Chapter 37
Today, including me, our family and Darius’s family all agreed to disguise ourselves in simple clothes.
As the lord’s family and their honored guests, we would normally receive the highest treatment. But to truly enjoy the festival, we chose to move around freely. For safety, we still brought a small number of guards.
In short, it was like nobles experiencing commoner life.
When I went to the central hall in active outing clothes, Darius, who had come down first, waved at me from the bottom of the stairs.
Everyone had dressed more simply than usual, just as planned.
Even though the Duchess dressed plainly, she still looked like the wife of a wealthy merchant. But at least people wouldn’t split apart like the Red Sea just because a high noble had appeared.
Worried that last night’s awkward mood might continue, I purposely raised my energy.
“Hurry! We’ll be late for the opening ceremony! If Father’s speech gets too long, we promised to send him a signal to stop!”
Watching me rush the coachman, everyone smiled softly.
On the way to the square of Alean Village, thankfully my brother seemed to have calmed down. He talked normally with Darius. Kyle, who had looked pale yesterday, also seemed fine today.
When we arrived at the square, we sat in the front seats among the many chairs prepared. After Father’s opening speech and a choir performance, fireworks exploded and the fair officially began.
As we left the square and reached the main street filled with tents and stalls, the air completely changed.
The savory smell of grilled meat mixed with the sweet scent of snacks tickled our noses.
Between the waves of people, children’s laughter and the voices of merchants bargaining filled the air without rest.
“Try our freshly baked bread! It’s filled with cheese from our farm—so delicious it’ll make your eyes roll!”
“Have a glass of wine! Made from the best grapes grown in our orchard!”
The loud sales pitches made Kyle, Darius, and even the Duchess widen their eyes.
The Duchess, who was used to elegant parties with classical music, was probably seeing such a busy market for the first time.
“Where were all these people living in this mountain valley…?” Kyle muttered, his jaw dropped.
“Isn’t it amazing?” I answered proudly. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that every resident of the territory gathered here for this biggest event of the year.
“This festival far exceeds my poor imagination,” Darius said excitedly, already holding a bottle of wine he had tasted and bought.
“Duchess, we’re going to look around the market street. Are you alright? There’s also a quiet and clean cafeteria over there.”
I carefully watched her expression, wondering if the noisy event had shocked her in a bad way.
She shook her head.
“I was surprised, but it looks interesting. It seems they sell many handicrafts as well. Let’s take a look.”
Under her veiled fedora, I saw an awkward smile.
It was unfamiliar, but she didn’t seem to dislike it.
I stepped closer and pointed ahead.
“Do you see the huge yellow tent over there? That’s where the main judging event is held.”
I paused for effect and then revealed the bait.
“This year, we added a ‘Most Mysterious Insect Corner.’ I led that project.”
***
Being passionate about something is something the heart decides, not the head.
Inside the main judging hall, when the Duchess saw a rare butterfly, she forgot her dignity and became excited like a young girl.
“Miss Riez! Look at this one with opal-colored wings!”
The butterfly in the glass case fluttered, shining in rainbow colors.
“It’s amazing. How can it be so dazzling…?”
It felt like a special insect section of a zoo. I was excited too as I looked around.
The Duchess leaned closer to the name tag under the case.
“What species is it?”
Only the exhibitor’s name and number were written.
“The person who submitted it probably just caught a unique butterfly. They might not know the species either. It could even be a mutation.”
I handed her a voting slip.
On the small paper, you had to write the number of the insect you thought was the most mysterious and unique.
Instead of voting, she hesitated.
“What happens to the insects after this?”
“After the competition ends, they’re all returned to the exhibitors. The winner receives prize money and honor.”
“…Is there no adoption? Or maybe an auction?”
She asked seriously, as if ready to spend all her fortune.
“The fair itself doesn’t sell them, but you could probably make a private deal with the exhibitor. Do you want this rainbow butterfly?”
She fanned herself shyly, then finally nodded, unable to hide her passion.
Smiling, I checked the exhibitor’s name and asked the staff to call them over. Soon, I connected the Duchess with the butterfly’s owner.
While they seriously negotiated the price, I quietly stepped back.
Kyle stared blankly at his mother.
“I’ve never seen Mother like this before…”
He muttered to himself.
It seemed he felt a little bitter seeing a side of her he had never known.
The Duchess began talking with other insect lovers too, so it took longer than expected.
“I should also buy those local coffee beans I tasted earlier. I keep thinking about them,” Darius declared seriously and left the hall.
My brother was called away by Father to help with work, so only Kyle and I were left.
There were countless competitions—judging livestock, crops, and more.
The whitest and softest sheep competition, the biggest and bumpiest pumpkin competition, the smelliest cheese competition, and so on.
But Kyle didn’t seem interested.
At first, he voted in a few categories, but now he just stood still, waiting for the Duchess.
For Darius, I had pushed coffee and wine as the main drinks of the fair. For the Duchess, I introduced the butterfly into the “Most Mysterious Insect” competition.
For Kyle, I had invited food carts selling chicken skewers and sweet desserts, which he liked. But we had already bought and eaten them earlier at the market.
What else would match Kyle’s taste?
As I thought carefully about the event list, something came to mind.
The popular event starting at noon!
It was exactly twenty minutes before twelve.
“Kyle.”
“What.”
“Let’s go watch the pig race.”
“What? What race?”
Ignoring his frown, I told the Duchess we would look around somewhere else. Then I grabbed Kyle’s hand and pulled him along. On the way, I bought a big bucket of caramel popcorn.
When we entered the round outdoor stadium, it was already full of spectators. Only a few seats were left.
With sharp eyes, I found two seats in the very front row and quickly sat down.
Kyle sat beside me and asked unhappily, “What’s fun about watching pigs run?”
I pointed at a boy walking around the seats with a wooden box hanging from his neck.
“You can bet money on which pig will win.”
Like horse racing. Only small bets were allowed to prevent gambling.
“We can bet—and settle our score too. Was it 26 to 26?”
“26 to 27! Are you trying to cheat again?”
“So stingy. Anyway, let’s do it!”
Kyle reluctantly agreed.
As his competitive spirit ignited, his dull eyes finally lit up.
We carefully observed the pigs gathered at the starting line and chose one each.
I picked pig number 5, “Hamong,” who had especially strong back legs.
Kyle chose pig number 8, “Bacon,” who looked lean and fast.
Soon, betting closed and the pigs lined up at the starting line.
Amid the loud cheers of the crowd, the signal gun sounded, announcing the start of the race.
