The Regression Of A Grand Mercenary - 96 - Spring Festival Days - A Froppy Date

A date huh…it’s been a while since…wait, I’ve never actually went on a date before. How should I go about this?

Shouldn’t the guy be spending his money on the girl to impress her? Is that how dates go? No, that can’t be right…especially with Evelyn who already has more money than I currently have. As far as I know, dates can go many ways…

A date can be a picnic to a flower field.

A date can be just two couples walking down the road and enjoying their time together…

It doesn’t technically have to do anything with money.

But what can I do to make this a successful date? Usually, at a date, I should do anything to impress the girl, especially in Evelyn’s case where it’s clear that money won’t be the one thing that impresses her. Her and her sapphire dress.

When I look around the market fair, there were all sorts of items I can probably use on Evelyn. But I should only use the things that really applies to her. The things she loves for example.

“Hmm…”

“What’s wrong Thill?” asked Evelyn as she was in line for the food stall that was selling a unique sort of delicacy.

“It’s nothing, I was just curious what this stall was selling.” I said.

“Ah, have you never tasted this dish before? They call it Froppy Chastea. It’s a coffee drink that is more sweet than our usual tea.”

“A Chastea?…Hmm, I’ve probably heard of it before. Does it taste good?” I asked as I peaked up at the front of the line, and I could see a large cup filled to the brim with what seemed like foam.

“…I’ve only tasted it once, and I enjoyed it. Although, I wouldn’t get it every day, maybe just once a week.” she said.

“Huh…they’re putting in foam. Is that normal?” I asked.

“Oh, they call it whipped cream. It taste very milky…I think. It’s been a long time since I had one.”

“Uhuh…”

As time went on, we finally were able to order this Froppy Chastea…

And one look at it made me realize just how food has gotten. In my past life, I usually just hunt food in the depths of the forest and roast them over the fire. I never really considered tasting these things…

“Hm, it’s just like I remembered.” she said as she took a sip at the drink.

To save our appetite for later when her sister would come by to eat at the Resto, we only ordered one drink, so we had to share this one cup together.

“How is it?” I asked.

“Like I told you, it’s coffee…but more sweeter than you would think.”

“Well, if it’s coffee, I won’t object to it.”

As I took a sip from the same cup, I noticed that Evelyn blushed when my lips touched the straw.

“W-what?” I asked.

“N-nothing…” she said as she looked away shyly.

“Okay…” as I drank this Froppy Chastea, the moment this caffeinated drink touched my tongue, I was immediately surprised by just how sweet it was.

“How is it?” she asked.

“It’s good…but a little too sweet for my taste.”

“Really? Hmm, I thought you liked sweet things, like your brother Thomas.” she said.

“Thomas was a foodie, he adventured into anything that was unique to the taste. It’s why he went studying in a bakery. Me on the other hand, I like things that are just right. Not too sweet, nor too salty.”

“Hmm, have you been keeping in touch with them? Your brothers?” she asked as she went and leaned into my hand to take a sip of the drink again.

“Of course I have. Although, these past few days, I’ve barely received any letters.”

“I see…”

“I’m planning on visiting them once this festival ends with my sisters. It’s been so long since we saw each other.” I said.

“Huh, is it alright if I come as well?” she asked.

“Of course.” I said as we moved on to try the other delicacies put on by the stalls.

Later, the sun was high above the capital, painting the streets with soft gold. The festival was at its liveliest — laughter echoed from every corner, and ribbons of color danced across the rooftops as the breeze carried the scent of fresh bread and roasted apples through the air.

Evelyn and I walked side by side through the crowd, our pace slow and aimless. She held a small pouch of sweets in her hands, nibbling on one every now and then as her hair glowed under the daylight — golden strands reflecting the light like threads of silk.

“Yesterday,” she began softly, her tone wistful, “at the banquet… we never got to dance.”

I turned to her. “…Dance?”

“Mhm.” She nodded, a faint smile curling on her lips. “Everyone else was dancing, and I thought maybe we could too. But then, you were too busy keeping watch… and before I knew it, the night ended.”

“Ohh…” I said, rubbing my neck awkwardly. “I… didn’t think you’d care about that sort of thing.”

Evelyn pouted slightly, her amber eyes narrowing. “Even a guard should know how to enjoy himself once in a while.”

