At last, the long-awaited day of the Celebration Festival finally arrived.
For Lady Ceres's invitation, they had agreed to attend the Festival together on the second day. Fortunately, Revanio agreed to come along after Milliane persistently begged him to join them. On this first day, however, since early morning, they had already gathered by the roadside, waiting for the Parade to pass.
To be honest, Lizzy felt somewhat afraid.
She could not help remembering that countless dangerous people would gather at the Parade — especially Queen Gaiandra, widely known as the Tyrant Queen.
"Is it really alright for me to come to an event like this?" Lizzy asked for the umpteenth time that day.
The problem was that Revanio had been assigned to maintain order during the Festival today, so only Morgana and Milliane accompanied Lizzy.
"Don't worry, Lizzy. Even without Revanio, I alone am more than enough to protect you. Trust me," Morgana replied sincerely.
For a brief moment, Lizzy found herself wanting to be adopted by her. Unable to help herself, Lizzy smiled. That was right — she should never doubt Morgana's abilities.
"I'll protect Lizzy too! Moriga and I will!" Milliane added enthusiastically.
Hearing such words from someone so small and innocent moved Lizzy deeply. Because she was too anxious, Lizzy had not even realized that Moriga was also there with them. The orange cat merely yawned lazily when Lizzy stroked his head.
From afar, Lizzy could already hear the music drifting through the air, mingled with the loud cheers of the crowd. In the distance, several royal banners could be seen slowly drawing closer. At the sight of them, Lizzy felt both impatient and nervous.
Prince Orangel and Lady Ceres must surely be somewhere within that long procession.
Gradually, the Parade drew nearer, until Lizzy could finally see several Gold-Armored Kavaliro marching at the very front, raising staffs adorned with the Kingdom's banners. They were followed by women dancing gracefully as they scattered flowers across the road. Then came a golden carriage, carrying Queen Gaiandra herself, escorted on both sides by Elite Kavaliro holding their swords, as though shielding their Queen from any possible threat.
Lizzy felt both hot and cold at the sight.
To her eyes, Queen Gaiandra looked like a sharp silver blade entirely coated in deadly poison. From the intensity of her gaze alone, people could already feel intimidated. The aura of a ruler dominated the air itself.
"May the Lustrous Dragon forever bless the land of Glorious and Her Majesty, Queen Gaiandra."
Those were the words spoken by the people lining the street as the Queen passed before them.
Instinctively, Lizzy moved quietly behind Morgana's back while softly reciting the same phrase, tossing a ribbon onto the road as Queen Gaiandra's carriage passed her by. Fortunately, the Queen remained seated gracefully in her luxurious carriage, not sparing Lizzy even a single glance.
Behind Queen Gaiandra's carriage sat a man with a cunning look, seated proudly in his own golden carriage. Lizzy was certain — he must be the Crown Prince.
"That one behind her is Crown Prince Quinton Glorious. And behind him is First Princess Earlene Glorious. They are Queen Gaiandra's direct descendants," Morgana explained, confirming Lizzy's guess.
When Lizzy first arrived in the Kingdom of Glorious as 'Lizzy Hawtorn,' Revanio had told her that King Blanford Glorious had passed away thirteen years ago, leaving Queen Gaiandra as the sole ruler of the Kingdom. That alone explained why she sat alone in such a magnificent golden carriage.
As Lizzy continued watching Queen Gaiandra's figure recede into the distance, a blue flower was suddenly offered toward her.
Startled, Lizzy looked up and saw Prince Orangel smiling warmly.
"May the Lustrous Dragon bless you, my lady," Prince Orangel said, causing the crowd to erupt into cheers.
Lizzy froze for a moment before bowing politely. "May the Lustrous Dragon bless you as well, Your Highness," she replied before accepting the blue flower.
Prince Orangel smiled broadly, then handed a pink flower to Milliane and a purple one to Morgana. As a result, the Calyx family instantly became the center of attention at the Parade. Lizzy felt uneasy when she noticed members of the royal family behind Prince Orangel turning their gazes toward them.
