Chapter 16
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The Male and Female Leads Broke Up - Episode 16
Since I was planning to leave tomorrow anyway, I was curious what the Festival looked like during the day.
"Let's go out and eat."
"Pardon?"
"It's the Festival. So let's go out and eat something delicious."
"Then I'll inform the knight to prepare and return. Please wait a moment."
"Sure. Got it."
Shortly after, we left the Inn.
Based on yesterday's visit, the distance wasn't far enough to warrant a carriage, so we decided to walk to the Street where the shops were located.
"Miss, are you alright? You're not tired, are you?"
"I'm fine."
"Still, let's take the carriage."
"This is nothing. Besides, if we take a carriage, we won't be able to see things properly."
Mary looked at me with a worried expression, her gaze lingering.
I gave her a reassuring smile to ease her concerns.
"What should we eat?"
"I asked the Innkeeper earlier to tell me the most famous place in this Village, and he recommended one."
That's when William suddenly interjected.
"Really? Then let's go there."
"Yes. I'll guide you."
And so we decided to have a delicious lunch at the place the Innkeeper had recommended.
Fortunately, it was located not far away, and William explained to me what he'd heard from the Innkeeper—that it was one of the oldest Taverns in the region.
As we opened the Tavern door and stepped inside, it was bustling with people from midday, as befitted its fame.
The aroma of delicious food and the sweet scent of wine constantly tickled my nose.
We took a seat in the corner and ordered quite a lot of food and wine—more than the three of us could possibly finish.
"Miss, you're going to eat all of this?"
"Yes."
"But...."
"Mary, it's the Festival. Stop worrying and let's enjoy ourselves, alright? Besides, I'm not eating alone. We're eating together."
"But Miss, we cannot eat with you."
Just like yesterday, Mary brought up the difference in status.
"It's fine. We'll be together for a long time, so are you really going to keep eating alone?"
"But Miss, we'll eat separately later-."
"If I hear that 'but' one more time, I'm getting angry, understand? Kyung, you eat too. From now on, unless something comes up, we're eating together. Got it?"
"But-!"
As Mary was about to say "but" again, I gave her a look that wasn't unkind.
"Understood."
"Understood, miss."
Fortunately, both of them seemed to grasp my meaning and responded obediently.
Seeing their compliance, I broke into a broad smile, and shortly after, appetizing dishes began arriving one by one.
"What is this?"
"It looks like some kind of meat stew, I believe?"
"What sort of meat could it be?"
"To be safe, let me taste it first."
Though many patrons at the tavern were eating the same dish, Mary tasted the food first just to be cautious.
"It's lamb."
"Lamb?"
Lamb was something I could eat.
I immediately scooped a spoonful of the meat stew and brought it to my lips.
"Delicious!"
The distinctive aroma and rich flavor of lamb spread across my palate.
"Let's eat quickly."
Starting with the stew, an endless parade of dishes I'd never seen at the Duke's Mansion began to arrive.
The cuisine favored by nobility differed considerably from that of commoners in both ingredients and preparation.
We gradually filled our bellies while enjoying wine.
After our meal, we explored the Street.
The Village looked quite different by day than it did at night.
Though the Festival naturally drew larger crowds after dark, the streets were equally packed with people during daylight hours.
As we strolled through the daytime streets, evening arrived before we knew it.
After dining at another tavern for supper and satisfying our appetites thoroughly, we were making our way back to the Inn when it happened.
Suddenly, brilliant multicolored light burst across the dark sky in all directions.
Fireworks.
'They have fireworks in this world too...!'
I was delighted by the novelty and the sheer beauty of the explosions. With a radiant smile on my face, I turned to Mary.
"Mary, look, look! Fireworks...!"
"Miss! They're so beautiful!"
Mary gazed at the fireworks with awe-struck wonder in her voice.
I took Mary's hand and ran about searching for the best vantage point to view the display.
Once we found an open spot with an unobstructed view, I craned my neck to watch the fireworks burst across the sky.
"They're truly beautiful."
"Yes. They're so beautiful."
As I stood admiring the fireworks blooming across the entire sky, I felt an intense gaze upon me.
I turned my head toward the source of that gaze.
A short distance away stood Aiden, the man I'd met yesterday, staring directly at me.
As our eyes met, as if drawn by some invisible force, neither of us could look away.
"Miss?"
Only when Mary called out to me and gently shook my shoulder did I manage to tear my gaze away from Aiden.
"That person is...."
William recognized him first and opened his mouth to speak.
Soon he strode toward us with long steps.
His height allowed him to reach us in what felt like an instant.
"We meet again."
"Yes."
"You seem to enjoy fireworks."
"It's been quite a while since I've seen them."
Embarrassed at having bounced around like a child rather than an adult, I spoke while trying to hide my mortification.
Yet strangely, the man made no move to respond—he simply stared at me intently.
And in that moment, the brief fireworks display came to an end.
"What a shame it's already over."
"A little disappointment makes the next viewing all the more delightful."
"I see."
"Yes. If we saw everything whenever we wished, if we possessed everything we desired, we would never understand how precious and wonderful such things truly are. This is exactly the right amount for me."
"I... see."
In that instant, I sensed something shift in Aiden's eyes.
'Was he moved by my words?'
Though my words hardly warranted such emotion, the deepening intensity in his gaze suggested they had touched something within him.
"I have somewhere I need to be. Let's go."
"Yes."
"Yes, Miss."
I bowed slightly in farewell and turned to pass the man, when suddenly the children came to mind.
"By the way, what happened to the children?"
So I planted my feet back on the ground and looked at him to ask.
"They were sent to the Orphanage this morning."
"That's good. The child I brought was taken care of as well, wasn't it?"
Unable to forget the look in that child's eyes from yesterday, I sought confirmation once more.
"Yes. They were taken care of. You should receive word by tomorrow morning that all the children have arrived safely."
"That's a relief."
"If you're curious about the child's whereabouts, I can inform you."
"No, no. They'll be fine."
They had already found a safe home—it would be excessive to concern myself with the child any further.
And entangling myself further with this man felt somehow wrong.
"As long as you care for the children as you promised, that's all that matters. Farewell."
I bowed once more to the man and headed toward the Inn.
Though I felt his gaze lingering on my back, I never once looked behind me and continued on my way.
After parting with him and arriving at the Inn, as I was about to enter, I spotted a familiar face at the door.
It was that Young Boy who had supposedly gone to the Orphanage.
"You?!"
I called out to him in an unusually loud voice.
The Young Boy lifted his head from where it had been buried in his knees and looked up at me.
"What are you doing here!"
This child seemed to have a talent for catching me off guard.
First he returned to the Circus Troupe because of his siblings right after I rescued him, and now he appeared out of nowhere today.
"Bell...."
"Why are you here? What about the Orphanage? Didn't you go to the Orphanage?"
"...I made it to give you a bell."
"What?"
The Young Boy hesitated before extending his hand toward me.
In his palm lay a small flower ring.
"What is this?"
"I'm grateful, and I wanted to give you a gift, but I don't have any money...."
Unable to afford a proper gift despite his gratitude, he had crafted this flower ring to bring to me.
The sincerity of his gesture stirred something tender within my heart.
"Thank you. It's so beautiful. Will you put it on for me?"
I extended my hand toward the Young Boy.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org