New Year Under Starlit Trails · Chapter 6

My Heart in Yours

Luna

Whoa... This place is huge.

Asherah

This is nothing compared to House Orlan's main estate.

This is only their secondary residence.

Luna

Wait, so your family's mansion is bigger than this?

Asherah

I guess...?

Luna

Wow... It's hard to believe coming from someone who worries about lunch money every day.

Asherah

W-Well, I don't exactly qualify for pocket money after running away...

Quit bringing that up!

Luna

As you wish, my lady.

Epindel

Welcome, Lady Stranis. Thank you for attending.

Asherah

Epindel!

Epindel

...What exactly are you wearing? Weren't you supposed to arrive in your dress?

Asherah

Well, I was practicing right up until we left...

Hehe... I kind of ran out of time to change.

I figured it'd be okay to just change inside...?

Epindel

Good grief... I've never heard of someone showing up to a ball intending to change on-site.

Asherah

Hehe... My bad!

Epindel

Lady Stranis, this way, please. The rest of you are welcome to enjoy the gala in the meantime.

Luna

Heh heh heh... We're officially inside!

All right then, time to find out what kind of gourmet feast the wealthy get to enjoy!

Waiter

May I offer you some champagne?

Luna

Whoa, Smile! Look! They're handing this stuff out for free! Hurry, get one too!

Smile

...Not associated with this individual.

Waiter

Over in the corner you'll find crackers topped with cheese and honey, along with macarons and éclairs.

The catering station on your right features mini beef tartare, smoked salmon rolls, and more. Please enjoy.

Luna

We really owe Asherah one...

C'mon, Smile! Let's see what else they've got!

I leaned against the wall in a quiet corner of the ballroom, taking in the unfamiliar scene.

Elegant decor and graceful music created an atmosphere of refinement.

Guests in exquisite dresses and formal attire exchanged graceful smiles as they chatted.

It was certainly the sort of luxurious party anyone would envy...

Yet their smiles carried a strange stiffness.

Asherah's warning that this wouldn't be the kind of party we'd imagined came back to me.

Luna

Mmm... Oh, Captain!

What're you doing over here by yourself? They've got tons of amazing food. Come with us!

Smile

Luna. Eating while walking is considered poor etiquette.

Luna

Whoops. Forgot.

While Luna spoke with cream smeared around her lips, voices from nearby caught my attention.

Noble Lady A

Have you heard? Lady Stranis is among tonight's guests.

Noble Lady B

Lady Stranis?

You mean the one who wouldn't stop talking about the Star Savior at House Delorant's wedding banquet?

Noble Lady A

That's the one.

Noble Lady B

Right... She left quite an impression.

Noble Lady A

Apparently she's joined one of the Savior Parties in NOA.

She really is devoted to the Star Savior, isn't she? Imagine going so far as to join a Savior Party.

Noble Lady B

Her carefree nature does make her popular with some people...

Still, I can't imagine House Stranis is very pleased.

Noble Lady A

Quite so. One would expect more maturity at her age.

Yet she's still running around talking about old legends. It's embarrassing just to watch.

Noble Lady B

Quite. There's such a gap between dignity and... reality.

Noble Lady A

I do wonder what she'll be wearing tonight.

Noble Lady B

Goodness, imagine if she showed up looking like she just came in from the training grounds.

Noble Lady C

It wouldn't surprise me.

Noble Lady A

My... You sound awfully certain.

Noble Lady C

As a matter of fact, I caught a glimpse of her when she arrived.

She came dressed exactly as she always does.

Don't tell me she intends to dance in those clothes.

Noble Lady B

Oh, come now. That can't be true!

Noble Lady C

Whatever the reason, I do hope she doesn't embarrass herself in a place where she clearly doesn't belong.

Noble Lady A

My thoughts exactly. Ahaha!

Let's just hope she doesn't ruin the evening.

Luna

...Look at them. Smiling so sweetly while tearing someone apart behind their back.

That's it. Stay here. I'm going to give them a piece of my mind.

Smile

Luna. Too late.

Luna

Huh? Where'd the Captain go? He was just standing right here.

As unpleasant as it was to admit, they weren't completely mistaken.

To be fair, it wasn't easy to find anything particularly noble about Asherah.

Given the choice between elegant tea parties and grueling sword practice...

She would always choose a flexible training uniform over an elegant dress.

Perhaps that was why the nobles found her such an uncomfortable presence at gatherings like this.

Underhanded rivalries were part of what I'd expected.

Had the subject been anyone else, perhaps I would've found the conversation entertaining.

By any reasonable measure, what I was about to do was entirely unnecessary.

But logic aside, I found myself stepping forward without thinking.

Noble Lady A

My... And who might this gentleman be?

You came all the way here...

Just to smile sweetly while insulting others?

Their gossip wasn't directed at me, but somehow their words still made my chest ache.

Now I understood exactly why Asherah hated gatherings like this.

