"Erina?"
With a look of disbelief, I stared at her, and her face seemed to say, 'I knew you'd react like that, I'm embarrassed!' - her cheeks turning a rosy hue.
"Um... don't you like it?"
However, her shy expression faded quickly when she noticed my reaction.
"You look stunning."
"What?!"
When I gave my opinion, looking slightly taken aback, she blushed again, covering her face with both hands.
"Why do you stare so intently? It's really embarrassing, you know?!"
To be honest, for a brief moment, her long-flowing hair, red dress, red eyes, and the same colored hair made for Erina a fantastic harmony. It was a beauty beyond words.
"But you look so pretty, don't you?"
Her cheeks remained flushed, but she seemed a bit downcast, murmuring to herself.
"Uh... thank you..."
She spoke in a voice so soft that it was barely audible, and then, as if inviting me in after having revealed this side of her, she gestured welcomingly.
"Come in. Now that you've seen me like this, let me show you my room."
There was no reason to decline Erina's offer, so I slowly stepped into the room. For some unknown reason, the thought of entering a woman's room made my heart race.
"You two chat for a while."
Elbert, showing no intention of joining us, gently pushed me forward and then stepped back from the doorway.
"Aren't you coming in, Elbert?"
He gave a graceful smile, subtly shaking his head, indicating he had no intention of entering.
"I just wanted to escort you here. While I have many things to discuss with Erina, nothing is pressing right now. I wanted to give you two some private time."
From Elbert's perspective, this must be how he saw things: A friend, whom he thought he knew well, suddenly declares themselves to be from a powerful noble family, second only to the royal family, and to prove it, the kingdom's strongest knight appears. To top it off, without fully understanding the situation, I followed her home, and upon arriving, a duel was the first order of business. It must have been incredibly confusing from his point of view. Given this, Elbert probably wanted us to have some time to talk.
His character was, indeed, full of consideration, just like the male protagonist I knew. However, seeing his mature demeanor, despite remembering his youthful appearance and mentality, stirred a mix of emotions within me.
"I've tested you, and you passed splendidly. So, for now, I have no more business with you. It's best for you two to have some time for each other."
He spoke without waiting for a reply, turning away.
"If you have something to say to me, you can ask around. Erina or any of the servants will gladly guide you."
Casually, as if saying goodbye to a friend he'd see again tomorrow, he waved and departed. After he had fully disappeared from view, I realized something had been bothering me. His remarks were consistently cryptic. The things he said about testing me with Erina, and the two of us needing time, were ambiguous and he didn't leave room for interpretation. What was he really trying to say? Why did it make me uneasy?
"Harold, shall we go in?"
I wanted to ponder Elbert's words, but when Erina, with eyes filled with anticipation and anxiety, cautiously spoke, I couldn't ignore her.
"Sure, I have a few questions myself."
Although Elbert's words were on my mind, they weren't urgent. For now, I decided to follow Erina, who was pulling me further inside.
"Would you like some tea? It may not be the perfect setting, but we can sit back and relax."
As we headed to the balcony, she pointed to a white table, elegant chairs, teacups, and assorted snacks neatly arranged, inviting me to join her with care. "It's not bad."
I quickly took a seat, hoping to ease the anxiety evident on her face.
While drinking the tea, my unfamiliarity with the etiquette of the nobles became evident. I poured myself a lukewarm cup of black tea and took a sip.
Watching me, Erina smiled, a mix of relief and nostalgia evident on her face, and sat down across from me. She fidgeted with her fingers, clearly wanting to say something but seemed too nervous to speak.
"I'm sorry."
She finally mustered up the courage to offer a brief apology.
"For what?"
When I responded succinctly, she hesitated for a moment but then whispered softly.
"For hiding my true identity all this time..."
She looked guilty, like a child confessing a major wrongdoing to their mother, but I didn't feel upset.
"Like I said earlier, I don't mind."
"But still..."
"Erina."
Wanting to boost her diminishing confidence, I set a more serious tone.
"Let me say this again, you are you. Whether you're just an ordinary adventurer or a noble above all others, you're my dear friend, Erina Lorvias. You don't need to worry."
