“Javier!”

“There’s a limit to how much I can overlook. Someone who knows Mayor Carlos hates disturbances during the festival doing this? You should be developing more menu items with that time.”

Javier wasn’t in a position to welcome outsiders either. He was simply a typical civil servant who hated having more work, so he just didn’t create unnecessary trouble.

However, leniency had its limits—he couldn’t just let someone cause trouble even during the festival the mayor was putting all his effort into.

“Take him and detain him.”

“Wh-what? Javier! Hey!”

Bruno, whose arms were seized at a single glance from the guard captain, struggled, but Javier didn’t bat an eye. Without even glancing at Bruno being dragged out of the shop, he spoke to Rezeta.

“Bruno did wrong, but possessing such a large sword is also illegal. Since you nearly harmed a San Donus citizen, you’ll have to be punished according to the laws here.”

“But that man kept coming to the shop and threatening us!”

Edelle stepped forward to claim it was self-defense, but the inflexible guard captain Javier didn’t budge.

“In principle, to possess large weapons in San Donus, you must have a status deemed to require security, and you’re supposed to report to the city hall upon entry. This shop owner’s status is……”

“A noble of Astère, Captain.”

“A noble.”

Javier chewed over his subordinate’s words and slowly frowned. The words asking why on earth a Western Continent noble was playing house here rose to the tip of his tongue.

“Still, that won’t do. It’s not like we’re going to war.”

“Then what happens to Rezeta?”

“Well, I’ll have to look into it, but she might get a prison sentence.”

“A prison sentence?”

“Did you think the crime of threatening a San Donus citizen would be light?”

Javier snorted and continued.

“For now, accompany us to guard headquarters……”

“It would be better to reconfirm our status.”

“What?”

Javier’s eyes turned sharp at the voice interfering with official duties.

“Who are you to interrupt? From the looks of it, you’re a family here for a visit……”

“Eli Astère.”

The young handsome man with black hair spoke in perfect Western Continent pronunciation. The strangely familiar name he uttered made Javier’s hair stand on end.

“What did you just……”

“I answered your question, but you must not have heard properly. Go tell the mayor, Guard Captain.”

Edelle let out deep sighs with each word Eli spoke. She could almost hear the dream of staying quietly and returning crashing down.

The blue eyes that no one in Fonete would dare look directly at shone fiercely.

“That the Emperor of Astère is here.”

⁕⁕⁕

“Oh my, this is quite something.”

Carlos, the mayor of San Donus who had arrived at guard headquarters, poured tea himself despite his trembling hands. He couldn’t believe this situation with the imperial couple of the Astère Empire sitting before him.

It was his wife Maria who had pulled him together and sent him here after he nearly fainted upon hearing the full story from the guard captain in the middle of the night. Fortunately, thanks to his wise wife maintaining good relations with the Empress, he could at least think to seek understanding—otherwise, he felt dizzy just imagining how he would have compensated for the rudeness until now.

“My wife praised it so much that I was curious…… I’m endlessly embarrassed to meet you like this, Your Majesty.”

“Not at all. If I hadn’t opened the shop, this problem wouldn’t have occurred. I’m only sorry for causing a disturbance.”

“Oh my, what are you saying? That food called tteokbokki has brought so much vitality to this city.”

Indeed, that spicy-sweet food they had never heard of or seen had captivated the picky San Donus people in one go. Right now, rumors circulated among city hall employees that while there were people who had never eaten tteokbokki, there was no one who had eaten it only once.

However, Edelle thought Carlos’s words were mere courtesy and smiled softly.

“It puts my mind at ease to hear you say that.”

“I won’t let that wretch who dared threaten Your Majesty get away with it. I heard it was already the second time, so there will be aggravated punishment too.”

“You don’t need to go that far.”

Edelle, more sincere about punishment than the person involved, stopped Carlos and added.

“I revealed my status because Rezeta might receive a prison sentence, not because I wanted to punish that person more. It’s also my fault for hiding my identity in the first place.”

If they had known her status from the beginning, at least they wouldn’t have threatened her recklessly. Of course, bullying people based on status was still despicable.

“However, I do want punishment given for tormenting outsiders.”

“Of course, naturally.”

Carlos wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and nodded vigorously.

“Were there any other inconveniences during your stay?”

