#13. On a Night Like This, When the Stars Twinkle (11)

This year, the goddess of spring was especially capricious as she took her leave.

The cloudless, sunny sky would suddenly grow overcast. Clouds gathered together and poured down raindrops far too heavy to be called a spring shower. Then, in the blink of an eye, the weather would clear as though nothing had happened.

With such fickle weather ahead of a great festival, the people of the capital were worried sick.

The merchants, looking forward to the season’s biggest business, were the most anxious. But even ordinary people, whose livelihoods weren’t at stake, waited nervously for the Founding Festival to begin.

Though the Founding Festival catered more to nobles than the autumn harvest festival, that didn’t mean commoners couldn’t enjoy it, too. After all, it was a festival.

In fact, as part of the recent commoners’ rights movement, the Imperial family and the government had made a point of arranging various things for them.

So, whatever their station, everyone in the capital prayed for clear skies during the coming Founding Festival.

And perhaps the goddess of spring heard their wishes.

Fortunately, the first day of the festival did not bring the misfortune of a steady rain.

Galatea’s Founding Festival lasted four days...