incoming danger

They reached the village where the fare was going on. It wasn't a big scale one like the Spring Festival but all the locals there seemed like having fun. There were small stalls like shops engaged in different activities. Some were for playing games, some for local delicacies, and some for clothes and accessories. There was also a puppet show going on. Most of the crowd was gathered at the corner from where the most noise was coming from. People were gathered all around to watch The Puppet Show.

The product quality was not refined like the ones the royal people wear. It was made for the local people only. Small lights were used to decorate the area. The atmosphere was lively and refreshing. Both Camy and Cecil were happy and excited. Both the girls wanted to see everything, and they almost forgot about the boys.

Vladis and Arthur, both felt like they were abandoned but at the same time, they had a slight smile on their faces because of the pure happiness and excitement they could see the girls' faces. When Vladis and Arthur reached them, Camy and Cecil were having an argument about something. Vladis didn't want to interrupt thinking it was a sister thing. Finally, when Arthur couldn't handle it, he asked frustratedly, "Why are you both fighting?".

Both the girls looked at each other and then looked at Arthur and retorted, "Who said we are fighting?"

Arthur was left dumbfounded.

Vladis and Arthur both looked at each other and were speechless. They both thought 'If these girls aren't fighting then what are they doing? Are they giving sweet pies to each other?'

Vladis then asked, "What happened?".

Camy then answered, "I want to go see the puppet show first?"

Vladis immediately said, "Okay. Let's go"

Cecil then whined saying, "But I want to taste the delicacies first."

Arthur said, "Okay then Let's go eat something first."

"How will we go to both places simultaneously then?" Cecil asked.

Arthur and Vladis looked at each other and smiled mischievously as if sharing the same thought and looked at both the girls' perplexed faces. Vladis then held Camy's hand and dragged her with him. And Arthur dragged Cecil's hand with him.

Cecil wanted to fight with him and was ready to push him when she felt his mouth near her ears as he said, "Don't you want to give your sister some personal time with Vladis?"

Listening to that, she stopped fighting, but Arthur still didn't leave her hand and his mouth was still near her ears. She could still feel his breath on her ears. Soon she recovered and turned her face to face him. Their faces were only palm lengths apart. Cecil had a look of realization and said, "OH! You should have said that earlier".

And slightly pushed Arthur when he was in a trance and started walking to a food stall. Arthur was still in a daze trying to figure out that whether she actually didn't understand his action or was trying to act dumb.

Soon he recovered and followed her. She stopped at various stalls and tried every spicy dish she could see. And not once did she offer him. He could only just follow her around as if her tail. They were going towards the last stall when Arthur finally lost his patience and asked irritatedly, "Are you not going to ask me to taste it? You tried so many dishes, yet you didn't ask me once?"

Cecil sighed and looked at him as if he was the dumbest person on earth and asked, "You work at the council, right?"

Technically Arthur worked at Council only, but the only difference was that he worked 'with' them. Since he didn't want to reveal his identity, he didn't actually clarify it and answered confusedly, "Yes. But what does that have to do with this?"

"Since you work at council then you must be earning enough to afford these local delicacies. Then why wait for me to ask?", she said with a poker face like that was a common thing to understand.

Arthur was speechless at the remark because nobody has ever treated him like this. Every girl in the empire was always at his mercy and here she is, breaking all the stereotypes about a girl. He was impressed with her thoughts.

They were at the last food stall when Arthur came beside her and said amusedly, "You are right. But actually, the pleasure I can get by eating from your tasted food is more than the food served at lord's palace". He said this while having a bite which she was going to take in her mouth.

She was left speechless, and her cheeks turned red from embarrassment. Arthur was pleased with this reaction. He was satisfied with the revenge he took. Cecil soon recovered and left the stall without paying. Arthur paid them and went to Cecil. They both were wandering around while having their little quarrels.

Then Arthur became serious and informed, "Cecil, I want to inform you something. For the next whole week, there will be guards around you and your family all the time protecting you. It is just the Council's orders to protect every member's family members. They won't bother you at all."

Cecil initially was confused and felt like a danger coming near them but after listening to Arthur's reasoning she relaxed and answered calmly, "Okay".

Arthur was happy to see this reaction and then they went to see Vladis and Camy. Vladis looked at Arthur and blinked indicating to him that he had informed Camy, and she is okay with it. What they didn't inform was that the guards they arranged were not some ordinary guards but the special ones who used to protect the Lord.