The Lower Town was bustling like it was daytime.
Banners filled with small flags fluttered between the trees like flower petals. Below them, the square and streets were filled with torches, and the street vendors rushed out, enthusiastically calling out to passersby.
"Deep-fried crayfish! Crispy freshwater crayfish, have some before you go!"
"Knotted bracelets! Bracelets made in the traditional Fenmwick style!"
A crowd livelier than imagined. Neris had never seen so many people out on the streets.
No, to be precise, it was her first time being among them. The parade she saw during her previous life when she married Abelus was denser than this, but back then, she had just waved to them from a distance.
People in all sorts of clothes surged like waves. Neris slightly lost herself as she walked among them. If Cledwyn hadn't been careful to ensure she didn't get touched or swept away by the crowd, she might have lost her way long ago.
Still, she didn't mind. The vibrant people and their excited voices.
"Have some fresh apple juice this morning! We'll squeeze it right here for you!"
The Mainland people valued apple farming. It seemed that fruits that could be stored for a long time in the cold region were welcomed.
Indeed, she had never heard of an apple picking event awarding excellent apples before coming to Mainland. Apples were important food for the rest of the Empire's people as well, but they weren't as highly regarded as they were here.
The vassals here took pride in their region's apples and developed varieties suitable for the colder climate compared to the South. With such care put into them, the apples here were definitely tastier than those from the South.
"Two glasses."
As Neris glanced at a stall where fresh apple juice was being made from ripe apples, Cledwyn immediately spoke to the vendor. Neris quickly shook her head.
"It's okay."
"If we're going to wander around, we need to stay hydrated. I'll have some too."
She couldn't keep refusing if he was going to drink as well. The vendor smiled broadly, took the money, then checked the two of them and widened his eyes.
"I'll make it delicious for you! ...Huh?"
While the people out for the market didn't pay much attention to others, the vendor under the bright light couldn't help but recognize the Grand Duke he had seen in the tournament qualifiers a few days ago.
The vendor's eyes soon moved to the blonde lady standing next to him. The unique glint in those eyes, unseen in anyone else, made the vendor swallow nervously.
"Don't tell anyone else."
Cledwyn quickly covered his lips with his hand and lazily spoke. The vendor nodded frantically.
"Yes, yes!"
Soon, more juice with a few extra apples than usual came out. Cledwyn smiled at that, added more silver coins to the vendor's cart, and received the juice. It was twelve times the original price of the juice.
"Let's go."
Neris followed Cledwyn away from the stall, glancing back at the vendor. The vendor's mouth was wide open in surprise.
Similar incidents repeated a few times.
After circling around stalls selling various foods and tacky souvenirs, the two of them had their hands full. Whenever Neris showed interest in something, Cledwyn casually paid for it, then the vendors added extras, and Cledwyn paid again.
"Did you bring so much money with you?"
"It's okay for a few of my people to have special luck once a year."
As a lord, it was a great statement. By spending a few silver coins, his legend would spread far and wide from tomorrow. But...
"You didn't need to spend this much in the first place."
Feeling sorry and embarrassed, Neris didn't know what to do. However, Cledwyn was nonchalant about it.
"It's not like I'm buying anything extraordinary."
It's more of a problem when you buy extraordinary things. Neris was stunned, but Cledwyn was showing the determined expression of pushing forward with his decision even if she tried to persuade him.
"You have a lot of luggage. Shall we sit here for a moment?"
Saying that, Cledwyn pointed to the fountain at the center of the Lower Town. Neris gladly followed him and sat on the edge of the fountain as he led the way, feeling a bit tired from the crowd.
Trickling water. The clear stream of water shimmered red under the torchlight. Neris felt refreshed as she nibbled on the cookie she bought at the cookie stall earlier. She then sipped on the tangy apple juice, quenching her thirst.
Everything tasted delicious. Seeing Neris's eyes widen, Cledwyn chuckled.
She felt embarrassed by the sound. She lowered her eyes and pondered. Did I do something strange?
"Is it good?"
"Yes. You seem used to wandering around the market, do you come out often?"
"For the first time since becoming an adult. When I was young, I came out with Aidan."
Night markets naturally open at night. It wasn't the time for noble children to wander outside, not just in the Empire but anywhere on the continent. Neris raised an eyebrow.
"Weren't you left alone by the adults?"
"No one paid attention to me."
A strange answer. However, she felt uneasy about his attitude. Neris sighed.
'Of course.'
After the former Grand Duke's death, he probably didn't have the spirit to come out to festivals, especially at such a young age.
"What about Ellen?"
"The whole castle was in chaos, so I didn't pay attention to that. After Mother died, all sorts of people came into the castle, and we had to manage the castle's affairs by catching them. Well, we were so good at escaping."
