I May Be A Villainess, But I Won't Live My Life That Way - Chapter 16

Chapter 16 

“This is….”

My voice trembled slightly.

The crowd of people was moving through the streets, touching each other’s shoulders, and staying close to the next person.

Shouts could be heard from all around, and even though I didn’t know what it was, there were loud noises intermittently.

“Ricardo?”

While firmly holding Lara’s hand beside me, I grabbed Ricardo’s arm on the other side.

His strong arm was felt through the thin shirt.

Honestly, it was reassuring.

“Is this, like, a sudden war or something?”

If Ricardo had answered yes, I would have immediately hugged Lara and thought about setting up the carriage not far from here.

I would load the children onto the carriage, go to the Croft Mansion, and then take shelter in the underground refuge prepared for war.

After that, mobilize the family soldiers to fulfill their duty as high-ranking nobles of the Sprendo Empire.

“Bianca.”

While quietly deciding on my course of action, Ricardo called me.

“This is just a festival.”

He smiled gently, as if nothing was wrong.

“Just a festival?”

Doubting Ricardo’s words, I looked again at the scene in front of me.

A crazy number of people crowded in front of me, and to move forward, at least two people needed to rub against each other, and to take five steps, it seemed like I would have to step on five people’s feet.

In the distance, someone was shouting in a jolly manner; screams were heard from one side, and from another side, someone’s crying could be heard.

Is this chaos supposed to be a festival?

The festivals I read about in books had music; everyone was happy and lively.

There was no mention of a whirlpool of confusion like this!

“Calm down, Bianca.”

Whether he read the confusion in my eyes or not, Ricardo said, putting his hand on my shoulder.

But I didn’t want to let Ricardo know that I was confused.

“I’m always calm.”

“Of course, you are.”

“I’ve read it all in books. It’s just that, compared to what I read in books…”

Looking ahead again to find the right expression.

Oh my goodness, is this really all people?

“It’s a little less crowded right now.”

“Less people?”

“There are more people at night. Festivals are more vibrant at night markets.”

Ricardo shrugged his shoulders as if it were obvious.

More people than this? How many more could there possibly be?

I swear, the only time I’ve seen this many people was at Ricardo’s inauguration ceremony.

But from what I could see, there were even more people now than at the inauguration. So, the only thing that came to mind was war.

“Well, then, shall we go and take a look?”

“Exciting!”

“Wow!”

The children around us cheered in response to Ricardo’s words.

“Princess, let’s go!”

Lara, too, excitedly grabbed my hand and pulled me.

“Well, okay.”

I couldn’t help it; she was the one who asked me to go with her.

I took a deep breath and stepped into the crowd.

At first, I almost collided with a man coming from the opposite side. However, I quickly turned my upper body slightly to the side and narrowly avoided bumping into him.

Next, a passing woman quickly came to my side, smoothly turned her body to the side, and then stood in front of me again.

People touched each other slightly, as if they had applied slippery oil, but there was absolutely no collision.

No one fell, and no one was pushed back.

“It’s fascinating.”

Everyone was moving in their own direction in various flows.

Only then did I hear the voices I heard earlier a bit differently.

“Yay! I won, I won!”

What I thought was a scream earlier turned out to be a woman’s cheer.

“Buy it! Buy it! Buy candies that melt in your mouth!”

“Fun game! Enjoyable game! If you hit all five here, we’ll give you a fantastic prize!”

What I thought was an evil laugh was actually a street vendor’s performance.

The sounds that I thought were like the chaos of war changed when the scenery changed.

It was lively and full of vitality.

People’s faces looked happy, and everyone was smiling.

“Princess, it’s a doll!”

Lara’s face, looking at me while spinning around, was also filled with a smile.

“Do you want a doll?”

“Yeah!”

“Okay, I’ll buy you one!”

Our Lara wants a doll, so what’s a doll to worry about?

I gladly nodded my head and said,.

“No, Bianca, I think it might be a bit much for you.”

For a moment, I thought I had heard something wrong.

“Too much? Are you telling me it’s too much for me?”

What’s the big deal with a doll? Did they attach the word “too much” to the young lady of the Croft Marquis right now?

Was it a porcelain doll made by some artisan? Or does it have jewels for the eyes, nose, and mouth?

“What kind of extraordinary doll is it that you dare to tell me it’s too much?”

“No, the doll is not extraordinary.”

“Are you telling me that an ordinary doll is too much for me?”

“It’s not that…”

Instead of answering, Ricardo subtly pointed with his finger to the sign next to the doll.

<Catch a mouse with your bare hands>.

