There isn’t much to enjoy in the North.
Even if you call it a festival, it’s just about roasting beast meat or setting up huts to sing songs for a night.
Adele’s gaze turned towards the shimmering lights around.
Magical lights, light bulbs, and the torches that people carried around.
Even the alleys between buildings were bright.
When flames rise, shadows are bound to follow.
But a light that fills every corner, isn’t it quite convenient?
Having never attended a full moon festival or a celebration, I wasn’t used to such things.
“I feel like the road is already known without me here.”
“I don’t know. I thought you’d know, but this is my first full moon festival.”
“That may be, but… why are you joining me?”
“Because I decided to.”
Of course, I had no interest in such festivals. Adele looked at the man grumbling beside her.
He was nothing like the rumors suggested.
I thought he’d be weak and boring, but can you really say he’s timid when he’s showing this kind of defiant attitude?
I felt it when we met last time too; he’s quite an intriguing man.
There aren’t many who catch my interest, but Robert Taylor certainly meets that condition quite well.
‘What would Lothos say if he saw this?’
I did speak a bit harshly, but I really didn’t plan to bring him to the North.
I just thought I’d question him about why he didn’t come when I looked for him, maybe trying to scare him a little.
But instead of being frightened, he seemed busy trying to escape… that rebellious attitude was all that remained.
And that leads to the current situation. Looking at Robert’s clearly dissatisfied face, Adele couldn’t help but chuckle.
Is it that unpleasant? Usually, when I’m around, everyone is busy pretending to laugh.
I expected this reaction, but seeing it for real put me in a strangely sour mood.
Should I be mischievous? But there was really no need for that.
Since it was my first time at such a festival, there was no harm in just enjoying this full moon festival.
Adele shifted her gaze away from Robert to the tall spire reaching high into the sky.
What was that again? I rarely come to the capital, so it’s hard to remember each of those buildings.
As she frowned, Robert began to speak, having noticed her expression.
“That’s the Moon Tower. It’s where the Saint lives.”
“Oh, the Saint lived there? I thought she lived in the cathedral.”
“Right beneath the Moon Tower is the cathedral, so it’s not wrong. But the Saint is a special being, isn’t she?”
A special being? Adele squinted at the Moon Tower towering against the sky.
What’s so special about living in such a stuffy place?
I’ve met her a few times, but she wasn’t a woman who matched my temperament at all.
Someone who is too kind often falls ill.
Sometimes, it’s necessary to act according to one’s heart.
The way she lives… it’s just following the rules.
It’s strange to accept such a life, but it’s equally bizarre that people send endless praises towards the Saint.
She seemed more fit for sympathy than admiration.
The woman known as the Saint.
“Have you ever seen the Saint?”
“Yes, there is.”
“…Really?”
Adele asked Robert again, surprised that he answered so readily when she expected him to deny it.
Robert had no reason to hide it from her.
The fact that she sometimes went out to volunteer was something that those in the know were already aware of.
Feeling a bit awkward, Adele cleared her throat and pouted her lips.
It was tough enough for her to personally meet a saint, so when did she get the chance?
But it felt ambiguous to pry further.
Shaking her head a few times to clear her thoughts, Robert looked at her with a strange expression.
“Your expression seems quite cheeky. Is it odd to shake my head?”
“I just think you’re an unusual person,” she replied.
Adele forced a smile at Robert’s persistent replies.
Why had the rumors about such a man been so bad?
It felt like someone was intentionally spreading malicious gossip.
In reality, meeting him in person wasn’t so bad, but just hearing the rumors made him seem like a terrible person.
Whenever she looked at Robert, her gaze was always drawn to his eyes.
Her own eyes were also blue, but there was something fundamentally different.
His eyes shone a deep blue that was pure, showing no emotions that could be interpreted.
It wasn’t like he was hiding his feelings; it felt more like they were simply absent.
He seemed so worn down that nothing reflected back through his eyes.
But how could a man of just twenty have experienced that much?
Thus, whenever she looked at him, she felt strange emotions she couldn’t usually sense.
Was it a sense of kinship, or perhaps déjà vu?
It felt as if she had met him somewhere before.
A sense of crisis washed over her, as if he might crumble if she left him alone.
Even though he appeared quite okay while grumbling beside her.
“…Is there something you want to say to me?”
She smiled for a moment at the question, then shook her head in denial.
She couldn’t say she felt the impulse to keep watching him from the side.
So she only phrased it differently.
“Come to the North, that way I can hear your story.”
Though she was blatantly rejected.
“I just caught a glimpse. There hasn’t been any change.”
“I see.”
Why did it feel like he might vanish like the wind if she wasn’t watching him with her eyes?
He had always been one to give straightforward answers, but today felt rather strange.
#
After whining so much, Robert offered her a skewer, and Adele quickly quieted down, munching on it.
Looking around, she probably found this festival quite fascinating.
Since she had only been in the North, this would be her first experience with such a large festival.
Although it was said to be held throughout the Empire, the North had its own way of celebrating.
Which meant it followed the customs of the barbarians.
They catch wild beasts as offerings and perform rituals in front of the roaring fire.
After being used to such things, coming to the city was bound to widen her eyes.
