Festival of Silver Dust and Iron Blood (1)
Festival morning.
I woke up in my room at the count's castle—not my usual morning, but one to enjoy the festival.
More precisely—
"That's too much, young master!"
"What's so disappointing, Astasia?"
"You dressed us up so prettily like this!"
Astasia shouted at me in her dress.
"You said you'd disguise yourself differently to fool everyone, so why make us wear pretty dresses?"
"Because you two need to enjoy the festival as wealthy ladies, escorted by knights."
I pointed to Naria, who was silently putting on her dress beside her.
"Naria."
"……"
"You don't have to pretend to be Javes. Viscount Hex will come this afternoon to escort you."
"…Understood."
Naria, who had been pursing her lips as if pretending to be Javes, nodded lightly.
"Princess Astasia will be personally escorted by Sir Robert."
"Then who's escorting you, young master?"
"Sir Mente will, of course, but having her appear as an escort at the festival would draw too many eyes for various reasons."
"What do you mean by that?"
Sir Mente, leaning against the wall, scowled fiercely.
"You think just because I look like a kid now, I'll get treated like one at the festival too?"
"Didn't you say you hated playing the youngest sister?"
"O-Of course!"
Playing little sister to a thirteen-year-old girl at the age of forty was hell itself.
I could tell from her expression that she wanted to say, Then play a different role.
"Sir Mente, you need to wear your knight's uniform and patrol the streets."
"So…"
"In exchange, my escort will be tricky."
I pointed to my own clothes.
"I'm Nacha, a poor boy from a quiet village in the Gibraltar margrave territory."
"Your fake name is Nacha?"
"That's right. A mountain boy who saved up five thousand gold in pocket money living with his grandfather and came all the way to the count's castle."
Our roles were different. As evident from our appearances, I planned to go out thoroughly as a commoner, not a noble—like the orphanage kids.
Why go to such lengths all of a sudden?
"It's not that I don't trust you all, but you're all so meticulous that it's hard to entrust this to you."
This was because, after talking with Father in his study last night, I wanted to personally wander the festival to verify things.
"I need to check the merchants ripping people off firsthand. Who would dare scam properly with the lord's castle knights behind them?"
"W-We can do that too!"
"Scam?"
"No! Disguise!"
I'd explained it before bed, but Astasia showed particularly strong resolve.
"Naria and I can disguise ourselves and help you! Pretending to be maids would make it even easier! Right, Naria?"
"Personally, I think that's one viable method…"
Naria tilted her head curiously.
"Are you worried we'll get caught in some incident or kidnapped, Sir Grey?"
"Yes."
One of the possibilities Father held as event cards for this festival.
"Kidnappers targeting wealthy noble ladies who let their guard down aren't just in novels—they happen in reality too."
Kidnapping.
"Heck, even the young master of Gibraltar got kidnapped in this world."
It had even happened inside the lord's castle.
"And kidnappings usually target slum kids who seem less likely to cause trouble, more often than noble ladies."
"Why? You'd get more ransom money kidnapping rich noble ladies."
"The former aims to extort big sums through negotiation, the latter to sell the kid off without hassle."
Not all kidnappings are the same.
"I did consider disguising you two as boys or commoners."
I did think about it.
"But if we did, Queen Carmen or Chairwoman Erwin would explode in rage at letting you do something so dangerous."
"Ah."
"……"
"Once the situation allows safe disguised fun later, I'll make it happen. For now, trust me and enjoy the festival as noble ladies here for the festivities."
I pointed to the robe hood hanging on the wall.
"Cover your hair, keep knights behind you—no one will mess with you lightly. At least not by force."
"Not by force…?"
"I can't do anything about merchants scamming you."
Thugs, kidnappers—they'd back off seeing escorts. But merchants wouldn't.
Another event card Father held.
"They might sell a hundred-gold item for ten thousand, peddle fakes as real, or hawk 'spirit-infused bracelets' made from Elf Forest twigs for a hundred thousand gold."
False listings, scams, exaggerated ads.
