"Ti really does fly when youre having fun."
Lilly murmured, shaking the drink in her hand.
"The festivals almost over already."
The sun had already set.
But Crossroads central square was still brightly lit, filled with people joyfully singing and dancing.
As Lilly watched those savoring the festivals final monts, Godhand, who was holding the handles of her wheelchair from behind, chid in.
"Youre right, Miss Lilly. It went by in a flash."
Lilly chuckled softly as she looked up at Godhand.
"Did you enjoy the festival, Godhand?"
"Absolutely. This was the most fun Ive ever had at a festival in my entire life."
Godhand grinned widely, though his hair was pulled and tugged at various places, and so strands even appeared scorched. It was a consequence of getting scolded by Lilly on the first night of the festival. Still, he seed quite cheerful, which made him look sowhat foolish.
Well, hes been focusing on since then...
She felt there was no more need to scold him.
Quietly, Lilly deactivated a Level 1 skill, [Fire Cannon], she had stored in her magic power.
Even so, walking around with this activated seed a bit excessive...
As he carefully observed Lilly, Godhand hesitated before asking,
"Did you really enjoy yourself, Miss Lilly?"
"Hm?"
"Um... its my first ti going on a date, so..."
Godhand scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I was worried you might not find the ti spent with enjoyable."
"..."
"Im not exactly... the most fun guy to be around..."
Staring intently at the flustered Godhand, Lilly burst into soft laughter.
"Just being with you is good enough for ."
Lilly didnt ask for anything extraordinary from her lover.
Sharing the sa space, seeing the sa scenery, experiencing the sa things, and creating the sa mories.
That was more than enough to make her happy, especially over these fleeting two days.
"..."
srized by Lilly, Godhand slowly moved to the front of her wheelchair.
"Mi, Miss Lilly!"
"Hm?"
Stuttering and hesitating, he slowly knelt on one knee.
"I know its a bit late to say this now! But still, even if its late!"
Frantically, Godhand took sothing out of his pocket.
It was a short piece of tal roda bland, clunky lump of iron.
But at Godhands fingertips, that tal rod blossod into a rose in an instant. It was a feat only possible because he was a tal mage.
As Lilly watched this miraculous scene in awe,
"Please... will you officially date ?"
With his eyes tightly closed, Godhand held out the tal rose.
"I will make you happy for as long as were together. I cant say itll be forever, but"
His speech cut off as he bit his lip.
He spoke too hastily and ended up biting his lip. Despite the embarrassnt and pain, Godhand sohow finished his confession.
"I will... make you happy."
"..."
Staring at the awkward Godhand, Lilly let out a brief laugh.
"Let see your lip."
"Huh?"
"Your lip. It looks like its bleeding. Show ."
Godhand hesitantly leaned his face forward. Lilly, who had been holding his chin to examine his wounded lips, lightly kissed him.
"...?!"
Godhands face instantly flushed red. With a similarly reddened face, Lilly grinned.
"Id love to date you. But theres one thing you must promise."
"W-what promise?"
"Never lie to . No matter the situation, always tell the truth. ...Can you promise that?"
Without hesitation, Godhand nodded.
"Of course, my lady."
The two awkwardly chuckled, their eyes eting for a long mont.
Just when the mood was becoming perfect,
Bang! Thud!
A sudden crashing noise ca from the side.
Startled, Godhand and Lilly turned their heads to find Bodybag and Burnout toppled over near a trashcan at the corner of the square.
It looked like they had been spying and had accidentally fallen over...
"Gah! S-sorry! I wasnt trying to eavesdrop!"
Bodybag hastily scrambled to her feet and flailed her arms, her face a picture of embarrassnt.
"I was just worried, okay? Worried if Godhand, whos been forever single, could actually handle a relationship...! So, I was just following to see...!"
Nod-nod-nod!
Burnout fervently nodded in agreent next to her.
The great mood they had been in was instantly shattered. Just as Godhand was about to reprimand his younger siblings,
"Co here, Bodybag. Burnout."
Lilly gestured, her hand covering her smiling mouth.
"Lets hang out together."
Surprised, Bodybag and Burnouts eyes widened.
"Huh? But..."
"Godhand is your brother, right? Now that he and I are dating, we should be seeing a lot more of each other."
Lilly beckoned the two elves.
"Lets get along. Now, lets enjoy the rest of the festival together."
After so cautious glances, Bodybag and Burnout cautiously joined Lilly and Godhands side.
Godhand looked apologetically at Lilly, but she didnt mind.
Having instant younger sisters felt rather nice, actually.
Not bad at all.
Boom! Fizzle!
Just then, several fireworks soared into the sky above Crossroads central square, scattering into embers. Bodybag pointed upward and exclaid,
"Fireworks!"
"Really? Its a fireworks display!"
And so it began. Fireworks of various colors adorned the sky of Crossroad, launched from all around the city.
Lilly, who had been quietly watching, murmured,
"The end of the Fall Festival really should be fireworks."
They were fireworks befitting a small, rural townsmall and modest.
Yet they were beautiful.
The crowd gathered in the square cheered and looked up at the fireworks display. Bodybag and Burnout jumped and ran under the colorful bursts.
As she watched the scene, Lilly quietly reached out, took Godhands hand, and held it tightly.
