Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Calm Before the Storm (2)
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After all the other nobles who had approached us, desperate to somehow get involved with the Blackwood Family, backed off at Ethan's single remark...
In the now-quiet corner of the banquet hall, Ethan and I settled in and continued our conversation there for a bit longer.
I figured it would be better to build an atmosphere where Ethan and I could interact a little more, now that he'd made the excuse of wanting to spend time alone with his partner and scattered the crowd.
"It's such a rare social gathering, Ed. Is it really okay to hole up in this dim corner?"
"...Even when we're alone, you keep using that nickname."
"Well, with all the unseen eyes and ears in the imperial palace, we have to be cautious by default, right? Or has it suddenly started feeling awkward for you now, Ed?"
"Ah, no... That's not what I meant."
It wasn't what he meant, my foot. His expression screamed that he was dying of embarrassment.
It was a strangely enjoyable moment, like I'd discovered one of Ethan's weaknesses after so long.
'He'd die before admitting the nickname feels awkward and asking me to change it.'
He'd dragged me here to play the fiancée, and now he wanted to stop me from fully committing to the role? That was an absurd demand in itself.
If anything, Ethan should be grateful to me.
What maid would brazenly invent a pet name for a duke's son and pull off the fiancée act like this?
Even low-ranking nobles, let alone ordinary maids, wouldn't dare out of fear of lèse-majesté.
I could be this bold because, as his exclusive maid, I'd watched him grow up to some extent.
The characters in Luminor Academy varied in personality from good to bad, but they were all consistently well-crafted in that one aspect.
Ethan was a villain in the original story, but he stayed true to his conviction of "Even if I die, I'll never let go of Lilith" right up to the end.
Considering everything I'd done to him so far—which went way beyond just nicknames—it'd be weird if he only got mad about this now.
'Though he did surprise me sometimes by snapping over random things.'
I already knew those outbursts were just political maneuvers, so there was nothing to fear.
As we chatted about the nicknames I used for him, Ethan suddenly went quiet beside me.
I scanned the Rose Hall of the evening banquet while continuing to explain my reason for attending this masquerade ball today.
My main goal: to spot the prospective freshmen enrolling in the academy—presumed characters from Luminor Academy.
Of course, with my status, I couldn't exactly strike up conversations or mingle with them.
But at least I could admire them from afar. It was a rare chance to be in my favorite game's world.
I wouldn't get to enroll in the academy, so I couldn't experience the main story, but I had to savor as many game elements as possible like this.
Even with my sharp "gamer's eye," it was incredibly hard to pick out other game characters besides the August siblings.
Naturally, doubts started creeping into my mind when even characters who should definitely be here were nowhere to be seen.
'Other characters might be variables, but Inferno Agnes should absolutely be here.'
Agnes Elizabeth Blaze.
As I've mentioned her several times already, some might have guessed, but yes—she was another character from Luminor Academy.
Not just any character, but one of the main heroines, popular enough to keep around even without romancing her thanks to her solid performance.
As her epithet "Inferno" suggests, she specialized in fire magic, and in this world, any mage from nobility was a given.
Of course, I wasn't assuming she'd attend just because she was noble.
I was simply pointing out that her background made it highly likely.
'Agnes is from a branch family of the Elizabeths, learning magic with support from the main house, so she can't defy them.'
Crowded, bothersome places like this were ones Agnes hated, but she knew defying the main house would be even more trouble, so she'd grudgingly attend events like banquets.
This masquerade, hosted by the imperial family, had top priority over others, and a marquis family like the Elizabeths would surely receive an invitation.
So while other characters might skip, Agnes had to be here.
As I observed the dancing crowd, wondering if she might be mixed in there somewhere, Ethan's low voice came from my left.
"Lili."
"......"
"...Lili?"
"...Wait, were you calling me Lili, Ed?"
"...Yeah."
...I thought he'd run into some acquaintance with a similar name to mine.
Makes sense—until recently, he had the kind of look that kept him far from social events, so he wouldn't have noble peers who could recognize his face.
Unless he'd secretly made a pen pal somewhere I didn't know, but that wasn't his style anyway.
As his exclusive maid, I managed all his incoming letters, so I couldn't miss it if he had.
"So, what about Lili?"
"...You said it'd be better if I called you Lili."
"Huh?"
"You told me in the carriage that to pretend we're engaged, I should use a closer nickname. And you've been calling me Ed this whole time."
