“…This is the first time I’ve seen it. Someone who turns pale instead of being happy when hearing the words ‘I’ll call for Lady Aria.'”
“I-I’m not really averse to it, you know!? It’s just that the feeling of hesitation is really strong!”
She’s Aria’s personal maid. Byleth can’t let her misunderstand. As Byleth desperately tried to explain, Sonya smiled.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m actually pleased.”
“Eh? Is that really true…?”
“Because it’s a reaction that shows there are no ulterior motives from someone I want to become close to Lady Aria.”
“A-Ahaha…”
“Well, it seems our casual talk ends here. Please wait by the wall. I’ll call for her right away.”
By the time Byleth heard these words, Sonya had already opened the door.
And soon after re-entering,
there was Aria, approaching elegantly with her fluffy platinum blonde hair swaying.
“I heard from Sonya. Thank you for your consideration.”
“Not at all! Thank you for taking the time!”
“Fufu, were you perhaps forced by Sonya? She doesn’t usually make such requests.”
“H-Haha… I wonder…”
Byleth had tried to act as if he had “asked Sonya” to make a good impression, but the true course of events had been completely seen through.
All Byleth could do was smile wryly at her judgment, worthy of being called the master.
“I also apologize for any rudeness on Sonya’s part.”
“N-Not at all! I was hoping to talk to you again if the timing was right.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that. Actually, I felt the same way.”
“Eh!?”
For a moment, Byleth thought she might delve deeper into our conversation in the dark garden, but that wasn’t the case.
“It’s very rude to say this in front of you, but I had a misunderstanding that Lord Byleth was a very frightening person…”
“Ah, I’m sorry for causing that misunderstanding.”
“There’s nothing for Lord Byleth to apologize for. Fufu.”
For some reason, she found it amusing, probably taking it as self-deprecating humor.
Thinking back, Byleth remember Elena laughing too.
“So, I was hoping to greet you again without that misunderstanding. I think Sonya understood my feelings and acted on them.”
“She seems like a very capable person from what I’ve seen.”
“Thank you. She’s my pride and a very important person to me.”
“I see.”
Aria seemed happy that Sonya was praised.
Although they were both speaking formally, perhaps because they were able to share feelings of “wanting to talk again,” there was no awkwardness, and they could converse enjoyably.
Regardless, Byleth deserves credit for trying not to think about [Aria’s true self].
“Oh, I forgot to mention earlier, but Lady Aria’s singing was truly magnificent. I hope I’ll have the chance to hear it again.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. It makes singing worthwhile.”
Byleth actually wants to say [Please don’t push yourself], but he knows the circumstances she’s trying to hide.
To avoid making her anxious about being found out, he limits himself to offering praise.
“I could feel your intense gaze, Sir Byleth.”
“Ah… I was truly enchanted by your performance.”
He responds with a light-hearted joke mixed with his true feelings, but even this is enough to make his heart race. Especially with others watching.
“I have a question, Sir Byleth. Which soirée will you be attending next? If I knew we’d be at the same event, we might have more opportunities to talk.”
“About that, I haven’t decided on anything yet.”
“Is that so?”
“Y-yes.”
Her surprised reaction stings his heart.
For a marquis, it wouldn’t be strange to receive many invitations, but due to his bad reputation, he doesn’t get any.
“I’ll probably only attend two or three events a year. …I don’t want to trouble my personal maid, Sia, too much—”
Byleth opens up to Aria, glancing at Sia who’s engaged in conversation.
Even if he received many invitations, this feeling is resolute.
“—I’m still young, so I can’t say I have much stamina, and I tend to push myself too hard. …I don’t want to force her.”
Just having Sia handle the greetings must be more physically and mentally demanding for her than for other maids.
She’s already busy with her studies every day. He doesn’t want her to fall ill.
“You’re just as rumored. …I can understand why Elle-chan and Lu-chan trust you so much.”
“Huh?”
