Founding Day Festival
Meanwhile…
"So. You let them take the goods?"
"I'm sorry, Boss! Please—just spare my life…!!"
Inside a dimly lit room, a crowd of men packed the space wall to wall. The one who looked to be their leader sat in a chair, staring down at the man sprawled flat on the floor.
The man who had been in charge of the children kept slamming his forehead against the boards as if half out of his mind. Blood already seeped from the bruised skin, but even that was nothing compared to the value of his life.
"Haa…"
Looking at him, the leader let out a short sigh and rose from his chair.
The sound of held breath filled the room as silence settled over them. The leader approached, crouched in front of the man, and spoke.
"Seems you've got the wrong idea."
In the next instant he drew a dagger from the sheath at his hip and drove it straight through the man's left hand.
"Gyaaaaaah!!"
"Shut it. Before I kill you."
The man collapsed, thrashing and screaming. The leader kicked him aside as if the noise itself were an annoyance.
"The only reason I don't gut you right now is that you're the only one among us who knows those bastards' faces. Got it?"
"O-of course…!!"
Staring into those ice-cold red eyes, the man clutched his bleeding hand and managed a shaky nod.
The leader clicked his tongue in open distaste and stood.
"It's Founding Day. The whole city's crawling with guards, and you still managed to lose every last thing we worked so hard to get? You must be out of your mind."
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!!"
"Sorry doesn't cut it. If you don't want to die, get those goods back within two days. Otherwise I'll start by flaying you alive."
"Y-yes, sir!!"
Watching the man nod frantically, the leader yanked the dagger free from his hand.
"Gyaaaah!!"
"Huu…"
A sickening sound accompanied the fresh gush of blood. The surrounding men all swallowed hard at the agonized screams.
"Remember. Two days."
With that, he flicked the blood from the blade, turned on his heel, and walked out the door.
The next day, in Wave Plaza—the very heart of Bianca Arca.
"They said it was Founding Day, but there really are a ton of people."
"There are. It's hard even to move like this."
The Riel Coalition's greatest festival—Founding Day—had begun, and the streets were packed shoulder to shoulder. Every shop had thrown its doors wide open to welcome customers, while street stalls on every corner shouted for attention, trying to snag passersby.
"You two over there! Free samples of octopus bread! Come take a look!"
"Octopus bread?"
At the familiar name Schwarz turned his head and spotted a stall selling the round treats.
I never expected to see something like this here…
While he was still taking in the sight, Milia spoke up, eyes sparkling at the completely new food.
"Schwarz. I want to try that."
The Valentine Countship lay deep inland; to her, octopus might as well have been a creature from another world.
"Then let's go over there."
He answered with a faint smile and led the way to the stall.
What greeted them was a delicious aroma and rows of plump, golden octopus bread sizzling away on the iron molds.
"So this is octopus bread?"
"A specialty of Palermo Island. This time of year you can barely get any."
"Oh-ho…"
Milia watched, fascinated, as the vendor nodded and began flipping the breads with practiced ease. His quick, precise hands drew an admiring sound from her.
Schwarz possessed the strength to crumple steel plates bare-handed and could cover a hundred meters in under seven seconds, yet there was still something hypnotic about true craftsmanship.
"Here! One for each of you! Careful—they're hot!"
"Thank you."
"Thanks."
A moment later the vendor skewered two pieces on short wooden sticks and handed them over. Both of them accepted with a polite bow.
"They're very hot, so be careful."
"Mm. Got it."
Milia stared at the steaming octopus bread, eyes shining. At Schwarz's warning she nodded and carefully bit into the tip.
And then—
"Ah! Hot!"
"Are you all right!?"
Schwarz hurried closer, checking her over as she yelped in surprise.
"I-I'm fine. It was just hotter than I expected. That's all."
"You scared me."
"Hehe… sorry."
Seeing her brush it off so lightly, Schwarz let out a breath of relief. Milia stuck out her tongue with an embarrassed little laugh.
"It's better than I thought? But… what's this chewy bit inside?"
"That's the octopus."
Schwarz answered while watching her chew with a complicated expression, then popped his own piece into his mouth.