When Lizzy glanced at Morgana, the woman merely smiled and bowed calmly. Lizzy followed her lead, continuing to bow until the royal procession finally passed.
Lizzy stretched her neck, which felt sore from bowing repeatedly. She looked once more toward the line of royal carriages. Their distinctive appearance left a strong impression on her — every single one of them possessed white hair and pale gray eyes.
"How can the royal family all look so similar? They don't practice incest, do they?" Lizzy whispered softly.
Morgana burst into laughter at Lizzy's innocence. "Of course not," she replied, trying to suppress her laughter. "Before marriage, anyone who joins the royal family must undergo the Coronation Ritual at the Sacred Sanctuary of Willow. There, they meditate beneath the purification waterfall, and gradually acquire the royal family's hair and eye colors."
"If they later part ways, the ritual is performed again in reverse until those traits disappear completely. This applies across the entire planet of Laurel Zero Five." She continued.
Lizzy blinked in awe at Morgana's explanation. "Does that mean royal families in other countries look the same too?"
Morgana nodded. "That's right."
Lizzy found herself wondering — if Prince Orangel and Lady Ceres were to marry, would Lady Ceres also undergo that ritual and gain white hair and pale gray eyes? Lizzy imagined Ceres with such features. She would surely become the most beautiful bride—
Suddenly, the very person Lizzy had been imagining appeared before her in a luxurious carriage. Lady Ceres smiled gently and waved at Lizzy. Unexpectedly, she removed one of her hair ornaments and placed it into Lizzy's red hair.
"Don't forget our promise tomorrow," she said, winking playfully.
Several men nearby immediately flushed red, utterly captivated. It was only natural — Ceres was extraordinarily beautiful and graceful. Even Lizzy herself was always mesmerized by her.
"It must be difficult for Prince Orangel to guard his fiancée from wandering gazes," Lizzy murmured, feeling sympathy for him.
Yet, judging from Lady Ceres's position near the royal family, she must be a high-ranking noble — perhaps a duke's or marquess's daughter. Lizzy would not have been surprised. After all, to become a prince's fiancée, one must surely come from an elite lineage.
What truly surprised Lizzy, however, was Prince Orangel's position behind the First Princess, even though she knew he was the Fourth Prince.
"Madame Morgana… is Prince Orangel also Queen Gaiandra's biological child?" Lizzy asked spontaneously.
Morgana glanced at her, slightly startled. "No. He is the son of a concubine," she answered, her tone sounding — for the first time — somewhat awkward.
Lizzy lowered her gaze, no longer interested in the Parade. "Then… how many children did King Blanford have?"
Once again, Morgana seemed uncomfortable, as though the royal family was a sensitive topic. Still, she answered gently.
"King Blanford had six children—four sons and two daughters. With Queen Gaiandra, he had one prince and one princess. With the First Concubine, he had one prince. The Second and Third Concubines each bore one prince as well. And with the Fourth Concubine, he had one princess."
She then guided them slightly backward, away from the crowd.
"The Crown Prince is the Second Prince, and Queen Gaiandra's eldest child is Princess Earlene. If I'm guessing correctly, you must be wondering why the First and Third Princes are absent from the Parade."
Lizzy was startled — Morgana had read her thoughts exactly.
"They are studying abroad. The First Prince is studying history in the Kingdom of Randall, while the Third Prince is studying Ancient Languages in the Federation of Maberich. They likely won't return for another two or three years," Morgana explained with a faint smile.
Lizzy suddenly felt guilty for prying. Even though she was just a stranger — who wasn't even from that planet — she ended up digging up personal information about the Royal family.
"I… I'll keep this secret. I won't use this information for personal reasons," she said softly.
Morgana, Milliane, and even Moriga stared at her oddly.
"Lizzy's rambling! She must be hungry!" Milliane said, pressing her ear to Lizzy's stomach.
Krrrk… Krrruuuk…
"See? Lizzy's so hungry her stomach's roaring!" Milliane exclaimed.
"Meow~" Moriga chimed in, leaping onto Lizzy's head and settling there comfortably.
