68 - Recollection Festival 3
Leonardo's suggestion that I go to the night festival with Kaya, I politely declined. I wasn't happy about it at all, but for once Kaya and I were in agreement. Kaya, who's after Leonardo, doesn't want to look after me, and I certainly don't want to go see the night festival with Kaya, whose personality only makes me feel repulsed.
...I do want to see Leonardo-sama's rites, just a little bit though.
Spending time with Kaya just to satisfy that tiny curiosity of wanting to see Leonardo's rites didn't seem worth it.
...Anyway, even though I've been making it clear that "I can't handle this person," why does Leonardo-sama keep trying to leave me with her?
That question was resolved rather easily. Apparently, even though she never shows her face at the mansion, Kaya, who frequently visits the fortress after Leonardo, had been lying that her relationship with me was good. That we'd gotten close enough to trade spiteful remarks, and somehow I'd been labeled as having a tsundere personality.
...I reported that the tutor hadn't been coming to work, but I don't remember ever getting close enough to her to have a verbal fight!
We hardly even have what could be called a conversation in the first place. There's no way we've gotten close.
But at least I now understand one reason why Leonardo brushes me off no matter how much I insist I can't handle Kaya. Leonardo's misunderstood that Kaya and I get along well. He probably thinks my reports about her poor work attitude are just playful complaints born from closeness.
...Go for it, Kaya! I'm on your side, just for now!!
Having claimed that she and I get along well, Kaya can't strongly refuse Leonardo's request to take me to the night festival. And inconveniently for her, since she came to invite Leonardo to the festival, she can't escape by saying "I have other things to do." No matter how much I refuse, Leonardo just takes it as me being shy, so my only hope is Kaya's cunning. I hope she can somehow deflect Leonardo's request and escape.
"Leave it to me. I'll take good care of your precious Tina-chan, Leonardo-sama."
"That's great, Tina. Miss Kaya says she'll go to the night festival with you."
...She was completely bought off with money, just now.
The battle that started with "I want you to take my little sister to the night festival" was being dodged by Kaya, who was brandishing the excellent pretext of "you must be tired since you just returned," but when Leonardo's wallet was handed over wholesale with the request to "buy her something delicious," the victory was decided in an instant.
...How much is in there!?
Leonardo's wallet, which he uses to pay without a moment's hesitation even for clothes and shoes that are obviously expensive, is like a magic wallet to me. I can't even imagine how much is in it. And that magic wallet of Leonardo's, which I can only see as a magic wallet, was also a magic wallet for Kaya. The magic's effect was to turn "No" into "Yes," a truly troublesome effect.
"There'll be rites in the square around sunset, so come watch them too, Tina."
Oblivious to the despair in my heart, Leonardo contentedly patted my head. He's probably trying to be considerate of me. Thinking it's a pity that I can't even join the night festival at my first festival, or something like that.
...Leonardo-sama's kindness hurts right now...
Maybe he feels like he's making up for neglecting me from spring to summer. We've had some time to talk lately, and there are days we eat together, but I can't help but be keenly aware that we still don't communicate well with each other.
I handed the sweet-and-savory dumplings we'd bought as souvenirs for Tabitha and the others to the gatekeeper, and saw off Leonardo as he headed for the fortress. Then, both of us reluctantly, Kaya and I held hands and walked the road we'd just come back on.
...Come to think of it, he said the rites are around sunset, but what are we supposed to do until then?
She doesn't seem like the type to stake out a spot for hours, and if that were the case, I feel like it'd be better to rest once at the mansion and then come back out. Not that I think she'd listen if I suggested that. As a result, having no choice but to swallow my own opinions is a bit annoying. If I were going out with a friend I got along with, I wouldn't mind even if I was a bit tired. But going to a festival with someone I know I don't get along with cuts the festive mood in half.
"Oh, how cute. This one's pretty too..."
Distracted by the accessories lined up at a stall, Kaya stopped in her tracks. She picked up one after another, held them against her hair or chest, then put them back in place, never quite reaching the point of purchase.
...The prices are reasonable. Even a kid could afford them.
Actually, these are probably stalls aimed at children's allowances. The accessories are simple and cute, but not really satisfying enough for an adult woman to wear.
...Even I could buy one.
Leonardo had given me separate pocket money before I left the mansion. So I could do some shopping. But while I was with Leonardo, he paid for everything, so I never once spent from my own wallet.
...I've learned my numbers, so I can shop on my own just fine.
