"Wow..."

Yuni couldn't help but marvel as she looked around.

Rudy smiled at her reaction.

"Haven't had the chance to come out because of how busy it's been lately, huh?"

Rie opened her mouth in awe as she looked around.

"Here, have some skewers! Eat before you go!"

"It's not a festival without these...!"

"Hey you! Try this before you leave!"

The streets were bustling with a huge crowd and lively atmosphere.

Countless stalls were spread out along the roadside.

It truly was the scene of a festival.

"There's still some time left until the coronation ceremony..."

"I didn't know, but apparently, it's like this for almost a month."

The Emperor's coronation was the Empire's biggest event.

A major celebration that occurred roughly every 50 to 60 years.

People from every region would gather in the capital to witness the Emperor's coronation, a once-in-a-lifetime event, putting aside their work to enjoy the festival.

"Everyone's gathering to celebrate you becoming the Emperor. It wouldn't do if you didn't enjoy yourself."

Rudy, wearing a mask, was smiling, though his expression was hard to see.

"But, won't wearing this kind of outfit at the festival arouse suspicion?"

Rie asked, tapping her clothes and mask.

"With so many people coming from different regions, this level of oddity isn't even considered suspicious."

Every region brought its own crowd.

With each region having its own culture, and thus a variety of outfits, people didn't pay much mind to those wearing masks or hoods.

Rudy grabbed the wrists of Yuni and Rie, standing on either side of him.

"Huh?"

"Senior?"

Holding their wrists, Rudy led the way, saying,

"Shall we go have some fun?"

Rie and Yuni were pulled into the crowd by Rudy.

Despite the crowd, they didn't get separated because Rudy was holding onto their wrists tightly.

"Senior! Let's go see that!"

"Alright, let's go."

Yuni quickly adapted to the situation.

She looked around at the various stalls and gradually started dragging Rudy and Rie along.

"Look over there!"

"Yeah, yeah. That place?"

Yuni led Rudy and Rie to a souvenir shop spread out on the roadside.

"My Lord! Do you see anything you like?"

As the merchant welcomed them, Yuni smiled and browsed through the souvenirs laid out on the mat.

Then she said,

"I'll take everything here!"

"…What?"

"Everything! All of it!"

Yuni's declaration surprised not only the merchant but also Rudy and Rie.

"Hey, you should only buy what you really like."

"What? I like everything here."

"But... if you buy everything, how will you carry it? And others might want to buy something too..."

Rudy made this point, and the quick-witted merchant waved his hand.

"My Lord! I'll pack everything up for you. Just give me the address, and I'll have it delivered!"

"Oh! That sounds great!"

Yuni smiled brightly and looked at Rudy.

Rie made a 'hmph' sound at his side.

"Ah..."

Rudy sighed and looked at the merchant.

It was unnecessary to lecture on such a day.

After all, buying everything from these street stalls wouldn't make much of a dent in Rudy's wallet, so he decided to indulge Yuni's request.

"How much is it?"

"Uh... Just 25 gold will do! Where should I send it?"

At the merchant's question, Yuni promptly responded.

"Just take it to the Royal palace."

"…What?"

"To the Royal palace. The knights will take care of it if you give it to them."

"????"

"……."

Rudy quietly approached the puzzled merchant and said,

"Just pack it up roughly and deliver it to a knight at the Royal palace. You know what I mean, right?"

The merchant's eyes widened as he nodded vigorously.

"Ah, understood. Thank you so much. It's an honor, should I at least greet..."

"No need for formalities. We're out incognito, after all. Oh, here's the money."

Rudy paid the merchant, bowing slightly as he did so.

As they moved away from the stall, Rie asked,

"But why buy stuff here? You don't need these kinds of things."

"They might come in handy somewhere~. Maybe for a disguise later on~. Right, senior?"

"Yeah, yeah. It's a good day for it."

"…Hmph."

Rie glared at Rudy, who wasn't siding with her, and Rudy awkwardly avoided eye contact with a forced smile.

Yuni watched the two of them and chuckled playfully.

"Unni, are you upset because senior took my side?"

"Upset? I'm not..."

"Ah, you are upset."

"I said I'm not!"

As Rie pressed her lips together muttering, Rudy smiled.

"Shall we go somewhere else?"

"Yeah…"

Rie responded to Rudy's suggestion and was about to move on when she felt something warm in her hand.

"Huh?"

Rudy's hand had slipped into hers.

Rudy, who had been holding onto their waists, now firmly held Rie's hand.

Rie looked at Rudy with a puzzled face, and Rudy looked back with a smiling face.

"Hmm..."

Rie blushed slightly and averted her gaze.

"Senior! Hurry up!"

"Okay, coming."

Urged by Yuni, Rudy looked at Rie.

