Chapter 38
Everyone kept sneaking glances at us.
“Maybe I should just take off my hood,” I whispered.
Since a child wouldn’t usually be seen as suspicious, maybe if I took off the hood people’s gazes would soften.
But Sisé shook her head.
“If you do that, we’ll just look like a shady duo trying to kidnap a kid. Keep it on. It’s better if we all look suspicious together, right?”
“But like this, I can’t enjoy the festival!”
Every time we walked, people startled and stepped aside, leaving about a meter of empty space around us.
Isn’t there some other way?
While glancing around for an idea, I spotted people wearing masks.
That’s it! Masks would make us look less suspicious.
A mask would match the festival atmosphere and still hide our faces—a perfect solution.
“Sisé, you brought money, right?”
“Of course, I packed a little emergency cash.”
“Then please buy us some masks.”
“Ah.”
Realizing my intention, Sisé nodded and left.
A short while later she returned carrying three masks.
Sisé took the fox mask, Baratheon the bear mask.
Figures, they each picked something that suits them.
Just as I was thinking that, Baratheon snorted and tapped me on the back.
“Ha! Of all masks, you had to pick the one that looks exactly like you.”
Mine was a puppy mask.
…This guy. Is he saying I’m like a dog? A little mutt?!
For a moment I bristled, but enjoying the festival was more important.
I calmed myself and tugged at their sleeves.
“Let’s go already!”
Once we took off our hoods and joined the crowd wearing our masks, the suspicious stares disappeared completely.
“Now it finally feels like a real festival,” I said.
“So, what do we do next?”
“The performances haven’t started yet. How about we fill our stomachs first?”
The plaza was full of food stalls, just as a festival should be.
“Great choice!” Baratheon grinned and bought a perfectly roasted chicken leg.
We each held a piece of chicken and sat side by side on the fountain’s edge.
“How is it?” he asked.
I took a careful bite of the chicken he handed me. The seasoning blended perfectly with the meat.
“It’s delicious.”
Relieved, Baratheon devoured his share with a satisfied smile.
“Right? It’s the best.”
“Have you been to a festival before?” I asked.
“Yeah, before I was adopted. Back then I’d buy one chicken leg and share it with the other kids.”
“Oh.”
He said it lightly, but the story wasn’t light at all.
I stayed quiet, nibbling on my chicken so as not to press on a sore spot. But Baratheon just laughed and patted my back.
“Why worry about that? It’s not some secret.”
“Still…”
I’d heard he had a tough life before his adoption. That’s why all three of them considered Grandfather their benefactor.
“If you’re that concerned, how about sharing your own story? That’d make it fair, right?”
“Well…”
He wasn’t wrong.
I nodded, summoning the faint memories of my childhood.
After regaining memories of my past life, the bleak days of working at my foster parents’ inn had begun to fade, replaced by the memories of my previous existence.
But some vivid recollections still lingered.
“Come to think of it, I did go to a festival once. Didn’t enjoy it, though.”
“Why not?”
“I went with my foster parents, but they only bought bread for Josephine. They just made me carry heavy bags. I thought it was so unfair.”
“Josephine?”
“Yes, their biological daughter. Later she got full and tossed the bread away, so I did get a taste of it… even though it was dirty from the ground, it still tasted—”
Before I could finish, Sisé frowned.
“What? You ate bread that fell on the ground?”
“Yeah. They told me to eat it since it’d be a waste. Honestly, I was hungry enough to eat it anyway. That day no guests left leftovers, so I hadn’t eaten at all.”
As I continued, Baratheon suddenly jumped up and disappeared.
I blinked in surprise until he returned, arms full of snacks.
“Eat all of this.”
“All of it?”
“This isn’t much. You’ll finish it in a few bites.”
He grumbled as he piled the treats into my arms.
But no matter what he said, it was far from a few bites’ worth.
“If it’s not enough, tell me.”
“How could this not be enough?”
If I rationed it, I could probably eat for a month.
“Then let’s share.”
I handed some of the treats to Baratheon and Sisé, then unwrapped a candy and popped it into my mouth.
Sweetness filled my tongue and a smile spread across my face.
“It’s starting!”
“Over there!”
The crowd surged toward the stage for the performance I’d been waiting for.
“Shall we go too?”
Before I could answer, Baratheon scooped me up and lifted me onto his shoulders.
My view shot upward.
I can see everything!
Even with the crowd ahead, nothing blocked my sight.
It felt like soaring into the sky—an exhilarating, first-time feeling.
The festival outing was a total success.
We ate delicious street food, watched a fun performance, and even joined a game where you throw stones at dolls to win prizes.
Of course, clueless Baratheon used his Sword Master skills to win every prize, leaving the booth owner in despair.
We gave most of them back and the owner actually cried in gratitude.
The only thing I kept was a plush puppy, identical to the mask I’d worn.
Before the imperial party, the capital had another famous event: the Tournament.
Each noble house’s champion knight fought for their family’s honor.
What made the tournament beloved was the romantic tradition attached to it.
Knights dedicating their victory to a lady—an image passed down through ballads—was the height of romance.
Though the age of swords had ended with the empire’s unification, this chivalric ideal lived on in the tournament.
“A knight representing his house pledges victory to the family’s lady before the duel,” Marina explained. “When he wins, she bestows a kiss.”
“A kiss?”
“Usually on the hand or forehead, of course.”
Marina’s cheeks were slightly flushed; she must have cherished the knightly ideal too.
“So, young lady, you must be ready. You’re the only Lady of Ashinoff.”
Thanks to the sparring results at the winter estate, Baratheon was chosen as Ashinoff’s representative.
Naturally, I planned to cheer for him, but I hadn’t realized I’d have such a role.
“What do I need to prepare?”
“A token of victory for your knight! Usually a ribbon or handkerchief embroidered with blessings.”
“But I don’t know how to embroider.”
“That’s fine, my lady. I’ll help you.”
So I spent several days busily embroidering—something I’d never imagined doing.
It’s for Baratheon anyway; I’ll just keep it simple.
I chose a black ribbon stitched with the house crest in gold thread, matching my hair and his.
The design was intricate enough that I’d never have attempted it alone, but with Marina’s help I finished a passable token.
Barely made it!
With my clumsy skills, I almost failed to complete it before the tournament, but somehow it was done.
The morning of the event, the next challenge was dressing properly.
It had to suit an outdoor setting while remaining elegant and not overly flashy.
And what does that even mean? I wondered.
Thankfully, the experts Marina and Sisé chose everything. I just stood like a doll while they dressed me.
In the end, I wore a navy dress designed for easy movement, paired with ankle boots. A wide-brimmed navy hat decorated with feathers shaded me from the sun.
As Marina promised, the look was active yet elegant and not too showy.
I can’t explain it, but it really feels exactly right!
I gave them a big thumbs-up in admiration.
And Sisé’s reaction?
What do you think? She snorted and lifted her chin, of course.
“Well then,” I said, “shall we go?”