“Fufu, just talking to myself. I was thinking about various things.”
At this moment, Aria recalls Luna’s words:
[His good qualities are most visible when he’s being himself.]
By bringing up the topic of Sia, a person close to him, she caught a glimpse of that side.
“Then opportunities to meet with you are quite precious, Sir Byleth. I find that quite regrettable.”
“Your words are too kind, but I’m sure we’ll have chances to meet again. When that time comes, I’d love to hear you sing again.”
“Yes, I understand.”
He wants to say [It’s a promise] strongly, but this too is something he can’t say.
“Ahem. Well, this seems like a good place to end our conversation. I’d hate to lower others’ impression of you, Sir Byleth.”
“I understand. Thank you very much for your consideration.”
There are still many nobles who want to talk to Aria. She even timed their conversation to avoid appearing as if she was monopolizing him.
“To be honest, I feel like we haven’t talked enough, so I sincerely hope we can meet again.”
“Likewise.”
They end their conversation with mutual smiles.
Byleth had no way of knowing that Aria doesn’t usually speak like this to others.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
“Welcome back, Byleth. You seemed to be having quite an intimate conversation with Lady Aria.”
“W-well, yes. She’s easy to talk to.”
Having finished his business and returning to Elena, who happened to be free, he was greeted with her deliberately puffing out her cheeks.
“You even moved to a secluded spot with a certain someone. I wonder what kind of conversation you were having.”
“It wasn’t anything special, just trivial talk.”
“‘Trivial talk’ that required moving to a secluded spot, huh…”
“No more digging into this!”
“It’s because you can’t tell better lies, you know?”
“If I could tell better lies, I wouldn’t be in this situation.”
“Fufu, that’s true.”
It’s completely obvious that they were having an important conversation.
Still, Elena shows consideration by not pressing further about things he doesn’t want to say. He can’t help but feel indebted to her.
“A-anyway… how’s that situation going?”
“That doesn’t need explanation, does it? She’s fighting against everyone’s ulterior motives.”
Byleth and Elena look towards Luna, who’s standing near the wall.
Several male nobles are lined up there, with one person leaving only to be replaced by another.
“As participants whose invitations weren’t accepted start to leave, they’re probably feeling various stimuli.”
“I see… But I’m surprised you’re not caught up in that, Elena.”
“I have a certain status, and more importantly, I’m on the hosting side, so there’s a psychological distance. Come on, you know that much.”
“Still, it’s surprising.”
And that’s not just flattery.
“Man, that looks tough…”
“Sigh. If you think so, why don’t you go help her? Luna is waiting for your invitation. You promised to take a break together, didn’t you?”
“W-well, that’s true, but…”
There’s a reason his words falter even though he wants to help.
It’s because in just a few minutes, it will be 9 PM, the promised time to slip out with Elena.
“By the way, I can’t really move from here. If two women slip out together, it might cause strange misunderstandings.”
“…”
“Also, Luna, who said she’d take a break with you, hasn’t taken a single break yet in this unfamiliar setting. If we just ignore that and slip out, she’ll probably stay like that the whole time.”
“Ugh.”
[Who will you choose, me or Luna?]
As if weighing this on a scale, Elena provoked Byleth—and then gently pushed his back.
“Fufu, what are you hesitating for? Honestly.”
“Huh?”
“If you’re a man, try taking both Luna and me out. If you do that, I’ll forgive you for changing our promise.”
Elena whispered this in his ear and then smiled gently, looking up at him.
“That would be more charming, Byleth.”
“…T-thank you, Elena. I’ll go then.”
“Yes. If you get rejected, I’ll comfort you.”
“Now I’m feeling really anxious…”
“Oh, be quiet. Come on, hurry up and go.”
“O-okay.”
Byleth, sent off somewhat roughly, lines up as if waiting for his turn in Luna’s queue.
Despite just being friends, why does he feel so nervous?
Why is he so afraid of being rejected?
He was already aware of the reason himself.
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