A salty savor and the distinctive texture of octopus.
So this is what octopus bread tastes like.
He chewed thoughtfully and swallowed.
"How is it?"
"I'm fine with it. And you, My Lady?"
"Hmm… I think I like it. Should we buy some to take with us?"
"If that is what My Lady wishes."
Schwarz nodded and turned to the vendor.
"How much?"
"Five silver coins a plate."
"Hmm…"
A touch expensive, but festival markups were only to be expected. With a low murmur he drew out his purse, produced a single gold coin, and handed it over.
"Thank you! Just a moment!"
The vendor gave him five silver in change, and the iron molds began to sizzle again as fresh octopus bread cooked.
A short while later—
"One plate of octopus bread, ready!"
"Sell lots."
Schwarz accepted the plate and returned to Milia's side.
"Shall we find somewhere to sit and eat?"
"That sounds best."
Freshly made octopus bread fell apart easily; one wrong move and the filling would end up all over their clothes. Sitting down was simply the wiser choice.
"Let's see… somewhere to sit…"
He scanned the area and soon spotted an empty bench. Together they settled onto it…
"Aaahn~"
"My Lady…"
The moment she sat, Milia closed her eyes and opened her mouth toward him. Schwarz could only manage a helpless smile.
Perhaps because no one here knew them, she was asking for affection without the slightest hesitation—something she would normally have been too shy to do.
Not that he minded in the least.
Looking at her like this, she almost reminds me of a baby bird…
The thought of her waiting with her mouth open for food made him chuckle under his breath.
"What? Why are you laughing?"
"It's nothing."
"You were thinking something weird just now, weren't you?"
Milia narrowed her eyes and pressed him. Schwarz shook his head, but she kept glaring, suspicion undimmed.
Of course he couldn't admit what he'd just thought, so he cleared his throat and brought a piece of octopus bread to her lips.
"Ahem! Say 'aah.'"
"Aah~!!"
As if the interrogation had never happened, Milia opened wide and took the whole piece with a cute little nyam.
She chewed, eyes curving into happy crescents. To anyone else the expression might have looked a bit silly, but to Schwarz it was the cutest sight in the world.
"Okay. My turn now. Aah~!!"
"A-aah~!!"
Well, of course it would come to this.
With a short laugh Schwarz opened his mouth, and Milia popped a piece of octopus bread inside.
It wasn't the most amazing flavor in the world, yet somehow he kept reaching for more. Whether that was the bread itself or simply being with her, even he couldn't say.
One by one the pieces on the plate dwindled. The moment Milia finished the last one, Schwarz stood, dropped the empty plate and sticks into the trash bin beside the bench, and sat back down.
That was when she spoke.
"Thank you."
"Pardon? For what, My Lady?"
He tilted his head at the sudden gratitude.
Had he done something worth thanking? He cast back through his memory with a low hum, but nothing came to mind.
"This trip. You handled all the work behind my back so I could come, didn't you? That must have been hard."
"Ah… you knew?"
Schwarz answered awkwardly.
Given her nature, if work had piled up she never would have agreed to travel. So for the past several days he had quietly settled every simple matter that didn't require her personal approval.
Strictly speaking it was overstepping his authority—grounds for punishment—but without it, finding free time for her would have been nearly impossible.
"I'm sorry. I acted without My Lady's permission."
He had been prepared for some form of reprimand, so he admitted the fault at once.
"Sorry? Do I look like such a narrow-minded person that I can't even understand something like that?"
"That's not what I— mph!?"
As he started to shake his head, Milia leaned in and pressed her lips lightly to his.
The warm sensation of her mouth…
Because of the crowd, the kiss lasted only a few seconds at most. Yet it was more than enough to convey everything she meant.
"M-My Lady…"
When their lips parted and he stared at her in a daze, Milia let out a soft, giggling laugh.
"That's my answer. You understand, right?"
"Yes…"
Schwarz nodded. Milia rose and held out her hand to him.
"If you understand, then stop overthinking and let's keep moving. It would be a waste to just sit around on a trip like this, wouldn't it?"
"Yes, My Lady."
He stood, took her hand with quiet courtesy, and together they set off once more.