The day of celebration soon approached. To meet the date of the celebration, people quickly resumed their preparation after the threat. They quickened their pace for everything so they wouldn't miss the celebration. To Villnore, this celebration was more than just to celebrate the creation of Land of Renaissance, but also for their own town.
Roxis hid the group of wanted in his mansion. As to show his appreciation, he didn't report to Land of Renaissance. Of course Flay had played his part in this as well. To ensure their safety, Roxis didn't let them leave the mansion so to reduce the chances they might get found out until the day of the celebration.
Among the group, only Jess and Nikki were free to do what they wanted. They would go out to help out the preparation works and brought any news back to the group. With everybody's help, the preparation finally done and met the day of the celebration.
"…Too bad we can't join." Anna looked down from the balcony together with Jess and Pamela. They only allowed watching from here.
"Yeah…I'm bored…I want to join…" Pamela grumbled while dropping her head.
"Pamela, I don't think there's any problem for you because you can sneak!" Jess chuckled, trying to cheer the ghost up. "Well, tonight is the dancing party. I don't think people can find out about you guys since it's so crowded."
"Oh great idea Jess!" Immediately the ghost lifted her head in excited. "I can sneak as I want! Hooray!"
"…Dancing party, huh?" Anna tilted up her lips as she remembered something. "It's so fun back then in Land of Renaissance during the dancing party."
There's a time in this event, Vayne invited her to have a dance with him. Anna blushed when she recalling the scene. Vayne was not too good in dancing anyway. He always happened to step on her feet that night but Anna could see he's trying his best. The day after the celebration, Lily told her that Vayne learnt this since a week ago before the celebration. Though she didn't know why Vayne did that, but it's enough for Anna to felt warm.
"Yes…it's so much fun, especially when Anna and Vayne danced." Jess's comment made Anna almost choked. "Vayne was so dumb when comes to dance."
"Yes, I saw it too!" Pamela chuckled, leaning closer to Anna. The smile she hanged on her face made Anna sweat dropped. "Anna…so what happened after that?"
"W-What do y-you mean?" Anna's face burned up. "N-Nothing happened…"
"Really~?" The ghost threw her doubtful glare.
"Of course!" Anna huffed. Her face turned even red. "What you could have thought of?" Though Anna wouldn't admit she was a bit disappointed when Vayne just left like that after the dancing party, but she knew clearly Vayne was not the type to take advantage on the others. That's why she—
"Oh by the way…do Roxis invites you to have a dance with him tonight, Jess?" Enough picking on Anna, Pamela turned her target to Jess instead.
"Roxis?" Jess tilted her head. "No…why? Did Roxis tell you he wants to invite me?"
Pamela and Anna both threw each other a glance before answering the question of her. In unison, they let out a sigh, feeling sorry for the spectacled noble.
"…Jess, sometimes I really wonder if your brain or eyes are broken." Didn't want to talk much about it, Anna shifted her gaze back to the crowd in the town.
"Huh? What that's supposed to mean?" Swelling her cheek, Jess protested.
"So...Jess, what if Roxis asked you about that? Will you join him?" Raising a mischief smile, Pamela continued her question. She wanted to know more!
"Hmm…" Tapping a finger on her chin, Jess raised her brows to think. "Well, I don't think anything hurt with that invitation. So I'll go!"
A slight gasp sounded from behind them as they turned their head to see. The spectacled noble stood still there with a tomato red face when they found him. Clearing the awkward by coughing it off, Roxis walked to the girls and greeted them.
"Good morning…"
"Good morning Roxis. Did you sleep well?" Jess greeted him back.
Roxis's heart skipped a beat seeing such an adorable smile. "Y-Yes, thank you…"
"Roxis, it's a bad habit to listen to the girls' talk like that you know?" Pamela slightly furrowed her brows, though she was not really angry.
With a flinch, Roxis took a step back avoided to touch with the ghost. He had enough of the ghost already!
Thinking the miserable memories he had with the ghost before, Roxis swore he was such a fool and useless. How come he would ever listen to the ghost's suggestions in order to get closer to the female doctor? If not because of that, Roxis might not be this afraid of the ghost…probably.