"The registered sales items all sound plausible on paper, but you have to see the actual stalls. Some might not even have proper permits."
Unauthorized street vending.
"So if you two run into me, just ignore me or—"
"I'll buy you something tasty!!"
Astasia shot her hand up.
"If we're in the way of whatever you're planning, we won't interfere. But… if we bump into you by chance during the festival, buying something's okay, right?"
"…Well, as long as you don't blow my cover as Grey Gibraltar."
It was exactly what I hoped for.
Would they give extras to a poor boy out of pity from a girl buying him food, or exploit that pity for a scam?
"Personally, the best is watching the festival from a window and the fireworks from afar."
"Why's that best?"
"Sure, going out would be fun, but you'll witness human malice up close."
In the face of money.
And especially.
"Among seasonal vendors chasing profit, plenty have tossed their conscience to the dogs."
* * *
November 11th, 10 a.m.
Viscount Hex arrived earlier than expected and escorted Naria. The two headed to the streets under escorts named differently—Viscount Hex and Sir Robert.
"Don't you have a tournament match, Sir Mente?"
"Afternoon match, so plenty of time."
Sir Mente followed me.
"Besides, I need to stick by your side."
"Why?"
"So the mansion staff see me escorting you and think, 'Ah, that dyed kid must be Grey Gibraltar,' and slip up."
We stopped in front of a hallway mirror.
"No one would mistake me for Grey Gibraltar, right?"
Me in a baker's cap, suspenders, holey ragged shirt—inside the castle.
"Not even mages would spot it."
"Yeah. Who'd think it's you after dyeing your hair for one day?"
"Good thing my hair takes dye well."
I'd even dyed my hair brown—not with disguise magic, just dye.
"Did you really need to go that far?"
"Even like this, I'm serious about acting."
"Acting…?"
"Yes. If I ever enter the academy."
No such plans, but.
"Half student council to gauge student trends, half theater club to act freely."
"To learn acting?"
"Learn? I'm already a finished actor."
Even now, I was performing perfectly.
"Smitten with Granddaughter Astasia, holding the festival for her, burning five million gold on fireworks."
"So much I want to say, but I'll hold back."
"Feel free."
"Not testing if gambling and money games work at the festival? Pushing Noir front and center as the honoree to imprint him on everyone? Holding it as Princess Naria's birthday bash to win Queen Carmen's favor?"
"……"
As expected.
"Looks like spending time with me has taught you plenty about me, Sir Mente."
"Obviously. What's that smile? Something else I don't know?"
"No, nothing."
Even if there was more, better they experience it firsthand than hear it.
"Curious what'll happen today, personally."
Until near midnight, I hoped for something beyond my predictions.
"Curious? About what?"
"Well, if the worst happens— that kind of curiosity?"
"Worst case?"
"Yes."
For example.
"The empire's crown prince sneaks in as a spy to gauge Gibraltar's festival intentions?"
"…Isn't that too extreme?"
"Exactly."
If that's extreme, then anything within is unsurprising prediction range.
No matter what happened, I wouldn't be shocked.
Really, no matter—
"Big brother Grey!!"
"……"
Correction. We hadn't hit the festival yet, and this didn't count.
"Big brooo!!"
Thud.
A white something hurled itself into my arms.
Red eyes looking up at me, soft as rabbit fur—qualitatively different from the Whites' white.
"Letar."
"Yeah!"
"You didn't see me because of Sir Mente?"
"I knew it was you, big bro! But Sir Mente? …Ah! You're here?! I didn't see you 'cause of big bro!"
"I see."
Sir Mente forced a smile at Letar, not much younger.
"Big bro, what's this? Disguise to go somewhere?"
"Yeah. Patrolling for bad guys at the festival."
"Bad guys?"
"Gonna check for all sorts of bad stuff, but if I wander normally, everyone'll spot me."
"Hmm… Yeah! Just you walking around would make 'em drop their bad ideas!"
Classic Letar.
She didn't fear me—maybe because she hadn't endured what Noir had, but mostly fearless by nature.
"Oh! Big bro, I wanna see the festival with Ethan!"