"...Aha."
So that's what he meant.
He'd been the only one enduring the cringey, awkward nicknames, and it felt unfair to him.
Now he was declaring he'd brazenly use a pet name for me too.
...His way of thinking was kinda cute.
Did he think I'd get self-conscious and feel awkward if he used it?
Tough luck for Ethan—I wouldn't. Nothing he said would make me feel awkward anyway.
If he wanted to switch it up, he could call me whatever. I replied nonchalantly.
"Nice pet name, Ed."
"R-Really?"
"Call me Lili if you want. It won't stop me from calling you Ed, though."
"Thanks, Lili."
"...No problem, Ed."
......Somehow.
I couldn't quite explain why, but it felt a little cringey.
It was just one letter off from Lilith, but suddenly it felt like Ethan and I were way closer.
It even brought a slight flush of embarrassment.
Now I kinda got why Ethan had acted weird every time I called him Ed.
If he felt this way each time, no wonder he looked like he was dying of awkwardness.
Of course, I wouldn't show it that obviously, and I sure as hell wasn't ditching "Ed" over this.
Never stop calling him Ed. First one to give in loses.
"So, Lili."
"...What is it, Ed?"
"If you're okay with it, maybe we could... dance together...?"
Just as some tense proposal was about to slip from Ethan's lips...
His words were naturally cut off by a voice from the opposite side.
"...Hehe, so this is where you were. I finally found you."
'...Ah.'
...Why could I picture this character in my head even before seeing her face?
To me, it was completely natural. As a heavy player of Luminor Academy.
With over 2,000 hours played—nearly 1,000 stuck to her as a main character and one of the main heroines like Lilith.
The moment I heard her voice, so familiar it was burned into my brain, I instantly knew who it was.
And sure enough, turning my head revealed the Seraphin Princess standing there as if it were the most obvious thing.
"Greetings, nameless lord and lady."
'No, you just said you found us.'
To keep up her masquerade ball concept, Seraphin brazenly greeted us as if she didn't know us despite clearly seeing us.
Our response was basically scripted.
"...Greetings, nameless lady."
"...Pleased to meet you, beautiful miss."
We were just playing along with Seraphin's masquerade theme.
Any noble who recognized her and eagerly introduced themselves out of excitement was third-rate.
Since she'd planned this party herself, she took joy in mingling without pretenses.
By starting with "nameless lord and lady," she'd outright stated her preferred style of interaction.
Anyone with a shred of perception would match it.
Luckily, Ethan and I both had sharp eyes, and we weren't the type to fawn just because we recognized Seraphin.
'Well, I figured she'd show up eventually.'
If I hadn't tipped her off beforehand, maybe not—but Ethan had announced my attendance himself.
From her perspective, she'd probably want to confirm it personally.
Whether a commoner maid was really attending as a noble's partner.
With Seraphin's personality, she'd need to see it with her own eyes to be satisfied.
Anyway...
'She's fucking gorgeous.'
She wore a mask covering her eyes like everyone else, but Seraphin's beauty couldn't be hidden by something like that.
Her exposed skin and even the masked parts radiated outward with overwhelming presence.
It felt like witnessing raw luminescence from her very appearance.
If you couldn't recognize her face-to-face, you'd have slime cores instead of eyes.
'Calm down, Lilith. It's your first time meeting a main heroine in person, but no need to tense up.'
You've seen plenty of game characters already—Isabel, Ethan, the August siblings—all from the game.
Sure, Seraphin was a core character who appeared in every main story route, on a different level from others, but if we nitpicked, Lilith was the same.
So no reason to freak—just talk normally without awkwardness...
"Oh, th-the weather's really n-nice today, isn't it...?"
"...?"
"...?"
Oh, fuck.
This idiot.
Not only did I broach the most absurd topic that'd baffle anyone listening, but I delivered it in the cringiest fake tone imaginable.
The awkwardness hitting instantly was inevitable.
"...Lili, doesn't that topic feel a bit off? It's already night—we're indoors."
"...Kh, y-you've brought quite the amusing partner... N-Nameless lord..."
Ethan giving me a pitiful look and Seraphin turning away to stifle her laughter.
Maybe because they knew I was a commoner maid, their reactions felt oddly considerate, which only deepened my self-loathing.
I genuinely want to die right now, fuck...