Merchant Noble is out (1/4 chapters for today)
Eve Festival (1)
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With preparations complete, we set off for the capital city of Horimas. As usual, Yuna had gone ahead, and the three people, Yulia, Minerva, and Arc headed there on horseback.
Typically, traveling by carriage would take about a week, and on foot, around a month. However, this time they arrived in just four days. Given the small party, they had to be extremely vigilant against potential attacks by bandits. Therefore, they kept our horses at a high speed. At normal speed, they would have arrived just in time for the Habarov summons, but they ended up arriving with a few days to spare.
Thanks to Yuna’s advance notice, by the time they reached the mansion, a steaming hot bath and a plush bed were already prepared. As soon as they arrived, the three of them relaxed and rested. Since they had only taken minimal naps during the journey, they fell asleep as soon as we hit the bed.
They arrived in the city at dawn, but when Arc woke up, the sun had already set, and it was dark outside. No, there was a faint light visible. It was coming from the area where commoners lived.
“You’ve finally woken up, Nii-sama. Since you’re awake, why don’t we check out the market? They’re having the eve festival right now.” (Minerva)
“The eve festival, huh? It’s been how many years?” (Arc)
Currently, the capital city is in a festival state every four years. The Habarov summons attracts not only nobles from all over the country but also their attendants, servants, knights, adventurers, and others, totaling tens of thousands of people. When his father was a lord, the Warden Household used to bring a large number of staff and the Arc siblings to the capital for this event. Naturally, with so many people coming, merchants also flocked in, seizing the business opportunities. As a result, the capital becomes a festival-like atmosphere every four years during the Habarov summons.
“Let’s go right away then. Yulia, please stay and relax at the mansion.” (Minerva)
Minerva handed over a plain outfit and urged me. It seemed she was trying to head out with Arc alone.
“What? No, I should accompany you as a guard.” (Yulia)
“Since you don’t look like a noble at first glance, there’s no risk of being attacked, so it’s alright.” (Minerva)
“But…” (Yulia)
“Are you going to interrupt our outing as siblings?” (Minerva)
“That’s not it at all… Well, please enjoy yourselves.” (Yulia)
“Then, let’s go, Onii-sama.” (Minerva)
Although Yulia intended to accompany us as a guard, she withdrew reluctantly upon seeing Minerva’s stern face. In reality, it was somewhat dangerous for nobles to go out during a night festival. If it was discovered that one was a noble, there was a risk of kidnapping or being attacked by drunken commoners. Therefore, having a guard might actually be counterproductive. Minerva likely anticipated this, but judging by her way of speaking to Yulia, personal feelings were clearly showing.
Since many nobles had not yet arrived, the scale of the eve festival was not very large. Even so, there were stalls lined up as far as the eye could see, and a large crowd had gathered. To avoid getting separated in the crowd, Arc held Minerva’s hand. Minerva happily followed along.
“There are so many stalls. There are so many interesting shops. It’s hard to decide where to go.” (Minerva)
“We have plenty of time, so feel free to go wherever you want.” (Arc)
As Minerva looked around, she spotted a shop with hair accessories displayed across an entire wall.
“That shop has so many beautiful decorations! Can we stop by for a bit?” (Minerva)
“Of course.” (Arc)
Minerva gazed at each hair ornament with sparkling eyes, just like a girl her age. Arc watched his sister, who was happily admiring the decorations, with a fond smile.
Her long hair was tied back with a modest, small hair ornament. This was the hairpin of their mother, who had died from illness long ago. Although Minerva was still too young to have memories of her mother, she was saddened by not having any memories of her, so her elder sister, Yanna, had given her the hairpin that had been their mother’s. Since then, Minerva had grown her hair long to wear this hairpin and had never gone a day without it. It was something very precious to her.
While reminiscing about this, Arc was also looking at the ornaments. He picked up a beautiful hairpin mixed with jet-black sand. Unlike the other sparkling decorations, the deep black of the pin stimulated Arc’s senses.
“Onii-sama?” (Minerva)
“Minerva, try this hairpin on.” (Arc)
Minerva put on the hairpin Arc had handed her.
“Just as I thought. It looks very good on you.” (Arc)
“Really?” (Minerva)
“Yes. It beautifully ties up your long hair and looks very elegant.” (Arc)
“Thank you. But I already have the hairpin Mother left behind.” (Minerva)
“That hairpin must be quite worn out from being used every day. It might be nice to wear a different ornament for a change.” (Arc)
Minerva looked closely at her own hairpin. After more than ten years of daily use, it had faded and showed noticeable dirt that wouldn’t come off. Minerva hesitated for a moment, but it seemed she came to terms with her feelings and nodded with a smile.
“Is that so? Then, I will gratefully accept it.” (Minerva)
Minerva signaled the shopkeeper with her eyes, and an elderly shopkeeper came over, smiling with wrinkles.
“That will be 20 gold coins.” (Shopkeeper)
“I’ll take it.” (Arc)
Arc responded immediately. When he turned around, he saw Minerva’s mouth agape in surprise. Indeed, it was the price of a female slave, but as the daughter of the largest merchant family in the kingdom, the Warden Household, she should not be surprised by such an amount.
“Didn’t expect it to be this expensive…” (Minerva)
As soon as they left the store, Minerva sighed. Although she was a merchant’s daughter, she was not directly involved in trading and was not familiar with the prices.
“But, Onii-sama, thank you so much for buying this for me. I will cherish it for life.” (Minerva)
“Ah, please do.” (Arc)
Minerva, putting away her old hairpin, and spoke to Arc with a sweet voice.
“Onii-sama, please put it on for me.” (Minerva)
Arc moved behind Minerva and gently arranged her long hair, carefully attaching the new hairpin. When Minerva turned to face him again, she tilted her head and brought her bundled hair to the front.
“It’s beautiful, Minerva.” (Arc)
“Onii-sama…” (Minerva)
Minerva gazed at Arc with a dreamy look. Even without the bias of being his sister, she might be one of the top beauties in the kingdom. When Arc complimented her, Minerva blushed so much that Arc felt as though he was wooing her, which made him, despite being her brother, slightly flustered. It was truly a good decision to bring Minerva to the capital. Seeing his sister so happy made Arc, as a brother, very glad.
At that moment, Minerva’s expression changed. Her flushed face turned pale as if all the blood had drained from it. She then leaped at Arc. Caught off guard by the sudden action, Arc couldn’t react in time as Minerva slipped past him and tackled a boy who was trying to escape.
“I’ve caught you. Prepare yourself.” (Minerva)
Minerva’s cold, steely voice rang out.
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