Chapter 6: Date with Sia – Part 2
“Well, I never thought the day would come when I could do this together with Sia.”
“Wh-why is that!?”
After finishing observing over a hundred flowers and eating lunch.
Byleth and Sia sat down on a bench built in the garden courtyard, peacefully beginning to sunbathe together.
“Because when Sia is sunbathing, you look so blissfully happy that I always made sure never to disturb you.”
“W-w-w-wait a moment! You saw me like that and made such efforts not to disturb me!?”
“Ahaha, sunbathing does feel good. You always had such a melted, blissful expression.”
“Wha…”
You might think he’s exaggerating, but with her completely relaxed expression, she really did look like she was melting with contentment.
“This morning, you said sunbathing was your greatest pleasure, right? I thought today I might get to see that expression up close.”
“E-even if you tell me that, I absolutely won’t show it to you… I can’t let Lord Byleth see me in such a relaxed state…”
“Oh my.”
She returned exactly the words he had expected.
While the opinion that [he might have been able to see it up close if he hadn’t said that] was valid, Byleth had failed to find the right timing to explain why it was his [greatest pleasure], and he thought that might end up making her anxious.
“…Phew. Still, sunbathing feels much better than I expected. I can understand why Sia does it so often.”
“Fufu, I’m glad to hear that.”
“Hey, since we have this chance, why don’t you stretch out your legs too, Sia? I think it would feel even better that way.”
He had actually noticed from the moment they started sunbathing. That she was sitting with her knees bent at a 90-degree angle, even keeping her back straight.
“If anyone were to scold you for it, I’ll explain that I ordered you to do so.”
“I-if that’s the case, then just a little…”
“Yeah. Take this opportunity to relax.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Sia, who had been sitting properly with her knees bent at 90 degrees just as she did when sunbathing alone, stretched out her slender legs just a little.
“Oh, speaking of which, do you have any troubles or worries lately, Sia? I realized it’s been a while since I asked about this.”
“Thanks to you, I’m living comfortably every day without any inconvenience. Since Lord Byleth changed your policy, I’ve been able to spend time on various things at the academy as well.”
“Are you really okay? You’re not keeping quiet about something because you don’t want to worry me?”
“Of course. I apologize for interrupting our conversation when you kindly asked, but… sorry about that.”
“No, no! I’m happiest when there’s nothing wrong. It’s not like that’s the only thing we can talk about.”
While it did interrupt their conversation, the most important thing was that she could live her daily life without inconvenience.
“Is there anything troubling you, Lord Byleth? If it’s something I can help with, I’ll cooperate with all my strength.”
“Hmm. I do have anxieties about the future, but since studying is a way to solve that, I don’t think about it too heavily.”
“That’s good to hear. If there’s anything else, please feel free to rely on me. I’ll do my best to be of help.”
“Thank you. Then if something comes up, I’ll rely on you.”
“Yes!!”
Honestly, he didn’t want to trouble Sia with anything.
While he wanted her to keep showing that bright smile, when she said such things, he should probably accept her kindness honestly.
“By the way, about after I graduate from the academy – even after I graduate, Sia will have to attend the academy alone, right?”
“Yes. It’s a policy that has continued for generations, so I absolutely must graduate.”
“I thought so… That’s why I’m worried about that too. I’m concerned that someone might try to make advances on you, seeing that I’m not there.”
He naturally knew about Sia’s popularity. He also knew she was in a position where many of the opposite sex were targeting her.
That’s precisely why [places beyond his reach] made him worry.
“Please don’t worry, Lord Byleth. No matter what happens, I will never turn my attention from Lord Byleth to someone else.”
“Haha, well, this is something I just have to accept.”
This was something he could only trust Sia with, and all he could do was work on self-improvement so she wouldn’t be attracted to another man.
“Also… oh right. When it comes time to make this relationship public, would that cause you any trouble, Sia?”
“N-n-n-not at all! Rather, it would be most desirable… I would be delighted from the bottom of my heart!!”
“Then I’m relieved.”
[The Marquis heir’s lover]
Once that fact became known, no one would be able to easily make advances. Those with ill intentions would also disappear.
And—this confirmation was absolutely necessary.
“The reason I’m asking this is because I’m thinking of gathering Elena, Luna, Sia, and all of your parents before or after the graduation ceremony, to have a meeting to discuss plans, including a meeting to get to know each other.”
“!!”
“This isn’t confirmed yet, so please keep in mind that this is still hypothetical.”
“Understood!!”
It was natural for Sia to show her nervousness openly.
This would also be a gathering that would confirm [the person to spend one’s entire life with].
Of course, thinking about such a gathering made Byleth nervous too, but this was something unavoidable.
“…It might not come across well because of our master-servant relationship, but I’m dating Sia with serious feelings, so you don’t need to worry about the future.”
“Lord Byleth… I… I’m so happy I could die.”
“Th-that’s the one thing you absolutely must not do!? We still have so much ahead of us!”
Even knowing it was a joke, Byleth couldn’t help but panic.
After that.
While continuing their private sunbathing session, they expanded their conversation for 40 minutes.
Byleth lowered his head as if to hide his face—and for a moment, covered his mouth with his hand.
He tried to yawn without being noticed, but nothing escaped Sia’s excellent observational skills.
“Fufu, has Lord Byleth become sleepy?”
“J-just a tiny bit!? But there’s no problem at all.”
It wasn’t because [he was bored and got sleepy].
This was because, in addition to being full after eating, his body was warmed by the sunbathing, and he was spending time with someone he trusted more than anyone else.
For Byleth, this was an inevitable drowsiness.
“Please don’t force yourself to stay awake, Lord Byleth.”
“…B-but even so, I absolutely hate the idea of parting with Sia here… I still want to be together.”
