CH 206

A small, red ball whizzed through the air and crashed smack dab into the middle of the wooden blocks piled high on the opposite end. Cheers from the gathered crowd rang out as the tower of blocks toppled over with a loud clatter.

“She did it again!”

“Awesome, Big Sister!”

Cecile beamed as she waved at the cheering crowd. She had just succeeded in knocking down all the wooden blocks in her tenth game of toss. ‘I’m pretty good at this, if I dare say so myself!’ she thought smugly.

“Big sis, please marry me!”

Cecile laughed good-naturedly in response, but shrugged and turned to look behind her. Naturally, Estian was standing there, but he was too preoccupied with fixing a death glare on the boy who had just shouted a proposal to his wife to notice Cecile looking his way.

In his arms were several dolls of varying sizes, which a child was eyeing with envy. Cecile recognized this child as the one who’d attempted and failed at the tossing game several times before. Addressing the child, she asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Uh, I just…” The child stuttered and their face flushed bright red.

Glancing at the dolls in Estian’s arms, Cecile generously offered, “Want one?”

“What? Really?”

“Of course, take your pick.”

“Th-then… That…”

When the child’s voice faltered, Cecile turned to follow the child’s gaze and froze. She paused and her eyes trembled when she realized the child had picked the big, pink rabbit doll—the largest doll she’d won so far. ‘Why did you… B-but I like that one too!’ she shouted on the inside. The rabbit doll was almost as large as she was, and when she won it, Cecile had hugged it tightly and rubbed her face against it in joy many times.

Estian chuckled when he saw the look in Cecile’s eyes, but he dutifully handed over the pink rabbit doll to the child.

“Thank you!” the child shouted brightly. Perhaps worried that they’d change their mind, the child bowed to express her thanks before quickly scampering away.

“Ah… I liked that one too. Why did she have to ask for that one?” Cecile mumbled sullenly, staring in the direction that the child had disappeared. She had excitedly anticipated hugging it in bed, but now… “Wait… It can’t be!” Cecile whipped her head around to glare at Estian after vaguely recalling the dissatisfied look on Estian’s face when she’d won the doll. “You gave that one away on purpose, didn’t you?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Estian answered, avoiding her gaze. His reaction made Cecile certain she was on the mark, and that he’d given it away on purpose. There was no doubt about it!

Just then, the sound of a bell rang from afar. A staff from the tourism association ran amid the festivalgoers, loudly announcing, “The final event—the fireworks display—will be starting soon! Please don’t crowd all at once and keep order… Wait, hey! Somebody, save me!”

A low rumble shook the earth like a herd of water buffalo had suddenly commenced charging. The staff hadn’t even finished their announcement when they were swept away by the crowd, as the people began to run in search of the better spot to view the fireworks.

In the confusion, Cecile lost sight of Estian due to the sudden rush of people. ‘Huh? I’ll just have to wait once they’re all gone.’ He wouldn’t have gone far, so she decided to just escape from being swept away by the human wave in front of her and wait for him to return to her side. Just as her attention was focused in the direction of where Estian should be, Cecile felt a chill run down her spine—she was being watched.