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RETRACING their steps, Alicia and Clovis left the Eram River.
If they returned to the castle too soon, they could run into a noble making their way home after the ball. Thus, the pair spent time visiting the stalls along the street.
The first stall was one of many selling lanterns, while others boasted displays of accessories, just like a day market. Some sold mulled wine and snacks, the indescribable aroma whetting appetites and pulling in customers.
Walking around, a familiar voice called out from behind them.
“Is that Clo? And that’s…?!”
The youth hurriedly clapped a hand over his own mouth before he could utter Alicia’s name. However, his stunned expression had a smile bloom on her face.
“Ed! To think we’d meet here! Have you been well?” Alicia waved.
“Have I been well?! That’s not the point!!” the youth yelled back.
Edmund was the son of a glassmaker and had showed Alicia around the town when she first ventured out for an inspection tour.
Compared to his twelve-year-old self, Edmund was now much larger in size and worked as an apprentice at an artisanal workshop, following in his father’s footsteps. The two had kept in touch every time Alicia snuck out to Egdiel.
So as not to arouse the suspicions of passersby, Edmund hurried towards Alicia and whispered in her ear.
“Are you being serious? I know it’s the Star Festival, but for our princess to be wandering around in such a big crowd! It’s too dangerous!”
“It’s all fine. Nobody has recognized me so far.”
“Of course not! Who would be looking to see if the princess of Heilland is out and about on the streets like this?! Seriously, you’re all grown up now, but you’re still a tomboy inside…”
Suddenly, a hand landed on Alicia’s shoulder, pulling her away from Edmund. Casually pulling her back to his side, Clovis turned calmly to Edmund.
“Isn’t your father with you? I thought you mentioned that all the artisans in your workshop were planning to release lanterns together by the river during the festival?” Clovis questioned.
“We did that already. Everyone’s gone to the pub. I’m going to join them, but I wanted to put this down at the workshop first.”
So saying, Edmund turned around to show them a heavy-looking bag swinging from his shoulder. According to him, various tools borrowed from a fellow artisan who also came to celebrate the Star Festival filled it.
Then Edmund remembered something. “That’s right. Do you guys have time? There’s something I want to show you, Clo.”
The pair looked at each other, then quickly agreed. Following Edmund as he weaved his way expertly through the crowd, they made their way towards a glassmaker’s workshop they’d once visited a long time ago.
That wasn’t the place Edmund wanted to show them, but a small store on the side of the building facing the street. The interior was packed with miscellaneous goods and ornaments in tight rows, making the room feel even smaller. However, the seemingly random display was actually tasteful and sort of resembled a wizard’s study.
Lighting a lantern, Edmund explained that the store dealt in small pieces and artisans’ pieces that were not selected to be sold by the merchants.
“What about the stall your mother used to have?” Alicia asked.
“Oh. That was set up to sell items made by us apprentices, as well as other reasonably nice pieces,” Edmund explained. “They weren’t good enough to be sold with our workshop’s seal of approval, but it would be a waste to throw them away.”
“I see. So I can buy Ed’s pieces if I go to the market?” Alicia asked with a smile.
“Oh, w-wait! Once I make something good, you guys will be the first to see it, but until then, you’re not allowed to see a thing!”
Slightly panicked, Edmund blocked the entrance to the back rooms of the workshop. Though Alicia was sure that his creations were back there and she wanted to see them, she decided to respect Edmund’s pride as an artisan and held back from insisting.
“So, what did you want to show Clovis?”
“Oh yes. I’m sure I left it somewhere…” Edmund muttered, rummaging through the counter area. “Here it is!” With a relieved expression, he stood up with a long, narrow wooden box in his hands. “Clo once told me about an artisan who makes interesting things. Recently, I had the chance to meet him, and I bought some of his items for my store. Look!”
Edmund lifted the lid of the wooden box, and Alicia peered inside. An unexpected sight greeted her, and she gasped.
“Is that a kaleidoscope?”
“Huh?”
Clovis and Edmund stared at her, the former in confusion and the latter in admiration.
“So Alicia knows of it. I bet Clo must have told you. How else would you recognize a piece crafted by an old man living in the rural countryside?”
“But I didn’t…” Clovis’s voice trailed off as he looked at Alicia.
It occurred to her that she’d never told Clovis about the kaleidoscope that appeared in her previous life and her encounters with the messenger of the stars.
“Well… I’ve seen one before in the past,” she told a half lie. “Anyway, how do you know about the kaleidoscope, Clovis? Did they make these in your hometown?”
“An artisan by the name of Ford in my hometown of Kelth makes them,” he said. “The kaleidoscope is popular as a lucky charm, but unfortunately, there aren’t many people who can make them. Ford’s workshop is the only one left now.”
“Oh!”
The answer shocked Alicia.
Clovis once told her that House Cromwell was based in the small town of Kelth, on the outskirts of the Marquisate of Morris. However, she had no idea this was also the rural town that made kaleidoscopes.
Clovis still had a dubious expression. Kaleidoscopes were quite rare and were no longer in circulation.
Perhaps she should tell him later that she’d seen the item in her previous life? As Alicia fretted, Edmund laughed.
“No matter. This is for you, Clo.”
“Huh? Wait, aren’t you going to sell it?” Clovis asked in surprise, his attention shifting away from Alicia.
“True, but you were the one who told me about these, and I didn’t just buy one. Besides, didn’t you say they’re lucky charms? There’s no harm in keeping one to help protect your precious princess, right?”
“Then quote me a price. Let me pay for it, at least,” Clovis insisted.
“How troublesome! I said it’s for you, so take it. As a thank you for always buying my things. It’s yours now; come on!”
Clovis gingerly took the kaleidoscope from Edmund. Alicia peered at it closely, seeing its wooden surface carved to resemble thorns interspersed with delicate roses. It looked so familiar. She’d seen it so many times in her dreams that she wouldn’t mistake it.
This kaleidoscope was the same one she’d seen on the night of her death.
She’d been lying in a pool of blood, and it had rolled to a stop before her. She’d never paid it much attention since it didn’t belong to her. Back then, she’d assumed someone had dropped it.
Clovis had led the revolutionary army into the Hall of Time. It wouldn’t be surprising if he had been the one carrying the kaleidoscope in his pocket as a lucky charm.
“Clovis, that kaleidoscope…”
“Yes?”
Alicia jumped. She’d spoken out loud without meaning to, and Clovis was staring at her again, suspicion clear in his gaze.
That was bad.
She hadn’t even told him he’d been in the castle when she died in her previous life, much less that he was the one who killed her.
“M-May I see it?”
Before that intelligent violet gaze could guess her intentions, Alicia reached for the kaleidoscope.
…The moment her fingers touched the wooden barrel, a strange feeling came over her.
A tremor arose in her heart, twisting and running like lightning from her head to her toes as if trying to drag out something lurking within. Her body screamed at her not to look, not to peek.
But as Alicia struggled, she couldn’t stop herself from obeying the tremor.
Raising her hand, she brought the kaleidoscope to her eye.