Chapter 3 - Beautiful Man

"Ro?"

A girl with chestnut-brown hair and warm hazel eyes called out to her.

Rosella looked up only briefly before returning her attention to the book in her hands. She thought the book had vanished. But suddenly it comes back to her in the next morning.

Rosella curly hair had been tied into a loose ponytail to keep it from falling into her face while she worked at the tavern.

Business was slow that afternoon.

She had claimed her favourite seat by the window, quietly reading the book Clover had given her.

Outside, Madam Helen lounged in the courtyard, leisurely puffing on one of her cigars as she watched people wander past the tavern.

The girl who had called her was Isabella.

She was another waitress who worked for Madam Helen and had been at the tavern for nearly three years. An orphan with nowhere else to go, Isabella had been taken in by Madam Helen when she was younger.

Now the two girls shared the room upstairs.

It had been a week since Rosella arrived in this strange new land.

She had learned that the city was called Great City, the capital of the kingdom, ruled by King Arthur, a monarch said to have twelve sons born to twelve different wifes.

On the surface, the city was peaceful and prosperous.

Yet whispers drifted through every tavern and marketplace.

People said the twelve princes were already competing for the throne, each preparing to succeed their aging father.

"Hm?" Rosella replied absentmindedly, her eyes never leaving the page.

"You've been reading that same book every day," Isabella said, tilting her head curiously. "What's it about?"

Rosella smiled and turned the book around so Isabella could read the cover.

THE TRAVELLING CARNIVAL & THE SHADOW BANDIT

"The Shadow Bandit?" Isabella echoed, her eyebrows lifting. "I didn't know someone had written a novel about him."

Rosella blinked.

"What do you mean?"

"You know who the Shadow Bandit is?"

"Of course I do." Isabella looked at her as though she had asked whether the sun rose in the east. "He's the most infamous criminal in the entire kingdom."

Rosella glanced down at the cover of her book.

"So... this novel is based on him?"

"I have no idea." Isabella shrugged. "I don't read much."

She leaned against the windowsill.

"But maybe the author borrowed the idea from the real story."

"You know..."

"The travelling carnival is famous."

"So is the Shadow Bandit."

Rosella's curiosity deepened. "What's he like?"

Isabella immediately leaned closer until their faces were only inches apart. She lowered her voice to a dramatic whisper.

"They say he has jet-black hair..."

"...eyes as dark as night..."

"...and he disappears into the shadows as if he were never there."

Rosella rolled her eyes.

"That's not very frightening."

"What?!"

Isabella slammed both hands onto the table.

"It is frightening!"

Rosella nearly jumped out of her chair.

"Alright, alright!" she laughed, raising both hands in surrender. "I get it."

She smiled.

"So what exactly has he done?"

"He kidnaps young women from the city."

Isabella's playful expression vanished.

"So be careful."

With that warning, she picked up a cleaning cloth and hurried off to greet the customers who had just entered the tavern.

Rosella watched her leave before closing the book.

Resting her chin on one hand, she murmured to herself,

"...You don't really have to worry if you're ugly, do you?"

"There is no such thing as an ugly woman, my lady."

A man's voice suddenly answered from right in front of her.

Rosella's eyes flew open.

A handsome young man had somehow appeared only inches away from her face. Startled, she instinctively leaned back. The chair tipped. She would have fallen if he hadn't reached out and caught her.

"My apologies."

He smiled warmly.

"Did I frighten you?"

Rosella stared at him in complete silence. During all sixteen years she'd lived in Faraway, she had never seen a man so breathtakingly handsome. His long golden hair shimmered beneath the afternoon light.

Elegant lashes framed striking eyes. His nose was perfectly sculpted, and a gentle smile rested naturally upon his thin lips. For a brief, embarrassing moment...

Rosella forgot how to breathe. The young man lowered his gaze to the book resting in her lap.

"Hm?"

His expression shifted ever so slightly.

"May I ask where you found that book, my lady?"

"Oh... um, I got it fro..."

Before Rosella could finish, another young man called from across the tavern.

"Sebastian!"

The handsome man turned his head.

"What is it?"

"Hey, we've got a performance tonight!" the young man complained. "This isn't the time to be lounging around in a tavern. You can relax after the show."

Then he narrowed his eyes teasingly.

"And stop flirting with every pretty girl you meet."

Sebastian only laughed.

With an effortless flick of his long golden hair, he brushed it over his shoulder before turning back to Rosella.

"I'm afraid duty calls."

He lowered his head in a courteous bow. With slender fingers, he slipped two tickets into her hand.

"I'd be delighted if you came." His smile lingered for just a moment. Then he turned and left the tavern. Rosella remained frozen where she sat, staring blankly at the tickets resting in her palm.

"..."