Godhands long ears flushed red. Finding this adorably noticeable, Lilly covered her mouth and chuckled.
Elves have their charms.
She had discovered an unexpected advantage.
"Lets watch them together next year, toothe fireworks."
In response to Lillys soft whisper, Godhand smiled and replied,
"Yes, next year, too. Definitely."
***
Fizzle! Boom!
The fireworks continued to ascend.
Startled, I looked up from where I was sitting on the mat in a corner of the square, drinking and chatting with my party mbers. What the heck?
Evangeline, who had been cheerfully chewing on so grilled squid, looked up at the sky with a radiant face.
"Ah, its ti for the fireworks!"
"Fireworks ti?"
"Its the grand finale of the Fall Festival. Ending it with fireworks is a tradition, you know."
I wasnt aware of such a tradition. Quite the flashy way to wrap things up.
"True, the scale is much smaller than the grand fireworks of the Imperial Capital, so I can see why you might be surprised."
"I an, that wasnt exactly my point..."
The truth is, Ive always been more of an indoor gar, unfamiliar with these extroverted festivities.
Either way, everyone who had been loudly chatting on the mat looked up at the sky in unison.
And they all quietly watched the magical fireworks bloom in various colors.
Kellibey was there, and so was his assistant, Hannibal.
Kuilan and the Penal Squad. Verdandi and the Holy Grail Seekers. Aegis Special Forces and Shadow Squad. And Lilly.
Including Saintess Margarita and all other heroes, as well as many soldiers.
And my main party mbers beside . Everyone was gazing at the fireworks festival.
"..."
Instead of watching the fireworks, I observed the faces of those looking up at them.
Once the festival ends, we would have to return to our daily grind of battling monsters.
However, the mories of such peaceful monts like these would act as a sturdy anchor, preventing our weary hearts from drifting away.
People gain the strength to live another year, and another, through such monts.
"It was fun, the Fall Festival."
"Hehe. Wasnt it?"
"Im looking forward to next year!"
As I mumbled, Evangeline and Damien responded with broad smiles.
"Next year, huh."
Junior gave a bitter smile and took a puff of her cigar,
"..."
Lucas stayed silent, only watching the dispersing fireworks.
It was then.
"Your Highness."
A clear voice rang out from the edge of the square. I looked and saw Serenade standing there.
Under the colorful lighting of bursting fireworks and with her glossy hair fluttering in the autumn wind, Serenade sohow looked like a rmaid. Scales or no scales.
I felt as if a refreshing scent, like sea foam, emanated from her.
I quickly stood up and faced Serenade.
"Serenade, youve worked really hard throughout this festival."
I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck.
"While you were busy working, I just enjoyed myself. Im sorry."
"Hehe, dont ntion it. Im glad that you had a good ti, Your Highness."
Serenades silvery eyes rounded as she offered a sweet smile. Suddenly she exclaid, "Ah!" and extended one hand toward .
"Your Highness, since Ive worked hard throughout this festival... Will you give a reward?"
"Of course. What would you like?"
As I asked with a sly grin, I rembered sothing Serenade had once asked for.
You know, that... s-s-seed...
Ahem!
As long as its not that kind of thing, I can happily oblige.
I waited for Serenades response with slight tension.
Then, giggling, Serenade took a step closer and opened her palm.
"Would you dance a song with ?"
"Huh? You an, dance?"
"Yes. The day of the Dance Festival isnt over yet, is it?"
Her face was flushed as she boldly made the request. Was she a bit nervous?
Pausing for a mont, I broke into a carefree smile and slowly stood in front of Serenade, taking both of her hands.
"My pleasure, partner."
Boom... Fizz...!
Under the bright light of the bursting fireworks,
At a mont when everyones attention was fixed on the sky, we hid outside their line of sight. Not in the center of the plaza, but in a quiet corner.
We began to waltz slowly.
There was no music, no chandelier, no stage, but the atmosphere had its own charm.
Having spent a long ti in the Imperial Capital, we danced together seamlessly.
Serenade, her face aglow with happiness in my arms, whispered softly.
"Your Highness."
"Hm?"
"Do you rember when I said, a few days ago, that I had sothing important to tell you?"
I rembered.
On her first day arriving here in Crossroad, Serenade had said with a determined expression:
- I have sothing important that I must tell Your Highness directly.
The ssage that she said she had to personally convey to , making the long journey from the Imperial Capital to this place, Crossroad.
Her real reason for visiting this remote southern region.
But whether it was because we hadnt had a chance to be alone, she hadnt told until now.
I swallowed hard. What could she possibly want to say to ?
Could it be a co, co, confession?
Ah, Im not emotionally prepared for this yet...! Even I think its pathetic, but I really cant handle this kind of thing...!
Serenade glanced around nervously, confirming that nobody was nearby.
As we continued to waltz, after making sure multiple tis that no listening ears were around, Serenade whispered softly into my ear.
"...There is a conspiracy unfolding."
My mind went blank.
I couldnt understand what she was saying all of a sudden. I blinked in confusion and asked nervously,
"What?"
"There is a conspiracy unfolding in the Imperial Capital, Your Highness."
Serenade repeated, her face deadly serious, whispering once more into my ear.
"Second Prince Fernandez is planning to rebel...!"
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