Stomachs filled, hearts contented, Louie and and I went out of the shop to look for Lucius. The cakes were so delicious that I have not a single complaint! If there's a customer review button, I'll press the five stars a few times by using multiple accounts. The baker was so friendly and their services was excellent. Just when I thought I could still stuff another plate of cake, they offered two on the house! Perhaps they appreciated the sum I've spent in there. As the festival was getting to its peak time, the streets were flooded with even more people than before.
"Where did he go?" I muttered.
Hand in hand with Louie, we walked down the streets and relished on the festivities of the merry town. A lot of stalls were open for business, friendly hawkers calling for customers left and right. Shops and streets decorated beautifully throughout our path. There were even eye-catching performances from the piper, dancers and storytellers.
The square of the town was especially concentrated with people of all ages. Children playing, lovers flirting and elderly watching by the side with a pair of nostalgic eyes. Among the crowds, I could easily spot Lucius from his bright coloured hair. Or maybe it's because of his main character's aura that literally screams for attention.
"Lucius!" I called out.
The handsome man turned to our direction. His eyes was a bit hazy as if he was in a trance but the lights had returned when our gazes met.
*This guy had been in a daze for a while,* I thought.
Not minding the oddity, I placed a hand on his shoulder with a wide grin. "Happy birthday, Lucius! It's your birthday, right?" My other hand extended out, holding a cake that I bought from the store as a gift.
Lucius' usual straight face turned into one of a surprise and…some unknown expression, I couldn't really put my finger on it. For some reason, he looks like he wanted to cry, but he looks happy, too. There's a hint of regret? Eh, had he done anything wrong? But that's not quite it, either. There's even a look of yearning but mostly….relief.
*Hm, maybe it's the cake that's at fault,* I pondered.
"Not one to have a sweet tooth, are you? If you don't want it, I'll gladly eat it," I said rather shamelessly.
Lucius was still lost in his mind. I'm not sure which part of accepting a cake was hard but I just gave him some time to himself. "….no," he replied. "I'll take the gift. Thank you, Catherine."
Once the cake changed hands, I let out a contented sigh. Lucius' previously complexed emotions had now settled to one. Happiness. Having yet another surprise, I fished into my pocket for the item that I had purchased just now.
"Also, this," I pulled out the gift and placed it on the palm of his hand. "Your present. Oh, you don't have to pay for the cake, either!"
Lucius stared down at his open palm. It was a bracelet. Again, that unknown emotions crept up on him again. His eyes then trailed down to my wrist, as if expecting to see another.
"You had it, too," he said once he saw an identical bracelet.
"It just happened," I shrugged. "Guess we got a matching one now, haha!"
***
After Louie and I left the cake shop, we naturally passed by the previous accessory stall. When I peered at the display, the bracelet that Lucius was looking at intently before was still there.
"He stared at it for so long but didn't even buy it?"
Guided by curiosity, I had stopped by and took the bracelet for a closer look. It was a plain double-string bracelet with a single bead connecting it. Doesn't look so special. I wonder what charm it had to attract Lucius' attention to that extent?
"I'd like to buy this," I called the hawker.
Without any warning, the old, female hawker immediately took two of the same bracelets.
"Um, I only needed one," I said hesitantly.
"Haha, don't be silly," she said. "It is supposed to be a pair. You came with that handsome young man, right? You two can wear these matching bracelets!"
Not having an appropriate rejection, I scratched my not-so-itchy head before admitting, "Err…I actually thought of just buying one for him."
"Then the other one will have no match…" The old woman put on a worried face.
There we go, the empathy tactic.
Sellers like these had always been my weakness. They always had the idea to make me spend more money than I had intended to. Look at her, she had already packed the bracelets up oh-so-nicely.
"Don't worry, I'll give you a half-price for the second one," the woman said persuasively. "You just need to pay 10 pence!"
*Now she's bargaining,* I sighed.
Wishing that my mom was here to deal with the bargain talk, I took out the 10 pence from my pouch. The old woman was smiling joyfully as I did that. She must've been delightful to trap an amateur like me. With a forced smile, I handed away the coins bitterly.
"My, thank you," she said. Not wishing to buy anything else, or rather forced to do so, I pulled Louie away from there almost immediately. "Come again, young lady!" The woman shouted, waving gleefully towards us.
Taking out one of the bracelet, I wore it on my wrist before raising it up to get a better look. Not really sure of my take on it, I lowered my hand in front of Louie.
"It doesn't look so bad, does it Louie?" I asked for his opinion.
Without any hesitation, the child immediately nodded with an approving smile. "Anything you wear is beautiful, sister!" Louie said, making me adore him more if it was possible.
"Gosh~ you are so sweet, my Louie~" The child turned even more adorable when he made the little bouncing motion as I patted his head.
Anyway, that's what happened before. Now, let's get back to the present time.
"The main event is about to start, isn't it?" I said. We all turned towards a group of musicians that had settled in the centre of the square. Even the town's people looked like they were getting ready for what's to come.
This is one of the most exciting part of the festival. The folks' dance! It is not my profession to dance but it just sounds exciting, doesn't it? Back at the other world, I do dance randomly when I'm on my own to cope with my depressive life. Guess it worked since I didn't die from depression but a stomachache, instead. I even got isekaid, man.
With the wisp of spring air accompanying the crowds, the music slowly began to weave between the air.
"Come on! We should join in, too!" I said, pulling the other two into the crowds around the musicians.