Chapter 1: Desire
In the classroom, on the morning after the holidays had ended.
Monday.
“Eh……. You were kept that busy……?”
“Ufufu, everyone has that reaction, you know.”
Two young ladies were conversing as the cool breeze flowing from the open window fluttered their beautiful red and platinum blonde hair.
It had, in fact, been nine days since these two had spoken, including the holidays.
“It’s not really my place to say anything, but shouldn’t you ask them to review your schedule……? You didn’t just attend, Aria-sama, you sang as well.”
Elena, known as the [Crimson Princess] for her red hair, red eyes, and beautiful appearance, shifted from a look of surprise to one of concern, lowering her brows as she looked at the [Beautiful Songstress], Aria.
She had heard about the grueling schedule—attending parties almost every day last week, coupled with long-distance travel. It was a busyness that was hard to accept, even for someone from a Ducal house.
“Thank you for your concern. However, this is my mission. There is no greater happiness than fulfilling one’s mission.”
“……”
She was speaking from the heart. Aria declared it so naturally that anyone would believe her, lowering the hand she had placed on her chest—but there are things that are understood precisely because one is a noble.
Especially for the sharp-witted Elena.
“If you answered me honestly…… well, I suppose saying lighthearted things like that would only trouble you, Aria-sama.”
“Well now, I’m not quite sure what you mean. ……Though having said that, perhaps my words might change if it were just the two of us.”
“Hah!”
It was no wonder Elena, who had instigated the topic, was surprised.
Changing one’s opinion while maintaining appearances is, given the position of a Ducal house, not a simple thing.
Even if it was a joke, those were words she could only say to someone she trusted.
“Thank you, truly. For caring about me this much.”
“……That is my line, Aria-sama.”
Although she had muddied the waters with “words might change,” Elena was convinced of the answer, hence her gratitude.
“It feels terribly presumptuous to call this a thank you, but…… is there nothing you would like to ask me, Aria-sama? I was hoping there might be at least one thing.”
“Knowing you, Ele-chan, if I were to ask, then……”
“I-I won’t do anything like tease you…… Considering the flow of the conversation and all……”
Aria narrowed her eyes suspiciously, placing a fingertip against her chin, while Elena countered with a flat stare, one hand on her hip.
The atmosphere didn’t turn tense; instead, the two immediately exchanged it for smiles.
“Will you answer any question I have?”
“Of course. Though, judging by the fact that you added the word ‘any,’ you’re thinking of a question regarding Byleth, aren’t you?”
“Gh……”
Aria’s eyes went wide, having had the core of the matter pierced before she could even bring up the topic.
She realized that her blatant reaction made it impossible to play dumb.
“Y-You didn’t have to voice that out loud, did you……”
“Because with me, there’s no need for maneuvering, or gauging the situation, or anything like that, right? You told me your feelings, Aria-sama, and I conveyed my honest words back to you at that time.”
“……P-Please do not create an embarrassing atmosphere.”
“Fufu, that’s only because you try to hide it, Aria-sama.”
Elena made a pleasant smile, signaling that she “didn’t intend to do that,” and returned to the main topic. Aria cleared her throat once and followed suit.
“U-Um…… well then, while I was not attending the academy, did Byleth-sama mention anything about me……? Since I was unable to show my face at the academy even once last week.”
“That? Of course he did. He was even more worried than usual. Since you hadn’t come since last Friday, he was like, ‘I wonder if she has important business to attend to,’ and ‘Elena, have you heard anything?'”
“Is, that so……. Was that so.”
She seemed to chew on those words.
To Aria, the full meaning of that ‘worry’ was conveyed.
That he was still properly concerned that her throat condition hadn’t worsened.
Even though he was a person who knew her true, sloppy self.
“I understand now. Because of that, Ele-chan, the very first thing you did this morning was confirm my schedule.”
“Byleth had such a serious look on his face that I couldn’t even offer empty words of comfort, so it was all the more reason to check.”
