Chapter 134

 

* * *

 

“Claude?”

When Melody called again, his head, which had been facing downward, shot up. He seemed to hastily divert his gaze from something, appearing a bit startled.

“…That dress.”

“Oh, do you think it’s pretty?”

Melody flaunted her dress a bit by lifting the hem and shaking it. This made his expression sour slightly.

“Without a doubt, it’s beautiful, but it’s a bit… indecent, don’t you think?”

Claude’s voice, unusually for him, carried a tone of discomfort.

“Is that so? I thought it was quite modest compared to dresses that expose both shoulders. It doesn’t reveal my legs completely, front and back.”

“It’s not really a matter of determining which is more indecent between shoulders and legs, but if you ask for my opinion, this might be more… No, never mind.”

He mumbled something to himself before abruptly closing his mouth.

“What?”

Melody stepped closer to ask. His gaze briefly fell lower, then he quickly covered his forehead with his hand and sighed deeply.

“…Don’t walk.”

“What?”

“No, at least not towards me… No, that’s not right. Perhaps it’s better if you do walk towards me.”

“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”

“Just…”

As he was about to add more to his explanation, there was a knock at the door. Wendel Benton from the Briggs company had arrived.

“The carriage is ready at the entrance.”

Wendel bowed politely, offering to personally escort them to the town center.

Melody appreciated his gesture very much, but it seemed Claude felt a bit differently.

For some reason, he was glaring at Wendel Benton with what could only be described as the eyes of a terrifying demon.

‘…Why exactly is he glaring at him?’

Just moments ago, he seemed quite pleased with the outfit that had been prepared, even saying he found it amusing.

‘Did he change his mind again? He’s quite fickle if you pay attention.’

Melody nudged Claude’s side to alert him about his glaring.

He made an expression of great injustice, but Melody couldn’t understand what he found so unfair.

 

* * *

 

The summer festival in Kristonson was divided into two distinct atmospheres, east and west of the river.

The section Melody first arrived at—where indecent clothing was rampant—was on the west side, designated for adults. It was a joyful place where alcohol and pleasure flowed from day to night.

This was the area Briggs had referred to when he said Claude could “spend time with the lady.”

However, crossing the bridge to the other side of the river, the atmosphere changed entirely.

The smiles of children running through the streets, lined with buildings painted in pastel hues, confirmed this.

Most children held a yellow pinwheel in one hand, a gift from their parents for the day.

“Should we focus on searching this area?”

Melody didn’t think Prince Samuel would bring his young son to the west side.

“Yes. However, considering most of the knight’s forces are stationed on the east, we can’t completely rule out the west.”

The east side was strictly guarded by armed knights and soldiers from the middle of the bridge onwards to protect the children.

“Then it might be best to search both sides… young master?”

Melody turned to him casually and inadvertently addressed him as such, a bit surprised by her own words.

And for good reason, as he was engaged in a fierce staring contest with a young man passing by.

“Why are you acting so strangely today, of all days?”

“It’s also a servant’s job to ward off suspicious glances. That’s why, Miss, you shouldn’t act separately from me.”

“Suspicious glances?”

“There are far too many of them, but you needn’t worry about it.”

Does that mean… someone was looking at them suspiciously?

“If you dislike encountering people you know, how about wearing a mask?”

“I wouldn’t be able to comply with that order, even if it were yours, Miss.”

“Why not?”

Leaning his head in curiosity, Claude finally smiled and responded.

“I don’t want to lose in a staring contest.”

His voice sounded almost as if he were blaming Melody.

“It feels like I’m the one tormenting you young– I mean, you, even though I haven’t done anything yet.”

“If you go any further, I might faint.”

Despite saying this, he sharply lifted his head again to glare fiercely at someone.

Melody belatedly checked where his gaze had fallen.

She saw several soldiers loitering and heading towards the bridge to the west.