I silently read the words again.

<Catch a mouse with your bare hands>.

I read it again.

<Catch a mouse with your bare hands>.

Even after the third time, the words remained the same.

“There’s a mouse loose in that box, and you have to reach in, feel around, and catch the mouse with your hands. You have to catch three mice to win the doll.”

“Why?”

“What?”

“Why do you have to… catch it with your hands?”

I couldn’t bring myself to utter the words.

“It’s just a game.”

“It’s an absurd game.”

I spat out the words with frustration.

“There are games for ladies who don’t like mice.”

The man who seemed to be the owner approached us, smiling, and pointed to something beside him.

<Catch a goldfish with your bare hands>.

“Why catch goldfish too?”

Not understanding this either, I frowned and looked at the owner.

“Because it’s fun?”

What’s fun about that? I couldn’t comprehend it at all.

“Doll…”

Biting her thumb, Lara looked at the doll she mentioned earlier.

It was a stuffed doll with yellow thread for hair and, once again, a yellow crown on its head.

“Okay. So, brave knight, who’s going to catch the mouse for our little cutie?”

Ricardo said, pulling a coin out of his pocket, and to his surprise, several of the boys raised their hands.

Ricardo impartially had the boys play rock-paper-scissors, and the winner stood in front of the box with a very determined expression.

“Now, you have one minute.”

The owner placed the watch in front and declared.

“Rea~dy!”

In the owner’s voice, the child plunged his hand into the box.

And after a moment,.

“Aaargh!”

“Eek!”

“Woah!”

The child, frightened as if he had touched something, pulled his hand away, and we all screamed together.

“Again! Again!”

“Robin, go for it! The doll!”

“You can do it, Robin!”

“Go, Robin!”

With cheering voices from all around, Robin, with a determined face, reached into the box again.

“I got it!”

“Eek! It’s a mouse!”

“Haha! There really was a mouse!”

“Well done, Robin!”

“Oh my!”

As Robin lifted the caught mouse with an energetic voice, the kids around us screamed and cheered.

“Two!”

After placing the first mouse in the box provided by the owner, Robin, with confidence, caught the second mouse effortlessly.

It seemed like the first try was always the hardest.

“Now! 10 seconds left!”

“10 seconds, Robin!”

“Hurry! Hurry!”

“Go, Robin! Fighting!”

“Aaah! Where is it?”

In desperation, Robin almost put his shoulder into the box, and we all collectively hoped that he would find the mouse.

He did. It was us.

I, too, found myself clenching my fist, silently praying for Robin to catch the mouse.

“Three! Two! One….”

“I got it!”

It was the moment the owner was about to say “Ding.” Robin lifted the third mouse.

“Whoa!”

“Robin did it!”

“He caught the mouse!”

The kids surrounded Robin, jumping around as if he had accomplished something tremendous. Robin, too, wore a proud expression, as if he had achieved something remarkable.

“Now, here’s the prize!”

The owner brought over the doll that was placed on the side.

Upon closer inspection, the doll didn’t look particularly pretty or sophisticated.

Its eyes were a bit crooked, and the fabric seemed cheap.

“Wow, it’s the princess’s doll!”

But Lara loved it.

The child received the doll with a bright smile, holding it preciously against their chest.

“She loves it.”

I muttered unconsciously.

Watching Lara, who seemed genuinely happy with an unassuming smile, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Well, well.”

Even Ricardo, standing beside me, couldn’t hide his laughter.

“Actually, I knew the kids would like it. It’s you who’s surprised me.”

“Me?”

Turning my head to look at Ricardo, he was also smiling.

Very softly, very joyfully.

“I thought you wouldn’t suit places like this market. But seeing you enjoy it, I guess I was wrong again.”

Even as he admitted his mistake, Ricardo didn’t seem regretful at all.

Rather, he seemed even more delighted that he was wrong.

“Ricardo, I’m thirsty!”

“Get us some juice!”

“Sure! I’m choosing.”

Hearing Ricardo’s words, the children excitedly rushed to the juice stand.

“Shall we?”

Ricardo reached out his hand.

Somehow, my mood felt strange.

Over the past ten years, he has extended his hand to me countless times.

At balls, as an escort, to help me up when seated.

There were countless reasons and countless situations.

But this felt entirely different from those repetitive times; strangely, my heart fluttered.

When I gently placed my hand on his, as if whispering, it felt even more so.

Perhaps it was because it was the day when the magic of lovers, the Feast of Saint Georges, happened.

So for some reason, my heart was pounding, and I couldn’t help but feel excited and fluttery.

“Smile Love”