by CHIROLU
Latina stared at Dale with a slight tilt of her head as he nodded along. When their eyes met, she broke out in a joyous smile.
“...What is it?”
“It’s nothing.”
Even as she said that, Latina’s happy expression didn’t change at all.
Thinking on it, Dale recalled one of her favorite sayings: “I’m with you, after all.” She was always saying that with a happy smile.
“Well, I guess it’ll work out...” Dale muttered, feeling that his cheeks were a bit flushed.
He realized again that he was with the overly adorable Latina. Rather than worrying about what may happen, he was left wondering just what he should do.
Now that he’d come to understand both her feelings and his own, the rest of Dale’s recuperation period was used more for contemplation rather than focusing on healing.
Contemplating How can this girl be so cute?! and the like.
In terms of vocabulary alone, not much had changed. Comparing before and after, the main list of words he used had hardly shifted at all.
However, Dale had clearly started to see Latina in a different way than he used to. And thinking on it, he saw that it was unavoidable that the people around him had felt the need to rebuke him so thoroughly. It was only natural. In fact, it was obvious to do so. There was a limit to how dense someone could be. He wasn’t an idiot, right? Or was he?
Repeating such masochistic thoughts over and over, Dale recovered less than a week later. Having Latina by his side had caused him to get well quicker. It had just been a minor illness to start with, but his healing capability had been heightened noticeably thanks to her presence.
And during that time, Dale’s awareness of Latina changed day by day.
The second she sat at his bedside to talk to him, their eyes would meet, and she’d gently smile back at him.
When Dale would touch a lock of her hair, she’d pull back a bit. He’d come to realize it wasn’t because she was rejecting her “father” due to puberty, but was a sign of shyness accompanied by a slight flush of her cheeks.
Occasionally, her gentle grey eyes would grow moist, and he’d see a heat in her gaze as she stared at him. Now that he understood her feelings, he could also understand the meaning behind that heat. He’d avert his gaze, feeling slightly embarrassed, and she’d let out a wistful sigh, only to then smile back at him once more as if nothing had happened. The “little Latina” box he’d placed her in had been doing more work than he’d thought. Now that he was aware of it and had removed his filter, he could see clearly that she was a maiden in love.
Though it was embarrassing, he reached out and stroked her hair like he used to. Ever since Latina was young, her hair was so smooth and glossy that it wouldn’t lose out to any high-class silk. Originally it had started as him patting her on the head to say that she was a good girl, but it felt so good to the touch that it had become a habit of his. When he did it, Latina looked overjoyed. Seeing that defenseless expression born from trust, Dale unconsciously slipped his hand down to her cheek and glimpsed a hint of interest from her.
This girl was just too defenseless. It was almost shocking how much that was true around a man, like himself. Her guard was so far down, he got the feeling that if he tried to lay a hand on her, she’d just say, “Go ahead.” Perhaps that could be chalked up to her childishness, but Dale had some thoughts on how dangerous that was.
If she wanted to, she could definitely drive men to tears...
Her innocent, defenseless actions served to work men up without her realizing it, so if she did understand and learned how to use it to her advantage, she could become a real femme fatale. The scary thing was the way the people around her seemed to naturally grow devoted to her. He needed to make sure things stopped where they were: with her just having a fan club.
While he knew that she had no such intentions herself, he couldn’t help but hold his head in his hands at the thought that he could make a move whenever.
It’s still too soon. It’s still too soon. I shouldn’t think things like that, he’d repeat in his mind like a chant, making a variety of faces all the while. But Latina just innocently smiled at him.
Latina was still young. He got a faint sense that her build was starting to round out, but... he was surely imagining things. She still had a childish physique; she was developing slower than her friends and was worried about that.
Between the “rebellious phase” incident, the way Latina had distanced herself, and Dale running away under the guise of work, he hadn’t properly seen Latina for over a month. But even so, there was no way she’d change so much in that short a time.
Having no idea that Dale was desperately trying to persuade himself of that, Latina just smiled back at him. Dale, meanwhile, had no way of knowing at this point that she really had entered her growth period, as she’d claimed for some time now.
She was like a butterfly about to emerge from its cocoon and was truly growing into an adult surprisingly fast. Her mother’s genes that she’d been so worried about turned out to not have much of an effect, and over the months and years, she’d become very charming, causing Dale a great deal of worry.
That time wasn’t too far off.
†
It was a strange space. And yet, she didn’t find it unusual to be here.
It was a monochrome gathering of light in all the colors, and the space was constructed of that alone. There wasn’t a single color there, and yet every one of them was contained within this monotone world. Surveying the space, it seemed absurdly vast, yet also like it was contained within a miniature garden. She was also aware of why the things that existed in this space did so.
Spaced out equally in a circle were chairs. The shapes and sizes all varied, yet she knew that they had something in common:
These were all thrones.
Each of the seven had a master who should be seated in them. She was unable to see them, but she could strongly and clearly sense the presence of a master about each throne.
