When Your Secret Crush Wizard Took a Love Potion - Chapter 41
The alley was lined with tiny shops tucked in between buildings like white matchboxes. They sold a variety of items: commemorative trinkets seemingly related to the theater performances, symbolic goods, and the usual fare of food and drinks.
Despite the high price of five coppers each, the skewer shop that sold thinly sugared fruit was especially busy, with a line so long that navigating through the crowd would be a challenge. Locals forgot their daily routines to dance, sing, eat, and chatter away.
Though I was merely passing through as a traveler, mingling with the locals who were immersed in the festival gave me a fleeting sense of belonging to their community.
“Looks like that’s where the play will be held.”
The venue for the theater was set back a little from the village’s central square, designed with a large round area surrounded by steps and terraces for seating. Even though the play hadn’t started yet, a few early birds were already milling about, marveling at the stage adorned with vibrant flowers.
“Oops!”
Thud. A small figure bumped into me, reaching only up to my waist. The child who collided with me looked up, more startled than I was.
“I’m so sorry!”
The face looking up at me seemed oddly familiar—it was the chatty child from the inn, who had been as cheerful as a little bird earlier. Barely hours had passed, and yet there were big, teary eyes looking up at me.
“What’s wrong?”
Trying to sound as gentle as possible, I inadvertently made the child cry harder, with tears dropping like rain.
Curious about what could have upset her so, I led her behind the stage where it was quieter, relieved to find out she wasn’t being bullied or hurt.
“Mom said she can’t come to watch my play today. She has to fix the inn that was damaged to receive guests tomorrow. There’s no way she can take time off because of the festival today…”
“That… must be tough for you.”
Seeing the child tearfully sorry tugged painfully at my conscience, especially knowing that my near disaster with the fire at the inn was largely to blame.
“I wanted my mom to see it more than anyone because I love her so much.”
What might seem trivial to an adult was evidently a significant event for the child, who had desperately wanted her performance to be seen by her mother above anyone else. Despite her mature facade while dealing with inn guests, she was still just a little girl.
“Adventurer, do you think my mom doesn’t love me?”
She asked, clutching my clothes in her small hands.
I was at a loss for words. The innkeeper appeared to be a single mother, a tough role requiring her to be firm. While I understood her decision, it was hard to explain that to a hurt child without making assumptions.
“Sometimes, we know what others feel even if they don’t say it out loud.”
Edgar intervened before I could respond. Her eyes lit up, wondering what he was going to say.
“What do you think?”
The girl looked down at Edgar’s question.
“Mom said…she was sorry. She tried to hug me and apologize again… but I was too angry…and ran out without saying anything.”
“She must be very worried about you right now.”
Edgar’s straightforward comment caused the child’s expression to wobble as if she might start crying again.
“How about we make a recording for you?”
I offered hastily, catching her attention with the unfamiliar suggestion.
“We have magical devices that can store visuals and sounds. We could record your performance on stage, and your mom could watch it later.”
It was a spur-of-the-moment idea, but it suddenly seemed like a pretty good one. The child, momentarily forgetting her tears, stared at me wide-eyed.
“Is that really possible?”
“Because it’s magic.”
“Wow, magic is so amazing! Maybe I’ll become a wizard too!”
