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Chapter 28
The capital, which I was visiting for the first time, was incredibly vast.
Was it because we had come straight to the plaza without even stopping by the townhouse?
With all the noisy people bustling about, I almost felt like I’d been transported to another world.
This world, too, had the concept of weekdays and weekends, and today was a weekday.
And yet, the plaza was packed with people, almost like a festival.
“This is the central plaza……”
Kalib, standing next to me, murmured quietly.
Come to think of it, this was probably the first time both Cedric and Kalib were seeing the busy streets of the capital instead of the imperial palace.
Kalib had never dared to look around properly because of the watchful eyes of the retainers, and Cedric was always busy protecting him.
And after Cedric was cursed—well, that went without saying.
Kalib’s eyes sparkled as though they were filled with stars as he looked around.
Watching him made me think it wouldn’t be so bad to just enjoy the sights for a little while… but—
“Shall we go?”
We had a goal.
The heroine of the original story, Daphne, had been kidnapped.
To confirm whether or not I was the wicked fairy, I absolutely had to find her.
At my words, Cedric, who had been silent, turned his gaze to Kalib.
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
But even as Kalib answered, his eyes kept darting around the plaza.
“Where do you think we should start gathering information?”
“First, let’s get out of the plaza.”
“Yes. We dismissed all the guards so that the three of us could move discreetly, so it wouldn’t do to attract attention here.”
Indeed, we could already spot imperial knights in golden armor and the private soldiers of nobles scattered here and there.
Most of them were nobles themselves, so they would surely recognize a member of the Grand Duchy of Indigentia.
If they found it strange that we were moving without an escort and word somehow reached the Marinest family…
In the worst-case scenario, we might be ordered to drop the matter entirely.
That would mean returning to the Grand Duke’s castle without being able to confirm my true identity.
And who knows, maybe Marinest and Meishalatz really would form an alliance.
When we said we would move on our own, Olivia had nearly had a fit.
‘The three of you alone? That’s far too dangerous…!’
But she hadn’t been able to finish her protest.
Because it was us.
The strongest man alive, Cedric.
Kalib, secretly acknowledged as the strongest man of the future.
And me—the one who once subdued a group of muscular maids with my fists.
Anyone who dared attack us would only get beaten instead.
So Olivia eventually trusted us to go.
As we headed for a more secluded corner of the plaza, I said,
“There are so many knights in gleaming armor, it makes the atmosphere strangely tense.”
“It’s because so many armed people are around. It creates a sense of fear,” Cedric replied.
“Which actually works in our favor,” Kalib added.
“Ordinary people get intimidated just seeing imposing knights. Even if they wanted to share information, they’d be too scared to speak.”
That was why we had chosen to move simply, without guards.
“True. It’ll be easier for people to talk to us than to knights.”
At least we weren’t armed.
Just then, as we were heading toward the residential district—
“Yay! I’m so happy Daddy didn’t go to work today!”
“Since our little Rena is so delighted, maybe I should take days off more often, even on weekdays.”
A family came out of their house, laughing warmly together.
The child hopped joyfully, holding tightly to both parents’ hands.
They didn’t look rich, but they looked genuinely happy.
Cedric and I passed by them without much thought—but not Kalib.
“…Kalib?”
He had stopped in place, staring blankly at the child holding both parents’ hands.
Naturally, when Kalib stopped, I stopped too, and so did Cedric.
Cedric frowned slightly, clearly troubled by the sight of Kalib looking so dazed, as if his soul had slipped out of him.
But only for a moment.
“Kalib.”
Cedric started to go bring him back.
But I stepped in front of him to stop him.
“…?”
Cedric looked at me questioningly, but I didn’t answer him. Instead, I turned to Kalib.
“Kalib.”
“…H-huh?”
It was as if he’d been startled awake, trembling as he answered.
Seeing him like that was both endearing and heartbreaking, so I forced a smile.
“The capital really is crowded, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. It really is.”
“If we’re not careful, we might get separated. Why don’t we hold hands?”
“…Hold hands?”
“Mm-hm. It’d be ridiculous if we came looking for a missing lady but ended up losing each other.”
I crouched down to meet his eyes.
