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Chapter 104

Emilia finally gave an awkward smile and said.

"I don't really wear accessories. I appreciate the thought, but I'll pass."

"Oh, come on, miss. They look so good on you—why not buy them all?"

"No, I'm fine."

Emilia shook her head firmly.

She quickly removed the pins from her hair and set them down.

The stall owner, disappointed at losing a chance to sell multiple items, clicked his tongue.

They continued wandering through the festival streets for a while longer.

Then, as they moved to find a spot for the upcoming fireworks display, Lucas spotted a stall and grinned.

"Come to think of it, your archery was quite impressive at the hunting competition. Care for a little contest?"

Kayden raised an eyebrow, and Lucas smirked.

"I had my eye on some game that day too, but since I wasn't a participant, I couldn't join in."

Kayden answered calmly.

"I thought Count Ernst wasn't fond of competition."

"Does a son have to be like his father? Though I do hope to inherit his devotion to his wife."

"...Fine."

And so, an impromptu crossbow match began.

Whoosh—thwack!

Both arrows hit the bullseye at the same time.

"Ohh!"

The onlookers cheered.

But that was just the beginning.

The two men repeated the same motion like machines, firing arrow after arrow.

Whoosh—!

Thwack!

Every arrow flew straight to the center without a single miss.

They kept scoring evenly.

Watching from behind, Emilia frowned.

At this rate, the target itself deserves pity.

Ivan, on the other hand, was thrilled, as if vicariously enjoying their skills.

Just then, Selena, who had been quietly watching, spoke cautiously.

"Um, Duchess."

"Yes?"

With a determined expression, she continued.

"It's about Sir Lucas."

"Yes."

"Well... he can seem a bit lighthearted and playful, and sometimes he makes me angry."

At the long preamble, Emilia tilted her head. Selena quickly continued.

"But! He's a good person!"

"...?"

"And he has a lot of unexpectedly admirable qualities!"

Selena emphasized the word "unexpectedly," but the point was that he was admirable.

Hadn't she promised Lucas?

"You should have told me sooner! I would have said nice things about you!"

She'd said she'd put in a good word for him with the woman he liked.

And now was the perfect chance to keep that promise.

Emilia nodded.

"Of course. Lucas is certainly an admirable person."

"...Really?"

At her immediate answer, Selena's eyes sparkled—

Just then, two men who had been glancing at Emilia sidled up.

What?

Emilia gave them a wary look, and one of them grinned.

"Hey there, miss. Here alone?"

"..."

Emilia was momentarily speechless at the cliché line.

But the man, misinterpreting her reaction, just grinned.

"Must be boring alone on a day like this. Want to hang out with us?"

She was with Selena and holding Ivan—how was she alone?

Emilia frowned.

The guards nearby moved to step forward, but she signaled them to stay. She didn't want to cause a scene at the festival.

I have a very simple way to deal with this.

With a troubled expression, she looked at the two men.

"I'm sorry, but I'm here with my party."

"Ah, of course—your younger siblings can come too..."

As the man's eyes lit up, Emilia widened her eyes as if to say what nonsense.

"No. They're not my siblings—they're my children."

"...What?"

To the flustered man, Emilia nodded toward Ivan in her arms.

"He's my son."

At that, Ivan let out a questioning "Hm?" while Emilia calmly pointed to Selena beside her.

"And this is my eldest."

"Y-your eldest?"

The man looked back and forth between Selena and Emilia, stammering. He seemed stunned by the unexpected answer.

Selena barely suppressed a laugh.

Just then, a hand clamped down on the man's shoulder.

"Ahhh!"

The man cried out in pain.

"Do you have business with my wife?"

"N-no, it's just...! Ah, ah—wait!"

As his companion tried to slip away, Lucas casually slung an arm around his shoulder.

"What's this, fellas?"

"W-we're sorry!"

Lucas whispered, nodding toward Kayden.

"That guy's scarier than he looks, so watch out. And mind your turn."

"Wh-what turn...?"

Lucas grinned.

"Ah—never mind. You'll never get that turn, so no need to know."

"...?"

While the man blinked in confusion—

Emilia looked from the pained man to Kayden.

He was only gripping his shoulder, but the man's face had gone pale.

"Um, Your..."

Emilia almost said "Your Grace," but stopped herself.

"Kayden."

Kayden flinched and looked at her.

"...What did you say?"

"Aaagh! I'm sorry!"

At the increased pressure, the man cried out, and Emilia grimaced as she said to Kayden.

"He just spoke to me—you can let him go."

Just then—

A stall owner came running over.

"Hey, customers! You can't just walk off with the crossbows like that!"

Only then did Emilia notice the crossbows still in their hands.

Why were they in such a hurry?

She shook her head with a wry smile.

---

The night deepened, and the fireworks display—the grand finale—began.

Whizz—bang!

Colorful fireworks lit up the night sky.

"Wow!"

Ivan's eyes sparkled with wonder.

Emilia, too, watched the fireworks in a daze, then looked around.

Couples who seemed newly in love, young parents holding children, elderly couples holding hands.

Everyone was smiling happily with their loved ones.

Emilia turned her gaze to Kayden beside her.

He immediately noticed and met her eyes.

"What is it?"

"...Nothing."

After a pause, Emilia said.

"I had a wonderful time today."

"I'm glad."

Kayden gave a low laugh.

Then he reached into his pocket and brought his hand to her hair.

"...What is it?"

Emilia, bewildered, touched her head.

Something was there.

This is...

It was the flower-shaped hairpin from the stall earlier.

When did he buy that?

She gave him a light scolding.

"I told you not to buy it."

"Consider it a husband's privilege."

"Honestly."

Emilia shot him a look that wasn't quite angry.

Kayden, perhaps sensing more scolding coming, turned his gaze to the night sky.

Just then, a firework exploded with a loud bang.

Emilia said what she hadn't been able to earlier.

"I had even more fun... because I was with you."

Though her small whisper was drowned out by the fireworks.

Her ears were slightly flushed.

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