Since I sometimes tag along with Tabitha to peek at the market, I naturally learned numbers. I've had the currency explained to me too, so I'm confident I can handle shopping.
...Thanks to that, I also understand that the allowance Leonardo-sama gave me is an amount inappropriate for a child to have.
It's an amount that's almost scary to hold. Still, it might be better to use some of it. I want to practice shopping, and if I go back without buying anything, Leonardo might think I'm still holding back.
I started looking at the merchandise seriously, wondering if there was anything good, but Kaya's interest shifted elsewhere and time was up. Right now Kaya's my guardian, so I can't leave her side. After that, I followed Kaya as she browsed through stall after stall. When shopping with Leonardo, we mostly hit up food stalls, but with Kaya, it was almost all accessory shops.
...Kaya sure is enjoying her shopping trip.
And with Leonardo's wallet, at that. Since the wallet was given to buy something delicious for me, it might barely be within acceptable bounds while she's looking after me, but still, she's buying way too much. Leonardo is generous, or maybe just thoughtless, and in a way it's worrying. If you spent even a little time with someone like Kaya, she'd top the list of people you should never entrust your wallet to. That's how excessive her spending is.
Just when I thought Kaya's shopping spree with Leonardo's wallet was over, the next shop she entered was a tavern.
...Whaaaaat!? Bringing a kid to a tavern!? Is that okay!?
I was shocked by her nerve to bring a child into a tavern without hesitation, but the time of day shocked me even more. It's summer, so the days are long, and sunset is late, past seven. And we'd parted with Leonardo a little after three, and had been browsing stalls for almost an hour. So the sun was still high. I wouldn't call it broad daylight, but still, there's no denying she went into a tavern in the daytime.
...Leonardo-sama, you definitely picked the wrong person.
If I'd known it would come to this, I should have refused more firmly. Not just refused, but I probably should have resisted with all my might and fled back to the mansion, even if it meant being seen as selfish or a troublesome child.
"Hey Kaya, when'd you have time to pop out a kid this big?"
"She's not mine. I'm just looking after her."
A big, beer-smelling man peered at me, and reluctantly I hid behind Kaya. When I grabbed her skirt and wrinkled it, Kaya noticed and brushed my hand away.
"Babysitting on festival day? What's the occasion?"
"She's the little sister of the guy I'm after right now. Hey, don't go putting weird ideas in her head."
Another red-faced man peered at my face, and I reflexively stepped back a few paces. As soon as I put some distance between us, the big man wrapped his arm around Kaya's shoulder, as if he'd been waiting for it. I followed Kaya as she moved toward a table, but she rejected me herself.
"You, go drink some juice over there or something."
...Huh!? Is that the kind of thing a person who agreed to babysit says!?
I opened my mouth in shock, and impatient Kaya forcibly turned my body around. When I looked where she was pointing with my back to her, a man who looked like the shopkeeper was beckoning with a wry smile.
...Ah, somehow I feel like I can trust that guy over there more.
I felt a strange sense of kinship with the shopkeeper, who looked like he was used to dealing with ruffians in a tavern. Maybe his thick, muscular arms were similar to Leonardo's, making me feel relieved. I followed his beckoning and sat down at the counter, and he brought me some fruit juice.
"Tough luck, little miss. Of all people, getting stuck with that Kaya."
The shopkeeper was sympathetic toward me, who'd been dragged to a tavern out of nowhere and then abandoned. I offered appropriate nods as he told me bits and pieces of Kaya's various exploits, while inwardly complaining to Leonardo.
...See, I knew she was the kind of person you absolutely can't leave a kid with! Don't hire her based on hearsay, check her out with your own eyes first!!
The reputation Leonardo had heard wasn't entirely wrong. Her mother was famous as an excellent tutor, and her daughter was also well-regarded as a tutor. But only the younger daughter, with a caveat. Kaya was the eldest of three siblings, and the one with the good reputation was Kaya's younger sister. As for Kaya's own reputation, it was abysmal. Just sitting in a corner of the tavern, I could hear all sorts of stories. She'd been divorced twice, bankrupted her husband's family through extravagance, and was currently drowning in debt. Since childhood, pickpocketing and theft were practically daily occurrences, and once she got a bit smarter, she'd learned extortion and scams too.
...That's looking pretty black. About that hair ornament that went missing the other day, that Tabitha-san was looking for.
