NOVEL NEXT chapter 118
118 – Another Prologue (3)
When Priscilla was by my side, every day was very fulfilling and dense.
But now, because we were physically distanced, the time we could meet was very limited.
At most, we could only meet once a week and on the Sabbath.
As a result, time began to pass much faster than in the previous world.
“Is this year’s Harvest Festival two days long? “It’s a little disappointing.”
The hot summer was coming to an end, and I was walking along the streets of Jedo Island where the harvest festival was taking place.
Priscilla looked around at the harvest festival, which was smaller than before, and looked disappointed.
“That’s because in this world, Dior wasn’t that interested in harvest festivals.”
“Ah….”
In the past, Dior wanted to feed the islanders in need through a harvest festival.
It was something I could think of as a needy boy who consoled his loneliness every day at the orphanage.
But in this world, Dior has become a member of the royal family, a bit outside of the oasis.
My relationship with him has improved, and most of all, it’s probably because Empress Lynette is by my side.
It wouldn’t be easy to go to the orphanage while avoiding Empress Linnet’s gaze.
“The difference is quite big. Same here, same here….”
Priscilla started looking around with her clasped hands in mine.
As she followed his gaze, she was able to realize the meaning of Priscilla’s words.
In previous harvest festivals around the world, indirect advertising was permitted here and there to increase donations from nobles.
That is why the symbols of each family were engraved here and there, like the national flag.
However, this harvest festival was all done with a budget from the empire’s treasury, so I couldn’t find that part, so it might be a little different.
“The scale has become smaller here too.”
As she approached the square where special products from all over the world were displayed, Priscilla sighed as if she felt regretful.
This is where our first harvest festival was held together.
Of course it would be disappointing.
“We’ll try to increase the size a little next year.”
“… May I?”
“Are you asking that with an expression so full of anticipation?”
Priscilla blushed and turned her head away, as if she was a little embarrassed.
“Well, even though I thoroughly enjoyed the first half, I didn’t enjoy the second half….”
“Yes, it was like that.”
Previously, drugs were detected in the world and there was a lot of commotion.
In this world, there have been no cases where drugs have been detected.
Thanks to you, I was able to enjoy it even for two days.
But we had places to visit before enjoying those two days.
“It was definitely this way….”
“Hmm.”
The shop of the old fortune teller who advised us to walk and believe in the red thread of fate is not visible.
I looked around the area several times just in case, but I couldn’t even find a building that looked like a fortune teller.
“Are you saying you will not reveal yourself because you have fulfilled your mission?” .”
“Is that so?”
“I just wanted to say thank you.”
I looked at the sky with a faint feeling.
It was fall and the sky, which looked unusually high and blue, was clear without a single cloud.
The island’s residents walked the streets with happy expressions, and their smiles showed no trace of fear.
“It is done. “If we are meant to be, we will meet again.”
I said that and grabbed Priscilla’s hand.
“This time, to prevent flood damage, specialty products were brought in from the southern region as well. “Shouldn’t you enjoy it?”
“Yes, Max!”
Organizing the circle of characters (去者必返).
This is a saying from a Buddhist scripture: If there is a meeting, there is a departure, and what leaves will definitely return.
If we are connected, won’t we meet again somewhere?
Thinking like that, I decided to forget about the old woman for a while.
It was a day when I enjoyed the harvest festival, which lasted only two days, and happily participated in a government management meeting.
“What? “You met an old fortune-teller?”
“Yes, brother. “It was an amazing experience.”
Dior told the story of meeting an old fortune-teller.
***
Harvest Festival is one of the largest festivals in the country.
That’s why many couples enjoy the festival while walking through the streets of the island.
It was no different for Dior, who was still at the stage where they were close to dating.
“Oh, did you go to the specialty product plaza first?”
“Isn’t it basic?”
“Isn’t there a lot of people there? “I wanted to give Cynthia as much insight into the system as possible.”
“Hmm.”
It is said that Dior traveled around here and there, leading Cynthia, who had just arrived on the island.
It was a similar story to Priscilla and I enjoying the romantic atmosphere of Rome.
They say they mainly visited stores where the two could participate together.
“I wanted to have proof that we walked through the islands together.”
Dior said this and scratched the back of his neck with an embarrassed expression.
But does that mean they are half blood brothers? .
For similar reasons, I usually visited stores that made things myself rather than window shopping.
However, the difference between us and the Dior couple is our attitude towards games.
“For something that circulated around a lot, there are not many souvenirs, Dior.”
