Vibrance, elegance, cheerfulness, and carefreeness. The royal capital was filled with such a festive atmosphere as the people went out of their homes and enjoyed a once a year celebration.

  With the curtains closed for the award ceremony, the foundiival approached soon after. There was no livelier day to be found in the dar. Every person in the kingdom celebrated su occasion.

  It was a day not only to celebrate the founding of the kingdom, but also a day to celebrate another year of prosperity and safety. A day where all people give their gratitude to the ones who worked blood and sweat to build the kingdom which they now call their home.

  Colorful banners littered the streets and the smell of delicious delicacies wafted the whole city as the m sun started to rise from the horizon, signing the start of a new day.

  Like merry little childreed for their first school trip, the people woke up earlier than usual to prepare themselves for the upiivities which will be held in a few moments.

  The clock had yet to strike sevehe streets were already filled with crowds upon crowds of excited citizens, waiting for their King to present his annual eborate speech to signal the start of the festival.

  One by orumpets echoed throughout the streets and drums boomed loudly into the vast sky, and little than a few seds ter, the g sounds of the horseshoes hitting the ground followed.

  "His Majesty is here!"

  "Your Majesty～!"

  "It's the royal family!"

  With a dazzling carriage of gold and silver seen parading along the crowded streets, loud cheers reverberated throughout the city as the royalties themselves greeted the popuce with a dignified wave of their hands and smiles.

  The King and the royal family were loved by the popuce. There was not a single ive remark from the cheers of the crowd. It was as if the kingdom had bee one big family.

  In the sea of cheerful people, there were others who didn't wear the same happy expressions most of the crowd did. They also wore bck hooded cloaks, trary to the light and vibrant clothing of the majority.

  There were two of those figures, and no, they weren't criminals, thieves, or anything of the sort. They were Grey and Yuna whoing inito as they experiehe foundiival for themselves.

  "Hey, Grey... Do we really o wear this?" ［Yuna］

  Yuna pined silently, clearly trying to show her dissatisfa, as she gently pulled the garment of the hooded cloak she was wearing. She was clearly dejected about the fact they had to wear such shady outfits on such a joyous day.

  While Grey and Yuna po head out in the foundiival normally, what the King did yesterday prevehem from doing so. Because he presehem to the public, their faces became widely known throughout the royal capital.

  Especially with Yuna's silver hair, and being an elf in addition to that, it would be easy to identify them. It would undoubtedly cause a otion if they were to be found out. A otion which will just trouble them.

  "Is it really unfortable?" ［Grey］

  "Not really... It's just that I prefer moving around without hiding our identities. I just want to experiehe festival normally." ［Yuna］

  "I'm sorry, but please bear with it for now. It would be impossible for us to enjoy the festival without getting reized if we aren't wearing these." ［Grey］

  "Uuu... I uand..." ［Yuna］

  Yuna nodded her head slightly in resignation, her face clearly showing her crestfallen eyes and a dejected mood. Seeing her so dejected made Grey's heart ache a little as well.

  The foundiival was one of the things Yuna really looked forward to when they arrived at the royal capital. Now that the whole experience was ruined, it was only uandable why she was feeling gloomy.

  "Then... Yuna, how about you think of this as a covert quest?" ［Grey］

  "A covert... quest?" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah. Basically, what we're going to do is to enjoy the festival without getting discovered. If you st the whole day without getting discovered, you win, but if you get discovered, you lose. What do you think?" ［Grey］

  "Hey, Grey..." ［Yuna］

  With a serious tone in her voice, Yuna stared at Grey with eyes full of stroions, or so it seems, but truthfully, it was hard to uand what she was feeling at the moment.

  "W... What?" ［Grey］

  "Stop treatioo much like a child!" ［Yuna］

  Seeing through Grey's pn, Yuna showed her dissatisfa by puffing her cheeks and pouting ever so cutely, trying to act as if she was mad at Grey and not looking at him.

  While it was Grey's aim to make the festival more exg for the both of them, the way he delivered it seemed to Yuna like he was talking to a little child, making the tter obviously frustrated.

