The festival had been going on for three days.
Today, it was just Kyle and me wandering around.
Louise had seemingly lost all her energy since the first day and was sleeping in the castle, while Elin had to be on duty since she was part of the Knights.
Of course, she could switch out after a few hours, but still, it was unfortunate that she had to work during the festival.
Though… I had no right to complain since I was just here worrying and contemplating because of Kyle.
“It’s kind of quiet today,” I said.
“It’s a day for families to gather. Everyone is probably resting at home,” Kyle replied.
“Haha…”
As Kyle said, the third day of the festival was a day to spend with family.
Specifically, it was a day to invite the mother-in-law and son-in-law, but other family members were invited to join and have fun as well.
Since it was just a normal day for families to enjoy at home, the streets felt a little quieter today.
Of course, the main festival elements, including the stalls, were still lively, but it was quieter than the day before.
“I wonder if Mom is doing well.”
Thinking of family triggered that thought.
The original plan was to quit my job and return to my hometown.
But somehow, things turned out this way.
Of course, I knew my mom wasn’t the type to be mad about this, so I wasn’t particularly worried.
I just thought of family suddenly, that was all.
Wouldn’t she be thinking more about this than I was?
After all, I am her daughter, right?
The eldest daughter.
“By the way, Sophia has never gone back to her hometown,” I remarked.
“That’s true,” Kyle agreed.
“Are you okay with not going back?” I asked.
“Well… my mom is quite easygoing, and my dad isn’t one to worry so much. Plus, sending letters occasionally is enough for them,” he said.
We exchanged letters occasionally, but what if I went back, and neither of my parents were home?
I even wondered if they had moved without telling me.
“Well… it would be good to go back at least once, but it feels a bit awkward now.”
For various reasons.
After saying I’d quit, I had gotten a confession from Kyle, and now we were stuck in this weird relationship, so going back to my hometown didn’t make sense.
If I suddenly went back, it was obvious Kyle would probably do something weird.
“… So, would you like to go together next time?” he asked.
“… Huh?” I made a weird sound.
Suddenly embarrassed by my own noise, I was more confused by Kyle’s words.
Go together? Where?
“W-where?” I stammered.
“To meet Sophia’s parents,” he declared.
“W-what? Suddenly?!”
Why would we suddenly go see my mom?
I mean, my mom was super pretty for her age, but Kyle had never met her, and I hadn’t talked much about her.
“U-uh, my mom might have a bit of a chest like me, but I don’t think there’s a need to meet her, I mean…!”
“… That’s not the reason,” he interjected.
“Huh?”
“Isn’t it normal to meet the parents of a significant other? We can at least greet them,” he said.
“Oh.”
Oh.
So… that’s what he meant.
I thought he was suddenly interested in my mom.
I mean, she’s pretty for her age, but still, it was a weird thought.
Even though I hadn’t said much about my mom.
“…”
“You’re thinking something strange again, aren’t you?” he teased.
“… Yeah.”
I couldn’t deny his words.
Even I thought it was going in a weird direction.
“W-well… if we have time later, maybe we can go see her. After all, it takes time to get there; it seems we should plan it out.”
Since we couldn’t go right away.
Kyle isn’t just some random guy, he’s the eldest son of a noble family.
How could we just go without any plans?
“Kyle… that… isn’t it…”
“?”
For a moment, I almost asked him if he would go even if we weren’t officially together.
But I stopped my thoughts.
It felt odd to ask such things when I hadn’t even figured out my feelings yet.
If I were to ask something like that, I should at least conclude these perplexing emotions first.
Whatever conclusion that may be.
“What do you want to eat today? Should we grab something light at the stalls like yesterday?”
I smiled brightly at Kyle, trying to change the awkward mood.
There was no need to create a weird atmosphere on a good day.
“What about Sophia?” he inquired.
“Oh, I’m fine with anything. Food from the stalls is delicious, and so is dining at a regular restaurant.”
The food from the stalls was a bit more exciting and unfamiliar compared to the usual offerings.
After all, as someone working at the castle, how many chances did I have to eat street food?
None, really.
So the festival food from stalls was a slight temptation.
“Then, since we usually go there, shall we settle for the stalls today?” Kyle suggested.
“Sure, let’s do that,” I agreed.
And so, Kyle and I spent the day again.
I was certain I needed to think about Kyle, but I ended up just enjoying the festival with him.
“Sigh…”
I was going crazy.
Didn’t I say I’d figure out my feelings and all that?
“Then why did we just have fun??”
Even I didn’t understand myself.
How on earth did I have so much fun yesterday?
How was I able to feel such joy while having those thoughts?
It was beyond me, but I pondered.
