Chapter 54
Chapter 54
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Silver Rookie Theo #3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The first day of lectures passed by in a flash.
By the time I came to my senses, it was already evening.
I headed toward the balcony of the grand temple where I had first met Narmi Draco, feeling half like I was being tricked.
I still couldn't shake the feeling that I was being fooled.
Maybe she had already forgotten the promise. Or perhaps it was just something she tossed out lightly to get out of the situation at the time.
I was almost at the promised spot when I heard footsteps from the balcony beyond the corner.
Rustle.
Peeking around the corner, I saw someone there on the balcony.
They had a hood pulled low over their uniform, hiding their face, but from the build, I remembered it matched the Draco young lady I had met earlier.
I approached her slowly and opened my mouth.
"Excuse m—"
"You're awfully late, commoner. The moon's already up. Keeping a lady of House Draco waiting is a grave sin."
Swoosh.
Her unexpected reaction threw me off completely, but then she pulled back the hood, and silver hair cascaded down, drawing my eyes.
Red eyes gleamed beneath like a smiling crescent moon.
"Puhuhu, just kidding! How was it? Exactly like my sister, right? Huh?"
"Ah."
Like sister or not.
With the same face and voice acting it out, how could there be any difference? Before I could grumble, Narmi chirped brightly.
"I sometimes imitate my sister to sneak around outside! She'd kill me if she knew, but she's asleep right now, so it's fine."
"Your sister is asleep?"
"Yep yep! There was an early morning lecture today. Sis has trouble waking up in the mornings. If she gets up early, she crashes early at night!"
Narmi's cheerful words packed quite a bit of info.
No wonder she showed up to class so late, after it was already full.
Anyway.
I was genuinely surprised that Narmi Draco, the twin sister, had shown up here.
The haughty, prickly face from that morning now beamed at me like a different person entirely. It was hard to adjust.
As I thought that, Narmi glanced around furtively and leaned in with a sly whisper.
"So, Theo. How'd it go...?"
"Go with what?"
When I played dumb, she fidgeted like someone with an ant crawling on their foot, barely holding back the itch.
"You know, last time. With the Lioness young lady. You said things ended badly. Your first kiss and all. What happened after? Did you make up okay?"
"Well..."
I trailed off slowly, wondering how to explain. I could see Narmi Draco's attention locked on my lips.
"We kind of made up, but things have been awkward since."
"Awkward? Still problems? Awkward how!"
She acted like it was her own business.
You could really tell she was the type of girl who loved hearing about other people's romances. I decided to spin a tale mixing half-truths and fiction to entertain her.
"It's the semester, after all. Schedules don't overlap, and we hardly see each other, so the distance isn't closing."
"That's no good. I heard if you drift apart physically, your hearts drift too."
"Really?"
"Yep!"
"Impressive. Lady Narmi, you really know your romance."
"O-Of course!"
This was getting fun.
Narmi really was an innocent girl.
If I could choose, serving a girl like her as my lady sounded pretty nice.
That thought made me shiver again at just how brutal Aira and Elga's difficulties were. Her sister wasn't exactly easy either.
Narmi said,
"You need to meet more often! More often! So, any contact after? Like holding hands. Or kissing."
"Contact, huh..."
Her question brought back memories of that intense night with Elga in the confessional. I wondered what face she'd make if I told the truth.
Dyeing the innocent face of the traitor House Draco's lady with shock would be its own kind of satisfying revenge.
But not yet.
"Just... like that."
"Just like that?"
"There was another chance, actually. But I got scared. What if I messed up the kiss again and she really dumped me this time...? So I couldn't."
"Hmm... That's bad. Scared, huh..."
She let out a long, sympathetic hum. For some reason, her cheeks were flushing more and more.
I said to her,
"So, you're really going to teach me?"
"Teach you...?"
"You said you'd show me the right way to kiss."
"Oh— r-right. I thought you'd forgotten. Smart cookie, aren't you!"
Narmi suddenly started playing coy. Was she flustered now that I'd called her bluff?
This meeting was supposed to be about her teaching me proper kissing, after all.
And her showing up meant she was at least somewhat prepared, right?
After a quick mental spin, I pleaded desperately to Narmi.
"Lady Narmi, please. If this keeps up, the Lioness lady might hate me. I'm scared I'll keep fumbling even if there's another chance."
Step, step.
"Eek, wh-whoa—."
As I closed in step by step, she backed away in panic until her back hit the wall.
It was the same spot where Elga had once pinned me and stolen my lips.
Trapped between my arms, Narmi fidgeted restlessly as I said,
"You're a romance expert, Lady Narmi. You've kissed plenty, right?"
"Uh, uh-huh? Well, you could say yes... or no..."
"Then kissing me once wouldn't be a big deal for you."
"......"
Her red eyes darted left and right frantically. Her face was carrot-red, breath ragged.
I slowly leaned my head closer. Our heights matched, making it easy.
Rustle. Something soft touched my lips. Narmi's, of course—or in a way, her sister Mirna Draco's.
Rustle—.
I gently wrapped my arm around Narmi's waist and rolled my tongue slowly against her lips.
I caressed her lips tenderly to ease her guard, then slipped my tongue inside as they parted slightly.
Smack, smack.
"Hah, ha, uh-heh, heuh...."
Clinging to me, Narmi neither resisted nor accepted, just trembled. Like a rabbit bitten by a fox.