  "Sorry, sorry, I just thought it would make things more iing. We just tinue normally if you want." ［Grey］

  "Dummy. I didn't say I dislike the idea, it's just... you're treatioo much like a child! I'm yirlfriend so you should treat me more as an equal!" ［Yuna］

  Yuna tinued her retort whilst fpping her hands in a frustrated manner, but the more she did it, the more she seemed childish to Grey. And it went without saying that Grey wao spoil her more because of it.

  It was the duality of Yuna's personality, she acts very mature at times, especially when there are children involved, but when she is with Grey, the roles bee reversed. She, herself, is not very aware of it.

  "Alright, alright, I'll stop that." ［Grey］

  "You promise?" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, I promise." ［Grey］

  Hearing Grey's response, Yuna looked at him doubtfully for a hot sed, but she then heaved a brief sigh a short moment ter, showing that she had resigned over the topic.

  Yuna was right to doubt. Grey had no iion of doing so, or rather, his as are already engraved on his on an instinctual level that it would be hard to undo. After all, Yuna was just too cute for him to handle.

  "So... About that 'quest'..." ［Yuna］

  "Ah, yeah. So the rules areー" ［Grey］

  "Hm? Isn't that... Ah! Elder Sister Yuna! Elder Brrey!" ［Eliza］

  Befrey and Yuna's little game had even started, it was already over, and the reason for it was her than their little sister figure, Eliza, who had suddenly spotted them inside such a rge crowd.

  After spotting them, Eliza then ran towards them in ainer, and along her was her older sister, Elise, and her older cousin, Eihey had just finished watg the parade.

  While Grey and Yuna had been surprised that their little game had been postponed in an instant, what gave them more of a shock was the fact that Eliza reized them immediately. It only took her a single gnce.

  her Grey nor Yuna knew what to feel about the situation. They didn't if their disguise was just terrible or Eliza's observational skills are just extreme. They also took time in pig their cloaks too.

  "Ah! It really is them! You sure have good eyes, Liz" ［Elise］

  "Hehe... It's Elder Brrey and Elder Sister Yuna, after all!" ［Eliza］

  Eliza puffed her chest proudly with her closed fist over it as she decred such words with a proud face. She was really happy while doing it too, not even embarrassed by a little bit.

  "Good m, everyone. Fancy meeting you here." ［Grey］

  "We are surprised too, but what with those hoods? Is that a new fashion trend right now?" ［Elise］

  Elise asked curiously as she eyed Grey and Yuna's attires closely, shifting her view from up and down every now and then. Following her, Eine and Eliza also did the same thing.

  No other choices present, Yuna and Grey expio them why they were wearing such hoods over their usual clothes, and unsurprisingly, all of them were able to uand their reason immediately.

  "I see... It was because of the awarding ceremoerday, huh..." ［Elise］

  "But you knoere the ones surprised to learn that you were amongst the heroes of the kingdom! Why didn't you tell us?!" ［Eine］

  "And since His Majesty addressed you as archduke and archduchess that means you are both S-rankers! You should have told us sooner!" ［Elise］

  "Yeah, yeah, Elder Brrey and Elder Sister Yuna are so mean!" ［Eliza］

  As quick as lightning, the topic of the versation ged from hiding from the public eyes to the events whifolded before. It was as if the tter was the main topic to begin with.

  The three dies' protest and curiosity was only natural. Because of the amount of nobles gathered yesterday, her of them were able to speak with Grey and Yuna. Only their parents had the ce to.

  There were visible tinges of frustration behind the three young dies' voices as they protested to Grey and Yuna. It was frustratiht about by suddes that they had no idea about.

  It took several minutes before everyone calmed down. Luckily, the crowd was already loud to begin with and their small ground didn't end up catg unwatention from them.

  "We're really sorry..." ［Yuna］

  "Haah... It's fine, but don't do that again. We're really going to get mad the ime you do it!" ［Elise］

  Hearing Elise's remark, Eine and Eliza heir heads lightly, showing that they were in agreement with her. Of course, Yuna and Grey uood full well why they said those things.

