The grand festival is just around the corner, and the air in the noble household is thick with anticipation.

Every corner of the mansion buzzes with activity as the preparations come to life. Servants scurry about, carrying bundles of fabrics, fragrant spices, and decorations to adorn the halls.

Even Yumiko, who typically stays on the sidelines, is lending a hand, her sleeves rolled up as she helps string lanterns and organize the dining halls.

Watching everyone work so diligently for this event makes me realize just how special the festival truly is. Each person is busy with their own tasks—some decorating the grand halls, while others prepare the traditional performances and activities that will captivate both nobles and commoners alike.

Yumiko and I have mostly been working with the decorations so I don't really know anything about the traditions yet.

I do know there will be special traditional dishes served during the event, and I can't wait to taste them.

There are only two days left until the grand day—the beginning of Luminara Kingdom's famed five-day celebration.

We have a lot left to do, Julian has to fix the invitations, the maids need to have the food ready, and the halls have to be done with decorations.

The citizens living in the Luminara are having their hands full, everyone helping each other with lifting the Luminara to life with all kinds of different traditional decorations.

Everyone has something to do, even the kids are helping, having a smile on their faces knowing that the grand days are coming close.

Watching everyone work so hard for an event like this brings a smile to my face and fills my eyes with tears. It reminds me of when me and mom used to get ready for a day like this. I miss her…

"Weirdo," Yumiko mutters, casting an annoyed glance at me, clearly reacting to the strange expression I couldn't stop myself from making.

I know that I will not be able to see her again and I will not be able to do anything about that but at least I know that she is alive and well, just in another world.

Before anyone would notice,I wiped away the tears with the back of my hand.

"Ohh, sorry, I just remembered something."

But Yumiko didn't hear me, she was back to suspending the lights.

I've never seen her mom around. Where could she be?

"Hey, Yumiko."

"Mhh."

"I wonder, where's your mom?"

"Uh? ohh, well she isn't alive anymore."

She seemed unbothered.

Oh…

"I'm sorry to hear that," I say softly, unsure of what else to offer.

"Why? I didn't even know her, she died when I was two or something."

Ohh, I shouldn't ask how, that would be rude I think.

"Oh… I see"

Without another thought, she went back to what she was doing.

I at least had a mom, I wonder how it has been for her never having a protective, kind hearted mom in her life, she does have her father but he is mostly working, they don't get much time together.

My mom was everything to me—she gave me strength. Without her, I don't know how I would've survived as long as I did. But in the end... I failed her anyway. I truly am worthless scum for a son.

She truly was a good mom. I just didn't see it until it was too late.

She will hold a dear spot in my heart for eternity, I love her.

I feel so bad for Yumiko who never felt the love of having a mom close to you. I Feel bad for her, truly.

She seems to be excited for the upcoming days and that is good, and she likes to work with the preparations as well. She is enjoying herself.

But she isn't the only one, it seems like everyone enjoys preparing for the big days.

I have been working a little with the maids and they seem to have a feeling for this as well, putting in their all into the fest.

And I got to know them better as well, but it is pretty embarrassing being around them, they are more like girls then Yumiko is. I don't have any issues being around Yumiko, but whenever I'm near the maids, I feel a strange mix of nervousness and embarrassment—like my words might fail me at any moment.

But other than that, I get along with them pretty well, they are nice people.

Seraphine, with her long white hair and gentle demeanor, was the one I got along with the most. Her calming smile and patient guidance helped me through the chaos, especially when I kept messing up while hanging the banners.

She helped me a lot and we got to know each other as well.

Then the other maids were friendly but I didn't get the chance to chat with them the same way I chatted with Seraphine. Plus she is very cute to be fair, basically the opposite from Yumiko.

I hope I can work with her some more.

I wonder how much we have left to do. Are we nearly finished?

I overheard that they'll begin preparing the festival reserves soon, which means we must be close to completing everything.

Servants rushed about, their footsteps echoing on the polished marble floors as they hung colorful tapestries and strung lanterns across the grand hall.

Yumiko and I, with help from two of the maids, just got done with the decorations in the main hall.

"Thanks Yumiko and Kaito for your help," The two maids lower their heads to us for helping them.

"Of course, I love to help."

I respond with a smile.

"Thank you too."

Yumiko politely says with a soft tone.

That's the first time I heard her being polite I think.

I suppose she is grateful towards the maids? Yeah maybe.

Suddenly, the air is filled with the scent of sweets and unfamiliar dishes, their fragrances enticing and completely new to me.

It smells good though, I like it.

As the festival draws closer, I feel a mix of growing excitement and nervous energy.

The air hums with anticipation, and I can barely contain the excitement buzzing inside me.

