Chapter 68: Festival with Vivienne (XX).

Kein's POV

"Have fun you two."

Baron Hills said his farewell to us, my daughter beside me was holding the money pouch in her hands as she waved goodbye to her grandfather.

"Milady, I'll park the carriage along with the others." The carriage servant said their goodbyes as well, whipping the horse gently to walk along the streets and I was left with Vivienne in my hand and I guess we have one thing to do now.

"Let's go find mommy now, shall we?"

.-.-.-.-.

We walked together into the streets, flowers were being thrown everywhere and magic users were using the best of their ability to be flashy. From the flower banners that were tied up, it really seemed like those fantasy cities at their best in festivals.

So many people danced as they brought their own instruments this year.

Elegant dancers bring in crowds with their body moving invitingly amongst the people watching. I was enticed by them and Vivienne seemed to be the same, she stopped walking and made me watch. "Pretty..."

"They are pretty, yeah."

"Hmm... Moma remembers Mommy, no playing." (Vivienne) pouts at me and I roll my eyes.

"For the last time you brat I am not like that." I pulled her nose teasingly while she giggled and moved on to the next main attraction when the dancing was all over. So many people clapped for the wonderful dancers and we did the same before seeing a huge fire roar into the corner.

"Step right up! If you want to see the flame brothers trick now its your time to watch!"

"Feast your eyes for magic never before seen!"

There were two brothers holding a torch set ablaze, looking happily at the crowd forming on their side. People can't resist the flame once they see it but I know the danger it brings. "Moma! Moma! Fire! I wanna watch it!"historical

"Eh? You want to watch that?"

She pulled onto my hand and I decided to just follow along, seeing that the crowd was forming too much and Vivienne was too small. I raised her up to my arms so she could see what the show was all about.

"Please! Have you ever seen flames that could reach the heavens?! My brother and I are pure believers of the light goddess! And we believe our flame will reach her touch!" The two brothers preached and I immediately felt a little uncomfortable by that. "Please behold our tribute to the light goddess!"

The two brothers moved the flame close to their mouths before blowing into it, the fire getting bigger and almost reached the sky.

"That doesn't seem safe..." I looked up to see the flame getting TOO big.

ITS NOT GOING TO REACH THE SKY YOU IDIOTS IT'S GOING TO BURN THE PEOPLE INTO CRISP! WHO ALLOWED THEM IN HERE?!

And I thought I would be getting to experience a peaceful festival- Jeez!

The crowd noticed the flame getting way out of hand but the two brothers who believed in their deity didn't seem to be stopping, the crowd panicked and were about to run for their lives.

"Vivienne, look away." I pulled her head into my shoulders and glared at the growing flame of these two idiots.

"Tch, [Absorb]." I clicked my tongue and raised my hand a little before these two idiots could ruin the festival experience for Vivienne.

I could feel the magic that I was absorbing coursing through my hand as slowly their flame went out into nothing.

"Whew..." I sighed in relief when I saw the two street performers looking at their torch with no flame, their faces in pure shock and confusion as to why it suddenly went out.

They tried lighting it again with their magic but I made sure to get all of their mana because that's just really irresponsible of these two. "W-What happened to our magic brother? I can't use mine..."

"I-I can't use mine either?"

For now... I'll be taking all of their mana that's worth the whole day in the festival so these two won't be able to do any crazy stunts like these again. "Moma, is it okie now?"

"Yes, Vivienne, it's okay now." She holds onto my cape and looks at the two street performers looking like an idiot, putting their hands over the dead torch and starting casting their magic over it.

"[Ignis Flame]! Light up damn you!"

"B-Brother stop... This is a little embarrassing."

"No! We have practiced so hard to have our flame reach our goddess! I won't give up now!"

I admire the spirit, what I don't like is doing it in such a public area to display. "No more fire moma?" she asks a little sadly at me, probably missing the fire. I get that fire is cool but it's also dangerous. I'm not even sure if they were licensed to do that kind of stunt in here.

I'm currently not on my knight duty right now, so I can't arrest them on my own and besides... I don't want Vivienne to see me arresting someone on the spot.

I shrugged, deciding to leave that part of the area and walked towards the food stalls showing some lovely street dishes I haven't tried in a while. "I don't know what happened, the flames just went bye, bye. How about we go get you something to eat? Aren't you starving?" I tried moving away from the topic and offered to buy some grub.

It worked because she immediately forgot about those street performers and pointed at several food stalls that she wanted to get.

There were so many options we could choose from but Vivienne, having the smell sensitivity of a dog, decided that we should go for the delicious smelling one out of them all.

"Moma! There!" (Vivienne) points at a small place where a middle aged lady was taking care of her grill, there was so much meat on display and some were cooking over a heated flame and charcoal.

"Alright, I see you're really hungry if you want meat early." I walked over to the meat stall as the one managing the grill noticed my noble attire. She must've mistook me for a really high-titled one because she mediately lowered her head in my direction.

"Oh! Milady! A noble in my stall...?"

"Oh please- I'm only a Baron's daughter please raise your head." I pleaded and she did what I told. "We came here to buy what you're cooking it smells good ma'am."

"Oh dear, thank you. P-Please go ahead and take whatever you'd like." Her hands motions into the meat cooking in her grill and I look at Vivienne if she's already made her decision on what she would like to have.

There was wolf meat, cow meat, and chicken. Some of the other meats are lower tier magical beasts you can kill easily too and its guts. Personally I won't take any beast's guts unless I know it's been cleaned well.

"I take chicken, please and thank u." (Vivienne) excitedly tells me.

