“That’s right. Then should Calliphe come along too?”

Graham shook his head.

“She’s still far from learning enough to be satisfactory. Keep it a secret from her and let’s just go ourselves.”

Come to think of it, Calliphe had thrown quite a tantrum recently. She’d wanted to go to the north for Lynen’s birthday.

“That girl, she didn’t sneak out, did she? Did you check?”

“Yes. She’s been ignoring my instructions more frequently during lessons and her work efficiency has dropped, but she’s still keeping at it consistently.”

“That level of rebellion is pretty tame. She’s matured. Haha.”

It was just that the movements of the automatic doll weren’t perfect, but they didn’t know that.

“Then I should notify Duke Ortega of our visit in advance.”

“Wait, Marcel.”

Graham spoke cautiously.

“We’re the only ones who know this information right now. Even if we ask Ortega for cooperation, will he listen? With the Wish Festival right around the corner?”

“Hmm…”

Whether the information was true or not, tearing up and digging out a symbol that protected ancient tradition would be unacceptable.

“If our ancestor’s belongings really are hidden in that shrine, they’ll be even less willing to return it.”

It had been in the north for ages and had already become part of the north. Even if they started negotiations, it would clearly take a long time.

“Then what are you planning to do?”

“…We’ll check secretly.”

“What?”

Graham smiled deviously.

“We’ll disguise ourselves as tourists participating in the event. If we go to the shrine and investigate, we’ll know whether the information is true or not.”

“A-and if it is true…?”

“Then we just take what’s ours.”

Secretly, of course.

An outrageous statement suggesting theft. Was this really one of the empire’s high-ranking nobles?

Marcel’s complexion turned pale then white repeatedly. If his friend and lord had this kind of character, he as a close aide needed to keep his wits about him.

Finally, he answered with difficulty.

“…It’s a good idea.”

If it really belonged to them, it wouldn’t be theft but just recovery, right? Marcel nodded.

That night, an old man and his half-elf friend headed secretly to the northern duchy with their robes pulled low.

* * *

A small child buried alone in a large bed.

“Mmm.”

Noah rolled around in the fluffy blankets, enjoying a rare late morning.

Last night, he’d wanted to sleep together so he’d headed to the Duke’s room with his pillow. But Countess Yvonne appeared from somewhere and said,

“Could you deliver this instead of your pillow?”

…and handed Noah a wine bottle.

So when he delivered it to the two of them and conveyed his wish to sleep together, the Duke smiled slightly.

“Yes, let’s definitely sleep together.”

“Yeah…! Then right now—”

“Tomorrow.”

The word ‘tomorrow’ had an oddly emphatic tone and an inexplicable charisma in that smile. So Noah had to retreat hesitantly and sleep alone.

Though he only realized belatedly that he’d been tactless.

‘They probably wanted to kiss.’

So he wasn’t disappointed. Besides, yesterday they’d spent the whole day making lanterns together.

“Hehe…”

Noah’s was topped with a wide conical paper shade and decorated with green ribbons. He’d drawn pictures on the outside too.

A picture of a capybara with long ears.

Clang— Clang—

The sound of bells ringing in the distance gently woke the child from his deep sleep.

Noah opened his sleepy eyes narrowly, yawned, and sat up. After staggering to the window, his drowsiness suddenly vanished.

“Wow.”

Snow was falling heavily!

The landscape that had been patchy green was now covered with a white blanket overnight. It was a beautiful scene like winter had returned.

“Pretty…”

When he opened the window, a cold wind swept across his chubby cheeks.

In the castle courtyard, he could see children dressed warmly with earmuffs. Children around Noah’s age were shaking small bells in their hands, making clang-clang sounds.

They were announcing that the first day of the Wish Festival had dawned.

His green eyes sparkled.

“Lady Calliphe! Duke! Let’s hurry… Oh, I need to get dressed.”

Noah shed his pajamas like molting skin.

He had a strong premonition that today might be the best day ever!

* * *

“I heard it was a modest event.”

“It is modest.”

“That?”

Lynen chuckled and adjusted Calliphe’s scarf. The colorful marks on her white neck were soon hidden.

Calliphe looked at the various stalls set up in the wide plaza. People who’d gathered early were chatting while drinking warm beverages and eating heated bread.

On one side, children were playing by packing snow.

When Noah cautiously approached to watch, the children showed interest and invited him over.

Watching this, Calliphe said,

“Countess Yvonne mentioned a pilgrimage route, so I thought it would be more solemn.”

“We depart for the shrine of the magical spirit in the evening. That way the lanterns we worked hard to make will be worth it.”

“Ah, that makes sense. The path isn’t very long?”

Lynen pointed to the snowy mountain.

“We follow that winding path up. It looks like that but it’s actually quite long. If you walk fast you can make it in a day, but people who take it leisurely rest at shelters along the way.”

This was exactly what Lynen had paid attention to.

Since many elderly people as well as children participated in the event, they needed spaces where they could rest.

So he’d set up shelters with multiple beds and emergency rations at regular intervals and checked their safety.

