7. Blue Rose Festival (2)
The festival streets were bustling with people. The aromas of grilling meat and sweet pastries filled the air everywhere. Blue rose decorations hung from spots all along the streets, while bands played lively music.
"Wow..."
A small gasp came from behind me. I turned to see Seria— who had been vigilantly guarding me just moments ago— standing there with her mouth agape.
"There are... so many people."
"It's a festival."
"L-look over there! He's breathing fire from his mouth! Is he a dragon's descendant?"
"It's a fire-breathing act. He just holds oil in his mouth and spits it out."
Seria's eyes sparkled as she gawked in every direction, completely lost in the sights. But it didn't last.
"Huh? Uh oh?"
As the crowd surged, Seria's face stiffened. She edged backward stealthily before ducking right behind my back.
"Young Master... there are too many people. Was it that 'one step back for two steps forward' you taught me before? I propose we do that."
"Hey, you're supposed to be protecting me."
"I'm just securing the high ground for better protection."
"Just say you're scared."
Seria clutched the hem of my clothes and wouldn't let go. Her frame was bigger than mine, but her behavior was pure chicken.
Then.
"Oh my! Isn't that the young master?"
An auntie grilling skewers at a stall spotted us. The territory folk liked me quite a bit. Partly thanks to Father's benevolence, and partly because I always greeted everyone nicely whenever I tagged along with him.
"Hello, Auntie."
"Oh dear me! Out enjoying the festival? And that's the little knight beside you?"
"Hello..."
Seria mumbled a greeting from behind me in a tiny voice.
"How can she be so pretty? Here, take these skewers on the house! Service, service!"
The auntie thrust two steaming chicken skewers our way. Seria's eyes lit up.
"F-free...?"
"Of course! We owe our livelihood to our lord."
"Thank you! I'll eat well!"
Seria snatched them at lightspeed. No sign of her earlier fear anywhere.
And so we strolled the streets, each munching a skewer.
"Delicious."
Seria chomped away, her cheeks bulging like a hamster's.
"Slow down. No one's stealing it."
"Young Master has sauce all over your mouth too."
"......"
"......"
We stared at each other's sauce-smeared mouths and burst out laughing at the same time.
Seeing Seria so thrilled by the festival lifted my spirits too.
After that, we wandered around taking in the sights. We stood mesmerized watching a sugar artisan at work, tried on goofy masks at a mask shop and cracked up.
"Puhaha! Seria, that suits you perfectly. Like an orc chieftain?"
"Young Master looks like a goblin chief. Height's spot on too."
"For real. I'm still growing."
"Yes, yes. Grow nice and tall. Not just sideways."
"You're begging for a smack today."
"If you can land it."
We bickered playfully as we shoved through the throng.
As dusk fell, lanterns flickered to life one by one along the streets. The crowds grew even thicker— now it was impossible to walk without bumping shoulders.
"Ugh, don't push!"
I flailed to avoid getting swept away. That's when someone grabbed my hand tight.
"Young Master."
It was Seria. One hand clutched her half-eaten cotton candy; the other gripped mine firmly.
"Don't let go or you'll get lost. Hold on tight."
"Oh, knight. Reliable."
"Of course? I told you— I'd protect you."
Seria put on a stern face. But she couldn't hide the faint tremble in her hand.
"But Seria."
"Yes?"
"Your hand's shaking."
"...Essential tremor."
"At eight years old?"
"From swinging heavy swords too much. Occupational hazard."
"You're getting cheekier lately."
"Your imagination."
I chuckled and squeezed her hand back. Hand in hand, we walked right through the heart of the lantern-lit festival streets. Stars twinkled densely in the night sky.
"Seria."
"Yes! Young Master!"
"That way. Got a prime spot."
"Prime spot?"
"Yeah. Best fireworks view."
I tugged her hand and dashed toward the square's outskirts. A spring breeze brushed our cheeks. Soon, blue roses would bloom across Martel Barony's night sky.
-
"Huff, huff. Made it."
We panted our way to a hill overlooking the square's edge. A fair crowd had already claimed the prime spots, but luckily there was just enough room for two.
I led Seria to the railing.
"Here. Best view."
"Young Master, what exactly are we here for?"
Seria wiped sweat from her brow. She'd clearly never seen fireworks before.
"Just wait. You'll be blown away."
I grinned and pointed at the sky. The massive crowd in the square held their breath, awaiting the countdown.
And moments later.
Piiiing—!
A firework rocketed up. Seria's ears perked.
"Y-Young Master! An attack!?"
She reflexively hugged me tight. At the same instant.