  "But you know, it must be tough, right, Grey, Yuna. After all, right now, everyone iy should already know your identities." ［Eine］

  "Haah... I couldn't agree with you more." ［Grey］

  "We just wao enjoy the festival normally, and this happened... Uuu... We should have just skipped yesterday, after all, huh..." ［Yuna］

  "Eh? Why?" ［Eliza］

  Eine, Yuna, and Grey were discussing the downs of being preseo the public yesterday, when suddenly, Eliza interrupted our talk by asking an i question. She still wasn't able to prehend the situation.

  To Eliza, who was still young, there were no demerits in being preseo the public. Rather, she siders it an honor if she were ever to be in Grey and Yuna's position. Her sense of embarrassment still hasn't developed well.

  "Well, you see, Liz, because of the awarding ceremoerday, we are not uo go out in the public like we used to do. Now, we have to wear hoods every time we do so." ［Yuna］

  "Eh? But isn't that fine?" ［Eliza］

  Yuna tried to expin their circumstaowards Elise but it was futile. Eliza's ten-year-old mind 't uand the downside of the situation. All she saw were the positives of it.

  It was not that Eliza couldn't uand it, but rather, being brought up as a noble and the fact that nobles garner a lot of stares on a regur basis, made Grey and Yuna's situation seem normal to her. She still hasn't fully grasped the differen scale between her daily life and the two's situation.

  "But Elder Sister Yuna, Elder Brrey, isn't it cool that you're wearing hoods? It really feels like you're real adventurers!" ［Eliza］

  Well, there was also the fact that she had airely different view over the situation. Her way of thinking was just too optimistic that it was blinding to look at her directly. She was shining.

  At that moment, everyone else pondered whether they should expiuation to Eliza more thhly, but in the end, they decided to settle everything with just warm giggles.

  The problem now was Grey and Yuna's situation. Now that their cover was blown, they started to wonder if they should still tinue wearing the hoods. After all, they are useless if they could still get reized.

  "Elder Brrey, Elder Sister Yuna, do you still have another hood?! I also want to wear one!" ［Eliza］

  Her mind free of s, Eliza suggested yet araatement. To her young mind, it seemed a little like Grey and Yuna were pying a game, and she wao participate in it.

  Hearing Eliza's eid happy suggestion, the other four couldn't help but look at each other's eyes, asking quietly whether they should allow Eliza's suggestion, as it seemed like she still did not get the point of wearing them.

  In the end, none of them were able to do anything against Eliza's i pleas, and they decided to follow her whim, but there was just oiny problem. her Grey nor Yuna had ara hood with them.

  "Sorry, Liz. I only have hoods for me and Yuna... I don't have aras at the moment." ［Grey］

  "Ah..." ［Eliza］

  "Then, Liz, how about we buy you a new hood? We could also choose a cute design if you want to." ［Yuna］

  "Really?!" ［Eliza］

  After hearing Yuna's suggestion, Eliza who briefly hanged her head iion jumped back to being ei less than a sed. It was to be expected with Yuna who was an expert in handling children.

  Grey looked at Yuna and once again realized how strange his girlfriend was. He started to wonder if the reason Yuna was good at handling children was because she, herself, often acts like one.

  "Hoods～! Hoods～! Hoods～!" ［Elia］

  With Eliza humming merrily and skipping eically along the lively streets, all five of them headed towards a nearby store wherein a multitude of quality attires were dispyed and sold.

  It wasn't too far off from where they previously were, but it was still a couple hundred meters away. During the whole time, Eliza still tinued humming and skipping steps. She was still full of energy.

  "Good m, how may I serve you?" ［Clerk］

  Hearing the bell chimes ringing by the doorway, the clerk immediately turned his attention towards it and gave Grey and pany a polite greeting, ag professionally as one should.

  Ihey wear an amazing variety of fabrid clothing on dispy. From on attire to that which is sidered very fashiohere lenty to pick from, all in different styles and colors.

  "Do you have hooded cloaks here for children?" ［Grey］

  "For children?" ［Clerk］

  "Yes. I want to have a hood that fit her." ［Grey］

  Grey said, looking towards Eliza's dire. The girl iion was already busy expl the shops' items on dispy. She went here, there, over, and urying to satisfy her endless curiosity.

  Of course, Eliza didn't do anything which could damage the items and only looked at them from a distance. Elise, Eine, and Yuna were watg over her as she explored the pce.

