~Chapter 80~
Leah was pushing through the crowd, hurting people in the process, calling out for her daughter, Raphaella.
Because she was so small, she was nowhere to be seen.
“Rafi! Rafi!”
Leah, in a panic, shouted with a pale face.
It had only been a moment—a very short moment she let go of her daughter’s hand.
‘Where did she go…?’
The music announcing the start of the parade began to play.
‘Oh no, the crowd’s so thick now I can’t even move…’
Just as Leah was about to sink into despair—Tap.
Johann appeared and grabbed her arm.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
He was holding a pink cotton candy in his hand.
“I… I lost Rafi’s hand. I can’t see her anywhere….”
Leah’s lips trembled as she spoke.
“I should’ve held on tighter. If something happens to her, it’ll be all my fault….”
She covered her mouth with both hands, choking up.
“Calm down, Leah.”
Johann handed the cotton candy to someone nearby and held her shoulders gently.
“We need to find Rafi right now.”
“We will find her. Don’t worry. But first, let’s get out of this crowd.”
“Okay…”
He led her away from the center of the parade.
“Where’s Lady Veronica?”
He called one of the knights hiding nearby to protect them.
“She went after the young lady just moments ago.”
“Is that true?”
Hope returned to Leah’s face.
“Yes, Lady Leah. Lady Veronica is in charge of Raphaella’s protection today.”
“Then go bring her and Rafi back here.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The knight dashed off in the direction Raphaella had disappeared.
“There were knights here with us?”
Leah, now a bit calmer, nearly collapsed, but Johann held her firmly.
“Yeah. I was only pretending to be a commoner today.”
“If it weren’t for you… Thank you.”
Leah straightened up and gave him a small nod.
“It’s only natural that I protect Raphaella… and you. No need to thank me.”
Johann frowned slightly and lifted her chin.
In his eyes, her emerald-green eyes shimmered with tears.
His fingers instinctively reached for the tears that hadn’t fallen yet and gently wiped them away.
“Don’t cry, Leah,” he said softly.
“…Oh.”
Embarrassed, Leah blushed and wiped the other eye herself.
“Raphaella will be back with you soon.”
Still blushing, Leah nodded slightly.
Soon, they saw Raphaella walking over holding Veronica’s hand.
“Rafi!”
Leah ran over and hugged her tightly.
“Mommy!”
Up close, Raphaella’s eyes were a little red too—she had clearly cried.
“I’m sorry. Mommy let go of your hand.”
“No, I let go first.”
The mother and daughter took turns blaming themselves, teary-eyed.
“It’s nobody’s fault. That kind of thing happens in crowds,” Johann said as he patted Raphaella’s head.
“Rafi, you must’ve been scared. Are you okay?”
He crouched down and asked.
“I was scared at first, but then Master Veronica came and I was fine.”
Raphaella smiled at Veronica.
“Thank you, Lady Veronica,” Leah said gratefully.
“I just did my duty, Lady Leah,” Veronica replied, scratching her head shyly.
“Is the parade over now?” Raphaella asked Johann, looking a bit disappointed.
“Part one’s over, but there’s still part two. Want to go see it?”
“Yes! But this time, I’m not letting go of your hand!”
“You don’t have to. I’ll carry you.”
Johann lifted Raphaella up in one arm.
“It might be uncomfortable, but it’s the safest way.”
Then he held out his arm to Leah.
“…Ah.”
She hesitated, swallowed nervously, and slipped her hand through his arm.
He smiled at her.
They walked off to find a spot.
“There are way more people than before, Daddy,” Raphaella said, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“As long as you’re with me, you’re safe.”
Johann adjusted his hold on her.
Leah also held his arm tighter.
‘It does feel much safer than just holding hands.’
The second part of the parade began—people dressed as the first emperor, the founders of the five noble houses, and mages danced and sang down the street.
They tossed colorful enchanted papers into the crowd and waved.
Raphaella caught one and waved back.
‘So pretty.’
Leah looked down at the magic paper in her hand and thought.
After the parade, they ate street food and watched a small circus performance.
