Evening of the Festival

“Enjoy the festival, huh”

I mutter while doing exactly what I’ve always done while attending any kind of festivity, so awkwardly stand there doing nothing a couple meters away from where people are gathered. The mansion had transformed into a big gala venue filled to the brim by all kings of nobility. For the entirety of the afternoon people ascended to the bubble using the fancy elevator and all maids spent time carrying luggage to every guest’s chamber. Even if Tsuki usually does not trust me with anything that could embarrass the Baron, she had to count on each and every maid to handle the guests, this means that I’m incredibly tired. Even if the world is very different from the one, I’m used to, the party felt alien in a very familiar way. It was similar to what you would see in a classic novel, like all those that fill the later volumes of the Count of Montecristo. A commoner like me isn’t supposed to be here if not as a servant, but actually the Baron gave all maids the free evening, even inviting some of them to attend the party. Catering was handled by a rental servitude it seems, a cute thought from the Baron to be honest.

I wonder if it was his idea ora Tama’s, after all this excuse gave her free rein to enjoy the festivities…but means she basically disappeared. Well, she’s the Baron’s lover so maybe this kind of elegant nobility focused parties are not suited for her.

Tsuki on the other hand it’s stunning, she’s wearing a purple black long dress and suitors are lining up to ask her for a dance. If she wanted, she’d be able to marry a rich man and escape this job in the blink of an eye, but given her character I doubt that abandoning the mansion it’s even an option. Looking at her is making even my heart skipping a bit to be honest, you’d have to wonder if the color black was created in order to be donned by her.

Meanwhile, I’m frozen on the outer edge of the party waiting for all of this to be over. No one’s approaching me, which is good given how terrible I would be dancing on the hall, but on the other hand they really have terrible taste.

“Kaede”

A voice calls out to me; a suitor it seems! Complaining it’s always the solution! I raise my head to see who’s calling out…but it’s just Tsuki which in a matter of seconds freed herself from the gentleman she was dancing with and came to me.

“Oh, it’s you…”

I mutter pouting.

“There’s no need to be so disappointed.”

“I’m not disappointed!”

“Yeah, I can see you’ve integrated really well in the party.”

“No need to be sarcastic.”

“If you’re not honest with me, I won’t be with you.”

Tsuki turned to one of the rental maids and two glassed full of an azure liquid, then gave me one, took my hand and dragged me on one of the empty balconies. Fresh hair never felt this good.

“Better?”

“Very much.”

“Drink that, it’s helpful.”

“What is it?”

“Angel’s tears.”

“Literally angel’s tears?”

“…no.”

“Oh.”

“You really lost all your memories huh…”

“Why everyone’s doubt it? It’s not like I enjoy ignorance.”

“Well, it’s not every day you find an amnesiac on the streets…and honestly I don’t trust Tama at all.”

“That means you don’t trust me either?”

“Would I be here talking to you were that the case?”

“I…guess not.”

“You really are terrible with people you know?”

“How’d you guess?”

“Dunno, maybe the fact you talked with the grand total of two girls since you arrived. Or that you only speak when talked to. Or that you randomly start to stutter once in a while. Or…”

“I get the point.”

“Are you sure? I can continue if…”

“I get the point”

Tsuki smiled and started to drink from the glass. I taste it too, it’s strange. It’s alcohol, that much it’s certain, but for some reason it’s very sweet. It would be killer if served to a child.

“But you’re a good girl, you know?”

“Huh?”

“You’re terrible at basically everything but you always try. I appreciate that, while you being brought here by Tama is not ok with me, I’m happy if you stay here.”

“H…huh?!”

“Did you break?”

“H…h…huh…”

“How do you stutter a murmur?”

“That’s a talent of mine I suppose.”

“Pfft... ahahahahah”

It wasn’t supposed to make her laugh. She does have a twisted sense of humor. But it’s nice she noticed that I tried.

Oh no, I can feel myself smiling like an idiot. My cool mysterious façade will disappear if I don’t do something!

“Are you maybe weak to alcohol Kaede?”

“N…no.”

I don’t really know to be honest, it’s the first time I drink in this body, it could be dangerous.

“It’s having an effect on you at least ahah. You’re smile’s dumb!”

“You too are smiling dumbly!”

“Oh, yeah, I guess so ahah.”

Is she drunk? No, she’s way too in control of both her emotions and movements, if this is her drunk state then it would be the most graceful drunk girl to ever exist. Which given she’s the most beautiful girl to even wear a black long dress, it wouldn’t be that hard to believe.

Someone called for her, it’s obviously another suitor asking for a dance. She responds saying that she will join him in a moment and send him away to the hall.

“Duty calls.”

“I….I guess. Have fun,”

“Fun it’s not the right word, I always receive proposals at this parties. It’s nice to have the attention I guess.”

“Oh? Why you never accept?”

“Wedlock it’s not for me. I love working here, I know that it can seem trivial, but investing my time in keeping the gardens beautiful, raise young orphans making them into graceful ladies through the hardships of life as a maid, these are the things I like. And the Baron’s nice enough to make me hire whoever is in need. This also means that sometimes bad apples or strange amnesiac girls get hired too, but I guess there’s beauty in the variety.”

She looks at me and winks.

Forget skipping a beat, my heart stops altogether and I struggle to reply. Luckily, she resumes the dialogue herself “The nobility here is very closed off, they only talk with who they know and use they acquaintances to meet new people. I could do the same for you…but what about you go to the festival in the city?”