“People who really take their time can spend a week.”

“Wow. At that point it really is a pilgrimage.”

After enjoying the festival atmosphere and food in the plaza.

When dusky evening came, the main event of the Wish Festival finally began.

Clang— Clang—

With the sound of bells, people began walking the path toward the shrine that granted wishes.

Calliphe’s group deliberately followed far behind. They worried it might burden the territory residents if they recognized Lynen, but there was an unexpected benefit.

“Wooow.”

Lynen gave Noah a piggyback ride.

Then before Noah’s eyes appeared a winding river of lanterns.

It was even more beautiful as it contrasted against the white snowfield.

“It’s so, so pretty.”

“Right? It’s truly spectacular.”

Lynen smiled proudly.

“It’s the territory’s specialty. Now, let’s go too.”

Calliphe started walking holding the lantern they’d made yesterday. She’d thought a walking event would be a bit bothersome, but at this point her spirits were definitely lifted.

‘Besides, I have a clear wish that I want to come true.’

Please let me quickly seize power in House Offensa and the Magic Tower. So the former Marquis and Vice Archmage can work instead of me and I can boss them around.

She sincerely wished for that.

“Lynen. Do you have a wish?”

“Me?”

After thinking briefly, Lynen suddenly looked embarrassed.

“…I have one.”

“That’s suspicious. What is it?”

“I can’t tell you before praying.”

Actually, he couldn’t say it because she might tease him for being childish.

How could he say he wanted them to spend more time together like a proper married couple?

Moreover, that wish included hoping to get used to special terms of endearment only allowed between spouses.

Calling each other by name was good, but…

Sometimes it would be nice to feel more tangibly that they were married.

And he also wanted to hear Noah call him dad…

‘Come to think of it, I have too many wishes.’

“What is it?”

“Not telling.”

“Aw, how petty. Noah, what wish will you make?”

“Mine’s a secret too!”

As the path continued endlessly, people gradually scattered.

There were stalls along the roadside and benches set up, so many people rested along the way.

How long had they walked like that?

“Noah. Aren’t your legs tired? Should we rest a bit?”

“I’m fine. I can keep going!”

“No, your legs are tired. It’s time to eat a snack too.”

“O-okay…”

“Stay here. I’ll get drinks.”

Lynen seated the two on a bench and left briefly. Calliphe plopped down on the bench and rotated her ankles.

‘Phew, I would’ve been screwed if I’d worn heels.’

While casually watching people resting around them without much thought.

‘…Huh?’

She saw some familiar figures.

‘Am I seeing things?’

Two men with hats and earmuffs securely on were patting their backs.

A large person and a slender man.

The two groaned “oof, oof” in front of a seated young couple and finally got them to give up their seats, stretching out their legs.

‘Those voices… I feel like I’ve heard them somewhere.’

Soon one person removed his earmuffs like they were stuffy.

In Calliphe’s narrowed field of vision, she caught the pointed ear tips characteristic of half-elves.

“…!?”

The large man next to him also lowered the scarf he’d been wearing rolled up to drink his beverage.

Then a magnificent mustache that not just anyone could pull off was revealed.

“…!!?”

They wore light disguises so their faces alone looked different, but those features revealed their identities.

None other than former Marquis Offensa and Vice Archmage Marcel.

‘Why are people who should be in the capital here!’

Calliphe hurriedly wrapped her scarf around herself.

‘Don’t tell me they came to catch me?’

Meanwhile, Lynen returned with drinks.

“Calliphe. Why are you—”

“Shh, shhhh!”

Calliphe quickly sat him down and whispered.

“That old geezer and the Vice Archmage are over there! I came secretly so I can’t get caught.”

“…I didn’t know about this. Why would they come secretly without any contact with me?”

“I don’t know. More importantly, listen to what they’re saying. Your hearing is good. I’m worried they’ll detect it if I use magic.”

At Calliphe’s request, Lynen concentrated his hearing briefly. Thanks to that, he learned the two were still fooled by Calliphe’s doll.

“You don’t need to worry.”

“Really? Phew. But if they spot me now, it’ll all be for nothing…”

Noah getting caught would be fine. Since they hadn’t prepared a doll for Noah, they’d said they were just sending Noah to the north temporarily.

After pondering, Calliphe left briefly then returned. But her appearance had changed dramatically.

She’d transformed into a young child like when she’d escaped the marquis estate.

“Call me Ferica. It’s been a while since I looked like this, right?”

“Your childhood appearance. But won’t the former Marquis recognize you?”

“It’s fine. I barely ever saw those two face-to-face when I was young.”

Noah inwardly welcomed the smaller Calliphe and asked,

“So we’re going like this, the three of us?”

“Right. When I look like this, you have to call me Ferica, okay?”

“Yeah…! Got it.”

Lynen, who’d suddenly become the guardian of two children, made a somewhat complex expression. But he obediently took the two and started walking again.

* * *

A moment later.

Marcel spotted their retreating figures in the distance.

“Hm? Isn’t that person Duke Ortega?”