After My Dead Ending

‘Why am I here now?’

I thought as I made my way through the crowd.

‘No matter how much I think about it, it feels like I’m being ignored.’

As I led the way through the crowd, I glanced back. I met Norma’s eyes, which were well above my eye level. When our gazes met, Norma smiled and gave a small nod.

‘Seriously. You’re nodding as if cheering for something. I’m just checking in case you get lost.’

With that thought in mind, I turned my head around again and squeezed through the people.

So, whenever I looked back, I didn’t notice that Norma quickly hid his hands behind his back. I had no idea he was walking right behind me, nervously following like a protective father with his toddling daughter.

This was because the discomfort level reached its peak. According to Ektra, the big performance in the plaza wasn’t today, so there would be fewer crowds, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

The month-long Foundation Festival was to be enjoyed all night, pouring and drinking. For nobles, commoners, and the people of the empire, the biggest event of the year was the founding festival. It was a time when large and small performances and sights were lined up every day, huge festivals were held, and the lights did not go out until dawn.

Aristocrats headed to the capital in time for the capital’s social season, before and after the founding, and then went back to the territory to spend money as they had. Thanks to this, some people lived for a year with the money they earned during the foundation festival. Romdak also earns half of ‘Met’s annual income during the period of its foundation.

Katam, which connects the center and the east, is the center of transportation and commerce where all three roads of the east, north, and south converge. Therefore, the number of people passing through Katam during the period of the Foundation Festival was enormous. Naturally, the scale of the festival was comparable to that of McFoy.

‘Ah, I shouldn’t have come out.’

The crowds that filled the streets for the festival seemed to be three times that of Katam’s regular market day. It even felt like it was growing.

‘No matter how much I think about it, this is all the work of a tradesman or the slick-mouthed Mrs. Stang!’

I tried to avoid people, but I couldn’t help but stumble from bumping here and there. As the annoyances piled up, anger toward Ektra soared.

“Hold on, Lord!”

About three hours ago, it was none other than Ektra Stang who summoned me.

Ektra insisted that Norma go along with me to see the festival. The intention was so disrespectful that I tried to dismiss it at once, but she had a straight face and, surprisingly, only said the right things.

“It is right for the Lord to accompany you. As you know, Romdak’s troops are too few to escort the Lord. Doesn’t the patriarch have many political enemies, and even fanatics target the patriarch?”

“In this situation, if they find the whereabouts of the patriarch, it will be difficult to escort them with these troops.”

“Unlike usual, Romdak hasn’t moved from the inn, and the knights are still staying here, so there are already people making fun of them. Romdak has something hidden here.”

“I think that Romdak literally hid the money in this inn. And that money is the top prize, and the number of knights guarding it is far from enough.”

The point was that staying at the inn would attract attention.

“It would be good for the head of the family to move along with the knights escorting the guild and clear their doubts.”

Ektra said seriously.

That was the right thing to do. Romdak’s top had to move as usual. If Romdak moved, the knights had to follow naturally, and it was better for me to go with the top and move than to have a hole in the escort. There were fanatics everywhere.

“Please feel free to enjoy the festival as you can. Of course, it would be great if you both could move together to make it easier for the escort.”

Mrs. Stang, Ektra, was well-chosen. However, she still had a knack for persuasion.

If you put two people together and there is a bond, the world will be full of love, and it will be a world where everyone loves each other.

If Norma hadn’t calmly taken a step back, saying, “I can’t force the head of the family to do anything because of me,” I would have snorted at Mrs. Stang’s persuasion.

“I don’t mind not watching the festival. I can escort you too, so Romdak moves as scheduled. I will stay at the inn and escort the head of the family.”

Norma speaks calmly, but every word was really burdensome.

The fact that Ektra, who was looking at him with sorrowful eyes, looked at me shamelessly, with her fluke eyes also played a small role.

“Ah, let’s go! Let’s go right now!”

‘Oh no! What debt are you trying to make me owe now!’ I screamed inside in frustration as my feet began to itch. The repentant Mrs. Stang pulled me along, saying that washing up comes first.

It had already been an hour since we had started walking around the festival streets like that. My stamina was already at its limit a long time ago.

At least, I was looking around to find a road with fewer people, but I was suddenly greeted with great heat. At the same time, loud cheers and applause erupted from the surroundings.

Reflexively wincing, I stopped and turned my head in the direction of the heat.

The fire-breathing tricksters and their onlookers were boisterous. It was clear that it was unique, but I hated that kind of thing.

The moment I thought I couldn’t stay here anymore, the man who put on an amazing fire show spewed fire toward the sky this time.

By the time I said “Oh no,” it was already too late. Excited spectators ran amok. Those who approached to take a closer look, those who were startled by the flames, and who threw their bodies back, were entangled with each other.

Being short, I was easily caught up in the movement of the crowd. I felt the central axis of my body tilt and fall backward.