  "Yes, we do have those. What material do you want it to be?" ［Clerk］

  "Hmm... do you have one which is easy to move in, light, fortable, durable, and is cool to wear?" ［Grey］

  When Grey gave the characteristics he wanted for the hood, the clerk skillfully checked their list of items to fulfill his demand. And since Grey asked for so many characteristics, it took the clerk quite some time to find one.

  Grey wasn't really picky with the hoods they are wearing, but since he was buying it for Eliza, he thought it should at least buy something that's fortable to wear. Especially since Eliza is aic girl, something that prevents her from sweating was a must.

  "Ah! We have those in our iory... But..." ［Clerk］

  "But...?" ［Grey］

  "They costs quite a lot. Sihey're made of high-quality materials, the cheapest is priced 600 kiels." ［Clerk］

  The amount the clerk said is more than a w adult's earnings for a whole week. While it might not seem much to Grey and Yuna's financial capabilities, to normal people, it's already pretty expensive, sidering the fact that most of what they earn are spent on their living expenses.

  Grey initially felt a little guilty spending so much money on a single piece of attire, but si was for the sake of Eliza's happiness, he didn't mind it too much. They still have plenty left to spare anyway.

  "Hey, Liz, e here for a minute." ［Grey］

  "Hm?" ［Eliza］

  Seeing Grey's hand signal, Eliza quietly walked towards him at an amble pace, still while looking around the shop with curious eyes as she walked over the ter.

  Apart from Eliza who had been called over, the irls stayed behind and decided to look at the dispys just like Eliza did. Yuna was especially curious and eager amongst the three.

  "What is it, Elder Brrey?" ［Eliza］

  "I've found a list of suitable hoods for you, please pie from it. And keep in mind, once you've chosen it, we won't be able to ge it. So be careful in choosing, alright?" ［Grey］

  "U-Un!" ［Eliza］

  While the irls were busy expl and scrutinizing every er of the shop, Eliza and Grey were choosing from the catalog of items what kind of hooded cloak they were going to purchase.

  Even though the store didn't specialize in making hooded cloaks, there lenty to choose from. There were cute ones, simple ones, and of course, over the top ones as well. It took Eliza quite a while to choose.

  "Elder Brrey, I want this one!" ［Eliza］

  "Are you sure?" ［Grey］

  "Un! Because it looks like what Elder Brrey and Elder Sister Yuna are wearing! I want to wear it too!" ［Eliza］

  Eliza excitedly said her reason with a loud voice while a rge smile blossomed on her face. It was a smile which was emanating pure innod gentle warmth. Even the clerk was touched.

  "Huh? Why?" ［Eliza］

  Prompted by Eliza's i smile, Grey wasn't able to help himself but pat her head gently just like how he pats Yuna's when he praises her. She was just too adorable to handle.

  "Don't mind me. Anyways, let's buy those hoods now, shall we?" ［Grey］

  "Un!" ［Eliza］

  In agreement with what Grey said, Eliza excitedly punched her fist into the empty air, radiating her energy throughout the whole shop, like the little ball of energy that she was.

  "Wow～! Liz, that's so cute!" ［Yuna］

  "It really suits you, Liz!" ［Elise］

  "I didn't know a hood could be so fashionable..." ［Eine］

  "Hehe, thank you!" ［Eliza］

  After purchasing the hood from the store, Eliza showed it off to everyone by twirli and right, and turning around. It was such a girly way of showing off a tire which suited her well.

  The hooded cloak retty simple with a little embroidery works here and there, but the moment Eliza wore it it became very fantastic. It perfectly encapsuted her ess. If they were oh, she would make a killing by being a child model.

  "Hey, Elder Sister, Elder Sister Eine! Please wear ooo!" ［Eliza］

  "Ah... Umm... Liz... That's a little..." ［Elise］

  "Umm... That's right. We're too old for that..." ［Eine］

  "Please～!" ［Eliza］

  Elise and Eiried to reason their way out from Eliza's request, but when Eliza pleaded with her dazzlingly i eyes, it was all for naught. In the end, they also ended up buying one for Elise and Eine.

  In the face of pure and i ess, they were all powerless.

  CHAPTER 102 END