Volume 01; Side Story 01: Part 02

And, here we are.

Like our appearance, we changed into an inconspicuous carriage, and I was excited by the sight where we arrived.

I’ve always been interested in this place. I couldn’t stop when I saw their books and felt curious and interested. However, I couldn’t approach them because of father’s order. I couldn’t say something selfish when father and brother were restraining themselves… So, I pictured this place for a long time.

That’s ―――.

I can finally see it for myself for the first time ever. There are new books which I can immediately touch if I just reach my hands out. I can smell them and touch them directly. I can also speak with the people from Thistle Star.

More importantly, unlike the bookstores in town, there is no other market that centres their products on books. This only happens once every three years.

Has there been any event in my life that brings me this much delight?

I don’t think I was wrong for wanting to fly off to where the books were. His Highness smiled wryly at me, who couldn’t hold in my excitement.

“Elli. I’ve said this a lot, but don’t let go off my hand today. If you can’t do this, then I’ll take you back right now. Okay?”

It’s like His Highness is my guardian. I was dissatisfied with being treated like a kid, but the sight before me was one I saw in my dreams.

I replied with a wide smile.

“Okay! Prince Chris!”

His Highness’s handsome face froze. I grabbed His Highness’s hand as he remained frozen for some reason, and dragged him around.

I was so excited that I didn’t know Sir Glenn and the three guards were smiling wryly in amazement a little distance away from us. I also didn’t notice that Annie, who had stayed behind with the coachman, desperately yelled, “Miss! You can’t follow strangers even if they tell you that they’re going to give you a rare book!”

I plunged into the foreign sea with His Highness, and we were surrounded by a lively bustle. Even the music I’ve never heard before was making my heartbeat.

It wasn’t enough, no matter how many eyes I had. I didn’t know which street stall I should start with because I was too excited.

Ah, better yet, can I just not buy everything?

I can hear His Highness laughing after he regained his composure next to me while I was excited. He softly squeezed the hand which I was holding.

“――― Elli. Calm down.”

“You…” I swallowed the words that I was about to say. I have to call him by his name today, he made me deeply understand this even though I didn’t like it… But, it wasn’t like I didn’t actually like it.

I wasn’t confident that I could do this while I was excited, and was conflicted. His Highness laughed.

“It’s okay. We have time. I’ll bring you back if you’re distracted by the books. Definitely,” he said in a confident and robust voice while looking at me gently, and I don’t know how many times my heart jumped today.

Then, a kind and teasing voice called out to us, “――― The two innocent people over there. Why don’t you look at our goods if you’re here to buy books? How about a romance novel that suits both of you?”

I looked over and saw a cheerful shopkeeper with brown skin openly recommend us a book.

The shopkeeper was friendly even though it is evident that we were dressed like this to hide our social status, but our appearances probably weren’t a rare sight in this market that happened once every three years.

I pulled His Highness’s hand… and my cheeks were dyed pink from realising this fact now as I peeked at the stall.

Under the blue sky, there were also some worn-out books arranged tightly in his stall. I couldn’t read the covers of some books because they had been burnt in the sun.

His Highness also looked over the books in front of me, who was a little sad.

“This shop mainly specialised in speciality books until last year, right?”

“Oh my, the handsome man knows his stuff. You’ll have to go to the centre plaza if you want new books. But, you might find a bargain here. Take your time to look around.”

“Do you have 『Earth Document』written by Dr Lezzi three years ago?”

“Dr Lezzi’s books are popular, so there’s not many of them. If we do have them, they sell straight away.”

“… You never change.” I picked up a nearby book next to His Highness, who was muttering something. The shopkeeper noticed and spoke, “『Star Travellers』? It’s a children’s fairy-tale, but adults enjoy it too. I think you’ll like it too, Miss.”

I gently took my hands away from His Highness’s without seeming rude, and turn the pages of the book.

As the shopkeeper had said, it was a fairy-tale written for children by an anonymous author a long time ago, but there were few illustrations, and it was a dull book about star children travelling all around the place. Unfortunately, this book wasn’t popular in Southlynd because people here preferred to read about the adventures of the Hero King.

But, I remember this fairy-tale.

“Elli, do you like it?” His Highness sounded as if he would buy it straight away, and I replied normally, “No, that’s not it.”

“This is the Saulkan version, isn’t it? If possible, I want a book written in old Lacan… or something written in the Kai Erg era? The one I want the most is the Fire Thorn version, do you have this?”

