“To really enjoy something like this, you have to make sure you dress appropriately for the place!”
After finishing her meal, Countess Florette handed over the clothes she had prepared in advance to the group. The clothes she handed out would not look out of place even among commoners.
After changing clothes and meeting at the back door, the group was momentarily speechless at the sight of Randall.
“...Why do you all look at me like that?”
Randall coughed in embarrassment as Count Florette and his wife and Sylvia’s gaze did not leave him. At those words, the Count and his wife averted their gaze, and Sylvia looked at him with an expression that seemed unsure whether to laugh or cry.
‘How can you wear clothes like this and still look so... masculine?’
“...Why do you all look at me like that?”
Randall coughed in embarrassment as Count Florette and his wife and Sylvia’s gaze did not leave him. At those words, the Count and his wife averted their gaze, and Sylvia looked at him with an expression that seemed unsure whether to laugh or cry.
‘How can you wear clothes like this and still look so... masculine?’
The clothes prepared by Countess Florette were plain, almost frugal. However, perhaps because they had no decorations or patterns, Randall's body stood out more when he wore them than when he was in uniform.
Sylvia sighed for a moment, wondering whether it was a good thing or a bad thing that her husband had such a great body. Sylvia cast a cognitive dissonance spell on Randall's chest and raised the corners of her mouth calmly.
“It’s nothing. Should we go now?”
The Countess and Sylvia got into the carriage first, followed by Randall and the Count. As she had felt when she came to the Count's residence, the capital was bustling with festivals. The group entered the capital by carriage, got off somewhere inconspicuous, and quietly walked among the people.
“Try our special meat stew made with wine sauce, available only during the festival!”
“Fig Cream Cheese Pretzels for just 1 Silver!”
“The winner of the draw will receive a prize worth 1 gold! Participate now!”
The streets were literally teeming with people. People lined up in front of stalls, and people sat on chairs placed here and there, laughing and chatting with their families.
The Countess walked arm in arm with Sylvia through the crowd, smiling happily.
“Everyone looks happy.”
"I know, right."
Sylvia felt a chill inwardly at the crowd that filled her eyes, but she kept a calm smile for the Countess. Behind them, Randall and the Count walked side by side, awkwardly keeping a distance between them.
“Everyone looks happy.”
"I know, right."
Sylvia felt a chill inwardly at the crowd that filled her eyes, but she kept a calm smile for the Countess. Behind them, Randall and the Count walked side by side, awkwardly keeping a distance between them.
The Countess was determined to see half of this street before the sunset.
“Sylvia, over there! Look at that!”
The first place she headed to was a place where people could win prizes if they hit a target with an arrow. Everyone was holding a bow and shooting arrows, but no one was hitting the center. A young man who seemed to be the store owner held a trumpet made of rolled-up paper to his mouth and shouted cheerfully.
“Come on, come on! This isn’t an opportunity that comes every day! If you hit the center of all the targets, I’ll give you a bracelet with a magic stone on it!”
The young man raised his free hand and waved it. In that hand was a glass box containing a bracelet with a yellow magic stone in the middle. Sylvia approached the young man with the Countess and asked.
“What is the purpose of the magic stone on that bracelet?”
The young man opened his eyes wide in surprise at Sylvia's beauty for a moment, then quickly controlled his expression and answered.
“It’s a small piece, so I’m not sure, but I can definitely tell that it’s a magic stone because there are traces of a magic circle left. Are you willing to challenge it?”
The young man naturally turned his gaze to Randall and Count Florette. It was no wonder since both of them looked too delicate to be holding bows themselves. However, his expectations were shattered when the Countess smiled and shook her head.
“No, not you. I will do it.”
“Oh, it’s okay... Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Can I use that bow?”
The young man asked with a bewildered face, but the Countess paid no attention. She paid the entrance fee and went to the place where the bow and quiver were placed on one side and began to examine the bow. The young man looked at her and smiled sinisterly.
'I'm feeling lucky from this moment on.'
Even though she was dressed plainly, the elegance felt in her speech and appearance could not be hidden. He heard that there were nobles who sometimes attended festivals in this disguise. It was questionable whether a noblewoman could shoot an arrow properly, and it was clear that the arrows used by street vendors like this would not hit the target.
“Sylvia, over there! Look at that!”
The first place she headed to was a place where people could win prizes if they hit a target with an arrow. Everyone was holding a bow and shooting arrows, but no one was hitting the center. A young man who seemed to be the store owner held a trumpet made of rolled-up paper to his mouth and shouted cheerfully.
