Rayland stood in the corner of the town square, adjusting his collar.
He had been waiting at the spot Lucien had arranged for him for ten minutes.
Shortly after, Rose appeared in her beautiful, elegant dress.
However, as soon as she looked around, Rose’s brow furrowed deeply and she snorted in annoyance.
“Rayland?
Why are you here?” Rose asked sharply.
“Where’s Lucien?
Have you seen him?
He invited me here.” Rayland put on his best smile, trying to cover up his awkwardness.
“Wow, what a coincidence meeting you here, Rose.
Lucien might have some urgent business, perhaps I could accompany you.” “Coincidence, you say?
Don’t joke,” Rose hissed in dismay, taking two steps back.
“I have no business with you.
I’d better go find Lucien myself.” Rayland stepped closer, trying to maintain his elegant demeanor even as his heart sank.
“Wait a minute, Rose.
We’re already here, why not enjoy the festival together?
Lucien wouldn’t mind if—” “I said no, Rayland!” Rose interrupted, her voice rising.
“Don’t force yourself.
This attitude of yours is making me sick!” Right in the midst of this heated debate, from the edge of the noble zone of the festival area, three young men hurried forward with tense expressions.
They were Reichardt, Seilas, and Kaelen, who had been combing the festival area since morning in search of Lucien.
Reichardt stopped in his tracks when he heard Rose’s voice.
“Rose?
Rayland?
What are you two doing here?” Reichardt immediately approached the girl.
“Have you seen Lucien?
He hasn’t been in his room since this morning!” Rose was stunned, her anger vanishing in an instant, replaced by shock.
“Lucien?
No…
I didn’t see him.
In fact, I came here because Lucien invited me…” “He left his room note!” Reichardt panicked, his hair a mess from frustration.
“He’s missing!
What if he’s been kidnapped?!” Hearing that, Rose’s eyes widened.
“Missing?!
So…
so that’s why he didn’t come to see me?!” Rayland, standing beside them, swallowed hard, his face suddenly turning pale.
He had asked Lucien to arrange this meeting, even though his disappearance had nothing to do with him, but he never expected him to disappear.
“Wait…
Lucien’s missing?
How could that be?” “How should I know!” Reichardt snapped at Rayland.
“We have to find him now!” They started moving to look for Lucien who was who knows where.
“Wait, Rayland, are you coming?” Seilas asked sharply when he saw Rayland following them.
Rayland paused for a moment, swallowing his pride.
“I…
I’m helping with the search.
It’s my responsibility too.” Meanwhile, in the public area a few blocks away, Aryosha’s family noodle stall had just closed its doors early.
The large pot had been emptied by the long queue that had overflowed thanks to Lucien’s charm.
“Good job today!
Thanks to you, we were able to close early!” Aryosha’s father exclaimed, patting Lucien on the shoulder.
“Mom and Dad are treating you to some snacks.
Go enjoy the festival before the parade starts.” Aryosha and his brother cheered happily as they received some coins, then pulled Lucien around.
Lucien, finally removing the hood of his cloak because it was too hot, let his white hair and pale face be clearly exposed to the crowd.
“Wow, look at that!
There’s sugar-coated fruit skewers!
I’m going there!” Aryosha’s younger brother exclaimed enthusiastically.
Lucien stepped forward with sleepy eyes, tasting a small piece.
He swallowed it with a blank expression.
“The sweetness makes my teeth hurt.
It’s not good.” They moved on to the next booth.
Lucien tried the spiced grilled meat cake.
He chewed slowly, then shook his head indifferently.
“Too many spices, it’s like eating scented soap.” “What do you like, what should we buy?” asked Aryosha, confused by Lucien’s appetite.
Finally, Lucien stopped at a simple cart selling deep-fried snacks.
He bought a paper bag filled with warm French fries.
As soon as he put the chips in his mouth, Lucien was speechless for a moment.
“How is it, Lucien?
Is it good?” asked Aryosha curiously.
Lucien took a deep breath, stared blankly at the potato in his hand, and muttered to himself, “I’ve come all the way to a fantasy world, and the street food is still just French fries.
If that’s how it is, there’s no need to bother changing dimensions.
Isn’t there dragon skin chips or magic-powered snacks in this world?” Aryosha and his brother could only blink in confusion as they watched Lucien lamenting over his food.
Soon, the sound of drums and trumpets echoed along the main street.
The annual parade had begun!
Crowds of spectators immediately pressed to the sides of the road, cheering as they watched the parade of floats and dancers parade down the grand avenue.
Amidst the bustle of the crowd, a minor incident occurred.
A well-built man in tattered clothing suddenly sprinted out, carrying a luxurious leather wallet embroidered with gold thread that contrasted sharply with his appearance.
Lucien’s streetwise instincts as a former orphanage boy immediately kicked in—the man’s movements were stiff, his eyes darted around in fear, and a suspiciously shaped wallet protruded from the pocket of his tattered coat.
He was clearly an amateur pickpocket who had just robbed a nobleman.
As the pickpocket pushed through the crowd and nearly hit Aryosha, Lucien’s hand moved on its own, reflexively.
With a lightning-fast, smooth movement, his fingers snatched the wallet from the pickpocket’s pocket without its owner noticing, and then tucked it into his own pocket.
The pickpocket continued running, disappearing around the corner.
Aryosha and his brother were wide-eyed when they saw Lucien’s lightning-fast hand action.
“Lu-Lucien?!
What did you just do?!” Aryosha whispered in horror.
“Did you just…
pickpocket?” Lucien took out the luxurious wallet and considered it for a moment, his expression bored.
“I didn’t steal it, I just took it back from that idiot.
What am I supposed to do with this?
It’s so much trouble.” “Yes, give it back!” exclaimed Aryosha’s brother.
“Tch.
Then, let’s go to the nearest lost and found post so we can get this over with quickly,” Lucien complained lazily.
Arriving at the lost and found post, which was guarded by a portly officer with a bronze badge, Lucien placed the luxurious wallet on the wooden table.
”I found this on the street,” Lucien said flatly.
The officer glanced at the luxurious wallet, then looked up to see who it was.
As soon as their eyes met, the officer’s heart suddenly began to beat faster for some reason he couldn’t fathom.
Lucien’s flawless pale face, combined with his shining white hair and sleepy red eyes, radiated a magnetic aura that was so captivating and elegant, it was as if a great prince were standing before him.
However, a second later, the officer regained consciousness when he saw Lucien’s somewhat loose and shabby commoner’s clothing.
His ego immediately rebelled, refusing to be impressed by someone so lowly in appearance.
The officer’s eyebrows immediately rose sarcastically, trying to cover up the confusion in his chest with anger.
”Hey, you dirty brat!
Don’t lie to me!” the officer snapped arrogantly, trying to shake off the strange charm that had stolen his focus.
“How could a poor kid like you find a nobleman’s wallet filled with gold coins and intend to return it?
You must be a gang of pickpockets, and then deliberately pretend to return it here so you can ask for money in return, right?!” Lucien stared at the officer with his heavy red eyes, completely unfazed by the shout.
He thought to himself, “This world is truly troublesome.
If I had known this, I would have just thrown that wallet into the gutter.”