‘Why would he glare at innocent people like that…’

What would happen if a dispute arises?

Anyway, it would be a big problem if Claude got into a fight with someone, so Melody decided to stick with him.

“Shall we start by looking to the east?”

“If that’s what you wish, Miss.”

The two of them walked along the large road that ran along the east side of the river.

The bustling crowd continued to pass by them. This included not only the locals but also many tourists who had come to enjoy this special summer.

The roadside was lined with people selling food or crafts, capturing the attention of passersby.

“There are too many people.”

Melody craned her neck this way and that, grumbling. Well, it was a famous festival, so this was to be expected.

“Well, so far, ‘he’ hasn’t been among the people who’ve passed by us.”

“How can you be so sure? There were not a few people wearing masks. And there were many men with children, too.”

“It’s the posture.”

“…Posture?”

“Look at the people passing by again. Don’t focus on their outward appearances.”

At his suggestion, Melody took a fresh look around, trying not to be distracted by the flashy exteriors.

“The way they walk, how intently they look at objects, their attitude and manner of speaking with merchants, and even small hand gestures and nods of the head.”

“Ah…”

“He grew up ingraining elegance into his very bones. While childhood doesn’t dictate one’s entire life, such ingrained behaviors aren’t easily shed.”

With that explanation, it seemed a bit clearer to her.

Even the man currently in Melody’s line of sight, despite wearing rather fine clothes, did not walk gracefully; his gait was awkward, not at all beautiful.

Duke Baldwin, even in moments of drunkenness, never lost his upright posture.

Perhaps this is what Claude meant by “engrained in the bones.”

“I think I understand a bit now.”

Melody’s steps became noticeably lighter than before.

Perhaps it was because she had received a good hint from Claude, or maybe she felt they were close to finding Prince Samuel.

 

* * *

 

Of course, that was wishful thinking.

Claude and Melody searched thoroughly both the east and west sides of the river until the sky turned red, but they couldn’t find anyone who resembled Prince Samuel.

There were a few people who slightly aroused their suspicion. However, a little tailing soon led them to conclude that none were Prince Samuel.

Both of them were quite tired from walking all day, so they decided to sit on a bench by the river to rest.

As the day grew late, the number of people participating in the festival increased even more.

“It’s almost miraculous that we’ve been trying to find someone specific among so many people.”

Melody tapped her calves with her fists. Her legs were sore from walking all day.

“I told you not to push yourself too hard.”

Claude bought some cold water from a passing vendor and offered it to Melody.

“I just had a feeling we might be able to find him, you know?”

“On the first day? Don’t rush.”

Melody drank some of the cold water and then offered the rest to him.

“But after today, the festival will only get busier. Do you see the carriages coming in over there?”

Melody pointed to the carriages lined up on the distant road leading into the area.

“As it gets busier, finding someone will only become more difficult.”

“Perhaps he is waiting for the day when it’s the busiest. He could hide more effectively in a larger crowd.”

“Hmm, that’s possible.”

“Shall we head back for today, then? We’re on the outskirts, so it’s closer to where the carriages are waiting.”

He pointed across to the west side of the river, opposite where they were.

Several carriages were lined up, waiting for their owners.

The carriage they were dependent on from the Briggs company was among those closest to them.

Melody soothed her sore legs as she got up and then headed towards the large arching bridge to the south.

As Claude had mentioned, being on the outskirts, it wasn’t as crowded as the other bridges, which was nice.

However, there was something a bit unusual.

There were many children around. And not just any children, but those behaving in peculiar ways.

“…?”

Melody looked at a boy standing next to her.

He might be around Loretta’s age.

The boy, wearing a large brown hat, took a deep breath, puffing out his chest as much as he could.

It was a gesture that somehow reminded her of Loretta when she was younger, making it seem somewhat cute. The kind of ‘even breathing is cute’ look.

But the boy’s expression was very determined, like a knight heading into a significant battle.