A Festival Interlude and a Secret Ascent

After the bishop’s prayer concluded, a crisp ‘click’ echoed from the altar. The ashen-faced bishop, visibly chagrined, could only retreat, signaling the end of the Holy Communion Mass. The nobles exchanged a few pleasantries before dispersing to their respective homes. Daniel’s mother and sister, Morien and Colette, would also be staying at the ducal residence for a period, given the long journey home.

Ever since her conversation with Colette, Audrey had remained in a state of quiet melancholy, her forced smiles appearing rather bleak. Even Rhine himself, upon seeing her in such a state, found his spirits inexplicably dampened; his initial thought of playfully teasing her evaporated, leaving him only with a sense of wistful confusion. Having never intentionally comforted anyone before, he naturally had no idea how to even begin, let alone offer solace to the secretly sensitive young lady.

Consequently, this vexation lingered in his mind, simultaneously urging him to maintain his aloof indifference and compelling him with an urgent desire to alleviate the sorrow etched on Audrey’s face. On the journey home in the motorcar, Philip silently embraced Audrey, his fingers gently stroking her fine, pearl-gray hair inch by inch, while Rhine, seated quietly opposite them, wordlessly gazed out the window at the festive scene.

The simple, genuine smiles on the faces of the common folk celebrating the holiday stirred something profound within him. Perhaps, selfishly, he simply wished to see a smile bloom once more on the girl’s face. Finally, as if by some divine impulse, he uttered, “Philip, perhaps Audrey should go out and clear her head.”

Philip glanced at Rhine in surprise, then gently patted his daughter’s head. Seeing Audrey’s slight nod, he deliberated for a moment before entrusting his daughter to Rhine.

“Audrey, I have some matters to attend to at home, so I won’t be able to join you young people for your outing,” he said. “Do come back early.”

He spoke with tenderness, then once more enveloped Audrey in a soft embrace with his broad arms. Witnessing this poignant scene of father and daughter, Rhine suddenly realized a glaring question he had somehow overlooked until now:

‘Where was Audrey’s mother?’

‘Normally, the Consecration Festival was a day for family reunion, so Audrey’s mother should undoubtedly have been at the Mass.’

‘Something was amiss, deeply amiss. In his previous time working in the lower echelons of the ducal estate, he had never once heard the servants mention anything about the Third Madam.’

‘It was as if she had never existed.’

Once the motorcar had pulled away from the street, both of them gradually regained their composure, sharing a glance that inexplicably provoked a shared burst of laughter.

“Look at you,” Rhine teased. “If you’re going to be sad, shouldn’t you commit to it completely?”

“Who said I was sad?” Audrey retorted. “At most, I was just annoyed by the tiresome rituals of the Mass. Never mind that, let’s have some fun tonight!”

They immersed themselves in the Consecration Festival, wandering from the main thoroughfare of the commercial district into the city, sampling enticing street snacks along the way. It was fortunate that during Holy Communion, they had only symbolically nibbled on a few bites of white bread, leaving ample room in their stomachs.

Before long, they stumbled upon Caroline, who looked rather furtive in her hooded cloak. The young boy and the bewildered elf couldn’t help but exchange a round of sarcastic remarks upon meeting. It was Audrey’s generous hand that saved the day; she treated Caroline to another round of eating and shopping, feeding the pretty elf until she resembled a plump hamster. Caroline was a picture of vengeful feasting.

During their outing, they also ran into the mischievous rascals from the “Huo Huo Gang” whom they had encountered that morning. Although Rhine preferred not to have others disturb his tranquility—especially their two-person world—he couldn’t resist the children’s enthusiasm or Audrey’s lively personality. He reluctantly joined the boisterous group, trying out each of the festival’s entertainment attractions one by one.

Whack-a-Mole (human version): “Come on, show your head and I’ll knock you down!”

Balloon Archery: “Child’s play. In my prime, I could snipe from a league away.”

Smashing Golden Eggs: “Vendor, don’t look at me with such suspicion. If I forgot to close my eyes, does it still count?”

In this manner, Rhine swept through every challenge, proving himself the undisputed king of the children, seemingly poised to usurp the Huo Huo Gang’s leader. However, he held no interest in becoming a gang leader. Under Olga’s grateful gaze, he solemnly gestured— “If you’re weak, practice more.”

Before they knew it, the clock struck eleven at night. The vendors packed up their stalls amidst laughter, and the two bid farewell to the children, knowing that returning home too late would invite a double scolding from parents. Caroline, meanwhile, was staying at an inn; she mentioned that as soon as the Consecration Festival concluded, she would set off north towards the Empire the following day. She had no fixed plans for her journey, a luxury afforded by the elves’ long lifespans, allowing her to travel as freely as she wished.

‘Provided, of course, she didn’t starve to death along the way.’

Content and exhilarated, the two returned, spotting the ducal residence’s grand gates after a twenty-minute stroll down the main road.

“The biggest event of the Consecration Festival starts at midnight,” Audrey exclaimed excitedly. “Everyone in Auetland will be able to see it!”

She pointed towards the ducal residence’s rooftop.

“We can go up there to watch; I know a great spot.”

Avoiding the crowds, they stealthily ascended to the third floor. The sounds of lively conversation from Cavendish family relatives drifted up from below, imbuing Rhine with a thrill akin to a clandestine rendezvous.

‘No, this was unequivocally a rendezvous.’

“Let me find the ladder… Ah, here it is.”

Stepping onto the balcony, Audrey retrieved a utility ladder from a corner and propped it against the rooftop.

“Be careful; it’s quite dark,” Rhine cautioned.

“Don’t worry about me,” she declared. “This is nothing. You’re the one who needs to be careful.”

‘Nothing, huh? What kind of creature were you before, a gecko?’

Rhine grumbled silently to himself, activating his ‘Eyes of Night Vision,’ a basic ring magic spell that even junior sorcerers could master, allowing him to see most things clearly in the darkness. It was only when he looked up, catching a sudden glimpse beneath Audrey’s skirt—

‘Why the hell aren’t you wearing safety shorts? Isn’t it freezing out here at night? And those blue and white stripes are far too innocent!’

With an almost involuntary jolt, his right foot nearly missed a rung as he stepped onto the ladder, causing it to shake and eliciting an indignant “Wah!” from the culprit above. To make matters worse, this body, despite its delicate appearance, possessed the vigorous urges of youth, and Rhine instinctively had a physiological reaction, making his climb up the ladder even more arduous.

Nearing the top, a warm, slender hand extended towards him.

“Here, let me give you a pull.”

Rhine offered his arm, and the warmth emanating from the girl’s palm sent a peculiar thrill through him.

“Heave-ho!”

He was pulled up as easily as a radish from the earth, only to be met by the intoxicating scent of the girl, an aroma that inevitably sent hormones surging through his body and mind.

“Why are you clutching your stomach? Did you eat something bad?”

“Don’t ask!”

Setting aside those unspeakable, unpublishable adolescent fantasies, Rhine felt utterly humiliated.