She looked them over, one after another. In front of one throne was a blood-stained blade, while another had a jug overflowing with water. She saw a throne with dead branches coiled around it, and one in which a thick book was enshrined. She surveyed the thrones in turn in this way, then stopped in front of the first one.
There, and there alone, a master didn’t exist.
She was also aware that this throne would welcome a master soon. Furthermore, she knew that she was here because she had met the qualifications. This was the choice that she had abhorred most of all. It was the reason she had once lost everything and a choice that would betray the feelings she still wanted to protect.
And so, she gave a small shake of her head and refused it, whispering, “I don’t need it.”
“This isn’t what I want.”
What she wanted, what she sought, was—
“What’s wrong, Latina?”
Hearing a kind voice, she awoke. After blinking her eyes, she remembered that she was in the safest feeling place in the world.
The room overflowed with warmth. She’d had countless precious memories here, and her most beloved person of all was here, too.
“Did you have a nightmare or something?”
Ever since she was little, he’d say such kind words and gently stroke her hair. The warmth of his palm would clear away any scary memories or nightmares.
It made her happy when he stroked her hair, and she was overjoyed when he said it was beautiful, so she grew unable to cut it. He surely didn’t realize it himself, but his nonchalant words and actions were all incredibly precious to her.
“I’m alright.”
There was nothing that scared her. As long as she was here, with his warmth by her side, nothing scary would happen. This was the safest place in the world, after all.
“I’m fine now.”
She gave a joyous smile, snuggled her cheek up to his warmth like a kitten, then fell into a cozy slumber.
&
nbsp; She didn’t want to think about it.
Someday, she’d lose this warmth.
It was the only thing she wanted. The sole thing that she desired. He was by her side, and they shared an almost overflowing happiness.
However, she’d surely lose that someday. And when that time came, what should she do?
So she wouldn’t think about it, she let herself drift off into a deep sleep.
Interlude: The Platinum-haired Maiden Does This and That at the Duke’s Estate
While staying at the Eldstedt manor in the capital, her days were busy in their own way, filled with activities like reading through the family’s books or rigorously having manners drilled into her again by Rose. Rose did it out of consideration for Latina so nothing embarrassing would happen, as she’d come to the estate as a member of Dale’s family. Dale had thought that her manners were already more than good enough for a city girl, but he was still earnestly grateful for Rose’s concern.
However, Dale thought that she didn’t need to know how to handle herself at a ball.
The duke had requested that he attend the ball he was holding at his own manor alongside Latina.
“Latina doesn’t have any outfits appropriate for a ball.”
“It’s just a personal event for close friends and family. There’s no need to be so formal.”
There’s no way that’s the case, Dale thought, but he didn’t let it show on the surface, since he’d been thoroughly trained in the ways of high society.
This was the highest-ranking noble in Laband. No matter how much of a “small-scale,” personal event it was, it would be like a whole different world that a mere commoner couldn’t possibly imagine.
“If her outfit is the issue, you have my permission to borrow one from my house.”
The maids all brightened when they heard those words from the duke, knowing nothing of the quip of I don’t need that permission that Dale held back inside.
Dale learned why the maids were so happy when he grumbled about the matter to Gregor shortly afterwards.
“It’s because my sister left many outfits behind at the manor. They may not quite meet the current trends anymore, but they could be adjusted.”
“Are you trying to make an enemy of me, too?!”
“For Latina, I think that something with a classic silhouette to it would be more fitting than the current trend of dresses that show off skin. I would imagine that those were my lord uncle’s intentions, yes?”
“You too, Rose?!”
Rose, who had referred to Vladimir in such an informal manner because they were in private, broke out in a gentle smile.
Latina wasn’t a noble to start with, so she obviously hadn’t had an official debut as a lady of the court; she’d normally never be able to appear at such a gathering of adults like a ball. Therefore, she was granted permission precisely because it was a “private, informal” event.
“Dale, you called for me?” asked Latina, poking her head in and holding a book in her arms.
“L-Latina?!” Dale questioned hysterically, causing her to blink her big eyes in surprise.
“Did you not call for me...?”
“Perfect timing, Latina. Since you are here, how about trying some on? That is alright, is it not, Sir Gregor?”
“Yeah. I don’t mind.”
“You guys... You’re conspiring against me...” Dale’s gaze remained fixed on Gregor and Rose, while the Eldstedt family maids surrounded Latina.
“Huh? What? Huh?”
“This reminds me of when Lady Rose was little.” The head maid smiled and brought Latina into the adjoining room. Latina, meanwhile, was left perplexed, not understanding what was happening to her.
“Lady Fanya doted on me often.”
“It’s because my elder sister was fond of you.”
Dale found it hard to interject as the childhood friends reminisced about old times. And yet, Rose pointed a smile his way.
“Unlike myself, it seems like any color clothes would suit Latina, yes? I cannot help but feel jealous.”
“Is that so?”
“My hair color stands out so much, there are some colors that just do not go with it.”
