Chapter 19

The festival in Faypren was distinctly different from the ones held in Anif in many ways.

The most noticeable difference, naturally, was that both the merchants selling goods and the people buying them were all human.

‘Unlike Faypren, Anif is a region where beastfolk and animals live together.’

Beastfolk were capable of communicating with animals regardless of what form they took. Thanks to that, it was common to see animals roaming around the Anif festivals with baskets clamped in their mouths. A smile escaped my lips at the memory of those scenes, which felt like something straight out of a fairy tale.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Huh? Oh, I was just thinking about Anif.”

I gave a casual answer to Esteban, who was looking at me, before turning my gaze back to the stalls. Esteban, who had been standing quietly by my side, asked in a slightly lowered voice: “……Do you miss it?”

“Hmm?”

“Your family, I mean.”

I answered calmly while inspecting the glittering ornaments.

“Well, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss them at all, but I’m okay. I came here knowing I wouldn’t see them for five years anyway…. Wow, this is beautiful!”

My eyes sparkled as I discovered a brooch with a red gemstone embedded in the center. The shopkeeper, who had been holding their breath while watching my reaction, spoke up warmly as if seizing the opportunity.

“It’s lovely, isn’t it? Though it may not look it, it was made by a very skilled craftsman.”

“Really?”

“Of course. I brought it out specifically for today’s festival. And the price isn’t that high, either.”

At the owner’s words, I rubbed my chin in contemplation. That vividly glowing red gem reminded me of the crimson eyes that were the symbol of the Winchesters.

“Then this red stone here isn’t a ruby?”

“Oh my, what are you saying, young lady? It is a ruby, of course!”

‘It’s a ruby, but it’s not expensive?’

As I narrowed my eyes suspiciously, the owner gave a sheepish laugh and answered.

“W-well, it’s just that it’s not a top-grade stone like the ones the high nobles wear. But as you can see from the condition, the craftsmanship is excellent, so it’s not lacking at all!”

‘It certainly looks that way, but…’

Even so, I wondered if it was alright for a gift intended for the Grand Duke of Idelio to feature a gem that wasn’t top-grade.

‘No, wait. Isn’t it more strange for a thirteen-year-old to be able to buy something like that in the first place?’

Furthermore, I was currently a dependent of the Winchesters. Therefore, the amount of money I could use wasn’t very much to begin with.

‘For now, the only money I can use is what’s in this pouch.’

Although I had received Bluebell as compensation for preventing Esteban’s rampage, it was also true that I, a beastfolk, was taking a risk by living here for five long years.

Consequently, the Winchesters had agreed to provide me with a personal allowance in addition to room, board, and clothing. And just before heading out with Esteban today, I had received my first allowance from Lady Aria.

‘Let’s check how much is in here first….’

Honestly, I had wanted to check it the moment I received it, but I had been holding back for fear of looking too materialistic. I untied the small pouch Aria had given me.

‘10 shillings? Or maybe 1 gold? Even hoping for 5 gold would be too shameless…?’

Having never received an allowance back when I lived in Fennec, my heart fluttered with excitement. As I opened the pouch with a grin, I caught sight of dozens of glittering gold coins and hurriedly snapped the pouch shut. Even at a glance, there appeared to be at least thirty gold coins inside, making my heart thud wildly.

‘W-what is this?’

Gulping, I looked at Esteban. He winked at me as he noticed me gauging his reaction.

“What is it?”

“Oh, nothing. It’s nothing.”

‘I… I must have seen it wrong, right?’

I gave my body a little shake and untied the pouch again to check inside. As if to prove that what I saw earlier wasn’t an illusion, the pouch was filled with gold. Closing it frantically, I turned to Esteban, who was looking at me with a bored expression.

“Esteban, listen to me and don’t be surprised.”

“……?”

“I think the pouches got swapped.”

“What are you talking about?”

Seeing his confused face, I peeked at my surroundings. After confirming that the owner was distracted by another customer who had just arrived, I opened the pouch in front of Esteban’s eyes.

“This… Lady Aria gave this to me as my allowance.”

Esteban looked back and forth between the gold in the pouch and my face for a moment before slightly furrowing his brow.

“……Are you bragging?”

“What are you talking about! That’s not it! It’s because there’s too much… that’s why I’m saying this!”

“…….”

“Anyway, because of this, I think it’s better to stop looking at the festival and head back to the carriage first. Just like you said, if people find out I have a lot of money… someone might target me.”

