“…It’s lame to only touch for a moment because you got scared. You’re a man, aren’t you?”
“Lame…!?”
“S-So, if you’re going to touch, touch for longer…”
“Just to be clear, I didn’t mean to pat your head…”
“Just touching head is the same thing. Come on, hurry up. If you don’t want to take responsibility, I could just complain to Father that you touched me without permission, couldn’t I?”
(Because you’ve done this to me, because you’ve made me say this, I won’t let you get away…)
“F-Fine…”
[Complain to Father] This was the decisive factor in victory.
Byleth placed his hand on her head and began to move it gently.
” …… ”
” …… ”
What he did was slightly ticklish, embarrassing, and a strangely pleasant sensation…
But it made her happy enough to think that she was right to demand it.
“Hey, Byleth…”
“Y-Yeah?”
“The day of the dinner party, our promise to slip away together…don’t forget it,”
Elena murmurs quietly.
“I have something I want to tell you on that day…”
This was the bravest thing she had ever done in her life.
Finishing her words, Elena pressed her face against Byleth’s shoulder.
“The… your hand… has stopped.”
“A-Ah, sorry.”
Elena thought.
(…Even if I tell him something like this, he won’t notice… What an idiot…)
The frustration that couldn’t be put into words… was gradually dispelled by his touch.
(…When did I start trusting him so much…?)
As her head was being caressed, Elena became aware that she was being unusually sweet towards him.
****
“…Well then… Let’s meet at the academy again. Byleth. I had fun today.”
“Yeah, thanks for picking me up! I had fun too.”
At the time when the day was turning into evening.
Byleth, seeing Elena off and arriving at his home, was immediately greeted.
“Welcome home! Byleth-sama!”
“I’m back, Sia. Thanks for coming to greet me.”
“N-No problem! It’s part of my duties! A-And I like doing it too!”
“Hm?”
(Was she lonely? Uncharacteristic words were added that he wouldn’t usually say.)
Glancing at Sia with a questioning look, he notices her evident reaction.
She slowly turns her head to the right, trying to avoid eye contact, her ears turning crimson from between her hair.
“Did I overdo it?”
“P-Perhaps… hehe…”
Wrapped in embarrassment, but somewhat relieved that the other person is even more embarrassed.
“Uh, um, h-how was the meeting!?”
“Haha, it went well.”
Laughing at Sia’s attempt to change the subject while her face is still red.
“Well, I’m glad to hear that!
My conversation partner is none other than Count Lucreale.
Realizing I had been visibly anxious, he flashes me a beaming smile, his expression conveying,
“I’m glad.”
“By the way, how about you, Sia? No problems today either?”
“Yes! After cleaning Mr. Byleth’s room, I started studying at the academy as soon as I had free time.”
“Did you take proper breaks?”
“Um… y-yes.”
Looking up at the ceiling with round eyes, after about five seconds of thought, Sia responds in a noticeably small voice.
It’s obvious to anyone that she’s lying.
“I see. You forgot to take breaks even while focusing on your studies.”
“!?”
“I’ve told you to take breaks, haven’t I? It could lead to health problems.”
The startled reaction confirms it.
Reminding her to take breaks might seem unusual, but it’s something that couldn’t be helped from Sia’s perspective.
“I-I’m sorry! But I can’t afford to lower my grades…”
Sia had an important conversation with Byleth.
When asked, “What would you like to do if you received a recommendation letter to the palace?” She replied, “I would decline it and continue to serve as Mr. Byleth’s maid.”
If she sticks to those words, she can’t afford to lower her grades. It was her determination to “definitely obtain a recommendation letter to the palace…”
“Besides, I’m healthy, so I’m fine!”
“Even if you say you’re healthy, it’s not very convincing.”
“……Ah.”
Putting his hand on Sia’s head and saying.
“Come on, about 140 centimeters.”
“I- not that small…!”
“Haha, I’m just kidding.”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
Removing his hand from her head, Byleth immediately makes a suggestion.
“Then let’s take a break together from now on? This is a present from Elena to Sia.”
“If it’s with you, Byleth sama, then definitely!”
It’s very cute that Sia immediately agrees on this condition despite her dislike of taking breaks.
Feeling warm and fuzzy, they move together.
The place for their break is Byleth’s room.
