The coronation celebration festival was scheduled to last for a total of 10 days. Starting from 3 days before the coronation, there would be a pre-festival, and from the day of the coronation, a special grand festival would be held for 7 days.

Today was the first day of the pre-festival. Jediel, who had been excited anticipating only this day for several days, woke up early without anyone waking him, washed his face, combed his hair, and dressed himself properly.

However, Veronia’s condition was the opposite. Her body felt heavy and she had no appetite. Seeing her slightly swollen face, Louisa and Hugo were worried.

“If mom is sick, it’s okay not to go to the festival. I think it’s better to just rest at home.”

When Jediel spoke with a mature expression, Veronia shook her head and smiled gently.

“At times like this, going out and enjoying yourself more vigorously is what gives you energy. So of course we have to go to the festival.”

“Then… I guess we have to go.”

A small smile briefly appeared on the child’s lips and quickly disappeared. He seemed to be trying hard to hold back a big smile.

‘At times like this, he’s so perceptive. Ah, making a young child be so considerate…’

Veronia felt sorry for making Jediel unable to fully enjoy himself because of her.

‘Right. Let’s leave yesterday’s events in yesterday and not look back anymore. Let’s forget it! And today, let’s focus only on living today to the fullest. Laugh together with Jediel!’

After making a firm resolution inwardly, Veronia thickly spread cream cheese on a bagel and took a big bite.

There’s nothing like carbohydrates to quickly boost energy. She worked her jaw diligently. The taste of the savory bread combined with the deep flavor of the cheese was amazing.

“The bagel is so delicious today, grandma. And the cream cheese too!”

When Veronia spoke in a cheerful voice, Louisa’s face, which had been showing concern all along, relaxed a little.

“There’s more, so eat plenty.”

“Okay.”

When Veronia smiled, Jediel smiled too. And he immediately started chattering about what happened at kindergarten yesterday.

After the meal, when Veronia and Jediel, having finished preparing to go out, were about to leave the house, there was a knock and the front door opened as Onyx entered. Veronia was surprised by Onyx’s sudden appearance.

“Oh? What brings Onyx here?”

“I called him.”

The one who answered Veronia’s question was Hugo.

He must have been worried seeing her constantly lacking energy lately. He probably thought it would be difficult for her to go to the festival alone with young Jediel.

But since Louisa and Hugo, suffering from arthritis, couldn’t go along, it seemed he had called Onyx. Fortunately, Onyx lightly agreed to Hugo’s request to accompany them.

So Veronia and Jediel headed to the capital where the festival was being held, along with Onyx. As soon as they got into the carriage, Veronia spoke to Onyx.

“Thank you, Onyx. Grandfather made an unnecessary request.”

Towards her apologetic words, Onyx spoke in an indifferent voice.

“If you’re thankful, buy me a meal.”

“Okay. I’ll buy you something delicious. Two meals are fine too.”

“Oh, two meals! Great! I’ll have you know, I have quite refined tastes. I’m looking forward to it.”

At his playful words, Veronia smiled faintly. Although it was a vague small smile, seeing her smile seemed to lighten Onyx’s mood as well.

Colorful flags hung in every alley around Central Street, where the festival was in full swing, fluttering gently in the wind. People were crowded everywhere the eye could see and wherever one’s feet turned.

“Jediel, don’t let go of mom’s hand. Understood?”

“Yes. I’ll hold on tight.”

Jediel nodded vigorously at Veronia’s instruction.

“Shall I give you a piggyback ride?”

“Yes! I’d love that!”

Jediel’s eyes widened to twice their size as he smiled brightly. But Veronia frowned and shook her head.

“No! That would be too tiring for you! Onyx, don’t do that.”

Her scolding directed at both of them had no effect at all.

“It’s just for today, what’s the harm?”

“Yay! I’m so excited!”

As Onyx grinned and spoke, Jediel jumped up and down with joy. Onyx immediately lifted the child and placed him on his shoulders.

“Wow! There’s nothing I can’t see now. I can see everything!”

“Jediel, do you like it?”

“Yes! I like it very, very much! Onyx is the best!”

The child shouted in a loud, resonant voice.

With his view expanded, Jediel was busy looking around everywhere, turning his head this way and that. There were many shops and even more street vendors.

The shops were having special discount events, and the street vendors were attracting people’s attention with cheap and unique products.

Watching people was just as fun as looking at food or toys.

“Wow! That person looks cool! Wow! That dress is sparkling and shining!”

While nobles and commoners usually don’t mix due to their different living circles, during the festival period they mingled with each other. Jediel kept exclaiming “Wow!” and “Ooh!” seemingly fascinated by the extravagant clothes and accessories worn by the nobles.

‘Is it really that enjoyable?’

Veronia, who had been frowning with her lips tightly pressed, feeling sorry towards Onyx and worried about Jediel, chuckled as if finding Jediel’s excitement absurd.