"I-I'm sorry! Just don't get near to me!" He had ready his card underneath his shirt preparing for the worst. But he might forget that the physique attack wouldn't effective to the ghost…
"Stop picking the poor guy Pamela…" Finally Anna had him shielded. Roxis nodded to her as to show his appreciation.
"I'm not picking on him!"
"Ignore Pamela. So do you want something from us?" Jess said.
"Well y-you see…um, will y-you like to join me in tonight's party?" Losing his gut to look at the female doctor's eyes, Roxis shifted his gaze to the ground.
"Oh oh! Exactly like what we discussed just now!" Pamela squeaked. Anna also turned her attention to the pair.
"Oh that…of course, why not?" Smiling sweetly, Jess truly had no idea how her smile was killing the spectacled noble.
"I-I see…thanks…"
"No way! Stop that! Roxis is mine tonight!" Another intruder shouted for her right. Nikki rushed to the balcony and grabbed Roxis, pulling him away from Jess.
"But Nikki, you have your job tonight right?" Jess asked.
It made Nikki silent. "E-Even though…I-I won't let you two have your time!"
"Nikki…"
Anna sighed. She rubbed her temple hoping to have a moment of silence for herself alone. Turning around, she left the place, letting the three of them to discuss and the ghost there. Taking a step out from the balcony, she saw another chasing game was occurred in front of her eyes.
"Ne Roze, let's go to the celebration!" Et tackled the arm of the baron and begged. The baron, on the other hand, was trying to get himself from the girl. "It's boring staying in the house!
"You can have Enna accompany you…let go of me already!" Roze shouted furiously. "And my arm!"
"Enna doesn't want to join me…he has another girl to date with now…he doesn't want me!"
"Then you better think it yourself…why he doesn't want to go with you!" Trying his best to pull his arm back however, Roze underestimated the strength of the pink haired girl. My arm definitely is going to break!
"Hey let go of Jerktown!" The blonde chased up from behind. "He already promised me to go with me tonight!"
"Why? Roze is my lover!" Et exclaimed her right.
The blonde shouted back. "I don't care. He did promise me!"
The mansion is so lively now…huh? Anna rubbed the bridge of her nose. She decided to pretend she saw nothing. How is Vayne now anyway…?
At last, Roze able to free himself from the big breast girl. However, he was not allowed to rest as he planned since he had promised the blonde to go to the dancing party with her.
Roxis let the group had their fun for only this time. To avoid the people found out them, they changed their look for quite a bit. Ulrika released her two pony tails and Roze had a cap with him. People might not recognize Ulrika but Roze at least since he was a baron. There's still some times left until the dancing party, but it's so crowded now in the street until they nearly became the sandwich in the middle of the crowd.
"Oh hey, this looks delicious!" Ignoring the baron behind her, Ulrika went to the stall ahead. "That looks delicious too!"
Everything looks delicious to her…it made Roze thought of the first time they went to the square hall in Land of Renaissance. It twisted his face for a bit but he guessed it wouldn't hurt to let her had fun once in a while in the time like time. It's celebration anyway…
Walking in the middle of the street, he recalled the memories he had back in Land of Renaissance. How long he had felt such bustling? He couldn't remember now. He missed lots of fun after his old folk gone. It's true he didn't like such crowded scene but for once of the time, he had thought would it because the old folk gone had took away his happiness as well. It's had been long time since he smiled from deep of his heart…
"Hey Jerktown, come over here! You're just a slow punk!"
"Yeah…right away…" Sighing as he obliged, he wondered what this situation he had dragged himself in was. First was Et, now was this chick. They liked to drag him into the situation he didn't want to, but somehow he felt so whole with the life he had now. Strange, huh?
"Hey take this!" Ulrika handed him an ice ball she had bought.
"Are you a kid?" Though he spoke so, he took the ice ball at last. Now he also wondered when had he really bought an ice ball for himself.
"You're mean! I just like it, bleh!" Turning around continuing her search of foods, Ulrika again got attracted by something else in the stall in front. "Jerktown, what is this!?"
