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Chapter 103

Meanwhile, Lucas had been watching Selena and Emilia's conversation from behind and let out a wry laugh.

"Ha. I spent days trying to persuade Her Highness to come out."

He muttered, a little deflated.

"And Emilia gets rid of her guilt in just a few words."

Yet his gaze toward her only deepened.

And at that look, Kayden's brow twitched in displeasure—

"Sir Lucas!"

"Your Grace!"

The two called out to them.

With excited faces, they said.

"We're going back to enjoy the festival!"

At that, both men stepped forward to join them.

---

And so they strolled through the festival street together.

Even with just Kayden and Ivan, we drew quite a few looks.

With two tall men, the attention felt even greater.

Not to mention that all five of them wore hoods, which probably made them look suspicious.

Still...

Emilia looked down at Selena and Ivan, chattering happily.

Seeing double the cuteness made it worth it.

Just then, Ivan pointed at something with curious eyes.

"That! I want to try that!"

Kayden handed Ivan to Emilia and walked over to the stall.

"One, please."

Without even asking the price, he pulled out a gold coin.

"..."

At the sight of the gold coin, the stall owner's eyes went wide.

Lucas sighed and shook his head.

Then he approached and said in disbelief.

"Really, Your Grace. You're like a first-timer at a festival. Where would a street vendor have change for a gold coin?"

"..."

"Don't you have small change?"

"..."

At Lucas's question, Kayden fell silent again.

What is this?

Looking at Kayden's stiff expression, a suspicion crossed Lucas's mind.

No way.

Surely the Duke of Valen was also a festival first-timer.

Lucas looked at Kayden in disbelief, then glanced back at the three waiting with eager faces for the food.

Out of all these people, I'm the only one with festival experience?

Lucas pressed his forehead in exasperation.

Then he quickly pulled out some small change and handed it to the stall owner.

"Here."

"H-ha, haha! Th-thank you!"

The stall owner, glancing nervously at the Duke, quickly took the money and began preparing the food.

Meanwhile, Lucas leaned against the stall and asked provocatively.

"This is your first festival too, isn't it, Your Grace?"

Kayden just looked at him in silence.

Lucas's lips curled.

"Seems like I'm ahead of you in at least one thing."

He knew how ridiculous it was to boast about having festival experience.

But Kayden just gave a slight nod.

His unfazed reaction made Lucas wonder—

"And I'd like to ask you a favor."

"Pardon?"

Lucas asked, bewildered, and Kayden continued calmly.

"I'd like you to guide us through the festival today."

With that, Kayden took the food from the stall owner and turned around.

What was that?

Feeling like he'd made a pointless provocation, Lucas rubbed the back of his neck.

---

And so Lucas became the day's guide.

"Lucas, where are we going next?"

"Sir, what kind of performance is that?"

"That shop has a lot of people! What are they selling?"

The three festival first-timers, brimming with curiosity, followed him around, peppering him with questions.

And when Lucas answered what, to him, were the most basic questions, their eyes sparkled as they listened.

They looked like chicks chirping at their mother—adorable.

Yes, adorable, but—

"..."

Lucas glanced to the side.

While he, as the guide, had to stand at the front of the group—

Honestly.

The Duke had naturally claimed the spot beside Emilia.

Lucas swallowed a dry laugh.

They see each other every day at the residence anyway.

He didn't seem willing to give up even this brief time.

Lucas shook his head as he kept Selena from being jostled by the crowd.

Meanwhile, Emilia, following Lucas, picked up a bite-sized piece of bread they'd bought earlier.

She blew on it to cool it and brought it to Ivan's lips.

"Here, Ivan. Say ah—"

"Ah—"

Ivan opened his mouth wide and took a big bite.

"Delicious!"

"Really?"

Emilia smiled at Ivan, who was chewing happily—then felt a gaze from above.

"Hmm... would you like one too, Your Grace?"

She asked, glancing at Kayden, and he answered shortly.

"Yes."

Emilia's eyes darted as she quickly picked up a piece and offered it to him.

Kayden raised an eyebrow.

"Why don't you cool mine off?"

"Huh?"

Emilia asked back, baffled.

"Come on, you're not a child...!"

At her scolding, Kayden chuckled, as if to say he hadn't been serious, and took the bread from her hand.

As his lips brushed her fingers, Emilia flinched slightly.

She quickly withdrew her hand.

Kayden calmly gave his verdict.

"Not bad."

"O-oh, really?"

Emilia, feeling like she was the only one flustered, cleared her throat awkwardly.

As they snacked and wandered the streets—

"That!"

Ivan pointed at a stall.

It was full of cute accessories.

Not the kind made with jewels—but bracelets and hairpins woven from colorful beads and thread, all delicate and charming.

Kayden walked over, and Ivan reached out to pick up a hairpin with a flower-shaped ornament.

"This! This one! For Emilia!"

"Huh?"

Ivan tucked the hairpin into Emilia's hair and grinned.

"Pretty!"

"Really?"

Emilia smiled back at Ivan.

"Oh, Ivan, was it?"

Just then, Lucas stepped up and tucked a different hairpin into Emilia's hair.

"I think this one suits you much better—with your hair color too."

"Hmm..."

Ivan looked a little sulky, and Kayden, with his free hand—the one not holding Ivan—picked up another.

"I'm not sure. To criticize a child's taste, you'd first need to prove yours is any better."

Just then, Selena squeezed between them and grabbed another.

"No, this one suits her best! You can trust a woman's eye!"

Several gazes turned to Emilia, each silently asking her to choose theirs.

Emilia looked troubled.

"I appreciate it, everyone, but..."

She glanced at the mirror on the stall to check her reflection.

With all these flowers pinned in her hair, what was she supposed to do?

Was she supposed to walk around the streets looking like a crazy flower lady?

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