“Well, not particularly……”

“I hear the Third Prince of the Kingdom of Ravelia is staying here.”

Eli, who had been listening to their conversation the whole time, suddenly interjected. Though puzzled, Carlos answered first.

“Yes, that’s correct. Prince Kerihi Emanuele is staying in San Donus as a distinguished guest.”

“Wait, wait a moment.”

Surprised by the unexpected information, Edelle turned to Eli and asked as if confirming.

“You knew? That that person was a Ravelia prince?”

“He resembled his father quite a bit.”

“Huh.”

Only then did Edelle recall the face of the Ravelia king she had seen a couple more times after the wedding.

‘No wonder he seemed oddly familiar.’

Now that she thought about it, perhaps being a prince was why he was so relentless and unreasonable.

Carlos, who had been rolling his eyes back and forth at the couple’s conversation, carefully opened his mouth.

“But why the Third Prince of Ravelia……”

“It would be good to inform him of Eddie Glenville’s true identity if there’s a chance later.”

“Pardon?”

“That would be better for that man’s wellbeing.”

“I-I see. I’ll make sure to convey it.”

That idle Third Prince of Ravelia had definitely touched the Emperor’s nerves. His instincts, honed by long years of public service, were telling him so.

He could wake his wife, who had probably gone back to sleep, to hear the detailed circumstances. Carlos equipped his business smile and asked the imperial couple’s intentions.

“Then, will you still participate in tomorrow’s festival as planned……”

“I’d like to, but wouldn’t it be somewhat uncomfortable for you, Mayor?”

“N-not at all! If Your Majesty wishes, you can participate as much as you like, but……”

How should I deploy the guards?

Watching Carlos already racking his brain, Edelle smiled and said.

“I don’t want to make things more difficult. I’m thinking of just watching the festival tomorrow and leaving.”

“Oh my, but if you leave tomorrow right away when I haven’t properly hosted you as mayor……”

Participating in the festival as a street vendor would be burdensome, but staying as a distinguished guest would be welcome, so Carlos couldn’t hide his regret at Edelle’s decision.

They say it’s darkest under the lamp—how could he miss this opportunity to elevate San Donus beyond the Kingdom of Baskia to become the Eastern Continent’s greatest city?

Whether she knew the mayor’s feelings or not, Edelle’s smile deepened.

“I’ve enjoyed it enough. San Donus was the best travel destination for me.”

⁕⁕⁕

“Wow, it’s quite impressive!”

Their last day in San Donus was truly fulfilling. After exchanging fairly formal greetings with Maria, who came early in the morning, Edelle thoroughly enjoyed the festival with her husband and son tucked under her arms.

It was a festival full of various foods and sights, befitting its nickname as the continent’s greatest gourmet festival.

Edelle glanced at Angel sleeping in Eli’s arms. The child’s hand held a souvenir bag he had bought to give to Hazel.

“He kept waiting to see the fireworks but ended up falling asleep.”

“We’ll set off bigger ones at the Grand Festival anyway.”

“……Right, do that.”

Edelle clicked her tongue at Eli’s extraordinary love for his son and inwardly sent a simple apology to Monty, who was probably enjoying a vacation obliviously right now.

Red fireworks burst with loud sounds, coloring the night sky. Eli watched the scene of those fireworks coloring his still bright-faced wife’s cheeks.

“Eddie.”

“Hm?”

“How was it?”

Edelle’s eyes still wouldn’t leave the red sky. Ecstatic fireworks bloomed in the lavender field.

“It was fun. Watching people eat deliciously made me feel good after all.”

Eli was still completely captivated by those sparkling eyes.

“I told you, didn’t I? Tteokbokki sells anywhere.”

“Do you want to participate in the festival starting tomorrow? It’s fine to stay a few more days.”

Edelle giggled, calling it tearfully considerate.

“So you can make sure I never come here again?”

“No, whenever you want.”

“When you’ll chase after me bringing even our son like this.”

Edelle linked arms with Eli’s remaining arm and leaned her head on his broad shoulder. Eli’s lips naturally settled on top of that head.

Edelle’s eyes, drowsy from the familiar sense of security, gently closed.

“Let’s go home, honey.”

It had been a delightful trip for once.

Extra Chapters Complete