“By the way… How should I confess?”
Ruina had finally decided to confess to Kael.
It was a decision made after overcoming a long hesitation and fear.
However, her resolve immediately hit a wall the next moment, and that wall was Ruina’s ignorance about love.
Among her kind, the only ones who experienced love were those who were already married, and Ruina knew nothing about the love of other races.
So, naturally, questions about how to confess arose.
But in response to Ruina’s worries, Zenre scratched her head as though thinking it was trivial and answered.
“In my personal opinion, I think you could just confess while having a meal, and he would accept it…”
“That, that’s not good… No matter what, it’s too lacking in sincerity!”
In reality, Zenre actually thought that way.
Wouldn’t Kael accept the confession if she did it during a meal?
With just a little sincerity, Kael would surely accept the confession.
But as Ruina said, this method lacked sincerity in every way.
Zenre had no intention of letting Ruina confess this way.
So, how should she confess?
Luckily, Zenre had already made a plan for this long ago.
“Ruina, when is the next day you’re free, besides today?”
“Well. Recently, I’ve finished quite a bit of work, so I’ll be free in about fifteen days. But why?”
“Then, please have your master make a promise to go to Hagen Village in fifteen days. A festival is going to be held there.”
“A festival? I haven’t heard any news about that. Really?”
“Yes, really. It’s going to be a grand-scale festival.”
To be precise, Zenre was planning to make it happen, but anyway, it was indeed going to take place, so it wasn’t a lie.
A festival? If she had Enoch’s help, holding a festival for three days wouldn’t be a problem.
So, the festival was confirmed.
And there was no better place to convey her feelings than a cheerful festival where many people would be laughing and chatting.
“I will make the perfect route for you. So, Ruina, just walk around with your master, and make the atmosphere as lively as possible. Then, when the mood reaches its peak…!”
“So, you mean I should confess then?”
At Ruina’s question, Zenre nodded.
Kael was the type who easily got swept up in positive atmospheres.
If it was an affectionate atmosphere, he would be even more likely to fall for it.
So, with just a little effort, Ruina could make a confession filled with the sincerity she wanted.
“…”
Ruina closed her eyes as she listened to Zenre’s words.
She seemed to be visualizing the situation Zenre explained in her mind.
Then, with a slightly reddened face, Ruina opened her eyes and quietly said with a determined voice.
“Alright, let’s try it.”
Ruina’s face, full of determination.
The one she wanted to be with, and the one she wanted to connect with. Both of them had made all the preparations.
It was an afternoon, fifteen days before the day of the final decision.
After the backbone plan was set.
That evening, during dinner, Ruina smoothly made an appointment with Kael.
“Kael, would you like to go to Hagen Village in fifteen days?”
“Hagen Village? Why suddenly?”
“I heard that there will be a festival in Hagen Village in fifteen days. It’s been a while since there was a festival, and I thought it would be a good time for Elia too.”
“A festival?”
Ruina, who had been shy while discussing the plan, naturally made the appointment, as if waiting for someone to push her.
And hearing this, Elia’s eyes lit up as she tugged at Kael’s sleeve.
“Daddy, I want to go.”
“Mm, Elia hasn’t seen a festival like this yet, huh? I have plenty of time anyway… Sure, let’s go in fifteen days. Ruina.”
There was no reason or need to refuse, so Kael readily accepted Ruina’s invitation.
After watching this entire scene, Zenre, once dinner was over, excused herself and went outside the cottage.
She then climbed up to a hill far from the cottage and took out a communication orb that she had placed in her waist pocket.
After inserting mana into the orb, Zenre looked at the sky, still holding the fading light of the sunset, and called out the name.
“Enoch Ring Shardena.”
As soon as Zenre called the name, the communication orb blinked, emitting a sound.
Beep— Beep—
The connection sound echoed over the hill where the sound of crickets could be heard.
Finally, the communication was established when the eighth connection sound rang.
“Zenre? What’s up? Weren’t you supposed to be helping your master’s daughter with her training?”
“I contacted you because I need your help. I could do it myself, but it would be much easier if you help.”
“Need help? What’s going on?”
Enoch, curious about Zenre’s words, asked.
Zenre then briefly summarized everything that had happened and the conversation with Ruina.
