TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 165
I didn’t know much about Histania Hanna.
What she liked.
What she disliked.
I didn’t know anything about her hobbies.
The Affinity Window did provide some information, but there was a clear difference between experiencing something firsthand and reading about it.
Moreover, since she was a character not mentioned in the novel, I knew relatively less about her compared to Yuria or Mikhail.
The only mention in the novel was a recollection of Rowen missing the Youngest Daughter. Aside from that, there was no particular mention.
All I knew was that she was the Youngest Daughter of the Prestigious Sword Family, the Histania Family, and that she had passed away at a young age.
-Does it feel very awkward…?
I also didn’t know that she was this shy.
-Right…? It doesn’t suit me, does it?
I hadn’t known that she was a beauty with an appearance comparable to Yuria’s.
Of course, not as much as the Young Lady, but it was undeniable that she was as beautiful as a brightly blooming Violet.
***
As usual, heading to the Meeting Location 30 minutes early, I could see a Brown-Haired Girl pacing in front of the Bench.
“Haaah…”
“Ahhh!”
“Get a grip, Histania Hanna! The book said it, right? A confident woman can win over a Handsome Man!”
For some reason, she seemed so nervous. Placing her hand on her chest and taking Deep Breaths, the Brown-Haired Girl was circling around the Bench.
“Alright…! Alright…!”
Seeing Hanna retrace her steps like a pendulum, I couldn’t help but laugh as I slowly approached her.
“Why are you out so early, Miss Hanna..?”
“Eek…! When did you get here?!”
“Since you were playing tag with yourself around the Bench?”
Hanna’s face turned as red as Tomatoes. Stammering, she said, ‘Fr-from there?!’ and let out a ‘Kyaaah!’ before covering her face with her Palm.
Watching Hanna like that, I added.
“I was just about to ask if I could join in, but that’s a shame.”
“Don’t talk to me… I’m a dead body from now on, having died a Shameful Death.”
“That’s fine because I’ll bring you back to life.”
Hanna stomped her foot and shouted, ‘Ah! Don’t tease me…!’ as she punched me in the chest.
As expected of a Swordsman.
-Thud, thud…!
Her punches were quite strong.
Hanna kept her hands over her face for quite some time. Embarrassed, her face flushed red, she stayed hidden for a while before slowly lifting her head.
As she swept her Hair behind her ears and lifted her head, I smiled and stared directly at her.
When her face, which I hadn’t been able to see clearly before, came into view, I was at a loss for words.
It felt like my breath had stopped.
I was more surprised than when I witnessed the Young Lady’s hopeless makeup skills. It wasn’t because it was cute or funny, but because of the opposite emotion.
Hanna was too beautiful.
Hanna had dressed up.
She wasn’t wearing a Dress Full of Frills or a Bright Dress but instead came dressed in casual clothes. The only notable thing was that her outfit was something rarely seen in this world.
I thought I had dressed neatly in my Uniform, but her effort far outshone mine.
With Light Makeup.
A Short Leather Skirt reaching her Thighs.
And a White Sweater paired with a Leather Jacket that accentuated her figure—Hanna’s appearance was something one might expect to see in modern times.
She looked like someone you could believe was an idol.
No, perhaps she carried even more freshness than that, leaving me momentarily speechless as I stared blankly at her.
“Um… Butler?”
Hanna fidgeted with her fingers as she looked up at me.
Noticing my sudden silence, Hanna seemed puzzled and couldn’t stay still.
“Does it look very strange?”
Even though I wanted to say, ‘You’re beautiful,’ seeing Hanna’s shy demeanor, I couldn’t open my mouth.
Because it suited her so well.
I was surprised that Hanna had arrived much earlier than the promised Time, and then I was surprised again by her changed appearance.
“I’ve never worn something like this before…”
“What do I do? It must look very strange…”
Hanna, with trembling eyes, looked at me and muttered to herself, unsure of what to do.
As if she was about to return to the Lodging to change her clothes, I quickly grabbed her wrist and shook my head.
“Where are you going?”
“W-well, I think the clothes look too strange.”
“No…”
“It’s very strange, isn’t it? I’ve never dressed up before…”
Shaking my head firmly, I said.
“You’re very beautiful.”
“What?”
Hanna lifted her head as if she had broken down.
As she shyly raised her head, which had been lowered due to her lack of confidence, her wide eyes looked at me, and I smiled as I spoke.
“You’re so beautiful that I was left speechless.”
“What is that… I’m such a fool that I might believe it’s true.”
Hanna blushed and shook her head. Like an embarrassed elementary school student, she fidgeted with her hands awkwardly.