I had snapped at him initially, but I quickly lowered my voice to a whisper, terrified that others might catch a glimpse of the gold. Even after tightly tying the mouth of the pouch, I hugged it to my chest and added:

“And seeing how large the amount is, I think Lady Aria might have confused my allowance with money she set aside to pay for something else.”

I felt sorry for Esteban, but it seemed the festival tour had to end here. A pouch with this much money—at this rate, the entire Grand Duke’s estate might be in an uproar over its disappearance.

Esteban stared at me as I nodded with a grim face, then shifted his gaze back to the stall and asked: “More importantly, who were you looking at that brooch for?”

“Huh?”

“It’s a men’s brooch. Weren’t you looking at it as a gift?”

I blinked at the sudden shift in conversation. After narrowing my eyes to wonder why he asked, I eventually shrugged.

“I just thought it would be nice to give to the Grand Duke.”

“The Grand Duke you’re talking about wouldn’t be my father, would it?”

Seeing Esteban’s face, which looked like he couldn’t believe his ears, I tilted my head as if to say, “Why wouldn’t it be?” Esteban’s expression of utter incomprehension made me feel awkward instead.

“Um…. I’m just giving it to him because I’m grateful for many things. He brought a doctor so I could be treated, and it’s also a way of saying I look forward to his continued help?”

I wondered why I was making excuses, yet I continued to chatter away. Esteban, watching me with a sharp gaze, grabbed the hand holding the pouch and said: “If it’s for that man, you don’t need to buy it.”

“What?”

“Buy something you need. Don’t look for gifts for others.”

‘Still, calling your own father “that man” is a bit much, don’t you think?’

In my head, I wondered if I should correct Esteban’s words—which seemed to have swallowed any sense of etiquette—but… well, his words were quite thoughtful of me, so I didn’t feel too bad.

I was trying to suppress the corners of my mouth from twitching upward when Esteban glanced down at my pouch.

“And I don’t think Mother made a mistake, but even if she did, you can just use it.”

“Huh?”

“It’s already in your hands, isn’t it?”

I stared at Esteban blankly for a moment before chuckling.

“What is that? You’re saying once it’s in my hands, that’s the end of it?”

Even so, I was thinking that I really should return it to Lady Aria. But as I checked the pouch in my arms once more, I heard a voice above my head that sounded strangely unfamiliar.

“At least, that’s how it is for me.”

“……?”

“I have no intention of giving back anything that has fallen into my hands, no matter what it is.”

***

“……And so, after visiting the boutique today, the Young Master toured the festival in the square with Miss Poblian.”

“I see. Good work. You may go now.”

“No, thank you, My Lady.”

At Aria’s dismissal, the coachman who had driven the carriage for the two children quietly left the room. Aria picked up the teacup in front of her with a mysterious smile.

“Touring a festival….”

He was a son who couldn’t let his guard down, even when told he was still just a child and could afford to relax. Because she knew he feared hurting others with his rampages, Aria hadn’t been able to push Esteban any further.

But hearing that such a boy had gone to a festival crowded with people made Aria feel like she might burst into tears of joy.

“It must be thanks to that child after all.”

Poblian Fennec.

Despite her initial worries about a young beastfolk who couldn’t even manage a proper human transformation, the influence she had on her son was significant. In fact, she still vividly remembered the first words Esteban had said to her while he stayed by the side of the unconscious Poblian.

‘I will catch the culprit.’

They were words she never expected from a son who was so overwhelmed by his own rampages that he built unnecessary walls against others. And indeed, Esteban had rooted out the one who had made Poblian that way—though his accomplices had taken advantage of the chaos to escape the Grand Duke’s estate.

Aria briefly recalled that day before shaking off the thoughts. Now was not the time to get sentimental over her son’s change.

The guard they thought had escaped with Beth had been found dead nearby. Judging by the wound on his neck, it wasn’t difficult to guess that he had been murdered. But the fact that Beth’s body was not found there meant….

‘It means whoever killed the guard took Beth.’

Poblian had said she used her ability on Beth to save her own life and Lani’s. If the person who took Beth was in league with those targeting Esteban, it was only a matter of time before they learned about Poblian’s ability.

That meant Poblian would soon be in danger.

Aria, who was organizing her thoughts with a grim face, looked up at the sound of a knock. Upon identifying the person entering the room, Aria tilted her head in surprise, not expecting to see them visiting her room at such a late hour.