“So let’s hold hands. Cedric and I may be engaged to marry, but…”
I cast a glance at Cedric, who was still standing a little distance away, just watching us.
“…it still feels awkward. So how about you stand in the middle and hold both our hands? Like that child just now.”
The one who had held onto both parents.
At my words, Kalib’s face slowly brightened before blossoming into a wide smile.
“Okay!”
His cheerful, childlike voice rang out.
When I held out my hand, Kalib’s cheeks flushed red as he quickly grabbed it.
His small, warm hand squeezed tightly, as though he’d never let go.
Watching us, Cedric finally stepped forward and offered his hand too.
“In a crowd, the best way not to lose each other is to hold on like this.”
“Yeah. Elia really is amazing!”
Kalib grinned proudly, as if he had just been praised, and took Cedric’s hand as well.
Hand in hand, we swung our arms as we walked toward the residential district.
We checked all the way to the third district, but gained nothing.
“Well, I didn’t expect it to be easy, but still…”
“We’ve got absolutely nothing.”
“My feet hurt…”
The three of us plopped down on a park bench to rest.
Maybe pounding the pavement like this only worked in novels.
Maybe we should have just stayed in the Grand Duke’s castle and let others search while we waited.
Thinking about it, entrusting this job to experienced subordinates probably would’ve been faster.
I was beginning to regret it when I noticed Kalib staring intently at something.
“Hm?”
Following his gaze, I saw a street vendor.
A man with a cart full of candies was smiling warmly as he greeted children.
It reminded me of an ice cream truck.
“So peaceful…”
The words slipped out of me.
The bustling people in the plaza, the sound of the fountain, children rejoicing as if candy was the greatest treasure in the world…
This park, those children—they weren’t in the original story.
And yet, here they were, vibrant and alive.
It really hit me: this novel’s world was another real world in its own right.
Which meant, to live safely here, I first had to find Daphne.
And confirm whether I was really Elia or not.
Right. If I had left it to others, I would’ve just been worrying endlessly.
I gave myself a pep talk and stood up.
“Let’s give it another try and ask around.”
“But…”
Cedric gave Kalib a meaningful look.
Kalib was staring just as he had earlier, when he saw that child.
I followed his gaze. It was the candy cart.
Reading the large letters painted on the cart, I said,
“‘Sweet and tangy—Ifrecent’s specialty lemon honey candy, made with fresh lemons and acacia honey…’”
At my voice, Kalib flinched.
Almost as if he were reacting to the words lemon honey candy.
That’s right—Kalib loved lemons.
Stroking his chin, Cedric said,
“I’ve heard of that. Lemon honey candies can only be found here in the capital.”
“Only in the capital…”
Kalib had never even dared drink cocoa back at the Grand Duke’s castle, always mindful of the adults around him.
But I was certain he had a sweet tooth.
He might have grown up too quickly and acted mature, but he was still at the age where he wanted to try what other children did.
Sweet, tangy candies made with his beloved lemons, available only in the capital…
It was bound to catch his heart.
I crouched in front of him again.
“We’re all tired. How about we recharge a little with candy? It’ll lift our spirits.”
“Really?”
Kalib, who had been staring blankly at the candy cart, whipped his head around.
Oh my goodness, so cute.
Did you want it that badly?
He was a grand duke’s son, richer than me, yet I felt like buying him ten—no, twenty.
But Cedric, that blockhead, said—
“Street food can’t be trusted. How about we finish our search first and then go to a proper pastry shop later?”
At that, Kalib’s red eyes trembled, then fell.
Like a child forcing himself to accept disappointment: ‘Yeah, you’re right…’
Oh, you idiot!
I snapped my head up at Cedric, glaring as if to say, Can’t you use your brain for once?!
Kalib, embarrassed by how quickly he’d perked up, bit his lower lip.
Cedric made an oh no face, hastily correcting himself.
“B-but, I suppose one piece of candy won’t hurt. Especially since lemon honey candy is said to be refreshing. It could really lift our mood.”
“Huh?”
Kalib looked up, doubtful at first.
But only for a moment.
As we got closer to the candy cart, his face lit up with a wide, bright smile.
The sight of his grinning mouth was utterly adorable.
I held tightly onto his hand as we stood in front of the cart.
And that was when—
