A Certain Girl's Sad Love Story -1-
My time in the Capital was drawing to a close. So many events. Tangled relationships. Conversations with people I thought I'd hate. The trip had started amid a mountain of worries, but it had turned into something meaningful, letting me take away far more than I'd expected.
An early morning at the Desmont Mansion. Standing in front of the mirror, I rummaged through my closet like a high schooler picking an outfit for a school trip.
"Ha... nothing looks right no matter what I try."
I held a black coat that reached down to my waist against my body and shook my head. No matter how I looked at it, it didn't suit me... My build felt too bulky, and compared to the weather, it seemed too light... But fur would make me look like some nouveau riche parading his wealth... I just couldn't settle on anything to wear outside.
Since I usually only wore my butler uniform, my fashion knowledge was close to zero. I couldn't pick anything that satisfied me.
I want to dress sharp.
Today was a date with the Lady, after all. I wanted to look as cool as possible. Cool enough that passersby would ask for my number. It was a butler's duty to boost his Lady's spirits—and my own little game to tease her with it. Plus, I wanted her praise as a bonus.
Maybe that's why I was putting extra effort into choosing my outfit today.
The bed was piled high with discarded clothes. Even small differences, like checkered patterns versus a black knit, weren't enough to win me over. I let out a deep sigh.
"Is the coat too much...?"
I want to look good...
Since the date with the Lady was at a theater in the Capital—not some backwater like Hamel—there were a lot of factors to consider in my outfit. Plenty of nobles would be there, and maybe even academy classmates from my old bad blood. I had to dress like I was thriving.
I was a little excited, too.
A theater, huh... It's been ages since I last went. As you might know, I'm not big on theater culture. More precisely, I've never had much connection to highbrow cultural pursuits. Neither in my past life nor this one—musicals and concerts, the hobbies of nobles, were always distant from me.
Instead of studying culture, I'd focused on how to best tease the Lady, and rather than moving people with emotion, I'd prioritized beating them down. Naturally, I knew next to nothing about theater.
Sure, I'd tagged along a few times following the Lady, but I'd never chosen a play on my own. So when it came time to pick one to watch with her, I'd agonized over it.
"Lady, what would you like to see?"
"Anything."
"Tell me before I flick your forehead. 'Anything' makes your butler miserable."
"Hmm... Dunno. Let's just see something you like this time. Not what I like."
"Forehead it is."
I flicked the Lady's forehead. But she gave the same answer, leaving me to grapple with the dilemma of a lifetime.
Romance. Action. Comedy. Among the Empire's countless plays, what would catch the Lady's fancy? Unable to decide, I'd consulted Yuria.
"Hmm... who are you going with?"
"The Lady."
"Not me?"
"Pardon?"
"Never mind... How about this one?"
Yuria recommended the most popular play among the students. Not the most famous, but the one she'd loved most of all. A tale blending love and melodrama, action and comedy, with heart-pounding thrills.
"This should be the safest bet."
Trusting the instincts of a clueless guy over the advice of an experienced heroine-in-the-making seemed unwise, so I went with Yuria's pick.
I flashed a small smile and kept rummaging through the closet.
"Maybe the butler suit after all."
I eyed the butler uniform tucked in the corner and shook my head. The Lady had told me to dress sharp today.
I grabbed the neatly pressed black suit from the back of the closet.
"This'll do."
*
Dressed impeccably, I descended to the first floor of the mansion. Through the wide hall, I caught a glimpse of the Lady's back in a black dress.
Having let the servants help her for once, she exuded elegant poise from behind. I swallowed hard.
This wasn't the fluffy, pilled-up dress from before—the black one studded with tiny pearls tricked the eye into seeing moonlight even in the early morning. I'd forgotten amid her usual unkempt looks, but nobility ran deep in her veins.
Calming my pounding heart, I came down the stairs. One step. Two steps. Even with my slow footfalls, she didn't turn.
"Kept you waiting?"
I lightly touched her back, grinning like a mischievous kid.
"You look stunning today."
Her ears flushed pink without turning. Wondering if she was embarrassed, I peeked at her profile.
"Ugh...!"
I saw her pale face twisted in agony.
"H-heh... hek..."
She clutched her stomach, gasping. Battling the tightly laced corset.
With a panicked look, she yelled at me.
"Ricardo! I'm dying..."
"Pfft—haha!"
Today was our date, and the Lady had dolled up properly. I stood behind her, gripped the handle of Pexri 1, and gave it a gentle push.
"Want me to loosen it?"
"No...! I'm slim enough as it is."
Her stubbornness to look beautiful was cute, but I preferred her usual self.
"A corset means you can't eat much."
"Then I'll take it off."
I couldn't help but chuckle.
*
In front of the grand theater. Coming here alone with her after so long, I stood there dazed, hesitating to enter.
"Not going in?"
"No, I am. But why are there so many people?"
"It's always packed."
The Lady smiled nonchalantly, radiating noble grace. In her alluring smile, I caught a subtle smirk saying country bumpkin.
"We go through the main entrance."
"Ah... right, the main."
With so many people, every move felt cautious. What if I looked like a hick? What if I embarrassed the Lady?
Even though we'd booked VIP seats, I couldn't find the way and wheeled her to the back entrance instead.
"Not here."
"This theater's so new, the layout's tricky."
"Yeah."
She nodded slightly.
"Brand new—I'm excited."
Anticipation lit her face. I leaned in with a small smile.
"Let's have fun today."
"Yeah."
"Snacks, and beer... nah, just drinks."
"Why!?"
"No drunk driving."
She nodded at "drunk driving."
"Drunk driving's bad."
Quick learner, as always.
A bit awkwardly at the ticket counter, I collected our reserved tickets from the attendant.
"VIP for two, right?"
"Yes."
"I'll guide you... oh."
The attendant smiled awkwardly, glancing at the Lady.
"Uh... um..."
The stairs were impassable for the wheelchair. He fumbled, his unease plain.
I smiled reassuringly at him, then knelt before the Lady.
"Lady."
"Yeah?"
Her face lit with excitement, clutching the tickets, but now puzzled as she looked at me.
Twisting slightly, I offered my back.
"Stairs are tough for the wheelchair."
She declared confidently.
"Pexri 1 can handle stairs."
"Wouldn't it be nice to ride on my back for old times' sake?"
"Hmm..."
After deep thought, she shyly wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Launch."
Her little taps urging me on drew a soft laugh. I bowed slightly to the attendant.
"Please store this chair safely."
"Of course. Sorry for the poor service."
"No trouble."
As I climbed the dim stairs to the VIP room, I felt the Lady's heartbeat quicken against me.
She murmured softly.
"Ricardo."
"Yes?"
"It'll be fun, right?"
"Of course. Who picked it?"
"Right? Hey..."
Her voice dropped lower.
"Thanks."
A Certain Girl's Sad Love Story
The VIP room was lavish. Bright lights pierced the darkness, soft music filled the space. Plush velvet chairs invited sinking in, making it feel like we had the whole theater to ourselves.
Below, the actors bowed to the crowd. Among the masses, couples caught the eye. The Lady beamed and beckoned me with a wave.
"Wow...."
Hearing her soft exclamation, I murmured.
"Good call coming."
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
It was a tale brimming with poignant love.