The Summer Festival

Just like that, the day of the festival began. The nobles became busier than ever. They've been organizing the after-party within their household. Some were thrilled with the thought, and some only did their tasks because it was customary.

The festival held great importance within the empire. It represents livelihood and great abundance. Since everyone is expected to join the celebration within the Helwin Capital, they would naturally bring their things.

There was an ancient tradition within the empire. Different festivals accompanied it. The festival during the summer season in the empire was Ferguz. The tradition within the Ferguz was light offerings during the night

People, either nobles or commoners, were free to light a lantern that would float in the air. The lanterns contained their wishes and hopes for the future.

Herena remembered the time she had wished and hoped on the lantern with her brother. Ismael snuck Herena out of the household back then and brought her to the festival. They weren't allowed because they were still children, but Ismael broke that rule for Herena's happiness

After that night, her brother was immediately sent for his long journey. Herena didn't know if it was because of that night or something else. Though, Herena didn't have any suspicions at that time

Since it was the start of the festival, the servants were busy catering to the nobles' demands. It's the same thing in the Ferrer household. Servants within were running nonstop back and forth for their late preparation.

Harlene wasn't an exception. She was one of those busy servants. Herena was alone in her room with Ismael's gifts —his handkerchief and a small book.

Still, with her tiny bare hands, she could barely turn the pages of the small book for babies. Even if she never wanted to read baby stories, she has no other choice because it is her brother's gift to her. It's not that she disliked reading baby stories, but she might have liked them in the past. But right now, she had the mind of an adult stuck in her baby figure.

Herena profoundly loves her brother. She realized that as she grew up back then, her brother would always give her gifts. He never becomes tired of it. But she could only give him hugs and an embroidered handkerchief. Was it because of the Duchess' words, or was it because of the servants who continued eyeing her? Maybe, if it weren't for Harlene, she wouldn't be able to survive without her brother.

However, there's been talk around that time regarding her brother. Herena heard the rumors. It was about Ismael and the lady of the Themiore household. There had been an affair between them. Perhaps, after knowing the truth, Herena figured out why Calus hated her. It was because of her brother, who was trying to steal Lady Arianne from him. However, she didn't know. Her brother would never dare do that unless there was a reason.

Herena held onto that until her dying breath. That's when a miracle happened, and she went back in time. Currently, she was in her baby figure.

Though, Herena, at the current time, doesn't know if Ismael truly loves the lady or has some plans. One thing is certain for Herena. Her brother would never be like their father. He wouldn't be greedy and hurt people. He wouldn't have any ulterior motives. That's what she was currently believing.

As long as her brother is happy, she would do anything to preserve his happiness.

She smiled, thinking of her brother. Then she realized her cheeks were swollen enough. It was because of her brother's habit of gently pinching them that both of her cheeks were already rosier than ever.

Then a gentle breeze from the window stirred her golden locks of hair. She could only look at the place with soft eyes. Her innocent smile remained without being aware of what she was currently doing.

She shook her head. Then she continued to read the baby story. Indeed, for a second, she acted like a baby, giggling with her thoughts as she slapped the book. Eventually, the book flipped, and the back part became visible to Herena. It revealed her brother's handwriting.

"Uwah!"

She exclaimed the moment the book had some words on the back. However, the words never came from the author of the baby book. It came from her brother

~I hope you enjoy reading the book I gave you, Herena. I know you might not understand this now, but when you grow up, I hope you know how much your brother loves you, and that will never change.~

She knew the words were her brother's letter. Perhaps it was meant for Herena to read it in the future. But since she came from the future, she had already understood the words. She couldn't speak and write about it properly.

Unconsciously, she took the little book and hugged it on her tiny body. Then tears began to stream down her small face

She understood every word her brother wrote to her. It's to the point where she wants to write back to her brother. But her emotional state took on a more significant shape than anything else in her mind

A few seconds later, she finally calmed down and let out her little sigh from her tiny body. With eyes that would search tomorrow, she gazed at the open window with the swaying curtain again. From that moment, she knew what she was going to do

Her lips began to rise again. Like a nostalgic feeling, she put the book aside as she thought to sleep. Wanting to calm her mind, she moved to her sleeping position. Then she pulled her tiny blanket towards her little body and closed her eyes to have a good dream.