Studying, the garden, sunbathing.
Today’s date plan had been completed, but there was still time. This feeling hadn’t been satisfied yet.
And Sia felt the same way.
“I-if that’s the case, then… would you like to… use my lap?”
“Wha…!?”
“This would be my first time doing such a thing, so I might not be very good at it, but… if it’s a lap pillow, Lord Byleth could rest while we continue to be together.”
“I-I couldn’t possibly impose on you to that extent.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t want a lap pillow.
Rather, it was something he was interested in, but for Byleth, it would be crossing a line in terms of indulgence. It would also be undignified as a master.
As he waved his hand and refused with all his might—
“—Lord Byleth, you absolutely must let me spoil you.”
“!!”
There was Sia, blushing but unusually taking a strong stance.
Such a Sia had one trump card.
“Today, I… have been told by Lord Byleth to give you orders. So, Lord Byleth absolutely must let me give you a lap pillow.”
“Ah, ah…”
Byleth could only be confused as his own words were skillfully used against him in an unexpected way, in a place he never anticipated.
[Today is like a festival where there are no formalities, so there’s no problem if Sia gives me orders. Rather, I was thinking I’d like you to order me to do something at least once.]
[This kind of fun is something we can only do inside the mansion. So today, let’s make the most of it.]
These were words that Byleth had actually spoken.
“W-wait! It’s true I said that, and I intend to follow orders, but… it’s embarrassing, isn’t it? I didn’t say that to force Sia to do unreasonable things…”
“I understand that. However, I want to do this… I want to give Lord Byleth… a lap pillow.”
“…”
Normally, Sia would always ask [Is that not okay?] for confirmation, but the moment she asked for confirmation, it would no longer be an order.
Maintaining the form of an order, she patted her thigh with her hand, showing strong determination.
She completely blocked Byleth’s escape route.
“Lord Byleth, please… I’m terribly sorry, but this is an order from me.”
“Haha… Well, this is troublesome… You’re really not forcing yourself?”
“Of course not.”
“I-if that’s the case… then yes. Following your order…”
Scratching his cheek in embarrassment, he steeled his resolve.
He slowly placed his head on Sia’s thigh, who had brought her knees together and finished preparing for the lap pillow… letting the tension leave his body.
“H-how is it, Lord Byleth… Is it not uncomfortable?”
“Yeah, not at all…”
“Then I’m relieved…”
The softness he could feel even through her clothes, and the sweet scent.
Before he knew it, the pounding in his chest changed to a sense of security. It changed to comfort.
“…On the other hand, isn’t it heavy for you, Sia? There’s quite a difference in our builds.”
“I’m fine. Really.”
“That’s good. But you don’t need to pet my head…”
“Lord Byleth always pets my head, so this is my way of returning the favor… Actually, I’ve been wanting to do this.”
“I-I see…”
With the initiative completely taken from him, Byleth could only let things happen.
It was somewhat ticklish and embarrassing.
He showed an indescribable reaction, but this too soon became a feeling of security and comfort.
The moment he understood why Sia would sweetly ask to [have her head petted]—he was strongly overcome by drowsiness.
As he dozed off, Byleth called out in a weak voice.
“…Sorry Sia, if you keep doing that, I’m going to fall asleep…”
“It’s alright, Lord Byleth. Please rest like this.”
“Is it really… okay?”
“I’m happy just being like this…”
“…I see…”
With his thoughts becoming dull, he swallowed words he would normally argue with. He smiled and nodded deeply.
Byleth let his heavy eyelids fall shut.
And soon, Sia heard his regular sleeping breath.
“Fufu…”
After confirming that Byleth had fallen asleep, Sia sneakily… embraced her beloved.
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“Mm, mm~!”
Byleth, who had taken a comfortable nap, let out a waking sound—and saw two things in his vision.
“You’ve awakened, Lord Byleth.”
“!?”
Sia’s adorable face and the sunset sky.
The color of the sky told him he had been sleeping for a long time.
Breaking out in a cold sweat brought his mind back to clarity.
“Um… Sia? Did you… give me a lap pillow this whole time?”
“You were sleeping so peacefully.”
“Hey! I’m sorry!”
This wasn’t the time to prioritize conversation.
He sat up, ending the lap pillow time.
“I’m really sorry!? I never intended to sleep for so long…!!”
“Ehehe, it’s alright. I had an even better time than Lord Byleth did.”
“Don’t say that… Your legs are definitely numb, right?”
“No, they’re not numb at all.”
Sia smiled brightly as if to show her composure.
There was nothing unusual about her demeanor, but normally this would be impossible. There was quite a difference in their builds too.
“Y-you’re enduring it, aren’t you? Really…”
“I’m not enduring anything either.”
“…”
“…”
From their clashing opinions, they stared at each other in silence.
Since Sia was saying this much, perhaps checking would be boorish.
However, from Byleth’s perspective, he couldn’t just leave it at that.
As he hesitantly reached out his hand—
“Lord Byleth… please don’t.”
Sia spoke up.
But he still reached out.
“Lord Byleth… really, please don’t.”
A restraining voice came.
But he reached out even further, and the moment he firmly pressed her knee—
“Hyuu!!”
Sia jumped up as if her body had bounced, letting out a small animal-like cry.
“Ah, ah, ahhh…”
This scene confirmed that her legs were indeed numb, and as their date neared its end.
All Byleth could do was panic.
Meanwhile—for Sia, who had been able to do things she liked such as petting Byleth’s head for a long time, despite the discomfort, it was a numbness filled with happiness.
TLNOTE : Like this story? Check out the new novel Love Thy Dark Lord, it’s basically like this novel, but with politics, kingdom-building, …oh, and of course, MC using his modern sensibilities to seduce girls, lol.
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