WTSP - 52

I turned my head back in startled surprise. Cold sweat broke out as the blood seemed to drain from my face.

“Your Highness! Are you alright? You suddenly disappeared!”

“Did you perhaps get hurt? You vanished so suddenly, we were shocked!”

As soon as I confirmed that the others were Cloden and Lena, my strength gave out.

I steadied my trembling legs and took a deep breath. Just a few minutes ago, I had clearly been talking to the old woman inside the bookstore.

‘What on earth is going on? This is driving me crazy.’

I kept taking deep breaths to calm my pounding heart. Lena and Cloden’s faces were full of worry. Repeating the inhales and exhales seemed to bring some relief. I gave Lena an awkward smile and cleared my throat.

“I’m alright. Just a little surprised.”

“Oh no. I think I startled you by suddenly grabbing you, Your Highness. But... there was no other way to call you.”

Lena stomped her feet, looking tearful. It was true that she couldn’t use the title ‘Your Highness’ in such a crowded place.

I frowned, bewildered.

“Both of you were looking for me the whole time?”

“Yes. As soon as Your Highness went inside, you disappeared along with the bookstore. I wondered if I had seen something wrong, but Lady Lena witnessed the same thing...!”

“...The bookstore, disappeared? With me?”

“Yes. You vanished in the blink of an eye.”

“We searched everywhere. But when we came back, Your Highness was standing here blankly where the bookstore used to be...”

Cloden answered in a hurried voice. Lena, now somewhat relieved, was patting her chest. I still bit my lower lip with an expression of disbelief.

Then, something quickly flashed through my mind.

‘Ah, the necklace!’

I quickly lowered my head to look at my neck.

It wasn’t a complete dream, as the necklace the old woman had given me was still there. A pebble about the size of my thumb was dangling.

‘It wasn’t a hallucination... So, did it really disappear?’

Was that old woman a sorceress?

Otherwise, she couldn’t have vanished so quickly. Lost in deep thought, I didn’t hear Lena calling me.

“Your Highneess, are you really alright? I think we should return to the Imperial Palace.”

Lena lowered her voice, looking worried. It would probably be best to return now.

I nodded in agreement and started walking. Why did I keep looking back? There were so many things I wanted to ask the unknown old woman.

‘This could also be a trap. There’s no way a random person I met could be a sorceress... But if so, how can I explain this situation?’

As I walked towards the carriage, my head complicated with confusion, I heard the voices of three or four middle-aged men talking. Their voices were loud enough to be heard even 100 meters away.

“I heard there will be fireworks at the Grand Plaza in an hour. Will we finally get to see those expensive fireworks?”

“Hey man, didn’t you see them last year? They set them off during the last festival too.”

“I didn’t have time to watch, taking care of the baby. I must see them this year. They say they’re extravagant and amazing? Are those made by mages?”

“I don’t know about that. Anyway, it’s not a sight you can see easily. Why don’t you tell your wife to come out too?”

Fireworks?

One word stopped me in my tracks. Naturally, Cloden and Lena also stopped and looked at me.

Perhaps having heard the loud men’s conversation, Lena’s eyes lit up for a moment. She pressed her lips tightly as if trying not to show it, but her pupils were sparkling with anticipation.

“Lena. Have you ever seen fireworks?”

“Uh..., yes! I saw them once last year, and they were really grand and amazing. It was the most spectacular scene I had ever seen! It looks like they’re having them again this year!”

Lena poured out her words quickly, as if she had been waiting for my question.

‘She’s so cute anyway.’

Looking at Lena’s innocent face, I felt a sense of relief.

“Do you want to see them again?”

“Well... it’s not that. We have to return to the Imperial Palace now, right?”

Lena fluttered her lips and rolled her eyes. It was obvious to anyone that she was dying to see the fireworks. Her charm was that her thoughts were written all over her face.

I turned my head towards Cloden, who had been silently listening to our conversation.

“Sir Cloden, have you ever seen fireworks?”

“Yes. I have seen them a few times at the Imperial Palace.”

I pondered for a moment. An hour later, they had said. It wasn’t that late.

“Then shall we just watch them and go back? It’s not a common opportunity either.”

“Oh no, you don’t have to do that because of me, Your Highness! Really!”

“I want to see them. I’ve never seen them before.”

