14. What is a festival?(2)

“I asked where you are, and you’re betting again.”

He wasn’t wearing armor, but in plain clothes, but he looked very stubborn, perhaps because of his physique.

Even though he was wearing a plain linen shirt above and plain brown trousers below, there was a hint of elegance.

“Leader! Are you here!”

“Oh, where is the sneaking in?!”

“Did you like the saintess that much! After all, I was attracted to my chest!”

Luke crumpled his face.

“Where are you drunk! Shut up and empty your glass, you bastards!”

ha ha ha ha!

It was Luke who was irritable, but he didn’t care about the soldiers.

Alessia’s expression was also worth seeing.

“what? Did you? did you have a crush on me?”

“Don’t even dream about it.”

“Then you fell for my heart?”

“That, ha. Okay, so why don’t you have a drink? And why are you harassing a tired child?”

“Trouble! There is a degree of guesswork! Ruel! Ruel! did i bully you huh? Did your sister bully you?!”

“… Not really.”

“look!”

“If you threaten like that, anyone will answer like that. You think of your physique and threaten me, right?”

“you?! Are you swearing at me for being a man? As long as you dress well! I do well in the North too, you bastard! Big and strong! The best bridesmaid ever! I’ve been asked to marry 15 more times!”

“Then why did you come all the way to the south instead of going north? When the days get hotter.”

“It’s cold! Both body and mind! And the kids are so ferocious!”

Ha ha ha ha!

With your sister’s eloquence!

… There is no mess.

Even in situations where there is no occasion, we laugh and talk, then we become serious and curse, and then we laugh again, dance and sing.

Truly a mess.

“yes? Let’s sleep with my sister! My sister will treat you well. In the meantime, go to heaven. huh? huh? Sleeping in my sister’s chest. how is it? Wouldn’t that be nice?”

“That’s it! As long as the boy doesn’t notice! You’re going to do this! this!”

The drunkard next to him was frustrated, so he rolled up his index finger and thumb, and then put his other finger through the hole and pulled it out.

“… … ah.”

At that point, Kariel had no choice but to notice.

“No uncle! Are you crazy?! What are you teaching our naive Ruel!”

“Hey! You say you’re a saint?! What is the reason for the saintess to seduce and eat the little boy?!”

“Let’s gather a hundred drunkards like you! He said he would collapse without even touching our Ruel!”

“What?! Did you see?! Did you see it?!”

“It’s obvious if you don’t look! Just looking at it, it’s very easy to see how you can’t even work hard at night, drink and spit out your voice loudly!”

“Did you say everything?! You say you’re a saint! Looking at this again, it’s just a bitch! bitch!”

“Did you really say that?!”

Uh, isn’t this a fight?

Watch it with anxious eyes for a moment.

“Hahahaha!”

“That’s why you should stop drinking!”

why… .

Are you dancing shoulder to shoulder?

“The kid will love it! Boobs are big!”

“Do you like kids?! All the boys are drunk!”

“Oooh!”

“Saintess! Love it!”

“Hug me too!”

“go away! You ugly hook nose!”

“Puhahahaha!”

“Are you going to tease me about your appearance to hurt my heart?!”

“My heart is heavier, you child without conscience! Where can you take a flower-like female body!”

“Kehehe! Keck! Wow! choking! alcohol! Bring a drink!”

… Dirty rumors, appearance slander, and all sorts of beatings.

Despite the overuse of increasingly serious content, the soldiers and guests around them clapped their hands and rejoiced, and there was no small festival.

“why? Have you ever experienced this kind of atmosphere? Haven’t you ever experienced such a crude feeling because you’re an aristocrat?”

Luke, who brought a chair from somewhere, asked while sitting next to Kariel.

Kariel, in the midst of that, responded calmly.

“I, for the most part, have been taught to abstain.”

“Who wouldn’t? When I was young, there was a law that told me to protect this and that from above. It would have been more so if you wanted to be a knight.”

“… Is it obvious that you are an aspiring knight?”

It’s not like I wanted it or wanted it.

