Episode 29
W-What do you mean, friend?
I was so shocked that I just stared at Ian with my mouth open, not saying anything.
“Pfft.”
Ian tried not to laugh but ended up chuckling at my blank expression.
“Hahaha.”
He finally burst out laughing.
“H-Hey, Ian!”
I almost called him “Your Grace” by mistake.
You know how animals puff up when they’re angry?
I stood with my hands on my hips and glared at him.
“Your surprised face was just too—pfft.”
Ian tried to explain but couldn’t stop laughing again.
Again! Again!
I puffed up my cheeks and quickly turned my head away.
But in the end, I found myself looking down at the ring on my fourth finger.
He teased me… so mean… so annoying.
But then…
“Sorry.”
Ian, still smiling playfully, stepped closer to me.
He gently placed his hand next to mine and apologized.
As he came near, his shoulder touched mine.
“But it’s pretty, right? Amelia.”
When he said my name, I looked up at him with a tilted head.
“…Yes. I guess it is. Hmph.”
I was still a little mad.
But the rings on our fingers and Ian’s smiling face—
They both sparkled so brightly that I couldn’t help but smile a little.
“Oh? You smiled? You did!”
The night was beautiful with glowing lights and bright stars.
“Wow! I can see everything from here!”
We had arrived at a low hill where you could see the whole festival.
Many people were already sitting down, waiting for the event called “Herod’s Search.”
“I’m glad I listened to Mother.”
Ian took out a large blanket from our bags and spread it out.
He checked the ground for any stones, then smiled and joked,
“Please have a seat, Miss Amelia.”
His playful words made me giggle.
The future Duke of Vesford had laid down a picnic spot himself—how fancy!
“I’m honored. Hehe.”
I took Ian’s hand and sat on the blanket.
Ian stood by my side, watching me carefully until I sat down completely.
“Come sit with me,” I said.
He nodded and sat down beside me.
But now that we were sitting so close, it got a little awkward. We didn’t know what to say.
To break the silence, Ian spoke.
“Nice weather today.”
That made it feel even more awkward, like he was trying too hard.
I fidgeted with my fingers.
Then suddenly—
“Wow! A star is falling!”
A little kid, maybe about seven, shouted nearby.
Everyone turned to look at the sky.
“Whoa…”
It was breathtaking.
As the stars started to fall, one by one, the festival lights began to turn off.
“They turn off the lights so we can see the shooting stars better. That’s what we do in Vesford.”
Ian explained as the area got darker.
He took off his mask, and I followed, making sure to cover my hair properly again.
When I reached out to fix Ian’s cloth, he leaned in so I could tie it more easily.
His face came very close, and I quickly looked down while tying the knot.
I was glad it was dark—he couldn’t see how red my face was.
I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart and then looked up at the sky.
“This is my first time seeing something like this! It’s amazing!”
Ian kept explaining about the stars, and I listened with growing curiosity.
In my past life, we had never watched a meteor shower together.
So every word he said was new and exciting.
Not wanting to miss another shooting star, I kept turning my head between Ian and the sky.
“You’ll hurt your neck. Just look up. If you’re lucky, more will fall.”
Ian chuckled at how excited I looked.
In that moment, a soft light from a nearby lantern lit up his smile.
My heart suddenly beat even faster.
I quickly looked away, afraid I might stare too long.
Then—
“Oh! Another one!”
People gasped again as more stars began to fall across the sky.
“Wow!”
One star fell, then another, and another—one after the other.
“Looks like we’re lucky tonight. We didn’t even wait that long.”
“…”
“Maybe it’s because of you.”
Ian whispered near my ear, teasing me again.
“Ugh, you’re doing this on purpose!”
I yelled out, feeling ticklish and flustered.
Ian held up both hands like he was innocent and nodded toward the sky.
“Don’t miss it, Miss Amelia.”
“You’re just teasing me… You’re too much.”
My heart was already making so much noise in my head.
His teasing only made it harder to think.
Annoyed, I glared at him without thinking.
But Ian just smiled softly and placed a blanket around my shoulders.
“It’s cold. Use this.”
I hugged the blanket tightly, rested my elbows on my knees, and held my chin in my hands.
Ian, watching me, leaned back on one hand and pointed to the northeast with his other.
Because we were so close, I could clearly see where he was pointing.
“That’s where the next one will fall. If it does, make a wish.”
“How do you know that?”
“I don’t. Just a feeling?”
Even though Ian was clearly joking, his voice felt oddly trustworthy.
And then, right after he said it, a shooting star appeared exactly where he pointed.
It really happened!
I quickly closed my eyes, held my hands together, and made a wish.
But there were too many wishes I wanted to make…
Please don’t let the same tragedy happen again.
Please help me become stronger.
But in the middle of all those thoughts, I remembered Ian’s face—
How he had smiled at me all day.
So in the end, I made just one deep and honest wish:
Please make Ian happy.
I kept my eyes closed and put all my heart into that wish.
Then I slowly opened my eyes.
The first thing I saw was Ian, looking at me gently.
I gasped—he was so close! I quickly turned my head away.
Ian laughed softly and asked,
“What wish was so serious that you looked like that?”
“It’s a secret.”
I could feel his curious eyes staring at me.
But how could I tell him?
How could I say I wished for his happiness?
So I quickly changed the subject.
“But how did you know where the star would fall?!”
“I guessed.”
Ian smiled proudly and shrugged.
“Did you make a wish too?”
Instead of answering, Ian waved me closer with his hand.
Wait—was he really going to tell me?
My heart started beating faster.
What kind of wish would Ian make? I couldn’t even guess.
Excited, I leaned in close.
Then Ian whispered in my ear—
“Of course it’s a secret.”
“Ugh! Seriously!”
“You were going to find out my wish without sharing yours? That’s not fair.”
Okay, fine. He had a point.
I pouted and turned to look back at the sky.
Just then, a little kid behind us shouted again.
“Wow! Mom! Another one!”
Hearing the pure joy in that voice, I looked around.
Some people were with family, some with lovers, some with friends.
Everyone’s eyes were filled with happiness.
Soft, romantic music started playing through the festival.
Maybe the mood got to me, but I decided to say something I’d been thinking about for a while.
“Ian… actually, I saw you in the library last time.”
“What? Oh.”
At first, Ian looked confused. But then he remembered and closed his mouth.
One of the tasks written on our to-do list—
“Practice using your powers.”
