine or his.

His beautifully curved eyes gazed at me from up close.

Held in his warm embrace, I murmured softly.

“I’m alright.”

I returned to my seat, but even as I rubbed my burning ears, the heat wouldn’t fade.

‘Isn’t there something wrong with the Karsian carriage?’

It happened the last time, and again this time!

Why does it always shake so violently at such a perfect moment?

Sweating from trying to calm the heat rising in me, I stole a glance at Ludwig, who was now looking out the window with a satisfied expression for some reason.

Time passed, and soon the carriage slowed to a stop as we reached the start of the street.

Taking Ludwig’s outstretched hand, I stepped outside and gasped.

“Wow…”

Night had fallen, but it wasn’t dark at all.

Thousands of lights illuminated the streets and the sky was decorated with stars, as if they were about to rain down.

The southern festival was famous, even in other regions, drawing crowds of people.

Lanterns floated high in the sky, and vibrant bands paraded through the streets, dancing.

Just then, warmth enveloped my hand.

It was Ludwig, holding my hand.

“There are a lot of people, so let’s hold hands so we don’t lose each other.”

“…Would that be better?”

“Yes, it would be better.”

Ludwig smiled sweetly.

I hadn’t even fully recovered from the events in the carriage, and now the sudden closeness was making me nervous.

In the end, I held his hand, and we wandered through the streets, enjoying the sights.

Just as he said, there were so many people that holding hands gave me a sense of security.

As we strolled, the lively atmosphere slowly drew me in, and my mood lightened.

“Shall we go over there too?”

“That sounds good.”

Ludwig followed me with a smile, no matter where I led him.

The festival had so much to see.

From southern traditional dancers to street vendors selling beautiful crafts.

While we were looking around the street stalls, still holding hands…

“Selling flowers!”

A young boy with a basket full of flowers suddenly appeared in front of us.

“They’re lisianthus, the flower that means eternal love! You’re such a beautiful couple, I ran all the way here from afar!”

“A, a couple…?”

“Yes! The two of you. You’re the perfect match for these flowers on such a beautiful day!”

The boy beamed as he held out the bouquet of brightly blooming flowers.

I couldn’t hide my flustered expression.

Walking hand in hand as a man and woman during a festival… of course, misunderstandings could happen but still…

Seeing my embarrassed face, the boy added awkwardly.

“Oh, are you not a couple…? Then, you must be married! You’re both so young, I made a mistake!”

No, that’s even further from the truth.

Ludwig burst into laughter and said.

“How much do you want for it?”

“Five silver!”

Ludwig handed the boy a gold coin.

The boy stammered, startled.
“I-I don’t have enough change for such a large amount.”

“Keep the change. Thanks for the bouquet.”

“R-really?!”

The boy looked at Ludwig as if he were an angel, almost bowing in awe.

“Wow, your husband is so generous! Thank you so much! I hope you both stay happy forever!”

The boy handed Ludwig a large bundle of lisianthus flowers and skipped away, ecstatic as if he’d hit the jackpot.

“Isn’t it impressive how sharp he is for his age?”

Ludwig said, handing me the bouquet with a particularly pleased expression.

Caught off guard, I accepted the flowers, and a refreshing scent washed over me. The flowers were as beautiful as their meaning.

“Thank you.”

Ludwig had likely bought the flowers simply because he admired the boy’s initiative.

‘No need to dwell on the meaning of the flowers.’

Yet, I couldn’t help but feel conscious of it. The warmth of his hand felt even hotter.

As we walked around the festival, we eventually reached the coastline.
People had gathered along the shore, releasing sky lanterns into the night sky.

“Wow, so this is where everyone is releasing the lanterns.”

“It’s what you were most looking forward to at the festival, wasn’t it?”

“Yes!”

The sight of the lanterns floating up over the sea was truly breathtaking.

We were able to easily buy lanterns from a nearby shop along the coast. With a lantern each in hand, Ludwig and I approached the water.

“They say you have to make a wish before sending the lantern up. If it reaches the sky, your wish will come true.”

Ludwig, lighting the lantern with his ability, replied,
“Is that so? Then I suppose I should wish for something I’ve kept in my heart.”

Standing before the cool night sea, Ludwig and I each made a wish while holding our lanterns.

Then we released them into the sky.

The two lanterns rose gently and steadily into the sky, side by side.

“Did you make a wish?”

“Yes. I sent my small wish up into the sky.”

Most lanterns fizzled out after a certain height, but ours kept rising until they were mere dots in the sky.

“Don’t you think they’re going unusually high?”

“I attached an everlasting flame.”

“An everlasting flame?”

“It’s strong enough not to burn the lantern, but gentle enough that it won’t go out halfway. The perfect flame to carry the lantern far into the distance.”

I looked up at the sky, dotted with lanterns like stars, as Ludwig spoke.

Our lanterns, now tiny specks, floated peacefully until they disappeared from sight.

“It really feels like the wish will come true.”

I smiled as I spoke.

Just then, a loud *bang* sounded from above.

A spectacular firework display painted the sky like a work of art.

As the fireworks began, the festival’s atmosphere reached its peak.

“Sierra.”

“Yes?”

The sound of the fireworks was so loud that it was hard to hear each other.

Ludwig slowly moved his lips, facing me and saying something.

I couldn’t hear it clearly, but the shape of his lips was unmistakable.

‘I like you.’

It might have been my imagination, but Ludwig seemed to have said that while looking at me.

I widened my eyes in surprise.

I couldn’t look away from Ludwig’s gaze, and for a while, we just stared at each other.

At the moment a particularly bright red firework burst in the sky, Ludwig smiled and gently brushed away the strands of my hair that had been tousled by the wind.

Bang!

As the final firework exploded, the surroundings fell quiet at last.

A cool breeze from the sea playfully brushed past us, tickling the space between us.