Chapter 9. End of story, new beginning (6)
The melody of the song that resonated in the square was a little different from what the two of them had heard.
Rather than a calm yet elegant rhyme that is often heard at a ball, it feels a bit more upbeat and bright.
Maybe that’s why the young step got twisted when the two of them tried to culminate as they had learned so far.
“Pufu, I think it’s too sloppy.”
“Neither do I.”
The two of them laughed at each other’s footwork.
That would be the case, even when we sparred so intensely in normal times, the topic that was in harmony with each other was out of sync today.
One step, two steps.
I tried moving back and forth using my own dragon and changing the hand I was holding, but I didn’t get angry.
“There are things Emilia isn’t good at either.”
“What am I going to say? To be honest, I was dubious that it was a joke.”
Maybe the two of them had a little fantasy about each other.
This person in front of me would do anything in the world without hesitation.
But the reality was not so rosy. In reality, they were sloppy men and women who could not properly perform even the dances they had learned through education.
“Are you not disappointed?”
“I like it better. I wanted Ludwig to be a bit lacking rather than a guy who could do anything.”
“We agree. Neither do I.”
In a sense, the illusion was shattered, but the man and woman could feel their feelings for each other deepen.
‘As expected, I don’t care about flaws when I like someone.’
It is said that in order to build a good feeling for another person, it depends on how much you can see the strengths and charms of that person rather than not seeing the flaws of that person.
It seemed that he could now understand the advice his mother had given him excessively before.
“Come on, Ludwig. Follow my feet.”
“Then I will only trust Emilia.”
Emilia, who was even closer to him, took a step back with her right foot and guided him quite skillfully.
Even if you are the same beginner, isn’t the class divided?
Still, it was possible because Emilia was more skilled than him.
“Would you like to wrap your arms around my waist?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
It was more difficult than holding hands, but Ludwig, thinking it was part of the dance, carefully embraced her waist with his arms.
At the same time, Emilia’s cheeks turned red.
It was something he had done, but it was embarrassing.
I felt embarrassed because I thought he was so actively recommending it.
‘It’s a dance, so it’ll be fine. Ludwig won’t find it strange either.’
After finishing self-justification, Emilia muttered to herself as if brainwashing herself.
It’s okay because it’s a dance. It’s not an erratic behavior. It’s never shameless.
To be honest, I wondered what the meaning of this topic had been so obvious, but it was a serious problem for a girl in love.
I want him to know that I like him and I want to stay in touch with him more, but on the other hand, I don’t want to be seen as a cheap woman.
Perhaps a girl who has been in love at least once would understand this. Emilia was so sure.
“It’s a very bright song.”
“That’s right. Personally, I prefer this one rather than the calm one.”
“Ludwig and I have overlapped thoughts.”
A calm and calm song has its own taste, but for the two of them, a bright and upbeat song was more suitable.
Our tastes in food are quite different, but I wonder if our tastes in music match.
Glad to find a common ground, Emilia’s lips drew a bright arc.
The two continued to dance with the movements they had become accustomed to.
Since ancient times, the harmony of good men and women has been a law that brings others’ eyes together, whether they like it or not.
Other couples dancing around and passers-by stopped for a moment to watch them.
“Somehow, the eyes are converging.”
“Maybe he fell in love with Ludwig’s dancing skills?”
“… Didn’t I ask you not to tease me?”
I wanted to be quiet for some reason, but in the end, it seems that the playfulness has been activated.
Today, unlike usual, she did more of the opposite than teasing Ludwig, so it might have been because of revenge.
He looked so cute when he pouted his lips.
Emilia held back laughter as much as possible and handed him a sincere apology.
If he sighed like this, let go of his hands, and left empty-handed, there wouldn’t be a division like that.
“Ludwig smells good.”
Perhaps it was because they were so close to each other that they could smell each other.
Ludwig was also trying hard not to be conscious of the scent of freesia that emanated from her, but rather, Emilia got lucky first.
His face turned red.
“Scent… I am not a flower, Emilia.”
“Cook-Cook, that’s right. I must have misunderstood.”
don’t be like that You can’t be a flower
Even if there are women who like flowers in the world, there will be no women who can love flowers.
The fact that I love you is enough to know that you are not a flower.
Why?
On the one hand, the desire for you to be a flower is hidden somewhere in the heart.
Maybe that’s why.
There are flowers in the world that can be plucked and held, but there is no one that can be plucked and held.
I want you to remain as the person I love, but also to be the flower I can have.
Such a paradoxical idea must have created this wind.
“Emilia? Why are you staring at me so… … .”
“If you are curious, guess. I have no intention of making it easy.”
“Ummm, that’s a conundrum.”
what is the challenge This is a problem that would have been solved a long time ago if you had a mind to solve it.
it would be nice anyway The reason why I stared at you, and the reason why I considered you like a flower, will be revealed soon.
Waiting for that moment, Emilia continued dancing while entrusting herself to him.
Despite the midwinter, the warm hands of the good harvest wrapped around the two people.
* * * * * * *
The two realized that dancing was such a difficult job only today.
It would be more correct to say that the exhaustion was due to tension rather than physical exertion.