Strictly speaking, it was an experience that only Ophelia Meredith didn’t have. Lena looked at me, not knowing what to do.

“Are you really alright with that, Your Highness? You don’t have to push yourself.”

“It’s just going back an hour or two later, what’s the big deal? We’ll arrive well before it gets too dark.”

Cloden, who had been thinking for a moment, nodded as if he understood.

Lena was still fidgeting, but she seemed secretly happy.

I’ll get to see fireworks after a really long time. I thought to myself, looking up at the sky. A warm spring breeze brushed against my white cheeks.

________________________________________

“There are more people than I thought. Your Highness, please stay close to my side here.”

“I’m alright. You’re the one who might get pushed around?”

“I’m completely sturdy, you know. I’ve been through a lot.”

The number of people gathered at the Grand Plaza to watch the fireworks exceeded expectations. Since it was said to be a culture that only nobles enjoyed within the Carlot Empire, everyone must have flocked here.

I stood between Cloden and Lena, gazing at the darkening evening sky. People were waiting for the fireworks to adorn the sky with their precious ones.

They say emotions are contagious.

Being with people full of excitement made my own heart flutter. So much so that the suspicion and confusion about the old woman sank to the bottom of my mind.

“Sir Knight! You’re excited too, aren’t you?”

“Yes, Lady Lena. It seems like it’s been quite a while since I’ve seen them. I think it will become a good memory.”

“I’m so happy to be able to spend this time with Your Highness and Sir Knight!”

Cloden smiled quietly at Lena’s affectionate words. Standing between the two of them, I narrowed my eyes slightly.

Aren’t they being too obvious? I wondered if I was unnecessarily interfering with their budding romance by being in the middle.

‘They’re so cute. I hope they work out.’

I swallowed a laugh inwardly and shrugged without them noticing.

It somehow felt like I had become a matchmaker. Just as I was feeling a subtle sense of pride, the fireworks handler raised both hands and began counting down.

Ten, nine, eight, seven!

It seemed like they were really about to start.

Everyone around joined in the countdown in unison. Lena did the same. Cloden, looking a bit awkward in this situation, was watching Lena’s profile.

“Six, five, four, three, two, one.”

Hundreds of voices created a single sound. Their joyful emotions were felt directly.

I also added my voice to theirs and counted down.

Zero! A single syllable filled with everyone’s wishes pierced my ears.

And, bang! A red firework shot up into the sky.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful...”

People’s gazes turned towards the dim sky.

It was just an ordinary firework with nothing particularly special about it, but everyone stared up at the sparks with rapt attention.

Phew, bang! A pleasant noise echoed each time the handler lit one.

Some made wishes, while others shared deep kisses with their lovers. They were each enjoying the moment in their own way.

“Lena, Sir Cloden. Thank you for being with me today...”

“Your Highness! Be careful!”

“Kyaaah, what do we do! Your Highness!”

Just as an unknown emotion welled up within me, there was a sudden ‘pop!’ sound.

I widened my eyes and surveyed the surroundings.

Had something gone wrong with the fireworks? A burning smell and acrid smoke began to rise.

Sparks landed on a wooden chair nearby, and the flames quickly spread.

It didn’t even take a minute for the festival grounds to turn into chaos.

As soon as they saw the fire, people pushed each other, desperately trying to escape. It was the height of disorder.

Cloden, confirming the rapidly growing flames, put his arm around my shoulders and pushed through the crowd.

“Your Highness! Lady Lena! This way.”

“Oh no, what do we do? The fire is spreading more!”

“Lena! Take my hand.”

I tried to remain as calm as possible and led Lena. Amidst the people frantically evacuating, some were trying to put out the fire.

However, because the flames were spreading so quickly, their efforts turned to ash.

To think that such an accident would happen at a festival that should have been only joyful. Protected by Cloden, I looked at the source of the fire.

‘If this continues, the damage will be immense...’

But there was nothing I could do in this situation. At most, I could inform the Imperial Palace and send for reinforcements.

Acrid smoke stung my nose. Sighing in frustration, I unconsciously fiddled with the pebble on my necklace.

It was then.

A ‘pop!’ sound pierced my eardrums.

Could they have set off another firework?

Even in the urgent situation, I turned my head to assess the situation. And what filled my eyes was...

“Pom?”

My ever-so-lovely ball of fluff, Pompo, was there.