"With Ethan?"
"Yeah! With Ethan. Can I…?"
"No."
Obviously.
"No wandering without an escort."
"Then just add an escort?"
"At least a mid-level knight or better."
"……"
"I'm prepping for the tournament."
Letar eyed Sir Mente, who raised her hands lightly.
"I can't stick close to Lady Letar all day."
"Hmmm… Then… big bro…?"
"Ethan'll escort you, so you're not saying no escort needed, right?"
"What?!"
My slip—
"I'm not big bro Noir, why say that to me?!"
Letar got genuinely mad.
"True. Sorry. You're not like that."
"Obviously! With an escort, I can see the festival fine—why risk getting in trouble?"
Letar leaned that way personality-wise, but she was utterly sensible and rational.
"Big bro. You said your goal is wandering without escorts, right? So where's Sir Robert now?"
"Asking him?"
"Yeah!"
"Sadly, Sir Robert's escorting someone else."
"Urgh… Any recommendations?"
"Hmm…"
I grabbed Letar's shoulders with both hands.
"Him."
"…Ah!"
I pointed to the one approaching from behind us.
"Daddy!"
"……"
"Mommy! And Ruby too!"
Father and Mother approached from the opposite hall. Mother, cradling Ruby in white swaddling, looked at Letar and me in confusion.
"Grey, what are you talking about…?"
"Letar wants to see the festival, but no suitable knight escort, and I can't do it."
"That's…"
"How about you, Father? Take Mother and Letar along while viewing the festival? You have to carry Ruby anyway."
I circled Ruby in the air with my finger.
"With you watching directly, and other knights behind, Letar'd be safe."
"…Letar."
"Y-Yes!"
"Can you behave and follow?"
"Yes!!"
Uncharacteristically asking Letar, she bounced in place and charged at Father.
"Thanks, Daddy!"
Rubbing her face on his thigh in joy, Father stiffened awkwardly—
"This'll be more comfortable."
"Whoa?!"
Then scooped her up, making an arm-chair for her.
"Whee!"
"My lord…"
Mother smiled softly, eyes melting at Father's action.
"Really…"
"…Ahem."
Father embarrassed, but this was all planned.
Mother loved Father, but adored the changed him more.
Not just her mate Crimson Gibraltar, but as 'father to the children.'
Before regression, their rift stemmed from such things too.
Seeing kids as mere products of acts with Charlotte Gibraltar.
That man was gone.
"Letar. Don't trouble the count?"
"Okaay…"
"Meaning, obey and you can safely tour the festival with him."
"Oh, that? Hehe…"
"My lord. How about drinks tonight watching the fireworks—been a while?"
"If non-alcoholic—"
"A merchant gifted Valencia '17 wine with his permit."
"……"
"My lord? Tonight…"
"Fine. We'll do that."
Here were harmonious count and wife, who after their fourth, might make a fifth tonight.
"Oh! Daddy, I'll bring Ethan!"
"Ethan…?"
"Yes! Showing him the festival! It's fine! I'll watch him!"
"……"
"Daddy…?"
"My lord?"
"…I'll tell Malcolm. Don't worry. Ethan'll join after the morning boys' knight tournament."
"Yaaay! Thanks, Daddy!"
Letar cheered and kissed Father's cheek.
"…Ahem."
Father cleared his throat; I couldn't help a wry chuckle.
"Grey."
"I'll go inspect the festival."
"You too—"
"Already disguised. Grey Gibraltar's bedridden with bellyache from envy over Noir Gibraltar's celebration."
I lightly bowed to the three and trailing knights.
"Today, me at the festival? Top secret."
I raised a finger.
"Shh."
"Big bro, why go that far…?"
"Gotta catch 'em first."
The surest mark in my prediction range at the Gibraltar festival.
"Off to see Noir."
How much Noir would get scammed.
How hard merchants would fleece him.
And.
There'll be at least one Shadow.
Whether the silver dust bearer approached Noir Gibraltar.
Dawn.
Riding the wind, a faint silver dust scent tickled my nose.