Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 373: The Festival For The Mountain Tribes

Chapter 373: The Festival For The Mountain Tribes

Lyan stood in one of the castle’s many rooms, overlooking the preparations happening outside the window. He could hear the distant sounds of people bustling, laughter, and the occasional call of a vendor. Grafen was transforming in a way he had always imagined it could, filled with joy and color. For a city that had known pain, today was a day of renewal.

"Lyan! Chief! Look at us!" Lara’s voice called from behind him, her excitement infectious. He turned around, his eyes meeting the sight of three mountain tribe women he had taken under his care. Lara, Tara, and Sigrid stood before him, each dressed in their traditional robes.

Their festival robes were beautiful—elaborate patterns of mountain symbols stitched with vibrant threads, the colors shifting as they moved. Deep reds, forest greens, sky blues, and golden yellows all mixed in swirling designs that represented the seasons of their homeland. Lara’s robe was bright with scarlet and gold, the intricate embroidery emphasizing her tan skin. Tara’s robes, in contrast, were adorned in earthy browns and green, her brown hair tied back neatly, giving her an elegant yet grounded appearance. Sigrid wore a more dominant blue and silver pattern, her blonde hair flowing freely as the wind blew through the open window.

Lyan couldn’t help but let his eyes linger for a second longer, and he quickly cleared his throat, putting on what he hoped was a neutral expression. "You three look... absolutely stunning," he said, trying to keep his eyes above their shoulders and not on the curves that were unmistakably highlighted by the way the robes were fitted.

Sigrid smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes as if she was very much aware of his struggle. "We prepared these just for the festival, Chief. We wanted to represent our tribe well, to show our pride in our traditions. Does it suit us?"

Lyan nodded, his smile widening. "It suits you perfectly, Sigrid. You all represent your people beautifully." He could see the excitement in their eyes and feel the innocence of their joy. They had left the mountains to follow him, trusting him as their "great chief." That responsibility weighed on him, but seeing them like this, happy and eager, made him feel it was all worth it.

"Chief," Sigrid said as she stepped closer, her expression softening, "we can’t thank you enough for this. Opening the city, making this festival possible... it means the world to us. You didn’t just give us a place to live; you gave our people a bridge to a new life."

Lyan turned to look out the window again. Below them, the streets were filled with colorful decorations and stalls, the townsfolk mingling with those from the mountains. The gates were open—not just of the castle, but of the city. He wanted to offer a chance for integration, for those who wished to find work, trade, or even settle in the city. It was a way for them to grow together, to learn from each other, and to find strength in unity.

"It’s nothing, Sigrid," Lyan said, his voice low. "I’m happy to help, truly. It’s the least I can do." He felt her gaze on him and turned his head just slightly to meet her eyes.

Sigrid smiled, a gentle warmth in her eyes as she stepped closer, her hand resting on his waist. "Chief, you’re too humble," she murmured.

Lyan’s heart thudded in his chest as he felt the softness of her touch, her fingers tracing lightly along the edge of his robe. His hand moved instinctively, wrapping around her waist, and Sigrid’s body pressed against his. There was something about her closeness, the warmth of her, that made him forget everything else—the worries, the responsibilities—just for a moment.

"Hey, what about us?" Lara’s voice came from his side, breaking the moment as she stepped up, her lips curled in a playful pout. "Chief, you know we’re not going to let you get all close and cozy with Sigrid alone, right?"

Tara was right behind her, her fair face carrying a slight blush, though her expression held the same determination. "We followed you down from the mountains too, you know. We deserve some of your attention as well," she said, her voice teasing.

Lyan felt a pair of hands snake around his arm from either side, Lara and Tara clinging to him with mock jealousy. They looked up at him, their eyes sparkling with amusement, but there was something deeper there too—an affection and trust that touched his heart. He chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. I can’t handle all of you at once, you know," he said, his voice light as he looked from Sigrid to the other two.

"Well, you’ll have to try, Chief," Lara said, her tone sultry as she leaned closer. "After all, isn’t that your job? To lead us, to take care of us?"

Tara nodded, her lips curving into a shy smile. "We are your responsibility, after all."

Lyan sighed, though the smile never left his face. He was surrounded, quite literally, by three of the most incredible women he had ever met. They were all different—Sigrid’s intelligence and quiet strength, Lara’s fierce passion, and Tara’s gentle kindness—but they were united in their loyalty to him. He could feel the weight of their trust, the expectation in their eyes.

"Well," Lyan said, his eyes glinting mischievously, "I suppose I do have a duty to fulfill, don’t I?"

The three women looked at each other, and then back at him, grinning.

___

Later, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, the eleventh bell tolled. Its deep sound resonated through the castle walls, signaling the approach of night and the beginning of the festival. Lyan stood before a mirror, adjusting his robe. His hair was slightly tousled, his clothes a bit disheveled from the earlier "intense session" with the three mountain tribe women. He smirked at his reflection, shaking his head as he thought about how insistent they had been, their laughter still echoing in his ears.

He finally got his robe straightened, pulling the fabric into place just as the door creaked open behind him. He turned, expecting one of the maids, but instead, he found himself face to face with a small figure. A young girl with short purple hair and sharp eyes that glinted with mischief.

"Tesha," Lyan said, his voice softening as he crouched down to her level. It had been some time since he’d last seen her—his little half-halfling apprentice, the girl who had always insisted on following him no matter where he went. She looked slightly older, more mature, though the fire in her eyes was the same as always.

"It’s been a while, Master!" Tesha said, a grin spreading across her face. She placed her hands on her hips, giving him an appraising look. "I heard you were here planning a big festival. Did you forget about me?"

Lyan smiled, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Forget about you? Not a chance," he said. "It’s just been... busy."

Tesha huffed, swatting his hand away though her smile never faded. "You left me with Wilhelmina back in the empire. Do you know how frustrating that was?" She pouted, her eyes narrowing at him.

Lyan chuckled. "Wilhelmina took good care of you, didn’t she?"

"That’s not the point!" Tesha shot back, her cheeks puffing up in indignation. She crossed her arms, her eyes glinting with determination. "I want to be strong enough to fight by your side, Master. And... and I want to be one of your women too!"

Lyan blinked, a surprised laugh escaping his lips. He looked at her, her face so earnest, her eyes filled with that stubborn determination she always had. "Well, the first part, we can definitely work on. But the second part..." He paused, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "You’re still a bit young for that, Tesha."

Tesha’s cheeks flushed, but she didn’t back down. She looked up at him, her expression fierce. "You’ll see, Master. One day, I’ll be strong enough, and you’ll have no choice but to accept me."

Lyan smiled, ruffling her hair once more. "Alright, alright. I’ll be waiting for that day." He straightened up, holding out his hand to her. "But for now, the festival’s about to start. Shall we?"

Tesha’s eyes lit up, her small hand slipping into his as she nodded eagerly. "Let’s go!"

As they stepped out into the hallway, Tesha suddenly paused, her sharp eyes catching something. She looked past Lyan, her expression darkening. Her gaze landed on Lara, Tara, and Sigrid, who had just emerged from another room, their robes slightly askew, their faces flushed with smug satisfaction.

"Oh," Tesha said, her voice low, her eyes narrowing. "I see what’s been going on here."

Lara and Tara exchanged a glance, and then both of them burst into laughter, their expressions filled with amusement. "Oh, Tesha, you’re so cute," Lara said, her tone teasing.

Tesha twitched, her eyes narrowing even more as she let go of Lyan’s hand. Without warning, she launched herself at the two women, her small body colliding with Lara’s legs as she scowled.

"You mountain bitches!!"