WHOOOOHH!! WHOOOHH!! OOHHHHH!!

  Loud cheers boomed throughout the pce, people, lions, and elephants bowing their heads time and time again. As appuse echoed in the air, people talked about their experienside the circus, ughing and chug to themselves.

  Before long, the show finally ended and people started p out of the tent. From children to elderly, everyoing with a smile on their face. They all ehe show, leaving with their hearts filled with satisfa and cheerfulness.

  "Waah～! That was so fun～! It makes me want to watch again..."［Yuna］

  "Me too. Let's watch it some other time, Older Sister Yuna!"［Violet］

  "U's do just that! How about we watch this tomorrow again?"［Yuna］

  "Yes! I would very much love to!"［Violet］

  It was so fun, everyone couldn't stop thinking about it even after they excited the tent. The extreme stunts, the stunning magic, the circus animals as, and many more. There was a lot to see uhe tent, all full of awe and wonder.

  "Haven't you had enough of watg it already? I thought this is your what... Fourthー no, fifth time watg it?"［Grey］

  "Ehh～? But it's so fun! Isn't it, Iris, Violet?"［Yuna］

  "Y-Yes! I agree with Elder Sister Yuna!"［Iris］

  "Me too, Older Brrey!"［Violet］

  Now, Yuna even dragged the young dies to her side. With such a lineup, there was nothing more he could do. He could only sigh in resignatioing the girls decide whatever they want to do and follow after them. It was quite enjoyable, after all.

  Noon had already passed and so dId lunch. With the sun slowly sinking down the horizon, everyone tiheir tour and enjoyed a lot more attras all over the ival, stopping by from ride to ride and enjoying things the best way they could.

  They also happeo pass by a spooky haunted house, but before they could even suggest anything, the two young dies with them quickly dissuaded them from doing so, shaking their heads frantically as if their very lives depended on it.

  Apart from that, they had lots of fun. They entered a mirror maze, tried out different snacks, and watched a lot of performances. It was a day full of fun, time flying and passing quickly before they even noticed it. Truly a wild ride.

  "Ah! Everyohere's something new over there! Let's try it!"［Violet］

  "Fufufu! That looks like fun～!"［Yuna］

  It hasn't even been a couple minutes sihey exited the te atra had caught their eye. There were rge spinning wheels, divided into several colored and uneven parts, big needles situated at the top and words written all over them.

  An attra Grey was too familiar with, seeing it all over the television, the i, and all over the pce. A which could spell happiness, gloom, and mediocrity simply by d leaving it to fate. It was the "Wheel of Fortune"!

  And as it seems, there were a number of prizes id out all over the stall as well. Be it tiny tris, rge stuffed toys, and even some cash, one could see all sorts of prizes, eae written on their respective colored slices. As for the grand prize, it seems to be hidden for now.

  "Nooo!! I was so close, goddammit!"

  "Hahaha, better luext time, dear er～."

  They have yet to approach the game yet they could already hear a voice filled with despair, a man kneeling to the ground as he suffered a great loss. He was just a couple millimeters away as well. How truly vexing it was.

  Yet despite the man's dreadful scream, people still lined up after the wheel of forturying to test their luck. Ma home empty-handed, but some also won prizes here and there. It was a good game, fair and square.

  "Mister, we'd also like to py, please."［Yuna］

  "Oh, of course, of course! That would be 10 kiels per spin."

  "Then, we'll be having mmn... 5 spins each, please."［Yuna］

  Said Yuna, handing two whole bronze s to the facilitator. They were then given 20 tickets ead lined up after the others. Everyone retty excited to try out the game even though they kheir ce of winning was slim, close to none.

  With each step they took, emotional cries echoed in the air. Some cried tears of joy, while most were... Let's just say they got unlucky. There were even some who didn't nd a hit even after a dozen tries. Their luck was simply ent.

  Before long, it was finally their turn. And sihere were three Wheels of Fortune present, Yuna, Iris, and Violet went ahead first and lined up to their respective wheels. Now that they were close to it, they could clearly see how big it was.

  "Then, in three... two... one... spin!!"［Yuna］

  With Yuna ting down, everyone quickly spun their wheels ahe rest to fate. Despite he they were, they were actually pretty light, spinning ever so eically as the needle jumped from slice to slice.

  Well, at least that's how it went on Yuna's side. For Violet, the wheel inning much slower, only rotating every on a while. Meanwhile, Iris... With her meager strength, the wheel was barely spinning, faking its sweet time as much as it could.

  It didn't take long at all. With how little force Iris exerted, it didn't even take the wheel ten seds before stopping. Unfortunately for Iris, her spin nded on a red, or a bnk so to say, not even winning a minor prize.