“… “Don’t merchants also have to make a living?”
Priscilla, who has extraordinary athleticism and competitive spirit, and Cynthia, who is just an ordinary woman, are her partners.
There are bound to be differences in souvenirs.
“There was a rumor that there was a lover who was banned from entering….”
“It’s me.”
To be exact, it was me and Priscilla.
“hahahaha….”
Dior let out a bitter smile as he caressed the medal-like metal, which was too small to be a souvenir.
“I was walking down the street enjoying the festival. “I could see couples talking about divination.”
“A story about divination?”
“Yes, brother. “It was a story where I kept losing consciousness for some reason.”
I think it would be fun.
It seems that Dior, who came to such an idea, went to the fortune telling shop with Cynthia.
“Honestly, I was a little surprised. “I thought all the women would like it, but Cynthia didn’t seem to want to hear it.”
If you have any memories of the previous world, you might hate it.
Because the old woman always spoke bitterly to Cynthia.
“So what happened?”
I tipped my tea cup and repeated Dior’s story.
“But somehow I felt like I had to go. So I stood in line and waited for my turn.”
“Did the fortune teller tell the old woman’s fortunes using a crystal ball the size of a human head?”
“Has your brother been there too?”
Dior nodded his head and asked with a curious expression.
“Well, that’s it.”
Been there before, Dior.
“Surprisingly, the line shortened quickly. When it was my turn to go inside, a strange feeling enveloped my entire body. I wonder if this expression is correct, but….”
For some reason, I felt a sacred feeling.
Dior said this and expressed his embarrassment.
“The old woman looked at us and smiled, ‘ho ho ho’. “It was a smile that made us feel like it understood everything about us in a split second.”
I know.
We also felt similar emotions.
“When I sat down, he asked me if it was about love.”
“Have you been there as expected? Yes, that’s what they asked.”
It is said that the old woman pointed to the crystal ball to Dior, who answered yes despite being embarrassed.
As she was looking into the crystal ball, the old woman said this with her signature smile.
“After thousands and tens of thousands of nights, the sun has finally risen. But no one remembers him anymore.”
It’s probably a story about many failed worlds seen through fleeting fragments.
The perfect sun means me who has completed all my duties, and the reason no one remembers it is because everyone has forgotten.
“The sun decided to embrace all things in the world. So don’t hesitate and just follow your heart’s lead…. “That’s what he said.”
Dior said that and looked at me with an uncomfortable expression.
There is no one in the empire who does not know what the ‘sun’ refers to.
So, when I heard that strange thing, it seemed like it immediately reminded me of myself.
“Dots are originally lumpy, Dior.”
“Is that so?”
“If you are sick and think you are going to die soon, you can’t tell the exact date, even though you say it won’t be too long. “Isn’t that what a dot is?”
“Uh, um….”
Are that the same as this?
Dior looked at me with that expression, but I shrugged my shoulders and ignored his gaze.
“I told you to live as your heart leads you. So what is it like? “Do you like this guy named Cynthia?”
“… “I am a member of the royal family, brother.”
“You are a man before you are a member of the royal family.”
“But the royal family has a duty-“
“Dior. “The empire is like a sea whose depth is unknown.”
“Brother?”
“Do you think that someone of the right level should be brought in as a spouse for the royal family? “No matter how great a family she may be, in the end she is not even a glass of water compared to the sea.”
It is easier for me to observe you when you are involved with Cynthia, Dior.
More than anything, the imperial scandal that transcends social status is very fun to watch.
Please do not stop and walk even if it is a thorny path.
Wouldn’t that make it worthwhile for me and Priscilla to go through all the trouble?
“So do whatever your heart tells you. “Did Empress Lynette live your life for you?”
“Brother….”
Dior was lost in thought for a moment, then raised his head as if he had made up his mind.
“Could you at least host the ceremony later?”
“Are you saying that you would ask that of a man who would become the emperor in the future?”
“You’re not the emperor yet, are you?”
“Insolent bastard. hahahahaha!”
“hahahaha!”
Yes, good.
I will accept that much.
“So you were wandering around somewhere and found a fortune teller?”
“Yes? “Didn’t you come back?”
“I heard it through rumors.”
“Ah, if you say so….”
To conclude, I couldn’t find any fortune telling books in the places I visited after listening to Dior’s explanation.
This probably means that he won’t show himself to us anymore.
It was done.
Sometimes even silence can be positive.
We don’t need any more advice.
I guess that’s what it means.