Parion had once again searched for an explanation for Akon's disappearance and what had happened to the World Tree. Her efforts had yielded nothing. She still did not understand what had happened or why that uneasiness had persisted for months, even when she tried to occupy herself with other matters.
The Demon God had remained near her for much of that time. He knew the questions troubling her; they had already discussed them, and neither had anything new to report. So when Parion finished her investigations, he made no attempt to convince her that everything was fine.
"I see we still have no answers," he remarked.
Parion set aside the information she had been reviewing.
"And I'm beginning to grow tired of searching for them when we don't even know what happened."
"When we learn something new, we can look into it again."
His tone was so casual that Parion nearly reproached him for his apparent lack of concern. However, she knew he had not ignored what had happened either. He was simply more willing to accept that, for the moment, there was nothing more they could do. She appreciated his remaining by her side without pressing the matter.
There was, at least, another issue she could do something about.
"Have you been paying attention to what the humans have been saying about Satoru lately?"
The Demon God showed some interest.
"The mage? It seems he's given them plenty to talk about."
"After his latest exploits, some have begun to believe they won't need to summon any more Heroes as long as they can rely on him."
Parion did not consider the admiration of a mortal particularly important. What displeased her was the conclusion being drawn by those who witnessed his victories. For generations, threats that humans could not overcome had eventually driven them back to their gods. The appearance of a Demon King, the pleas for a savior, and the arrival of Heroes were all part of an order that had proven its usefulness countless times. With every victory, prayers and faith returned to those who had sent the savior.
Now they were beginning to speak as though they could do without one part of that order.
"Those mortals seem to have forgotten why they need our Heroes," she added. "And Satoru is only encouraging that notion."
Her companion listened without interrupting. He understood the value of those summonings as well as she did, and what it would mean if humans stopped requesting them.
"If we had dealt with him when I first suggested it, we wouldn't have to concern ourselves with this now," Parion continued.
The Demon God smiled faintly at the reproach.
"At the time, I didn't think he was worth the effort. He was a powerful mage, but still just another mortal."
"And now he's not so easy to ignore."
"True. Although perhaps it was fortunate that we didn't act." Her companion's smile widened. "Remember what happened to the Black Dragon. If we had sent one of my usual Demon Kings against him back then, we would have accomplished very little."
Parion did not need to be reminded of that battle, but she understood his point. Satoru had eliminated an opponent that very few mortals could have faced, and with bewildering ease. Even she had underestimated the difference between his power and that of those who normally took part in such battles.
"At least now we know what kind of forces we'll need to gather," she admitted.
"And we'll need quite a few."
The Demon God seemed to find the difficulty appealing. Parion knew him well enough to distinguish that interest from mere frivolity. He had participated in too many conflicts not to recognize when an enemy deserved his attention.
"We'll find something capable of killing him," she said. "If necessary, we'll bring together several exceptional opponents. I have no intention of allowing him to continue disrupting what we've maintained for so long."
She did not relish the effort required to gather such forces, but neither did she consider it impossible. Satoru was extraordinarily powerful and would undoubtedly resist. A battle intended to bring about his death could drag on for a long time and devastate everything in its path.
Those consequences did not change her decision.
Her companion, who had been watching her, let out a brief laugh.
"I wonder how many mortals will die to spare you that inconvenience. Hundreds of thousands? Perhaps more." The amusement in his voice was unmistakable. "Our Goddess of Justice is being especially generous."
Parion gave him a reproachful look. It was not the number that scandalized her; she simply knew all too well how much he enjoyed using her title in circumstances like these.
"The losses will be considerable," she acknowledged. "So will what we can gain from them."
Her answer made the Demon God laugh again. Parion let him enjoy himself. After so many years together, comments like that required no explanation. He was not concerned about the mortals' fate, nor was he trying to dissuade her.
And, of course, Satoru's death did not have to be the end of the matter.
"Once the mage falls, the humans will once again face a threat they cannot overcome on their own," she continued. "Then an oracle will announce that Satoru died sacrificing himself and that, before falling, he left a permanent wound on his enemy. They will only need to understand that there is a chance of defeating it."
The Demon God listened with a steadily widening smile.
"And they'll ask for a Hero to finish the battle."
"Just as they always have when they need one. Except that this time, they'll have an even greater reason to await his arrival."
Parion found that part particularly satisfying. Satoru's reputation, which seemed to be diminishing the value of the summonings, would instead serve to elevate the next one. The humans could preserve their admiration for the mage; the more they revered him, the more extraordinary the Hero who finished what Satoru had died trying to achieve would seem.
There was no need to convince them that Satoru had been weak or that his accomplishments were insignificant. His defeat would give the eventual victory a significance that no divine proclamation could grant it on its own.
"Assuming he manages to inflict that wound," her companion observed with quiet amusement.
"If he doesn't, we can do it ourselves," Parion replied. "The mortals don't need to know the difference."
The Demon God burst out laughing. That seemed to amuse him almost as much as the prospect of pitting powerful opponents against the mage.
Parion smiled as well. She was accustomed to humans interpreting events according to what their gods revealed to them. If the account was convincing, Satoru's sacrifice would become inseparably linked to a new divine intervention, and no one would have reason to consider Heroes unnecessary.
Besides, a battle of that magnitude would provide the resources needed to make that intervention memorable.
"The cost of granting abilities powerful enough to face such an enemy will be high," she remarked. "But the catastrophe will undoubtedly leave enough souls to cover it. A single human soul cannot withstand an unlimited amount of power. We can use several to strengthen the chosen one."