“Oh? Is there a festival in the city too?”

“Yeah, I think you should go take a look, it’s a very different atmosphere than what you see here. And I think you’ll meet someone who will ask for a dance easily there.”

“I…doubt it…but I’ll try.”

“No worries, you’ll get at least one request, trust me. And if you don’t, I’ll humor you with a dance once you’re back!”

-

Descending to the city, the atmosphere changed indeed. Lanterns floated all around, makeshift tables and chairs were scattered through the main road and countless people were eating, laughing and dancing. Multiple artists were playing a myriad of songs, walking for 50 meters I heard at least 5 different tunes, all executed quite badly with instruments that had seen better days…but still everyone enjoyed every second of every song.

Girls and guys with kilts walked around talking food and beers to every table, often stumbling onto each other but no one ever got mad. The drunk to sober ratio was definitively tipped in favor of the former, but that didn’t mean there were no kids around. The opposite actually, countless younglings were running and playing all around.

I couldn’t help but smile.

This is not my kind of place, yet my heart feels warm. Simply taking a walk around was soothing, the noise should have been unbearable but somehow nothing really bothered me. Eventually I found a stage on which actors were re-enacting some kind of story, I sat in one of the empty chairs and started to listen.

“I Siegfried, am now reclaiming humanity’s freedom! No longer we’ll be fuel for your divine power Arthesya!”

Loud cheers all around.

Seems like they were holding a play about Arthesya’s imprisonment. It makes sense, the festival is held to celebrate that anniversary after all.

“You enjoying it?”

“Hiick”

I turn around to see who’s talking…and obviously it couldn’t be anyone else if not him.

“What are you doing here Lionheart?”

“Enjoying the festival, what else?”

“Usually, normal people don’t carry around a sword while at parties.”

“I’m half on duty let’s say.”

“Hm…”

“So, you’re enjoying it?”

“I just arrived here, didn’t see much of the play.”

“A pity, what about the festival?”

“It’s nice, the atmosphere here is unreal, chaotic but…nice.”

“Are you alone?”

“Thanks for pointing that out…”

“I saw your friend before, near the outskirts of the city, thought you two would have spent the festival together.”

“You mean Tama? She’s one to hide from the chaos.”

“A loner huh? Wouldn’t have guessed.”

“Right!? If I had a quarter of her charisma I would not be always alone, what a waste!”

“Well, you’re not alone now.”

“Mh…”

You’re unlucky Lionheart, my heart grew stronger tonight after Tsuki’s smiles, your puppy eyes are not having any effect on me. Victory is mine!

“Why that satisfied look.”

“Nothing…”

“Well, you’ve got a free evening, better enjoy it right?”

“Every one of us did, rental maids were brought in for the festival to let us participate in the party.”

“Really? I heard the Baron can be strict, but I guess he’s a lot nicer than he seems.”

“I have no idea; he comes out of his room rarely. But I’ve been given the honor to attend his party in the mansion.”

“Wow! That must be cool.”

“Not really, just a bunch of nosy rich people with terrible taste.”

“Terrible Taste?”

“No one asked me for a dance, could you believe it?”

“Really? That’s terrible ahahahah.”

“There’s nothing to laugh about!”

“So, would you have liked for suitors to line up for your hand?”

“Well…”

No, absolutely not. I care not about becoming nobility nor about finding a rich husband. Or finding a husband in the first place. After all, the reason I’m in this mess…

“Oh, seems I touched a nerve there.” Said Lionheart

Never was I this happy to hear his words. He really saved me from taking a bad tangent there.

“…you did. But nevermind, I just want to enjoy the evening…after all, this is the first time I’ve even felt surrounded by so much happiness.”

“Oh…”

A sad tinge dirtied the pretty boy usually perfect smile. He must think that this is my first time experiencing a festival due to my amnesia. The ironic bit is that if he knew the truth it would be even sadder. What I just said…I meant it, really. It’s not that I never went to a festival in my previous life, I actually did…but I never enjoyed them. There was always something ruining the experience for me, usually people. Being a stranger in a strange land has its downsides, I guess. No one knows me, so it’s a bit lonely, but on the other hand I have no baggage weighing on me. No people talking to me also means not being a target for anyone, not being looked down by anyone, not being controlled…

“Well, I’m happy your first festival it’s this one.” Said Lionheart

It’s now twice he saved me from my spiral of self-loathing. I guess that even changing everything about myself is not enough to change what’s inside.

“I’m happy too.”

I force a smile. It’s different from before when It came naturally, my thoughts really fucked the evening up for me huh…

“Well, I think I have a solution for your depression.”

“If it was that easy, pretty boy.”

“You’re sad because you have no suitors in the big mansion right?”

Not at all, but I guess it’s better to go with the flow here.

“Yeah.”

“I’m not as elegant as them, but…”

He gives me his hand.

“Would you grant me a dance?”

His usual smile returns on his face.

Fucking bastard.

Even my strengthened heart is skipping all over now.

“h..h”

I can’t even make a sound. No idea what to think here.

I give him my hand and stand up.

We walk a bit towards a square in which some strange instrument played cheerful music. He pulled me towards his chest and with the ever-present smile, started to turn around, guiding my steps. I stomped his feet again and again and he always laughed at it, being strong enough to withstand my discoordination. My thoughts gradually slow down.

I have no idea why honestly.

I never felt this happy.