Supposedly she wanted to dream about the time in her past life with her brother and how his growth became a determining factor in where she was.

As she closed her eyes, the first image that came to her mind was her brother's smiling face. The leaves fall with the cool breeze in the background while his golden blonde hair shines through the sun's rays. His hands were enough to offer her everything she had dreamed of until the scenario changed

The background went dark. Storms appeared in the household. People wore black clothes. The weather was not so nice for her or the family. The strong breeze didn't stop swaying her clothes and hair. Thunder didn't stop with the sound

The only thing Herena knew of her brother's death was the handkerchief left by the investigative body. It's the only handkerchief her brother appreciates and always brings him. But when it came to the knight's investigation, the cloth was already full of blood.

Of the duke and duchess, she and Harlene wept only at Ismael's death. But her parents didn't care about her at all

Like a mere puppet, Herena became engaged to Calus. She thought he was like her brother, but getting engaged to him was hell on her.

This scenario made her tiny eyes widen enough. Still, she would never expect the image she had seen in front of her crib

With the young man's hands clinging tightly to her crib. Her brows furrowed, and before she knew what was going on, she blinked to see who the person in her blurry image was until it cleared up, only to know who the young man grinning in front of her was

For heaven's sake, why is he here? He's the crown prince. Shouldn't he be in the imperial household? Besides, why would he do something like that - grinning thing - to a baby like her?! Is he out of his mind?! But before Herena could finish her thoughts, the young man, enough to win any woman's heart, spoke as if Herena could understand his words

The thing is, even though the baby couldn't understand what he was saying, he would still say those words to apologize in advance for what he might do to Ismael's sister

Especially that he had escaped from those servants' hawk eyes

"Since I already left a note saying I took you for a while, I guess we won't have a problem with that. I will take all responsibility for your disappearance within the day, little wildcat."

***

If Calus hadn't discovered that Ismael and the little wildcat were in his arms, he would have been angry toward Ismael. He would sulk within his household and plan to do something terrible to Ismael. However, after discovering the truth, he stays calm

Instead, Calus used Ismael's sister to be his partner for the day. Since she was still a baby, and Arianne wouldn't be jealous of her, Calus had those thoughts.

Calus and Herena went to the market covered in Calus' cloak. Herena didn't want it. She never wanted to be with Calus over her dead body, but what choice does she have, right? She's still a baby! She couldn't force herself to fight, even though she already knew she would lose in the very end. Besides, she knew she still had feelings for him, and it would take years before they faded away

She thought so, so she struggled a bit when Calus picked her up, and although Herena was ready to scream, she couldn't

Calus is strong. His strength is immeasurable. When Herena thought a baby like her wouldn't be able to fight, she decided to follow him. Also, she knew she would never be in danger because his grip could be gentle enough that she would never get hurt anyway

Or so she thought. As she looked at Calus, she unconsciously held his shoulder. They've been at the market for quite a while now. While his hands held the baby, his mind and gaze focused on the two people he could see in the distance. But the moment the bare flesh of tiny hands touched his neck and shoulders, he finally averted his eyes only to look at Ismael's little sister

But the image he expected of the baby differs from what Herena described. Her eyes widened at the reality that she never wanted to do anything to get his gaze or even his attention, but right now, she thought she had ruined part of her plans

Ignoring the thoughts that might be circling her head, Herena pretended to be like a baby. Then she acted like one and pretended to be happy as she giggled and pinched Calus' cheeks, making his eyebrows knit

Is there something wrong with this little wildcat? Ismael thought.

Calus already knew that his full attention had been on the baby and not on the two people they were following

Shaking his head, he knew he had lost the two young nobles from within his sight while hiding in a particular corner of the market. Calus could only sigh for the time being and looked again at the baby in his arms

"You know what? You stopped me from finding them both, and right now, I don't even know what to do with you."

"Guuuhhhh!"

Herena wanted to spank Calus, but she could only glare at him, which made him laugh in no time

"Well, you don't have a choice, do you? Don't you even know who's holding you right now?"