I wanted to ask why, but in the end, I couldn’t.

I glanced at Dietrich walking beside me.

‘Why was he staring so intently at that fake jewel earlier?’

If it was just a simple glance, I wouldn’t have paid any attention. However, I noticed Dietrich’s gaze seemed a little different from usual, slightly subdued.

Since arriving at the festival, it was the first time I saw his eyes so immersed in thought, and it kept bothering me.

But as if nothing had happened, he returned to his usual self. He naturally held my hand and led me to the bustling street crowded with people.

As we entered the street we had first visited, I was wide awake by the delicious scent of snacks, and I completely forgot about his gaze.

Only after devouring sausage skewers drenched in sauce and a cup filled with chocolate shaved ice, and buying chicken skewers and mango juice, I could come to my senses.

I had burnt myself out.

Thanks to walking so much that my feet hurt, I had no regrets about the summer festival.

The hot weather and the crowd filling the streets.

The combination of these two things inevitably drained my energy quickly.

I wiped the beads of sweat on my forehead and slouched my shoulders.

“Already tired?”

He chuckled, seeing me trudging along with chicken skewers and mango juice in both hands.

“Isn’t it tiring?”

“If I got tired from just this, I wouldn’t have been able to hold a sword.”

Dietrich looked around and pointed to a bench in a circular plaza surrounded by trees.

“Shall we go there and rest for a bit?”

“Sure!”

It was a very timely suggestion. I walked towards the bench, eager to run to it right away.

Sitting down after a few hours felt really comfortable.

It felt like blood was circulating in my swollen legs. I tapped my legs and quietly watched him eating the chicken skewers.

How interesting.

A young nobleman eating chicken skewers.

Although I had never participated in a summer festival here before, this was what I felt while walking the streets today.

As it was a festival for all, various people were enjoying the festival, but the way they enjoyed it was different for each person.

People dressed in plain and neat clothes were laughing and chatting while buying various snacks and miscellaneous goods sold on the streets.

On the other hand, young ladies in expensive dresses and gentlemen in full uniforms entered luxurious shops while being escorted by their servants.

After coming out of the shops, they seemed to be chatting in an upscale cafe.

They didn’t even spare a glance at things like chicken skewers or chocolate shaved ice sold on the streets.

However, Dietrich was diligently eating the chicken skewers without any reluctance.

He didn’t even ask what it was. Usually, in novels, don’t young noblemen appear who know nothing about commoner’s food?

As if he noticed me staring intently, he glanced at me while engrossed in the chicken skewers.

His fine eyebrows rose as if asking what I was looking at.

“Dietrich. Is that chicken skewer delicious?”

“It’s been a while since I had chicken skewers, so it’s quite tasty.”

“It’s been a while?”

Does that mean he has eaten chicken skewers before?

Before I could ask, he spoke first.

“I came to the festival with my mother before. That was the first time I tried chicken skewers.”

“Your mother bought you chicken skewers?”

“Of course. She coaxed me into taking a bite when I refused to eat, and since then, I’ve never forgotten this taste.”

Stories about his mother, Kate, were always new to me. It was partly because they weren’t mentioned in the original work, but also because it was rare for him to talk about his family.

He continued in a comfortable tone.

“My mother loved to wander around markets or plazas since she was young. So she was familiar with these kinds of foods. Although it was a bit difficult because she was an elegant and refined person, she never discriminated against anyone.”

“She must be a rare person in this world.”

“She was.”

A smile appeared on his lips. Just thinking about his mother seemed to make him smile.

That summer day’s festival must have left a deep impression on Dietrich.

As the sun slowly began to set, the surroundings grew darker. Colorful lights turned on everywhere, starting to brightly illuminate the darkened surroundings.

Red, yellow, blue, green, and so on.

My eyes naturally widened at the sight of the twinkling lights in various colors.

The thick summer breeze blowing gently and the hair tickling my cheeks.

People happily conversing under the lights illuminating the darkened surroundings.

It was nothing short of the festival scene I had imagined.

“Wow…”

The summer festival that welcomed the night began to sparkle even more with beautiful lights.

“A small banquet will be held in the plaza soon.”

That’s what a passerby had said earlier. At Dietrich’s words, I quickly scanned the plaza.

Then, as if appearing out of nowhere, there were people with various musical instruments gathered in one place in the plaza.

When I looked at them with eyes asking what it was, Dietrich immediately spoke.

“Music is indispensable for a banquet. You can think of it as a small orchestra.”

“So people will dance to that music?”

“That’s right. Dancing under the moonlight.”