"AAAAAH!!" Isabella suddenly rushed over and grabbed both of Rosella's shoulders, bouncing excitedly.

"Did you see that?!"

"Sebastian came to our tavern!" Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

"You're taking me with you, right?"

Rosella blinked. "Taking you...?"

She looked down at the tickets again. She hadn't even asked what they were for. Embossed in elegant gold letters, the invitation read:

HAPPY CARNIVAL

8:20 p.m.

Gardenbay

"Happy Carnival?"

Rosella read the words printed across the tickets.

The carnival troupe?

"Oh!" Madam Helen glanced at the tickets and chuckled. "Looks like you've been given complimentary passes. I was just about to buy tickets so we could all go together."

She untied her apron and waved a hand dismissively.

"In that case, we'll close the tavern early tonight."

"We're going to watch the show!"

"YAY!"

Isabella squealed, practically bouncing with excitement. "I can't wait, Ro!"

Rosella blinked in surprise. "Huh?"

"Is it really alright to close the tavern?"

Madam Helen shrugged as she headed toward the kitchen. "People need a little entertainment now and then, kid."

Isabella was positively glowing. Rosella couldn't blame her. Truthfully, she was excited too. Meeting a travelling carnival had been one of her greatest dreams ever since she was a little girl.

Still...

One question lingered in the back of her mind. Sebastian had recognized the book. He had given her the tickets without asking for anything in return.

...Did he know Clover?

Before she could think any further, a loud voice echoed through the streets outside.

"The carnival's here!"

"They're here!"

A young boy sprinted through the marketplace, shouting at the top of his lungs. Rosella hurried to the window. Outside, shopkeepers and townsfolk poured into the streets.

"We'd better close up!" the fruit seller across the road called to her neighbours. "No one's going to buy anything tonight!"

"They're finally here!"

"They're here!"

A little girl skipped happily down the street, her skirt swaying with every joyful hop. The travelling carnival only returned to Great City once every few months.

Sometimes...

Not even once a year. Rosella smiled to herself.

Whatever doubts she had about Sebastian could wait. The carnival had arrived. This was the day she had dreamed about for years.

She turned to Isabella, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Let's go."

The two girls exchanged wide smiles before hurrying back to finish cleaning the tavern, eager for the evening performance that awaited them.

Gardenbay was overflowing with people.

The travelling carnival had transformed the entire square into a vibrant festival. Performers wandered through the crowds selling fluffy cotton candy, spun sugar sweets, grilled meatballs, coconut cakes, candy apples, and dozens of delicacies gathered from the distant lands they had visited during their travels.

The city's own merchants no longer cared whether they made a single sale today.

Tonight wasn't about business. It was about the festival.

"Wow..."

Rosella's eyes sparkled.

"This is incredible! It's been so long since I've seen a festival!"

Back in Faraway, hidden deep within the forest, travelling carnivals only appeared once every few years.

The last time one had visited...

She had only been twelve.

"The Happy Carnival troupe is the most famous in the kingdom," Isabella said proudly. "Whenever they come to Great City, everyone closes their shops just to watch them perform."

She leaned closer with an excited grin.

"And Sebastian leads the troupe."

"He's unbelievably handsome."

"I'm so jealous he personally invited you!"

Rosella remembered him immediately.

Sebastian...

She still wanted to ask about Clover's mysterious book. But if he really was the leader of the troupe, approaching him before the performance would probably be impossible.

"Come on," Madam Helen called. "The show's about to begin."

The three of them followed the crowd into the amphitheatre. A magnificent stage stood at its centre, illuminated by hundreds of glowing lanterns that bathed the arena in warm golden light. After finding three empty seats, they settled in just as the lights began to dim.

"Ladies and gentlemen..."

A familiar voice echoed across the amphitheatre.

"Welcome."

Sebastian stepped gracefully onto the stage.

The audience erupted. Especially the women.

"SEBASTIAN!"

"I LOVE YOU!"

"SEBASTIAN, MARRY ME!"

Cheering echoed from every direction. Sebastian merely smiled. He raised both hands.

Almost magically...

The roaring crowd fell completely silent.

"My friends," he began elegantly, his voice carrying effortlessly throughout the theatre.

"It has been far too long since our last visit."

"It is an honour to stand before you once again."

"We hope tonight's performance brings you joy."

The orchestra began to play. One by one, dancers swept onto the stage.

Their opening performance was a breathtaking sword dance, telling the story of a young hero fighting to rescue maidens kidnapped by corrupt nobles.

Rosella watched without blinking. They were extraordinary. Every movement flowed with effortless precision. Every leap seemed impossibly light.

And every performer...

Was unbelievably beautiful.

The performance continued late into the night.