As he explained one thing after another about what she didn’t know, and with her insisting he eat what she bought, before they knew it, it was nearly midnight.
“The full moon festival isn’t as bad as I thought. Maybe I should try this later.”
“I think it’s better than sacrificing a beast. Isn’t it a bit dull?”
“The old farts better listen to me. They can’t just kill me because they don’t like what I say.”
Of course, it was a given, but Adele seemed quite disturbed by it.
Looking back, it was the same when I was by her side.
Though the influence of Grand Duchess Adele was strong, that power didn’t extend to every tribe in the frontier.
So, once or twice a year, we would go on an expedition together.
Thinking back now, I’m curious how we managed that grueling march.
It wasn’t just one tribe; we stirred up dozens at once.
Even though I lived as I pleased… it feels like it would be tough even now.
“Is the event over for today? I thought it would last until dawn, but it only goes until midnight.”
“People need to sleep, after all. By the way, when do you plan to leave, Your Grace?”
“When I feel like going back.”
“…I thought that might be the case.”
I guess we could part ways after midnight.
As I thought that and started to move, Adele pointed to one side and spoke.
Following her finger, I saw a mass of people gathered.
If it was that position, there could only be one. It was probably one of the few attractions left at this full moon festival, where the fireworks would soon start.
“What are fireworks?”
To Adele, who asked as if she truly didn’t know, I handed her a firecracker.
“You’ll understand if you light the end. Just don’t get too close.”
“Hmm. Aha.”
Sizzle—
After lighting it a few times, Adele’s eyes sparkled when she finally lit the end.
As the bright red flame crackled to life, a red line began to draw itself against the empty black canvas.
Her hand moved freely, just as her heart desired.
It seemed this was her first time seeing something like this; Adele swung it around several times in wonder, muttering to herself as she gazed at the flames.
“Is this what bursts in the sky?”
“It’ll be much more spectacular. More than you can imagine.”
“I guess I have to see that before I leave. But where are you going?”
As I subtly tried to slip away, Adele’s eyes narrowed, reading my mood.
I was about to do what I needed to do, but I wanted to stay here as long as she didn’t leave first.
After looking at Adele with a disgruntled expression for a moment, I opened my mouth, just in case.
“If I leave like this, you’ll feel the same as before, right?”
“Yeah, I’ll be disappointed. I’ll remember and torment you for a long time.”
“I don’t recall you saying anything about tormenting me earlier.”
“It’s because I’m irritated. A man trying to leave a weak woman behind.”
Seeing Adele not yielding a single word made my head throb.
Since I volunteered to play the nanny, it couldn’t be helped.
Thinking to just watch the fireworks this time, I stood beside her, and Adele gently smiled and patted my shoulder.
“There we go, this is how it should be.”
“It’ll burst soon. Probably… if the moon completely reveals itself from the clouds.”
I never really took the time to enjoy this fireworks display.
The clouds, shrouded like fog, slightly blocked the moonlight, enveloping this surroundings in its glow.
Every time the clouds moved, the light streaming through the gaps seemed to dance.
When was the last time I looked at this scene with a calm heart on a moonlit night?
“You look like you have a frown. Did some bad memories come back to you?”
“It’s similar… but it’s nothing much, really.”
When the full moon rises, something always happens that decides my fate.
It was at dawn when I saved Alchemist Jay, and whenever I died in my past life, there was always a big moon in the sky.
While people might just say this moon is beautiful, for me… it was not a pleasant night.
Thus, I couldn’t even appreciate this radiant light.
Like always, I kept silent, gazing at the moon without a word.
Before long, the clouds cleared, revealing the complete moon.
People’s gasps lasted only a moment. Suddenly, fireworks began shooting into the sky with a tremendous sound.
Pishuuung—
Drawing colorful trajectories, they reached the center of the moon and burst forth in brilliant light.
During the full moon festival, it’s hard to see the stars. Thus, this firework mimicked the moon using human power.
Bursting and bursting again, lights began to create clusters like countless stars.
Turning my head, I saw Adele staring blankly at the sky.
With various lights reflected in her eyes, I wondered what kind of imagination she was crafting while watching them turn into a single star.
The light held no meaning for me anymore, but for her this would surely be quite an impressive scene.
Perhaps it could be a scene for me too.
Events that never occurred in my past life were unfolding one after another; these flames could be seen as a signal flare.
This time is different.
Building a personal relationship with the saint I had never met, Adele came to the full moon festival simply for me.
‘This time is different.’
I could clearly sense the difference.
Even after living through countless lives, I had never experienced anything like this, so I held a small hope that maybe this time, I could fulfill my wish.
I don’t know what the chance of success is, but I could at least wish for something, right?
The flames extinguished, and tranquility returned to the plaza. Gazing at the extinguished fireworks, Adele murmured softly.
“…It’s beautiful.”
As she said, the beginning of this full moon festival was more beautiful than ever.
It was to be expected.
I had seen this beginning so many times, and it had never twisted in its start.
However, when that moon is again draped over the clouds…
The darkness that people don’t know will start to stir once more.
A darkness only I would know.
It was my job to step on that shadow, so even while watching Adele, I couldn’t bring myself to smile peacefully.
Isn’t it only natural?
It would soon be dawn.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
