Ball Preparations (2)
Perhaps because of the festival, the corridor was utterly deserted—not a soul in sight no matter how hard one looked.
Milia and Schwarz walked along that empty hallway together.
Before long they arrived before a certain door.
"Where are we?"
"An empty clubroom. All the members graduated last year, so it's been vacant ever since."
Answering her question, Schwarz opened the door.
It creaked open, revealing a clubroom so dark it was nearly pitch-black.
Layer upon layer of curtains blocked the light; even though it was midday outside, one could barely see a hand in front of one's face.
Schwarz stepped inside, crossed the room to the window, and drew the curtains aside. Brilliant light poured in, flooding the space and chasing the gloom away.
He opened the closed window next, and cold air rushed in, swiftly lowering the temperature inside.
"Ugh… it's freezing…"
Milia shivered lightly as the chill brushed past her and buttoned her coat.
"So you want to practice here? Doesn't seem like the best place for it."
The furniture, shoved neatly to one side, was thick with dust, and the floor was coated in a fine white layer as well. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling, and a musty smell hung in the air—clear proof that no one had set foot here in a long while.
"Just a moment, please. I'll have it cleaned up in no time."
Speaking as if to reassure her, Schwarz walked to the center of the room.
"Hoo…"
He drew a deep breath. Mana gathered around him.
"Control Wind."
The moment the soft incantation left his lips, a fierce wind whipped through the clubroom.
The swirling gale gathered every speck of dust from the floor, the furniture, and the curtains, along with the cobwebs. Before long a dust ball the size of an adult man's head had formed in the middle of the room.
Schwarz flicked his fingers lightly toward it. Another gust of wind carried the dust ball straight out the open window, where the outdoor breeze scattered it until not a trace remained.
"Create Water."
Looking satisfied, he cast another spell. Moisture in the air condensed into tiny droplets that swelled and then fell like rain, soaking the floor. When the boards were thoroughly wet, Schwarz waved his hand through the air. The water swept across the floor like a mop, gathering every remaining speck of dust and grit. From the floorboards to the furniture, the water scoured the entire room clean before flowing neatly into a bucket that had been sitting in the corner.
"Breeze Wind."
With his final incantation, a warm, gentle wind swept through every corner, banishing the last traces of moisture.
"This should do, shouldn't it?"
"…"
In the blink of an eye the empty clubroom was spotless. Milia stared at him with an utterly dumbfounded expression.
"Every time I watch you use magic, it completely overturns everything I thought I knew about it…"
Who in the world would cast magic like that just to clean a single clubroom? Any mage from the Magic Department or the Magic Tower would have been left speechless.
"You flatter me."
"That wasn't a compliment."
Schwarz scratched his head bashfully at her words. Milia answered with a look of pure exasperation and stepped into the room.
A short while later, the two of them were deep in dance practice in the empty clubroom.
"There. Like this… and this. Place your foot this way there…"
"U-uh-huh…"
Milia moved her feet in time with Schwarz's steps. At the same time her cheeks burned a deep, vivid red.
Their faces were so close she could feel his breath.
Fortunately for her, Schwarz was watching her feet and never noticed. She was grateful for that small mercy.
"You're doing very well."
"R-really?"
A faint smile touched Milia's lips at his praise. At the same time she worried what he would think if he saw her like this, and she lowered her head.
"Yes. Shall we try something a little more difficult this time?"
"Where on earth did you learn all this?"
Watching him shift positions with effortless grace, Milia asked in a curious voice.
"The head butler taught me. He said it would come in handy someday."
"I-I see…"
She averted her eyes as he answered with a gentle smile.
Maybe I should get Robert a present later, she thought, then forced her attention back to the practice.
Time slipped by.
"Let's take a short break."
"Understood."
Schwarz nodded and stepped back.
"Haa…"
Looking thoroughly drained, Milia walked over to a chair by the window and sank into it with a soft sigh. Heat still lingered in her flushed cheeks—but it wasn't an unpleasant feeling. If anything, it felt rather nice…
"Are you all right?"
Schwarz, watching her, spoke in a worried tone.
"Hm? Y-yeah… I'm fine! Just a little tired!"