After the sword dance came an orchestral concert, followed by a dramatic stage play, and finally a spectacular magic show performed by Sebastian himself. He truly was remarkable. By the time the final curtain fell, the city bells were striking midnight.

Madam Helen stretched with a weary yawn.

"I'm heading home."

She rubbed her stiff shoulders.

"I'm too old to stay awake any longer."

After saying goodnight, she disappeared into the thinning crowd.

"That was amazing!"

Isabella exclaimed, still buzzing with excitement.

"It really was," Rosella agreed softly.

But as the applause faded and the audience began leaving the amphitheatre... Her smile slowly disappeared. Isabella tilted her head.

"What's wrong?"

Rosella looked down at her hands.

All those years...

She had dreamed of becoming a dancer in a travelling carnival.

But after witnessing tonight's performance...

She finally understood.

She didn't belong on a stage like that.

Compared to those performers...

She was ordinary.

"No..."

She forced a small smile.

"It's nothing."

"Then why do you look so sad?"

A gentle voice whispered beside her ear.

"Ah!"

Rosella nearly jumped out of her skin. She spun around. Standing behind her was Sebastian. His long golden hair swayed gently in the cool midnight breeze, and the familiar smile on his face was as warm and effortless as ever.

"Didn't you enjoy the performance, my lady?" Sebastian asked.

"Oh!" Rosella replied at once. "It was incredible!"

Beside her, Isabella remained completely speechless, staring at the handsome young man as though she'd forgotten how to blink.

"I'm relieved to hear that." Sebastian's smile was as effortless as ever.

Rosella found herself staring for a moment. She had never met anyone so impossibly beautiful. Yet one question still lingered in her mind.

Why had he invited her?

"Thank you for the tickets," she said. "I really should repay you..."

"You don't have to." Sebastian interrupted her gently.

"I invited you on purpose." Silence settled between them. Sebastian simply stood there, his smile never wavering.

Rosella frowned.

"May I ask you something?"

"Of course."

He nodded politely before glancing toward Isabella.

"Though... if the young lady over there wouldn't mind giving us a few moments alone."

"Oh!" Isabella finally snapped out of her daze.

"Right! Of course!" She giggled.

"I'll leave you two alone."

"See you back at the tavern, Ro!"

"Wait!" Rosella reached out instinctively. "Isabella!"

But her friend had already disappeared into the crowd. Rosella sighed before turning back to Sebastian with an irritated look.

"Why did you send her away?"

Sebastian blinked. "...Wasn't that what you wanted?"

"What?"

"I assumed you'd prefer to be alone with me."

Rosella's eyebrows shot up. A few minutes ago she'd thought he was the most beautiful man she'd ever seen.

Now...

She was beginning to regret that opinion.

"I wanted to ask you a question."

"I didn't ask you out on a date."

Sebastian stared at her.

"You... don't want to be alone with me?"

He sounded genuinely bewildered. Rosella folded her arms.

"What kind of question is that?"

For a moment, Sebastian simply looked at her. Then he laughed. How strange.

"You're interesting."

He smiled.

"Most women would love the chance to spend time alone with me."

Rosella rolled her eyes. "Why did you invite me?"

Straight to the point. Sebastian answered without hesitation.

"I invite girls I like."

Rosella stared at him. The smile that had once seemed charming now looked unbearably smug.

He's a narcissist.

"Oh, come on."

"I'm serious."

"You asked me about my book earlier."

"My book?" Sebastian echoed thoughtfully, tapping his chin. A moment later, his eyes brightened.

"Ah."

"That."

"I asked because I like books too."

Rosella stepped closer until they were nearly face to face.

"You're lying."

Sebastian instinctively raised both hands in surrender.

"I promise I'm not."

"Book lovers often get excited when they discover someone reading a title they recognise."

"Isn't that perfectly normal?"

Rosella studied him carefully. Then she slowly leaned back, crossing her arms again.

Maybe he really is just a reader...

It would make sense.

He's a performer. He probably reads scripts and stories all the time.

She glanced at the book tucked beneath her arm.

And the sword dance...

It reminded me of the Shadow Bandit.

Maybe the novel was inspired by the same rumours.

So he doesn't know anything about the book's magic...

Or about Clover.

Lost in her thoughts, Rosella didn't notice Sebastian waving a hand in front of her face.

"My lady?"

She blinked. "Oh."

Without another word, she turned to leave.

"I suppose we won't see each other again for quite a while."

She smiled faintly over her shoulder. "You and your troupe will be travelling again soon, won't you?"

"Thank you for the tickets."

Sebastian looked genuinely surprised.

"What?"

Rosella laughed softly.

"The performance was wonderful, Sebastian."

She gave him a small wave before disappearing into the crowd. Sebastian remained where he stood, watching her walk away.

A faint smile touched his lips.

"...Until we meet again."