Published: August 1, 2025
This is a special Happy Valentine’s Day edition.
Don’t think about when this story takes place in the timeline.
“Lovers’ Day?”
I repeated the unfamiliar phrase aloud, my voice sounding unexpectedly high-pitched.
Around this time, Lord Cyrus has been frequently absent from Granado Castle. I wondered if he was busy with work, so I asked my lady’s maid. Her answer was that because of this ‘Lovers’ Day,’ the royal capital’s Central Market was bustling, Granado Trading Company was in its busy season, and Lord Cyrus was constantly stationed at the market.
Tunica, the maid who takes care of my baths and beauty, said in her usual relaxed tone, “Oh my.”
“Lady Marie, you didn’t know? Next week, on the forty-fifth day of winter, is Lovers’ Day. It’s the day when women give gifts to the men they like and express their feelings.”
“…I didn’t know.”
I honestly shook my head.
“Next week is just the winter solstice to me. The Chadelan Territory is rural, and I’m ignorant of the world, but it’s strange that I’ve never even heard of it. Maybe it’s a trend unique to the royal capital that started only recently.”
“Hmmm? Now that you mention it… it feels like it wasn’t around during my childhood, but it’s also like it’s always been there. I’ve hardly ever left the royal capital, so I don’t really know…”
Tunica tilted her head and pondered for a while but eventually gave up trying to figure it out. Smiling brightly, she said,
“If you’re curious, Lady Mio or Wolfgang would know more about this. Why don’t you ask one of them?”
…And so, I waited until I saw the two of them together and asked.
Just as Tunica said, both of them knew about it. The older Wolfgang smiled gently and answered immediately.
“Yes, Lovers’ Day is a custom that has spread throughout the royal capital only in recent years. It’s more of a local festival than a national event or religious ritual.”
“Ah, I thought so.”
“In fact, its origins date back to prehistory, inspired by myths and the activities of saints, so it can’t be dismissed as just a trend.”
Mio continued Wolfgang’s explanation.
“According to ancient myths, this day is a celebration governed by the goddess of family and marriage. The following day is the winter solstice, when a festival praying for a bountiful spring harvest is held. During that festival, dance partners were chosen by lottery. In those times, with little entertainment, this often led directly to romance and marriage.”
“For that reason, couples in love would conspire the day before to rig the lottery so their numbers matched. Confessions of love sometimes happened simultaneously with the lottery results.”
“…I see. So two unrelated festivals just happened to merge. But why did it become a day when women give gifts? And why did it suddenly spread only in the royal capital over the past few years?”
“It’s a marketing strategy by Granado Trading Company.”
When Wolfgang said that firmly, I almost toppled sideways.
“G-Granado? Then Lord Cyrus is involved!?”
“No, more precisely, it’s Lady Ryuu-Ryuu. It was she who originally started trade with Ipsandros.”
As they spoke in turn, I leaned forward eagerly, holding my breath.
Granado Trading Company is a trading firm. On the Western Continent, including Dilz, Ipsandros products are still rare. By importing them, the company gained huge wealth. When Lady Ryuu-Ryuu began this business, trade with Ips was almost nonexistent, so these products were completely alien to the Dilz people. Because of their novelty, people bought them up eagerly—meaning that things unknown or unheard of became extraordinarily popular. Both the products and the culture.
“Then… ultimately, something that didn’t even exist?”
“As expected of Lady Marie. You’ve hit the nail on the head.”
I asked cautiously, and Mio unusually chuckled softly, smiling.
“Oh wow.”
“So, Lady Ryuu-Ryuu invented this event and passed it off as Ips culture to make it popular in the royal capital!?”