Chapter 33
There was nothing around. Just ordinary shops and the usual surroundings.
“Was it just my imagination…?”
And then.
“Meow.”
A cat suddenly leapt up onto the opposite wall.
“Oh, it was just a cat. Hello.”
I waved my hand, and the cat looked me up and down with a “What’s this guy’s deal?” kind of expression before walking off.
“Flowers are already starting to bloom.”
Next to the wall the cat had passed by, a tree had begun to bud.
Spring already?
Maybe I was just on edge, overly sensitive because of all this talk about murderers and whatnot.
Whatever the case, the sooner they catch the real culprit, the easier I’ll breathe.
I let out a sigh and stepped into the shop, the chime above the door ringing cheerfully.
As I walked in, a man passed by me and our shoulders bumped.
“Ah!”
“Hey, watch where you’re going!”
“You’re the one who bumped into me first.”
It could’ve ended with a simple apology, but the man gave me a nasty glare and snapped, so I couldn’t hold my tongue either.
“Ugh, what bad luck. I’ll let it slide just for today. Consider yourself lucky.”
“What the hell?”
The man muttered something incomprehensible and quickly left the store.
“What’s with that guy?”
“Oh dear, you poor thing. Don’t mind him,” said an older lady, probably the shop owner, approaching me after watching the man leave.
“He’s the son of an elderly couple who live on the outskirts. Still unmarried at his age, wandering around like that. Tsk.”
“How old is he?”
“Well, I don’t know exactly. Maybe around thirty?”
She tilted her head, guessing.
“Only thirty?”
I asked in shock. The man had no hair—whether due to severe hair loss or some illness—and looked much older.
“He’s probably just over thirty, not yet forty.”
“I see.”
“His parents are constantly worried. He doesn’t work properly and just wanders about. Who knows what he’s doing.”
The woman clicked her tongue and shook her head. He must be quite a nuisance around here. Probably a regular problem customer.
Then she launched into a long-winded complaint about how he keeps buying cat food without even owning a cat. Just when I was getting tired of politely listening…
“Oh, by the way, are you looking for something?”
“Ah, I was hoping to buy some dog treats and toys.”
“Then take a look over here.”
She gestured toward the display on the right.
“Feel free to browse, and ask if you have any questions.”
She kindly stepped aside so I could look more comfortably.
Ugh, that drained me. I better pick quickly and get out of here.
After looking around and picking three toys and some decently expensive treats, I brought everything to the counter.
The shop owner beamed at my spending spree and even walked me to the door.
“Thank you! Come again, pretty girl!”
“Haha, sure. Take care!”
With my arms full of a large bag, I stepped out of the shop.
Next time, I’ll try a different place.
I quickly flagged down a nearby carriage and headed toward the duke’s estate.
I must’ve been more worn out than I thought because I closed my eyes to rest during the ride.
“We’ve arrived.”
The carriage stopped in front of the duke’s residence, and I got out, heading inside as usual. Then—
“Woof woof woof! (It’s Elena! Elena’s back!)”
“Woof woof! (What’s that??)”
Luca and Tofu came rushing at me like a storm.
“Whoa! Hold on! Luca! Tofu! Ack!”
“Elena looks like she’s struggling. Wait,” said Duke Calix, who appeared beside us.
Luca, looking a bit downcast, obediently sat down. Tofu, on the other hand, kept bouncing toward me.
“Whine… (But I’m happy…)”
“Woof woof! (What’s that? What’s that?)”
“Tofu! Wait.”
“Whimper… (Okay…)”
Only after I spoke more firmly did Tofu finally sit quietly next to Luca.
Once things had calmed down, Duke Calix turned his gaze to my bag, seemingly curious.
“What did you buy so much of?”
“This?” I said, finally setting the heavy bag down and opening it.
“Tada! I bought it for the pups!”
“Toys and treats, huh. You really didn’t need to go that far…”
“I just wanted to give them something. We’ve gotten pretty close now, haven’t we?”
I casually replied while patting Luca and Tofu on the head.
“Right. You have gotten quite close.”
So I didn’t notice the expression on Duke Calix’s face. I just had a vague feeling that his tone sounded… a little disappointed.
When I quickly looked up to check, he had already masked his expression. He wore the same gentle smile as usual.
What was that? Did I do something wrong again? Just like last time…
But I couldn’t figure out what I’d done wrong. Buying gifts for the dogs surely wasn’t a mistake.
Oh! Could it be… because I bought gifts for the dogs but not for him?
The thought popped into my head, and it just felt right. Probably a solid guess. I’ll make sure to get him something next time. Who knew he had such a childish side?
While resolving that in my head, I pulled treats out of the bag.
“Can I give them the treats now?”
“Of course.”
“Luca, Tofu, Black—do you want some treats?”
“……”
Black didn’t respond, but he didn’t seem opposed either. I opened a smaller bag and gave treats to Luca, Tofu, and Black in turn.
The three dogs happily munched on the snacks and gave me sparkly eyes asking for more.
“Nope. That’s enough for now. You’ll get a stomachache if you eat it all at once.”
“Whine… (But I want more…)”
“Wanna play with these instead?”
I pulled out the toys instead of more treats. Luca got a squeaky ball, Tofu a bone-shaped plush, and Black a rubber toy that squeaked like a chicken.
Thankfully, all three seemed to like their gifts. From the moment I handed them over, they were chewing and playing like crazy.
“So cute…”
I watched them for a while. Then, remembering something, I turned to the duke.
“By the way, Your Grace, flowers are starting to bloom already.”
“Yes, the weather’s gotten quite warm.”
“It’s so strange and fascinating that spring comes, even during times like this.”
I’d possessed this body in the fall, so this was my first spring here. It made me a little sad that my death still loomed, but the arrival of spring also gave me hope.
As I stood, looking at a nearby tree, Duke Calix followed my gaze and said,
“Come to think of it, it’s almost time for the Spring Flower Festival.”
“Spring Flower Festival?”
“There’s a festival every spring, remember? I’ve never been in my past life, but this time I’d like to go.”
He said it like it was common knowledge.
I wondered what spring was like in this world. Would pink petals float through the air like back home? But more importantly…
“A festival? In times like this?”
A festival? In this tense and uncertain atmosphere?
“Precisely because it’s like this. To show we’re not afraid, that things are okay.”
“But wouldn’t it be more dangerous with crowds?”
“Actually, crowds can make it harder for criminals to act. And people need a way to forget the bad things for a while, like through a festival.”
“Hm, that’s true… But still, it’d be better to catch the criminal first and then have the festival…”
“Unfortunately, that’s not always how things work.”
“But since you’re the duke, can’t you just postpone it?”
I blinked up at him.
This was his territory. If the duke wanted to delay it, surely he could. What could possibly stop him?
“If we do that, the flowers will all fall. A Spring Flower Festival without flowers would be meaningless.”
But the duke didn’t agree with me.
Oh well. Then I’ll just have to work harder to help catch the culprit.
As I made that resolution again, Duke Calix met my gaze, his eyes smiling softly.
“If the festival happens… want to go together?”
