Episode 38: Her Designated Mission #2
The murmur of people echoed, and the streets of the capital were filled with a variety of colorful sights.
Shops adorned with fine jewels lined the road, and rare magical artifacts displayed in the windows caught the attention of passersby.
Yohan and Rudella walked side by side through the capital’s streets, exuding an awkward atmosphere.
Rudella glanced sideways at Yohan’s profile as they walked. His calm expression and steady footsteps somehow felt distant, making her hesitate repeatedly to start a conversation.
This moment of walking beside him felt unfamiliar and strangely precarious.
Stopping in front of a jewelry store glittering with jewels, Yohan gazed at a shining crystal orb.
The orb emitted a faint magical aura, occasionally shifting its colors, creating an intriguing ambiance.
“This crystal sphere reminds me of Lady Bismarck’s eyes,” Yohan remarked softly.
Rudella tilted her head in curiosity and looked at the crystal sphere he was gazing at.
“Does it?”
“They share many similarities,” he continued.
“Lady Bismarck’s eyes are a bright sky-blue, but depending on the light, they can appear a deep blue. The way they change reminds me of this crystal.”
Her eyes were like sky-blue topaz gemstones—evoking the clarity of a serene sky.
“Are you saying my eyes are like this crystal?”
“Well, you could say that.”
Yohan smiled warmly as he looked at Rudella. Though it was a casual smile, she flinched and stepped back slightly.
“…Your smile shines like a crystal as well,” Rudella murmured quietly. She spoke in a whisper, hoping he hadn’t heard her.
“Francia—no, Lady Fervache often said the same,” Yohan replied.
But he had heard her. Rudella looked at him in shock, then quickly realized he didn’t seem to care about any deeper meaning.
This brought her a sense of relief, yet a strange pang of disappointment followed. It felt as though he didn’t see her as a woman.
“Let’s buy one,” Yohan said, indicating the crystal orb. Rudella averted her gaze and nodded silently.
“Let’s go in.”
They entered the shop and purchased a pendant containing a crystal that sparkled in a sky-blue hue. Yohan handed it to Rudella with a faint smile.
“Would you like to try it on?”
“…Is it really alright for me to accept this?”
“There’s no reason you shouldn’t.”
It wasn’t expensive, just a mass-produced item. It didn’t hold any special meaning; he simply found it admirable that she managed her stress so well and wanted to reward her.
“Thank you.”
Rudella hesitantly extended her hand to receive it. But instead of handing it over, Yohan moved behind her and fastened the pendant around her neck himself.
“What…?”
Her body stiffened with surprise. Yohan’s hand brushed against the nape of her neck.
As the distance between them narrowed, her breathing grew shallow, and her heart pounded as if it would burst.
His breath seemed to echo right behind her, and for a moment, all her senses felt focused solely on him.
But Rudella remained silent, frozen in place, waiting quietly until he finished clasping the pendant.
“It’s customary for a man to help when giving a gift like this.” Yohan said.
“Customary…?”
“Yes. Just like escorting a lady into a carriage.”
“Is that so…?”
“It is.”
Yohan nodded with a soft smile. Realizing there was no hidden intent, Rudella felt both relieved and strangely disappointed as she gave him an awkward smile.
“Thank you. I’ll treasure it.”
Rudella gently touched the pendant around her neck. Though it felt solid, she could somehow sense a warmth emanating from it.
She glanced at the pendant with a faint smile, but her attention was soon drawn to the sound of music coming from the street.
In the center of the plaza, street musicians and dancers were performing, creating a festive atmosphere.
The harmony of their instruments filled the air, and the rhythm naturally made people stop and enjoy the spectacle.
“Shall we take a look?”
“Let’s.”
Intrigued by the music, Rudella’s sky-blue topaz-like eyes sparkled as she stepped into the center of the plaza.
Even without saying a word, it was clear from their attire and demeanor that Yohan and Rudella were nobles. People instinctively moved aside to make way for them.
─♬
When the music ended, Yohan clapped his hands in applause, while Rudella quietly watched him and let a gentle smile spread across her lips.
“Street music… It’s been a while since I last heard it.”
“Have you heard it before?”
“Yes, back when I attended the academy.”
Yohan suddenly recalled memories of the past. Though his life had been grueling at the time, now he found himself somewhat nostalgic for those days.
Because back then, he could live without any worries.
“Let’s look around some more.”
Nodding her head, Rudella followed Yohan, her eyes darting everywhere. There wasn’t a single thing that didn’t pique her curiosity. She wondered if the imperial capital had always been like this.
Was it because she hadn’t paid attention to her surroundings before, making it feel new? Or was it because she was strolling around with Yohan? She wasn’t certain of the exact answer, but Rudella decided to enjoy the moment.
“What about the street stalls?”
Yohan asked, gesturing toward a row of stalls selling skewers and various street foods.
“Not bad. The rabbit meat we had in the cave was delicious too.”
Considering she thought the unseasoned piece of meat was tasty, Rudella’s palate might not be as refined as he had imagined.
“Let’s give it a try.”
Yohan took her hand and led the way. Surprised by the sudden physical contact, Rudella flinched slightly but didn’t shake off his hand.
“Two skewers, please.”
“Here you go!”
As expected of a street vendor known for quick service, the skewers were handed over in no time. Yohan took them, handing one to Rudella.
“Be careful while eating.”
“Thank you…”
She carefully accepted the skewer, tucking her hair behind her ear as she took a small bite. It was a wild flavor she’d never tasted in the palace.
“This is… delicious.”
Covering her mouth with her hand, her sky-blue topaz eyes sparkled. It was clear she really liked it.
“I’m glad you enjoy it.”
