The distance between the duke’s estate building and the gate was quite far, so even by carriage, it took some time before the two arrived at the gate.
Leonard and Yellian held hands as they set out on the road. The streets were bustling with people.
While the biggest event of the Festival of Fire, the wildfire play, took place on a hill within the capital, smaller amusements and food stalls were scattered everywhere in the city. Thanks to that, they could reach the festival scene without wandering for long.
“Wow, what is this?”
Like a sparrow unable to pass by a mill, Yellian stopped in front of a shop where a sweet smell wafted strongly, with a long line of people waiting. The street vendor held out a sample of food and said.
“This is called Dubai Chocolate. It’s the hottest dessert these days. Nowadays, there’s no one who hasn’t tried it. Give it a taste, and then you can line up. I’m sure it’ll suit your palate.”
Yellian glanced at Leonard, waiting for his permission.
In fact, before coming to the festival, Leonard had set one condition for Yellian: not to eat just any food carelessly. He said it was unlikely, and it shouldn’t happen, but there was always a chance someone might tamper with the food Yellian ate.
Yellian thought, who would go so far as to poison his food, but he understood that Leonard was just that worried about him, so he agreed.
“Wait.”
Like a well-trained puppy, Yellian obediently waited as Leonard instructed.
Leonard picked up a piece of the sample chocolate and put it in his mouth. Soon, his brows furrowed slightly, but he gave his permission to eat it.
“It’s fine. Try it.”
“Yep!”
Without hesitation, he picked up the chocolate and popped it into his mouth. Inside the sweet chocolate, there was something with a nutty flavor. Above all, the texture was unique.
“What’s inside it?”
“It’s pistachio. Tasty, right?”
“Ah, yes. It’s delicious.”
In truth, it didn’t suit Yellian’s taste. However, he couldn’t tell the vendor, who asked if it was tasty, that he didn’t like it, so he lied.
The vendor grinned broadly at Yellian’s response and pointed to the end of the long line.
“You can line up over there.”
“Yeees…….”
Yellian dragged out his reply with a long tail. While pretending to head to the end of the line with Leonard, he subtly turned in another direction.
Glancing back, he saw the vendor was too busy promoting the chocolate to other passersby to notice.
“This is a bit…… not for me.”
“I think so too.”
With their thoughts aligned, the two disappeared into the crowd.
Not long after, Yellian stopped in front of another shop. It was a store selling Turkish ice cream. Having eaten Turkish ice cream a few times in Korea, Yellian found it fascinating and delightful to see it sold here, so he couldn’t tear himself away.
“Leonard, I want to eat this!”
“I’ll try it first, then you can have some.”
“Got it. But Leonard, do you know you’re totally like a royal taster right now?”
“Royal taster? What’s that?”
“Ah……. It’s a thing. Basically, it’s someone who checks if food is poisoned or not.”
To be precise, it was someone who checked if the king’s food was poisoned, but explaining it in such detail would make the conversation too long, so he glossed over it. Leonard nodded.
“Well, that’s not entirely wrong.”
While he agreed, the vendor selling Turkish ice cream was already holding an ice cream cone, preparing to put on a show.
Yellian was curious and excited to see if Leonard could successfully grab the ice cream or if he’d be teased just like himself.
“Here you go. Aha, gotcha, didn’t I?”
“……What is this nonsense?”
“Oh my, sorry about that. I’ll give it to you this time, gotcha again~?”
It was clear Leonard had never eaten Turkish ice cream before. He seemed utterly flustered by the vendor’s teasing behavior of pretending to hand over the ice cream only to pull it back. Yellian found it hilarious and clutched his side laughing.
“Hahaha, hahak! Leonard, try to grab it properly!”
“Stay still. Stop messing around.”
“Understood. You thought I’d really give it this time, right? Gotcha again~?”
The ice cream vendor seemed to have a natural talent for teasing people. Once again, he twirled the ice cream around, thoroughly mocking Leonard.
Leonard’s pale face turned red, which was unlike him. The change was so amusing that Yellian kept laughing uncontrollably.
“Stop laughing. And you, stop playing around.”
After telling Yellian to stop laughing, Leonard then warned the vendor. His voice, lowered significantly, seemed to growl. But the ice cream vendor wasn’t one to be intimidated by such words.
“Of course, sir. How could I play tricks on you, gotcha again~?”
At the vendor’s words, Leonard, seemingly provoked, clenched his fist. He moved his hand more aggressively to grab the ice cream quickly.
However, it was impossible to keep up with a vendor who had spent nearly a lifetime teasing people with ice cream.
Finally, unable to hold back, Leonard exploded. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he spoke in a low voice.
“I am a duke. Duke Abrams, to be precise. As a duke, I command you to stop.”
“Leonard, that’s cheating!”
Revealing that he’s a duke in this situation and ordering the vendor to stop-could there be anything more unfair?
Sure enough, the ice cream vendor’s face turned pale. He bowed repeatedly.
“Oh dear, I’m so sorry. I didn’t recognize you as my lord and committed a grave offense. Here you go.”
“If you had done this sooner…….”
“Even if you’re my lord, gotcha again~?”
“Hahak, hahaha!”
Thanks to the vendor, who acted playful again as if he hadn’t just apologized, Yellian burst into loud laughter.
As Yellian laughed until tears streamed down his face, the vendor finally handed over the ice cream. Leonard, his face flushed with embarrassment, took a bite of the ice cream.
“Eat. And stop laughing.”
“Haha, ah, I’m sorry, really sorry for laughing, hahaha. Ah, it’s just too funny.”
Even though he tried to stop laughing, the image of Leonard flailing to grab the ice cream kept popping into his mind, and the laughter wouldn’t cease.
Leonard glared at Yellian with a stiff expression, heat seemingly rising in him, but then, finding it absurd himself, he let out a small chuckle.
“Really, Yellian, you make me go through all sorts of experiences.”
“So, you’re saying you like it?”
“Yeah, I like it. Absurdly so.”
As Leonard gave his reply, Yellian, still with a laughter-tinged expression, linked arms with him.
Leonard shook his head as if to say he couldn’t win, then stroked Yellian’s head.
Yellian licked the ice cream. The taste itself wasn’t anything special, but perhaps because he had laughed so much, it felt unusually delicious.
The two wandered the streets, looking at various things. There was still plenty of food, and shows caught their attention. When they went to a spot crowded with people, a clown was performing a fire show.
“Now, it’s a circus! A circus! What you’re seeing now is nothing! If you come to the performance, even more amazing shows await, so come and watch!”
A barker shouted loudly while handing out flyers. Yellian quickly reached out and took one.
The flyer had the location and time of the circus performance written on it. Yellian’s eyes sparkled brightly.
“Leonard, let’s go here tonight. Okay?”
“Sure, got it.”
“Wow, I’m so excited.”
Yellian carefully tucked the flyer into his pocket. As he bowed his head and then lifted it, he spotted something and widened his eyes in surprise.
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