Roze walked closer to her. As he approached the stall, it appeared to be a shooting-and-lucky game.
"If you're able to shoot the thing you want from the shelf, you will get that as your reward…sorts like that."
"I see…" She scanned the present that were now displayed on the shelf and finally pointed on a necklace. "I want that!"
It was the second grand prize as Roze raised his brows on that. Though the rule was sounded easy, but it's wasn't that easy in real.
"…Try if you want."
"I'll show you what I can do!" Feeling the teasing in his tone, Ulrika slammed the potch on the stall and almost shocked the stall keeper.
She lifted the toy gun and aimed at the target she wanted. As she shot, the bullet just seemed to give a shave to the necklace. She squeaked, loaded another bullet on the toy gun. This time the bullet flew to another side of the stall. Not wanting to give up like that, she tried over and over again until she felt exhausted.
"…No, I'm not giving up!" Shoving her hand into the pocket to find another potch however, her pocket had gone empty. "Oh my! My potch!"
Again she used up all her potch. Roze shook his head. He walked forward and gave the stall keeper another potch.
"I'll try." He didn't want to waste time in this, and it started to get annoying. This chick would just keep continuing before she got that necklace. So it's better he gained it for her…if he could. Wait, it's not like he was doing this for her!
Ulrika held her breathe as she watched him aimed at the necklace and shot. A sound of something dropped down before she saw the bullet hit the target. Her mind totally went blank at that one moment.
Letting out a sigh, Roze figured his skill on playing this hadn't gone rust since his old folk taught him. He took the prize from the stall keeper and turned to the blonde, only met with her widened eyes and blanked face.
"Hey, what's got into you?" He outstretched the necklace to her.
She stared at the necklace for a moment, and then looked at him again. She still couldn't believe he got this the first time he played it.
"…F-For real…?"
"What do you mean?" He furrowed his brows.
"You got this! I-I can't believe it!"
"…You want this right? Take it already." It sounded harsh from her though as is she was doubted his skill, but Roze just shrugged it off.
Ulrika took the necklace and yelped happily. She put on the necklace immediately. It looked good on her, he had to admit.
She can be this happy over such a small thing…Roze thought as he rose up a soft chuckle. "Come on, the dancing party will start soon."
"Yeah! Here I come!"
As they arrived in the central hall, the party started just in time. As the announcement had made, the people around cheered over it and music started to on. Everyone paired up and danced. Those who not participated in the dancing clapped their hands with the music going along. It made the dancing party even cheerful and bustling. Ulrika pulled Roze along with her to the party. Though she didn't know how to dance, she intimated their style. With Roze helped her, she managed to get herself into the dance.
"It's so fun!" Her chuckle filled the air around them.
Seeing her smiling face, Roze felt a warm swelled inside him as if the girl in front had woken up his long gone spirit over things. Her golden long hair swung in the air as they danced, making her more adorable than she used to be. She might not be the most beautiful girl he had met over the years, but indeed was the one that could hit him the most. He remembered the voice he had heard in his illusion, and it matched perfectly with her. It's not matter whether there's something to do with it or not, he enjoyed the moment now and her accompany.
"Oh my Roze!" Pamela suddenly pulled the baron from other side, and forcing them to part with each other as they exchanged their partner. It shocked the both of them where Ulrika stunned with the sudden changed of partner.
"Eh? Eh? Pamela…and Yun!?" Ulrika shifted her gaze in between Roze and Yun, confusing with the changed. Yun also wore a cap to cover his flaming red hair. He raised a smile.
"Don't be this surprise. We use to change partner during the dance." He spoke softly near her face. He even threw a smile to Roze that was watching them.
Ulrika blushed with such intimated touch. "W-What!?"
"Now here you go."
Not really getting what Yun was saying, she was again being pulled to other people. It was Enna now.
"What? You come here too?" Enna seemed displeased to get changed with his partner. His gaze would drop on other side as Ulrika noticed he was watching a girl.
"Say…Et said you got girlfriend now…is it that little girl there?" Ulrika chuckled.
Enna's face went burned. "I-It's not like that! I…I-I…we're just friend!"