Cledwyn shrugged and finished his words as a joke, but Neris didn't find it amusing.
It wasn't normal for a foreign maid brought by the Grand Duchess to manage the castle's affairs. It seemed to imply that there was no one to trust.
'So.'
Now she understood Cledwyn's strange nonchalance as he casually sat down on the ground. His childhood must have been very different from that of a typical noble child.
Neris somehow finished the remaining juice, feeling thirsty. Cledwyn stared at her intently and chuckled.
"No need to make that expression."
"What expression am I making?"
"A worried expression."
Could he read my expression so well? Neris raised an eyebrow, having never heard such words before. Then, as Cledwyn chuckled, she averted her eyes, feeling teased.
"You were joking, right? I'm not making that expression."
"Okay, if you say so."
Neris felt a bit annoyed by how easily Cledwyn brushed it off. Who had dared to 'put up' with her until now?
She tried to maintain a solemn expression. Lately, she had been feeling a mix of heartache, meddling in other people's affairs, and not feeling like herself.
Thinking back, whenever she behaved strangely, Cledwyn was either present or she was thinking about something related to him. Really...
'What a strange person.'
Looking at her, Cledwyn suddenly spoke gently.
"No need to worry. I'm fine now."
"Okay."
"No, really. Ask me why."
"Why..."
That's when suddenly people crowded around, making it too noisy to talk without shouting.
The crowd was so massive that even if the Grand Duke was in front of them, people wouldn't recognize him. It would probably be difficult to even notice if a dragon was among them.
"Whoa!"
"Don't push!"
Perhaps knowing that they would fall into the water if they pushed at the fountain, fortunately, people didn't bump into Cledwyn and Neris. However, the small square where the fountain was located was packed with no room to move.
Perhaps to make space, Cledwyn moved closer to Neris than before.
Thump, thump.
Whose heart was beating so fast, Neris wondered.
The surroundings gradually darkened. Initially, Neris thought the darkness was due to the increasing number of people casting shadows. But as the darkness deepened, she realized that the lights illuminating the night market were being extinguished.
Children gathered around the fountain, singing. Adults huddled together, looking up at the sky. Little by little.
The surroundings grew darker.
As the torches that obscured the starlight went out, the stars in the night sky twinkled a bit more. But it wasn't as bright as expected. Seeing clouds forming in the sky, it seemed like rain was on the way.
The clouds drifted, obscuring the moonlight. And finally.
The square was enveloped in darkness.
Neris understood the situation. Tonight, there was supposed to be a fireworks display at the castle. That's why the night market was open. The lights were being extinguished to provide the best view of the fireworks. Shortly, the fireworks would light up the sky, and after watching them, people would brighten the torches again.
She knew that well.
Yet...
"...Scary."
If she had known there would be a time when the lights went out like this, she wouldn't have come out.
Even though it wasn't complete darkness, it was still frightening. It was an old habit.
The habit of fearing the future."
Alone, it was a habit that struck her heart during times of solitude.
Living day by day with sheer willpower in the midst of endless pain.
Everyone around joyfully chatted, thinking about the fireworks they would soon see. Observing their happiness, Neris clenched her fists.
Even if she were to come out to the festival wearing a dress made by her mother, just like in her childhood dreams, the simple happiness she once imagined was now out of reach.
Some wounds never heal.
At that moment, someone took her hand.
No, the expression 'someone' was odd. Wasn't there only one person?
Neris looked towards Cledwyn. His hand was firm, warm, and large. It felt like her mind had stopped.
Whoo-woo.
A distant whistling sound was heard. And right after that.
Cledwyn's face, looking at her, was brightly illuminated by the light.
It was strange. The area was still crowded, and the colorful fireworks illuminated everyone. Yet, in Neris's sight, only one person stood out.
As if he was shining a light on her in the endless darkness.
'Ah.'
Neris realized.
Why had she been so fixated on his childhood story when she thought she had no energy to care about others?
Why had she been so curious about something from so long ago, causing her heartache?
'My heart aches because of you.'
Feeling heartache is feeling drawn.
The crowd near the fountain was momentarily quiet as they enjoyed the various fireworks. Cledwyn answered the question she hadn't asked.
"...Because there was someone who reached out to me when I was in despair."
Whoo-woong. Whoo-woong. Paba-babang.
The entire sky was filled with beautiful fireworks. The night breeze carried a hint of apple scent as it brushed past her nose.
Despite the noise, there was an eerie silence with only one voice heard.
The lingering taste and aroma of the sweet and sour juice still in her mouth.
The warm and reassuring sensation of clasped hands.
The dazzling fireworks illuminating the sky, and the incredibly, incredibly handsome man looking in her direction.
An indescribable... gentle gaze.
Feeling all of this, Neris screamed internally.
No.
I can't.
'I am not.'
This was a serious problem.