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Chapter 15
A few days later, the festival began. It was the Visent Festival, held once a year to celebrate the day when the two moons in the sky perfectly overlapped.
There was a legend that lovers who kissed at the exact moment the two moons overlapped would live together for a hundred years and be blessed with many children, and that couples who became lovers during this period would love each other forever. The legend originated from the rainy season that followed the overlapping of the two moons, which helped crops grow abundantly. For that reason, it was no exaggeration to say that the Visent Festival was a festival for lovers.
On the entire continent, only in Visentium could the two moons be observed overlapping perfectly. That was why the festival took its name from Visentium.
Throughout the festival, the atmosphere remained lively. The streets were lined with stalls decorated with colorful lanterns, and a wide variety of food and handicrafts tempted people whose hearts were lifted by the festive mood.
At night, the streets were crowded with dating couples, so Roabellin usually went around sightseeing alone during the daytime. Even though she was by herself, it was quite fun to wander around while picking up bits of information about the meaning of the festival.
Around lunchtime that day, there was an imperial address at the central plaza of Visentium. Roabellin went to see if she could catch a glimpse of the Emperor, but tens of thousands of people had gathered for the event.
‘The Emperor’s face looks about as big as an ant. His hair color… is it black? I can’t really see because of his crown. I can only tell for sure that he’s tall.’
She couldn’t properly make out the Emperor’s appearance, but she could hear his address through an amplification spell that carried his voice. His baritone was clear and distinct, and dignity could be felt even in his voice.
‘They say he’s a young Emperor of twenty-three, but still… an Emperor is an Emperor. Even his voice isn’t ordinary.’
She had failed to confirm the appearance of her target, the Emperor, but at least she learned that even as an ant-sized silhouette, he didn’t look unpleasant enough to be unbearable to stand beside.
‘Well, that’s good enough, good enough. Once I enter the imperial palace, I’ll probably suffer for a while. So let me forget about the Emperor for today and enjoy myself for once—just this once, and for the last time.’
After confirming that the address was over, Roabellin headed to the afternoon market streets overflowing with festive energy. Events were happening everywhere, and everyone wore happy expressions.
The vivid atmosphere lifted her spirits as well. It felt as though something special might happen. With her heart fluttering for no reason, she found herself thinking of something she normally would not do.
‘Just for today, I’ll go around with my real face. It’s a festival, after all. In a capital this big, who would recognize me? And from now on, I’ll be living in this city with a different face anyway, so one day should be fine.’
Roabellin slipped into a deserted alley and carefully dispelled the magic covering her face. Immediately, long, softly flowing platinum-blonde hair, pale violet eyes, and a pure yet captivating face were revealed. A face no one could ever forget after seeing it once, and a slender yet voluptuous body, were bathed in bright sunlight.
It had been a very long time since she had gone outside with her real face. The refreshing feeling made her mood even better. Because her rare hair and eye colors easily attracted attention, she wrapped herself in a robe to partially cover her face, but that was something she could easily endure.
Under the bright midday sun, she looked around the streets brimming with festive cheer.
‘Come to think of it… I’m the only one here alone.’
Watching people enjoying the festival affectionately with their lovers or friends, Roabellin suddenly felt lonely.
Having lived for a long time hiding her identity and in seclusion, she had neither a lover nor female friends her age. Her aunt, who was like an older sister to her, and the servants who had shared life and death with her were her family and everything.
“Oh, hey, look at that woman over there.”
“Ah, I was looking too. I thought she was a doll! Wow…”
“Why is such a beauty walking around alone?”
“There’s no way she’s alone. She must be on her way to meet her boyfriend~”
Because her beauty couldn’t be completely hidden by the robe, many gazes followed Roabellin. Voices of admiration could be heard everywhere. There were even men who tried to speak to her.
However, since it was the festival period, an especially large number of security troops had been deployed to maintain order. They were stationed strictly throughout the area, so no one dared to openly cause trouble.
Whenever there was even a small quarrel or suspicious movement, security personnel would appear out of nowhere and prevent any incident.
Thanks to that, many people, including Roabellin, could enjoy the festival in peace. The citizens of Visentium praised the Emperor for firmly maintaining both the economy and public security.
