by Geli Cake
The head butler readily gave us permission to go to the festival. I was the one who was more surprised by the immediate approval, without even having to persuade him.
I lowered my voice and asked,
"Weren't we supposed to avoid going out?"
"Yes, we try to refrain from it as much as possible. However, it's alright for a day if you're careful."
And because I've witnessed your skills with my own eyes. He smiled slightly, then looked at Haylan and said, as if giving instructions,
"If you get lost, go to the temple. That's the safest place for the young master."
The temple? So that's where we should meet if we get separated. I nodded on Haylan's behalf, even though it wasn't directed at me.
"Then have fun."
Haylan, coming downstairs in his outdoor clothes, looked incredibly cute. I picked them out. I could hear Yur excitedly bragging to the other servants.
Bundled up in warm clothes due to the cold weather, Haylan looked even rounder than usual.
…Oh my, oh my, so cute!
Holding Haylan's shoulders, I unconsciously kissed him lightly on the cheek. He narrowed his eyes and glared at me.
"You, why do you keep…"
Haylan found me annoying. But I had gotten close enough to him that he didn't get too irritated by this level of physical contact.
"We'll be back!"
I pulled his fur hat down firmly, took Haylan's hand, and stood up.
After coming out from the dark forest path and back onto the brightly lit street, we soon joined the bustling crowd.
The street at night had a different charm than during the day. Colorful lights decorated the shop signs, and various foods were sold at the stalls.
I was jostled by the people running around, singing merrily, when I unconsciously glanced down at Haylan. Seeing him overwhelmed, I suddenly felt a pang of guilt. In crowded places, children struggled more than adults like me.
"...!"
I scooped Haylan up and placed him on my shoulders.
"Is this better?"
Startled by the sudden increase in height, he quickly adapted and clung to my head.
"Don't… you dare drop me."
"Hold on tight."
I laughed heartily and quickened my pace. Haylan yelled urgently for me to stop. He was gripping my hair so tightly that I was afraid I'd go bald, so I slowed down a bit.
Snowflake-shaped illusion magic fluttered in the air above the heads of the crowd. Haylan reached out and tried to grab a snowflake, but nothing remained in his palm. That's what illusions were like.
A familiar melody drifted from somewhere. The happy faces of the people. I really liked festivals.
We strolled through the night market, snacking on various foods. Haylan ate just as much as I did, trying everything without being picky.
We threw our empty skewers in the trash and sat on the steps, watching the people.
Even the people passing by had names and their own lives. Haylan was at the center of this world, and so was I, the player. But there were also people living outside the frame of the original story. I knew that, yet why did it feel so strange sometimes?
There were many families and couples. What kind of relationship would we look like to others? Close brothers?
…Would it seem strange that I spoke formally to him? I pondered these meaningless thoughts and said,
"This is the first time I've been to such a big night market."
"Really? I thought it was small for a week-long festival."
"You think this is small?"
I asked back thoughtlessly, then remembered that Haylan's family home was located in the capital city, Jenette. The festivals there would probably be held on a much grander scale. I grumbled without thinking,
"Well, compared to Jenette, yes. This scale is just right for a city of this size."
"What was it like in your city?"
"Similar in size to this one."
I vaguely brushed off his question. Actually, I had only seen the festival twice in Asileth. Earlier this year, I returned after the festival was over due to a mission, and the only one I properly enjoyed was last year's New Year's festival.
"A long time ago, when I was about Haylan's size, I celebrated the New Year at the beach. There were so many people, it was cold, and I was so sleepy that I was just annoyed, wondering why I had to be there."
Back then, I thought that was normal. Why do we only realize the true value of something precious after we lose it?
"Even now, when I'm in a crowded place, I sometimes think of that time. I should have gone out with them more often instead of complaining when my parents were still alive."
"They passed away?"
"It's been quite a while."
I just suddenly remembered and said it. I abruptly ended the conversation, realizing belatedly that this spot, blocked by tree branches and stall awnings, wasn't a good place to watch the fireworks.
As I took Haylan's hand and went back to the plaza, I saw people standing on higher ground, looking up at the sky. The good spots had already been taken.
Even the temple steps behind the goddess statue were already densely packed. Those diligent people… It seemed we were a little late.
I glanced down at Haylan. Haylan, who didn't even know his own preferences, probably hadn't properly enjoyed a fireworks display like this before.
'Then he should watch it from the best spot.'
"...!"
When I lifted Haylan into my arms, he was startled and complained, telling me to at least warn him before lifting him like a sack of potatoes. Ignoring the grumbling child, I held him tightly and climbed the stairs.
"Oh, Priest! Fancy seeing you here."
"I told you, I'm not a priest…"
"Are you feeling better?"
The priest from the other day recognized me in front of the temple. He said he felt bad for not being able to talk properly last time and urged me to meet the High Priest.
I'm not falling for it. Ryzen always told me not to trust the people from the temple… If I were going to be swayed, I would have already been swayed back in Asileth.
"Hello there, little one."
"...."
Haylan hugged my neck instead of replying. I vaguely explained to the priest that my younger brother was shy.
"There's quite an age gap between you and your brother."
"I hear that often."
"You're here to see the fireworks, right? Actually, there's a great spot up there."
He lowered his voice and whispered, so others wouldn't hear,
"Follow me. It's a place that's not usually open to the public during the festival, but this little old man here makes a huge donation!"
He added that he wouldn't normally make house calls, but he had made a special visit.
The place the priest led us to was an outdoor balcony at the top of the temple. He left us there, saying he would go back down to volunteer.
Haylan, finally lifting his head from my shoulder, nudged me slightly.
"...You feel uncomfortable around that man. Am I right?"
"Whoa, was it that obvious?"
"It wasn't obvious, I just felt it."
"You pay a lot of attention to me."
I chuckled, making a nonsensical remark. But Haylan, instead of denying it, asked with a grumpy expression,
"Then why do you keep responding to him?"
"I can't just ignore someone when they're talking to me."
"He was the one who interrupted. You were talking to me."
Haylan puffed out his cheeks cutely. I wondered why he was acting like this… Unable to resist, I hugged him tightly and showered his cheek with kisses. Haylan struggled a bit, but he was no match for me.
Just then, we heard cheers from below. We both turned our heads and looked up at the sky.
Whoosh!
A firework shot up, splitting the dark sky in two with a sharp sound. Finally reaching its peak, it exploded with a thunderous roar.
Boom!
A large, snowflake-shaped firework illuminated the sky, and we could hear gasps of awe even from up here. Before the fireworks faded, another one shot up, this time forming the shape of a flower. I was staring blankly at the exploding fireworks when I suddenly remembered Haylan and turned to look at him.
"...."
Boom.
Every time a firework exploded, Haylan's face lit up before fading back into the darkness. He had a rarely seen, enraptured expression. This was the moment another item was added to Haylan's "Likes" list.
Do you know what your face looks like when you like something?
I felt like handing Haylan a mirror. If he could see his own expression, he wouldn't dare say he didn't know what he liked again.
Despite the loud noise ringing in my ears, I felt strangely happy. I hoped this memory would remain with him as a cherished moment.
'…Wait, what time is it?'
Shivering in the cold wind and about to check the time, I saw that there was less than an hour left until midnight and jumped to my feet.
By this time, the servants would have moved to the other building. I might get sliced up by the ghost on my way back to the house.
"Haylan."
Let's go home. It's getting late… I was about to say that when a stranger appeared on the balcony where we were.
The woman, dressed in priestess attire, looked back and forth between Haylan and me, then called Haylan's name with a strange expression.