I think it's almost certainly black, but it wouldn't be right to judge her just from hearing rumors that she was naughty as a child. I can't accuse someone of a crime without evidence, and if I'm wrong, that would be incredibly disrespectful. Unless I caught her in the act or gathered evidence, I'd be hesitant to even mention it to Leonardo, saying "I heard this rumor."
...But at least I understand why Kaya felt she could just abandon me.
My first impression of her was the worst, and I'd barely exchanged any words with Kaya. When I finally managed to say more than a greeting, my words came out slurred with "nya" and "nyo," so she'd judged I couldn't talk properly. She figured even if she did a half-assed job, I wouldn't be able to tattle to my guardian. And even if I did say something, she was confident she could sweet-talk her way into winning Leonardo over, which is why she could maintain such a careless attitude.
...Well, I did tell Leonardo-san about it, and I consulted Alf-san too.
Leonardo only half-listened, but Alf seemed to be looking into things. When I consulted him, Alf sighed and said, "She got caught by another troublesome woman again, huh." More likely than not, this isn't the first time Leonardo's been hit on by this type of woman. And this time, I got the new information that the one with the good reputation was Kaya's younger sister. Surely if I pass along this information, Leonardo will investigate Kaya again too.
Pricking up my ears and gathering gossip was unexpectedly fun. Kaya had pawned me off on the shopkeeper, but I think leaving me with him was the right call. Drunkards tried to bother me now and then, but each time, the shopkeeper chased them away.
Eventually, it seemed to be time for the rites, and Kaya pulled me out of the tavern. Feeling grateful for his help, I thanked the shopkeeper. I couldn't read the shop's name, so I made sure to memorize the location instead.
The square where the daytime play had been held was now cleanly cleared, and in the center were a small stage and piles of costumes and props from the play. The atmosphere felt like a campfire, I guess. I'd only ever seen them in anime and manga, so I was a bit excited. I'd left the mansion early, but I was too late getting to the square. A large crowd had already formed around the small stage, and there was no way I could get close. Leonardo had said he'd give a speech and play the role of lighting the fire, but this year it looked like I'd only be able to watch from a distance.
...Huh? Is that Black Knight over there beckoning?
A Black Knight in front of the stage, who seemed to be standing guard, was beckoning toward us. I felt like he was calling me, but if I was wrong, that'd be embarrassing. Unsure what to do, I looked up at Kaya, and she cheerfully started walking toward the Black Knight. Not wanting to be left behind, I followed after her.
"Good evening, Miss Kaya. I've heard from Commander Leonardo. I've saved you seats, so please feel free to join us with Tina-chan."
"Oh, thank you."
Kaya smiled, the corners of her mouth curling up. She didn't seem to have known a Black Knight had saved spots, but she was in a good mood. At Kaya's pleased expression, the Black Knight tilted his head slightly.
...Ah, did you notice she smells like alcohol?
If he noticed the alcohol smell, I wish he'd report it to Leonardo just as it is. I feel like my testimony keeps getting brushed aside as "just a child talking."
...But come to think of it?
The spot I was led to by the Black Knight seemed to have a lot of young women. When I'd peeked at the daytime play, there were a lot of men after the actress playing the goddess of justice and children, but the nighttime rites had more women. I wondered if the nighttime rites had something that appealed to women, but the reason became clear soon enough.
...Ooh, Leonardo-sama looks cool!
Since he was playing the role of a man who'd committed a crime in ancient times, his costume was formal wear but made in an antique style. The fabric was layered many times, but the construction was simple, and there were no sleeves. His muscular arms, his clearly defined collarbones, even his thick chest were visible through gaps in the fabric. The young ladies must be captivated by this physical beauty. The moment Leonardo stepped onto the stage, enraptured sighs leaked from the crowd around us.
...Was the person who committed the crime a king or something?
Leonardo's hair was tied up as usual, but on his forehead was a circlet he didn't normally wear. A circlet was a kind of crown. If he was wearing it as part of the costume, that's what it probably meant.
Receiving the burning gazes of the maidens, Leonardo recited the ritual prayer in a resonant voice. Then, finally, a priest who'd come up onto the stage handed a torch to Leonardo, and he used it to light the piled-up costumes and props on fire.
Apparently that was the end of Leonardo's part.
As I watched Leonardo about to return to the wings, he suddenly stopped and turned around toward us. It was clearly directed at me, and when Leonardo smiled with a gentle expression, the maidens around me shrieked. There was even a young lady clutching her chest and doubling over.
...Leonardo-sama, could it be he's super popular?