During this time, there’s no chance of any misunderstandings arising.
“Here you go. This is from Elena to Sia.”
“Um, may I see what’s inside…!?”
“Of course.”
As soon as she sits down, Sia opens the package carefully and peeks inside the box.
“! W-Wow…!! T-There are so many chocolates…!”
“Wow! That’s great!”
Although he had been informed of the contents, Byleth acts surprised for Sia’s sake.
“Um, I-I can’t eat this much!? Such high-quality chocolates…”
For a brief moment, her eyes sparkle. However, as she comes to her senses, Sia shakes her head firmly.
“U-Um, originally, this amount was for Byleth sama and me, wasn’t it…?”
“Hm?”
It’s not the right answer. He didn’t plan on saying it.
If he had answered like that, he would have understood that Sia was hesitant to indulge in her favorite treat.
“Well, it’s not like that. This amount is what Sia alone can eat. Elena said so too.”
“Since we have school the day after tomorrow, may I ask Elena for her opinion?”
“……Huh? Um, isn’t that… um, you know… unnecessary? It’s something that doesn’t need to be asked, and we don’t need to bring it up again.”
“Mr. Byleth~?”
He couldn’t come up with a good excuse. It’s natural for her to feel uneasy.
Narrowing his blue eyes, he looks at her with suspicion.
“Uh, hahaha…”
Feeling cornered, Byleth awkwardly changes the subject with a forced smile.
“Anyway! There’s another important matter today. Actually, this one is more important.”
“R-Really?”
“Yeah, I’ll get serious from here on out.”
The word “important” had a great effect.
Indeed, it’s not a mere pretext.
“Hey, do you remember? After this meeting ends, can we talk about the future again? That’s what we discussed.”
“!”
Suddenly, Sia starts to lose her composure.
Her gaze wanders, and her face quickly turns red.
The conversation she wants to have is embarrassing.
It’s about something like “being able to stay with Sia from now on.”
“You remember the circumstances, right?”
[Nods]
Sia nods her head affirmatively.
“W-Well, since it’s an embarrassing matter for me too…let me explain it concisely.”
Sia nods again.
“Um, first of all, I have to keep the rules of Sia’s house, so I’ll maintain this relationship until graduation…”
The main topic starts here.
“After Sia graduates, I’ll definitely pave the way for her.”
“I-I-Is that true!?”
Excited, happy, Byleth’s words are strange.
“Of course. Saying this might affect my grades, but even if I don’t get a recommendation letter to the palace, I’ll… no, I’ll definitely pave the way.”
He’s being vague to avoid restricting the weak Sia’s position. It’s still a long way off until her graduation.
Things may change during this long time. Because he’s been treating her unfairly, he wants her to be free.
He doesn’t let personal feelings like “not wanting to let go of Sia” get in the way.
“But this is just a verbal promise. I’ll definitely pave the way, but only pave it. I’m not going to impose any restrictions, so if Sia changes her mind, I want her to tell me without hesitation.”
“Um… Byleth-sama, are you not taking this lightly?”
“Lightly? ”
“It’s a shameful story, but there will definitely be more competent attendants than me… Paving the way means that even if you find someone more competent… that…”
“Ah, I’ll still prioritize Sia. No matter what everyone says, Sia is the most competent attendant to me.”
“Wha!!”
She is surprised, with her mouth half open and her eyes round, but it’s not something to be surprised about. After all, she’s truly competent.
“Um… s-so in that case, I want to aim to become a distinguished lady-in-waiting who will definitely receive a recommendation letter to the palace…”
“I’m counting on you. I’ll do my best to study various things so as not to lose to Sia’s efforts.”
“Um, um, then, please continue to take care of me…!”
“I should be the one saying that. So, that’s the end of the difficult conversation. Here, this.”
“Thank you very much…”
Sia, who is still lingering on the previous conversation, receives the chocolate she was hesitating to take.
She probably doesn’t actually hesitate. Her trembling hands as she receives it seem to be restraining overflowing emotions.
There are two ways to interpret Byleth’s words “paving the way.”
Is it still within the framework of being an “exclusive lady-in-waiting”?
Or is it beyond that?
The answer to that question is still a long way off.
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Just confess and accept her. You’re dragging this out too much.