CH 200

A few days later, the president of Aluna’s tourism association suddenly paid a visit to Estian at the villa. The president was bowing so low she was practically flat up against the floor. Estian had done nothing but echo her words up to this point, but the president had placed her head against the ground as if in penitence.

“A festival? It’s the first I’ve heard of one being held during this period,” Estian remarked.

“It’s a festival, w-w-we at the Tourism Association have given our best to prepare, i-i-in honor of Your Majesty’s visit! P-please have a look at this!” the president explained, extending out the flyer in her hand. The grim determination on her face would make an onlooker easily mistake that she was holding out a suicide note.

The attendant received the flyer and handed it over to Estian, who scanned over it. Even at a glance, it was easy to tell the flyer was unconventional. With its pink background and numerous heart decorations, it was like the flyer was crying out that this was a festival with the theme of love.

“So, this festival will be held for three days starting tomorrow night.”

“That… that is so! W-while it may be a little noisy, it is all an expression of our fervent welcome for Your Majesty!”

Estian read through the many events, large and small, listed on the flyer. There seemed to be a lot of activities prepared for something that’d been done in a hurry. Not only was there a stage set up for famous singers in the empire, there was even a large-scale fireworks display scheduled.

The president swallowed dryly at the sight of Estian reading seriously. ‘If the emperor and empress decide to attend any of the events, everything will be ruined before it even begins.’

The appearance of the dragon had enticed spectators to flock to the city because it was under the control of the dragon knight, but there was no such person capable of leashing the emperor. In other words, if the dragon was akin to a controlled hazard, the emperor was an unstoppable disaster, or in another sense, a force of nature.

While the president was silently brooding, Estian noticed signs of Cecile waking up from behind the door. “Right, I understand, so you may return no. And…” he paused, before continuing in a knowing tone, “unfortunately, my empress and I will be unable to attend any events for three days.”

“That is such a…” The president barely came to her senses, and instead of crying out “Relief!” finished with, “A sad pity!” As if terrified Estian might whimsically change his mind, the president swiftly added, “We will always be thinking deeply of Your Majesty and Her Majesty as well. Then, may I… take my leave now?”

Estian waved a hand in dismissal at the president, who was fully intent on fleeing, and seconds later she was gone like the wind. Calling out to the door behind him, Estian asked, “Cecile, did you hear everything?”

“You knew?” Cecile asked, poking her head through after cracking open the door.

How could he not? He’d already heard her squeal excitedly, “Oh my gosh! A festival!” He remembered that going to a festival and visiting the night market were also among the things written in Cecile’s notebook of things she wanted to do.

“The president of the association doesn’t seem like she wants us to attend. What would you like to do?”

Cecile boldly replied, “We can go in secret!”

Estian was of the same mind. They’d need to disguise their identities anyway if they wanted to move about freely and do what Cecile had written in her notebook. They’d already confirmed that the enchanted rings they’d used to visit Maggie’s pie shop were still working without any issues, so it wouldn’t be a problem to go around in public.

Suddenly, Estian shot to his feet and went straight to the balcony. Confused by his abrupt actions, Cecile immediately followed after him.

“Is something the matter?” she asked. She wondered what had compelled him to act like this. When she stared over the balcony, she heard a loud noise coming from where she found Tania and Girgantia.