  "A... I didn't get anything..."［Iris］

  "Fufufu! That's okay, Iris... I got a bnk as well."［Violet］

  And soon after Iris', Violet's wheel stopped spinning. Though she packed more power in her spin, pared to Iris whose needle was close to a prize, Violet's was dead ter, not even close to getting a prize.

  After Violet, it was finally Yuna's turn. And by sheer luck, she nded on a differently colored tile, earning herself a minor prize. It was only a small and simple key, but it was still enough to make her happy, softly giggling to herself.

  "Then, shall we tinue?"［Yuna］

  Though... Such a giggle didn't st too long. After her first lucky spin, the spins after it all nded oiles. It wasn't just her, Iris and Violet experiehe same results as well. A game of luck was truly brutal.

  Now, the young dies were feeling a little crestfallen, Yuna clutg her key with a sulky face. Such adorable as only served to make Grey chuckle to himself, subsciously patting the three's heads as he tried to cheer them up.

  "I guess it's my turn then..."［Grey］

  A smile still floating on his face, Grey then approached one of the wheels and took a careful look at it. It was quite intimidating with its size, but there was o be scious about that. Soon, the wheel finally started spinning.

  It spun and spun, a spectrum of colors fshing before their eyes. With the passing of time, the wheel started to slow down, soon ing to a stop. And as fate would have it, his spin nded on a major prize. A lucky spin.

  "Waah～! Okder Brrey is so lucky! He got a major prize first time!"［Violet］

  "Mou... It's going to go downhills from this anyway..."［Yuna］

  Unfortunately for Yuna, such was not the case. Oer another, each of Grey's spins nded on the major prizes tiles, the crowd screaming with surprise as they witnessed su unbelievable show of lufold.

  Though, it wasn't really all because of luck. Though the first one was indeed a lucky spin, his main goal at the time was to cheuch the wheel would spin if he were to exert a certain force, a smile blooming on his face soon after.

  It would have been impossible to perform, but with Grey's "Perfect Memory", he memorized just how much force he o exactly apply in order to get what he wanted, nding on major prizes four times in a row with retive ease.

  'And now, for the grand finale...'［Grey］

  Thought Grey, a mischievous smile blooming on his face. He then spun the wheel for the final time, and the sound of the needle g echoed in the air as the wheel spun and spun. Before long, the oute was finally revealed...

  "W-We have a wihe grand prize has finally been nabbed!"

  "Grey, you're amazing! You really did it!"［Yuna］

  "Elder Brrey, you're so cool!"［Iris］

  There was no mistaking it. Grey's needle nded on the golden tile whily had one in a million ce of winning. The crowd cmored and excimed in awe aement as they saw Grey win, uo believe their eyes.

  For the first time in a while, the grand prize was finally revealed. It was a ticket for five for a wonderful and luxurious date, plete with high-css t, service, dinner, and so much more. It was the perfect gift.

  As for the major prizes, Grey let the young dies take their pi what the stall has to offer. Yuna picked a beautiful hairpin, Iris got herself yet auffed toy, and Violet had herself a gaudy and elegant fountain pen.

  Sihere was another major prize left, Grey got himself a decorative dagger which he would decorate their home with. It was a very profitable haul, only costing them 200 kiels. It was quite the generous and lucky bargain.

  "Thank you very much, Elder Brrey, I'm make sure to treasure it!"［Iris］

  "Me too! I'll always keep it with me!"［Violet］

  "Hahaha, that's reassuring to hear."［Grey］

  Smiles on their faces, everyohehe Wheel of Fortune and tirolling about throughout the vast ival. They found more attras, and so, they pyed some mames, enjoying themselves to their hearts' tent.

  Just like the previous game, they also hauled in quite a bit of prizes after pying so many games oer another. In fact, pared to the amount they spent, the value of the prizes they got was much higher by many folds.

  And just like that, time passed some more and the afternoon bell rang throughout the whole city. Yet despite how much time has passed, the whole city was still as merry as one be, the excitement not dying down any time soon.

  "Iris, move a little more to the leftー No, your left!"［Yuna］

  "A-Ah, yes! L-Left, right...?"［Iris］

  "Just a little more... Aep... And, okay! That's okay, Iris!"［Yuna］

  Now, they are pying some sort of pi?ata game. The goal was to hit the target which has been randomly pced on a wide area with a time limit of only two minutes whilst one is blindfolded. The sooner one finds the target, the better the prize will be.

  Everyone was already done pying, and as one would expect from Grey and Yuna, they quickly struck down the pi?atas, it wasn't even a challenge. Currently, it was Iris' turn, slowly turning about and cautious as a little rabbit as she took her steps.

  Sinly a single person was allowed to give the pyer instrus, Yuna has been guiding the young priowards the right path, correg her the moment she makes a mistake and cheering on her all the while.

