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Chapter 16
Year-end Festival (1)
Belladonna was so surprised, her mouth dropped open.
“Why? If you don’t want to kiss, should I sing a song for you instead?”
That was even more surprising.
A song? What song!
Belladonna stared at his smooth cheek and started thinking deeply.
Should I just quickly give him a kiss and go out to see the festival? Or should I ignore him and stay in this room all day, looking at those boring ledgers?
Actually, for her, it wasn’t a hard choice.
The reason was…
‘Wolf’s ledger is really boring!’
Belladonna thought for a moment, then grabbed both of his cheeks and got ready to kiss him.
If you hesitate, things just get more awkward.
‘Yes, let’s do it quickly and get it over with!’
“Oh… My wife is braver than I thought.”
Escallion’s lips curved up, amused.
Belladonna quickly turned his face so his cheek was facing her.
Whatever, let’s do it!
‘Smooch!’
The sound of the kiss echoed in the room.
Don’t feel embarrassed. If you feel embarrassed, you lose. Just act normal… calm…
Belladonna kept telling herself.
Don’t blush, don’t blush. Stay calm…
Escallion started to laugh quietly, his shoulders shaking.
He raised his head.
“Alright. Now that you did this, you should come with me to the festival.”
“….”
“But you can’t wear your saintly robes. You have to wear normal clothes. I don’t like getting too much attention.”
Belladonna nodded. She already heard this from Cindy, so it wasn’t a surprise.
“Ask the maid to dress you warmly. If you get sick again, you’re not allowed outside until winter is over.”
Belladonna nodded again.
Escallion, still smiling, poked her cheek with his finger.
“Stop making your face so red.”
It was the day of the year-end festival in Griblatta.
Belladonna wore a thick old brown dress that Cindy helped her put on and looked at herself in the mirror.
‘In my old life, I used to wear things like this a lot…’
It wasn’t pretty, but it was practical.
Instead of lace or frills, it had lots of big pockets. It was good for carrying things.
Belladonna, wearing the most common dress in the Ellinus Empire, stared at herself.
“Ma’am! Even in these clothes, your beauty doesn’t get hidden!”
Cindy peeked out from behind, tying Belladonna’s waist.
“Do you want to wear a hat?”
Belladonna shook her head.
If she wore a hat, she would really look like her old self, and she didn’t want that.
“How much longer do I have to wait?”
Just then, Escallion’s voice came from outside the door.
Surprised, Cindy finished quickly and opened the door.
“My lord, we’re almost ready!”
Escallion was also wearing normal clothes, like an ordinary person.
But still, his good looks stood out.
‘Does he really not know he stands out more like this?’
Escallion noticed Belladonna in front of the mirror and raised an eyebrow at her.
“….”
Why is he looking at me like that? Did I make myself too plain?
After a moment, he walked up and held out his hand to Cindy.
“Scarf.”
“Oh, wait a moment!”
Cindy gave him a soft, fluffy scarf.
Escallion wrapped it tightly around Belladonna’s neck and face.
What is he doing!
“My lord! She can’t see like this…”
“If I don’t do this, I can’t hide her face.”
“But…”
Belladonna stood still, her vision blocked.
“She can’t breathe like this!”
Cindy saved her. She unwrapped the scarf and fixed it comfortably around Belladonna’s neck.
Escallion looked unhappy.
“Even in boring clothes, you can’t hide that face. What am I supposed to do?”
“I agree. So how about this?”
Cindy pulled out something and showed it to them.
She brought out cute, big bunny ear muffs—something a child would wear.
“If you wear these, your face will be a bit more covered!”
“Good. That’s better.”
Really? This is the best option?
Belladonna looked at herself in the mirror and felt she looked silly.
Do I look like a fool? What is this?
But no one noticed her eyes asking for help.
Or maybe they ignored her.
“Last, wear this thick coat and you’re ready!”
Cindy put a dark coat on Belladonna and looked satisfied.
Escallion nodded and held out his hand.
“If you’re ready, let’s go.”
“Have fun, ma’am! Make good memories with my lord!” Cindy cheered as they left.
Belladonna followed Escallion, dragging her feet.
What is this… At least, not many people in Griblatta know me…
“Bella, aren’t you cold?”
Escallion looked down at Belladonna as they walked together.
How could I be cold, bundled up like this?
Belladonna shook her head and got closer to him.
Actually, it wasn’t because of the cold. There were just more people outside than she thought.
“Come here, look at this!”
“Ahahaha!”
“How much for this statue?”
“Kids! Let’s all thank Elieza!”
The festival was full of people laughing and calling out.
Belladonna felt her heart get lighter as she looked around.
“Do you want to buy something?”
Escallion gently put his arm around her shoulders.
Belladonna shook her head without thinking, but then her eyes stopped on something.
“Get your snacks! Hot fish-shaped cakes!”
Hot fish-shaped cakes…!
Her eyes sparkled.
Escallion saw where she was looking.
“Do you want that?”
Belladonna swallowed.
Hot cakes weren’t expensive or fancy. But they were her favorite snack in her past life.
‘When it got cold, I always wanted those hot fish cakes…’
Since becoming a saint, she never got to eat them again.
But here in Griblatta, she found them!
Her mouth watered.
“If you open your mouth more, you’ll start drooling.”
Escallion laughed and walked to the snack stand.
“Ten, please.”
“Yes! That will be four blang!”
The friendly seller packed up ten fish cakes in a paper bag.
“You can keep the change.”
“Oh! Thank you!”
Escallion flipped a silver coin to the seller and returned.
“If you want more, just say so.”
Wow… hot fish-shaped cakes…!
Belladonna happily took the bag and quickly pulled one out.
‘He bought ten, so you can have one too!’
She offered the first one to Escallion.
He looked away.
“I don’t want any.”
‘Why not? Take it!’
Belladonna nudged him with the fish cake.
“I said I don’t want any.”
“….”
“I really… okay, fine. Give me one.”
When Belladonna stared stubbornly, Escallion finally nodded.
“I told you it’s okay to be stubborn, but you use it for strange snacks. You’re funny.”
Belladonna ignored him and took a big bite of the second cake.
Wow… so good!
The hot cake tasted even better on a cold day.
So exciting! Always delicious!
“Let’s go where there are more people.”
Escallion held her wrist and led her to a crowded place.
Everyone there was busy writing something.
What are they doing?
“Sky lanterns.”
Sky lanterns?
She looked closer and saw everyone was holding small lanterns and writing on them.
“You write your wish on it.”
Escallion explained.
“On year-end festival day, people write wishes on sky lanterns and send them up. There’s a superstition that wishes come true.”
Ahh…
“Do you want to try?”
Without waiting, Escallion bought a lantern and a pen from a young vendor and gave them to her.
“Make a wish.”
A wish…
Belladonna took the blue lantern and stared at it.
What should I wish for?
She didn’t know what to write.
Escallion looked down at her.
“You must have heard lots of people’s wishes. Do you really have none for yourself?”
“….”
“You don’t have to wish for something big. If you wish for something small, it’s more likely to come true.”
Belladonna thought and then pointed at Escallion.
What about your wish?
