Chapter 404 - Romance in the Village (1/2)
After an hour Jean decided to get up and walk to the nearest village. Because his face was well known, he deliberately wore black sunglasses, a scarf that covered almost half of his face and a sports hat. The temperature had begun to drop that autumn, so his completely covered up appearance did not attract any attention.
In the center of the village, which consists of various restaurants and shops, there was a huge crowd. Many people wore traditional clothes and there were lively musical performances. Jean saw large prints at various locations ”Hyacinthe Village Oktoberfest Festival”.
Oktoberfest is a festival throughout October that had become a tradition in Germany where people hold crowds and drink a lot of beer. Apparently, that tradition also reached this village, because some Swiss residents were of German descent. Although it was still late September, it seemed that the festivities of Oktoberfest had begun.
Jean's dark mood lightened when he saw people partying and chatting happily while enjoying their beer and snacks. There were also many tourists from other countries who enjoyed the festive atmosphere.
Jean sat in an empty chair and ordered a glass of glow wine. The waiter seemed to frown because it was the Octoberfest festival! Various beers of the best quality were issued at the promotional price but this one guest ordered glow wine instead! How weird.
”Normally we don't sell glow wine on a month like this, but you are lucky because the restaurant owner is looking to make it, so this week we provide glow wine,” commented the waiter.
Jean smiled, ”Thank you.”
After the servant left, Jean observed the people around him. Some were engrossed in conversations while others enjoyed the music performances. He felt happy because he had decided to come here.
He thought that it would be a good idea for the people in the mansion to come to the village to enjoy the festive mood so that they would be less depressed. He took his cellphone and sent them a message.
[In the Hyacinthe Village there is an Oktoberfest celebration, come here to have fun.]
He sent a message to the group.
A few minutes later there was a reply from Caspar.
[We can hold an Oktoberfest ourselves at the mansion. Tonight at 8 p.m. before everyone leaves.]
Jean could only roll his eyes. He knew how much Caspar liked privacy and did not want to mingle with ordinary people. The man was far worse than Hollywood celebrities who hid their personal lives. Caspar would only eat at a restaurant if he could close the restaurant to the public.
Jean felt sorry for the Schneider children who could not enjoy lives like normal people and mingle with commoners. But given what had happened to Aleksis, he could understand Caspar's stubbornness not to allow his children to live in the outside world.
As a very well-known actor, Jean himself must hide and often disguise himself if he wanted to walk among the crowd so as not to be chased by his fans. But he still preferred to disguise himself rather than distance himself from other humans.
”Excuse me, is this seat empty?” suddenly a crisp sound interrupted his reverie. Jean had been too preoccupied with his own world and, after finishing three glasses of glow wine, he didn't pay much attention to his surroundings anymore.
The girl had apparently questioned him three times before Jean finally heard her. Jean turned and saw a very beautiful girl with shoulder-length hair and a pair of beautiful cat eyes. Looking into her eyes made Jean feel like he was looking into his own eyes.
He smiled and shook his head, and invited the girl to sit. ”Please.”
”Thank you.” The girl sat down and signaled to the waiter, ”I want glow wine too.”
After the order arrived, the girl enjoyed her wine fervently. She and Jean did not talk to each other for several minutes.
”I'm heartbroken,” the girl said suddenly after she finished her glow wine. Jean turned his head in surprise. He was not sure if she was talking to him, so he looked at her with a questioning face. The girl shook her head sadly. ”Sorry, I'm talking to you like this. I shouldn't have bombarded strangers with my personal problems.”
Jean did not reply. He did not know how to comfort a girl who was heartbroken.