Before I could respond, the faint sound of music drifted through the air — lively, rhythmic, and cheerful. It came from the plaza just down the street, where a group of traveling bards were playing their instruments for the crowd. Children clapped, couples danced, and even a few guards swayed to the beat.

Evelyn blinked, surprised. “Is that…?”

“…Music,” I said, smiling faintly. “Looks like we’re in luck.”

Her eyes widened a little as I turned to face her, extending my hand.

“May I?”

“Eh—?”

The sudden gesture caught her completely off guard. For a second, she froze, her cheeks tinged pink beneath the sunlight. “A-are you serious? Here? In front of everyone?”

“Why not?” I said plainly. “You said you wanted to dance.”

She looked around — the crowd was laughing, spinning, twirling in colorful waves. No one would even care.

Slowly, she placed her hand in mine. “Alright… just this once.”

Her hand was soft — warm even through the faint tremor in her fingers. I guided her toward the open square, where the music grew louder and the band’s tempo quickened. The people around us moved in sync with the melody, and soon, Evelyn and I joined them.

At first, her steps were hesitant, her eyes flickering up to mine for reassurance. I gave her a small nod, and just like that, she began to follow my lead — her movements light, graceful, and in rhythm with the song. Her sapphire-colored dress flowed like gems around her legs as we turned, her laughter spilling into the air like the chime of bells.

“Thill—haha, you’re actually good at this!”

“You’re surprised?” I said, smiling slightly as I caught her spin.

“I am…I really am. Hahaha.” she laughed as she didn’t expect me to move like so.

“I can have other talents other than just fighting you know. .”

She laughed again, her voice bright and full of life. It was rare — hearing her laugh so freely — and for some reason, it made my chest tighten in a way I couldn’t describe.

Around us, the square came alive — merchants clapping, children spinning between couples, petals falling from above like rain. Evelyn’s hair shimmered as she twirled, catching the sunlight like golden dust. For a moment, the world seemed to slow down — the crowd blurred, the music softened — and all that remained was her.

Her eyes met mine. Amber reflecting gray.

Time stood still.

And in that fleeting instant, I saw something in her gaze — something pure, something wordless.

It wasn’t just joy. It was gratitude.

The kind of look that said I’m glad it’s you.

When the song finally ended, she stood there catching her breath, her cheeks flushed, her smile still lingering.

“That was…” she said between soft breaths, “…amazing.”

“Yeah…” I said quietly, still holding her hand. “It was.”

The crowd cheered as the band started their next song, but neither of us moved. We simply stood there, surrounded by color, music, and warmth — the world alive with celebration, yet somehow, in that moment, it felt like there was no one else but us.

And suddenly…to her beautiful expression, she went closer to me. Close enough that I could feel her heavy breath, close enough that I could see the reflection in her amber eyes.

“…I love you.” she said with no hesitation.

“I love you too.” I said in return.

And for a brief moment, we just stayed close to one another. As the band’s song played, I guided her to the rhythm of the music.

We swayed gently, along the other couples who joined in on the dance…

And for a while, nothing else mattered. My mind wasn’t busy with the thought of her safety, instead, it was simply busy with the thought of her…and just her.

I was ever so lucky to love someone like her.

***

After our dance, we wandered away from the crowd and found a quiet spot beneath the shade of a large tree beside the fountain. The air was warm, filled with the sound of chatter and the gentle splash of water as children played nearby. Evelyn sat gracefully, fanning herself with a folded handkerchief as the sunlight shimmered over her marigold dress.

Across from us stretched a street lined with colorful stalls — merchants calling out their wares, selling everything from roasted sweets to enchanted trinkets.

While Evelyn rested by the fountain, staring at the many coins that were placed deep in the water, something else caught my attention.

Among the countless stalls, a faint glimmer pulsed from one in particular — a deep golden light that flickered, like a heartbeat.

I approached quietly. An old vendor sat behind the counter, surrounded by handmade jewelry and carved stones. But it was the necklace at the center of his display that drew my eyes — a small pendant shaped like a flower, its gemstone radiating a soft, warm glow from within.

The light wasn’t ordinary. It was alive.

“Ah,” said the old man, noticing where I looked. “You’ve got a good eye. That one’s special.”

“What kind of stone is that?” I asked.

“Not a stone,” he said proudly, lifting the pendant for me to see closer. “The gem’s carved from a crystallized fragment of an old Elven Tree’s sap — it was a tree that once served the old elf order. It is said to carry the history of an old lineage of elves that once fought for their freedom against their oppressors. It signifies both strength and history.”

