Festival atmosphere.

 Because the atmosphere is quite lively downtown, adding an enlivening impression. So did the two people who had just arrived downtown with a hired carriage. Seeing the very lively atmosphere proves that they did not choose the wrong drop point downtown.

"Waw so many people," a white robed girl noticed the bustling conditions downtown of the Imperial city.

 Seeing from under her hood, various vendors started to spread out their mats and took out all kinds of knick-knacks, there were also paper lanterns that she had never seen before.

The girl's face turned around. "Why are there lanterns, Mr. Clovis? Is there a festival?" She asked with a raised face.

 Meanwhile, Clovis, who had just paid for their chartered carriage, turned his head after hearing the girl's voice behind him.

Looking around, the man suddenly realized something. "I forgot to tell you that there is a festival to welcome the full moon."

Elie's lips rounded, "I wanna see it!" She exclaimed as she held Clovis's hand.

Clovis's big palm felt the cold touch of Elie's fingers. His eyes watched how the girl's back walked in front of him by pulling him.

With a focused gaze, Clovis asked. "Is this your first time coming to a festival?"

Elie's eyes looked straight at the street in front of her.

"Yes, first time in my life." She replied.

For a moment a flash of image from her past circled her brain.

I used to be overworked, and didn't expect that I would die after being robbed. 

"Why did you stop, Elie?"

 A voice that startled her came from the side of her face. Again she remembered that Clovis had often surprised her by showing his face from behind her.

"Mr. Clovis, would you mind not showing up so suddenly?" Elie groaned staring into the man's red eyes.

Clovis smirked. "Forgive my habit," he said.

 Elie rolled her eyes. Then they continued their steps through the city on foot. Elie could see many buildings that were no longer seen in her era, even the traditional techniques that were still very strong made her curious.

"Looks like you just came out after a long time, huh?" Clovis kept watching the steps of the girl who kept moving from place to place.

 Meanwhile, Elie, who was sparkling, looked at the toys one by one, which she saw for the first time. Do not forget to look at jewelry that is quite antique according to her, caught her attention.

"Come here, Mister Clovis."

Hearing Elie telling him to come closer, his steps moved toward the girl.

"What is wrong?"

Restraining his surprise, Clovis could feel Elie's fingers brushing his bangs from under the hood.

"What are you doing, Elie?" Clovis asked while looking at the girl's wrist.

By trying to tiptoe her feet, Elie managed to put something in the side bangs of this tall man in front of her.

"Perfectly suited on Mister!" Elie gave a thumbs up.

The strange feeling after seeing Elie's smiling face made his hand move to touch the object in his hair.

"Hairpin?" Mumble.

She grinned, "The pink ribbon suits you very well, Mister!"

Pensive for a moment seeing the laughter of the girl in front of him, Clovis suddenly realized after several people looked at him in whispers.

"You..."

Elie laughed at Clovis' annoyed look, she couldn't help but mock the Emperor's Son.

"Don't take it off, Mister, it suits you." Elie looked into Clovis's eyes with seriousness.

Clovis smiled faintly, "Alright then."

Elie was confused when she saw Clovis passing by her body, and standing in front of the merchant.

"I will buy this ribbon," he said giving 3 gold coins.

Seeing the gold coins that the man in front of him had given him made the merchant's face smile with pleasure.

"Take it, thank you for visiting." He said while inserting the gold coins.

Watching Clovis pay for the ribbon he was wearing made her a little disbelieving. Then Elie pulled Clovis's arm to get closer.

"I'm not going to joke with Mister anymore," Elie made a sad face.

Clovis lowered his head, looking closely at Elie's face.

"At least you know the consequences of joking with me," he smirked.

Elie sighed harshly. "Okay, I lost."

 After that, Elie and Clovis continued on their way while talking about the festival conditions. While Elie was chatting with Clovis, someone suddenly tugged at her cloak from below. Slowly the girl's face looked down and saw what was pulling her robe.

"Little child?"

Seeing Elie who was looking down made him wonder what the girl was looking at.

"Little child?"

Elie nodded without turning her head, "Who is this little child?"