“Come on, come on! This isn’t an opportunity that comes every day! If you hit the center of all the targets, I’ll give you a bracelet with a magic stone on it!”
The young man raised his free hand and waved it. In that hand was a glass box containing a bracelet with a yellow magic stone in the middle. Sylvia approached the young man with the Countess and asked.
“What is the purpose of the magic stone on that bracelet?”
The young man opened his eyes wide in surprise at Sylvia's beauty for a moment, then quickly controlled his expression and answered.
“It’s a small piece, so I’m not sure, but I can definitely tell that it’s a magic stone because there are traces of a magic circle left. Are you willing to challenge it?”
The young man naturally turned his gaze to Randall and Count Florette. It was no wonder since both of them looked too delicate to be holding bows themselves. However, his expectations were shattered when the Countess smiled and shook her head.
“No, not you. I will do it.”
“Oh, it’s okay... Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Can I use that bow?”
The young man asked with a bewildered face, but the Countess paid no attention. She paid the entrance fee and went to the place where the bow and quiver were placed on one side and began to examine the bow. The young man looked at her and smiled sinisterly.
'I'm feeling lucky from this moment on.'
Even though she was dressed plainly, the elegance felt in her speech and appearance could not be hidden. He heard that there were nobles who sometimes attended festivals in this disguise. It was questionable whether a noblewoman could shoot an arrow properly, and it was clear that the arrows used by street vendors like this would not hit the target.
While the Countess took her own quiver and took her place in front of the target, Sylvia and Randall watched her from a distance, linking arms.
'Usually this is commercialism.'
'Even if you look closely, the center of the target is too narrow. How can they even call something like that a target?'
Sylvia and Randall watched, each with a worried thought, as the Countess picked up the wooden arrow.
“If you hit the center all ten times, I’ll give you this bracelet. If you hit the center even once, I’ll give you a lucky parrot feather! So, cheer up!”
Meanwhile, the young master gave some brief instructions and stepped back. The Countess turned her shoulders and neck a few times and then placed a wooden arrow on her bowstring.
'What?'
The young man was taken aback by the unusual posture of the Countess holding the bow. At the same time that he sensed something unusual, the wooden arrow left the bowstring and flew with a thud.
'Usually this is commercialism.'
'Even if you look closely, the center of the target is too narrow. How can they even call something like that a target?'
Sylvia and Randall watched, each with a worried thought, as the Countess picked up the wooden arrow.
“If you hit the center all ten times, I’ll give you this bracelet. If you hit the center even once, I’ll give you a lucky parrot feather! So, cheer up!”
Meanwhile, the young master gave some brief instructions and stepped back. The Countess turned her shoulders and neck a few times and then placed a wooden arrow on her bowstring.
'What?'
The young man was taken aback by the unusual posture of the Countess holding the bow. At the same time that he sensed something unusual, the wooden arrow left the bowstring and flew with a thud.
Thud!
With a dull sound, the arrow hit the target. The location where it hit was...
“Oh, that’s ridiculous!”
It was exactly in the center, no more, no less. The young man became lost in thought and shouted. He couldn't believe what he was seeing, so he quickly ran to the target and checked the position of the arrow, but the result was the same.
“Oh, how...!”
“Oh, that’s ridiculous!”
It was exactly in the center, no more, no less. The young man became lost in thought and shouted. He couldn't believe what he was seeing, so he quickly ran to the target and checked the position of the arrow, but the result was the same.
“Oh, how...!”
“I guess it’s because my archery skills aren’t that good, my hand just doesn’t feel...”
Meanwhile, the Countess tapped her bowstring with a strangely dissatisfied expression. The surrounding challengers were surprised that the first person to hit the center since the opening had appeared, and they were even more surprised that it was a middle-aged woman like a dandelion seed fluttering in the spring breeze.
While Sylvia and Randall, who were watching, dropped their chins in shock, the Count was the only one who clapped his hands with a face that seemed extremely pleased.
“As expected, my wife’s skills are amazing.”
“Father, that is...”
“Huh? Oh, Sylvia, this is your first time seeing me. I heard that the former Duchess of Belfort was good at archery, so I started learning archery, haha.”
Randall was once again amazed by the Countess's archery skills, which were comparable to his mother's. Meanwhile, the Countess said that she felt she had gotten the hang of it after shooting once, and fired arrows one after another.
