Chapter 4: Separate Exchanges
Four days had passed since then, and the long-awaited date with Sia was now just a day away—Friday.
“Hey, Byleth… Don’t you think that response was a bit much?”
“Fufu, you’re being considerate of me, aren’t you?”
“W-Well, I just thought now might not be the best time to interrupt…”
“Honestly… We’re close enough that you don’t need to be so formal.”
“Hahaha…”
Byleth arrived at school to find Elena, the daughter of a count and his girlfriend, and Aria, the daughter of a duke, chatting amiably.
Trying not to intrude, he gave them a light nod and moved to take his seat—only for one of them to sharply call out to him.
“Uh, you two can keep talking. Don’t mind me.”
“Don’t be so cold. Join the conversation, won’t you? Right, Lady Aria?”
“Yes, if you have time, we’d love for you to join us.”
“O-Oh, sure. Then, if you’ll excuse me…”
The aura around Aria was different when she was her true self versus when she was putting on an act.
Though they were close enough to speak casually, Byleth instinctively treated her with deference when she was in her noble guise.
—But that didn’t last long.
“Lord Byleth, you may speak to me the same way you do with Ele-chan. In fact, I’d prefer it.”
“See, Byleth?”
“R-Right.”
Aria smiled sweetly, leaving him no room to escape—though her eyes carried an unspoken warning: [Don’t you dare treat me differently.]
Still, he found himself relieved to see her usual self.
It had been four days since they last spoke—back on Monday.
Due to her obligations as a songstress at evening parties and banquets, Aria only attended school about twice a week.
Knowing how taxing that was on her voice, Byleth couldn’t help but feel happy seeing her unchanged.
“By the way, what were you two talking about earlier?”
“Oh, just idle chatter.”
“You mean… love talk?”
“Yes. Though, I’ve been out of the loop, so I’ve mostly been listening to Ele-chan.”
“…Huh. That’s actually really surprising.”
“Isn’t this a good opportunity, Byleth? Maybe you should give it a try too?”
“Uh… What’s the right way to answer this…? Hmm…”
Even as a joke, he couldn’t respond with “Yeah! I’ll give it a shot!”—not when the risk of being overheard by one of Aria’s admirers
it was enough to make him fear for his life.
So, careful not to seem too pleased, he deflected gracefully.
“Fufu, this just proves how much Ele-chan trusts you, Lord Byleth.”
“Trust?”
“She’d never encourage you like this if she didn’t think you were thoughtful and responsible.”
“Ghk! Y-You didn’t have to explain it, Lady Aria…! He’s already getting full of himself…!”
“Ohhhh? The same Ele-chan who’s always grumbling is saying that now…?”
“Ugh, this is why I didn’t want to say it!”
“Could it be… you actually like this side of him?”
“N-No way… You don’t have to take his side that much…”
“My apologies for the unsolicited interference.”
With that, Aria had made two things clear: Byleth was free.
Elena welcomed that.
And as thanks, she also revealed Elena’s true feelings—ones the girl herself couldn’t voice.
“Anyway… Byleth, if you take those words too seriously, I won’t forgive you.”
“I’ll take them seriously because they make me happy.”
“I think I might start hating you after this.”
“That’d be a problem.”
Despite their differing statuses, they spoke as equals—openly, comfortably, enjoying each other’s company.
Just like during the banquet, when Luna and Sia had been the same way.
This was undoubtedly thanks to Byleth’s open-hearted nature.
Seeing how he interacted with others only reinforced Aria’s belief that her “choice” was the right one. And as she imagined a future alongside him, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy at the scene before her.
—Being raised in a household where power came first, she felt this all the more deeply.
“…You two really do get along well.”
“W-Well, I suppose… you could say that’s thanks to Byleth. He’s the kind of person who lets me act like this without holding it against me.”
“Fufufu, no wonder even your exclusive maid has fallen for him.”
“Ah… Thank you…”
In this world, those of lower status often lived with constant unease.
And an exclusive maid—someone who spent her days obeying orders, treated as little more than a tool—wishing to stay by her master’s side forever?
That was almost unheard of. It simply couldn’t happen unless she was truly cherished.
“Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Sia since the banquet. Have you been acting like proper lovers, Byleth?”
“Well, we are planning to spend tomorrow together…”
“Oh my, how lovely.”
“Hmph. If you bore her, I won’t forgive you.”
“U-Uh… That’s actually the part I’m least confident about…”
“Is that so?”
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Aria voiced her confusion first, and Elena tilted her head in agreement.
