Chapter 80

Chapter 80

Fate

Anyway Mr. D'Annunzio was a man who teaches dance one thing really amazingly well.

"Come, tarantella the 6 beat tempo is important. Match the beat with foot movements, hand position naturally forward!"

"Like this?"

"Yes, good! Raise the chin! While caring so the body's balance doesn't tilt forward!"

How can one hit the mandolin so fast and also talk so much?!

Whether because the dance teacher's skill was good I learned quicker than thought. It seemed not even 20 minutes took.

It looked difficult on the outside, but if just mastering a few steps it was a structure of repeating that like a round song so quite simple.

The problem was this is a dance danced matching a fast tune, and because there are many movements moving greatly front and back one gets out of breath soon.

Still because the body trained in the field as a newspaper seller I was confident in stamina so I quickly regained breathing.

"You're dancing well? Tarantella is a dance with unique rhythm so beginners aren't easy to follow... By any chance have you learned similar dance before?"

"No? Not at all. Dancing itself is the first."

I regulated my breath and drank water with the canteen Joe handed.

The mask was off state. When dancing the mask is in the way.

Mr. D'Annunzio became noticeably kinder after I took off the mask. Somehow he seemed to have confirmed my status as somewhere British high noble, now that also became ambiguous to refute so I decided to just let him misunderstand.

The quasi-noble title is also confirmed, and even looking at bloodline he's a high noble of another country... Can't help it.

"Then you're innately good at motor nerves too! Understood! Since you learned the basics of the highest difficulty dance in all Europe whatever dance you master at social gatherings ahead you'll dance well!"

What on earth did you understand, this person?!

"By any chance does the teacher also know fencing well? Since rhythm sense is good fencing like swordsmanship also seems you'll do very well!"

"No, I don't know that at all either."

Fencing was exactly a sport of thorough nobles only.

From the start it developed as an extension of swordsmanship training, and although prohibited now until dozens of years ago it was a means of dueling staking honor among nobles.

Fencing equipment sword, mask, attire are very expensive things, and joining personal lessons or clubs also cost tremendous money.

Thanks to such background the social status of fencing was quite high. To the point fencing was selected as an initial event even at the first modern Olympics held in Athens Greece in 1896.

Of course I've never learned. Busy making a living what fencing. But why did he suddenly bring up fencing talk?

"I also have some skill in fencing, haha. Originally people who dance well also do fencing well, right? Florence's ladies also used to die of blinking at the one sword I swing cutting the wind, hahaha! But since the teacher also dances so well, if learning fencing I might have to yield one hand too!"

Now looking it was a trick to boast about himself!

This person, he said poet, right? Thinking about it it also seems a bit braggart smell?! But seeing it's not that unpleasant to hear, it seemed he hooked quite many women with that three-inch tongue.

Anyway up to here. It wasn't something to learn deeply, brief entertainment was sufficient. There were also people waiting.

I put the mask back on my face.

"Thank you. It was fun."

"Ah, already the meeting ends. Where are you thinking of going?"

"Well, for now I'm thinking of looking around here and there a bit."

"Good. I hope we meet again sometime! A good inspiration came up I'll make it as a gift later!"

Gift? Suddenly? Why does this person keep trying to look good to me? By any chance is he going to write a book on how to throw advances at women and give?!

Like that leaving the short meeting with Mr. D'Annunzio behind, I turned my steps to the way I was originally going. To see the astrologer too, and eat pizza I had to hurry.

Somewhere riding the wind the pizza smell wafting was felt thickly. Seeing people passing the road holding pizza in their hands, it was certain they were already tasting the first pizza freshly baked from the oven.

Mr. Luigi hurriedly led me in front of one carriage.

In front of the carriage a small tent was pitched, and seeing the line stretched quite long in front it looked like a quite popular corner to people.

And why popular I guessed as soon as seeing patterns like stars or moons drawn on the tent.

Gypsy.

A wandering people of Indo-Aryan lineage who wandered Europe from long ago.

That was certain a real gypsy operating astrology carriage.

Politicians or upper class greatly disliked gypsies for the reason they cause social chaos or participate in crime, but lower class anyway gypsies or themselves life level wasn't different and due to gypsies' unique mysticism there were also quite people who thought them attractive.