“Hmph… Hmm.”
Perhaps embarrassed at having expressed her feelings so candidly, Rudella’s cheeks flushed red as she turned her head away. Still, she kept munching on the skewer.
Finding her behavior oddly cute, Yohan chuckled without realizing it. The more he got to know her, the more surprising sides she revealed.
‘I guess I shouldn’t judge the main characters of this world too quickly.’
While Cassis Lenokhonen and Fedelian Rozino were as he had expected, Rudella was quite different from the character he had known.
Of course, the feelings he held weren’t romantic in nature. If anything, it was more like a sibling relationship.
Skewers in hand, the two strolled through the imperial capital, gazing at the sky.
“It’s nice to wander around without a plan.”
“Indeed. It feels completely different.”
Rudella seemed satisfied with their impromptu outing. Yohan, feeling a sense of accomplishment, smiled faintly.
***
After touring the imperial capital and enjoying their meal, the day turned to night before they knew it.
The imperial capital at night exuded a different kind of magic. Magical streetlights illuminated the roads with a soft glow, their lights subtly shifting between blue and purple, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
The streets were still bustling with people, and food stalls filled the air with the warm scent of bread and spice-laden dishes.
Rudella bought a small fruit from a vendor, her eyes widening in surprise or delight with each bite.
As they continued to explore the star-lit streets of the capital, she suddenly said:
“…Would you hold my hand?”
“Hold your hand?”
Yohan tilted his head in confusion, squinting at her with a curious expression. Flustered by his reaction, Rudella hurriedly added:
“I-it’s just that… what if we get separated? You are my escort, after all, so I think it would be good to hold hands to ensure we don’t get lost… If you don’t want to, it’s fine…”
Her words were hesitant and awkward, her face flushed red with embarrassment.
“Well, alright. With so many people around, it’s a good idea to be careful.”
Without hesitation, Yohan grabbed Rudella’s hand, intertwining their fingers out of habit, as he often did with Francia.
“…!”
Rudella felt her heart race as her shoulders trembled slightly. She couldn’t understand why this man, who usually maintained his distance, would suddenly act so forward.
“Is it really necessary to hold hands like this…?”
Startled, Rudella asked, to which Yohan casually replied:
“There are a lot of people. If we don’t hold on tightly, we might get separated.”
It was a reasonable explanation, devoid of ulterior motives. Feeling a strange sense of disappointment, Rudella nodded silently.
Dong— Dang—!
At that moment, the deep chime of a bell echoed from the clock tower perched atop a distant spire. It seemed to announce the end of another day in the city, its serene sound blanketing the imperial capital streets.
“Ah, people have been unusually lively since this morning. Turns out there’s a small festival happening today. They call it Harvest Day. Were you aware of it?”
At Yohan’s question, Rudella shook her head.
“This is the first I’ve heard of it…”
“Is that so? Then I’d say we’re lucky.”
He smiled brightly and gently tugged her hand, leading her back to the plaza.
In the center of the plaza, knights maintained formation to secure a safe distance, and within their ranks stood a group of mages, busily preparing something special.
“Could it be fireworks?”
Yohan murmured softly, and Rudella tilted her head in curiosity.
“Fireworks?”
Seeing her confusion, Yohan offered a simple explanation.
“You know, the dazzling displays sometimes performed by royal mages or adventurers’ guilds. Judging by their preparations, they must be planning a fireworks show to commemorate today’s festivities.”
Yohan glanced at the mages as he spoke.
“Fireworks are always beautiful, no matter the scale. You’ll enjoy it.”
“Is that so? I’ve never seen them before, but if you say so, I suppose I’ll look forward to it.”
Clutching Yohan’s hand a bit tighter, Rudella fixed her gaze on the mages. Right on cue, as if their preparations were complete, they began drawing magic circles in the air.
Intricately woven patterns of diverse hues materialized, floating higher and higher into the night sky.
Boom! Bang!
A small explosion marked the beginning, scattering golden blooms across the night sky.
One by one, bursts of red and blue followed, cascading in ripples of light that eventually dissolved into the darkness like fleeting starlight.
Though modest in scale, the fireworks were more than enough to fill the starry night with their transient beauty.
“They’re beautiful.”
Yohan muttered softly, his gaze fixed on the magical display.
Hearing his quiet remark, Rudella instinctively turned to look at him. His profile, illuminated faintly by the fireworks, seemed serene as he admired the view.
Watching him, Rudella swallowed hard.
Perhaps now…
Perhaps at this very moment, amidst the din of fireworks and cheers…
Perhaps now she could voice her true feelings without him hearing.
Even though she knew it was something she should never say.
Unable to suppress the emotions welling up inside, Rudella whispered softly,
“…I like you.”
Her voice was barely audible, drowned out by the noise of the fireworks. It was a confession, safely tucked away in the noise of the festival.
Her heart pounded wildly, heat rushing through her body as her face turned crimson.
“…The fireworks.”
She quickly added, swallowing nervously, as if trying to mask her words. Her throat felt tight, as though she had swallowed a heavy stone.
“I think so too.”
Yohan smiled lightly, turning to look at her.
The moment their eyes met, Rudella felt as if time had stopped.
In that fleeting moment, it felt as though his gaze could peer straight into her heart.
Even though she knew his words referred to the fireworks, she couldn’t help but feel as though they were meant for her.
Gripping his hand tighter, she tried to calm her racing heart but to no avail.
Her breathing quickened, yet she couldn’t tear her eyes away from him.
A part of her feared he might have caught on to her whispered confession just moments ago.
Yohan’s steady gaze remained unchanged, but Rudella, fighting the urge to close the gap between them, softly whispered once more.
“I like you. Truly.”
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