“What?” The shopkeeper’s handsome face looked flabbergasted. The shopkeeper blinked his eyes as if he’d just heard a foreign language and repeated what I had said in irritation, and His Highness gently rephrased what I had just said, “Shopkeeper. Do you have any other copies of 『Star Travellers』? If possible, we want copies which aren’t written in Saulkan.”

“Ah, oh…”

I watched as the shopkeeper walked to the back of the stall with a bewildered look on his face, and tilted my head. Did I say something odd?

His Highness, who was smiling wryly, told me the reason, “Even if this is a market for books, not everyone is familiar with books. It only happens once every three years… So, people who work in the bookstores at the royal capital might be more knowledgeable about books. That’s why people might not be able to understand some of the terminologies.”

“Is that so…”

This market is opened by Roma people who migrate with Thistle Star, so I was under the impression that they would know a lot about books. However, when I look at the books which had been burnt by the sun, I realised that this wasn’t the rule.

Even so, I’m surprised that His Highness is really knowledgeable. He suppressed his usual presence, and his ability to act like a knight is splendid, but judging by how friendly he was with the shopkeeper, perhaps, this isn’t the first time he’s done this?

“But… I didn’t know that『Star Travellers』was written in a lot of languages. Well, if it’s being sold in different kingdoms, then the picture books and fairy-tales will be written in the language of said kingdom.”

He peeked at the book in my hand without constraint, and I was startled.

“『Star Travellers』changes a little bit. When it is written in ancient languages, it is used to teach classics, but the children’s journeys vary a little depending on the period and kingdom where it is reprinted.”

“Eh,” His Highness seemed interested. “That’s strange even though it was written anonymously. I wonder if they changed the translators.”

“Well… Father gathered them in his study, so I know there are different versions. I always thought that he collected them because it was mother’s favourite book, but I may be wrong.”

“It really is mysterious. I think I’ll reread it.”

I replied in surprise, “Your Highness, you read fairy-tales?”

“――― Elli.”

I suddenly held my hands to my mouth, but I couldn’t take back the words that I had already said. His Highness was smiling, and his eyes looked like a hunter who’d just caught his prey.

“Do you want me to punish you that much?”

His Highness removed the hand, which was covering my mouth, and I became flustered. I recalled what had happened inside the carriage and felt my cheeks getting hot.

His Highness put his hand on my jaw, and his blue eyes laughed sweetly, then I heard the voice of salvation, “You two… If you want to flirt, can you do it somewhere else?”

It was the shopkeeper who had returned with books. I was relieved, and apologised, “We’ll be careful,” before slipping out of His Highness’s arms. I didn’t hear His Highness click his tongue. Yup.

I took some books from the shopkeeper, and couldn’t help my curiosity towards other rare foreign books. I thought that they would stock different books depending on the street stall, but there were picture books without letters next to strict academic books, plant encyclopaedias, ore encyclopaedias, encyclopaedias for theology, books depicting imaginary creatures, songs from other kingdoms, and papers on ancient inscriptions that I’ve never seen before… I felt like I didn’t have enough eyes and time to look at them all.

Still, I was able to visit several stalls because His Highness would call my name and pull my hand if I started reading on the spot. He bought the books I read straight away.

Suddenly, Sir Glenn and the people who were supposed to be our guards started to carry the bags. By the way, I didn’t have any cash on me, so His Highness paid for everything.

His Highness happily paid for some reason while I was feeling ashamed.

“Don’t hesitate to tell me if there’s anything you want, Elli.”

… Your Highness, I’m worried about the future of this kingdom if you like splurging.

But, I was confused about whether I should be candid when I saw Sir Glenn and the knights carrying heavy books. However, there are some books I haven’t purchased yet.

“――― Theories on the Plammer ruins?”

“Yes. Prince Theodore was looking for it.”

“Elli,” he suddenly called my name in a low voice, and I was surprised. His Highness took the book from my hands, and his eyes weren’t smiling.

“Uncle has time and money. He can always come here and buy it himself.”

“Eh, but…”

I’ve already found it. I thought, and His Highness put his index finger over my lips.

“You’re prohibited from saying the names of other men today.”

It’s a day with a lot of random prohibited things.

I blinked in confusion and His Highness laughed at me, and his eyes looked at me invitingly.

“I’ll punish you if you say another man’s name.”

“You…!”

Mm? His blue eyes flashed and sharpened. My eyes were swimming as I gulped.

“Th-there’s a snail.” I pointed off into the distance to cover what I was about to say, and I suddenly heard a laugh from the side.

I looked that way in surprise, and saw a young man dressed like a Roma dancer, trying to hold back his laughter. At once, His Highness’s mood dropped, and he said, “Why are you here?”

