Winter passed by without any difficulties. The people of the town also enjoyed a rich harvest and were preparing for the festival that was about to come.

“A festival huh, sounds fun.”

Over the past months, Leila and Charlotte had become best friends and she would often visit Charlotte. Today, they were having tea in the front garden. Leila didn’t hold any prejudice against beastkin, so charlotte also invited Iris and Lilly over to chat as they were around the same age.

“Lotte, you like festivals?” Leila gracefully took a sip while peeking at Charlotte who sat opposite to her.

She sighed “I do not know. I have never gone before as father is cautious concerning me leaving the house. Well, it is not like I do not understand though.”

(Also, I sort of already snuck out a few times…mot that I’m telling anyone.)

“I see…”

“What of you? Have you ever gone to a festival?”

“Yes!” Leila put down her cup and began to tell Charlotte all about the things she experienced with enthusiasm. Iris and Lilly were also interested on the subject. Looking at them, Charlotte knew that they wanted to go.

“Hmm, then I could ask Lia to take you two once the festival starts. Sorry, but I won’t be able to join you two.”

Every time she asked if she could go into town, her father’s mood would instantly change and the atmosphere around the table became deadly silent. Even Walter was unable to convince him.

(But really, it’s not like I can stay inside forever you know, father. Should I sneak out again? …No, since those two are still here they’ll notice that I’m gone. *sigh*)

When she said that, Leila felt rather awkward herself. It was evident that Charlotte wanted to go, but her safety took top priority. But, an idea struck her.

“I got it!”

Leila’s eyes began to sparkle for some unknown reason. After that, for some reason she left with an abnormally cheerful expression that it was worrisome.

When it was the day of the festival, as requested, Lia and a few other servants who had the day off brought Iris and Lilly to see the festival while Charlotte remained at home as she finished up her homework.

She was so immersed in her studies that, when the door to the library opened she hadn’t noticed three people enter.

“Boo!”

“Hah!” A hand landed on her shoulder and she finally noticed someone behind her. Out of reflex, she grabbed that person’s wrist, twisted it and threw him over her shoulder while pointing the pen she held in her other hand at his throat.

With a loud bam, Terence fell onto his back on the wooden table. His hair a mess and his back probably broken. “Ow…..”

When she looked up, she saw that it was actually Terence and Leo and Leila who had sneaked up on her.

“Haha …Oops? Well, at least it wasn’t Leila.”

“Oi, what is that supposed to mean?”

“I meant; you’re the sturdiest out of the three of you.”

“You do know that I probably broke my back, right? What the heck kind of monstrous strength have you been hiding all this time?”

“That was your own fault for sneaking up on me. Seriously, do not ever do that again.”

“Yeah Yeah. It’s not like I would want to break my back a second time.” With great difficulty, Terence managed to get up from the table while rubbing his aching back. “But seriously, what the heck was that?”

“Lotte, I didn’t know you were that strong.”

The two boys said, each with different meanings.

“More importantly, why did you two sneak up on me?”

Terence kept on grumbling and Leo only laughed awkwardly. Leila stepped forward and began to explain “I’m sorry Lotte. It was just that, you had mentioned the other day that you wanted to see the festival, so I thought we’d surprise you. Since it’s with Leo and Terence, I thought your father wouldn’t mind.”

With just that, she managed to get the gist of it. But still “In the future, please do refrain from such surprises as it may end with more than just an aching back.” she was cursing herself for having failed to notice them, but if she had forgotten that this was inside the library, the chances that she would have used magic were high.

“Well, what did my father say?”

“About that, we still haven’t asked…”

“We thought of going with you first.”

Or so the two lovebirds said.

She sighed. But, she really wanted to go, so the four of them moved to the duke’s study.

“Lotte, what is it?”

Behind the desk of piled up papers, a familiar loving voice resounded.

“Well, father, you see….”

Duke Adrian got up and walked in front of the desk, then he finally noticed the three other people behind Charlotte. He gave his respective greetings and then Leo tried to convince him

“So…the three of you want to bring Lotte into town for the festival?”

The four nodded their heads. He looked at charlotte who kept staring at him with those sparkling eyes. Eventually, he sighed and agreed “However, I am only doing this as Terence is accompanying you and high highness has learned how to fight. So, do not separate from them under any circumstances, understood?”

“Yes, father! Thank you very much!” the four of them then quickly left with no time to spare. Left alone again, the duke sighed. He had become extremely worried with the way she had so drastically changed.