‘I thought he was just a young Emperor, but he seems surprisingly capable. So it wasn’t only his magical power that let him surpass his older brother and take the throne.’
Although there was no direct harm, people’s interest in Roabellin continued quietly yet persistently.
Still, she paid it no mind and continued enjoying the festival when she noticed a small child squatting at the entrance of an alley.
A blind child, unable to see, had placed a small brazier by the roadside and set out a piece of paper with the words “Make a wish” written on it. Beside it was an empty container, suggesting the child was begging.
Clang!
“Ah, damn it! What the hell? Tsk…”
Because the street was so crowded, a passing man accidentally kicked the child’s brazier. The brazier, a little bigger than two fists, rolled away, but the man walked off without a second thought.
“Ah…?”
Hearing the sound of the brazier rolling away, the child stretched out his hand and groped in front of him, but the brazier had fallen where his hand couldn’t reach.
In the capital of the great empire, among the finely dressed people of the glamorous downtown area, no one paid any attention to the child.
A young child helplessly groping the ground alone—Roabellin simply couldn’t pass by. She picked up the brazier and placed it into the child’s hands.
“Hi, I’m Roabellin. I’m not a strange person—I just want to help you. Here, the brazier is right here… and, um, wait here just a moment.”
Afraid that the blind child might be startled by her sudden approach, she even introduced herself and explained. Although she was hiding her identity, her pity and desire to reassure the harmless-looking child outweighed that, and she naturally gave her real name. Fortunately, the child showed no particular reaction to her name.
“Here, take this.”
Roabellin bought some food nearby and placed it in the child’s arms. Then she applied the magical ointment she carried to the small wounds scattered over the child’s body.
The many scratches left on his small body clearly showed how harsh a life he had lived with his disability. Her heart clenched, and though it wasn’t much, she gave him all the money she had with her.
The child, awkward in the face of a stranger’s kindness, still did not refuse what Roabellin offered. With slightly reddened cheeks, he fumbled and said,
“Th… thank you, miss. P-please… make a wish.”
At his words, Roabellin asked gently,
“What do you mean by that?”
“Here… write three wishes on paper… and p-put them… into this brazier… and burn them. Your wishes… will come true.”
Of course, Roabellin didn’t believe that doing such a thing would make her wishes come true. Still, she wanted the child to feel that he had earned something through his own effort, not just received charity.
“Alright, I’ll try. Just a moment.”
Since the child couldn’t see anyway, Roabellin comfortably wrote down her secret wishes in front of him.
‘Hmm, first… please let me succeed in bearing the Emperor’s child. Second, through that, let me restore my family for sure. Lastly… let me experience love once with a handsome man whose heart is as wonderful as his looks. I know I can’t marry, living in hiding like this. But just once, I want to experience a love so intense it feels like my chest will burst.’
Though she wrote them simply, as she thought about them, they somehow turned into earnest wishes.
“Now I just put this paper into the brazier and burn it?”
“Y-yes, that’s right…”
Roabellin did as the child instructed and placed the paper into the brazier. The paper caught fire—and for just a moment, a blue light seemed to flicker across the red and black embers.
‘Blue? Hmm, did I see that wrong because of the sunlight?’
Roabellin rubbed her eyes. In that brief moment, the thin paper disappeared into the flames. The child sniffed at the smell of the smoke.
“Th-that’s it. Your wishes… will come true.”
She had thought it was just a mood-making stall set up for the festival, but the child’s serious tone made her tilt her head.
‘Is he pretending to be a shaman?’
Thinking that this country must have such customs too, she lightly brushed it off with mild curiosity and smiled gently at the child.
“Alright, kid. Thank you. That’s enough for today—use the money I gave you to buy something tasty and go home, okay?”
Worried that the child might lose the money, Roabellin placed it firmly into his hand again. The child stared blankly into the air with unfocused eyes and nodded silently.
The next day, when Roabellin passed by the same spot, the child was nowhere to be seen.
‘Thanks to what I did yesterday, he must be taking a day off today.’
Thinking that she had at least given the child a day of rest, Roabellin felt satisfied.