She forced an awkward smile and tried to sound casual.
"If My Lady is tired, we should stop for today. Dancing is all well and good, but your well-being comes first."
"What? N-no! There's no need for that! I'll be fine after a short rest!"
Flustered, Milia waved her hands frantically.
Embarrassing as it was, chances to stand this close to Schwarz were rare. To her it was a precious opportunity she absolutely refused to let slip away.
"Are you certain?"
"I-I'm telling you I am!!"
She raised her voice at him as he narrowed his eyes questioningly.
"Very well. Then we'll rest for five minutes and continue."
Schwarz bowed his head and stepped back. Milia watched him go, let out a small "Hmph," and turned her face toward the window again.
Why did I have to yell like that, you idiot!!
She let out a low groan. Worried she might have hurt his feelings, she stole a sidelong glance at him—only to find him still looking at her with a faint, gentle smile. Relieved, she exhaled softly.
A little later—
"Hey, Schwarz."
"Yes, My Lady."
He lifted his head at the sound of her voice.
"Can I ask you just one thing?"
"Of course."
He nodded at her question.
"W-well, you see…"
Milia hesitated, avoiding his gaze. Schwarz tilted his head, wondering what on earth she was about to ask.
"What's your ideal type?"
"Pardon? What brings this on all of a sudden…?"
He looked completely baffled.
"W-well… N-Neris asked me! She wanted to know what kind of women guys like!!"
"I see. I never realized Lady Beltain was interested in such things."
Schwarz sounded mildly surprised as he regarded her flushed face.
"Hmm… that's a difficult one. I've never really thought about it before…"
He crossed his arms with a short hum and frowned in concentration.
"…!!"
At those words Milia's expression crumbled as if the world itself had collapsed. She swallowed hard.
So he really has no interest in human women after all!!
That was the only way she could interpret it. A young man in his prime with no interest in the opposite sex simply defied common sense.
"Ugh…"
She bit back the tears that threatened to well up and let out a low whimper.
"Hmm… still hard to say. If I had to put it into words, I suppose…"
"W-wait a second!!"
Completely oblivious to her distress, Schwarz was about to continue when Milia cut him off in a panic.
"…Yes? Is something the matter?"
He tilted his head at her sudden reaction.
"I-it's just… a-asking someone about their ideal type feels a little weird after all! I'll just make something up for Neris!"
She simply couldn't find the courage.
If my suspicion turns into certainty… will I still be able to keep my composure the way I am now?
She asked herself that and let out a short sigh.
Probably not. No—impossible. At least not the way she was right now.
In that case, hearing the answer could wait until she had steeled herself properly.
With that thought she rose weakly from the chair.
"My Lady?"
"It's nothing. Let's just keep practicing."
Schwarz looked puzzled, but Milia forced a normal expression and held out her hand to him. Still tilting his head, he took it and they resumed their positions.
Yet under the circumstances, concentration was the last thing either of them could manage…
"All right, follow me. One two three four, two two three four…"
"One two three four, two two three fou—eek!?"
Before long, while trying to match Schwarz's steps, Milia twisted her ankle and lost her balance, pitching forward.
"Whoa!?"
Schwarz was shoved off-balance as well. A moment later both of them went down with a loud thud.
"Ow ow ow…"
Rubbing his throbbing backside where he had landed hard, Schwarz lifted his head—only to find Milia sprawled on top of him.
"Ah…?"
"Uh…?"
Silence stretched between them. Caught in the most awkward situation imaginable, neither could find a single word; they simply stared at each other with flustered eyes.
And then—
"President~ Got time this evening for—?"
The door burst open with a bang, and Dane walked straight into the clubroom.
"…!!"
"…!!"
Both of them froze solid, faces pale with shock.
"Eh…"
Dane was no different.
An ice-cold silence filled the empty clubroom.
A moment later…
"Ahem… Excuse me. Looks like I interrupted something."
Clearing his throat awkwardly, Dane turned and started back out the door.
"I-it's not what it looks like!!"
"It's not like that!!"
In the next instant Milia and Schwarz shouted almost in unison and scrambled after him.