Lizzy forced a wry smile. "I forgot to eat breakfast… I was too excited for the Festival."
Morgana laughed warmly. "Why are you being so shy? We've lived together long enough—do you still feel awkward?"
"I just… feel bad," Lizzy muttered.
"Lizzy," Morgana said softly, "from the moment you arrived, I already considered you family. You've never been a stranger to the Calyx household."
At that moment, the music and cheers faded away. Lizzy heard Morgana's voice as clearly as if nothing else existed.
For the first time, Lizzy truly felt it. She wanted to cry. While she could, she would create memories — memories she would never forget.
"I want to eat blueberry muffins from Café RainStar… would you go with me?" Lizzy asked shyly.
Morgana smiled. "Of course."
And so, instead of joining the drunken crowds, they celebrated quietly — together.
The rest of the Parade passed by like a distant dream.
Lizzy watched the colors, the banners, and the performances without truly seeing them. Music flowed through the streets, laughter echoed, and the city breathed celebration — but her heart lingered elsewhere, caught between warmth and a quiet ache she could not name.
As the crowd slowly dispersed, the sun began its descent, bathing the streets of Glorious in soft amber light. The festive noise gradually faded into murmurs, replaced by the rustle of footsteps and the clinking of distant instruments being packed away. It felt like the city itself was exhaling after holding its breath all day.
True to Morgana's words, Café RainStar only opened once the Parade ended.
The café stood slightly elevated on a gentle slope, its wide windows facing the river that cut through the city like a ribbon of silver. Lanterns shaped like droplets of light hung along the terrace, swaying faintly in the evening breeze. The air smelled of warm bread, roasted beans, and sweet berries.
The moment they sat down, Lizzy felt something inside her finally loosen.
Milliane perched on her chair, swinging her legs excitedly while Moriga curled up beside her, already half asleep. Morgana ordered calmly, as though this were an ordinary afternoon rather than the first day of a grand celebration.
When the blueberry muffins arrived — soft, warm, and dusted lightly with sugar — Lizzy stared at them for a second longer than necessary.
She realized then how long it had been since she had felt something so simple.
Not fear. Not vigilance. Not the constant calculation of survival.
Just hunger. Just comfort. Just now.
The first bite made her eyes sting unexpectedly.
The sweetness was gentle, the blueberries slightly tart, the warmth spreading through her chest instead of merely her stomach. Lizzy laughed softly at herself, brushing her eyes before anyone could notice.
"This place really is nice," she murmured.
Morgana smiled, stirring her tea. "I thought you'd like it."
They talked about trivial things after that — Milliane's favorite parade costume, Moriga's inexplicable hatred of ribbons, the way the city lights reflected differently during festivals. Nothing important was said, yet everything felt meaningful.
At some point, Lizzy rested her chin against her hand and gazed out the window.
The city of Glorious shimmered under the evening sky, alive and radiant. People laughed below, sharing food, stories, and warmth. Somewhere in the distance, fireworks bloomed faintly — soft bursts of color that faded almost as soon as they appeared.
Lizzy thought of Earth.
She thought of a sky without magic, without dragons or rituals or royal processions. A world that felt unimaginably far away now, like a dream she once had but could barely remember upon waking.
For the first time, the thought of returning did not bring relief.
It brought hesitation.
If I leave, she wondered quietly, what will remain of me here?
Would anyone miss her? Would this warmth vanish as though she had never existed at all?
Her fingers curled unconsciously around the edge of the table.
"Lizzy," Morgana called gently.
Lizzy looked up.
"You're allowed to stay," Morgana said, her voice calm but firm. "Not forever, perhaps—but for now. You don't need to decide anything today."
Lizzy swallowed.
She nodded, even though Morgana hadn't asked a question.
As night settled fully over the city, lanterns flickered to life one by one, and Glorious glowed like a constellation brought down to earth.
Lizzy watched the lights and made a silent promise to herself.
As long as I am here, she thought, I will live this life honestly. No matter how fleeting it might be.