In the plains outside the village, the autumn nights were alive with echoing bug song. Whenever Belgrieve would walk with a lantern, flying bugs of all sizes would dive for the light and end up colliding with his body and face. The grass was coated in evening dew that dampened his clothing with every step, and his bare ankles would end up chilled. But his twelve-year-old daughter paid no heed to any of this as she raced around the field.
“Ange, it’s dangerous to run,” Belgrieve called out while trying to shoo away the bugs buzzing his face.
“Hee hee...” Angeline giggled, turning to her father. She ran back to him and latched on. “The stars are so pretty!”
“Yeah, they are.” Belgrieve patted his daughter on the head before extinguishing the lantern, instantly cloaking them in darkness. But the black silhouettes of the mountains were still visible under the clear starry sky, and after their eyes adjusted, they could vaguely see the grass around them.
Angeline squeezed her father’s hand tighter, blinking in astonishment at the transformed nightscape. “It’s even prettier than before...”
“Isn’t it? When other lights are gone, those little stars out there shine all the brighter.”
Without turning away from the night sky, Angeline held out both her hands to Belgrieve. “Hold me.”
“Hmm? Ha ha! Up you go.” Belgrieve stooped over slightly and hoisted Angeline up.
They could faintly hear the sounds of the feast being held in the village behind them. The peddlers had started to arrive a few days ago, and soon it would be time for the autumn festival. The festive atmosphere in Turnera would increase with every caravan that arrived.
Soon, his daughter would set off for the city of Orphen. Once the festivities ended, she would leave along with the last caravan—he had already arranged for it.
Belgrieve watched as Angeline nuzzled into his chest and smiled. “You’re going to be leaving soon, Ange.”
“Yeah...” Angeline adjusted her position without moving her face.
Belgrieve gently patted her head as he slowly made his way through the wet grass.
“You’ll see all sorts of things and meet all sorts of people.”
“Yeah...”
“I’m sure it’ll be fun. You’ll see sights you could never even dream of in Turnera.”
“Yeah.” Angeline gently looked up at Belgrieve. “But today, I heard something from the peddler...”
“Hmm?”
“He said there are loads of bad people in the city. They’re cunning, and sometimes they fool you into being a bad person too. He said I need to be careful.”
Belgrieve smiled wryly as he tapped her on the head. “That’s right. There are all sorts of people in the world. Good people and bad people...”
“What do I do if they trick me? What if I become a bad girl...?” Angeline’s face became anguished at the prospect.
Belgrieve laughed softly and rubbed her back. “It’s all right. That’s not going to happen. You’re strong-willed. Didn’t you promise daddy that you would become a strong and kind adventurer?”
“I did.”
“And...”
“And...?” Angeline looked at him curiously.
Belgrieve’s smile never wavered as he shifted her into a slightly stronger embrace.
“No matter what sort of person you become, even if the entire world is against you, daddy will always be on your side. No matter what happens.”
Angeline seemed to consider that for a moment. “Okay!” Angeline hugged him back. The stars shone brilliantly above them.
○
Angeline had been in high spirits ever since deciding to go home. The nightmares that had plagued her finally ceased their assault, and though she would still lie in bed each night fearful of what was to come, she would wake up the next morning without having suffered any bad dreams. After a few days of this, it was like all those restless nights had been nothing but a bad dream in their own right.
That being so, her poor health could no longer be used as a reason for their early return. But the plan had been settled, and now there was no other course in Angeline’s head. If she was feeling better now, so much the better. Taking advantage of her newfound health, she happily accompanied her party members as they searched for good gifts in the capital.
Now that I’m back on my feet, I won’t have to spend the winter in Turnera anymore, she thought. That meant Yakumo and Lucille could return after the autumn festival too. Perhaps that had helped in persuading them, as they’d both agreed to accompany her to Turnera—though Yakumo hadn’t looked entirely satisfied. She’d passed the message on to Ishmael too. It was shaping up to be quite a merry homecoming, all told. Angeline was exhilarated and couldn’t ask for much more. Perhaps it would be even merrier if Maria came too, but when she’d enthusiastically made her appeal, Maria had answered by giving her the boot.
In any case, Angeline whiled away the time skipping about on various errands until there was only a day left before their departure. Everything was in order, and her spirits were high. Angeline was now lounging around Anessa, Miriam, and Marguerite’s house instead of sleeping in her own lodgings. She’d even roped Yakumo and Lucille into this arrangement, insisting that getting together the next day would be too much of a hassle.
Yakumo was leaning against the wall, gesturing with an empty wine bottle as she spoke. “Hmm, we’re leaving tomorrow. Is it really okay to drink this much?”
“Don’t say that after you’ve already drunk it all,” Marguerite retorted, unfazed as ever by her own drinking. Anessa still seemed perfectly fine, but Miriam’s eyes were already closed and she was rocking back and forth. Lucille had dozed off hugging her guitar.
Angeline uncorked a fresh bottle, an unaffected grin on her face. “It’s okay... We’re not leaving that early in the morning.”
Yakumo smiled sardonically. “Is that really what’s at issue here...? Well, whatever,” she said, sticking the stem of her pipe in her mouth.
Anessa held out her glass to be filled by Angeline and looked over her friend curiously. “Now you’re too energetic... Did something happen?”
“I don’t know. But I’m fine. Nothing wrong with me,” Angeline replied as she overfilled her own cup slightly, with some wine trickling down the brim.
“‘Energetic’ would be one thing, but this is strange...” Marguerite gave Angeline a funny look. “Are you drunk?”
“Of course she’s drunk; look at how much she’s had,” Yakumo retorted.
“Huh, I guess. Well, it’s not the first time Ange has acted strangely.”
Angeline gulped down every last drop from her cup and slammed it down on the table loudly. “I’m not strange... That’s just delight oozing from every pore on my body.”
“That’s what would be called strange, generally speaking,” said Anessa.
“It’s a bit too extreme,” Marguerite added.
Yakumo suggested, “Ange, why don’t you go to sleep already?”
“Gah!” Angeline pouted, frustrated at the haranguing from the other three women. She didn’t mean to act differently, but perhaps that was what it looked like to them. For all of them to label her that way made her feel a little bit obstinate. She donned her coat sulkily.
“What? Where are you going?”
“For a walk!” And so, she swiftly took off. Behind her, the other three turned to each other and shrugged.
Angeline was enveloped in chilly night air the second she stepped outside. She took a deep, refreshing breath. I really am a bit tipsy after all.
Angeline had no fixed destination in mind; she just wanted to go for a walk. All of her luggage had already been brought over, so there wasn’t any need to return to her place now. They’d done all their shopping, so loitering around the stores would be just as pointless. Angeline simply patrolled the familiar streets, her boots tapping an aimless rhythm against the stone pavement.
The main thoroughfares were still full of pedestrians going every which way, but all that hustle and bustle faded away the moment she entered an alleyway. Now that she was alone with nothing but the breeze for company, the lingering cheer she had felt while drinking with everyone began to diminish, though this quiet, calm atmosphere was rather nice too. Huh... Maybe I really was acting off.