  "Wait! Back down a little bit, Iris! And... There! That's perfect!"［Yuna］

  "Hmm... We only have twenty seds left..."［Grey］

  "Grey, you're not helping!"［Yuna］

  It was plete and utter chaos. Even though she wasn't the one who ying, Yuna was in a total state of panic, trying to give Iris instrus as carefully as she could whilst trying to keep the timer in mind.

  She turned left, turned right, and walked straight a couple steps. Ead every time Yuna instructed Iris, the tter advanced closer towards the target, her stick ready to strike as hard as she could at Yuna's and.

  RING RING DING

  Unfortunately for everyone, before Iris could eve in rao the target, the two miimer had already run out. She was almost there as well, only a couple more steps away from winning aing a prize.

  "Sorry, Iris, we couldn't win the prize. Should we try again?"［Yuna］

  "No, it's okay. I had a lot of fun, Elder Sister Yuna!"［Iris］

  Yet despite her loss, there was only satisfa on the young princess' face. Even when Yuna offered to retake the game, she simply shook her head and beamed a blinding smile soon after. Such a pure and kied child she was.

  Well, there really wasn't any reason to feel so down. Even if they did win or not, they already have more than enough prizes to st them a lifetime. What's most important was that they had a lot of fun pying the games.

  "The's get going, shallー"［Grey］

  WHOOOOO!! OOOOOHHHHH!!

  Grey couldn't even finish his words when he was suddenly cut off by a loud cmor of noises ing from quite a distance away. There, a lot of people gathered, cheering ever so enthusiastically, the sounds of metals g drifting in the air.

  What got them so riled up, one might ask? It was the exhibition matches performed before them, two figures g fiercely with all their might, nding heavy strikes against one another every time their ons ected.

  "Should we go check it out?"［Grey］

  There was no direswer, everyone only nodding in silehey soon walked closer and approached the fighting stage, feeling the excitement in the air getting more and more inteh each step they took.

  And when they were finally at a siderable distance, shod surprise was what greeted them. Iage, there was a familiar figure g against a fairly high-ranking knight, trading blows as if they were in a real battle.

  "Elder Brother...?"［Iris］

  It was her than the mischievous prince, Julius!

  He dodged aruck, his fierce lightning running rampant throughout the stage. If it wasn't for the high level barriers surrounding the pce, things would have already gotten dicey for the spectators. Such was how fierce the battle really was.

  The goal retty simple. In order to win, one simply o either knock down the oppo, make them surrender, or make them fall out of bounds all within a limit of ten minutes. Failure to do so will result in a tie from both parties

  There was also o worry for heavy injuries or death as the barrier had been made to quickly pull out those who are in dahere healers are also on standby to heal the injuries. And in such a case, it would be the opposing party's victory.

  And as barbaric as it may seem, the exhibition matches were actually a way for the tries to create a stronger retionship through duels. It has been going on for as long as the festival has, being a tradition through the ages.

  "Haah... So this is where he has been..."［Grey］

  "Fufufu! Julius never fails to surprise us, huh?"［Yuna］

  "Yeah, surprise us with troubles, that is..."［Grey］

  The battle tinued and more blows were traded. Though quite a bit weaker than his oppo, Julius stood his ground a on pushing, barely evading the enemy's all out assault. If it wasn't for the fact that he was now at D-rank, things would have gotten dicey for him.

  ??Double Cross!??

  The oppo knight waved his sword and a star shaped bde came rushing towards Julous' dire. Julius tried to dodge it, but it was already too te. All he could do was defend against the attack, trying to parry it with his spear.

  Julius' hands were trembling, but some way or another, he mao block the attack, breaking it using sheer force. Unfortunately for him, the knight still wasn't finished with his assault, rushing towards him as soon as his attack ected.

  "Kugh!"［Julius］

  It was a heavy strike, Julius barely managing to dodge by a hair's breadth. He then quickly set some distaween them, stepping back a couple steps as quickly as he could, hands still trembling from the impact.

  ??Lightning Parade!??［Julius］

  Julius reached out his hands and lightning shot out from his fiips. The oppo which was once chasing after him had no other choice but to dodge, parrying some of the lightning bolts with his massive greatsword.

  Unfortunately for him, Julius didn't just strike out of panic. As the oppo dodged to the left where there was no lightning, he then took the opportunity and pnted his feet firmly to the ground. Soon, he pouowards the unsuspeg knight.

  ??Heavy Ssh!??

  The knight tried to intercept Julius with a vertical ssh towards him, but before it could even ect, Julius quickly pnted his spear towards the floor, then leaping midair. Before the oppo noticed, he was already behind him.

  ??Lightning Parade!??［Julius］

  Yet another volley of lightning bolts shot out from Julius' palm. The only differenow was that there oint-bnk distaween him and his oppo. There was nothing the knight could do but ehe attack.

