I was surprised to see the princess here. Although I knew she'd enrolled at Nova, I hadn't had the chance to greet her until now. Still, seeing her among the students, so calm and approachable, felt... pleasant. Perhaps that's why, without realizing it, a soft smile crept onto my face.
"Hey, Cyan," Erwing called from the table next to me, "you can go now. Enjoy the festival for a few hours and leave this to us."
I turned to him, a little surprised. I assumed he'd noticed I'd skipped lunch. Maybe he was feeling a little preoccupied, which I appreciated, though he'd never admit it out loud. I nodded.
"Thanks, Erwing," I said, and he just raised an eyebrow as if to say, "Don't come back until you're satisfied."