But Elie was startled by a lollipop stretched out by a small child underneath.

"Candy?"

Seeing that the little boy still didn't speak made Elie lower her body, according to the little boy's height.

"What is your name?" Her hands ruffled the blonde hair of the little boy in front of her.

However, the small child gave a shake in return.

"Where are your parents?" She asks.

Again a shake was given by the small child.

"Did you come here alone?" She asked again.

Seeing the nod from the small child made Elie smile.

"Want to walk with me?" She offered.

 Then the little boy nodded his head, accepting Elie's offer. After obtaining the approval of the small child, Elie turned to the tall man beside her.

"Can this little boy come with us?" She asked while holding the little boy's hand.

Seeing Elie's pleading gaze made Clovis unable to comment.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

Elie nodded confidently. "I can't leave him."

Clovis sighed. "Alright, you can take him." His reply gave permission.

Elie smiled after getting Clovis's approval. Then Elie turned around to see the little boy in front of her.

"Let's walk until you get tired," Elie exclaimed happily.

 𝓥𝓲𝓮𝓓𝓻𝓪

 The sun is almost setting, and the atmosphere around downtown is starting to get busier as preparations for the festival are starting to be neatly arranged on the roadside.

"Look, the festival is about to start." Elie smiled happily as she held the hands of two people on her right and left.

"Are you done walking around?"

Clovis's question made Elie smile awkwardly.

"That's enough for today, Mister."

Clovis gave a small nod, "Alright then."

Then Elie's attention turned to the little boy walking beside her.

"Are you having fun?" Elie asked as she bowed her head.

The little boy lifted his face, his lips smiling.

"I'm so happy."

Elie was amazed to hear the cuteness of the little boy's voice.

"I am also very happy."

Meanwhile, Clovis, who saw the conversation between the two people, just sighed.

"Two children," he muttered with a shake.

The sound of classical music resounding with alluring melodies, makes the downtown festival crowded with visitors.

"Beautiful music," Elie commented.

"Yes, you are right."

Hearing Clovis's response made her face turn, seeing the firm jaw of the man beside her that was slightly hidden by the hood of his robe.

"Are you happy to come here with me, Mister?" She asked curiously.

 There was a moment of silence, Elie gasped when her amber eyes saw Clovis lower the hood of his robe, and look at her with a deadpan look, yet it made her nervous.

"Perhaps, this is more than happy."

 Standing still, Elie couldn't believe what she was seeing. The thin lips of the man beside her curved upwards, more impressive than any smile she had ever seen.

With a wistful gaze, Elie spoke. "I like your smile, Prince Clovis."

Hearing this didn't fade the smile on Clovis's lips, instead, the man drew closer to Elie.

"It's not fair if you only like my smile, but not like me."

It didn't take long for Elie's cheeks to turn red, just hearing Clovis's words made her cheeks flush perfectly.

Clovis glanced at Elie's face, "How red~" he teased.

 Elie pulled down her hood, trying to cover her entire face. She felt that her lips were too tight to speak, moreover, the gaze from Clovis made her unable to move.

"Why do every word that comes out of your lips always succeed in making me embarrassed?" Elie turned her head away.

𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸..

 The two people who were talking were suddenly startled by a cracking sound. Elie turned to the little boy who was chewing on his lollipop with a look of disdain towards Clovis.

"Are your teeth all right?" Elie crouched down holding the little boy's jaw.

 But that little boy went back to munching on his lollipop with a burning glare at Clovis. Likewise, the tall man only stared at the child who was being checked by Elie with a flat look.

"Why do you want to be with a man like him?"

 The child's sudden question made Elie speechless, then her gaze glanced slightly at Clovis who only looked at her with one eyebrow raised.

Elie brought her lips closer to the ear of the little boy in front of her. "He's the only one that caught my attention."

 After that, she pulled her face away from the body of the little boy in front of her. The little boy also watched Elie's face which was only half visible, suddenly the wind blew so hard that the hood used by Elie opened.

"My name is Alberkat Cardave Benedict, just call me Alca."

His hand held out in greeting. Elie fell silent after hearing the little boy's name.