“Even if it’s just the clothes and equipment you’re wearing, it’s not something you can get in a normal commoner’s family. Even if it’s a code, there’s another thing called a unique atmosphere. He is cute, and manners come out naturally. The fact that a place like this is uncomfortable is already proving with your whole body.”

“Is that so?”

“It was like that when I was young. If you go through it, you get used to it. Still, he’s in good shape because he’s sure of his skills, otherwise, unless he’s run away, who would carelessly send his precious child who doesn’t seem to know the world on a lonely journey. So, you can be proud of that.”

“… … Yes.”

They say they are the same nobles, but that’s why they can never be the same.

Rather, it seems to have been misunderstood in a different way.

Luke spoke again.

“I’ve been allowed to go home, so don’t waste money or be indebted to anyone, come to my house.”

“A house, you mean a manor house, right?”

“okay. There weren’t many people anyway, but it didn’t feel lonely, so that worked out. There is nothing to notice.”

“… … .”

Kariel pondered for a while before asking.

“Wouldn’t that be a nuisance? It’s not that I’m short on money, it’s just… .”

“Wouldn’t this be the end of the journey? If you ask, there are some people who can teach you, and the key to being a noble is to secure a network, so there’s nothing bad to know, right? Oh, there are people I can introduce you to. We have to reciprocate, but if we neglect to treat our guests, that would be our disgrace, and that can’t be the case.”

“… … .”

This might be a bit difficult.

However, refusal here would raise suspicion in a different way.

It was clear that he wasn’t doing him a favor with a ploy.

However, as long as you are an aristocrat, politics becomes intertwined like breathing.

It can cause unintentional damage or arouse dark feelings, so here’s a refusal… .

“Then give me your room! I’m going to sleep there with Ruel!”

“… you really are.”

At the saintess’ rant, the soldiers oh oh oh! and send cheers and support.

“now! We’ve had enough to drink, so let’s go! Won’t it fall slowly? Let’s go to bed soon!”

“Did I just come?”

“Go and drink!”

“You notice! A plate that doesn’t even fit the taste of wine!”

“That means you don’t know the taste of wine. Or is it because you only drank cheap things?”

“No, I prefer to pour it into my throat, so wine… .”

“Then drink that too. Why do you have so many excuses about making a lot of money?”

“Do you think wine costs a penny or two?!”

“Then take a keg of beer! Use my excuses!”

Hey, listen to me first… .

But somehow, an atmosphere was formed that made it difficult to refuse.

By doing so.

“Whoa!”

“… … .”

While being held by Alessia’s side, she was dragged away.

This, no way… I have no time to escape.

If you take a little bit of your body on the subject of being drunk, it will come tangled up like a ghost.

“Hehehehe!”

“… … .”

The smell of alcohol and a woman’s unique body odor stabbed my sense of smell.

I feel like I’m half lost.

How to say, the feeling of being enchanted by the atmosphere and getting drunk together?

It’s embarrassing in many ways.

and.

It’s on my face all the time, what is it?

That, rubbing the side breast is a bit… it might be difficult

—-

After being dragged out of the tavern, I walked for a long time in the warm night breeze.

It was a rather interesting walk, as it was accompanied by simple directions.

In preparation for the festival, the plaza with the central fountain seemed to be competing for seats already.

Luke must have been quite popular, so people who knew him often greeted him.

In the meantime, introducing Kariel and Alessia at the same time is a bonus.

Kariel roughly guessed, wondering if he was trying to get her to take a snow stamp in advance so that she wouldn’t get into trouble later when she was walking around the city.

As dusk began to set, in an instant, shadows fell over the streets.

The streets of Jedo Island at night are quite dreary, but even here, except for the crowded places, there are few people, so that part came much bigger.

The scene of a few soldiers moving in groups, which also serves as night patrol, passes by naturally.

Since the place where the manor house is located is somewhat far from the city center, the number of people and even the density of buildings decreases as you go.

Through forest roads and densely packed trees.

At the end of the wide open hill road, the manor house finally came into view.

Like the main gate, a small flag hung on the front of the manor house building.

A sword drawn with an upside-down white line placed in the upper left corner on a blue background color.

It is the coat of arms of the Baronense family.

The size and sophistication of the mansion were smaller than those of my parents’ house in Jedo, but once the grounds were considered, it was twice as large.