"Shall we go?"

Rie didn't respond but moved along willingly.

After wandering around for a while, the crowd started to thin, and the street stalls began to close.

"Today was so much fun~!"

"Huh?"

Yuni clung to Rudy and said this, and Rudy cocked his head in response.

Rudy looked puzzled, prompting Yuni to ask,

"Why?"

"We haven't even reached the main event yet."

"It's not over?"

"Is there more to do?"

Rie joined in the conversation.

The shops were closing, and people were heading home.

It seemed like there was nothing left to do here.

"Come this way for a moment."

Rudy walked slowly, with Yuni and Rie following him.

He led them to a bench with a clear view of the sky.

"It's about to start."

"What is?"

"Just wait."

Rudy glanced up at the sky for a moment.

Just then,

"It's starting."

Following Rudy's words, small fireworks shot into the sky.

"Ah..."

"Fireworks?"

Boom───

The small firework exploded in the sky with a refreshing sound.

Fireworks. Literally, flowers of fire bloomed in the sky.

Bang! Bang!

Dozens of fireworks soared up.

Bright fireworks embroidered the dark sky.

Rudy smiled as he watched the fireworks, then turned to look at Yuni and Rie.

"Do you guys like fireworks?"

Both opened their mouths and nodded.

"That's why we're here."

Rudy knew from before that Rie liked fireworks, and it was natural to think Yuni, her sister, would enjoy them too.

Rie watched the fireworks bursting behind Rudy.

Then she turned her head to look at Yuni beside her.

Yuni was smiling softly back at Rie.

Rie's fondness for fireworks stemmed from a childhood memory.

Watching fireworks with their parents before any royal or political disputes began.

That memory deeply resonated with Rie.

A time when the family was close and harmonious.

Though various reasons had driven Yuni and her apart, those memories remained precious.

It was the most carefree and untroubled time in Rie's life.

The sound of fireworks echoed in their ears.

Despite the loud noise, it felt incredibly serene.

No voices could be heard, only the spectacular fireworks filled their view.

"This is nice…"

Rie whispered quietly.

Yuni leaned on Rie's shoulder.

"Really…"

As if they had never quarreled, they looked just like loving sisters.

Rudy smiled, watching them.

This was the moment Rudy had hoped for.

For some time, these two had been at odds, unable to get along.

Whatever the reason, there was nothing good about them being on bad terms.

So, he deliberately invited them out.

Wandering through the bustling market.

And finally, bringing them closer together by showing them the fireworks.

Rudy slipped his hand into his pocket, waiting for the fireworks to end.

As the fireworks were about to finish,

Rudy sneakily glanced at Rie and Yuni.

They were leaning on each other, looking at the sky.

Rudy slowly approached them.

"Hm?"

"It's over now…"

As Yuni and Rie were about to speak,

Rudy knelt on one knee in front of them.

"?!?!"

"What, what's that pose for…!"

"What do you think?"

Rudy pulled a small box from his pocket.

"Ah…"

Rie sighed upon seeing the box.

From Rudy's posture, it was clear what was inside.

A ring.

Nobody knew what had happened with the rumors about Astina, but given the current situation, it was certain there was a ring inside.

But who was its intended recipient?

There were two of them here.

Rie sneakily glanced at Yuni beside her.

If she were to receive the ring…

Or if Yuni were to…

Neither option was what Rie wanted.

Rudy, unaware of Rie's feelings or not, tried to open the small box.

Thud!

"…?"

"Unni?"

Rie quickly moved to stop Rudy's hand from opening the box.

"Not now… Don't do it…"

"…Huh?"

"Don't do it!"

"What are you talking about?"

Rudy was confused as his attempt to open the box was thwarted.

"Later… It doesn't have to be now. Let's talk first…"

"Oh, why? The timing is…"

"Just don't do it…!"

Rudy tried to remove Rie's hand,

And Rie tried to physically stop Rudy's hand.

Confused, Rudy quickly tried to open the box, but ended up dropping it.

"Ah!"

The box fell to the ground.

Bang!!!!!!!

Just then, a very large firework exploded behind Rudy.

"…?"

"Huh?"

However, Rie and Yuni's attention didn't shift to the large firework.

Only the fallen box and the two rings on the ground were in their view.

"……."

Rudy looked back and forth between the rings and the fireworks with a dismayed face.

"Why… are there two?"

Rie exclaimed with wide eyes.

She couldn't make sense of the situation.

'Two, does one mean he intended to wear one himself? No, no… Normally, when giving such a ring, doesn't one not wear it themselves…?'

Rie's gaze shifted to the ring finger on Rudy's hand.

A ring was indeed snugly fitted on his ring finger.

Meaning, there were three rings present.