Especially due to culture related to occult worship, spiritual activities unique to gypsies there was a stereotype of seeing them as experts in the area of magic or prophecy.

So some gypsies also decorated themselves as real fortune tellers and earned money at markets.

But waiting for that seems one era?

"While the teacher was learning dance I reserved in advance. You can enter right away."

"Ah, is that okay?"

"Of course. You're a special guest of this festival."

At those words I entered the tent without hesitation.

Only one oil lamp was dimly hanging on the ceiling, so the inside was quite dark.

The interior decoration was nothing special. Surrounding cloth embroidered a lot with stars and moons, geometric patterns, flowers here and there was all.

Still with just that one something mysterious atmosphere was felt. On the floor an old rug was laid, it looked dirty as if a long time since washed.

Further in the corner a woman who looked about 40s with dark skin was sitting in front of a small table trimming her nails.

"Sit there."

"...On the floor here?"

"There's a small chair in the corner."

Right. Why didn't I see this?

The chair legs were much shorter than my calves. Sitting on such a chair naturally an uncomfortable posture and the body crumpled.

Ah, I understand. This is a method of creating psychological discomfort and lowering the guard?

And forcibly dragging time and heightening tension?

As expected it was. The woman slowly stood up without saying anything and lit the candle.

Divining with a gypsy is the first, but since I can clearly see what she's trying to do the tension rather dropped.

But I came here for cultural experience. Thinking such things are also experience I decided to relax my heart.

"Tarot? Crystal ball? Palm reading? There's also amulets."

She asked in a slow speech. So I quickly accepted.

"All possible?"

"...All?"

"Yes. Everything possible."

I was really curious. Whether this woman can really see my fortune or not.

But she wasn't flustered. As expected a pro-like attitude.

"Then shall we look from the crystal ball. Please gaze at this. Absolutely don't touch with hands. The spiritual connection breaks."

"Hmm, understood."

What she held out was a round glass bead the size of a palm wrapped in cloth so it doesn't fall.

She briefly gazed at the bead, and slowly nodded.

"Strange. No symbol comes up at all. Please slightly place both hands on the bead. Absolutely don't touch, leave about half a span in the air."

I quietly did as told.

"..."

"...Hey?"

"..."

For a long time she was silent. Then suddenly raised her head with a jerk.

I was startled and flinched.

"Sorry. I have to change the field. This is the first guest whose fate isn't visible, it feels like covered in fog as if the future is not determined at all."

That is also a template, right? Gloss over saying I don't know well?

"Well it doesn't matter."

"Just in time I'm confident in tarot so I'll look at tarot. By any chance have you seen tarot recently?"

"No."

"Fortunate. If seen tarot within a month the result can twist due to interference of fate."

She cleared the crystal ball, and laid tarot cards upside down on the table.

"Please draw just one."

"Not three?"

Didn't they say if drawing three tarot cards one sees past, present, future?

I've never properly learned tarot, but I roughly knew about tarot cards. Because when learning magic in the past I learned alongside.

"No, in this case the guest's spiritual energy is too strong so there's no need. Like a feeling fate is watching..."

Not even shuffling and just telling to draw. Is this trustworthy?

I did as told and was about to draw the middle... somewhere, but resistance arose and I just lifted the leftmost card as is.

What came out...

But before I even confirmed the card, she was first startled.

"Why did this come out?!"

"Yes?"

"This shouldn't come out here?!"

The card I drew was The World. World. The major arcana located at the very end in tarot cards.

"How is the interpretation?"

"Wait a moment. Excuse me."

She slowly stretched her arm and grabbed my hand and turned it over. It seemed she was also going to look at palm reading.

Then suddenly rolled her eyes and started trembling her whole body. Severe convulsions.

What, on earth?!

"A-are you okay?!"

"Ugh... There, medicine in the medicine bottle..."

I quickly took out a red pill from the small bottle she pointed and handed it.

She swallowed that big medicine whole without water. Then the convulsions stopped as if a lie.

In the meantime she was soaked with cold sweat all over her face. To the point bangs completely stuck to the forehead.

"Huff, huff..."

I said look at all fortune telling one can see, I didn't say show such extreme reaction?!

