Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 372: Preparation For The Festival

Chapter 372: Preparation For The Festival

The air in Grafen was filled with excitement, the sound of footsteps echoing through the cobblestone streets as people rushed from one place to another, their voices a mixture of anticipation and joy. The Festival of Renewal was only a few days away, and everyone had a role to play in its preparation. Lyan had made the announcement seemingly out of nowhere, his proposal to bring hope and celebration to the city spreading like wildfire. It was an unexpected move, but it had ignited something within the hearts of the people—a chance to forget the shadows of war, even if only for a few days.

The castle’s grand gate, usually a symbol of division between nobility and the common folk, had been ordered open by Lyan himself. He wanted the festival to bridge the gap, for the castle and the city to be one. Stalls were being set up not just within the castle grounds but spilling outside, lining the streets leading up to the towering walls. It was going to be a grand celebration, one that extended far beyond the castle itself. Lyan had personally funded it, and while it had cost him over two hundred gold coins—a fortune by most standards—he knew it was worth every piece. There were things more valuable than gold: unity, laughter, hope. And for a city that had suffered the pain and hardship of recent conflicts, these were priceless.

Lyan watched as his companions took on their roles with an enthusiasm that made him smile. Belle, Xena, and Alina had thrown themselves into the task of decorating the city. Belle, with her deep knowledge of flowers and herbs, was leading the effort to create vibrant floral displays that would fill the streets with color. She had even convinced Clarisse to join them. It was late into the night when Clarisse found herself alongside them, hands stained with the bright hues of flowers, and she couldn’t help but smile. For the first time since coming to Grafen, she felt a genuine sense of belonging.

"Hey, Clarisse! Pass me that garland, would you?" Belle’s voice was cheerful as she leaned over the large table they were using to weave the decorations.

Clarisse nodded, handing over a long string of bright blue flowers, their petals still soft and fragrant. "You really know your flowers, Belle," she remarked, admiring the arrangement. "I’ve never seen anything like this."

Belle beamed, her eyes sparkling. "Thank you! Flowers have a way of making things brighter, you know? And I think we could all use a little brightness right now."

Xena, who had been busy arranging a basket of colorful ribbons, laughed softly. "Brightness, hope, joy... it all starts with the little things. I think this festival will be exactly what the city needs."

Clarisse nodded, feeling a sense of warmth spread through her chest. The idea of bringing some happiness to the people—of giving them something to celebrate after everything they’d been through—made all the hard work worth it.

In another part of the castle, Ravia and Raine were busy overseeing the vendors setting up their stalls. The marketplace outside the castle gates was bustling with activity as merchants arranged their wares—jewelry, clothes, food, everything needed for a proper celebration. Abraham, the castle’s steward, was directing people with the help of Althea, the head maid, both of them ensuring that everything was in order. The air was filled with the shouts of vendors and the clatter of setting up stalls, a cheerful chaos that spoke of promise.

Ravia glanced over her shoulder, spotting Raine gesturing towards one of the vendors. "Make sure the canopy’s secure," Raine instructed, her tone firm but kind. "We wouldn’t want any accidents during the festival."

Ravia smiled, turning to Abraham. "Looks like everything’s coming along well. This might actually be fun."

Abraham nodded in agreement, his gaze scanning the bustling scene. "Indeed. I think Lord Lyan’s idea is going to bring more joy than we could have anticipated."

Meanwhile, Clarisse had followed Josephine to organize activities for the children. It was no easy task, but watching the young ones’ faces light up with excitement as they planned games and performances was rewarding beyond words. Clarisse found herself enjoying the work more than she expected.

"Okay, who wants to be the princess for the play?" Josephine asked, holding up a small crown. Immediately, several little hands shot up, accompanied by shouts of "Me! Me!"

Clarisse laughed, shaking her head. "Looks like you have your hands full, Josephine."

Josephine winked at her. "It’s all part of the fun, Clarisse. Besides, seeing their smiles makes it all worth it, don’t you think?"

Clarisse glanced at the children, their eyes wide with excitement as they gathered around Josephine. She smiled. "Yeah, it really does."