His voice is not like a child, what else is his behavior? Thought Elie.

"What the hell is this?"

A startling sound came from Alca who was shocked after his hand was not shaken by Elie, but Clovis.

"Nice to meet you, Alca," Clovis said with a murderous smile.

Alca broke their handshake with a snort of annoyance.

"I'm going, I'm not happy to see that ugly man!" Alca ran while throwing his lollipop stick into Clovis's face.

Clovis's eyes closed after the stick that Alca threw hit his nose.

"Damn little brat-" not having time to curse the little boy, Alca's body disappeared from the sight of Elie and Clovis.

"Where's that little kid?" Elie got up from her squat.

Clovis grunts. "He's gone."

Elie dusted off her robe which was a bit dirty at the knees. "We should enjoy the moon tonight!" She cheered.

Clovis smiled slightly seeing Elie's happy face without being covered by the hood of the girl's robe.

Clovis linked his fingers with Elie's. "Would you like to release a lantern on the river?" He asked.

Hearing Clovis offer, Elie nodded.

"I want!" She replied.

"Alright, I'll buy a lantern first."

 After that, Clovis kept his word by buying paper lanterns with Elie in his hand. Then after getting the lanterns, Elie and Clovis rushed to the river that became the border.

"Do you have a pen with you?" He asked as he turned to Elie.

Elie reached into her trouser pocket, "I do." Took out a pen.

Clovis smiled, then headed to the edge of the river with a border.

"We will write here," he said.

Seriously, Elie wrote down the sentence she wanted to write first on the lantern that Clovis had bought.

"I've finished writing, it's your turn, Prince Clovis." Elie handed over the unfilled part of the lantern.

Clovis received it, then lowered it over the river barrier. "Don't look."

Elie smiled slyly, then she purposely peeked from behind Clovis' body.

"Blissful??" Elie muttered.

Clovis flinched in surprise at the sound that startled him from behind.

Clovis hid his writing, "I told you not to look."

Elie put on a teasing face. "Is there someone you want to be happy with, Prince Clovis?" She asked.

Clovis didn't answer, he still wasn't done writing. After finishing writing his wish on the lantern paper, Clovis turned his lantern from Elie.

"Of course, I want to be happy with someone," he replied.

Elie smiled clumsily. "It seems my question was wrong," she whispered.

"Take it off with me, Elie." Clovis said while starting the fire.

Elie nodded. "All right~"

 Then Elie approached Clovis, who was ready to fly their lantern. Coinciding with the full moon that wasn't covered by the clouds, Elie and Clovis managed to fly their lanterns with the full moon bright.

"Look, Prince Clovis! Our lanterns are flying high!" She shouted happily.

Clovis glanced at Elie's face which looked very happy, even the girl was jumping up and down with excitement.

"What did you write, Elie?" He asked.

Instantly Elie stopped, then turned to Clovis who was looking at her with a serene look.

"Secret," Elie laughed.

"You peeked at mine, is there a reason you kept it a secret from me?"

Elie thought for a second. "Do you want to know?"

 Of course, Clovis nodded his head. Then Elie brought her body closer to the black haired man, her legs tiptoed so she could reach Clovis' ear.

"Me, you, and nature as witnesses." She whispers.

Clovis pondered after hearing Elie's reply, but his face turned back to Elie who was shorter than him.

"Who are you referring to?"

Elie was exasperated to see Clovis's face which looked like he didn't understand.

"Who has been with me besides you, Prince Clovis?"

Clovis smiled, he already knew the answer.

"It seems that my wish will come true soon."

Elie glanced. "What hope? Gaining happiness?"

His head nodded, and he smiled at Elie who was also staring at him.

"I don't know if I can feel it, but..."

Clovis lowered his body so that his face was closer to Elie's gaze.

"The expectations are so much higher when I'm with you, Elie." He said.

Elie held back her embarrassment. "I'M STILL 16 YEARS OLD!"

Clovis laughed seeing Elie's blushing face. His palm went to Elie's gray hair, then stroked it gently.

"I will wait for you until you are old enough, Elie."