Boom!
The firework burst, flashing the night sky.
"Y-Young Master, we need to evac..."
Seria trembled, head buried.
I giggled helplessly in her arms.
"Seria, look up."
"...Yes?"
"Look."
I forced her chin up toward the sky. Perfect timing— the second firework launched.
Booom!
A massive blue flower bloomed against the black sky. As far as I knew, these weren't ordinary gunpowder fireworks; they were magic-engineered. Watch the light particles scatter— like living rose petals fluttering and dancing.
"...Ah."
Seria's mouth fell open. Her red eyes brimmed with blue flames.
"What... is that?"
"Fireworks."
"Flowers... blooming in the sky."
"Pretty, huh?"
"Yes..."
Seria stared upward, entranced. Boom, boom, booom! Fireworks bloomed one after another, painting the heavens in red, yellow— and the blue symbolizing our house.
No more fear. She gripped the railing tight, her face dreamy as she watched.
Her profile sparkled in the glow.
Good thing I brought her.
I smiled warmly, gazing at her side profile. I wanted to show a world like this to the girl who lived swinging her sword every day in constant tension.
Finally, a gigantic blue rose firework erupted, capping the festival's highlight. Cheers and applause filled the square.
"Woooah!"
Seria clapped along, eyes sparkling with excitement— utterly adorable.
"Young Master! It was so pretty! First time I've ever seen anything like it!"
"Right? Let's come again next year."
"Yes! Definitely!"
Seria kept glancing skyward, the wonder lingering. We waited for the crowd to thin a bit before slowly descending the hill.
On the way back, the festival was still going but the vibe had calmed. I slipped a hand into my pocket. Father's allowance pouch was still there.
Some money left.
Despite stuffing ourselves and playing our fill, plenty remained. Dad would be thrilled at my thriftiness... but something felt off, incomplete.
That's when a little roadside stall caught my eye— cute trinkets for sale.
"Seria, hold up."
I stopped her and approached the stall. Hairpins, bracelets, necklaces, and such. One item stood out.
"Uncle, how much for this?"
"Oh, young master has a sharp eye. That's the finest silk ribbon."
A blue ribbon. Deep and vivid, just like the fireworks in tonight's sky. It'd look perfect with Seria's black hair.
"I'll take it."
"Haha, a gift, eh?"
"Yeah, wrap it pretty."
I emptied my remaining coins and took the paper-wrapped ribbon back to Seria. She stood there blankly staring at the sky, skewer stick in her mouth.
"Seria."
"Yes? All bought?"
"Here."
I tossed it to her.
"What's this?"
She unwrapped it. The blue ribbon unfurled smoothly.
"...A ribbon?"
"Use it for your hair. No more sloppy worn-out ties."
Seria always yanked her hair back with ragged leather straps for training. It had bugged me.
"This... for me?"
Her hands shook as she cradled it carefully in both palms.
"C-Can I... really accept something this precious...?"
"Precious? Pfft, just something I picked up. The money's Dad's anyway."
This was more embarrassing than I thought. I played it cool.
But Seria couldn't tear her eyes away.
"Uh, if you don't like it, return it or whatever."
She shook her head.
"...No. It's super pretty."
"R-really?"
"Yes. I love it."
She hugged it to her chest.
"Thank you, Young Master."
Her voice was a little misty.
"I'll treasure it forever. Make it a family heirloom."
"Hey, a ribbon as an heirloom? I'll buy more if it wears out."
"No. This is my first gift from you, Young Master. I'll never lose it. More precious than my life."
She likes it way too much. When I start earning my own money, I'll shower her with gifts.
"Yeah, yeah. Do what you want."
I chuckled and took the lead.
"C'mon. Dad's waiting."
"Yes, Young Master!"
We clasped hands again and headed for the Lord's Castle. All the way, Seria gripped my hand in one of hers and the ribbon— tucked in her pocket— in the other.
At the castle gates, a familiar silhouette waited. Father, pacing and biting his nails.
"Oh dear, why so late? Sun's down! Kidnapped? Lost?"
"Dad!"
"Kalian!"
He rushed over and swept us into a big hug.
"You're safe! You have no idea how worried I was!"
"Sheesh, we stayed for the fireworks."
"Seria, good work. Everything okay?"
"Yes! My lord! I protected Young Master perfectly!"
"Good, good. Hungry? Night snacks are ready."
Father slung arms around our shoulders and led us inside. The smell of warm soup wafted over.
Seria and I exchanged grins.
Spring at age six. The night blue roses bloomed in full. Our first festival came to a close just like that.