Strange rumours started to spread in Labyrinth City.
They say that this year's Winter Tournament will create a lot of sparks because the participants were fighting for the love of this city's most influential person. Or about how the fighting guild members are suddenly afraid of a certain person. Or the current Duke Kadaklan seems to be falling in love with a certain person and neglecting the matters that relate to the fighting guilds.
People in this city have different kinds of reactions to these rumours. Some people feel worried that they might be dragged into their conflicts. Some people rejoiced for their beloved Duke who finally found his partner and wished that the person he chose would make this city more prosperous. The other reaction to these rumours is happily waiting for the upcoming events.
But all of the people that relate to these rumours seem to be suddenly gone from the people's sight. The city is still bustling with people, especially the people who come to this city to watch the Winter Tournament. But no one will have thought that actually the person who accidentally created most of the rumours are currently walking leisurely trying the food stalls that were created because of the Winter Festival.
"This year is colder than last year but it seems not to prevent the people from enjoying the Festival. It is always the best way to enjoy the Festival by trying the street stalls and making a lot of good memories and trying the unusual things that come from other countries." A young girl with ice blue eyes and dark blue hair that looks like black happily said while walking to the nearest food stall.
"You seem to not thinking about the Winter Tournament even though you made a bet with them. Are you that confident with your power, My Lady?" Winslow looked and asked the girl as he knew that she seemed to be stressed by something lately.
Winslow is wearing a knitted hat to hide his blue hair and winter clothes so people won't be able to recognize him as quickly as usual. But another person who came with the two of them is acting excitedly and follows the girl to buy the food in the stall. Winslow feels tired when he realized that he chose the wrong person to go with them.
"Haa..., Ancelina why did you always like that?" Winslow sighed and muttered.
"But because she is like this, we might feel that she saved us and reminded us because she won't change. I always like that parts of Sister Ancelina. And today I want to enjoy the Festival and forget about everything. That was your intent when you asked me before, right Brother Winslow?" The girl smiles happily and pulls his hand.
"Young Miss, how about trying that stall? That stall seems to let the customer to create something from the caramel and you can also ask the seller to make something from it if you don't want to do it yourself." Ancelina pointed at a nearby stall.
"Eh, that seems to be interesting. Should we try it too?" The little girl or more precisely Renneshia who changes her appearance pull Winslow while chasing Ancelina to that stall.
They are having a fun time together enjoying the various stalls together. Like what Renneshia said to Winslow, she wants to enjoy the festival and forget about the things related to the Winter Tournament and the dream that she sees every night. That dream made her wanted to go out with her current appearance. Of course, she hides her identity and secretly goes out from Red Dawn so they won't though that she was actually the same as Ludger. She also uses magic to hide the face with the spell that she created after trying to imitate the spells that Elviira said used by the Magic Tower Master.
"It was really a great spell. Even when you are in this kind of crowded place, no one seems to realize us. Especially because recently Young Miss become more famous in this City." Ancelina marvels at Renneshia's spell.
"I really wonder why my fame keeps rising even when I try my best to act rudely or annoying because I seem unable to act low-profile. No, I can't act like usual lately because of my stress but what's wrong with them to become more crazier than before?" Renneshia lamented.
"It's because you do it in a wrong way. Didn't you follow the character in that book for your act? I know that you do it unconsciously because it was something that you made, right?" Ancelina told the truth.
"Shhh... It was too dangerous to talk about it in this place. Right, let's see the 'Green Sea Merchant' stall. I remember Mr. Hugo said that it was around here..." Renneshia pulled both of them to the stall.
But when they arrived at the stall, it was five times more crowded than other stalls. And they seem unable to get closer because the surrounding people are more like a hungry predator that will bite anyone who gets closer to them. They are queuing in the line and following the directions given by the workers.
"Young Miss, may I ask you about something?" Ancelina suddenly asked with a serious face.
"What is it?" Renneshia wondered about what kind of question Ancelina would ask.
"You must have a lot of money, right? But why do I never see it. Did you hide it somewhere?" Ancelina asked with a curious face.
"If you are asking about that, the answer is I invest half of it in some businesses. I also use some of it to help the orphans in this city. The rest is in here." Renneshia said and showed the ring on her finger.
"Right, you can always use it to save your belongings in there. But what kind of businesses that you invest in? If I also invest my money, will I be able to earn a lot of money too?" Ancelina asked with shining eyes.
"I can help you if you want but you need to understand the market and there are also times when you will lose your money because of the change in the market or some unfortunate things happen. What will you do if you get a lot of money, Sister Ancelina?" Renneshia asked with a curious tone.
"I don't understand what you are saying. I am just curious if you are able to earn such sums from investing it. I don't think I will have a better life if I have more money. And didn't you say that more money did not mean more happiness?" Ancelina asked.
"I'm glad that you still remember it. And to tell you about it, thirty percent of the earning in that stall will get into my savings. Because mostly the thing that he sold was made by me." Renneshia whispered.
Ancelina was unable to say anything as she had heard something that she never even try to imagine. She knew that her Young Miss was a great person but she never thought that she would be able to do something like this in a few years. She knew that 'The Green Sea Merchant Group' was one of the greatest merchants in this city and their owner, Mr. Hugo is the Vice Guild Master in the merchant guild.
"I know that he was a great person but I feel strange because I often see that person talking to you with his usual weird smile and agreeing with almost whatever you told him. But looking at his stall I just understand that he is really as great as others said. others expected from the Young Lady. You seem to get close to almost everyone, right?" Ancelina looks at Renneshia with respect.
"The reality is always different from what we heard in the rumours. I also thought that they exaggerated it too much and turned it into crazy stories. I also wonder what are those people thinking when they made 'Ludger' stories." Renneshia said while remembering 'Ludger' rumours.
It was a peaceful day that the three of them were able to enjoy while remembering their past.
Winslow and Ancelina seem to be glad that they are able to cheer Renneshia today. Lately, Ludger seems to have a lot of things that he needs to think about and Ludger was too busy with work and training for the Winter Tournament. Both of them couldn't help Ludger about it but they hoped as Renneshia she could get some breather as only for today she could act as her real self rather than her fake identity.
As they enjoy the Festival to their fullest, they decide to take a break in the nearby City Park. This place is less crowded so they are can enjoy the food they buy peacefully. But at that time someone suddenly came closer to them. He was a young boy that few years older than Renneshia.
'Hmm, This boy...where did I see him before?' Renneshia suddenly feels that his face is familiar but she is currently unable to remember where they have met before.
"AH! It really was you!!! I really missed you. I have been looking for you as I could not find you in that place when I went to that place again. I'm glad you are alright, Miss Black Fairy!" The boy excitedly shouted.
"Pfft...Hahaha...I never thought someone would call you like that again!" Ancelina laughed as she remembered the funny thing that happened a long time ago.
Renneshia's face becomes red as she feels really embarrassed because of her dark past. She wanted to hit her past self if possible right now.