CH 223

I went straight to the stall and bought two headbands. It was shaped like a puppy ear.

I smiled broadly as I put the headband on Jake.

“Good. It suits you very well.”

“…… really?”

Jake fiddled with his headband with an awkward look after I said it.

He looked like he didn’t know at all.

But with curly brown hair and brown ear headband, the combination couldn’t be more matching.

“Voila, this is mine.”

He pulled out the other one he had hidden behind his back in front of Jake.

This was a gray fur wolf headband.

“My hair is gray, how about it?”

“Great. It suits Mir well too.”

Jake nodded his head.

I smiled and took his hand and led him.

It is good to sit quietly alone and watch an opera, but I also thought that it was not bad to enjoy the festive atmosphere in such a hustle and bustle.

So, holding Jake’s hand and walking for a while, I saw two familiar people in my sight.

I couldn’t believe it for a moment, so I blinked several times, but the closer the distance, I got more certain.

“Look over there, Jake!”

I whispered in my ear to Jake, who was urgently looking around.

“His Highness Nicholas and Alice.”

“…… really.”

Jake looked at where I was blinking and muttered in a voice that looked a little confused.

We slowed down and looked at the two of them.

Nicholas was wearing a dark robe to hide his identity.

Alice, on the other hand, was dressed as casually as she normally would when working as a fairy summoner.

Obviously, we recognized them right away because we were close friends, but ordinary people wouldn’t easily recognize the two.

Even when they saw Nicholas, they seemed to think of him as a noble in disguise rather than the imperial family.

‘Did the two of them meet by chance after coming to the festival? Or did they come together?’

The two didn’t seem very close.

However, they were walking and chatting from time to time.

Then I saw Alice stop in front of the flower wreath shop and choose an item.

I wondered if she was just picking for her own, but the number of wreaths she chose was at least ten.

Alice chose a wreath with white flowers from them, and use it on herself.

‘Who are you going to gift the rest to?’

Nicholas was looking at her softly, and later followed Alice and bought one of the wreaths.

The two, who wore wreaths like everyone else, seemed to have completely melted into the flower festival.

At that moment, Alice glanced back, perhaps feeling our gaze.

‘I’ll get caught!’

Fortunately, she tilted her head, perhaps not seeing us hidden behind the wall, and then turned her gaze forward again.

Somehow, I didn’t want to disturb the two of them watching the festival.

So I grabbed Jake and offered him.

“Hey, Jake. Shall we go to the square?”

“Good.”

Jake noticed what I meant and immediately nodded his head.

* * *

The sun had set and it was a dark evening, but the square was bright as if it was daytime.

In commemoration of the festival, lanterns are hung brightly in each store, and sometimes large stores have magic stone lanterns on.

Part of the square was connected to the end of the high-end shopping street, where the nobles usually go, and the rest was connected to the market or general residential area.

“Come come, buy it! Lush flower necklace for only 5 silver!”

“Sweet rose candy and gypsophila candy!”

From merchants who sold stuff around the square, to street performers who set up the stage in costumes shaped like flowers.

The square was crowded with people. I looked around and noticed that there was an empty bench.

“Let’s sit down for a moment, come.”

“Are you tired?”

Jake asked with a worried look as I suggested it.

I nodded.

“Well, there is something that…… I want to sit down and look around.”

Without hesitation, Jake clapped his hand towards the bench.

“I used clean magic. It’s clean now, so sit here.”

“Thank you, Jake.”

He was one who helped me with magic even for the smallest things. In every moment like this, I can feel how much Jake cares for me and puts me first.

I smiled and sat down with Jake on the bench.

And on the other hand, I blinked and whispered to those who were busy preparing something.

“There, it looks like the fireworks are just about to start.”

“Yes. Mir used to love watching fireworks.”

Jake nodded.

Come to think of it, I had seen the festival with Jake a few times before.

‘But then and today are different feelings. It’s strange.’

It was when I was staring blankly between the bright lights and the night sky.

Boom, boom-

The fireworks started suddenly and without notice.

Brightly colored fireworks adorned the night sky.

At that moment, I suddenly felt a hand grabbing my hand.

I asked, looking to my side.

“Jake?”

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t like this before…… But I’m afraid of the sound of fireworks exploding. Can I hold your hand like this for a while?”

“…… I can’t help it. I’ll hold your hand.”

Seeing the calm look on his face, it didn’t seem like he was too scared and the hands that didn’t tremble a bit, saying that he was afraid of fireworks seemed like a lie.

But this time, I decided to be tricked by his lies.

“Thank you.”

Jake smiled.

We watched the fireworks with our hands tightly clasped.