Two days before the fireworks festival, when the festive atmosphere was in full swing, "Joseph, Joseph, are you feeling uncomfortable?" "Do you want to go out?" "I'll take you out for a walk... Joseph." When no one was watching, Turing secretly untied the reins and sneaked a brown horse into the family's carriage team.
Oedipus's room in Erisburg. "Madam, the carriage is ready. Please come to the courtyard." The steward, Theresa, gently grabbed Turing's arm with one hand and gestured to Oedipus with the other hand on her chest. It could be seen that Turing's expression was slightly uncomfortable. "What's wrong? Did the mischievous little kitten get caught?" Oedipus raised an eyebrow as she looked at Turing who had been caught. Perhaps influenced by the joyful atmosphere of the approaching festival, she appeared to be amused. "Madam, the young master secretly untied the horse's reins. It seems that he planned to take Joseph to the service. Since it's just a child's naughtiness, I didn't report it earlier, so as not to disturb your thoughts." Theresa let go of Turing while pushing him towards Oedipus, clearly signaling him to apologize.
Joseph was a handsome horse who grew up with Turing from a young age. It seemed that it only wanted to run when Turing rode it. But now that Joseph was growing up, it was considered dangerous for the small Turing to ride it, so the family no longer allowed it. However, Oedipus still smiled and gently touched Turing's head, leading him by the small hand and slowly walking towards the door. "Alright then, let's make an exception this time, my little Turing." Oedipus leaned in close when they held hands, and her hair even touched Turing's face. Oedipus's fiery long hair softly stirred Turing's feelings, providing a plush and tender touch, which softened his rigid heart.
Mother and son, holding hands, passed by the prettily decorated windowsills and walked on the newly laid festive carpet, passing by maids carrying bouquets of colorful flowers. All of Turing's initial embarrassment and guilt dissipated in front of the gates of Erisburg, where the morning light was blending in. "On the other side of the gate, the atmosphere is truly joyful." Silently, Turing followed Oedipus into the exquisite and luxurious carriage, leaning silently against the window and looking outside.
In Turing's hopeful gaze, the Festival of Smoke in Acadia finally blossomed in the lush summer. The mountains brought out their evergreen colors, which had been stored all year round, to share with the people, as well as the nobles and the royals. From somewhere far away, someone urgently ignited the smoke with magic, and suddenly, the smoke throughout the city rose up in competition, forming various thick and column-like shapes, dividing the entire city and surrounding the mountains. Even if someone who had no belief stood at the foot of the mountain and saw this scene, they could only feel its majesty. An immense and boundless majesty. A majestic embrace of countless rivers. The whole world seemed to be filled with nothing but smoke and mountains, as if the boundaries of everything were slowly melting away, and the vast expanse of the sky and earth made people unable to help but kneel down in worship. In the unlimited and seemingly rapidly flowing time in Acadia, they all seemed to be affected by a distorted magic; the smoke seemed to be frozen, and the mountains seemed to tremble. The magical and distorted scenes made the people of nature ecstatic, as if they had received some kind of revelation. This is the charm of the Festival of Smoke in Acadia. With such a festival to celebrate, such deities to worship, what else do people need to hope for?
Finally, the Ochia's caravan arrived at their destination. Turing got off the carriage after Oedipus, only to be greeted by a magnificent church. "Hey, isn't that... Diana?" A petite and beautiful figure entered the church amidst the crowd's gathering.【These few days at school, whenever I see Diana, I feel like she's not in a good mood. Is she avoiding me?】 Turing clenched her long skirt wanting to walk faster, wanting to get closer to Diana, but suddenly she let go and glanced at Teresa.
【No, if I wander around, Teresa will catch me again.】
【I'll stick with the family.】
Facing the sacred stone door, Turing entered with a crowd of successful businessmen uncles, a magic studying professor grandmother, a renowned artist aunt, and then her mother…
The nobles of the Altria Family, surrounded Oedipus as they entered the church one by one.
Inside the church, solemn hymns accompanied the last person taking a seat. The sunlight that shone through the colorful windows made the already magnificent interior decorations even more dazzling.
This is the noble hall exclusively used by the aristocratic families of Atsuya and Galleher in east Acadia. It is a view that only nobles can see.
【Where's Diana?】 Turing deliberately sat on the outermost bench to have a clear view of the layout of the entire hall.
Instead of focusing on listening to the hymns, Turing chose to be absent-minded.
"Young master, why did you ruin the good mood of Lady Joseph?" Perhaps by coincidence, Teresa was sitting right next to Turing. Her serious, boyish doll-like face seemed slightly gentle at the moment.
"I just… felt that Joseph was feeling uneasy. I feel like it wants to go out for a walk, really. Sorry, I know it's wrong…" Turing's little eyebrows gently furrowed, looking somewhat cute on his face that was mismatched with his age.
"Young master, that can't be a reason." Teresa took the opportunity when the priestess on the stage was flipping through a book to speak.
"You should know what to do, what not to do. As a noble, especially as the only son of the Altria Family, you must always keep this in mind."
"You must strive for perfection, after all, boys have to work harder to surpass girls..."
Although Teresa was already one of the gentlest and most elegant people in Turing's mind, she also liked to nag about what boys should do and what girls should do, these cliché and trivial words.
There's nothing he can do, even saints can't avoid it, right? Although Turing didn't like it, reality wouldn't cater to his wishes.
Seeing Turing's still stoic little face, Teresa was puzzled. Why would a few words be enough on normal days, but not today?
"Are you feeling uncomfortable?" Teresa asked.
Turing wanted to shake his head, but his body nodded on its own.
"Is your stomach not feeling well?" Teresa asked again.
Turing wanted to wave his hand, but his hand involuntarily clenched.
Since Turing himself said he felt uncomfortable, it must be quite uncomfortable, Teresa thought.
"Go, to the bathroom, or get some medicine from the coachman, go." Teresa finally stopped her lecture and gently patted Turing's back.
"Um... sorry." Turing apologized and fled from his seat like a thief, constantly looking around as he walked through the back door.
【Diana! Found her, what's wrong with her...】
Diana sat quietly next to her dignified mother, her eyes red as if she had been crying, but her expression was firm and formal.
A heavy atmosphere enveloped the entire position of the Galleher family, the air was so serious and solid that it seemed to drip with water.
A sour feeling surged in Turing's heart.
But Turing can no longer ask or care about anyone.
Diana and her mother were surrounded by the Galleher family, like a wrongly knitted sweater, loose but difficult to unravel.
【I have to leave.】
【I said I'm not feeling well, Teresa is still watching me.】
The lines on the slate of the back door seemed like the claws of a devil, biting Turing's hand.Without any hesitation, the stone door dragged Turing into it, away from the songs that praised happiness during the holiday service.
But were those really songs of happiness?
Regardless, behind the door, Turing was about to face reality.
Behind the door stood an unexpectedly beautiful young man, holding a book in his hands.
His lips were delicate and poised, resembling those of a gentle mother.
His eyes were vast like the galaxy, serene like stars.
