“Flutes for sale, flutes! Crisp, clear sound! Loud enough to use for self-defense—hand-carved by the one and only Sticky Fingers Jackson! Young lady, why don’t you give it a try?”

“Fresh fish! Salted fish for sale! Mackerel, flounder, sea bass, croaker! Caught and salted fresh right from the West Sea! Get them while you can—they won’t be around every day!”

“Skewers for sale! A local delicacy you won’t find anywhere else! Try it out, young men, children, and travelers! You there, the ones in the cloak! Yes, I mean you! Come and have a taste—so juicy it’ll make your tongue dance with joy.”

The last words struck my ears. Looking around, I pointed to myself and mouthed the question: ‘Us?’

“Yes, you! The ones with your cloaks pulled down tight! Come here and try it! The meat’s so tender your tongue will do a jig the moment you bite into it.”

A middle-aged woman, her head wrapped in a bandana, beckoned us with a friendly smile. In one hand, she already held two skewers of meat.

Almost entranced, we walked over. She swiftly handed one skewer to Claude and one to me.

“Try it first, and if you like it, you can buy some.”

The piece of meat on the thin wooden stick was steaming, the surface glistening under the light. Hesitating at the unfamiliar smell, I watched Claude take a bite without hesitation, his eyes lighting up in approval.

“It’s really good. Delicious, actually.”

“See? I told you!” the woman responded proudly.

“Khalia, you should try it, too. It’s fine.”

Claude urged me, noticing that I was still holding the skewer hesitantly.

I cautiously took a small bite, nibbling at the edge.

My eyes widened immediately.

“It’s tasty!”

I couldn’t help but exclaim, finishing the rest of the skewer in one more bite.

“So, how about it? Would you like one each? Or two each?”

The woman swiftly picked up two more skewers, and Claude reached into his coin pouch.

“Two, please. How much is it?”

“Just one penny.”

He handed her the coin, and she cheerfully passed him the skewers.

“Thank you very much.”

“Here you go.”

Claude offered me one of the skewers, and this time, I took a bite without hesitation.

The meat didn’t taste like pork or chicken. Its long, slender shape was different from any bird, yet the texture was firm and the flavor savory, lingering on my tongue.

“What kind of meat is this?”

I wondered if it might be some part of a rabbit. It was so delicious that I regretted not having tasted it before.

“It’s green sticky lizard meat. They live around here.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I made it easier to eat by removing the head, tail, and legs. You’re welcome!”

The woman chuckled mischievously, enjoying the look of shock on my face. Her delight at playing a trick on an outsider was obvious.

“Ugh…”

My appetite vanished instantly, my hand holding the skewer dropping along with my enthusiasm.

“Hmm.”

Unlike me, who had turned pale, Claude seemed intrigued.

“If you don’t want it, give it to me.”

“Here…”

Relieved, I handed the skewer over, and he took it without hesitation, biting into it casually.

“You really are… something else.”

‘He doesn’t seem like a prince at all.’

It wasn’t the place to say it, so I swallowed the rest of my thoughts.

For someone who looked like they would never touch anything that wasn’t prepared by a palace chef with over twenty years of experience, his casual manner of chewing on the questionable meat made him seem like any ordinary villager.

“I think it’s great. Thanks for the food.”

Claude finished his skewer in a few bites, politely thanking the vendor.

“Come again!”

The woman tossed the empty skewer aside and immediately called out to her next set of customers.

“Delicious skewers! Get your skewers here! Only one copper each!”

Leaving the bustling stall behind, Claude smiled and patted my drooping shoulder.

From then on, I made sure to check what I was eating more carefully, no matter how good it looked.

Fortunately, there was nothing as unusual as lizard meat after that.

We came across all sorts of snacks—from tough, chewy herbs that released a sweet flavor after several bites to fruit boiled down and hardened into a jelly-like candy. They were things I’d never had the chance to try at the academy or the Duke’s estate.

Despite having already eaten dinner and not being one to eat much, my appetite oddly grew as Claude and I explored more.