Inside the shallow wall made of walls, there was a garden with a small fountain and minimal landscaping facing the mansion.

The right side includes a space that looks like a stable, and a place that also serves as a warehouse and an outdoor training ground.

In terms of scale, it was by no means small.

“My father and older brother have been away to meet guests from the Eden Levan Regiment, so we can say goodbye tomorrow morning.”

Alesia responded in a tone that was unexpectedly relieved by Luke’s words.

“That is fortunate. If we face each other like this, even I would be a little embarrassed.”

“I didn’t think he would have cared at all, but it’s surprising.”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a member of the church, but it’ll be difficult for an outsider to understand.”

“If the church side sees that, doesn’t it rather scold them?”

“If you’re going to say something, you just have to be more sacred than me.”

“… … .”

That’s true, but something.

“At first glance, if you have deep faith, good conduct, and piety, I will prepare myself for you, so don’t worry about that.”

Like that, Alessia, who entered the manor house as if it were her own home, instructed Luke to guide the room while still holding Kariel’s arms to herself.

“ha.”

Alessia and Kariel enter the room under the guidance of the young butler.

The horse was said to be looked after by a man at the stable, so there is no problem with that.

Except for the important luggage, the rest were all sent by someone, but they all arrived.

“It’s nice to have a tidy job.”

Although most of it was Alessia’s burden.

The room was moderately spacious, with about three chairs at the table, but the purpose seemed clear when there was only one bed.

All in all, it wasn’t much of a problem.

“Kariel. Don’t think about anything else, let’s get some rest today.”

“… … .”

Kariel stared at Alessia, who had just turned off the lamp, with puzzled eyes.

“It’s just what they’re saying about touching or attacking. Do you think I’m really that slutty?”

“… … .”

“That, yes. Actually, I do have the will, but I… A woman who has never kissed a man before? That’s why, those eyes are a little… .”

Those eyes shimmering like gold.

How can you be so clear even in this darkness?

It is very beautiful.

However.

It felt like it would wither away without a moment, and I inadvertently felt my heart tighten.

‘I’m just making things agitate.’

Alessia swallowed, but she tried to clear the awkwardness by clearing her throat.

“Luel. When did you get a good night’s sleep?”

“… I do not know.”

When you can just close your eyes, how much do you close your eyes?

Life without sleep is like everyday life.

Fatigue always pulls my eyelids down and makes my head confused.

Because it’s so familiar.

therefore.

It’s just a little hard.

“Okay, so come here.”

“… … .”

Alessia thought it looked like a frightened rabbit.

Or a baby fox.

Or a wolf cub.

Whatever it is, like a frightened weak beast.

Even so, the look of being afraid to be vigilant.

“I told you. In this atmosphere, it’s not like I don’t have a clue.”

“… … .”

Kariel can’t help but… .

“You have to take that off. Are you going to sleep?”

“… … .”

that’s a bit troubling

“… alright alright just come hurry.”

By doing so.

She was lying down, but for some reason, it was like holding Kariel to her chest.

Of course, not from the front, but from the back, from the back of the head.

The difference in physique was obvious, so in a way, it looked like the younger brother was hugged from behind by an older sister who was a few years older.

“If you have a hard time falling asleep by yourself, there are times when just being together like this can be of great help. The kids liked it a lot, saying it was as good as the lullaby I embraced at the monastery.”

“A monastery?”

“… Well, there were times like that.”

The wide arms were quite cozy, and the generous weight that blatantly covered the face up and down… how to say

Even though it was wrapped in cloth, the heavy weight was clearly felt.

… Oddly enough, something soft in it was so exquisite that it made my heart thump.

“Like the other kids, I can’t make the congregation’s tears and runny nose just by holding my hand… .”

still.

“I can do it this way, so don’t be anxious and get some rest.”

Having said that, nothing was said after that.

The time when only the sound of her fine breathing calmly came and went went on and on.

If the feeling of her lungs expanding and contracting behind her head gave her some comfort.

… is that a bit weird?

“… … .”

Kariel suddenly thought.

Come to think of it, being held back and forth like this by someone like today, being hugged like this… .

How long was it?