Chapter 179: Gap (4)
“So it was you after all. Among so many people. To meet even in the midst of such a crowd—what a curious twist of fate.”
Yuran said this with a smile.
“I didn’t expect to see you here either, Yuran.”
“Nor did I. I came to watch the festival. And it was your figure that first caught my eye.”
Yuran shrugged her shoulders as she spoke.
“Now that I think of it, you sometimes seem to forget—I came to this country to study and cultivate myself. Events and festivals like this are a great opportunity to understand the culture and spirit of a nation.”
Even as she said that, Yuran was watching the procession of knights crossing the plaza with interest.
‘…It disappeared.’
At that moment, Lian suddenly realized that the sound of a bell that had been ringing just moments ago had completely ceased.
As if her appearance had swallowed the sound whole.
“Hmm?”
After silently watching the procession for a while, Yuran tilted her head.
Then, as if searching for something, she began to glance around.
“What’s the matter, Yuran?”
“No… No, I just need a moment of silence. Hmmm…”
With a slight frown between her brows, Yuran began to scan her surroundings.
Then she sniffed the air lightly, and before long, she leaned in close as if to smell Lian directly.
“…Uh, Yuran?”
“Hmm?”
Lian called her name with a voice laced with confusion and embarrassment.
Cecilia and Allen were also staring at Yuran, not quite sure what to make of the situation.
And it wasn’t just them.
A few festivalgoers nearby were also sneaking glances at the group.
“…Ah.”
Noticing the attention belatedly, Yuran’s face flushed slightly.
She cleared her throat a couple of times and gave an awkward smile.
“Ahem, ahem. Pardon me. A rather peculiar scent drifted by. I acted without thinking.”
“A scent?”
When Lian asked in puzzlement, she nodded.
“Yes, a scent.”
Yuran added as if to clarify,
“Not a scent in the usual sense. How to put it… footprints? Traces? No… hmm…”
“A presence?”
“Yes, a presence! It was a scent close to that. Very faint, but it was something both familiar and powerful.”
Yuran paused, seemingly choosing her words, then tilted her head again.
“But now it seems to have almost vanished. Hmm, what could it have been…”
Lian could easily guess what scent she had meant.
‘Menoruka.’
It seemed Yuran had picked up the aura that naturally lingered from being around her.
Perhaps it was due to her bloodline—being half-human, half-dragon.
Maybe that’s why she reacted so sensitively to the presence of a dragon.
In the meantime, Yuran turned her gaze toward Cecilia and Allen, who were standing beside Lian.
“It’s been quite a while for you two as well. I don’t think we’ve met since that day. Have you both been well?”
She offered a cheerful smile as she greeted them.
“Yes, it’s been a while. Have you been well?”
“Thanks to your concern. I’ve had no trouble.”
Allen gave a slightly awkward smile and nodded.
“…”
Cecilia, on the other hand, reacted a bit differently from Allen.
She bowed her head in response to Yuran’s greeting and replied softly, but continued to gaze at her in silence, as if trying to gauge something.
There was a complexity in her gaze that went beyond mere caution—something indescribable.
Perhaps it was an instinctual sense.
That inexplicable hunch one sometimes feels in life.
Whether Yuran noticed Cecilia’s gaze or not, she returned her attention to Lian.
“So, what exactly is this Departure Festival? I’ve heard today isn’t the main event.”
“Ah, yes. Today is more like a ceremonial part. Compared to the main event that takes place in a few days, it’s much smaller in scale. I haven’t seen it myself, though—it’s just what I’ve heard.”
“That sounds quite impressive.”
Lian answered Yuran’s question sincerely.
Yuran nodded, seeming interested, and listened attentively as she echoed his words.
Swish.
Just then, she casually tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear.
Her deep, black hair, like the night sky, contrasted strikingly against her pale neck.
Hair glinting under the sun, with an exotic and dreamlike appearance.
Even Cecilia, as a fellow woman, found herself dazed by the beauty of Yuran’s profile.
‘…Ah.’
At that moment, a passage from a book Cecilia once borrowed from the library flashed through her mind.
A book she’d picked up out of curiosity, wanting to become closer to Lian.
But the book had offered advice not just for friendship—but for something a bit… more. A different direction of intimacy.
‘If I recall…’
The book had written:
— Men often subconsciously find themselves attracted to parts like a woman’s hair or nape.
— Thus, actions like tying up or brushing back hair can unexpectedly have great effect.
Sometimes, small gestures or changes like these can lead to major developments.
— In fact, the author herself began her first step toward her current husband through this seemingly trivial method…
Gasp.
Without realizing it, Cecilia took a sharp breath and quickly glanced back and forth between Lian and Yuran.
“…”
Fortunately—or unfortunately—Lian showed no particular reaction to Yuran’s gesture.