"Friend is it?" Disbelief clearly written on the blonde's face as she smiled, Enna cursed his sister for her big mouth.
"That stupid sister…"
On the other hand, Roze was changed from Pamela to Anna. Anna first raised her brows when she saw him, and then she smiled softly. Like the others, she changed her outlook as well with a pink shirt and short pants, completely unlike her.
"That is rare for you Anna." Roze commented as he looked closely on her.
Anna blushed a bit and tossed her head to other side. "Thanks for you commitment anyway…"
"So, do you believe I'm innocent now?" Honestly he wanted to know how she thought in this case. Was she still thought he was the murderer or she had changed her thought?
"…You still hold suspicion in this." Anna's answer sure made him disappointed, but Anna added behind. "Anyway, I think there's misunderstanding in this as well. Still, proof me you're innocent."
Her words eased his worry. Roze raised a smile. Anna stared at his smiling face for quite a while until Roze felt embarrassed.
"…What are you looking at?"
"No…I just wonder how long it's has been I saw your smile." Anna's gaze drifted to somewhere else. "You seem to lose your ability to smile since Mr. Eugene died…and from then on, you refused to join us whenever in playing or training. You always remain alone. Even in the celebration, you didn't join us as well."
Roze remained silence. He didn't know what to say to Anna. It's true coming from her. Vayne, Anna, Jess and him were use to grow up together. Though the other three were older than him, they accepted him and treated him like their little brother. Back then, they learned to fight together from old folk. However, after old folk died, they didn't have the chance to do that together again…or rather he should say, he distanced himself from them. Old folk's death truly gave him a strong punch on him. He couldn't tell the reason, but as if he saw someone important die in front of him before, he couldn't wave the sadness and heaviness that lingered on his heart. He felt guilty over the death of his old folk…and for that unknown someone.
"I don't know what's got into you that time. We all understand how you felt but…sorry; we're not able to do much during the most difficult time of yours."
Roze shook his head. "No, it's not like that." It's weird to hear something like this from Anna though; Roze felt he understood Anna more. "I think I was letting the feeling got over me and making me ignored others around. I…I'm afraid to get hurt again; afraid I'll again feel the pain of losing someone important to me. I'm just a jerk."
Taking a turn like everyone around with the dance going along, Anna flicked a finger on his forehead. "Listen, I'll kill you if you can't proof to me. As the imperial captain, I still hold the promise to myself."
"Got you, Captain Anna…" He should know…this was Anna after all. But I guess it doesn't matter now right? He had a feeling that things would work out at last.
"Okay, change now."
"Huh?" Still occupying by his thought, Roze been pushed to other's hand.
Grabbing the baron's hand, Jess winked her eyes at him as if she was surprised to see him. "Roze?"
"Now it's your turn huh, Jess?" He heard Et's voice as well. Her chuckle filled the air and he bet she was more like playing than dancing. He wondered who the unlucky one that paired up with her was. He only hoped he was not the next.
"So where is Ulrika?" Jess tilted her head and searched for the blonde.
"Like I know…" Suddenly he felt some killing aura coming from his back. Taking a glance behind, he found the spectacled noble. His face softened after seeing Jess's smile.
"…Jess, do you know…"
"Know what?" Jess winked her eyes in confusing.
"I mean…" He tried to keep his voice low but enough for the female doctor to hear. "Do you know Roxis likes you?"
"…Oh that…" Chuckling, Jess gave the spectacled noble a glance before answering, making sure he wouldn't overhear. "Roze, don't tell Roxis and the others…of course I know. But don't you think it's funnier staying in this way?"
Pity you Roxis…Roze felt sorry for the spectacled noble.
When he was about to say something else, the crowd cheered loudly, completely covered his voice. Then he saw Nikki jumped up to the stage in front.
"Hoooray everyone!"
"Nikki!"
"Ms. Nikki-!"
Everyone, especially the boy cheered even louder. Feeling a tug on his hand, he shifted his gaze back to Jess, and saw her winked at him. Before he getting the message from her, Jess pushed him behind and exchanged their partners with Roxis.
