“Autumn Festival?”
Seeing a fleeting hint of curiosity on her face, Tiuran cautiously continued her explanation.
"Yes, Your Highness. Since the season of rest arrives in the East earlier than in the Central, harvest festivals are usually held around the end of summer. If you go out into the streets now, you will be able to enjoy quite a variety of sights."
"There's really nothing to enjoy at an event for commoners."
Thalia let out a small snort.
Tiuran, who had been moving her lips as if trying to persuade her a little more, turned around with a dark expression the next moment.
"If you are not keen, I will not recommend it any further."
Then, she walked over to the shelf and started organizing the displayed medicine bottles.
Thalia, who had been glancing at her profile, quietly got up from her seat and approached her.
"Did you get upset by any chance?"
A faint smile appeared on Tiuran's lips at the sight of her peeking her head out to check her complexion. The healer, clearing her throat softly as if to suppress it, put on a feigned sullen expression.
"No, not at all. I am simply saddened that I could not show Your Highness the Harvest Festival of Kalmor."
"...You seem to be getting more and more cunning."
Thalia, who had been frowning at that obvious trick, finally let out a sigh of resignation.
“Yes, let’s go out.”
"You made a good decision. You will feel much better if you look around at this and that."
Tiuran, with a satisfied smile on her lips, immediately summoned the servants.
While the maids, who had been looking uneasy at the news of the Grand Duchess's sudden outing, hesitantly helped her get dressed, the captain of the guard, who had arrived late at the room, asked in a stern tone.
"I heard you intend to leave the castle. Is that true?"
Thalia, who was sitting in front of the mirror adjusting her hair, raised one eyebrow and glared at him.
"Is there a problem?"
"If you wish to go out, you must first obtain permission from His Excellency the Grand Duke."
Her face contorted fiercely at the man's overbearing attitude.
"I just want to watch the festival. Do I really have to get permission for every single thing, even just to step out onto the street for a moment?"
"Your Highness, do you not have a history of secretly slipping out of the castle once before? We cannot guarantee that you will not repeat the same act this time."
Thalia's face turned bright red with shame and anger.
She sprang to her feet and walked toward the man. Then, without hesitation, she struck the captain of the guard in the face.
"Who do you think you are to act so arrogantly? I am the Imperial Princess and the Grand Duchess of the East. Do you think someone like you has the right to question my actions?"
The man's gaze twisted fiercely after being slapped.
The moment he reflexively leaned toward her, Khan, who had squeezed between the two, bristled the fur on his neck and began to growl.
The man flinched and took a step back at the chillingly menacing look. Khan, who had grown to the size of a medium-sized dog in just a few months, was no longer a threat that could be taken lightly.
The man's hand, having glanced at the direwolf's sharp teeth, stealthily moved up onto the hilt of the sword. Seeing this, Thalia shouted in a shrill voice.
"Get away! If you lay a finger on Khan, I won't let you get away with it!"
"My duty is to protect Your Highness the Grand Duchess. If Your Highness promises to remain quietly within the castle..."
"What is all this commotion about?"
The captain of the guard abruptly stopped speaking at the sudden voice.
Thalia flinched and turned her head, spotting Lucas rushing across the hallway, and scowled violently.
As if this incredibly rude guard wasn't enough, now I have to deal with that hooligan too?
As she glared at him with an annoyed look, Lucas, who had crossed the threshold in an instant, looked back and forth between them and raised one eyebrow.
"Were you perhaps having a love triangle fight?"
"What kind of ridiculous things are you saying...?"
The captain of the guard recoiled in shock and raised his voice. Lucas, with one arm draped over his shoulder, playfully tapped the man's cheek with his fingertips and asked mischievously.
"Then how on earth did your face end up looking like this?"
"I merely tried to dissuade Her Highness the Grand Duchess from leaving the castle. The Grand Duke earnestly implored me to ensure that no harm befalls Her Highness."
"Seriously. You're making such a fuss over just a matter of going out?"
Lucas clicked his tongue in disbelief.
"What's the big deal about wandering around outside the castle? Raina roams around day in and day out without any trouble."
"However, what His Excellency the Grand Duke instructed me to do is..."
"Be flexible, friend. The big brother isn't here right now anyway. If everyone just keeps their mouths shut, there won't be any problems, right?"
Lucas interrupted the man, grinning as he spoke.
"If you're really worried, I'll accompany her. If anything goes wrong, I can just take all the blame."
Thalia frowned. She had no intention of forcing her outing while dragging that scoundrel along, but backing down now would also be a blow to her pride.
She eventually decided to accept Lucas's support and spoke calmly.
"I have no intention of causing trouble. I plan to watch the festival with Tiuran and return to the castle around sunset."
The man, who had been scrutinizing her for a long time with a searching gaze, finally opened his mouth with a heavy sigh.
"Understood. I will prepare the carriage."
Then, he bowed his head once, turned around, and left the room.
Thalia turned back to the mirror. Lucas approached her and gave a sly smile.
"Don't you have anything to say to me?"
Thalia, who was putting a pearl ornament in her hair, glared at him with an annoyed look.
"No. So get that smirking face away."
"Isn't that going too far? I took your side, sister-in-law."
"So what? Do I have to bow down and thank you?"
Lucas, who had been furrowing his brow as if somewhat offended by the barbed reply, shook his head and let out a sigh.
"You should wish for something reasonable."
Then, turning toward the door, he spoke in a nonchalant tone.
"I'll be waiting outside. Take your time getting ready and come out; since I've already meddled, I'll take full responsibility for you until the end."
She let out a small snort and picked up her summer coat.
As she draped it over her shoulders with the help of the maids, she suddenly noticed Tiuran fidgeting nervously.
"What's wrong?"
"I apologize. Because I made a needless suggestion, Your Highness... something unpleasant..."
"Stop talking nonsense and get ready to leave."
Thalia cut her off curtly.
"It's just that the Captain of the Guard acted presumptuously and made a big deal out of nothing. You have nothing to apologize for."
Only then did the healer's expression soften.
Ignoring this, Thalia calmly finished grooming herself and stood up. At that moment, Khan, who had been standing close beside her, clung to the hem of her skirt. He looked worried that she might leave him behind.
Thalia gently scratched the back of the wolf's ear as if to reassure him, smiled sweetly, and whispered
"Don't worry, I'll take you along. Let's go have a blast and show everyone."
As if understanding those words, the wolf's tail waggled rapidly from side to side. Thalia, watching the scene with a pleased expression, soon left the room.
***
Thalia gazed at the cityscape slowly drawing closer through the swaying window.
Colorful tents lined both sides of the wide, evenly maintained road, and the sounds of flutes, drums, and the rough melodies of the hurdy-gurdy echoed throughout the streets. The boisterous spectacle seemed to lift her gloomy mood a little.
"I heard that an itinerant theater troupe is performing a play in the square. And I hear that a competition is being held in the southern district. Since you are out, I think it would be good to take your time looking around."
Tiuran explained in her characteristically gentle tone. Thalia nodded half-heartedly and kept rolling her eyes out the window.
As the carriage entered the city center, the festive atmosphere became even more distinct. Merchants had piled their stalls high with ripe apples, grapes, dried meat, and cheese, loudly hawking their wares, while blacksmiths hammered red-hot iron, incessantly sparking. The scent of baking bread and spiced liquor wafted strongly from somewhere. Just as she was quickly scanning the somewhat chaotic street scene, the carriage stopped on one side of the square, and the door burst open without warning.
“Well, we’ve arrived.”
Lucas, dressed convincingly in traditional Eastern attire, bent over with an exaggerated gesture.
“Please get off quickly.”
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment