32 Ice-Cream

"Clareee! Look here! Something is going on here!"

"Hmm?" A play? That's what first came to mind.

But no… it didn't seem like it.

Walking hand in hand, Lancera and I arrived at a clearing where rows of seats were set up around a small wooden stage that stood humbly at the center.

There were all sorts of fancy ribbons and flowers hanging around the place, and a song was being sung by a lame old beggar dressed in ragged clothing on the stage. Gripping his cane with both hands, he relied on it to shakily stand up.

His deep and gravelly voice rang above the low chatter of the adults and the noisy cries of the children.

"Thou whom first in sway,

As first in virtue, these thy realms obey;

How sweet the products of a peaceful reign!

The heaven-taught poet and enchanting strain;

The well-filled palace, the perpetual feast,

A land rejoicing, and a people bless'd!

How goodly seems it ever to employ

Man's social days in union and in joy;

The plenteous hoard high-heap'd with cates divine,

And o'er the foaming bowl the laughing wine!"

I can vaguely recall going to some more extravagant and private performances that were just like this one, but really, it wasn't the norm for upper-class ladies to watch such things.

Bards who sang poetry were generally looked down upon by them, and plays were preferred, where one can watch the performers dance and sing in magnificent clothing.

I've always held the same opinion as them till now, but at this moment, I had become spellbound by the storytelling, just like the many others who gathered below the stage.

So it turns out that there are some very educated people among the peasants.

As I thought this, I felt the hand holding onto me squeeze my arm tighter.

Looking up, I met Lancera's eyes and smiled.

This festival isn't so bad.

After listening to some more poetry, the two of us went to watch some more performances, varying from those that included different types of magic to jests.

I was very interested in magic, and I could tell Lancera was too.

After all, it could perform all sorts of miracles, miracles that normal humans couldn't create.

A pity, though, magic abilities were of the wizard race, and humans did not possess it.

Well, I heard from my father that the Claremont bloodline had some magic, though it wasn't apparent due to the fact it was merely the weakest level of healing magic. Apparently, all of the dukedoms and the royal family of Loen had some sort of magic.

When I asked Lancera what type of magic she wanted, her answer almost made me cough blood.

"I don't need magic or any miracles, because I already have you, the embodiment of a miracle. It would be enough magic if I could stay for one more second near you."

Rjumhjfbnmhcmbimui! Dies**

**Revived.

AAAAHHHHHHHHH! How corny! And flirtatious! And embarrassing!

AND ON TOP OF THAT, SHE SAID IT SUPER LOUDLY, AND EVERYONE ELSE AROUND US HEARD IT! THEY GAVE US SOME STRANGE LOOKS, I SWEARRR!

D-D-D-DOESN'T SHE EVER GET EMBARRASSED?!

Well, anyway, it was a fun and relaxing time—mostly. MOSTLY, okay?!

After window shopping around the stalls that were set up around the streets, the Hall brat got a bit hungry, and so we got some food, commoner food.

Well, it wasn't that bad at all, to be honest. In fact, it was great!

And since some merchants and foreigners came to the festival, I was able to get a taste of many different types of food that I don't think I've eaten before.

The only thing that was missing was the strawberry shortcakes.

Sigh.

Well, it's a high-class delicacy, so I should've known that I wouldn't find it here.

But of course, there were many other strawberry related foods, and I was okay with just those.

I enjoyed that, hmm, what was it called, i-ice-cream (?) the most!

It was some sort of frozen dessert that originated in the far north, and since the temperatures were very VERY undesirable, I rarely visited that place.

As a result, I had never eaten such a delicacy before.

Sigh.

I really feel like I was losing out on life. Will my love for ice-cream be more than my love for strawberry shortca—as for that, NO! I'm loyal! I swear, I won't betray y—

Ah!

Just then, I spotted an ice-cream stall that was advertising some new, interesting flavors.

Coming to a conclusion with Lancera, I gracefully hopped over to buy some ice-cream.

As for the oath I was about to swear—we don't talk about that.

Ice-cream, ice-cream, ice-cream~

I was about to call out to the Hall brat, who had her back facing me when I suddenly spotted a few roguish men dressed flippantly surround her.

My eyes narrowed.