"Whoa!" Ulrika dropped back into Roze's arm once again, and feeling a bit blur after being push and pull by everyone else around. "J-Jerktown?" At least not someone she didn't know at all. Ulrika could finally let out a relieve sigh.
"Alright, come on!" Another cheered coming from crowd as Nikki had the music on.
Kinkon kane ga natte hajimaru mainichi
Kankon tanoshikutte koneko mo korogari
Iyagaueni mo takanaru mune
Mohaya tomarare hashinai no desu
Chotto okurachatte aresu mo mata yoshi
Chatto kakasazu ni komame ni risaachi
Kyou mo megane ga kuuru desu ne
Tsuin teeru ga niaimasu ne
"Nikki's famous song…"
"Hey, her voice is great…I never thought she can sing!"
"Well, Nikki is the most talented and famous idol in Villnore though…" Roze smiled. "Her song captured a lot of fans."
The dance was still on going. With Nikki's song along, the dancing party finally reached the climax of the celebration.
"Roxis-!"
Before the said noble able to react to the shout of his name, the beastman girl pounced on him and had him nowhere to run. Jess quickly took a few steps back.
Kiai iremasho minna raibaru
Maketatenai!
Nee oshiete! Watashi no shiranai koto
Nee kikasete! Anata no yaritai koto
"Nikki…please don't shout my name in public. I don't want to get killed by your fans." Pulling himself up from the pounce, Roxis only felt glares from all the way around. He adjusted his spectacle as he distanced himself with the beastman idol.
"No way! They all know I LOVE you!" Her confession earned some cries from the boy especially the young one. Roxis also choked by such a straightforward confession.
Now it made Roxis felt troubled. Though he looked calm as usual, but deep down his heart he wished someone could save him!
When he was worried over such a thing, someone walked to him and shielded him. She was—
"Sorry Nikki, but I'm not gonna let you have him."
"…I know you feel the same as me Jess."
The female doctor, Jess remained her usual sweet smile as she turned to Nikki's fans. "Guys, don't worry. Noble Roxis is mine! So…let's ignore Nikki's confession!"
The cries turned to cheer again. Some spark could be seen in the air when the two girls' gaze met.
"I thought you like Vayne, Jess."
"I like Vayne too of course! He is my friend!" Jess chuckled happily. Anna felt her heart skipped a beat but relieve after hearing the last sentence. "I like all of my friends. You too Nikki!"
"Then don't get into my way!"
"No way Nikki, you know Roxis LIKES me instead of you." Jess pressed the word 'likes', and showed her right to Nikki. It made Nikki jumped up.
"Roxis…Roxis, say something already!" Nikki stamped her feet, looked to Jess's back to find Roxis. However…
"Um? Roxis?" Jess also turned back to find Roxis after she heard nothing from the spectacled noble.
"He's unconscious…please leave him some spaces." Roze carried the poor noble on his shoulder. Upon Jess stepped out and announced her right, the noble immediately fainted.
"Poor Roxis…" Anna muttered under her breathe. It must a strong hit to Roxis…
"Oh my! Oh my!" Pamela spun Aeon in the air, making the mana protested.
Hey…don't spin me…stop that Pamela!
"Nice attack, Jess…" Yun hugged Corona up. He shook his head before he got out the of the scene and headed back to his home.
"Roxis!?"
"Opps…I guess it's too much for him." Sucking her tongue out, Jess shrugged before she turned around and ran. "The celebration still on Nikki! Leave Roxis to me!"
"Hey wait Jess-"
"Please sing Ms. Nikki!"
"Don't go, Ms. Nikki!"
"I hate you Jess-!"
Leaving the poor spectacled noble to the female doctor's hand, Roze and Ulrika left the central hall. Ulrika didn't want to go back to the dancing party again which surprised the baron. Instead, Ulrika wanted some walk.
"It's so fun today! I never participated any celebration as fun as this!" Laughing replaced the silence around as they walked on the empty street on the other side of the town. Since everyone gathered at the central hall, it's safe to take a walk here. "…Nope, I never have chance to participate in any celebration.