She explained that Ruina was the foster mother of Elia, a child adopted by Kael, and that they had decided to publicly announce that they were Elia’s parents due to an issue with her citizenship.
Despite this, their relationship had been stalled, and Zenre had pushed Ruina to confess, which she had finally decided to do.
Once Zenre finished explaining, she asked for Enoch’s help again.
“So, I plan to hold a festival in Hagen Village for Ruina’s confession. If you help, it will be much easier…”
“I’ll start planning immediately. I’ll make sure it’s the best festival ever, so don’t worry.”
“Great.”
Before the request for help was even fully spoken, Enoch responded with burning enthusiasm.
Hearing Enoch’s voice, which was even more motivated than her own, Zenre couldn’t help but let out a sigh of admiration.
As expected, it seemed that Enoch couldn’t just overlook such a situation after hearing about it.
Feeling grateful for Enoch’s unexpectedly enthusiastic cooperation, Zenre discussed a few more details with him.
More specifically, about things like the date route for Ruina and Kael.
And after about ten minutes of discussion—
“Phew… Alright, this should work.”
[Hmm, if we stick to this plan, it’ll work. Zenre, I’ll update you on the situation every weekend when you return. Let’s handle the work and check together.]
“Yeah, let’s do that. Thanks, Enoch.”
[Don’t mention it. If it’s about Master and Lady Ruina, of course I have to help.]
After successfully planning what could be considered a nearly perfect festival, the two of them finally ended the communication.
As the mana in the communication crystal scattered, the connection was cut off.
After putting the crystal back into her pocket, Zenre turned toward the fading sunset.
“About two weeks left… I hope this works out well.”
Zenre sincerely wished that her master and Lady Ruina would end up as a destined couple.
With that heartfelt wish, Zenre soon headed toward the cabin.
Three days later
Flyers were distributed across several cities and towns, including the capital of the Kingdom of Shardena.
The content of the flyers was about none other than the festival that would be held in two weeks.
It was an announcement that a festival hosted by the Mage Tower would be held in Hagen Village—something that most citizens had heard about at least once.
And those who saw the flyers, whether they were ordinary citizens, merchants from trade associations, or nobles, all shared the same confusion, even if only briefly.
“Huh?”
“Hagen Village? Why there…?”
“A festival in Hagen Village…?”
Why would a festival be held in Hagen Village instead of a major city like the Kingdom of Shardena or another metropolis?
And why was the Mage Tower hosting a festival in a place like Hagen Village?
Hagen Village was only about the size of a mid-sized town, known primarily for being a trade hub with frequent commercial activity.
It was a village where even a simple event, let alone a festival, had never been held before.
And yet, out of the blue, there would be a festival there?
Moreover, it wasn’t just an ordinary festival—it was one hosted by the Mage Tower.
The Mage Tower, the ultimate destination for all mages, was led by the greatest mage of humanity, Nella Oracle.
To become a top-tier mage, one had to enter the Mage Tower at some point.
A mage who hadn’t even set foot in the Mage Tower was nothing more than an amateur—that was how high its reputation was.
And yet, such a prestigious Mage Tower was hosting a festival in Hagen Village?
Naturally, the content of the flyer raised questions.
On top of that, there was the strange rule that everyone participating in the festival had to wear a mask.
But no matter how much confusion the flyers caused among the citizens, nothing would change the fact that the festival was happening.
In the end, the festival was already confirmed.
Soon enough, the citizens set aside their doubts and simply began packing their bags to head to the Hagen Village festival in two weeks.
“All the carriage reservations are already full! Try looking elsewhere!!”
Within just one day of the flyers being distributed, all carriages for the next two weeks were fully booked.
“We’re completely out of masks! Sorry! Please check back next time!!”
The masks sold at the ballroom shops were sold out within a single day.
“I’m telling you, there are no more mercenaries left! They’ve all been hired for guard requests! Try coming back in a few days!!!”
Since many people couldn’t secure a carriage, they started setting off on foot, which led to a shortage of available mercenaries for escort requests.
All of this happened within a single day of the flyers being distributed.
And Hagen Village, where the festival would be held, was already filling up with an enormous number of citizens arriving by various means.
Even with two weeks still left until the festival, the streets of Hagen Village were already crowded with countless citizens.
The festival in Hagen Village was already burning with excitement.