Dale gave a nod in understanding. It was true that Latina looked good in anything. Well, she did have a rather flat physique, so he couldn’t quite say that clothes with more mature designs exactly suited her, but she was still just so heart-warming to watch. Still, exposing too much skin would make it more likely for her to catch a cold, so that was no good. It was said that chills were a woman’s greatest enemy, so there was no reason to show her belly or wear a short skirt. A low neckline would be even worse. But, well, putting that aside, it was fine to say she looked good in anything.
“Why do you hate showing her off so much?”
“Ugh... That’s... She’s my family, so... she’d get unnecessary attention just because of that.”
He was a young adventurer with the rare abilities of a “hero” and the deep trust of Duke Eldstedt. That was how high society viewed Dale. He wasn’t a noble of Laband, but he came from Tislow, a unique village with a culture all its own. His standing differed from that of a simple commoner.
Dale had been doing his job long enough that he could easily brush off the curious gazes and malicious rumors directed at him. However, he didn’t want to expose the kindhearted Latina to noble society, which certainly wasn’t all roses.
“On top of that, she’s just too adorable a girl. You just know that if some stupid young noble was to make a pass at her, there’d be rumors flying around about whether or not there was something between them.”
“Well, that is certainly true...”
“And of course, Latina will be cuter than anyone else at the ball. There’s no need to go out of my way to confirm something so obvious.”
“You certainly never waver, do you?” Gregor said, looking at him in astonishment, but Dale didn’t pay him any mind.
He certainly did wish to see Latina wearing the sort of flashy attire fitting for a ball, which she wouldn’t wear in her everyday life. Latina was already plenty cute, but she’d obviously become even more amazingly adorable. Everybody wouldn’t be able to help but stare. That much was a done deal. There was no need to second-guess there.
But even so... No, rather because of that, he couldn’t let Latina attend the ball. To Dale, all other men were enemies. He didn’t want to go out of his way to create an opportunity for such meddlesome vermin to approach Latina.
“I don’t need to give those pests a chance to get near Latina,” Dale said while giving off a pitch-black aura.
“Sir Dale,” Rose said, staring straight at him while tilting her head a bit.
“Hmm?”
“Is this the possessive side of gentlemen that I have heard so much about?”
If this had been the Dale of just a short while ago, he would have just laughed and denied it. He would have just declared that his feelings were his as Latina’s guardian and because she was just too cute and that there was nothing further to it.
But as he was now, Dale couldn’t so clearly deny his feelings.
Dale had said that he’d never thought of Latina as a member of the opposite sex, but he had still shown nothing but unease at Latina being together with other men. But were those really just his feelings as a guardian? Thinking back on it logically, he wasn’t able to firmly deny that he’d displayed his most childish of emotions to such a degree that it made his eyes spin a bit.
Not wanting anyone to steal her away was a natural desire for a father, but for someone who wasn’t her father, those feelings held a different meaning.
Now that he was aware of that, he was unable to hide how shaken he was by Rose’s words.
“Huh? H-Huh? Y-You’re... not wrong? No, that’s...”
“Calm down a bit.”
Seeing Dale work his own emotions more and more into a fluster, Gregor sighed and Rose laughed pleasantly.
It was then that the
door to the adjoining room opened. Dale instinctually turned his gaze toward it, and then froze.
There was Latina.
She had on a deep wine-red dress, with a simple design to the upper half. In comparison, the skirt was gathered enough that the hem swayed gorgeously just from Latina walking.
“Does it look weird...? It doesn’t quite feel right, somehow.” Latina looked embarrassed, having been suddenly forced into such an extravagant outfit. However, she still happily swayed and seemed to be enjoying the way the hem fluttered about.
“The color of your hair has a muted tone to it, so I tried pairing it with a bold color,” explained the head maid, who was standing behind Latina.
“From what I hear, you normally like to wear light tones, but you look even better in dark colors,” Rose added with a smile.
Listening to the women talking from afar, Dale’s mouth flapped open and closed. He knew there was something he needed to say, but he couldn’t think of anything.
“It made for quite a spectacle whenever my sister came home,” Gregor said, trying to help out his rather pathetic-looking friend.
“When Lady Rose was young, Lady Fanya would often have her try on her old clothes,” the head maid added.
Rose had been quite adorable when she was young, and Gregor’s sister Fanya had been rather fond of her. She personally taught etiquette to Rose, a lower-ranking noble, and had her wear extravagant outfits of a sort that would normally never be seen in the Cornelius household. Gregor had often seen the young Rose surrounded by a swarm of maids and made to change into one outfit after another.
The maids who had served in the manor for a long time remembered such happy scenes well. The exhilarated atmosphere that had resulted from Vladimir’s words were a result of that, too.
“It suits you well.” Gregor was usually a man of few words, but he offered that compliment to Latina in order to snap Dale back to his senses.
“Latina...”
“What is it?” Latina asked, tilting her head a bit as she looked at Dale, her expression showing both hints of worry and anticipation. Rather than praise from a number of other people, what she wanted was a single “You look cute” from one person in particular. She had on the sort of gorgeous dress she’d only seen in fairy tales and felt like a princess out of a picture book, so it was only natural that she’d want to hear the sort of words that would make her cheeks turn rosy.