Chapter 20
I once attended a spring harvest festival at Luna’s hometown, but that was more of a trap than it was a festival . This time, however, things were just absolutely wild .
This was also the first business opportunity for all of the merchants who came to this city, so all of the food vendors brought out their best skills . It was a carnival in the plaza of the city at night, which is also situated in the centre of the city behind the palace . The main area for vendors was a wide street that extended from the city doors to the plaza . This street is the biggest street . Eight double-horse carriages could get through here . Small sheds were temporarily set up on both sides of the street for the vendors .
Maybe spring came early for the merchants . Despite spring having just come in, the merchants had a wide range of delicacies available only during summer at their stalls . The people couldn’t resist the dishes after getting sick of winter delicacies . The more expensive foods included fish, while the cheap ones were little snacks or chestnut-like foods . However, the “chestnuts” in this world don’t have the same content inside; instead, they contain a warm milk-like liquid . Such a food was a rare delicacy during these cold and windy days .
I don’t know what it was myself, but I bought a cup each for the three women next to me .
I chose a sour drink . It seems like it’s this world’s lemons . The drink was carbonated, so I found the taste of cola from it . Unfortunately I was wrong… I did find the taste of lemon juice .
‘It appears that people here share the same taste . ’
There were people crowded all around . We stuck together closely as we went around to avoid getting separated . I don’t know if Lucia and Nier had discussed it among themselves already or not, but the two of them clung to my arms every step of the way, never letting go . That made it impossible for Mom to stand next to me, as well . As a result, Mom had no choice but to grab onto my cloak . She looked at little pitiable . But even if I couldn’t take it, I had no way of getting Lucia and Nier to let go . They are my wives, after all .
Everybody around wore masks, as well . It truly resembled a carnival . Lucia and Nier were very joyous, which meant that their appetites were at their pinnacles, too . We ate from the start of the street to the end of the street, and then ate from the stalls on the other side… I had to buy three or more serves every time .
Mom was actually more excited than my two wives, but she was evidently very shy . She wouldn’t directly say what she wanted . Instead, she’d tug on me then look at a stall with a gaze of eagerness . I would then understand what she meant and would buy it for her . The four of us noticed a vendor when we got to a stall . The vendor froze up . There’s no way he’d know who my wife was .
‘Come on, guess . Your chances of getting it right are higher than the likelihood of guessing wrong, though . You have a two in three chance . The remaining third is my mom…’
We walked and walked until we came to a place where people were gathered . We stopped there . Lucia tried to look at the centre of the crowd with curiosity; alas, she couldn’t get through with her small stature . I went and carried her up, letting her sit on my arm as if she was a kid . I soon regretted it, though…
‘I don’t have the arm strength or physical strength to act tough . ’
“Your Highness, it seems that it’s divination . ”
Lucia dexterously hoped off my arm and watched me massage my arm . She said, “An elf is doing divinations . It seems that he can see something…”
I lost interest, because I’ve seen an elf that can truly see into the future . Her name is Vyvyan . I bet this one is a conman . They all say they can see something; nevertheless, in the end, all they do is use their talking skills to impress you .
“Let’s try it, Your Majesty . Let’s see If he is a liar or not . ”
“Is there any need to try? He’s guaranteed to be a liar . I have an elf that can see the future by my side . How could there be a second?”
“Your Highness, we’re here to have, fun after all, so let’s give it a go . ”
Lucia, however, seemed very keen . Nier, too, indicated that she was interested . I turned around to Mom, who was behind me . Elizabeth chuckled, “There’s nothing to lose if we try it . How about this, Son? Let’s go over together and see if he can tell who your wife is . If he can perform divinations, he should be able to identify your wife, right? Plus, he would be able to tell you have two wives . ”
“Let’s give it a go, then . ”
Since everybody was keen, I agreed to it . I walked over with the three of them and came before him . I then lingered .
Normally, whatever species I see here is normal . You can’t tell humans and elves apart, other than from their ears .
‘I could understand the diviner before me having a white beard, and I can accept a tilted and torn triangular hat as well, but why do his hands resemble that of a lamb’s hooves?!’
‘What is he, a lambman? Lucia, can you not see that?! His got the hooves of lamb for hands!!’
I hesitated while standing in front of him . He broke his silence . He looked at me with his heterochromia eyes . He then looked at the three behind me . He took in a deep breath . In a murky voice, he asked, “Young man, is there something you would like to know?”
“Umm…” His voice made me feel a little guilty, but I reminded myself that he was just a conman .
‘He must be a conman . ’
I looked at him and in a ridiculing tone asked, “I want to know who among these three is my wife . ”
He shifted around then looked up . He looked at me with his hazy eyes . I looked at him as I awaited his reply . After a moment, he gently cleared his throat to break our silence . He looked at me and replied, “I only know that which you do not know . As for what you already know, why would you need to ask me?”
‘See? He’s a liar . He can’t tell, so now he’s playing word games . ’
The crowd behind me burst into laughter, and then left after having their curiosity satisfied . The people didn’t crowd around for their future or something, but solely for the fun . People need entertainment or else their lives would be too boring . I smiled with satisfaction . I turned around to leave . The strange man didn’t mind that the people around had left . He didn’t stop acting the way he had been acting . He, instead, continued looking at me and spoke in a voice that appeared as though only the two of us could hear, “Your Majesty, you need not be anxious, for I know that you will not come to me merely to ask about the future, but will also share with me what you know . ”
I paid him no heed as I led my mom and wives away .
‘He’s a conman from the pugilistic world . I told you . Other than my Mommy Vyvyan, who can see the future with her mind reading skills, there’s nobody else who can see the future . That applies whether it’s a human or whatever race they are . They’re liars . ’
“I told you he was a liar . And he even said some arrogant rubbish about ‘Your Majestyyy, you will definitely seek me ooouutt…”
I conceitedly mocked him while the three next to me listened to me . Elizabeth then suddenly interjected . She looked at me with a very surprised expression . I paused and asked, “Do I have something on my face?”
“No… Son, I suddenly realised that you never mentioned you were the Prince . Plus, your face was hidden by our mask, while you’re wearing clothes that doesn’t symbolise that you’re from the royal family… So, how did he know that you were the Prince?”
A cat suddenly caught my tongue…
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