I blinked my eyes and imagined people elegantly dancing under the moonlight.

Even just imagining it felt so beautiful that my heart swelled.

The preparations were done quickly, and people slowly began to gather in the plaza.

The atmosphere was gradually ripening.

Dietrich and I leaned comfortably on the bench, leisurely watching the people coming and going with joyful expressions.

Soon, a woman who seemed to be the host climbed onto the wooden stage set up in the plaza.

As she stood in the center of the stage, the plaza quieted down as if it had been waiting.

The middle-aged woman in a comfortable purple dress quietly looked at the audience, then smiled brightly and shouted.

“Everyone! Welcome to the 50th Summer Festival of the Chronotia Empire!”

At the same time as her words, a roar of cheers erupted from the audience.

Everyone was of one mind, clapping and laughing.

“As always, I am the host in charge of your beautiful summer festival, Jena!”

The woman, who introduced herself as Jena, twirled around, making her purple dress flutter.

“Many people have come today as well. Seeing everyone’s sparkling eyes, it seems like you’re all looking for a partner to waltz with. Hohoho, shall we start?”

The orchestra sitting on either side of her began to pick up their instruments as if they were about to start playing at any moment.

And as if waiting for the right moment, water spurted from the fountain in the center of the plaza.

Jena winked at the anticipating people and snapped her fingers.

At the same time, gentle music began to flow. It was a friendly tune that made you hum along even though it was a completely unfamiliar song.

Before I knew it, I was watching people holding each other’s hands and spinning around.

“It’s beautiful…”

Those words naturally came out at the sight.

Under the moonlight, and late at night.

Perhaps because I was immersed in the festival’s atmosphere, I asked Dietrich.

“Do you want to dance?”

He silently turned his head and faced me. His silver-gray hair fluttered lightly under the cloak that had been slightly pulled back by the wind.

Watching his hair shimmering under the moonlight, I soon realized that I had made a very selfish suggestion.

He had been wearing the cloak the entire time we were at the festival together.

He probably wouldn’t want to wear the cloak and dance in a crowded place like this.

Moreover, he had also said he hated banquets.

I was too caught up in the atmosphere and only thought about my own perspective. I hurriedly spoke again.

“It must be uncomfortable for you to keep wearing that cloak because of me. I didn’t think about that.”

“It’s not because of you.”

He spoke in a nonchalant tone.

“If someone recognizes me, it will be troublesome for you. They’ll come running to you, asking what our relationship is. That’s why I’m wearing it.”

“…Ah.”

It was a reason I hadn’t thought of. I thought he was doing it so that rumors wouldn’t spread about him hanging out with a maid.

He smiled slightly, looking at me blankly blinking, and stood up from his seat.

But looking up at him who had stood up, I couldn’t say a word.

His teal eyes, resembling a refreshing ocean, were sparkling with life.

Even brighter than the moon shining brightly above his head.

He gently took my hand and lightly kissed the back of my hand like a gentleman.

I felt a warm and soft sensation. Before I could come to my senses, his low voice tinged with laughter was heard.

“Would you dance with me, my lady?”

It was Dietrich’s noble and elegant dance invitation that I had never seen before.

I could only nod my head blankly, looking up at him.

Even as I was led to the plaza by his hand, I couldn’t come to my senses. It felt like someone was repeatedly squeezing and releasing my heart.

My heart was beating so wildly that it seemed like it would burst out of my chest at any moment.

He gently held one of my hands and wrapped his other hand around my waist, whispering in my ear.

“Do you know how to dance?”

At his words, I shook my head vigorously. I had never danced like this in my entire life.

I quietly whispered near his ear.

“Not at all. Don’t I just sway roughly?”

“What? Sway?”

His eyes slightly widened at my words, then soon curved into a long arc.

“Oh my. Dancing with a lady who doesn’t even know dance etiquette for her first dance. How troublesome.”

“It pisses me off!”

Then he snickered softly. It seemed amusing to him that I suggested dancing even though I didn’t know how.

The gentle music stopped, and a slightly faster-paced waltz began to flow.

His hand, which had been holding my waist, gently pulled me. Dietrich’s feet moved slowly forward and then back again.

Following his feet, my body also twirled around and then moved forward again, repeating the process.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew. The wind gently lifted the cloak covering his face.

Under the moonlight, his snow-white silver hair and teal eyes resembling a green forest shone beautifully.

As the music gradually became more intense, the dance also became faster. Breathing heavily while dancing, we burst into laughter, looking at each other’s reddening faces.

The pounding heartbeat from our joined hands continued, not knowing whose it was.