Chapter 83: The Founding Festival

So Xavier had earnestly asked Maya to keep Lucas in check.

From Maya’s position, there was no reason to refuse.

‘So that’s why Xavier was acting so relaxed.’

When I squinted at Maya and Xavier alternately, they both turned their heads in opposite directions, pretending not to notice.

“Come on, instead of standing around here, shall we go buy our masks?”

Eaglin urged everyone with her diplomatic smile.

They say you can’t enter the main venue of the Founding Festival without wearing a mask. The mask essentially serves as an entrance ticket.

We started walking again to buy masks. Though I say walking, we were really just being pushed around by the crowd until we finally made it to the festival entrance.

At the entrance, there was a stall selling masks. Dozens of masks covering from forehead to nose were neatly displayed by type, with more hanging on boards behind the stall.

‘They’re all animal masks.’

How ironic that they use animal masks that remind them of the Beast Kingdom they despise so much.

“Welcome!”

The merchant greeted us cheerfully as we crowded around his stall.

“I’ll take that eagle one.”

“The elephant mask for me, please.”

Eaglin and Eli chose masks matching their own features without hesitation.

“I want the raccoon!”

Lucas did the same.

“Hmm.”

Meanwhile, Xavier was having trouble choosing. He kept raising and lowering his eyebrows while staring intently at one particular mask among the animal masks on display.

‘Hehe. I can guess without asking.’

His expression showed he clearly didn’t want to wear it, but was considering if he had to pick that one.

“Xavier, shall I choose first?”

“Go ahead.”

Among the densely displayed masks, a white rabbit mask in the middle caught my eye. It had one ear drooping down and the other perked up.

“I’ll take that cute one.”

“Thank you!”

“I’ll take the sparrow!”

Maya chose a sparrow mask. When I blinked and turned to look at her, she asked innocently,

“What? Isn’t it cute?”

“Yes, it is.”

You picked something that really suits you.

This way, we each bought our desired masks and entered the plaza where the festival was being held.

A question that had been lingering in my mind came up, so I asked Xavier,

“Xavier, why do they wear animal masks at the Brillante Founding Festival?”

I was curious why the Brillante Empire, which hates and despises the Beast Kingdom, would hold a festival that seems to welcome them.

“They didn’t wear them in the beginning. Some say it’s a custom that was added as time passed.”

Teal eyes sparkled through the grey cat mask. After hesitating, he ended up choosing the cat mask after all.

It feels like looking at the large Kiki.

I nodded and met Xavier’s eyes as I asked,

“Can I call you Kiki…?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Come on, everyone’s wearing animal masks here, what’s wrong with it?”

“Hmm.”

Even with the mask on, I could tell he was making a mischievous expression behind it. Xavier’s lips curved attractively under the mask.

“Then shall I call you honey?”

What? Ho-ho-honey?

Heat rushed to my face instantly. My face felt like it was burning, so I avoided answering and kept fanning myself.

“You can call me Lulu!”

Another voice suddenly cut between us. Lucas’s eyes were curved like crescents through the holes of his raccoon mask.

Then Eli kindly answered my earlier question:

“The exact reason for wearing animal masks at the Founding Festival is to remember what happened hundreds of years ago when the Brillante Kingdom briefly occupied Moirai.”

“Oh, really?”

“To be precise, it’s because General Scott Custer of the Brillante occupation forces massacred the Moirai natives and their animals. The Goddess Maha became enraged and cursed the occupation forces, their descendants, and that land. The Brillante Empire wears masks to deceive the goddess’s eyes and avoid the curse. They abandoned us and ran away… and didn’t even give us a saintess.”

Eli gritted his teeth as his emotions intensified.

Though his expression was hidden behind the mask, his voice alone revealed his resentment toward the empire and shame about his ancestors.

‘So Moirai’s ancestors were imperial citizens.’

“Eli.”

When Lucas stopped him, Eli immediately bowed and apologized.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“I apologize, Duke and Duchess. Despite appearances, Eli majored in history.”

Though Lucas apologized right away, the atmosphere noticeably dampened despite the noisy surroundings.

“…I’m sorry.”

Everyone’s attention turned to Xavier who suddenly spoke. Even Lucas and the other beastmen seemed somewhat surprised.

“As a representative of the empire, I apologize for our historical wrongdoings. Though I’m not sure if it will help.”

“Ah.”

Eli’s mouth fell open in surprise. He apparently hadn’t expected an apology from the Duke. He blushed and lowered his head.

“Hey, the Founding Festival is for having fun! Everyone cheer up!”

Lucas jumped up and linked arms with Eaglin and Eli. Thanks to that, the somewhat chilly atmosphere seemed to brighten again.

Then Xavier, who had been quiet until now, glared at Lucas.

“I can’t tell if you came to tour or to play.”

“Are you picking a fight, Duke?”

“No, I’m just stating facts.”

Here we go again. The two men glared at each other and growled. Seeing them engage in this battle of nerves, I shook my head wearily.

They say meat helps when the pressure’s low. Let’s feed them meat first.