“……”
Faced with that supplementary information, Aria couldn’t form a clever reply.
She unconsciously averted her gaze and scould only nod silently.
She hadn’t known he held such strong thoughts for her.
Hearing it from a third party made her feel those thoughts even more intensely.
“Really, I don’t think there was enough time at that dinner party for Byleth and you, Aria-sama, to become this close. ……Honestly, I’m getting jealous.”
“Ufufu, you joke.”
“I’m quite serious, you know? After all, there are parts where he cares about you, Aria-sama, more than me, his lover. That guy.”
“Ah, that is……”
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Words that sounded like she was blaming Byleth.
Aria revealed a moment of panic, but Elena’s tone of voice and expression reassured her.
“Well, knowing that guy, I understand it verry well, but he’s being a meddlesome busybody because ‘something happened,’ right? With you, Aria-sama.”
“To call it meddlesome…… He has done nothing but things I am grateful for from the bottom of my heart……”
“I’m relieved to hear you say that. However, if there are any inconveniences, please tell me, okay? I think perfectly determining the line where it’s okay to step in and where it’s not is difficult, even for Byleth.”
“Just now, I feel as though I was shown the composure of a lover.”
“That’s just your imagination. The part about me being jealous is true, after all……”
Touching her hair with her fingers, Elena firmly denied what needed to be denied.
It was because she was talking to someone she could be honest with, and someone whose feelings of affection were already exposed, that she could give this reply.
“Do you not consider stopping Byleth-sama, Ele-chan?”
“Hmm. How should I put it? That is one of his good points, so keeping it all to myself is…… you know? Besides, Byleth worries about bad rumors, so I don’t want to do anything to hold him back.”
“So the cycle is that Byleth-sama himself must take full responsibility for the amount you feel frustrated.”
“I-I didn’t say anything like that!?”
“Fufu, excuse me then.”
By creating a debt called ‘patience,’ she creates an opportunity to be spoiled.
For Elena, that was likely the easiest method to initiate physical intimacy.
──And, it was something like a lover’s privilege.
Just as Aria felt a pang of envy toward Elena for having what she did not, it happened.
“Oh my.”
Two figures moving toward this building reflected in the corner of Aria’s eye.
“Speak of the devil, as they say.”
“Really, talk about good timing.”
Elena followed her gaze and saw Byleth and his exclusive maid, Sia, heading toward the school building together.
“……”
“……”
Without voicing a word to each other, they watched the pair for a few seconds.
“H-Hmm?”
Elena noticed Aria tilting her head slightly while leaking that voice, and she opened her mouth as if bursting into laughter.
“It’s somewhat awkward, isn’t it? Just Byleth.”
“It is, isn’t it? Though it is vague.”
“Actually, he’s been in that state ever since last Monday.”
“Eh? If you say last Monday, then……”
Tracing back her memories to the Friday before last. Because Aria had joined in to listen to Byleth’s consultation, there was one thing that clicked.
“Is the cause the date with Sia-san that was planned for the holiday? Have you not asked Byleth-sama yet, Ele-chan?”
“No. It doesn’t feel like they’re fighting, and since it concerns his private life, I thought—until now—that it was better not to pry too much. But hearing that it’s dragging on this long, it seems better to ask.”
Thinking changes depending on the time and situation.
For him to be in that state for a whole week is, as expected, an abnormal situation.
Reaching out a hand should make it easier for Byleth as well.
“Hey, could you listen in with me, Aria-sama?”
“I-I believe Byleth-sama would find it easier to speak if I stepped aside, would he not?”
Precisely because they are lovers, she felt that strongly.
“I’ll take the lead, so that part will be fine. If you say you don’t want to interact with Byleth, I won’t force you, though?”
“……I have a conviction that I am being teased.”
“Fufu, you making me jealous is plenty teasing too, Aria-sama.”
Aria, having been retorted to without malice and with a smile, pressed her hand to her cheek and lowered her eyes.
When it came to these matters, Elena was simply one or two steps ahead of her.
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