“No, well, I can’t miss such an interesting show, now could I?”

His Highness’s smile was somewhat ghastly and scary. He said one word, “Return.”

The Roma youth looked boyish and had honey-brown hair, which was rare for Roma people. I tilted my head.

“Do you know him? You… Prince Chris.”

His Highness looked at me, blinked a little and smiled.

“No, not at all. He’s a stranger. There are a lot of different people in this kind of market. You have to be vigilant if a stranger speaks to you, Elli.”

“… I’m not a child,” I stated my dissatisfaction. His Highness replied with a smile. “I’m worried because Elli’s cute,” he said.

… What should I say? Should I say that he doesn’t have enough restraints on him since the other day whenever he interacts with me? Or should I say that the binding on his restraints has been released…? I guess it was also one of the reasons why I become red.

A sweet aura filled the air again, and the young man, who had been excluded to the side, rushed in and interrupted the mood.

“Isn’t that horrible? I finally got some interesting information, so I went to look for you two.”

“You’ve never brought any interesting information before. Whatever, go back. I’m on holiday (of my own free will) today,” His Highness cruelly declared, and he pulled my hand to leave. “Eh,” the young man spoke as he remained cheerful with an innocent teasing tone.

“Even if it’s about Miss Elianna?”

Even I knew that His Highness’s attitude had changed entirely.

His Highness turned around and opened his mouth, then a sudden riot occurred at the same time as the nearby people started pushing and shoving each other.

The angry yells of adults, accompanied by screams and the sounds of people scattering.

I looked towards the noise in surprise and saw several children running from the commotion. But, when I saw this, I was surrounded by Sir Glenn and the guards, and His Highness was standing in front of me to protect me.

“――― They’re thieves! Catch them!”

The children slipped between the noisy crowds of people as if they were fish swimming in the water. However, the smallest child fell under the weight of the books he was holding, and several books scattered from his hands.

In front of the stunned me, “Rene!” a big child came back. The child tried to help the fallen child get up, and they were caught by the adults who were chasing after them.

Then, the young man from before spoke to His Highness, “Prince Chris. You’d better protect those children.”

His Highness looked at the man suspiciously, but he put off his questions and left me to Sir Glenn before stepping forward.

The men who had surrounded the children looked like violent bodyguards. Are there also Roma people who make a living from fighting? I could understand the demand since quarrels probably happened in a market like this.

“Shameless brats. How can you steal from Roma people when you’re Roma yourself?”

“Seriously. What happened to your parents? It’s not like you’ll get anything from stealing books.”

“Were you going to take them to the bookstores in the royal capital? If a kid like you brings books in, then you’ll be driven away.”

His Highness forced his way through and timed his appearance, and a boy who looked around ten, raised his face after he was pushed roughly.

The child’s words completely changed the mood, “You’re wrong! The noble ordered us to do it. He said go steal the books! There’s no need to pay Romas, he said. ――― He’s a noble named Bernstein!”

Excuse me…?

I can see the mood around me had changed as I blinked my eyes. The violent men were seething with anger.

“Bernstein, you say…?”

“Did he finally show up this year? I still owe him for that time!”

“Me too! I’ll beat him next time!”

“The head said to bring him no matter what the next time he shows up.”

I continued to blink as the violent men continued to speak.

Are my family, perhaps, connected to the Roma people? Was that why father insisted that I not come here?

However, my family has nothing to do with violent because we love books… to be clear, there’s no need to see the results if we get into a brawl. I don’t think we have many chances to interact with people who fight for a living…

And, I’m surprised to see that these people hold such a grudge against us that they were burning for revenge. Next to me, Sir Glenn spoke to the young man, “What’s the meaning of this? Did you want to stop this because you knew this would happen?”

“No… I’m surprised because I hadn’t expected them to react like this. The Bernsteins are popular with the Roma people, aren’t they?”

In a sense, this was popular? Their reactions certainly seemed like they were overreacting to the Bernstein name instead of resenting nobles for looking down on them.

“Hey… Brats. Where is the noble who ordered you to do this?”

The two children shrugged at the men who were approaching them. To be precise, the older of the two was protecting the smaller one. Are they siblings? I can’t see them clearly, but they don’t look alike.

“――― Can I interrupt?” His Highness quietly forced his way through. Everyone’s gazes focused on him as if they were intended to reveal his hidden presence.

His Highness didn’t seem agitated by their gazes and took his time to smile. He spoke calmly and interrupted from an unexpected place.

When the child, who looked to be around six or seven, raised his face, his vivid blue eyes shone, and he flew at His Highness.

“――― Dad!” He yelled.