ITMWG 72

Chapter 72…

Overcooked.

It was Nadia’s first time appearing in front of people in such a plain outfit, so she was kind of hesitant. Perhaps it was the same for Marie, who, on rare occasions, was reading the atmosphere with anxiety. Anna, on the other hand, puffed her chest and shouted to the outside with much excitement.

“We’re ready! We’re coming out now!”

That said, she then started pushing Nadia’s back without asking for consent. It was not something a maid would dare do, so Marie followed behind them with a startled look on her face, wanting to stop Anna. However, Anna’s steps were faster as she courageously urged Nadia. Before Nadia could do anything else, the door burst open and they met with the people who were waiting. Several knights led by Cain were waiting for her. They were also dressed in traditional eastern clothing, which was different from usual, giving an entirely different vibe. The knights, who probably got into the festive mood thanks to the outfits, stiffened as soon as they saw her. Cold sweat broke out on her back at the sudden change in their expressions.

I-Is it because I look weird?!

“I guess I should change my clothes…”

Nadia was about to turn to Anna, thinking that she should quickly change into what the maid called a ‘lady’s dress’ before she showed up looking funny to more people, but Cain quickly held out his hand to her.

“The festival has already begun. If you delay any longer, you will miss out on all the great sights.”

“But…My clothes…”

“Now, now! Let’s go, Madame~!”

Cain teased and escorted Nadia as she hesitated. She turned to Marie to ask for help, but the maid just smiled and let go of her hand. Now that she had realised there was no one on her side, there was nothing she could do.

Since it’s a festival, a lot of people must have gathered…

She could not believe she had to appear in such a place with so little confidence. Nadia dragged her steps gloomily, feeling like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse. But that gloom did not last long. As she went outside and got closer to the lake, the bustling noise became clearer and caught her attention. Music was essential at festivals and parties. It was the same when she was in the capital. On days when a party was held at the Marquis of Vine, the mansion was filled with music and people’s laughter. However, the music playing now was completely different from the music she heard back then. If the music she heard at Vine was calm classical music, while what was playing now was a cheerful folk song. The tune was so exciting that she felt like her shoulders would shake just by hearing the melody. Cain seemed to have noticed that she, who had been a little tense, had relaxed a little. He smiled at her.

“Everyone is excited because it is the first grand festival in a long time. In recent years, the situation in the territory has been difficult… Even during festival time, everyone was full of worries, but this year is different.”

Just as Cain finished explaining, they arrived at the lake. As soon as their path took a turn and they got to the lakeside, Nadia was greeted by the sound of loud music, noisy voices, the delectable smell of food, and numerous small boats floating on the lake with fires lit.

“Wow…”

Upon seeing the sight for the first time, Nadia was immersed in admiration. Some people near the entrance must have heard the sound, as they turned their heads to look at her, and the next second, their eyes widened.

“The Madame?”

“The Madame has arrived!”

The sound of someone shouting quickly spread throughout the lakeside. Shouts of ‘Madame!’ or ‘The Madame has arrived!’ erupted from all over the place. As everyone was looking at her, Nadia’s timidity got the best of her and she started to feel cold sweat on her back. Although she was trying to act calm, her legs were trembling under her skirt.

It’s-, it’s still a huge improvement…

If it were like before, she would have fainted or run away the moment everyone’s eyes were on her.

Furthermore, the look in these people’s eyes is not hostility but kindness.

Fortunately, they didn’t seem to think the traditional eastern clothes looked bad on her…In that case, there was no reason to be afraid. She smiled softly at the people who were looking at her with glistening eyes. Then, commotion broke out from all directions, and someone suddenly jumped out from among the crowd. She was a middle-aged woman with a warm appearance.

“Madame! This is our home-brewed beer! Please have a try!”

She was clearly someone Nadia had never met before, but she talked to her in such a friendly way. As Nadia’s eyes widened at the beer glass much larger than her face, Cain quickly whispered in her ear.

“That’s Bellock’s mother.”

“Oh!”

Bellock was the knight she had once invited to tea time before leaving for the Eastern Noble Gathering.

“A lot of Aylesford knights are natives. Moót of their families live within the estate.”

“I see…”

Nadia quickly took the beer mug given to her by Sir Bellock’s mother. The glass was so large and heavy that her body stumbled upon receiving it. The people gathered around her burst into laughter at the sight of her staggering.

“I heard that women in the capital are different. Since our madame is so weak, we must take good care of her!”

“Why would we be taking care of our madame? I’m sure our lord will be the one to do that!”

“Sure our lord would do well on his own, but it will be even better if we do too.”

Before Nadia knew it, the gathered people started chatting loudly about her. It was normal chitchat, but she felt very unfamiliar with them calling her ‘our’ madame every time they referred to her…

It’s kind of embarrassing…

She felt her cheeks heat up as she took a sip of the beer sir Bellock’s mother had given her. She didn’t know much about alcohol, but it tasted very good, perhaps because of the warm and friendly atmosphere.

“It’s tasty.”

When Nadia praised the beer in a small voice, the surroundings instantly became quiet. The people who had been talking just now also kept their mouths shut and focused on her.

Did-, did I say something wrong…?

All she said was that it’s delicious… While she was trying to figure out what went wrong, people began to pop out from all over the place. Everyone was holding edibles in their hands.

“This is our homemade juice!”

“Please try the sausage I brought!”

“This fruit is also very sweet!”

Nadia thanked everyone and accepted the food, and before she knew it, her arms were full.