As evening approached, they went to a nearby restaurant for dinner.
Toward the end of the meal, Raphaella began to nod off.
“Looks like Rafi’s getting sleepy.”
Leah gently stroked her cheek.
“…Nuh-uh, I’m not sleepy…”
Raphaella rubbed her eyes.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m gonna stay up and watch the fireworks!”
The highlight of the festival—the fireworks—was still two hours away.
But Raphaella’s heavy eyelids closed before then.
“She was finally knocked out.”
“Looks like we’ll have to catch the fireworks next year,” Leah said, looking at the sleeping Raphaella in Johann’s arms.
“Yeah, that might be best.”
As they headed to their carriage, they ran into Isabella and Penelope.
They were also just returning from the festival.
“Oh my, leaving already?” Isabella asked.
“Raphaella fell asleep,” Leah explained.
“She must be worn out.”
“You’re not staying for the fireworks?”
Johann asked.
“We’re watching from the estate,”
Penelope replied.
“We’ll take Raphaella with us. You two stay and enjoy the fireworks,” Isabella offered.
“Oh no, that’s okay…”
“What are you talking about? This is probably her first fireworks show. You must watch from up close!”
Isabella interrupted and passionately insisted.
“Johann, make sure Leah sees the founding festival fireworks properly, got it?”
She grabbed her son’s arm and gave him a pointed look.
“Yes, Mother,” he nodded.
“Then we’ll be off.”
Johann carefully laid Raphaella in Isabella’s carriage.
“Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of her!”
Penelope waved from the carriage.
“Well then… let’s go see the fireworks.”
“…Yeah.”
Just the two of them, watching fireworks.
Leah hadn’t expected this.
‘Won’t this be awkward without Raphaella?’
“Here.”
He offered his arm again.
“It’s dark. We don’t want to lose each other, right?”
He gently took her hand and tucked it into his arm.
“…Where are we watching them from?”
The maids had said the fireworks would be pretty from anywhere.
“Over there.”
He pointed to a hill.
It looked like a great view.
“You always watched from there?”
“No, I usually just watched from the mansion.”
“Then how do you know about that spot?”
“…Someone told me once. A long time ago.”
He didn’t say more after that.
His expression looked strangely sad.
So Leah didn’t ask who it was.
She just quietly followed him.
A lot of other people were heading that way too.
‘…Mostly couples?’
She felt a little embarrassed.
“This is it.”
They reached the top of a grassy hill.
It was already full of people sitting and waiting for the fireworks.
Johann sat down first and spread a handkerchief next to him.
“Sit here.”
His unexpected gesture flustered Leah.
“It’s clean, you don’t have to be so scared,” he joked with a smile.
She smiled slightly and sat down.
‘Why does he keep being so kind… when he doesn’t even remember me?’
She bit her lip.
Johann bought two beers from a vendor walking around.
“Last time I saw, most people were drinking beer while they watched.”
He handed her one.
“Thanks.”
She drank deeply.
Maybe it was the weird fluttery feeling from being around him, but the beer went down easily.
When she was halfway through, the fireworks began with a small one shooting into the sky.
“…Wow.”
Leah was amazed at the sight—this was her first time seeing fireworks in her life.
But then, she felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
‘Why does this feel familiar? Like I’ve watched fireworks from a hill like this before…’
Maybe long ago…
But she was sure it was her first time.
She wondered if maybe she’d lived in the capital as a child, though her grandmother always said they’d lived in the north their whole lives.
While she was thinking, her eyes met Johann’s.
‘How long has he been looking at me?’
His red eyes sparkled under the glow of the fireworks.
“…”
She couldn’t look away.
Maybe it was the beer, but her face got hot and her mouth dry.
Her hand itched, and she clenched it into a fist.
Johann gently took her hand and leaned in.
‘His hand is warm…’
She could guess where his lips were going.
Her brain screamed to move—but her body didn’t.
She closed her trembling eyes…
and accepted his warm kiss.
The sound of fireworks exploding felt like it was coming from a distant world.
