Lady Europa’s idea led to the decision to hold an event called the Summer of Evelyn Camp the very next day, and we were all gathered at the lakeside once more. Everyone had stayed at inns in the village yesterday—many of us had been exhausted, and it seemed for once I wasn’t the only one who’d slept past noon.
But the enthusiastic Lady Europa had voluntold Princes Oz and Igna, and through rushed construction work last night, they’d installed signs and changing rooms around the lake. Today, too, she’d gotten up early in the morning to work on preparations.
I looked around at the event venue that had practically manifested overnight. A giant banner saying “Summer of Evelyn Camp: Now Open!” fluttered in the wind, and I was...concerned.
This is surprisingly wholesome and fun for something Lady Europa came up with...
Visitors were bathing in the lake-turned-hot-spring, and the waterside was bustling with people setting up tents, barbecuing, and cooking curry. The large hole Prince Igna had dug up was now being used as a reservoir.
Incidentally, it had been decided that men and women both had to wear swimsuits while bathing. People from the village at the foot of the mountain were here, selling the swimsuits.
Flyers had been distributed to tourists, and families and couples kept arriving. The lake, which had been somewhat desolate up until today, was now brimming with life.
Karin, who was looking around curiously, pointed at the barbecue corner. “I wanna roast Evelyn summarshmallows over there. You stick the marshmallows on skewers and roast them to golden brown, then eat them!”
“I’m coming with you. I’m curious about the Evelyn summushrooms,” Kira said.
Again with the weird naming conventions for the food! Were they fining people who didn’t sell foods with the word “summer” tacked on?
Just as Kira and Karin were setting out, someone stopped them.
“I’m coming too,” Lord Theodore said. “I’d worry about the two of you alone.” He paused, flustered, when Kira gave him a look of utter disbelief. “Hey, don’t look at me like that.”
Honestly, I would’ve felt awkward being alone with Lord Theodore anyway. Very awkward, in fact. After all...
I went and k-kissed him in the chaos earlier!
It had been necessary so we could turn human again, but just thinking about it made me drown in embarrassment.
At first, Lord Theodore and I had hugged happily, but soon it’d dawned on us what had happened, and we couldn’t even look at each other. I hadn’t been able to talk to him since last night.
Though...it was a shame, really. Everything had happened so quickly that I hadn’t had the chance to really savor the sensation, and—
Wh-Wh-What do I mean, “it was a shame”?! How lascivious of me!
I smacked my own head. Thoroughly.
“Evelyn?” Lord Theodore called out. “Are you all right?”
“J-Just peachy! L-Lord Theodore, you should buy them some Evelyn summango smoothies.”
“Uh, sure...”
Lord Theodore kept looking back at me worriedly as he disappeared in the direction of the barbecue corner with Kira and Karin.
When they were gone, I finally let out a breath. I wanted to apologize for the misleading letter I’d left, and there were so many other things I wanted to talk to him about as well, but right now, I just wanted to avoid being alone with him no matter what.
I pulled myself together. “Since I’m here anyway, I should try and enjoy the Summer of Evelyn Camp.”
Granted, I’d been camping for several days already, but that hadn’t been solely for pleasure. It had been rather intense, actually. Having a good time with a large group like this felt like a different sort of fun.
Since Lord Theodore and the others had headed to the barbecue corner, I figured I’d check out the curry area.
“Mom, doesn’t that woman over there look like Lady Evelyn?” a child asked.
“It couldn’t be,” the mother said. “Lady Evelyn walking around here would be a miracle. There’s no way...”
Though I’d revealed my face during my final prayer ceremony, people still didn’t recognize me out in public, I’d recently come to realize.
In the center of the curry corner, a speed-eating competition was in full swing. Five tables were lined up side by side, with participants inhaling curry at an astounding pace. The man who’d once acted as the announcer for the SEBLT—Saint Evelyn’s Battling Lovers Tournament—was gripping a microphone and delivering passionate commentary.
“Looks like the SEBLT, Traveling Edition, is heating up, ladies and gentlemen!”
Oh, this is also a SEBLT.
“And look at our chief contender! That’s right, it’s Prince Igna, the deviant who’s obsessed with his fiancée, Lady Europa Caté! The two won a special prize during this year’s ‘Crazy Couples Cup’—the C3 for short! Erm, Lady Europa, does Prince Igna usually enjoy spicy food?”
Lady Europa, sitting in the judges’ seat next to the commentary booth, propped her chin on her hand, looking bored and didn’t respond.
The announcer paused, then said, “Right! So it’s the silent treatment from Lady Europa. But look at Prince Igna! The man is piling up empty plates like there’s no tomorrow! But, since the SEBLT is open only to Lady Evelyn lovers, he’s already disqualified despite his impressive display of eating!”
Prince Igna kept wolfing down the ultra-spicy Evelyn summadras curry with gusto, his passionate gaze fixed on the judges’ seat, unwavering.
He paused only to ask, “Europa, why won’t you say anything to me?”
Lady Europa sighed into the microphone. “Prince Igna, you’re a useless piece of trash who couldn’t find Lady Evelyn when you searched the village. You want to know why I’m not chastising you for it, correct?”
“Yes,” he confirmed with a slow nod.
He was trembling, and it was gradually getting worse, but his nose wasn’t bleeding like one would have expected. Perhaps because Lady Europa—while verbally abusing him—wasn’t giving him that harsh, disdainful look of someone looking at a gnat.
Everyone else had fallen silent, including the announcer, and even the other participants had stopped eating to watch the exchange with bated breath. It didn’t match one’s image of a speed-eating competition.
Lady Europa shrugged. “I’m truly fed up with you,” she told Prince Igna. “But today, my disdain is reserved for Theodore.”
Prince Igna clenched his fist and brought it down on the table.
“Wh-Why?! Why would you demean Theodore but not me?! This isn’t fair!”
“Because...” Lady Europa gave Prince Igna a sidelong glance. “You would enjoy it if I demeaned you.”
Prince Igna’s eyes widened with shock. So did mine and everyone else’s in the venue.