Wilhelmina, ever organized and focused, had taken on the task of overseeing the entire event, ensuring everything went smoothly. She worked alongside Solia, an old friend from her days of slavery. Solia, an archer, had been absent for a while, but her return was as loud and energetic as always. She burst into the planning room, her bow slung across her back, her eyes bright.

"Wilhelmina! I’m back!" she announced loudly, causing everyone to look up in surprise. She grinned, walking over to her friend. "I heard there’s going to be a festival, and I couldn’t stay away."

Wilhelmina looked up, her eyes widening slightly. "Solia. I thought you were still out on your hunting trip."

Solia laughed, dropping into a chair. "Got a bit too excited, ended up spending way longer than I thought with the acid ants. But hey, I’m back just in time." Her eyes flicked to Lyan, and she smiled mischievously. "So... I hear you finally did it, huh?"

Wilhelmina’s eyes narrowed, her voice sharp. "Solia..."

Solia raised her hands in mock surrender, her smile never fading. "What? I thought it would take forever, but here we are. I guess that means it’s okay for me too, right?" She leaned over, stealing a quick kiss from Lyan before Wilhelmina could react.

Wilhelmina’s face turned bright red, and she practically shouted, "Solia!"

Solia only laughed, leaning back and winking at Lyan. "Can’t help myself, Lyan."

Lyan sighed, rubbing his temple but smiling despite himself. "You’re going to get us all into trouble one day, Solia."

Solia shrugged, clearly unbothered. "Worth it." She winked at Wilhelmina, who huffed but couldn’t quite hide the small smile playing on her lips.

While everyone else busied themselves with their preparations, the Valkyries—Emilia, Alicia, and Surena—declared they would handle the surveillance during the festival. It was an important task, but Lyan couldn’t resist teasing them when he heard their plans.

"Oh, come on," he said, leaning back in his chair, his eyes glinting with amusement. "We all know you’re just too lazy to help with the actual preparations, aren’t you?"

The three Valkyries exchanged glances, then burst into laughter, each wearing a sheepish grin.

"Okay, okay, maybe a little," Alicia admitted, her tone light. "But really, someone has to keep watch."

Lyan shook his head, chuckling. "Alright, alright. How about this—you three just rest and enjoy the festival. I think the people of Grafen would appreciate seeing their heroes relaxing for once."

Surena gave a playful salute, her eyes twinkling. "If you say so, Lyan."

Emilia and Alicia both stepped closer, each giving Lyan a deep kiss, their lips lingering against his for a moment before they stepped back, smiles on their faces.

"Thank you, Lyan," Emilia said softly, her eyes filled with warmth.

Alicia grinned, her voice teasing. "You’re the best, you know that?"

As they kissed him one by one, Clarisse walked into the room, her eyes widening as she took in the scene before her. Her mouth opened in surprise, the words slipping out before she could stop herself. "Wha—"

The Valkyries, noticing her, only seemed to make their actions more exaggerated, deepening the kiss as if to prove a point. Lyan glanced at Clarisse, catching the bewildered look on her face, and he couldn’t help but chuckle. The Valkyries finally pulled away, all three of them giving Clarisse smug smiles.

Clarisse crossed her arms, her expression a mixture of disbelief and annoyance. "Really? Right in front of me?"

Alicia grinned, tilting her head. "What’s the matter, Clarisse? Feeling left out?"

Clarisse huffed, shaking her head, her cheeks slightly flushed. "You people are unbelievable."

Lyan smiled, standing up and stepping toward Clarisse, his eyes warm. "It seems like it’s going to be more lively around here," he said, his voice light, trying to diffuse the tension.

Clarisse shot him a glare, but there was no real anger in it. "Just... don’t let them drag you into too much trouble, alright?"

Lyan chuckled, nodding. "I’ll do my best."

As the Valkyries left the room, still giggling amongst themselves, Lyan turned back to Clarisse, his eyes meeting hers. There was a moment of silence between them, the weight of everything unspoken hanging in the air.

"The family has become so big now," Lyan said, his voice gentle.

"You’re right," Clarisse replied with a chuckle. "It’s noisy, but it’s very happy to be here as well,"