“Ah… what should I do…”
Three days had already passed, and it was now the fourth day.
Including today, there were only four days left.
The goal was to come to a conclusion on the last day, but I felt like it had gone completely wrong.
Not just wrong, but seriously messed up!
“Ugh…! Stupid!!!”
I shouted in frustration in the bathroom.
Since Kyle was asleep, there was really no issue.
Even if I yelled alone, it didn’t matter.
“Uuuaaaahh!!!”
What do I do?!
No matter how I looked at it, continuing this situation was indeed a problem.
Aside from how I felt about this, there was the matter of other people’s opinions and Kyle’s own feelings to consider.
Of course, Kyle’s feelings were more important than what others thought.
He was the one I was involved with, after all.
“Brrrrrr…”
I was doing something strange with my face buried in the water, but I didn’t know.
I liked being with Kyle.
Yeah, I couldn’t argue with that or had any intention of arguing.
If I hated being with him, I wouldn’t have started this relationship.
Kyle treated me well, and we didn’t have a bad relationship.
“But this is different from liking him…”
*
“Bang!!!”
“K-Kyle? Are you having fun?”
“I’m just watching because I’m here.”
“Ah…”
Well, that’s true.
It’s not every day you see knights fighting in a tournament.
On the fourth day of the festival, events organized by the Knights were underway.
Not just any event, but an officially prepared tournament that took place every year during the festival.
It was probably the hottest event of the festival.
Dancing, drinking, and eating pancakes could be done on any other day.
“Waaaaah!!! Is that swordplay for real!?”
“Seriously!?”
“I want to do laundry on Yorrente’s abs!!!!!!!”
“Crazy girl!”
So it seemed there were a lot of spectators in the stands.
Normally, Kyle and I would be sitting in the spots designated for nobles or higher-class attendees, but we didn’t.
Kyle wanted to enjoy a casual date, so we ended up sitting here.
I had no reason to refuse when Kyle wanted to sit there, so here we were.
Thanks to that, it felt like we were closer to the excitement.
“…”
Ah, no, it was just that I was holding hands with Kyle, and it made my face turn red.
Despite the crowd, feeling the heat of Eristirol was a whole different matter.
More precisely, it wasn’t just holding hands; we were practically glued to each other.
Our shoulders were touching closely.
“Kyle, when does Elin come out?” I asked.
“Probably in three matches,” he replied.
“I see.”
Even though I knew, I still asked.
I couldn’t predict what thoughts or words would come to mind if we didn’t have such conversations.
So I made these normal questions to somehow continue the dialogue.
– Thump…
“…”
Was it because we were closer than usual?
Something felt off.
I felt my heart racing today.
“Kyle, when did we sleep yesterday?” I asked.
“Yesterday? I think we went to bed before 11,” he said.
“…”
I had enough sleep.
Why was I feeling this way?
Right, even when I used to sleep with Kyle, we weren’t this close, were we?
Why was I feeling this way?
“Woooooo!!! The lady knight is here~!!”
“I’m dying, sister~”
“…”
While I was alone wondering why I was feeling this way, a lady knight entered the arena.
She was facing a regular male knight.
But this lady knight was slightly different.
No, it was almost insulting to compare her to the other knights; she was just that beautiful.
It was my first time seeing her, yet I could already tell she was stunning.
Not to mention, it wasn’t that she was so drop-dead gorgeous you’d fall for her at first sight; it was just that compared to the dull male knights, she stood out.
“…” To me, it seemed like Elin was even more beautiful, but for some reason, the crowd was going wild for her.
Could it be that Elin hadn’t made her appearance yet?
It was a truly crazy level of enthusiasm.
“Hey, what the hell. Where are you looking?”
“I mean, darling!? You have to watch the match!?”
“Damn! Are you excited because a big-chested lady knight is here!?”
“I prefer smaller ones!”
“You crazy bastard!”
The conversation from a couple next to me suddenly pierced my ears.
I couldn’t see their faces, but it felt like they were having a good time together.
And it made me think.
“…”
Could it be that he wasn’t just watching the match?
The thought couldn’t help but cross my mind.
It felt like hardly anyone was just watching the match with how the crowd was acting.
Everyone was joyously cheering on the lady knight, calling her all sorts of names.
Well, not everyone, but most of them.
“Kyle.”
“Yes?”
“Is that lady knight prettier? Or am I?”
“Of course, it’s Sophia.”
“R-right…?”
I was relieved to hear that.
Kyle wasn’t a bad guy, and with me here, there was no reason for him to look at a lady knight like that.
Surely he was just genuinely enjoying the match.
After all, I had him beat in the chest department…and the hip department as well…
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