“As expected, my wife’s skills are amazing.”
“Father, that is...”
“Huh? Oh, Sylvia, this is your first time seeing me. I heard that the former Duchess of Belfort was good at archery, so I started learning archery, haha.”
Randall was once again amazed by the Countess's archery skills, which were comparable to his mother's. Meanwhile, the Countess said that she felt she had gotten the hang of it after shooting once, and fired arrows one after another.
Boom!
“Whoa!”
Boom!
“No way!”
Whether the young man screamed or not, she hit the bullseye cleanly all ten times. The challengers looked at the target board with a hole in the center in amazement. The Countess left the young man lying on the floor like an egg and handed the prize, a bracelet, to Sylvia.
“It’s a gift, baby.”
"Oh, thank you."
Sylvia awkwardly accepted the bracelet with the yellow magic stone shard embedded in it. The Countess patted the Count's head once, who was applauding her, and then linked arms with Sylvia with a cheerful expression.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to be out playing with you like this. It feels like a dream.”
Seeing the Countess rejoicing over such a trivial matter as if she owned the world, Sylvia felt a little sorry. Although she didn’t hesitate to go out in the hope that she might die now. When she was young, she lived a life that was no different from a dead person, except that she was still breathing. And the Countess was seeing right through her more accurately than she thought.
“I was worried because you always seemed to have no affection for life.”
“..."
“You look so much better after marrying the Duke of Belfort.”
The Countess said that in a quiet voice and smiled brightly. Sylvia turned her head unconsciously after hearing her words and looked at Randall. Randall, who had been diligently playing along while listening to the Countess boasting about him, felt her gaze and slightly turned his eyes.
“Whoa!”
Boom!
“No way!”
Whether the young man screamed or not, she hit the bullseye cleanly all ten times. The challengers looked at the target board with a hole in the center in amazement. The Countess left the young man lying on the floor like an egg and handed the prize, a bracelet, to Sylvia.
“It’s a gift, baby.”
"Oh, thank you."
Sylvia awkwardly accepted the bracelet with the yellow magic stone shard embedded in it. The Countess patted the Count's head once, who was applauding her, and then linked arms with Sylvia with a cheerful expression.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to be out playing with you like this. It feels like a dream.”
Seeing the Countess rejoicing over such a trivial matter as if she owned the world, Sylvia felt a little sorry. Although she didn’t hesitate to go out in the hope that she might die now. When she was young, she lived a life that was no different from a dead person, except that she was still breathing. And the Countess was seeing right through her more accurately than she thought.
“I was worried because you always seemed to have no affection for life.”
“..."
“You look so much better after marrying the Duke of Belfort.”
The Countess said that in a quiet voice and smiled brightly. Sylvia turned her head unconsciously after hearing her words and looked at Randall. Randall, who had been diligently playing along while listening to the Countess boasting about him, felt her gaze and slightly turned his eyes.
When he found that Sylvia was looking at him, he closed his eyes and smiled. At that, his heart pounded again, making a heavy sound and sinking down to the tips of his toes.
'I am...'
Leaving Randall. Leaving that man, could I die?
'I am...'
Leaving Randall. Leaving that man, could I die?
Even though she now knew the answer to that question, she couldn’t say it out loud as if her throat was clogged.
***
Sylvia walked around the streets wearing the bracelet the Countess had given her. She bought and ate various foods that were only sold during the festival, and she even made hair ornaments and put them on Randall and the Count’s heads. Maybe it was because she was with people close to her. The sounds and voices of the people that had felt noisy at first had become familiar. Sylvia thought as she took a bite of the vanilla ice cream the Count had bought her.
‘Even this kind of thing...’
Not bad. Sylvia, who had been thinking, suddenly smiled faintly at the bitter feeling. She thinks she liked this kind of thing at one time. The memories of her first life, except for the time after she was betrayed, had already faded like sand being swept away by the waves. Now, she couldn’t remember at all what kind of emotions she had felt back then. The only things she could remember were… Leo, Cleon.
'Come to think of it, how did Leo become the warrior Cleon?'
Sylvia furrowed her brows as a forgotten memory came to mind. She had already accepted the fact that Leo was 'Cleon' due to the memory she had seen in her dream earlier. However, the question now remained, 'how'.
'I'm sure he didn't like standing up and fighting against demons. I left a will just in case, so I don't think he started working as a mercenary because he didn't have enough money...'
Did he feel shocked because the person he was closest to in real life went missing?