I motioned to the stall owner with a polite smile and told her, "We'll take two chicken skewers ma'am, please and thank you just like what this little one said."

"Moma I'll pay."

"Oh? You want to pay?"

Vivienne held her money pouch and took so many coins giving it to the stall owner who smiled in delight.

"Aw how cute- is she your daughter?" The stall owner looks towards Vivienne who giggles looking at the meat cooking into the grill.

"Um... she is." I answered by taking Vivienne's change and put it in her pouch. I really feel like a hardcore mother bringing her daughter into shopping.

"You two are just so adorable. Mother and daughter pairing..." She stops to look at my figure more closely, looking up and down before gasping with widened eyes. "Oh goodness me! I recognize you- blonde hair, blue eyes, daughter of a Baron... you're that one noble who built the commoner academy-!"

Even in the streets?! I'm recognized?!

I laughed nervously at the stall owner but I managed to let out a polite smile. "Yes, but I merely helped bring the idea of it into our kingdom and get it approved. The credits of building the school would be the good people of Puronia." I tell her humbly and she shakes her head happily as if she can't believe it.

"I have already gotten my daughter enrolled, with this we can get jobs more easily. Please- take an extra skewer it's all on me so please don't think much of the payment." she takes three warm chicken skewers and holds it out for me to take.

"Oh um- is it really okay?"

"Of course! Please take them!" she holds it out for me even closer and I got a little embarrassed by the sudden free stuff I'm getting.

I have to be honest, I'm liking the attention... just a bit.

I take the free skewers into my hand. I gave one to Vivienne looking at the stall owner gratefully. "Thank you so much." I tell her and she waves her hand.

"And if you're single my daughter is free, milady."

...

Don't tell me even the rumors that I was into girls already got out in the capital city? But then again I wasn't really all that subtle. "Hahaha... I actually already have someone in mind but I hope your daughter gets the right person she deserves ma'am."

She didn't seem to get infuriated with my answer and even looked at me with such support. "So humble! Please come again sometime, milady!"

We waved our farewell as we found a nearby bench to sit on. Vivienne and I ate there as we watched the people passed by keeping a lookout for any sign of Rose. I could see Vivienne's eyes squinting as she was looking for her.

"Do you see Mommy?"

"Noe... Mommy where?"

"I... don't know either. All I know is that she might meet with us in the middle."

In the middle part of the city, there was a fountain. We watched the water shoot right up a bit as many people threw their coins and made a wish. Vivienne was one of them, she threw one of her copper coins and made a wish.

Curious, I asked her what her wish was, "I wish for more food." she tells me with a grin on her face.

Oh for the love of-

"Alright let's get you more food. I swear, do you have a worm in your stomach or a blackhole?" I asked her while she held my hand as we walked, it seems that she didn't want to get carried anymore so she wanted to walk together.

"Oh look there's some candy floss over there? Would you like one?" I pointed at the man selling the pink colored candy floss. I think we have room for more dessert. "Please Moma, thank you."

We went to the candy stall and I opted to pay for the candy floss. The man handed me our two candy floss and I took out the money from my storage ring giving him two silver coins.

Vivienne has really been well behaved so she deserves a treat today.

"Alright Vivienne here's your candy floss-"

I turned to my side to see her figure nowhere.

Vivienne?!

"Vivienne?!" I yelled almost letting go of the candy floss. Where is she?!

I turned to the stall owner to see that he was also shrugging, meaning he didn't see my daughter anywhere because he was busy conversing with me and I was too busy taking out money!

"Oh no..."

I ran towards the crowd of people in the center of the city aimlessly. I asked several people as they walked, hoping they'd seen Vivienne!

"Excuse me! Have you seen a little girl with blonde hair and gray eyes?!"

"No clue, sorry."

"Excuse me can you help me-"

"No- sorry! This might be a scam... so I don't have time for this."

Shit!

It took me about ten seconds of not keeping an eye on her and she disappeared! This is really stressing me out... I don't know where to look- alright... I should calm down and think.

"The Knights! They could help me look for her!"

Right-! They're around!

"I should've done this before!"

I was running now, hoping to find any group of knights that could help me look for my daughter but I heard something familiar-

"M-Mommy!"

That's Vivienne's cry! Hold on!

I stopped running and tried to find out where the source of the voice was. There was a small crowd forming on one stall where it seemed to be a fruit stand. I couldn't see much because there were so many people standing.

I groaned, pushing the crowd trying to get in.

"Hey!"

"Watch it!"

I apologized as I kept pushing through into the crowd. "Excuse me coming through that's my daughter-"

When I got inside Vivienne was holding someone's white dress and the usual familiar red scarf covering her whole face. It was Rose! She actually came to the festival!

"Hey! This kid stole something!" The owner of the fruit stand seemed mad about something but I don't know what it was all about. "Your kid took an apple away from my stall!"

Rose stood there taking the blame, when it was me who lost Vivienne while we went out shopping. And how would even Vivienne steal- she has money!

"Apologies, may I pay for the apple she took?" she asks with a sweet tone in her voice.

"Rose, wait! Something's wrong."

"Kein?"

She turned around to see my figure, looking up and down and I could see her blinking a bit before swallowing the lump on her throat. "Rose, Vivienne has money there's no way she could've stolen anything."

I glared at the stall owner and looked behind him, he was hiding his hands behind his back and I felt suspicious about that. "Hey you-! Let me see your hands."

"What you prick? You want a fight?" He walks over to me and I don't stand down.

"No. My daughter has her own money pouch, it's colored black with a cute white ribbon on it. Just let me see your hands and then I'll back down."