Beyond her soft lips, I felt her thick tension—and the faint emotions bubbling beneath it.
"Heuh, heut, heuuuh."
The kiss lasted over ten seconds.
Her breathing grew anxious, unable to find a rhythm, and I suddenly realized this must be her first kiss.
Mine had been the same—hard to time the breaths.
Thinking of that, I pulled back just as I remembered to let her breathe, and asked Narmi, whose face was flushed bright red.
"...How was it? Was I really bad?"
"Uh, uh-huh...?"
She couldn't answer right away.
Her bright face was dazed like a drunk's, red eyes misty as if on the verge of tears.
"Uuuh...."
Her mind must be blank.
First kisses always are.
That soft, slippery sensation, all nerves focused on lips and tongue—it's weird and mysterious.
Not to brag, but Elga had trained me plenty, so I was pretty good at kissing.
For an innocent girl like Narmi, losing her first lips to me must have left her reeling.
「You are the first to tread this untouched snowfield.
Gain experience in the 'Lothario' job. +50」
"So, how was my kiss? Too clumsy?"
"A-hem, a-hem, hem. Well. Kinda, yeah."
When I asked again, she finally pulled away and cleared her throat.
Even as her face threatened to explode red, she tried to act calm—it was obvious.
"...Definitely. Some clumsiness there."
"How can I fix it?"
I asked half-expecting, half-curious. What would she say? Surprisingly, Narmi answered calmly.
"You need a more romantic atmosphere. Candles... wine would be nice...! Or a rainy day, under an unexpected eave."
"Ah."
Atmosphere.
She was right. Mood matters.
But wasn't this secluded grand temple balcony, moonlit stairs, secret rendezvous—romantic in its own way?
Narmi cleared her throat with a "kh-hm."
"Hmm... This won't fix overnight. Theo, you need lectures."
"Lectures?"
"Yeah! Every Wednesday, 10th period. Meet me here for Professor Narmi's romance class! W-Well, I'm off...!"
With that, Narmi Draco dashed down the stairs—tadadada!—and vanished. Doing her bit and bolting was just like her sister. Twins, huh.
* * *
The next day.
I woke up late and checked my schedule.
1 PM. Teatime lecture.
Memories of my brutal showdown with Epside for this class surfaced.
"Nice."
As I got up from bed toward the washbasin, I saw Benjamin and Hans fussing at the door.
"What're you two doing?"
"Friend! Look! You got an invitation!"
Invitation?
Opening the dorm door at Hans's words, I saw an envelope tied to the knob.
Sealed with silver wax, the white envelope read:
「Theo Gospel. The Silvers invite you.」
Short and sweet.
Inside, perks of joining the Silvers were listed.
Senior-left exam dumps.
Priority access to cafeteria, library, training grounds.
Exclusive reading rooms and group study rooms for silver brooch holders...
Lots of conveniences.
"Amazing! So many perks? No wonder everyone chases rankings! Benjamin, check this out!"
While Hans and Benjamin buzzed over it, my eyes went to the bottom.
「Silvers Opening Assembly. All members attend. Friday evening, 7 PM.」
Assembly too? Annoying.
I pocketed the letter casually and headed to the Platinum Dorm—modern hotel vibes, unlike the creaky old Truth Hall.
"Your Highness. Here to escort you."
"Yes."
From there, leading Aira to the teatime classroom. Every Thursday lunch, I'd fetch her from now on.
"Looks like that's the classroom."
"More like a field."
"True."
The teatime "classroom" was a flower garden carpeted in grass and blooms, with white tables laden with tea and treats.
Familiar faces sat under a shady, breezy tree.
"Lady Elga, fine lunch. And..."
A silver-haired girl frowned beside Elga. Probably the sister.
"Lady Mirna, lazy and sunny—a fine lunch."
"Save the greetings, commoner."
Rude as ever.
But Mirna's face reddening as she stared at me was odd.
"Are you unwell? You look pale."
"What's wrong with my face?"
"It's red. Really red."
Mirna touched her cheek, then peeked in a hand mirror, shocked at the flush.
"Why's my face suddenly like this?"
She snapped open a black fan and fanned herself. Elga, slumped on the table, snorted.
"Stay cooped up gloomy, and sunlight hits you like that."
"Quiet!"
"Lively bunch. Haa—."
Aira sat at the tea table with the noisy Elga and Mirna, yawning lazily.
"Sleepy. Teatime in this drowsy afternoon—perfect nap time."
"You just woke up, Your Highness."
"True."
Haaa—she kept yawning.
Mirna muttered, "Undignified," but Aira ignored her, gazing around dreamily.
Rustle.
Something brushed my knee.
Elga across from me had slipped off her slippers under the table, rubbing my knee with her bare foot.
"......"
"......"
Her way of saying hi.
I grabbed her foot and shook it like a handshake.
"......!"
Elga yanked back like a startled snail retreating, then played it cool. Luckily, no one noticed.
Now I saw: everyone at this table had shared some secret, naughty moment with me.
With Aira: licking her soapy body or feet.
Elga: crossed the line completely.
Draco ladies...: well, the sister yesterday, but still—we'd kissed in secret.
Suddenly, the table felt dangerously charged.
If one blabbed, everything would shatter.
Could I tame them all?
Then Aira spoke.
"So, what do we do in this teatime lecture?"