It was the first time they had been so close together for so long that they could clearly feel their breathing.
“It’s embarrassing. Being a man, I can’t even lead the dance properly.”
“You don’t have to worry. I just wanted to dance with Ludwig, not a guy to lead the dance.”
Of course, the way he skillfully leads himself would have been pretty cool, but to her, this kind of figure felt more intimate.
As if to prove what she had said, Emilia quietly grabbed his hand.
Ludwig thanked him and held hands similar in size to his own.
When the touch of his hand, which was too soft for a man, was transmitted, Emilia involuntarily burst into laughter.
“It feels strange whenever I hold Ludwig’s hand.”
“Oh, sorry. Emilia. I don’t know stop… … .”
Ludwig hurriedly tried to remove his hand, probably misinterpreting it to mean that he was in a bad mood.
Emilia grabbed the hand that was trying to get out of it as if snatching it away, and closed it with a padlock.
‘Where am I going to escape?’
Ludwig’s model flinched and trembled in her fingers poking between her fingers.
Emilia looked at him with her eyes wide open as if she was having fun.
“It didn’t mean that, but it meant that it felt weird because it was softer than my female hand.”
“I see.”
Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to mean not holding hands.
Phew. Ludwig let out a small sigh of relief.
For a moment, I felt my heart stop beating. Compared to the first time he encountered Polumus the other day, the moment of tension was incomparable.
“In the first place, I held the hand first, so there’s no way I’ll feel bad about it. Ludwig sometimes thinks in a very strange way.”
“… … .”
I dared to say, ‘I care because it’s you.’ It was impossible to say, so Ludwig finally swallowed the words that were about to leak out of his throat.
It’s hard to be in one-sided love. Muttering something that would make a girl draw a knife at any moment, she walked with difficulty.
Around the time the number of floors of the tall buildings surrounding it lowered a little, and the scenery changed quite a bit, Emilia burst into exclamation and opened her mouth.
“Oh, do you know Ludwig too?”
“What do you mean?”
If you ask me like that, what should I answer?
However, judging from Emilia’s eyes shining so brightly, Ludwig, who thought it would be a rather interesting subject, expressed interest.
“In fact, there are always fireworks on the night of the Harvest Festival. It is also the most famous custom, so there are many people who come just to see the fireworks.”
“I do not know. It’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”
I had vaguely heard of Lutentia’s harvest festival in the original work, but I hadn’t even heard of the fireworks display.
Even Tanya, who had spoken about this harvest festival, hadn’t said anything.
‘Fireworks, good.’
Before coming to this world, I liked fireworks quite a bit, to the point that when I was young, I even played with a package of fireworks sold at a supermarket with my friends in the neighborhood.
Above all, to end the night of the festival while watching the fireworks explode splendidly, it seems to be the end of a day that is neat and leaves a lasting impression.
“Have you ever seen fireworks, Emilia?”
“I don’t think there will be any. It’s a memory from my childhood, so I’m not sure.”
“Well, I guess so.”
She said that the last time she enjoyed a harvest festival was when she was about nine years old, so it was understandable.
“And there is also an unusual legend entwined with the fireworks display of the Harvest Festival.”
“You mean a legend?”
“Yeah. It is a legend that says that if you convey your feelings to someone you love while watching fireworks, you can continue your love forever, but if not, you will never be married.”
It was pretty bloody for a legend about love.
What he expected was a simple but romantic story, such as couples watching fireworks together.
‘It would have been impossible if it wasn’t for a strong heart.’
He was careful not to believe in such superstitions, but there is always one thing.
If the content was a little positive, wouldn’t you have dreamed of a confession scene while watching fireworks?
“Is there anyone who knows this legend and still confesses under the fireworks?”
“I can’t say for sure. But on the other hand, I think it’s really cool to have someone like that.”
“Are you cool?”
Unable to understand his words, Emilia tilted her head to the right.
“Isn’t it? Confessing despite knowing the legend would mean that he wanted to convey his feelings even at the risk of that.”
“You can think of it that way. After all, Ludwig’s way of thinking always leads to admiration.”
I didn’t think I’d say anything like this, but it would be fine.
Ludwig smiled shyly and scratched one cheek with his free left hand.
As Emilia looked at his side profile, the air around her and Emilia’s eyes changed subtly, but she didn’t notice it.
“Then, the schedule for the day has been set.”
“Are you expecting what kind of face Ludwig will make?”
“Even I am past the age of being surprised like a child by fireworks.”
What kind of image do you think of yourself in her mind?
When Ludwig, whose ego was strangely hurt, responded in a sullen tone, the corners of her mouth went up.
“How about it? Shall we bet?”
“Bet… Even if I beg for mercy after losing, won’t you forgive me?”
Ludwig vowed that even if a dragon appeared, he would not blink an eye.
Then, he put his finger on Emilia’s little finger, which had been held out to establish a bet.
The condition of the bet is that if he looks surprised while watching the fireworks together, he loses, otherwise Emilia loses.
The content is that the loser grants the winner one wish.
‘What shall I make Emilia do?’
Are there any fun pranks?
It was Ludwig humming happily, promising future work.