I looked closer. The light inside it flickered faintly, like a resting ember.

“It glows in the dark,” the old man continued. “Said to guide the one who wears it — if you are a warrior as I assume you to be, then try embedding your core into it, it will surely glow brighter.” he said.

“How much?” I asked quietly.

“Five silver.”

“…That’s all?”

He chuckled, his wrinkled eyes gleaming. “People don’t value such things anymore. Magic like this is faint now — nothing but a glow in the night. But to some, that’s enough.”

Five silver… it was cheap, at least by merchant standards. Evelyn’s family could buy the whole stall and not even notice. But still… something about this piece felt right.

The soft glow reminded me of her — that gentle, golden light that never failed to warm those around her.

“Hmm…” I muttered, unsure if I should buy it. Would she even like something so simple?

“Thinking of buying me a gift?”

“—!”

I nearly jumped. Evelyn had appeared beside me without a sound, her amber eyes glinting with amusement.

“You scared me…” I muttered.

She laughed softly, her voice like bells. “You were staring at that necklace like it was treasure.”

“I… was just curious.”

“Curious, huh?” she teased as she leaned closer to the pendant. When the faint golden light touched her face, she blinked in wonder. “It’s beautiful.”

“It’s not really real amber,” I said. “Just a crystalized gem from an old Elven tree. The vendor said it still holds a trace of magic from the old elf lineage..”

Evelyn smiled faintly. “It’s warm. Like it’s alive.”

“Yeah… It reminded me of you,” I admitted before realizing how that sounded.

Her cheeks turned red instantly. “M-me?!”

I scratched my cheek, trying to act nonchalant. “I mean—yeah. It has that same glow you always have when you smile.”

The vendor chuckled quietly behind us. “If that’s how you see her, lad, you best buy it before someone else does.”

“I—uh—well—” I stammered, unsure what to say.

Evelyn giggled softly, then reached forward before I could act. She handed the vendor a small pouch of coins and took the pendant.

“E-Evelyn?”

She turned to me, holding the necklace gently in both hands. The faint light within it pulsed like a heartbeat — steady and warm.

“Since it reminded you of me,” she said softly, “then I want you to have it.”

“Huh?”

“So that even when we’re apart, you won’t forget me.”

She smiled — a soft, radiant smile that made the crystal’s glow seem dull in comparison. Carefully, she reached out and placed the pendant in my palm.

The warmth that radiated from it wasn’t from magic. It was from her hand — and from the emotion behind the gesture.

“Now,” she said with a quiet laugh, “no matter where you go, you’ll have a piece of me watching over you.”

I looked at the glowing pendant resting in my hand, then at her. The faint light reflected in her amber eyes — like two suns meeting their mirror.

“…Thank you,” I whispered.

She smiled wider. “Don’t thank me. Just promise me you’ll wear it.”

“…I will.”

“Good.”

And as the festival music swelled again from somewhere down the street, we both turned toward the sound — her hand still lingering near mine, the golden light of the pendant flickering between us like a living flame.

***

The sound of rushing water echoed softly beside us as we sat near the fountain. The midday sun shimmered across the rippling surface, and the pendant in my hand caught its light—its amber core glowing faintly, almost alive.

I couldn’t help but turn it over in my fingers, admiring how it pulsed like a heartbeat, steady and calm. It was beautiful… but what made it truly special was her.

Evelyn leaned closer, her head gently resting on my shoulder.

Neither of us said anything. We didn’t need to.

The noise of the festival carried on—music, laughter, merchants calling out their deals—but for us, the world seemed quiet. Just her warmth against me and the soft rhythm of the water nearby.

“Hey Thill…”

“Yeah?” I asked.

“…Are we forgetting something? I feel like we’re forgetting something.”

“Are we?” I asked.

“…Hmm.”

“Oh wait a minute…that’s right, we’re supposed to go to the restaurant to eat with your sister.” I said blatantly.

But as I said it, I noticed that Evelyn was no longer beside me. And instead, she was already up on her feet.

“…Eve?” I tried calling out to her in a cute way, but when she turned her face to me, all I see in her expression was despair.

“…Thill…we’re soooooo fucked.” she said without a care in the world.

“Eh??”

Before I knew it, she pulled me by the arm and dragged me across the hundreds of people who were against our way.

I sometimes don’t realize it but…Evelyn can be a bit tomboyish sometimes.

But I find it cute either way.