For a moment, her eyes met Onyx’s, and they exchanged affectionate glances. Veronia mouthed ‘Thank you,’ and Onyx’s eyes seemed to say ‘Well, it’s nothing.’

At that moment, did Jediel’s hand brush against Onyx’s cheek? Jediel exclaimed in a surprised voice.

“Oh? Onyx’s face has gotten warm!”

“That can’t be!”

“…It has though.”

Onyx’s face, flustered by Jediel’s honest observation, flushed even more. His heart began to beat faster for no reason.

Fortunately for Onyx, Jediel’s attention quickly shifted from Onyx’s cheeks to somewhere else. Jediel pointed at a spot and raised his voice.

“Can we have cotton candy?”

“Sure, let’s go!”

“Indeed, cotton candy is a must at festivals.”

Both Veronia and Onyx nodded readily at Jediel’s suggestion and immediately headed towards the cotton candy vendor.

Veronia’s steps were light, but her mind was not. It was because of the memory that came to mind at the mention of cotton candy.

It was a memory of eating cotton candy with Killian long ago. After watching a play, Killian had handed her cotton candy while she was crying. He had also said something about needing to eat sweet things when feeling down.

‘The cotton candy I ate then was very sweet.’

It was still one of her vivid memories. It was also one of the few good memories.

While recalling the events from 5 years ago, another memory suddenly popped up. It was yesterday’s memory.

‘It wasn’t a mistake. It was a kiss filled with the purest sincerity, without a single lie.’

The voice with a slightly trembling end echoed vividly in her ear. No matter how much she tried not to think about it, to forget it, her head wouldn’t listen. Even shaking her head to shake off the unwanted memory didn’t help.

‘Perhaps I… was drawn to you, Nia, from the moment I first saw you.’

But once a memory surfaced, it kept flowing, one after another.

The temperature and humidity at the time, the sunset sky, and the sound of water flowing in the fountain were all recreated in her mind.

“Haah…”

A tired sigh escaped involuntarily. Memories she no longer wanted to remember kept tormenting Veronia.

The words of confession that came from Killian’s lips were sweeter than anything in the world, but they were also the thing she needed to avoid most in the world.

‘I ran away, risking everything, I can’t go back to that world again. Absolutely not.’

As the sweetness level of the accumulated memories kept rising, making her head constantly ache, at some point it suddenly felt crystal clear.

“Mom?”

It was then. Jediel looked at Veronia and asked worriedly.

“Do you not like cotton candy?”

“Huh?”

It seemed she had been frowning intensely while thinking about Killian. And Jediel had noticed that expression.

She felt sorry for the child who kept watching her mood. Veronia lifted the corners of her mouth forcefully and spoke in an energetic voice.

“Of course not! Mom loves cotton candy too!”

“That’s a relief.”

Jediel smiled broadly, seeming relieved after confirming Veronia’s smile.

But Onyx was different. To his eyes, it was transparently clear that Veronia was forcing a smile to reassure Jediel.

‘Hugo was worried that she’s been looking particularly low on energy lately. It seems the same today. Is it because of that Killian?’

A cold glint appeared in Onyx’s eyes, but Veronia, unaware of his thoughts, fell back into her own thoughts.

‘There are no other options. My past life is already gone, but I must never forget that I will always be a fugitive. So of course I have to cut ties with Killian too. There’s no need to even think about it.’

Veronia clenched her jaw, steeling her resolve.

Just then, the cotton candy vendor’s husky voice was heard.

“Oh my, I’m sorry, little one. The cotton candy has run out. Just wait a moment. I’ll make some for you right away.”

“Wow! That’s even better! Watching cotton candy being made is fun!”

Jediel, who had already come down from Onyx’s shoulders, was bouncing up and down in front of the vendor. Today especially, he kept jumping like a bouncy ball.

‘He really enjoys it. I should bring him to places like this more often.’

Raising a precious child with all her heart, being able to watch the child grow up healthy and bright by her side. That alone was already a satisfying life.

Wanting more than that would be greed, and too much greed always leads to trouble.

‘So let’s erase Killian. Let’s not meet him anymore. Out of sight, out of mind. Yes, that’s what I’ll do!’

Veronia carefully laid out her plan.

‘I should tell the director that I’ll take a break from the magic tower research institute for a while. He’ll surely try to dissuade me again, but I mustn’t waver and must definitely get out of it.’

It was when Veronia was resolving to be more firm-hearted from now on. A nobly dressed couple approached them.

A voice like birdsong was heard.

“Oh my! I’ve only seen this in pictures when I was young. It’s my first time seeing it in person, so this is what a cotton candy machine looks like! Please buy me one, Lord Killian!”

“Certainly.”

As Princess Espin asked in an excited voice, Killian nodded.

Startled by the name ‘Killian’, Veronia immediately turned her head to look aside.

Indeed, it was the Killian she knew.

‘Of all things… why do we have to run into each other here today!’

She found it vexing that out of this vast festival venue, of all the many people, she happened to meet Killian here by chance. It was so absurd she almost let out a laugh of disbelief.