Part 2

The evening is buzzing with activity as the final day of preparations approaches, with only tomorrow left to perfect every last detail. Musicians refine their performances, and the sound of instruments echoes across the courtyard, accompanied by laughter and the shuffle of feet.

Sweet and savory scents mingle in the air as unfamiliar foods are prepared, wrapping the mansion in an enticing aroma. As I stroll through the corridors, I can feel the festival's energy growing with every step. The warm glow of lanterns reflects off intricate tapestries, and the scent of spices and flowers fills the air, intensifying the excitement of the upcoming celebration.

"I am really excited," Words spill out my lips as I walk through the quiet corridors.

The mansion's corridors feel almost serene compared to the lively buzz in the courtyard and out in the town.

Yumiko's been on edge, buzzing with energy, and apparently, she's going to help the maids bake throughout the night for the festival. I never knew she liked baking, but she seems genuinely excited.

Those of us who aren't involved with cooking or baking are finished with our tasks for now. Julian, though, still has some work ahead. I overheard that he's coming back tomorrow with his father.

Yumiko seems eager to meet him. I suppose she's closer to her grandfather than her father.

Honestly, I'm curious too. I wonder what kind of man he is…

I also wonder what he does. I suppose he helps Julian with the kingdom but I never saw him in the mansion, maybe he works a lot out town.

But if he is a part of the valmont family then it would only make sense that he comes to visit, to join the celebration.

I could speak to him once he arrives, if he is like Julian then I guess he wouldn't mind to chat.

But what should I do in the meantime? It isn't late enough to go and sleep yet, it is time for dinner soon, after that I can go to bed or take a moment to just sit down and read.

Oh… Yeah, I would like to learn a new language, I think I kinda wanna learn the Beast tongue or Tribal speech. The North tongue doesn't seem to be that useful for me.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

While Beast tongue is the most intriguing language to study, Tribal speech might be more practical for what I need. If I ever want to uncover the truth behind that strange dream, I'll have to venture there. According to Rina, it lies within the dead lands—a place I'm not eager to visit, yet for some reason, I feel drawn to it, almost as if I want to go.

So with that, I took the Tribal speech language book and started my journey to learn it.

Going through it I realized some key points. The language is very different from any other, due to its pronunciation. It frequently employs some harsh and sharp sounds.

But these Symbols are pronounced: "Symbol" = AXH, "Symbol" = HY, "Symbol"= SHU, "Symbol" = KSY, "Symbol" = QHY, and "Symbol" = UH. This is what makes it so unique from every other language in this world, while this one is more harsh the others are smooth and more soft.

There are also numerous regional dialects, with each part of the region showcasing its own unique accent and vocabulary variations, although they remain similar to the main language. However, certain areas within the Dead Land region have dialects so distinct that they almost resemble entirely different languages, shaped by their unique histories and traditions. But rather than delving into every variation, let's focus on the main language for now.

The language's alphabet can seem daunting, with its sharp and rough symbols, even though it doesn't have too many. There are two distinct alphabets. The first, Ksysnaoxh, is the most common and consists of 32 symbols. It is used for complex and normalized words. The second, Vhysnaxh, contains 36 symbols and is reserved for names, animals, unique objects, and less formal terms. This separation reflects the difference in formality and specificity within the language.

I will start with the Ksysnaoxh due to it being the more complex one of the two.

The symbols seem fairly recognizable, but the pronunciation will be challenging to grasp. Additionally, the writing system has many rules, and its pronunciations differ significantly from those of the other languages.

I'll begin by writing down the meanings, finding the words, and learning the symbols as I go. This approach will help me learn some vocabulary along the way.

I wonder if Rina could help me, she is from the dead lands so hopefully she could teach me.

I could always ask her after the festival.

Right now I should probably get some rest for tomorrow, I could work more with the language some other day.

Part 3

The morning sun had begun to rise, shining bright light through the window.

This is the last day before the big event and I feel tempted, like a bunch of butterflies in my stomach just buzzing around.

A sound of horse and carriage from the front yard is approaching the mansion.

As I watched out from the window, I saw two maids standing by, awaiting the carriage's arrival.

When it did, Julian and his father stepped out, both greeted politely by the maids. The coachman, having done his duty, tipped his hat and waved as he drove off.

As I see Julian and his father approaching the mansion's doors, I rush down, so I can properly introduce myself.

"Good morning Kaito," I hear a soft voice as I run down the stairs, her long light blue hair is easy to recognize.

"Good morning Umi."

Before I get to catch my breath, she opens up the main door, and in comes Julian and his father.

"Good morning, and welcome back sir Julian and Reginald." Umi welcomed the two lords with her smile.

"Thank you, Good morning Umi," Julian replies back with a pleased look.

"Yeah good morning." Reginald replies with a casual look.

So that is his father, Reginald Valmont, he seems to be way more serious then Julian is.