Holding Hanna’s wrist firmly, I spoke honestly about how I felt.
“Truly…”
With a trembling smile, I said.
“You’re beautiful.”
[Histania Hanna Lv. 38]
[Job: Academy Student]
[Favorability: 100]
[Favorite Conversation Topics: Ricardo/Benefactor/Compliments about Outfit/Sword/Doll/Praise for Effort]
[Disliked Conversation Topics: Ricardo’s Insults/Malice toward Ricardo/Derogatory Remarks about Olivia/Father/Histania/Orc/Her Weak Self]
*
After finishing a simple lunch, Hanna and I began walking to the Theater to watch the Dancer’s performance.
“Wow… There are so many people.”
Hanna, seeing the crowded streets, spoke with a trembling Voice.
So many people.
Nodding at Hanna’s words, I replied.
“Indeed. I didn’t know Hamel could be this crowded. This is the first time I’ve seen more people than the line of Friends waiting in the forest.”
There were a lot of people who had come to watch the Dancer’s performance.
The visit of the Most Famous Dancer in the Empire seemed to have sparked interest among the Empire’s citizens living in the Outskirts.
Hanna, after looking at the crowd, stared blankly at my empty hand.
Noticing the glance from Hanna’s eyes, which seemed to hold something she wanted to say, I tilted my head and asked her.
“Is there something on my hand?”
“What?!”
“Well, you kept looking at my hand.”
“Ah…”
Hanna fidgeted with her fingers before shaking her head and saying in a regretful tone, ‘It’s nothing.’
Looking dejected, Hanna lowered her head.
With a Small Smile, I took Hanna’s hand.
“Huh…?”
Hanna, surprised by the warmth of our joined hands, looked at me blankly. Seeing the unhidden emotion of ‘Why?’ on her face, I smiled softly and said in a quiet Voice.
“There are so many people that I might lose you.”
Because I was looking ahead as I spoke, I couldn’t see Hanna’s face. I wondered what I would do if she disliked it, but it was still better than losing her. Just in case, I asked Hanna.
“If it’s uncomfortable, you can let go.”
“Ah… No!”
“Is that so?”
With A Chuckle, I smiled and looked at Hanna.
“Uh… Uh…”
Seeing Hanna’s foolish expression as she stared at our joined hands, I smiled and walked toward the Theater, and Hanna tightly held my hand as she followed me.
How should I put it?
Should I call it Fluffy?
Our first meeting had started with The Worst, but the bond between us had grown stronger, like the arrival of spring.
When I cleaned up Ruin’s head, she must have been very surprised, yet she didn’t shy away and instead approached me. I felt grateful to Hanna for that.
If it weren’t for Hanna, I would have been living a hectic life trying to pay off my debts, and perhaps I might have been driven out to a tiny one-room space with the Young Lady, leading a bleak life.
Thanks to Hanna, I met Malik.
Thanks to Hanna, the Young Lady gained a Friend.
Thanks to Hanna, I came to know what it meant to have a Friend.
To me, Hanna was like a Benefactor. I didn’t know if Hanna thought of me as a Benefactor despite me having done nothing, but I sincerely thought of her as one.
Although.
“Hoo… My heart feels like it’s going to explode…”
She seemed to be resembling me little by little, but even this side of her only looked adorable to me.
It’s natural for a Master to cherish their Disciple, and in truth, Hanna was indeed cute. With a Small Smile, I held Hanna’s hand tightly.
Hanna’s fingers fidgeted within my Palm. I gripped Hanna’s hand even more firmly.
“It seems like it’ll be fun, doesn’t it?”
“Yes…”
“I want to see it soon.”
“I also want to see it soon…”
Hanna stared at me intently, then shyly averted her gaze to the ground.
“What did you say?”
“Just… that I want to keep doing this with you, Butler.”
“Well, I am quite handsome.”
“…”
Hanna blushed and said.
“That’s true.”
As we sat in our seats, we let go of our joined hands.
-Hmm…
Seeing the familiar face of The Man, I burst into laughter.
“No way, Puhaha, Proprietress!”
“Older Brother!”
-Shh.
The Empire’s Greatest Dancer.
No one had ever referred to the Dancer, who danced wearing a Fox Mask, as a woman.
Hanna swept her face with her hand as she watched Malik dance passionately on stage, while I burst into laughter and watched The Man’s dance with enthusiasm.
“Was this the busy matter you mentioned…?”
-Spinning~!
He’s certainly good at dancing.
No matter how I look at it, it feels like Malik is the Protagonist of this Novel.