Hearing this, her face showed a mixture of relief and sadness, but soon her mood brightened up again.
"Thank you, Harold...! As always, you're so kind to me..."
I might not have caught the end of her sentence, but her gratitude and improved mood were evident.
"So, how did the talk with your mother go?"
In response to my question, she seemed stumped, as if facing a major dilemma.
"From the way I'm dressed, you can probably guess. It was harsh. She said I should act more ladylike, dress appropriately, or no nobleman would ever consider me..."
She tried hard to maintain her composure while sharing this.
"What do you really want?"
Suddenly, with a burst of emotion, Erina exclaimed, slamming the table hard enough to ripple the tea in the cup.
"Of course, I want to continue adventuring with you! Forever and always!"
While the ending of her statement felt a bit exaggerated, considering the overall mood, I decided to let it slide.
"I always want to be by your side, to set out on journeys with you, to see your face... to always feel the warmth of Harold."
Now, I was confused whether this was a confession of love or just her expressing her wish to adventure.
"But Harold..."
Her previously regained confidence seemed to wane as she continued in a more hesitant tone.
"What if... what if I have to stay in this mansion? Would you continue your adventures alone?"
My reason for adventuring was always to return to my original world.
"Well... that's a complex question."
Unable to give a direct answer, Erina quickly grabbed my hand and raised her voice.
"How about you stay here with us?"
"What?"
Caught off guard by her unexpected suggestion, I looked at her with a puzzled expression. She continued to make her case.
"If you agree to stay in our mansion, I can keep you here as a servant at least! Then, even if we can't go on adventures, you can always be by my side!"
"I'll make sure your salary is satisfying, and if you have any suggestions, I promise to consider them. So, please...!!"
"I'm sorry, but that might be a bit difficult."
She seemed to have put everything on the line with her proposal, but my cold response shut her down.
"What...?"
For a moment, she looked completely devastated, her eyes dimming, maintaining a stunned expression.
"I mean, if it really came to that, I might continue my adventures alone... I have dreams of adventuring, just like you."
While I was being honest in the middle, the last part was just to ease the atmosphere a bit. Even if she stays in the mansion and the meaning of the adventure fades away,
I might set out on my own to find clues to return, rather than giving up hope and staying here forever.
It's painful for me to face this cold reality, even with all the time we've spent together.
"So... you might be right... since you, Harold, also have dreams of adventuring... Holding you back might just be my selfishness, right?"
As she continued to speak, her voice wavered, and her eyes began to moisten as if she was desperately holding back tears.
Seeing her so downhearted, I couldn't think of the right words to say. Still, I tried to comfort her by grabbing her shoulders.
"But it's okay!"
"...?"
In a tone that seemed out of place given the mood, I shouted with determination.
"If you don't stay in the mansion, there's no problem. Persuade your parents, get permission for our adventures, and everything can return to normal."
Hearing this, she gradually regained her confidence and seemed to be back to her usual self.
"Right! I forgot about convincing my parents. I should go and appeal to them right away."
As she got up and headed towards the door, she extended her hand to me.
"Will you come with me? Just like always."
I gladly nodded and took her hand.
Though I'm not sure of the exact details of this side story, I believe that initially, things might not go smoothly. However, as time progresses, she manages to get permission for her adventures.
And the starting point is when the protagonist regains her confidence and decides to face her mother again.
If I remember correctly, after a long conversation, her mother proposes several trials. If she can successfully overcome them and prove that the life of an adventurer suits her better than the life in the mansion, then her parents will grant her permission for the journey.
But life is not always easy.
Following Erina, I went to see her mother to try and persuade her, but an unexpected situation arose.
"What did you say, Mother?"
"I told you to choose."
It was a scene I didn't recall from the game, an utterly unfamiliar sight.
In front of Erina's mother, there were piles of photographs, all of which were of very handsome men.
"I can't understand why you're making such a face. I'm giving you the freedom to choose. Why do you look so devastated?"
Seemingly not understanding Erina's feelings, she picked about five photos and tossed them at us.
"Choose quickly."
Ignoring our despairing faces, she continued coldly and cruelly.
"Pick a suitor from these photos that you like. How many times do I have to say this for you to understand?"