He is older so that could be why.

Anyways, I got here to greet him, introduce myself.

"Good morning, Lord Reginald. My name is Kaito Nakamura. It's a pleasure to meet you." I hope I got the bow right—I really want to make a good impression.

Without giving me a glance, Reginald turns to Julian. "Who is he?"

"He's Yumiko's teacher," Julian responds, trying to keep the tone light.

"I see," Reginald mutters, then continues walking ahead without another word.

Ohh, he ignored me.

Julian gives me a little smile and follows Reginald. And I give the same face back.

After Julian and Raginald comes the two maids, following to Julian's room.

Reginald and Julian look pretty similar, both are pretty slim, Reginald is just a little taller, and their hair looks kinda the same.

But Reginald is bigger, not fat nor muscular; he has wider shoulders and thicker arms, some wrinkles on his face and short hair. But I can still see Julian in him somewhat.

Though his charm is much different.

As they disappear from sight, Umi and I linger by the doorway.

What am I supposed to say?

"Kaito, what do you think of tomorrow?"

ohh…

"Uh, I'm excited, what about you?"

"I see, I love this time of year. The festival is my favorite. I can't wait to see the colorful fireworks light up the night sky, feel the warmth of the explosions mixing with the crisp, cold air. The food, the music, and seeing everyone so happy—it's the best part."

It sounds like she really loves the festival. I suppose the maids get some free time for it, which seems nice.

"Yeah, that sounds amazing! But I've always wondered... how do fireworks actually work?"

"Oh, it's simple! Mages combine fire and wind magic. They use fire to create the explosion, and wind to control its direction and intensity. Depending on the color of the fire and the wind pressure, the fireworks can change size and even their colors."

Damn! that's amazing.

"Ohh, That sounds really cool!"

"Yeah!"

"So you are going to be free from work for the whole event?"

"Basically but I will help with making food and some other small stuff, but other than that yes."

"Ohh I see that sounds good."

"Yeah, when I have free time we could always just talk around some, maybe I could show you some things about the event, good spots for views and more."

"That would be really nice, I would like too."

"Good," she smiled warmly.

Her smile is so satisfying, she is cute, that's for sure.

"...Wait, aren't you supposed to also be with Julian and Raginald right now?"

"Mhh, wait, yeah," She answers me calmly.

"Yeah! Sorry I need to go!"

"Oh, yeah of course, no problems, cya"

Yup, she's pretty scatterbrained, but I like it.

I hope I'll get to talk to her more during the festival. Even though I feel a bit nervous around her, I still enjoy being with her. But I kinda get a weird feeling in my stomach when I'm with her, but in a good way.

I really don't think it is because of feelings for her, I think it is because of her charm, her friendliness. but what do I know, maybe I do have feelings, even though I have known her only for about 2 days.

I never had a girlfriend or anything in my past life. There was one girl I liked but that was when I was a kid, before moving away for school, sadly I never got the chance to tell her that I liked her. Even if I did, me and my family would still move away so it wouldn't matter.

Anyways, I suppose I'll see her at the festival.

For now, I think I'll continue studying the new language. I don't have anything else to do until the evening. That's when we're supposed to get ready: take a bath, eat dinner, and pick out some clothes. Though, these are the only clothes I have, aside from the ones I wore when I first arrived.

Part 4

"Damn it," I muttered as a sharp wave of pain struck my forehead. Studying was impossible; the symbols danced mockingly in my mind, swirling and elusive.

Dropping my pen onto the table, I let out a frustrated sigh and tilted my head back against the chair. I listened to the sound of the pen rolling across the wooden surface, its rhythm echoing my growing sense of defeat.

Out of boredom I tap my chair with my hand, it feels pretty good.

But damn I am bored, and this headache doesn't help,I kinda wanna just go and lay in the bed for a while, but I don't feel like getting up from my chair.

Oh... my vision gets blurry as I stand up, and my arms feel like they are floating. Maybe I overdid it—learning a new language (basically) over two weeks, and then right after, starting to study another language. I should probably take a break. I think the festival will be perfect for that.

Ahh… the soft mattress pulls me down, my face stuffed in the comfortable blanket, and my legs hanging outside of the bed.

Yup, this feels pretty nice. My headache is still somewhat there, but it feels like it is mostly unrecognized.

Laying here, knowing I don't need to rush for anything or that I don't have anything special for the day to do feels good but still, it is boring.

I wish it could just become evening soon.

I badly want a bath, I mean the baths here are so relaxing but we are supposed to get ready towards the evening so I can't take a bath now.

I need to wait, and I don't like waiting. I want to relax in the hot water now…

Just like 3-4 hours left. The hell am I gonna do…

Part 5

It was finally time for my bath, damn I have been waiting.

Julian had walked past my room and on his way he peeked in and told me that I could take the bath now.