  Crackle Crackle BOOOOMMMM

  The parade of lightning bolt hit the knight's left fnk, bsting him a couple meters aain coursed throughout his whole body. Though not all of the lightning bolts ected, several of them struck the enemy where it hurts.

  Julius didn't simply stop there. Seeing his oppo bsted midair with no way of maneuvering himself, he quickly took hold of his spear again and rushed towards where the enemy was going to nd, waiting like a tiger going for an ambush.

  ??Howling Cleaver!??［Julius］

  He didn't waste the opportunity and nded a strike once again. All the knight could do was resist and defend as his greatsword was bsted away from him. There was only pain to be felt as Julius tinued his endless fury

  "Oh, we didn't expect to see you here, everyone."［Richter］

  "Your Majesties..." ［Grey］

  And just as such a fierce fight unfolded, a couple of familiar voices rang from the crowd. It wasn't just the Azure Sword Emperor, the current Emperor and some members of the Imperial Family were also with them. Everyone greeted everyone else soon after.

  "Are you enjoying the Festival of Hearts, everyone?" ［Richter］

  "Very much so, Your Majesty. How about you... It seems yoing around with your family? It must have been quite delightful." ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha. That it is, that it is, Lady Yuna." ［Richter］

  It was a shreeting, Richter's eyes soon shifting towards Julius" battle. He then cupped his and observed them closely, feeling a bit of awe as he admired how bold and aggressive Julius was, nding oack after another.

  "Mhm.. The Prince really does fight quite well, doesn't he? He'll undoubtedly bee an important pilr of Alfrione in the near future..."［Richter］

  "He's quite the hard worker, after all. He might even bee a High-Ranker iure... Though, I just hope he doesn't get too reckless." ［Grey］

  "Hahaha. Reckless, huh... I could see that..." ［Richter］

  Richter said, watg the fight once more. And though Julius seems to be the one having the upper hand, if oo observe closely, one could notice Julius was actually slowing down and trembling even more than before.

  With every strike, his stamina was drained dry, fatigue accumuting with the passing of time. He was getting impatient, trying to finish the fight as soon as possible, putting each bit of power left in him in each of his heavy strikes.

  In trast to him, despite sustaining injuries all over his body, the oppo knight remained calm, waiting for Julius to slip and create opportunity. And... he didn't have to wait long at all.

  'There!' ［Julius］

  Seeing an opportunity, Julius quickly he d struck with his spear. Unfortunately for him, it was a trap id out by the enemy, his spear caught between the oppo's arms as the knight kicked his legs, making him lose bance.

  It was all too sudden. He couldn't even think, when the very moment, he saw a rge hand heading towards his face. There was no way to defend against, the knight soon smming him towards the ground.

  And just when things couldn't get any worse, the knight got a hold of his own spear and poi towards him. The fight was finally over, loud cheers and appuse eg by the background as clouds of dust slowly faded away.

  "Sorry for being th, Yhness."

  "No, it's alright... It's my loss." ［Julius］

  There was no hatred betweehe knight his hand to lift Julius up. He was soon ba his feet, shaking each other's hands before receiving treatment from the healers and parting ways.

  And just as he went dowage, his face painted with a crestfallen expression, he saw a number of familiar faces greeting him. He then scratched his head, not knowing what to say, feeling awkwardness deep inside.

  "That was quite the show, Julius. You've gotten strain." ［Grey］

  "Yes! Elder Brother was really amazing back there!"［Iris］

  "Princess Iris is right. If you were more experienced, I'm sure the oute would have been different... You did well, Prince Julius." ［Richter］

  However, trary to his expectations, not one of them mocked him. Rather, they were singing praises of his match, even Richter aowledging him. A warm and happy feeling welled inside his heart despite his loss.

  "Oh, what's this? Are y now?" ［Grey］

  "Grey, you bastard! You just have to destroy the moment, don't you?!" ［Julius］

  Well, a short-lied warm and happy feeling. As soon as he heard Grey's words, such a feeling of gratitude was soon turned into irritation as he started bickering with Grey once again. Things have returo normal, everyone giggling to themselves.

  And just as such a se unfolded, the fabled Azure Sword Emperor couldn't help but take a g the duel stage, remembering the blissful past when he once participated in them. A sudden thought came into his mind.

  "Lrey, Lady Yuna..." ［Richter］

  "Mn?" ［Yuna］

  "What do you say we have an exhibition match?" ［Richter］

  It was a sudden proposal, everyone freezing up as soon as they heard Richter's words. Yet the man himself was only smiling brightly, looking at Grey and Yuna, ag as if he said nothing out of the ordinary. As for the tter's rea...

  ""Ehhh??!!"" ［Grey and Yuna］

  ... They were shocked as one be...

  CHAPTER 287 END