“Well then! I suppose ‘it’ should be ready by now!”

“Let’s go. The Madame should eat first!”

“What about his lord?”

“Oh, he eats it every year. Tell him to give it to her this year.”

The local residents giggled and guided Nadia a little more inward of the festival venue. It was surprising that Altair, who seemed so fearsome, was mentioned so comfortably among the people of the territory.

Altair must be generous to his people…

It was the first time she felt that fact with her whole body and mind. She felt like she was seeing a new side of Altair through other people. And after only a few steps, Nadia was able to find out what the ‘it’ that the people were talking about was.

Uh…how…tremendously… big…!

A wild boar so huge that it could not be described in words was being roasted over a fire.

This is my first time seeing a whole roasted wild boar this big…

Now that she thought about it, a whole roast chicken was served on the first day she came to Aylesford. Easterners seemed to prefer to cook food without distorting its original form.

Still, I can’t believe they’re roasting a whole wild boar like this.

Could the inside be fully cooked? With that thought in mind, she looked at the whole roast and her gaze met the remains of the wild boar’s eyeball.

(Gasp!)

The bizarre sight sent shivers down her spine, but the people just smiled normally, as if they were used to seeing things like that. When she turned her head, she saw that only Marie was looking at the wild boar’s head, with an expression similar to hers. People in the capital tended to cut ingredients into small pieces to eat in one bite, so they were probably not used to sights like this.

“My lord! If it’s ready, please share it quickly!”

While Nadia was trying to avoid the wild boar’s eyes, someone’s voice caught her attention. ‘My lord’? Could it be that the one grilling meat over there…

“Altair?”

Her eyes rounded when she saw Altair, who was roasting the wild boar with a sullen expression and ash on his face. She did hear that even the lord would take part in preparing for the festival, but she had no idea that he would be cooking in earnest like this.

Besides, his clothes…

Altair, like anyone else, was dressed in eastern traditional clothing. He was always wearing a stiff suit or simple training uniform. To see Altair in the form of an Alpine boy…

“Pft.”

Nadia couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the unbefitting attire. It didn’t suit him one bit! It was ridiculous, like an adult stealing a child’s clothes.

“… This is a tradition.”

Altair approached her, grumbling with discontent. He seemed somewhat embarrassed, so she quickly comforted him.

“It’s all right. I’m wearing something that doesn’t suit me either.”

“Who said so?”

“Pardon?”

“Who said it doesn’t suit you? I think it’s very…”

Altair, who was talking while scanning her up and down, suddenly stopped and looked at his surroundings. As soon as Nadia turned her head along with him, the people gathered around were looking at her and Altair with delight.

“Why did you stop? Keep going.”

Cain grinned and nudged Altair’s side with his elbow. Altair’s face immediately crumpled.

“Shut up.”

“Why? If she’s pretty, you can just compliment her. It’s not that hard, so don’t get angry at me-… Argh!”

Altair gritted his teeth and kicked Cain’s shin.

“Are-, are you okay?”

“He’s just faking it.”

Startled, Nadia wanted to check on Cain’s condition, but Altair resolutely blocked her attention and led her to the front of the food. Behind her, she could hear Cain protesting, ‘I’m not faking it!’, but Altair completely ignored his words. Instead, he took out a dagger from around his waist and skillfully cut off the roasted meat and held it out to her.

“Try it.”

Nadia was hesitant to eat the meat directly from the knife, but she couldn’t refuse Altair’s offer. The wild boar’s eyes flickered before her eyes, so she closed them tightly and took a bite of the meat he offered.

Huh? It’s-, it’s delicious!

When she looked at Altair with a bewildered yes, he nodded lightly with a proud look on his face.

“Despite its looks, it tastes quite good, doesn’t it?”

In response, Nadia nodded vehemently. The meat was moist and tender, and it was much more delicious than the meat cooked by the castle chef. When she looked up at Altair with a glint of admiration, he smiled faintly and lightly tapped her forehead.

“But what is all that?”

“Oh. This.”

He was talking about the food she was holding in her arms.

“Everyone said these are home-made and gave it to me.”

“Everyone must have been waiting. I guess they were anxious to repay you with something.”

“Repay me?”

“The estate has become prosperous since you became the Baroness.”

“That’s because there was a magic stone mine in the territory…”

Looking around, everyone’s gaze was full of appreciation. She was just a little ahead of what would eventually be discovered someday, so was it okay to be thanked like this? As Nadia mumbled and lowered her head, Altair tapped her forehead again.

“It’s all thanks to you. If I have said so, then that must be the case.”

It was strange. Altair’s words really had the power to make Nadia believe, and she felt like she had really accomplished something big. When she raised her head, she met with his unwavering gaze. Could it be this firmness that gave her trust? As she made eye contact with him, she felt a tingling sensation inside her chest. The same went for Altair. His stomach felt tickled and as he was about to lean down, a cough was heard from next to him. Startled, they turned their heads to see Cain grinning with a mischievous look on his face.

“The whole roast is burning, my lord.”

It was just as Cain said. She could see that one side of the meat, which had been delectable, was gradually turning black. Cain slipped the dagger out of Altair’s hand and began cutting the meat.

“I will serve the food. The lord and madame…”

He then glanced around. As if there had been an agreement in advance, Anna and Marie smiled and took the food Nadia was carrying, whilst the knights who came with Cain led Altair and her to the front of the band.

“Now! The madame and the lord shall be dancing together!”

Cain’s loud voice made her heart jump.

D-D-Da-Dance?!