We ran through the festival, buying trinkets and indulging in street food like mischievous children. After a while, my legs started to ache, and exhaustion set in.

“Shall we sit for a bit?”

Claude noticed my weariness. I nodded, and he led me to an empty spot at an outdoor table where a group of customers had just left.

On a normal night, a server would come to take our order, but on a busy festival evening like this, it seemed unlikely anyone would have time for us.

“Stay here. I’ll go order something inside.”

“Thanks.”

I gratefully accepted Claude’s offer and watched as he disappeared into the restaurant.

I set down the things I was carrying—a wooden flute, a pinwheel, and some jelly candies—filling half the table. Looking at the pile now, I couldn’t even remember why I had bought most of it.

‘These could be for Andrew and Guinness. Even for the priest.’

With that justification, I felt more at ease.

I glanced up to see the moon hanging above the rooftops of the two-story buildings.

The sky had darkened to a deep blue, and below it, the people were still chattering away, showing no sign of heading home. Somewhere, a bard was softly playing a lute, the melody barely reaching my ears.

‘This must be what Claude meant.’

I recalled the day he had asked the Emperor for permission to leave the academy. That day, Claude had mused about what it would have been like if I hadn’t left the capital and had stayed with him instead.

“Sometimes we could sneak out of the academy and wander the alleyways, watch fireworks during festivals, and buy food from the vendors.”

It felt as if I were living out that alternate future, as if some magical force had allowed me to experience what could have been.

I could easily picture a slightly older version of myself, roaming around with him, carefree, just like tonight.

This unexpected town festival, wandering the streets and sharing small, silly moments, filled me with a joy so deep it made my chest tighten.

The bard’s melody lingered in my ears as the murmurs around me grew louder.

“It’s almost midnight.”

“The fireworks will start soon.”

The voices, filled with excitement, ranged from young children to older adults.

But Claude still hadn’t returned.

‘Where is he?’

I looked around anxiously. Ordering a simple drink shouldn’t have taken this long.

‘Maybe it’s just crowded inside.’

I considered going in to check, but seeing the table piled with things made me hesitate. I couldn’t just leave everything behind.

‘Someone has to watch our stuff.’

And I didn’t want to draw attention by summoning a spirit in such a public place.

Surely, nothing was wrong… Right?

While I wasn’t particularly worried, knowing Claude’s skills, a small part of me couldn’t help but wonder.

Meanwhile, the excitement around me was building. The people sitting at tables, leaning against walls, and standing under trees all began to count down.

“…3! 2! 1!”

DONG. DONG. DONG.

At last, the clock tower in the square struck midnight, its bells ringing out.

“Woooo!”

Fireworks exploded into the sky.

They soared above the roofs, scattering in bursts of vibrant colors—orange, purple, white, and red—spreading across the night.

“May this year bring happiness!”

“Here’s to my family staying healthy!”

“Please, Runik, keep my grandson safe and healthy!”

People exchanged warm wishes, hands clasped in prayer as they watched the sky.

Though most places had celebrated the New Year a month ago, here, it was only just beginning.

I let my worry about Claude fade for the moment, captivated by the fireworks above.

The sky lit up with dazzling colors—fireballs spiraled upward, bursting into intricate patterns, while others shot straight up, disappearing into the stars before exploding.

The most striking display was an elaborate portrait of an older man. I didn’t recognize him, but from the reactions around me, he was likely the lord of Chesty and the surrounding region. Perhaps even the one who had sponsored the festival and provided the magician for the show.

‘It’s like he’s showing off for some recognition.’

It made sense to want credit for such an expensive display, but the image of a large man’s face floating among the fireworks was so out of place it was almost comical.

Mixed in with the familiar townsfolk were a few confused travelers, their expressions as amused as mine.

“Hahaha.”

Leaning back in my chair, I laughed at the absurdity.

As I laughed, something suddenly appeared in front of me, carried on the cold wind.

It was a simple bouquet of yellow and purple wildflowers, and behind it was Claude, smiling warmly.

“Happy Second New Year, Khalia.”

POP!

The grand finale of the fireworks exploded in the sky, illuminating the night in a brilliant display.