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Chapter 24
The plaza shook off its earlier gloom and filled once again with lively noise.
Workers rushed in to clear the debris scattered across the square. Every time they lifted a heavy piece, they shouted in unison—“One, two—!”—their voices echoing powerfully across the ground.
From atop the platform, Denok watched the scene quietly before turning his gaze.
The shattered fairy statue still lay where it had fallen—its wings crushed, its body broken into pieces.
He stepped slowly toward the edge of the platform.
*“It’s been so long since I last used magic…”*
After losing his parents to fire, Denok had suffered intense, uncontrollable pain every night from his powers. Since then, he’d avoided using magic whenever possible—always suppressing it, hiding it, running from it.
But now\…
His eyes drifted to where Edith was, far across the plaza, guiding people with urgency. Her face was streaked with dirt, but she didn’t even seem to notice. She was too busy helping, too busy running around, grabbing the arms of confused citizens and urging them to safety.
She had asked him for help. He couldn’t just turn his back.
*“I don’t want to ruin the festival everyone’s been looking forward to,”* she had said. Her voice still echoed in his ears.
“….”
Denok looked at her once more—then slowly raised his hand.
Magic gathered at his outstretched fingertips, flickering to life.
What he had suppressed for so long now surged out like a wild beast finally freed from its cage—raw, violent, and unrelenting.
Denok furrowed his brows, forcing the turbulent energy into shape.
Moments later, the broken fairy statue began to tremble.
“Gasp… Look! Look at that…!”
The shattered pieces slowly lifted into the air, guided by magic. The floating remains drifted gently back toward their original positions.
The air grew still as Denok’s magic calmed.
Once the statue returned to its place, the workers—who had been holding their breath—rushed back under it.
They cleared the rubble and quickly secured a new support beam to replace the broken one.
It was all part of what Edith had asked them to do.
The carpenters hammered wooden columns beneath the statue’s wings.
This time, to make sure they’d never break again.
—
Meanwhile, Edith gathered women from the corners of the plaza.
Maids who had followed her, the wives of laborers, and townspeople who happened to be passing by—all now sat around her.
They glanced awkwardly at the woman known only through rumors—the Grand Duchess.
But as soon as she spoke, their hesitation turned into surprise.
“Can you help me weave these? Like a rope, long and strong.”
Edith held up the stem of a *Luminel* flower and demonstrated how to tie it. The sturdy stem twisted tightly, like a proper rope.
“With this? What for…?”
“I want to use them to help restore the fairy statue.”
Their eyes widened in disbelief.
“With flowers? But it would take too long to make something that big…”
“That’s okay. Just do as much as you can. It doesn’t have to be perfect.”
She smiled as she showed them how to weave the petals gently.
The women, hesitant at first, gasped at her next words.
“I’m planning to wrap the frame of the new wings in these flower ropes. To build wings from flowers.”
“Ah!”
Now it made sense.
Their eyes lit up with determination, and they began working eagerly.
Delicate petals were woven carefully—gentle, yet strong enough not to come undone.
As they worked, Edith turned and walked toward Vernon.
“Do you need anything?” he asked immediately, as though he’d been waiting for her.
“Vernon, could you contact the local tailors? I need white cloth. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just large. Really large.”
“How large exactly…?”
Edith narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, then slowly raised her hand and pointed.
Toward the fairy statue, now restored to its place.
“Large enough to cover that.”
“…That much?”
Vernon blinked in astonishment, glancing between the statue and Edith.
“That’s… quite a lot.”
But after a moment of shock, he tightened his lips and gave a firm nod.
“I’ll contact every tailor in town right away. Even if we have to stitch together leftover fabric, we’ll make it work.”
“Thank you, Vernon.”
Her voice was gentle, and her smile soft.
In that moment, she forgot the need to wear the proud mask of nobility. She was completely immersed in what had to be done.
And from afar, Denok silently watched her.
—
That night, fireworks soared into the sky.
Bright bursts lit up the dark heavens, blooming like flowers above the town.
Soft glimmers of light rained down, coloring the streets a gentle peach-pink hue.
Every rooftop, window ledge, and tree had been decorated with *Luminel* blossoms.
Even passersby wore orange flower accessories in their hair or pinned to their clothes.
“Wooooow…”
A little girl tilted her head all the way back, eyes wide with wonder.
“Rika, watch where you’re walking. Hold mommy’s hand tightly.”
Despite her mother’s scolding, the girl couldn’t stop looking around. Her small head turned left and right—until something caught her eye.
Her eyes widened. Her cheeks flushed.
“Mom! Over there! Look!”
“Rika, wait a moment—!”
Far in the distance stood a massive tent structure.
A thin white curtain draped around it like a veil. Behind it, a shadowy form could be seen—barely.
Ignoring her mother’s protests, the girl pushed her way through the crowd, pulling her hand behind her.
And then, she saw it.
A fairytale scene, right before her eyes.
Behind the great curtain, a silhouette lay curled gently as if asleep.
From its back, something impossible extended—something no human could ever have.
The little girl’s mouth fell open.
“…A fairy.”
Wings made of flower petals shimmered in the wind.
Even from behind the curtain, the wings gave off a gentle glow.
Wow. *Wow!*
The child bounced excitedly and looked up at her mother, silently asking if it was real.
Her mother smiled, patting her daughter’s head.
“You’re right. The fairy must be sleeping.”
With tiny, careful steps, the girl tiptoed closer to the curtain.
There, someone had placed a sign.
In neat black letters, it read:
**\[Shh… The fairy is sleeping.]**
Her eyes grew even wider.
She cupped her hands over her mouth, then turned back to her mother and whispered.
“Mommy, the fairy must be *so* tired.”
“Maybe they traveled all over the estate before we arrived.”
The girl nodded solemnly, as if that made perfect sense. Her mother chuckled softly, shaking with laughter.
Behind them, other children wearing fairy wings laughed and ran through the street.
The wings on their backs fluttered with the breeze—almost like they were flying for real.
Though the children’s noise startled some adults at first, soon smiles spread across their faces.
Even they couldn’t hide their excitement anymore.
To be honest, many had been nervous when they heard the Grand Duke would attend the festival.
With so many dark rumors, and barely anyone having seen him in person, anxiety had been high.
Unlike the previous couple, who attended each year, the Duke only funded the festival—never appearing himself.
But now—
“Hey, did you hear? They’re handing out meat at the festival!”
“Tom from the garden said the Grand Duke isn’t as scary as people say.”
Whispers like these reached the ears of hesitant townsfolk, and even those with no interest in the event came pouring into the plaza.
That’s why the plaza was now overflowing.
And at that very moment, soft murmurs spread again—this time from the platform.
Two silhouettes quietly stepped into view atop the high stage.