I don't know what it means to be a noble, but...

I doubt it's anything like this.

Noble Lady B

I-I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean...

Noble Lady C

I-I assure you, there must have been some misunderstanding. We were just—

Suddenly, a ripple of commotion passed through the ballroom, drawing every eye in one direction.

Looking toward where the crowd was staring...

There was Asherah, making her way down the stairs with effortless composure.

Noble Lady A

Wait, is that... Lady Stranis?

Noble Lady B

What is that... beautiful dress?

Noble Lady C

That's strange. When I saw her earlier, she was definitely—

Noble Lady A

That gold embroidery... Is she wearing an original Maison Delize design?

Asherah caught my eye and made her way toward me.

Noble Lady A

G-Good evening, Lady Stranis. It's been a while.

You look... absolutely lovely in that dress tonight.

Though I heard you arrived wearing something... rather different?

Asherah

Ah, yes. I was delayed and had no choice but to change here at the venue.

You said it's been a while, but... do we know each other?

My apologies. I can't quite place you.

Noble Lady A

Ggh...!

Noble Lady C

I-It's understandable. You haven't appeared in society for quite some time.

Social events were never really to your taste, as I recall.

Asherah

I suppose so. Still...

Let's just say I suddenly found myself in the mood for dancing.

Noble Lady C

...My. But surely you can't enter the dance without a partner.

Have you found one?

Asherah

Why, yes. That was never a concern.

This is the person I'll be dancing with tonight.

Asherah drew me to her side, firmly hooking her arm through mine.

Asherah

Sorry to keep you waiting, Captain.

I'm not used to dressing like this, so it took longer than expected.

Noble Lady A

Did you say... Captain?

Asherah

Oh dear. I suppose news from NOA travels slowly when one spends all their time on their own estate.

The gentleman before you is none other than the Journey Captain chosen by Lady Alicia herself.

Noble Lady A

...! That is the Journey Captain...?

Asherah

Precisely. And tonight, he himself will be my partner.

Well then, we'll take our leave. The others are waiting.

Oh, thank goodness... That was unbearable!

What was that just now?

You were like a totally different person back there.

Asherah

Well, Epindel gave me some special training...!

She warned me not to let anyone look down on me at an event like this.

Even so, I don't think I'm cut out for all this.

I have to think so hard about every little response that my brain's about to give out.

Come to think of it, weren't you in the middle of a conversation when I came over?

What was it about?

...Nothing important.

Asherah

Really? That's good, then.

We walked side by side in silence until Asherah suddenly stopped.

Asherah

...Um, Captain?

This might sound a little strange, but...

How do I look? I don't seem... out of place, do I?

Huh...?

Asherah

Hehe, it's just been so long since I wore anything like this.

I had the dress made for the occasion without thinking too much about it, but...

Now that I'm actually wearing it, it feels incredibly unfamiliar.

Even when I look in the mirror, I can't tell whether it suits me...

You look beautiful.

Asherah

R-Really...? You think it looks good on me...?

I'm glad...!

I was worried it might not look good, but if you think it does...

Then that's all that matters!

Luna

Asherah! You look absolutely gorgeous in that dress!

Asherah

Ahaha! Really? Thanks!

Luna

You two going to keep your arms linked like that all night?

Asherah

Huh?! Waaah... I-I can explain! This is just—

Smile

Asherah's facial temperature has increased by ten percent.

Any trace of the noble lady she'd been pretending to be was gone. She waved her arms helplessly, red from ear to ear.

Asherah

Looks like the dance is starting soon.

Are you ready, Captain?

Of course.

Asherah

In that case... may I have this dance, Captain?

Asherah gently lifted the hem of her dress and extended a hand toward me.

Despite everything she'd worried about, every motion was steady and assured.

Somehow, her dance felt entirely true to who she was.

Every movement was strong and disciplined.

There was something about it that felt more like a perfectly coordinated attack.

She never held back, yet never pulled so far ahead that I couldn't follow.

And yet, unlike her dancing before...

It was elegant. Graceful and beautiful.

More than anything...

It was, in every possible way, a dance only Asherah could have performed.

Asherah

...Captain, our coordination was excellent.

Your footwork's impressive.

Looks like all that practice paid off.

Asherah

Hehe! See? I knew I could pull it off!

A tiny bead of sweat slid slowly along her cheek.

Asherah

I'm glad I decided to do this.

What do you mean?

Asherah

Deciding to dance with you, I mean.

Fighting back-to-back with our swords like we always do is nice, but...

Dancing like this...

If it's with you, Captain... I could get used to this. Hehe!

Under the radiant lights of the ballroom, Asherah was the brightest sight of all.

Epindel

Good grief, Lady Stranis...

The lady isn't supposed to be the one offering her hand at a formal ball...!

Ugh...! I assumed even you would know something that basic...

Old Gentleman

Miss, is something the matter? You don't look well.

Epindel

...I'm perfectly fine. Please don't concern yourself.