He even told me that he had gotten some clothes for me for the festival, and I am really grateful to him.

I'm also pleased with the clothes. So, with that, I took my new clothes and went for a bath. I am still using the guest towel, but I don't mind.

The bath system here is really new to me. First, there are three distinct rooms. The first is the entrance, which connects the hallways to the changing area, acting like a buffer to keep the heat and steam from escaping into the rest of the house.

Then, there's the changing room. It's practical, with rows of hooks and shelves for shoes and outer garments—nothing extravagant, but perfectly organized. There are also small folding screens where you can change in private if you prefer.

Finally, there's the bath itself. This room is large and inviting, with a deep stone tub that can comfortably accommodate several people. The water is heated using a complex system of pipes, drawing from the mansion's central heating, ensuring a soothing temperature for bathing. The atmosphere is cozy, filled with soft steam and the faint scent of herbs added to the water for relaxation.

In this household, the bath is used by both genders, which is a little unusual for me. While it's common to bathe separately, there's an understanding that if the mood strikes, you can share the tub. It's not a frequent occurrence, though; most people prefer to maintain their privacy.

When you step into the bath, you can leave a towel at the side, ensuring that when you get out of the water, you can quickly wrap it around yourself for modesty. In the changing area, you can use the screens to ensure you have a moment alone while changing.

Overall, the system is efficient and designed with comfort in mind, allowing for a sense of camaraderie among family members while still respecting personal space.

As I stepped through the entrance, over to the changing room, the warmth struck me. After taking a deep breath I took and changed behind one of the screens, laying my shoes on the shelf, my old clothes in the Hamper and my new clothes stacked on a bench.

I grabbed the guest towel, And then opened the slide door connecting the changing room to the bath.

I grabbed the guest towel, wrapped it around my waist and opened the sliding door that connected the changing room to the bath. As I stepped through, I spotted a figure—Yumiko, emerging after her bath.

Her long red hair, damp and cascading down her back, caught the soft light, glinting like fiery strands of silk. The white towel wrapped around her shoulders seemed to accentuate the warmth of her complexion, giving her skin a subtle glow. She moved with a quiet elegance, her posture relaxed but purposeful, as droplets of water danced along her arms and shoulders.

Yumiko didn't glance my way as she walked past, seemingly lost in her thoughts, but I found myself drawn to the way the towel framed her form, the gentle curve of her shoulders, and the graceful line of her neck. It was a serene moment, filled with the soothing scent of herbs from the bath, and for a fleeting second, I felt a sense of comfort in the intimacy of our shared space. Still, I quickly diverted my gaze, reminding myself to respect her privacy in this quiet moment.

As she steps through the doorway, she closes the door after her.

Now, it's time for the bath. I've been waiting for this all day. The tub is large, crafted entirely from smooth stone, matching the rest of the room's design, except for the ceiling, which is made of dark wood beams. A light mist of steam lingers over the surface of the water, inviting and warm.

I set the towel down on the edge of the stone floor beside me, then slowly stepped into the warm water, letting the heat wrap around me as I sank deeper.

"Ahh… Yeah this is good."

I let my head against the stone floor, close my eyes and leave a sigh of relief. I haven't felt this good in a long time.

Anyways, why was Yumiko here? Didn't Julian tell me it was free now?

It's not like I am complaining but it was awkward.

Don't tell me Julian planned it, I mean it wouldn't surprise me if he did, he is a scheming guy. But why? I don't know.

But seeing Yumiko like that left a different side of her, I mean her smooth skin felt really unusual for her, and her shoulders seemed much more relaxed then normal. It looked like she had spent time with her hair, it was clean and smooth, while it usually is pretty messy.

I found myself noticing more details about her appearance then I had before, I really like it. Her shoulders round and smooth. Her neck, slender but not overly so, carried a subtle strength beneath its soft surface. It wasn't delicate exactly, but there was a sense of elegance in how it connected her figure. Her body lean, with faint muscles outlining her stomach, giving her a look of toned subtlety rather than anything too pronounced. She wasn't thin in a fragile way—her form carried a quiet sturdiness, a body that held both softness and strength. Her chest and waist were well proportioned, fitting well with her athletic frame, and her arms were slim yet smooth to the touch, almost deceptively gentle in appearance. Her long red hair cascaded down her back, adding a vivid touch to her already striking form.

Am I actually falling for her?! I don't know, her looks are really something, but… really? I mean her stubbornness and bad attitude is nothing I like, but then there are times when she is a bit funny or even cute from time to time. Man… Damn it.

Is this what Julian wants? Am I getting played right in his hands, does he want me to like Yumiko?

Fuck, I don't want to think of this now, I wanna relax…

For now, let's just enjoy. I want to get rested and fresh for tomorrow's big day.