As Rie was trying to figure this out on her own,

'Damn it…'

Rudy looked at the rings with the face of someone who had lost everything.

Rudy missed the timing and even dropped the rings on the ground...

The romantic atmosphere turned awkward.

Yuni, with a confused expression, looked at the two before bending down to pick up the rings.

"What are you two doing?"

"……."

"……."

Then, she slipped one of the rings onto her ring finger.

"Wow! This is beautiful. So, this one is for..."

Yuni handed the remaining ring to Rie.

"Ah…?"

"This is yours, right, unni?"

"Uh, yeah…"

"Unni, try it on."

"Uh, okay?"

"Ah, really. Should I help you? Oh! Right, right. I shouldn't do it."

Yuni removed the ring she had put on and, with a bright smile, offered it to Rudy.

"It should be you who puts it on."

Rudy snapped back to reality at her words.

"Right. I should be the one to do it."

Gently, Rudy took Yuni's hand.

And he slid the ring onto her finger.

After putting on the ring, Rudy looked at Yuni's face.

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

Yuni teased with a smirk.

"Hmm…"

Rudy cleared his throat and looked directly into Yuni's eyes.

"Yuni, will you marry me?"

"……!!"

Yuni's expression turned from shock to one that looked like she was about to cry.

It was a face Rudy had never seen before. Yuni had always been sly and managed to handle everything with a sly grin.

He had not expected such a reaction from her.

"Yuni, are you okay?"

"I'm, I'm fine…"

Yuni stammered, her expression flustered.

Rudy smiled and approached Yuni.

"You look like you're about to cry."

"I wasn't going to cry!"

Yuni's voice was tinged with a cry.

"So, will you marry me?"

"……Yes. I'd be glad to. If you're asking, how could I refuse?"

Yuni tried to sound playful and sly as usual, but her voice, mixed with tears, lacked her typical ease.

She was just trying to appear as natural as possible, which was endearing.

Rudy smiled and said,

"Thank you. For accepting."

As Rudy was looking at Yuni,

"Hey…"

A voice came from the side.

It was Rie, her face flushed.

Avoiding Rudy's gaze, she extended her hand.

"Me too…"

Rie had now grasped the whole situation.

Rudy took Rie's extended hand.

"Even though you said not to open the box."

"…I didn't know, that's why."

Rie blushed at Rudy's teasing.

"Anyway."

Rudy, holding the remaining ring, knelt on one knee in front of Rie.

Rie, who was soon to become the Emperor, was used to seeing people kneel before her.

Vassals and knights had knelt before her several times, swearing their loyalty.

However, this moment felt entirely different from any before.

Her heart pounded as she found it hard to meet Rudy's gaze.

Rudy presented the ring to Rie.

"Will you marry me?"

Rie responded in a barely audible voice,

"…Yes."

Her voice was more tense than ever.

Rudy smiled and slipped the ring onto Rie's finger.

"Thank you,"

"……."

Just then, fireworks erupted behind Rudy.

Bang──!

Boom, boom!!

"Wow…!"

"Ah…"

It was the biggest firework display they had ever seen.

Rie and Yuni exclaimed in admiration again.

"I might have messed the start, but I somehow managed to finish it well…"

Rudy let out a sigh of relief, talking to himself.

Despite a somewhat messy proposal, it ended successfully.

After completing all their plans, Rie, Yuni, and Rudy were about to head back.

Rudy led the way, followed by Rie.

At the end, Yuni, who had been sitting till the last moment, stared blankly at the ring and then realized something.

"Senior, you gave one of these to Astina too, right?"

Rudy, who was leading, suddenly stopped.

"Oh, right. That rumor about Astina…"

Yuni's comment made Rie put all the pieces together.

The rumors about Astina.

And the truth behind those rumors.

"Ah…"

Rudy let out a regretful sigh.

He realized,

The brief interlude during the fireworks,

Why it was there, what he had planned to do during that time.

He had forgotten to explain everything due to Rie's sudden action.

"……."

"…Senior?"

"…Rudy."

Cold sweat ran down Rudy's back.

Quietly, he turned around.

Yuni and Rie were squinting, staring at him.

The next day,

At the Magic Tower, a girl was staring blankly up at the sky, puzzled.

"…What?"

That girl was Luna.

She was puzzled because of what she had heard people saying.

"Hey, Princess Rie and Princess Yuni got married."

"What? Both of them? With whom?"

"With the same person, they say."

"Really? That's quite unusual. So, are there going to be two weddings before the coronation ceremony? Didn't they say there's a wedding in the Persia family too? You know, the one who recently took the position."

"Oh, that person is marrying the same person too."

"…What?"

Luna mused over these words, then quietly bowed her head, clutching it and shouting,

"…What??????"