By any chance is up to here a template? But to say that the convulsions just now were too realistic.

I unnecessarily became uncomfortable in heart.

"...Shall I just go out? Shall I call a doctor?"

"Guest."

"Yes?"

"The guest has two fates mixed now."

"Yes...?"

While speaking she suddenly started organizing the surroundings. It seemed she was trying to close shop.

"I looked too much into fate beyond my ability. For the next few months it seems I won't be able to see anything. The guest has to choose fate. And according to that choice the future will change."

"Choose? What do I choose?"

"Whether to become king, or save the world."

"What?"

"Sorry. If saying more here my lifespan will be cut. Please go back."

It was an order to leave.

She seemed not wanting to speak anymore. I had no choice but to go out.

No, throwing such riddle-like words and acting like I don't know is also a template?

But even the last words she said to my back going out I found hard to ignore.

"The hint is in the pocket. Look inside the pocket."

"..."

###

After that I enjoyed the festival without particular thoughts.

I didn't win but participated in the pizza eating a lot contest and ate delicious pizza to the full.

Real oven-baked pizza was different as expected. People also liked it a lot, if like this pizza might become popular in London within a short time. To the point I even heard people diligently discussing whether one can sell pizza at stalls.

What Mr. Luca wanted was also such in the end. Creating an environment where one can eat one's country's food to the full in a distant foreign country!

In a way, he invested in this festival and held a kind of cooking demonstration or no different. If a pizza restaurant arises in London later one should think it's thanks to Mr. Luca.

People praising the legendary chef Jean-Paul Durand I just let in one ear. Because if careless I have to open a signing session again against over a thousand people, that was really disliked.

The braggart Mr. D'Annunzio I also met again. He clung saying he'd inform about women and romance to me and was grabbed by the collar by Mr. Salvatore and chased out.

Looking into it he was a famous playboy. Until recently he was living with a famous Italian actress and it was discovered he cheated so he fled to Britain they say? So Mr. Luigi was also greatly scolded why he introduced such a person. Well, thanks to that I learned dance fun so there was nothing lost.

I also received introduction to Mr. Salvatore's fiancée. I wondered what matter, she recklessly rode a ship and fled avoiding family. It was love's escape that talk.

Italians fallen into romance are really hopeless. Thanks to that Mr. Luca also seemed quite troubled by that matter, but up to there wasn't my business.

Because the festival was gradually heading toward the end, I decided to just quietly slip out.

Before evening campfire or fireworks, last wine event were also planned, but up to there I had no interest.

Lastly the gift Mr. D'Annunzio said he'd give was my portrait.

I met once more before leaving the festival site and he quickly handed it over. The time the mask was off wasn't even long, but amazingly he drew exactly my appearance. Truly a talented man.

And the way back. I suddenly put my hand in the coat pocket and took out one thing that was inside.

Hint.

In fact I don't believe astrology that much, but having even such an experience it was hard to completely ignore.

Moreover there was also something bothering. The change degree that suddenly fluctuated and stopped the moment I heard the fortune telling content.

【 History Change Degree: 14.11% 】

This time even without doing anything it rose 2 percent. To see as unrelated it was very suspicious.

Anyway what I took out from the pocket was a norigae.

The thing I received from the Earl of Derby's carriage going to Windsor Castle last time.

I don't know for what reason it flowed to Britain, but it was certain a traditional norigae made in Joseon of this era.

I was going to decorate it in the restaurant's office, but just carrying it as an amulet...

"Surely he didn't know this and say...?"

But even if so the coincidence is too severe?

The king this and that also if usual I would have snorted and passed, but after experiencing the matter with His Majesty Edward VII it wasn't a talk one could just laugh and pass.

Become king or save the world.

I have no thought of becoming king either, and if not becoming king does it mean saving the world with cooking? A joke, right? How save the world with cooking?

Moreover the mysterious letter that flew to my office recently.

Albrecht? Asking around they say this is a certain German-style name?

There were too many mysteries surrounding me!

I can't endure anymore because curious. I said in a loud voice to Joe who was driving the carriage.

"Joe! To Earl’s Court in the West End!"

"Yes? Not returning to the restaurant?"

"There's something to confirm!"

"Understood!"

That place was the place the Joseon legation I barely found out the location was located.