"…Yeah, it's fun today." Roze agreed with her. This was the first time he truly thought the celebration was fun. It's because she is around, perhaps…?
Looking at her face, Roze felt the same urge to pull her into embrace again. Again I feel this way…why? Is it because of her or what?
-Roze…thank you.
He blinked at the image that flashed across his eyes. The same voice in his illusion and the same bright golden as if the sun…this was…!
-Roze, don't get near! Run…RUN!
An explosion occurred in front of his eyes, and the girl in golden colored disappeared. A grieve gripped his heart as he clutched his chest.
"Hey…Jerktown!" Seeing something wrong went on him, Ulrika quickly knelt down to see what happened. "What's wrong!?"
He let out a shaky breathe, feeling terrible as if the time he lost his old folk. The pain he afraid the most again swelled inside him and almost consumed him. Roze knew he couldn't sustain the lost of someone he loved again…he couldn't take it himself! He grabbed her and pulled her into his embrace.
"J-Jerktown…?"
"Just a moment…please…" Burying his face into her golden yellow hair, he whispered softly. No, it's not whisper, it's more like…
"Hey…are you…" Crying…? Ulrika didn't dare to voice out. She knew even so, the baron wouldn't admit it.
She hugged him back by circled her two arms at his back. She didn't know what's got into him, but he needed a moment of peace for now.
At least…for now.
"Onii-sama?" Lily walked near to her brother at the balcony of the castle. From here, they could see the whole Land of Renaissance.
"Lily...don't you participate the dancing party?" Vayne smiled lightly. Lily could see his tiredness after what they had been through.
"No...I don't have mood now. Okasama also locked herself in her chamber."
This would be the most difficult time for them. But the citizen wouldn't care for this. Everyone had their trouble in life, especially they as the royal family. With no one could rule the nation, this would be the most dangerous and difficult time they must face. However, even in the time like this, nobles only care for who would inherit the crown, but not how to sustain Vayne in this.
And, there's one more thing...
Lily took a glance at Vayne.
Is Onii-sama knows about this? He might not. Lily doubted if her brother could take it after knowing what the noble gossiped behind him. That must be rumor...that can't be...!
"...Onii-sama, I'm going back to my chamber. Don't stay here too long, or else you'll catch cold." After checking on Vayne, Lily left the place. "By the way...is Sulpher alright?"
"I guess...I'll make sure to check on him again." Vayne barely gave any expression. For a moment, Lily couldn't seem to know what he's thinking. It scared her for a while.
"W-Well, good night Onii-sama..."
"Good night."
With the worries, Lily walked back to her own chamber. Whim greeted her the moment she opened the door and stepped in.
"You're back Hime-sama. Is the celebration going alright?" She prepared the pajama for Lily while asking.
"Hmm...everyone is enjoying."
"So...how about Vayne-sama?" Whim asked uncertainly. She stopped her work on hand.
"He seems alright...I don't think he knows the rumor already, but still..." It added another shade of worry on the princess's face.
"Don't worry Hime-sama. I'll try to find out who spread the rumor behind." Whim reassured her princess.
"I'm counting on you, Whim."
I'll make them pay fro spreading the rumor. Onii-sama...sure he IS my brother. How dare they stained his name?
Rumor said Vayne was not son of the late king. Vayne was actually found by Bernard when he was a child somewhere in the castle. During that time, Lily was not yet born, so Bernard adopted him and raised him as his son. But what was true and what was fake...Lily really had no idea. But Vayne...he's living with her together in the past twenty-four years. The memories they had was not fake. And she believed Vayne was her brother, no matter they're related or not.
I swear...I'll protect him this time.
Oh hey I'm back!
Okay, I planned to have some fun in this chapter (but somehow the end of the chapter becomes a little too heavy, I think?). This chapter is not in my plan at first, but I figured they need more RozexUlrika moment, so I decided to insert this into the story! Let me know what you think about this. Oh sorry if I made Roxis OOC in this chapter…but I have no idea what a serious guy will act if the girl he likes said something similar to confession. So…it ended up like this. :P
Okay then, until next time!
