Chapter 38
It was a mysterious singing voice.
The song began in a voice like a girl's. Before long, it shifted to that of a boy whose voice had not yet broken, and then a husky, rich voice reached my ears.
It was astonishing to think they all came from one person. There wasn't the slightest awkwardness in the changes, either. Combined with the music of the foreign instruments playing behind the singer, it was enough to make me feel as if someone were playing an instrument called the Songstress.
Rufa watched the Songstress intently, her eyes sparkling and her face alight with the excitement of a girl her age.
"Rufa, don't lean too far over the balcony and fall."
I specifically warned her because we were on the second floor of a building. It was a prime seat with a view of the stage from above. We could certainly enjoy the performance here without being jostled by the crowd.
Being a commoner, I feel festivals like this are more fun in a crowded place, though.
Le Pu Zea, the traveling troupe led by the Songstress. There were quite a few traveling troupes that toured the continent and made their living from performances. Each had its own specialty: some made acrobatics their family business, while many others specialized in theater. Singing and music, acrobatics, and theater were the standard acts of a traveling troupe.
Whenever they arrived, the town became livelier. Travelers gathered, and the residents got a welcome diversion, so the lord was happy to welcome them.
It wasn't a hard-and-fast rule, but the lord provided lodging and meals, while it was customary for the audience to pay for the performances.
A skilled traveling troupe could earn enough money to fund its journey wherever it went, while a poor one would soon be unable to continue. Le Pu Zea might have been a troupe that frequently visited Ludeck, but I thought they were fairly famous as well.
Though they paid no taxes and lived as they pleased, they had another important role that earned them the freedom to travel from country to country.
They passed on the rumors they had heard in each country to the local lords and kings.
Their other work began once the performance ended and drinks were served. Armed with stories from other countries to accompany the drinks, they slipped into the circles of ordinary citizens.
Then they gathered information of uncertain truth. Never underestimate mere rumors among the people. Once enough of them had been collected, more credible stories would begin to emerge. Sometimes, they even revealed things a country wanted to keep hidden.
To use a familiar example, Wickhart's case is easy to understand. No matter what the official announcement said, the story would gradually spread from the soldiers who knew the details to their families, and from their families to their acquaintances.
If they gathered enough rumors like that, the truth behind Wickhart's resignation might emerge... or something like that.
The reason I knew so much about this was that, while wandering in the future, I had once traveled with a troupe.
It was only temporary, but we hit it off well enough that they even invited me, saying, "Why not keep traveling with us?"
I wondered if they were doing well... No, I was sure they were. I would meet them far in the future, after all. Maybe they hadn't even founded their traveling troupe yet.
As my thoughts drifted into the distant future, the loudest cheer of the day pulled me back to reality.
Apparently, the final act had ended.
This won't do. I had barely heard any of the singing after the middle of the performance. Ever since returning to the past, I felt as though I had begun sinking into a sea of thought more often. Was it the influence of Rays-sama?
"What did you think? Wonderful, wasn't it?" the lord-san said, spreading both hands as if it were his own accomplishment.
I learned that he and Le Pu Zea were on close terms, and that they came to the town of Ruelue regularly.
The townspeople looked forward to Le Pu Zea's visits twice a year, and many travelers and residents from nearby areas came after hearing about them.
The more visitors from outside there were, the more money the town made. That was why the lord-sama put extra effort into preparations, with even greater enthusiasm than usual. I see—so that was the reason behind his earlier words.
"I'm scheduled to dine with Zodia, the Songstress. Would you care to join us?" the lord-sama invited us.
I had originally intended to eat something quick outside, but after seeing Rufa's face light up, it was difficult to refuse. In the end, we accepted his hospitality.
"I'm Zodia. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Zodia introduced herself with a bewitching bow so graceful that it seemed to make a soft swishing sound. When we introduced ourselves in turn, she reacted to Wickhart's name.
"Wickhart-sama? Surely not... Could you be Wickhart-sama, the Azure Bow of the Sixth Knight Order?"
"Yes. However, the king asked me to become his close aide, so I transferred from the Sixth Knight Order. I currently serve with the Tenth Knight Order."
"Oh... I see. Then are you here on duty today?"
"That's right. I can't tell you the details," Wickhart answered smoothly. The two of them made a striking pair.
After that, dinner proceeded without incident. We mainly passed the time with stories of Zodia's travels and Wickhart's innocuous anecdotes about the military. Once we were pleasantly tipsy, the lord-san suddenly clapped his hands and said, "That's right."
"Zodia-dono is a first-rate singer, but her astrology is remarkable as well. Though it may be rude to call it mere entertainment, perhaps someone would like to have their fortune told?"
"Oh?" Wickhart said, then turned the question toward Rufa. "Rufa, what do you think?"
Rufa had been happily nibbling on her sandwich, but she stopped dead in that position, thought for a moment, and then shook her head rapidly.
"I see. Then what about you, Roa-dono?" Wickhart apparently had no intention of having his own fortune told.
"Huh? I don't think you'd find mine very interesting," I said, about to decline as well, when Zodia began, "You..."
"Yes?"
"Ah, no... It would be rude to tell someone's fortune without being asked."
"What? You can tell fortunes that easily?" I asked. She shook her head slightly.
"Strictly speaking, I suppose it is more like preparation before a reading. Before anyone asks me to read their fortune, I find myself consciously observing them out of habit..."
"Oh," I said, genuinely impressed. Zodia pondered for a moment, then opened her mouth as if she had just thought of something.
"This is a rather forward request, but would you allow me to read your fortune?"
Under Zodia's heated gaze, I found myself saying:
"Um... I think I'll pass."
...Because, well, she seemed kind of scary.