“Originally, I suggested going out, but Sia said she’d prefer staying at the mansion… So of course I agreed, but… I still haven’t figured out how to make it enjoyable for her inside…”
“I see… For Sia, sharing everyday moments with you is probably more meaningful than anything extravagant. It might even be a kind of occupational habit.”
“Yeah, that sounds about right.”
“In that case, rather than trying to entertain her, perhaps you should simply focus on relaxing together.”
“That makes sense!”
“Why not let her take the lead for once? Since she’s usually the one following orders, it might be fun to reverse the roles.”
“—!”
The moment those words left Elena’s mouth, Aria’s eyes widened in disbelief.
But Byleth, oblivious to her shock, brightened.
“Oh! That’s a great idea! Yeah, that might work! Sia’s the type to hold back otherwise.”
“Just don’t push it too far. It only works if both of you are comfortable.”
“Got it. I’ll pay attention to how she reacts.”
“I’ll be asking Sia about it later, so you’d better be careful. If she hesitates even slightly, be prepared.”
“If that happens, I’ll leave it to you to set me straight.”
Elena had phrased it as “if she hesitates” because Sia would never openly criticize her master.
She wouldn’t even think it.
And Aria, listening to this exchange, could only stare in stunned silence.
“—Oh, sorry. I need to step out for a moment. I’ve been so worried about tomorrow that I haven’t had a chance to go.”
“You didn’t have to explain that… Just go already…”
“Haha, then excuse me… And thanks for the advice.”
With a bow, Byleth turned and left the classroom.
Elena sighed at his usual antics—but Aria finally spoke up.
“…He truly is a peculiar person, isn’t he? Not only does he show no resistance to being ordered around by his own maid, he even seems happy about it…”
“Most nobles would throw a fit. I was half-expecting him to, honestly. It’s exhausting trying to keep up with his way of thinking sometimes.”
Aria’s shock was plain on her face.
“Forgive me for asking this again, but… Do you regret including him as a candidate? He’s… really unusual in every way.”
“Fufu, if anything, it only makes me more certain.”
“Good. I’m glad.”
Aria’s smile was genuine—and seeing it, Elena relaxed, her own lips curving slightly.
Hearing the “Beautiful Songstress” praise her lover’s qualities filled her with a quiet joy she couldn’t put into words.
***＊
“Pardon the interruption, Lady Luna.”
“—!”
“A-Ah! I’m so sorry for startling you!”
Several hours later, in the library.
Luna hadn’t noticed the approaching footsteps—or even the presence—of the person now standing beside her. Startled, she flinched before recognizing the familiar face and quickly composed herself.
“…Ah, Sia. My apologies, I didn’t notice you at all.”
“No, it’s my fault. I didn’t want to disturb you, so I made sure to move quietly…”
“…That explains it.”
Normally, Luna never missed someone’s approach. The fact that she had this time meant Sia had used that skill of hers.
Impressed (and slightly unnerved) by the display, Luna slipped the bookmark Byleth had given her between the pages and stood, collecting her thoughts.
“…I believe we haven’t properly greeted each other since the banquet.”
“Y-Yes! Thank you for your kindness that evening. I know I may cause you trouble, but… Please continue looking after Lord Byleth!”
“I’ve already resolved myself to do so. If anything, I should be the one asking you for your continued support.”
They exchanged smiles, acknowledging the shift in their relationship.
“Now then, what brings you here today? I’d be happy to talk.”
“U-Um, forgive my rudeness, but… I was hoping to ask for your advice about something…!”
“Advice? May I ask what it’s regarding?”
“It’s… about Lord Byleth.”
“I see. Wouldn’t Lady Elena be better suited to help with that?”
What lingered in Luna’s mind was this:
Elena had more involvement with Sia and Byleth than she did. In other words, Elena likely knew them better than Luna herself and could offer a broader range of opinions.
From that standpoint, Luna suggested an alternative—but Sia responded with a strained smile and a shake of her head.
“You’re absolutely right. I’m sure Lady Elena would offer excellent advice… but if I were to head to her classroom to meet her, naturally, Lord Byleth would—”
“Ah, I understand. He’d be right beside her, wouldn’t he? And given who he is, he’d inevitably worry, [Is something wrong?] and stick his nose in.”
“Yes… And beyond that, the matter is… somewhat embarrassing. I’d prefer Lord Byleth not find out that I was the one seeking advice…”
“So approaching me, alone in the library, was the most convenient option.”
Sia had clearly thought this through before coming to her. The realization weighed heavily on Luna—but at the same time, she couldn’t help feeling genuinely happy that Sia had chosen to rely on her.
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