Among the maidens who started arguing over whether that smile was directed at them, or at her, Kaya alone smiled with complete confidence. As if to say that smile was meant for her. If I'm not mistaken, that smile from Leonardo wasn't directed at Kaya, so even her smile seemed somehow ridiculous to me.
...If Leonardo-sama is this popular, he doesn't need to get caught up with someone like Kaya.
Actually, rather than being caught, it might be more accurate to say he's being pursued. He might not have the leeway for that kind of thing while looking after me for now, but if he wanted to, I feel like he could have his pick of good brides.
...Anyway, that's the end of the night festival.
Finally the tutor's work should be over, and I should be able to go back to the mansion. Just as I felt relieved about that, the square started transforming into a banquet hall. The stage where Leonardo had been reciting his prayer was cleared away, and several round tables were set up. Folding chairs were prepared, and in no time the banquet was ready. Now everyone would drink and watch until the fire burned out.
"Hey, Kaya! Wanna drink with us over here?"
A man with a mane-like beard called out to Kaya from a nearby table. Coming home is part of the field trip, and I think it's Kaya's job to see me back to the mansion, but Kaya readily accepted the man's invitation. Kaya lacks awareness that she's a guardian, that she's in the middle of babysitting, and that it's her job.
"You can get home on your own, right?"
"I know the way, but..."
Walking alone on a night road is still scary. Besides, today's a festival. Drunkards are wandering around everywhere, and it feels more dangerous than an ordinary night road.
"Aren't you still in the middle of your babythitting job?"
"What I agreed to with Leonardo-sama was taking you to see the night festival. The rites are already over. What comes after that isn't my job, is it?"
I know that no matter how much logic I throw at her, it'll be useless. Kaya is that kind of irresponsible woman.
...I'll have to find Leonardo-san and go back together, or pick a well-lit road and go straight home.
I looked around the square for Leonardo, but I couldn't find any sign of him. Since he performed the rites, he might be gathered somewhere with church officials for a debriefing or something. If I couldn't find him right away, going back alone would be faster than forcing myself to search for him. Judging that, I trudged home alone, and the road felt strangely lonely.
...If I'd known it'd be like this, I should have just not pretended to be a good, obedient kid, and clearly said I didn't want to go to the festival with Kaya.
Lamps were lit here and there along the streets tonight, so the surroundings were bright even though it was a night road. The clamor of the banquet enveloped the area, making it a world far from silence, but walking the night road alone felt strangely lonely. I'd thought it'd be dangerous for a child to walk alone at night, but no one paid any attention to a child walking by herself. There were plenty of people, but I even started to feel the illusion that I was the only one left in the world. Like I was in my own separate world.
More than scary, it was lonely. I was hungry, but more than food, I craved human warmth.
Wanting to meet someone I knew as soon as possible, I quickened my pace along the night road. Occasionally, knights or soldiers standing on street corners called out to me. I still don't remember all their faces, but the knights seemed to remember mine. They all called my name with smiles, and asked with surprised expressions why I was walking alone. Since I had the chance, I advertised my tutor's (Kaya's) dereliction of duty as much as I could. Several knights, surprised by Kaya's shocking work ethic, offered to escort me to the mansion, but I declined. Since they were standing guard on the streets, I figured leaving their posts would be a problem.
...Even though I'm lonely and scared and want to get home quickly, I still put up a front, pretending I can manage on my own and acting cool. I'm so damn difficult!
Even as I thought about myself, I couldn't help but feel I had a troublesome personality. I'd thought my inability to honestly rely on others was because of my pride as an adult on the inside, but I'm starting to feel like it might also be because of my original personality.
I finally made it back to the front gate of the mansion, and tried to briefly explain the situation to the surprised gatekeeper, but for some reason what came out of my mouth was complaints and harsh words about Leonardo. I said I'd told him I didn't want to go out with Kaya, but it was such an indirect way of saying it that Leonardo never understood my true feelings. The gatekeepers seemed to sense something was wrong from that. One of the two gatekeepers followed me to the front entrance, but didn't say anything in particular. I entered through the door Bart opened for me, and went silently to my room on the third floor. I took off only the heko obi and my shoes, got into bed, hugged the legs of my jinbei, and decided to go to sleep in a huff. I was hungry, but right now I was too irritated with myself and Leonardo to eat anything.
Tina's going to have a hard time in life if she doesn't learn to express her true feelings more. I feel like it might be time for some backup from Alf or Leonardo's perspective.
Will fix typos and errors another day.
Found and fixed some typos and errors.