'But I don't think he liked me that much...'
Surely he wouldn't have sworn revenge for that. It was something she couldn't understand. Sylvia shook her head and shook off the thought. It would be better to focus on spending time with her family right now. She steeled herself and smiled as she tried to speak to the Countess.
“Hey, over there. Are there just sisters here?”
At that moment, a thick voice came between the Countess and Sylvia. The Countess and Sylvia suddenly raised their heads at the shadow that had fallen. Then, two large men, wearing only pants and no coat, were looking at them secretly.
“What is it?”
The Countess asked calmly. The men who heard her voice whistled softly.
“Wow, even your voice is beautiful.”
“I asked if you had anything to do.”
The Countess asked again with a blank face. Then the man shrugged his shoulders and pointed at himself and his friend with his hand.
“If you had nothing to do, would I have spoken to you? Two here, two there. The number of people is right, but if you don’t have a companion, how about hanging out together today?”
Sylvia narrowed her eyes and looked at them. It seemed as if the Countess had a very innocent impression, and they mistook her for Sylvia's sister.
“We have a group. Let’s go.”
The Countess shook her head firmly and grabbed Sylvia's arm. But they had to stop again because of the men blocking their way.
“Where is the group? I can’t even see their noses.”
“Stop being so pushy and come with us. Even though it looks like this, are we really the aces of this fighting scene?”
The man gestured over her shoulder. There, just like the men, people were competing with their tops off and throwing their opponents to the ground, along with spectators cheering them on. Sylvia looked around, feeling annoyed.
'Where is Randall?'
The man who saw that sight tried to grab Sylvia's arm with a faint smile.
“Where are you looking from? I told you I’m here.”
But at that moment.
“Get your hands off her.”
Randall, breathing heavily as if he had been running quickly, stood between the man and Sylvia.
‘Even this kind of thing...’
Not bad. Sylvia, who had been thinking, suddenly smiled faintly at the bitter feeling. She thinks she liked this kind of thing at one time. The memories of her first life, except for the time after she was betrayed, had already faded like sand being swept away by the waves. Now, she couldn’t remember at all what kind of emotions she had felt back then. The only things she could remember were… Leo, Cleon.
'Come to think of it, how did Leo become the warrior Cleon?'
Sylvia furrowed her brows as a forgotten memory came to mind. She had already accepted the fact that Leo was 'Cleon' due to the memory she had seen in her dream earlier. However, the question now remained, 'how'.
'I'm sure he didn't like standing up and fighting against demons. I left a will just in case, so I don't think he started working as a mercenary because he didn't have enough money...'
Did he feel shocked because the person he was closest to in real life went missing?
'But I don't think he liked me that much...'
Surely he wouldn't have sworn revenge for that. It was something she couldn't understand. Sylvia shook her head and shook off the thought. It would be better to focus on spending time with her family right now. She steeled herself and smiled as she tried to speak to the Countess.
“Hey, over there. Are there just sisters here?”
At that moment, a thick voice came between the Countess and Sylvia. The Countess and Sylvia suddenly raised their heads at the shadow that had fallen. Then, two large men, wearing only pants and no coat, were looking at them secretly.
“What is it?”
The Countess asked calmly. The men who heard her voice whistled softly.
“Wow, even your voice is beautiful.”
“I asked if you had anything to do.”
The Countess asked again with a blank face. Then the man shrugged his shoulders and pointed at himself and his friend with his hand.
“If you had nothing to do, would I have spoken to you? Two here, two there. The number of people is right, but if you don’t have a companion, how about hanging out together today?”
Sylvia narrowed her eyes and looked at them. It seemed as if the Countess had a very innocent impression, and they mistook her for Sylvia's sister.
“We have a group. Let’s go.”
The Countess shook her head firmly and grabbed Sylvia's arm. But they had to stop again because of the men blocking their way.
“Where is the group? I can’t even see their noses.”
“Stop being so pushy and come with us. Even though it looks like this, are we really the aces of this fighting scene?”
The man gestured over her shoulder. There, just like the men, people were competing with their tops off and throwing their opponents to the ground, along with spectators cheering them on. Sylvia looked around, feeling annoyed.
'Where is Randall?'
The man who saw that sight tried to grab Sylvia's arm with a faint smile.
“Where are you looking from? I told you I’m here.”
But at that moment.
“Get your hands off her.”
Randall, breathing heavily as if he had been running quickly, stood between the man and Sylvia.
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