“…!”

But before I could even feel the tilt, the back of my head landed on someone’s chest with a thud.

“Are you okay?”

I din’t know when he came that close, but Norma took the back of my head with his chest and held my shoulders with both hands.

I reflexively looked up in the direction of the voice. Our gazes met vertically as he looked down at me with worried eyes. It was close.

“Ah, thank you.”

I quickly lowered my head again and looked straight ahead. For some reason, I pressed the hood tighter.

“There are too many people. It is better to get out of this way.”

After that, Norma wrapped his long cloak around me as if to protect me.

As I barely slid onto Norma’s shoulders, it seemed natural that a person would fit into his arms. It was like being hugged in a mess.

Somehow, it was hotter and more suffocating than before. Norma moved through the crowd in that state. After leaving the festival street, a quiet road came out.

It was only when we had stopped walking that I was able to escape from the hem of his cloak and arms.

“Do not worry. As for the escort, all ten of them are catching up.”

Norma looked around and said in a somewhat proud tone.

“Oh, yeah, that’s great.”

I fanned my hands and said something.

“Are you feeling hot?”

Norma reflexively asked while fanning with a hand fan.

“No, no. I’m fine. Please put your hand down. You’re not my servant,” I replied.

Norma sometimes acted like someone who had been taught noble etiquette, which often scared me.

The Diazi family was a strange place that still maintained the etiquette of the former imperial era, when the Emperor also served as a regent. Even for someone like me who had little knowledge of etiquette, having grown up as a precious heir of Diazi, it was sometimes surprising to see someone act without hesitation like this.

I don’t know who they learned these behaviors from.

“But your face is turning red.”

“…”

I bit down hard on my molars and rubbed my cheek.

“Ah… Am I turning red? It’s because it’s a little hot. It’ll be okay soon.”

I was relieved that the festival street was actually hot. Strangely, my face often got hot in front of Norma. I promised myself to build immunity to beauty as soon as I returned to McFoy.

Norma, who nodded his head slightly in a positive sense, seemed to hesitate for a moment. I was about to ask why he was hesitating, but he spoke first.

“As expected, can I hold onto you?”

“Hold onto me? What do you mean?”

I frowned at the unclear purpose of his words and asked.

“You’re too… small, so I’m worried I might lose you.”

Norma whispered with a serious face.

“Ah, I see. That’s what you mean.”

I quickly understood. Once caught in this crowd, I could easily get swept away or trampled if I fell.

‘… But, what’s the big deal? Am I really that small?’

As someone who was always dissatisfied with my height, I felt a little annoyed and spoke up.

“I’m average height, so I’m not that small. Plus, we have escorts watching us from a distance, so there’s no need to worry about getting lost.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is!”

“Then, since I’m afraid of getting lost, could you hold on to me?”

Norma said with his typical sparkling smile.

“…”

Could it be… am I being treated like a child right now? This seems like both an external and internal display of affection…

I realized this fact and was shocked. I felt embarrassed at the thought of acting childish.

“Are you treating me like your younger sibling? I wasn’t throwing a tantrum.”

I felt disgusted, feeling like I was on the same level as Nicholas, Norma’s younger brother.

Norma’s eyes widened at my reaction. He then let out a short laugh. It was the first time I had ever heard him laugh, which made me even more embarrassed.

“Of course not. You are… you.”

“…”

No, that’s not it. It seemed right to treat her like a child.

Norma even looked amused, so I examined his face with a puzzled expression.

“Will you hold it now?”

He asked as he extended one arm. His white hand, which had been concealed by his cloak, was now exposed. Without saying a word, I slowly grasped his sleeve.

“….”

“Please hold on tightly,” Norma said, pulling his arm towards me. Then he leaned in and whispered in a small voice in my ear,

“Lady Aisa.”

“…!”

Suddenly, my ear felt hot, and I quickly covered it with my free hand, taking a step back from him. However, I didn’t let go of his sleeve, keeping my promise to hold on tightly.

The heat that had started in my ear quickly spread throughout my body, and I couldn’t stop it. ‘Damn it. I let my guard down,’ I thought. It had been a while since anyone had called me ‘Lady Aisa,’ or more precisely, used my name in that tone, so it felt strange.

I looked up at him in disbelief at his unexpected prank. His crumpled face would have been quite funny. Norma looked at me and laughed like a boy, seeming pleased with himself.

For some reason, Norma seemed to be enjoying himself, even looking proud. Being at Katam and seeing his various expressions was something. Of course, it wasn’t important. Anyway.

‘I didn’t know he was such a crazy… I didn’t know he had this kind of character,’ I thought.

Did Diazi also have someone who knew how to play pranks? He was really an unpredictable human being.

Norma seemed to be in top condition. He didn’t seem to be staring into space or dazed like he was a crazy man today. I involuntarily put strength into the hand that was holding Norma’s sleeve. This time, Norma started to lead the way.