“Hm.”
Yuran, seemingly dissatisfied, pouted slightly and returned her hair to its original position.
“…How long does this festival last?”
“Normally about a week, but in the past, it sometimes went on for up to fifteen days.”
Even as she spoke, she continued to pepper Lian with trivial questions about the Departure Festival.
Lian answered her kindly and earnestly, just as before.
Hmmm.
From Cecilia’s point of view, it didn’t seem like Lian had given any special meaning to Yuran’s action just now.
If that’s the case…
“Mmhm.”
Cecilia let out a small cough.
Then, somewhat awkwardly, she began to gather her hair with her hands.
‘The book said to either tie it up or brush it back.’
The gesture Yuran had made earlier—sweeping her hair back—hadn’t been very effective.
But maybe tying it would be a little different?
“…Ah.”
But then Cecilia realized—too late—that she didn’t have anything like a ribbon or accessory to tie her hair with.
Hesitating for a moment with her hair clenched in her hand, she eventually lowered her hand as if nothing had happened.
Slip.
Her hair slipped from her hand, falling limply.
“…”
Cecilia felt a bit dejected.
“…Cecilia? What’s wrong, are you feeling unwell?”
Lian asked, noticing the gloom that had come over her.
“Ah, no. It’s nothing. I just… I think it’s a little hot.”
Cecilia mumbled, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Meanwhile, the tail end of the procession crossing the plaza was slowly disappearing from view.
Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed today’s event was nearing its end.
“Hmm… Since the march seems to be nearly over, how about we go inside somewhere and take a break? There’s a nice-looking place over there. I’ll treat you all to something cool.”
Everyone in the group nodded at Lian’s suggestion, as if in agreement.
They had been standing under the sun for a while without complaining, but the heat had been getting to them.
Jingle.
As they opened the door to the shop, the sound of a bell greeted them first.
“Whew.”
As they stepped inside, a pleasantly cool breeze and the subtle, complex scent of tea leaves welcomed them.
The comfortable atmosphere made Lian exhale a sigh of relief without realizing it.
“Hmm?”
Inside the shop, two people sitting by the window immediately caught his eye.
One had dark brown hair and green eyes.
The other had light, frizzy blonde hair and blue eyes.
Their appearance was plain, something one might see anywhere, but there was still an unmistakable aura about them that couldn’t be hidden.
“Oh?”
As their eyes met, the brown-haired man was the first to acknowledge him.
“Well, what are the chances? To run into you here of all places.”
It was none other than the Third Prince Behad.
Had he used magic to change his hair and eye color?
That alone made him look completely different from usual.
Still, his striking appearance remained unchanged.
“…”
Sitting across from him was the Third Princess Mercedes, her hair and eye color also altered, wearing a blank expression.
“I didn’t expect to see you here ei… no, to see all of you here like this.”
Lian lightly bowed his head as he spoke.
Since Behad raised a finger to his lips in a hush gesture, he simply greeted them quietly.
Cecilia, Allen, and Yuran each offered a brief greeting of their own.
“Haha, thanks for pretending not to know us.”
Behad chuckled and cheerfully waved them over.
“Since we’ve met like this, why not sit together? There’s space anyway.”
Without waiting for a response, Behad stood up.
Then, striding over, he grabbed Allen’s arm and pulled him along.
“Come now, Allen. Come sit with us. We see each other all the time inside the Academy, but it’s oddly refreshing to meet outside like this.”
“Haha, yes. I suppose it is…”
Allen gave an awkward smile.
Before he knew it, he found himself seated—right next to Mercedes.
“…?!”
Mercedes was startled by the sudden company and seemed about to snap, but when she saw Allen beside her, she quickly closed her mouth.
“So, are you all out to see the Departure Festival?”
Behad, now having seated the others, naturally steered the conversation.
“Yes, we happened to have the time, so we stopped to watch.”
“What you saw today was just a taste. The main event in a few days is on another level. You should definitely see it. I’ve watched it several times since I was young, and it never gets old.”
Behad eagerly launched into stories about the Departure Festival.
He mostly talked while Allen chimed in with responses, but even that was enough to create a warm, friendly atmosphere.
Mercedes remained silent as ever, while Cecilia and Yuran quietly sipped their drinks, occasionally chiming in.
Lian, too, answered when needed but seemed lost in thought.
“…”
“…”
A moment of silence settled between them.
Seizing the opportunity, Lian turned to Behad and opened his mouth.
“Um, there’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
Behad looked at Lian with curious eyes, as if surprised that Lian would direct a question to him.
“Have you ever heard the name Menoruka?”
At Lian’s question, Behad tilted his head slightly, as if trying to recall something.
A faint crease formed between his brows.
“Menoruka, Menoruka…”
He thought for a moment, then shook his head.
“…Never heard of it.”