WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Dionysus
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Chapter 246: Bound to Admit It (3)
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♩♪ ♬♩♪
Soft music filled the ballroom.
More burdensome than the music were the gazes fixed on them and the strange atmosphere they created.
That was right.
This was meant to be a celebration for Joshua Lindsay’s birthday.
Yet everyone gathered here seemed to be watching only Illia and Airen Farreira.
No, the attention directed at Airen was even greater.
Of course, Illia Lindsay was no different.
Looking at the friend who had appeared in a way utterly different from anything she had expected, she struggled to keep her impassive expression from cracking.
‘What happened over the last two days?’
When they first met at the fencing hall.
When they reunited in Aienmarc and traveled together afterward.
She had never once seen Airen dress himself up.
Of course, it did not matter.
Illia had not fallen for Airen because of his appearance in the first place.
It was because of his kind, sincere heart. He always helped her back to her feet whenever she broke down and stayed by her side whenever she lost her way.
But...
She had to admit it.
Airen, dressed to the nines, was far more devastating than the Airen she had always known.
‘It’s strange. It doesn’t even look like he tried that hard...’
Even so, he gave off a completely different impression.
Illia did not know.
She did not know how much effort Airen had put in over the last two days for this occasion, or that Bill Staunton, a stylist with an excellent eye, had remained at his side the entire time.
This was the result.
The black-and-white base, accented with the faintest hint of blue, complemented Airen’s fair skin without being too flashy or too plain.
The fit that suited his build, the subtle details on his shoes, his neatly styled hair, and the etiquette drilled into him through special training all created a youthful, refined, aristocratic air.
“My lady?”
“Ah!”
Airen Farreira called to her again.
Seeing his serious expression, Illia made a sound without realizing it.
Only then did she realize she had been staring blankly at him.
She nodded belatedly and took his hand.
Despite their physical abilities as Masters, the two young people walked toward the center of the dance floor with steps as awkward as could be.
“What?”
“What do you mean?”
“Today... No.”
Illia, who had been about to ask something, closed her mouth.
What she wanted to say was obvious.
What had suddenly gotten into him that he had dressed up like this?
Was it simply because they were at a ball, because he wanted to match the atmosphere?
Or perhaps...
‘Was it to look good for me?’
And if she took that thought one step further...
‘Does Airen feel that way about me too?’
Questions born from his changed outfit led to more and more questions.
Yet Illia could not bring herself to say any of them aloud.
Airen looked at her awkward smile and asked,
“What’s wrong?”
“Hm?”
“Weren’t you about to ask me something?”
“Ah, right. I was, but I forgot.”
“Um...”
“More importantly, you’re quite a good dancer, aren’t you? I’m from the Adan Kingdom, so I’m used to dances like this, but you aren’t, are you?”
Illia quickly changed the subject, cutting Airen off.
She was afraid.
She was so happy right now.
She was so happy that Airen had appeared in an outfit far more carefully chosen than usual, and that he had bravely approached her and asked her to dance.
But...
‘What if it wasn’t for the reason I’m hoping for, and he only did it to fit in with the atmosphere...?’
Then she would be a little disappointed.
No, very disappointed.
Illia was still Illia.
She had broken out of her shell and entered the world. Though she was growing quickly, she still lacked confidence.
Despite her exceptional family, remarkable talent, beautiful appearance, and kind heart.
...But Airen was no different.
‘I’m still nervous.’
His heart pounded.
This was not the first time he had held her hand, yet it still felt terribly awkward. The feel of her skin against his made his heart tremble.
In truth, it had begun when he saw her from afar.
Just as Illia had been flustered by Airen’s changed appearance, he too had been unable to think straight when he saw his old friend in a dress for the first time.
“...The music’s nice.”
“...It is.”
The attention around them faded away.
The staring eyes, the whispers about them.
Eventually, even the questions, worries, and concerns that had filled their minds disappeared one by one. In their place grew pure feelings for each other.
For now...
Let’s enjoy this moment.
With natural smiles on their faces, the two young people danced for a long time.
* * *
“Ahem.”
“Who is that?”
“How presumptuous...”
A blond young man had suddenly appeared at the ball and claimed House Lindsay’s young lady in an instant.
The young nobles who had watched blankly finally began to show their displeasure.
If they had only been given a moment, just a moment, to gather their courage, one of them could have been in that position.
That was what they thought.
Some nameless man of unknown background had appeared and cut in front of them.
Of course, that was not true.
Airen Farreira was simply more capable and braver than any other young man in the ballroom.
No one else could have pushed through Joshua Lindsay’s pressure.
Even if someone had managed to approach Illia and ask her to dance after breaking through that atmosphere, she would never have accepted.
In a way, they had avoided embarrassing themselves because Airen acted so quickly.
