CH 208

‘Perfect. It wasn’t written in the book, but…’ It just so happened that Yuliana was feeling anxious about only having a strand of Cecile’s hair for the spell, but now she’d gotten her hands on one more of the empress’s items. Since she’d clearly witnessed Cecile happily hugging the doll, it would surely act as a good medium for the spell she was preparing. Surely it can’t hurt to add one more medium.

Continuous booms resounded in the sky far from the rat-occupied alleyway in which Yuliana stood. Taking out the paper with the spell inscribed on it, Yuliana smirked to herself. The time to use it would soon come. Everything would end when the last firework exploded.

* * *

“Ack!” Helplessly being swept along by the crowd, Tania rammed face-first into the back of the person in front of her.

“Who… Oh, dear me. My lady, are you alright?” the man asked, looking back inquiringly.

Tania couldn’t contain her smile, as she inwardly squealed, ‘My lady, he says!’ How long had it been since she’d heard such a beautiful address? Feeling pleased at being called ‘my lady,’ she was all smiles.

“It’s very crowded. Is your companion not here?”

“Oh, I came to play alone.”

“But how could that be? I never thought such a beautiful person would’ve come alone,” the man asked in surprise.

Tania blushed even though she knew it was just polite flattery. There was no reason to feel displeased by compliments after all. It was refreshing. ‘What did Girgantia say every day again? He always rattled on about me being a pumpkin or whatnot, but…’

Since Girgantia was the one she spent her time with lately, she couldn’t help but recall all the childish insults they’d thrown at each other during their usual fights. She really wished she could boast this moment in front of him and say, “Look! This is the sort of treatment I get when I go outside!” Just remembering it was enough to make her gnash her teeth.

“I apologize for being so sudden, but… if it is okay with you, would you like to enjoy the festival together? I happen to be alone myself, you see. I came to Aluna with a friend but ended up losing him.”

“Me? Still, shouldn’t you find your friend…”

“Actually, before we separated, he was excited about having found someone he could relate with. If you’re alright with it, it’d be my pleasure to accompany you to a restaurant I know well.” The man winked playfully and added, “Please give me the honor of escorting you, my lady.”

‘Wow. So something like this really does happen,’ Tania gulped. A chance meeting with a man in a crowd at a festival? And getting courteously invited to be escorted to a restaurant by that man? Since this man’s friend seems to have already met someone nice at the festival, there was nothing holding her back from accepting his invitation. Tightly clenching her fists, she thought, ‘This can work.’

Seeing her balled fists, the man coughed dryly and said, “If you feel uncomfortable…”

“O-oh no!” Tania shook her head.

As the saying goes: seize the opportunity when it comes. Tania quickly sized up the man in front of her—while not classically handsome, his looks weren’t bad… though, perhaps he was a little cheesy-looking. Then again, she was by no means searching for the perfect man, so she didn’t want to nitpick.

“Then, I shall gladly guide you to a place I know well. Let us go.”

Tania took the arm the man offered, failing to notice how he was intently peering at her bag and the purse protruding slightly from it.

* * *

“Isn’t she stupid?” Girgantia muttered, watching Tania follow the man. “Anyone can see that he’s…”

That man was undoubtedly a solicitor, or what they called a tout! Girgantia disliked him the instant Tania began talking to him. In particular, the dragon was dumbfounded to see her smile so gently. She’d never shown him such a smile. Not even once!

“How is it that she’s even more ignorant than I am, when she acts mighty clever around me? If she was only half as kind to me…” Girgantia trailed off as he caught himself. Why would it matter if Tania treated him kindly? But for some strange reason, he felt he’d like to be treated that way by her.