“Ahaha, I want some of those grilled ribs over there.”

I lifted my skirt slightly and quickly walked to the nearby rib stand.

“My lady, let’s go together!”

Maya called out and followed me wearing her sparrow mask.

Fortunately, Lucas and Xavier stopped fighting and came along with Eaglin and Eli to stand at the rib stand.

The merchant was startled when he saw us. It was understandable since people as tall as trees were surrounding his stall.

“Wh-what would you like?”

“Everything from here to there.”

I pointed along the long grill while smiling prettily. The merchant looked where I was pointing and said in disbelief,

“All of this? That’s over 100 pieces, miss.”

“That’s fine. I’ll eat it all.”

I could feel the four people behind me flinch.

No really, I’m going to eat it all.

“No way! My lady!”

Maya was having a fit. I had no choice but to point to the people behind me to reassure the merchant.

“These people will eat with me too.”

Then Xavier bent down and whispered in my ear,

“Weren’t rabbits herbivores, honey?”

“Kiki, rabbits are omnivores.”

“Since when?”

“Since I put on this mask?”

Pfft.

Xavier laughed. Seeing his bright smile after so long made my heart flutter.

“I’m an omnivore too?”

A sparkling eye-smile cut between us. It was Lucas again.

“Yes, haha.”

“I’ll pay.”

Xavier took care of the bill.

We sat down at an outdoor table near the rib stand. With six people, the seats were completely filled.

Xavier picked up a rib and said,

“This looks delicious.”

“Eat a lot, Xavier.”

“I’ll eat a lot too.”

Lucas, sitting across from us, cut in again.

“Yes, Your Highness, please eat well.”

Xavier narrowed his eyes and reached his long arm toward Lucas.

“I paid for this, Crown Prince.”

“Tch.”

Really, why are they being so childish? Despite looking so mature.

Lucas was glaring at Xavier with a sulky face, but when he put the rib in his mouth, his eyes gradually widened.

“This is delicious!”

“Right? How is it, Xavier?”

“It’s good. Makes me feel strangely happy.”

“Hehe, I knew it.”

Eli put ten ribs in his mouth at once, and Eaglin’s pose as she gripped and tore at the ribs was quite aggressive.

‘Now I understand why they don’t eat together at the Duke’s residence.’

“This is really delicious!”

Maya also turned to me while licking her fingers.

Just as I had finished three ribs and was about to put the fourth one in my mouth,

“Cough, cough.”

“What’s wrong, Yuria?”

Xavier asked while urgently patting my back.

“Something’s stuck in my… cough, cough.”

It must have really gotten stuck because tears were forming. Unable to watch any longer, Xavier stood up and said,

“I’ll go buy some water.”

“No, I’ll go get it!”

Xavier and Lucas stood up simultaneously. Xavier glared at Lucas with fierce eyes and gritted his teeth.

“Your Highness.”

“Hehe, excuse me.”

Lucas threw a mischievous smile and got the jump on him. He had already left his seat and was running to find a drink vendor.

“That raccoon…”

Xavier followed after Lucas, not wanting to lose.

“Your Highness!”

Eaglin bit her lip and hurriedly followed the two. Meanwhile, Maya came over and patted my back while asking worriedly,

“My lady, are you alright?”

“Yes, suddenly it feels tight here… I think something got stuck.”

When I pointed to my solar plexus, Maya wiped her hands on a napkin and stood up holding the table.

“You’re having indigestion! I’ll quickly go buy some digestive medicine. Sir Eli, please look after our lady.”

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

There was no need to buy medicine, but Maya had already run off in a hurry.

“Are you feeling better?”

Eli, sitting diagonally across from me, asked while lowering his thick caterpillar eyebrows. I finally managed to swallow the meat stuck in my throat. My tight chest felt a bit clearer.

“Ah, thank you. I can breathe now.”

It’s good that I can breathe, but this is so awkward.

Both Eli and I sat stiffly, staring blankly at one spot.

Just then, I noticed the large, thick grey hand resting on the table. A ring sparkled on those thick fingers.

“Are you married?”

At my question, Eli’s tense expression relaxed as he answered,

“Yes. Early this summer.”

“Really? Congratulations. That’s around the same time I got married.”

“Ah, right. With the Duke… I married quite late for a beastman.”

“Late? If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”

“I’m twenty.”

“……”

He doesn’t look twenty – honestly, he looked to be in his late thirties.

“Ahaha. It’s alright. Beastmen usually marry in their teens.”

“That early?”

“Because beastmen have short lives. It seems our lifespans are shortened in the process of changing between animal and human forms. I’m an elephant beastman so my lifespan is a bit longer.”

Wait. Short lives?

‘Xavier is kind of a beastman too. That means…’

The color drained from my face at this completely unexpected fact.

“What’s wrong?”

“Excuse me, but what’s the average lifespan of beastmen?”

“Usually we die around their fifties. Some as early as our forties?”

I gripped my trembling hands tightly.

“Isn’t it possible to live longer?”

“No, it’s not. Even at best, we return to God’s embrace in our early sixties. But that’s an extremely rare case.”