But hot-blooded young men did not think that far.
Filled with shameful jealousy, they began throwing out all sorts of insults to tear Airen down.
Then surprising information came from behind them.
“What do you think? Young Lord Airen Farreira looks splendid, doesn’t he?”
“...Well, he was always handsome to begin with.”
“That is true. That is the foundation of it all. Still, I hope you will not forget the efforts of Bill Staunton, who helped make those fine looks shine even brighter...”
“I won’t forget, I won’t! Even if Kiril doesn’t admit it, I will! Even from a cat’s perspective, Airen looks much cooler than before!”
‘Airen Farreira?’
‘The genius swordsman from the Hale Kingdom who reached the rank of Sword Master in his early twenties?’
‘The one who defeated Illia Lindsay in Proof Land?’
It was hard to believe.
But they had no choice but to believe it.
They knew Airen Farreira’s most distinctive features were the large Sorcery sword he carried and the Sorcery cat that always followed him around.
They looked at Lulu, who was eating a meat dish behind them, then shifted their gazes back to Airen.
...They could no longer belittle him.
He was not some nobody of unclear birth who was merely pleasant to look at.
The young man dancing with Illia Lindsay in the center of the ballroom was a Sword Master whose talent and skill ranked among the finest on the continent.
He had the continent’s most famous fencing hall, Krono Fencing Hall, backing him.
And he was handsome on top of all that, a man with not a single flaw to be found.
“Life is unfair.”
“Haah...”
“Should we just drink?”
The men turned their attention elsewhere with bitter expressions.
Some reached for food and drinks, while others moved to pursue different young ladies.
Joshua Lindsay, the host of the evening, watched them with a dissatisfied look.
‘Just as I thought. You lot are far too lacking for my daughter.’
His wife had told him that a few of the young men attending this ball had quite favorable reputations.
They were handsome and skilled, and many people had their eyes on them as potential sons-in-law.
But what was this?
Not one of them had managed to pass even his simple test.
He had not shown killing intent, nor was he about to devour them, yet they had all become puppies with their tails between their legs, sweating helplessly.
‘On the other hand... Airen wasn’t bad.’
Joshua turned his gaze toward the center of the ballroom.
His beloved daughter danced with graceful, elegant movements beside Airen Farreira.
His eyes settled on Airen, and he reluctantly nodded.
‘I’ll admit it today.’
Joshua had already known that Airen’s swordsmanship was exceptional.
But that alone was not enough for him to stand beside his daughter.
Whenever he thought of Airen’s usual behavior, as though he cared for nothing but the sword, and the foolish expressions he occasionally showed, whenever he saw Illia so deeply taken with someone like that, it felt as though lava was boiling in Joshua’s chest.
...That was not how he felt now.
He did not know what had come over Airen, but the young man had appeared with far more consideration for his partner than before.
Joshua muttered quietly to himself.
“...Still, only dancing. Nothing more yet.”
“...Honestly.”
The Countess looked at Joshua Lindsay, who was seriously evaluating Airen, as though he were ridiculous.
She understood a certain degree of overprotectiveness, considering what had happened to Carl Lindsay and how precious Illia was to them.
But this was going too far.
Any father should be pleased when such a fine young man, one with no obvious shortcomings, showed interest in his daughter. Why was he making such a strict expression instead?
‘What will you do if that young man gets snatched up by another girl?’
The Countess looked at Illia.
Her daughter was pretending to be calm, but as her mother, she could tell. Illia already had the eyes of someone in love.
Sighing again, she secretly stepped on the family head’s foot and said,
Crunch!
“Stop scowling and smile. Don’t meddle.”
“Urgh... All right.”
Joshua Lindsay groaned and nodded.
A few elderly nobles watching the pair let out quiet chuckles.
They knew.
Everyone now knew the head of House Lindsay as a doting father, but before that...
‘He was an even bigger romantic. His devotion to his wife completely belied that sharp appearance.’
The elderly nobles kept their warm smiles as they watched Joshua Lindsay, who was still completely under his wife’s thumb.
* * *
“...”
After finishing his dance with Illia Lindsay, Airen Farreira returned to his seat.
Even afterward, he watched his precious friend for a long time.
As she greeted guests alongside Count and Countess Lindsay.
As she took a sip of strong liquor and scrunched her nose.
As she picked up a cookie and chewed it slowly.
It was different from before. Very different.
No, it was not.
She had not changed. Illia had been like that even when they traveled together.
She was not weak with alcohol, but she did not enjoy strong liquor. Whenever she ate sweets, she chewed more slowly and cutely than she did during meals.
That was right.
What had changed was his heart.
‘I...’
I like Illia.
Having finally recognized his feelings, Airen Farreira gazed at Illia Lindsay not as a friend, but as a woman.
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