Her companion nodded with interest. Creating a Hero of that magnitude would be no ordinary summoning, which was precisely why it would be appropriate for a calamity that had brought about Satoru's death.
Parion still did not know which abilities she would need to bestow. Perhaps it would be better to create a single extraordinary Hero, or perhaps she should summon several. That decision could wait until they knew the strength of the forces they would ultimately employ against the mage.
"It will be a story the humans remember for a very long time," the Demon God remarked.
"I certainly hope so."
Parion could easily imagine it. A revered mage who gave his life for the mortals, a calamity so terrible that even he had been unable to stop it, and finally the arrival of a Hero destined to bring that struggle to an end. The prayers, summonings, and gratitude that would follow his victory would reach a scale that ordinary conflicts could scarcely match.
It was the kind of epic that could restore the gods to the place those mortals were beginning to forget.
Even if the Hero failed to win, the story did not have to end there. They could intervene themselves whenever they considered it convenient and allow new chosen ones to emerge. A defeat would not erase fear or the need for protection; it could sustain both for much longer.
Parion allowed her thoughts to wander a little further. Perhaps that calamity would usher in an era of new struggles and great legendary figures. The world had endured countless conflicts and had always found other Heroes to revere. She did not find the possibility unpleasant.
"You seem to be enjoying this," the Demon God remarked.
"It would be a waste to limit the whole affair to eliminating Satoru."
He chuckled softly, keeping his attention on her. Parion appreciated that familiarity. She could discuss the most terrible consequences for mortals with her companion without having to weigh every word or defend her reasoning, and he was perfectly capable of understanding the appeal of such an undertaking.
For now, however, they still had not chosen the forces needed to begin that story.
"We'll have to find opponents who can actually kill him," Parion said. "I have no intention of making the mistake of underestimating him again."
"On that, we agree." The Demon God seemed invigorated by the prospect. "It's been quite some time since we had such a good reason to consider certain possibilities."
"We have time to find them."
Her companion remained thoughtful for a few moments before his smile returned.
"The New Year celebrations might be convenient. It's possible the mage will attend some important gathering."
Parion considered the idea. Several months remained, and they did not know whether Satoru would attend or what forces they might manage to gather by then. Nevertheless, the occasion offered an opportunity worth keeping in mind.
"If the opportunity presents itself, we'll take it," she replied. "And if not, we'll find another."
The Demon God accepted her decision without pressing for details they could not yet know. Parion had begun the conversation irritated by her inability to find answers and ended it contemplating an undertaking she could actually pursue.
The uneasiness that had troubled her for months remained, but for the moment she had managed to put it out of her mind.
* * *
Months later, the castle's private dining room had filled with conversation long before the meal was served. With the New Year gathering approaching, Leon had insisted that his family and those who usually accompanied them spend at least one afternoon together.
Soruna stood near a window, talking with Hauto, while Karina was trying to tell Satoru about something she had read concerning the Shiga Kingdom's ancient celebrations. Nina listened from her seat with a cup of tea in hand. Liza remained near Satoru, and Tama and Pochi had discovered the sweets Leon had ordered prepared for his guests.
"Can we have another one?" Pochi asked, looking first at Satoru and then at the baron.
"Of course," Leon answered before Satoru had the chance. "Although perhaps you should save a few for after lunch."
"Pochi will save one for later, sir!"
Tama had already chosen hers and was admiring it with obvious satisfaction.
"Saved for later~!"
Leon laughed. He always seemed happy when the girls visited the castle, although he still found it difficult to get used to how easily they spoke with Satoru. That day, he had even managed to convince Nina to sit with everyone without bringing a stack of reports, something he considered a small victory.
"It's becoming difficult to find a moment when no one is busy," he remarked as he took a seat. "Next time, we'll have to arrange this before so many things pile up."
"You could start by not accepting every meeting request that comes in," Soruna suggested.
"But some of them are important, my dear."
"That's what you say about almost all of them."
Leon smiled without arguing. Satoru had observed enough of Muno's daily business to know that the baron tried to meet with anyone who came to him with a problem, even when Nina had already assigned him other responsibilities.
The servant who entered shortly afterward was carrying a sealed envelope. He waited until Leon finished speaking before approaching with a bow.
"A message from the Royal Capital, my lord. The messenger requests confirmation that it has been received."
"Thank you. Tell him we've received the letter and that he may rest before returning."
Leon recognized the royal seal and opened the envelope. Soruna stopped talking to Hauto when she noticed her father reading the first page with growing bewilderment. By the time he returned to the beginning for a second look, Nina had set her cup down on its saucer.
"Is something wrong, Lord Leon?"
"I'm not sure." Leon looked up, visibly confused. "Nina, could you check something for me? It says here that they're going to make me a marquis."
Karina immediately straightened in her seat.
"A marquis?"
"That's what I'm trying to understand."
Nina took the document and examined the seal and signatures. Satoru moved close enough to read the decree across the table without interrupting her. Leon waited with an expression that shifted between curiosity and disbelief.
"It's authentic," Nina confirmed. "His Majesty has decreed that you will receive the title of marquis during the upcoming ceremony in the Capital."
"But I'm still a baron!"
Leon sounded so genuinely astonished that Hauto instinctively looked away from the letter to stare at him. Karina, meanwhile, was already smiling.
His promotion to the rank of count had already been confirmed after the city core was recovered, but it had yet to be formalized. Leon had accepted that appointment because the law prescribed it for someone governing a city of that size. Now the Crown was replacing that decision with a marquisate, a rank that Leon's family had never held in its current line.
Nina turned to the second page and spent a few moments reading it.
"There's a decree for me as well. My title of honorary viscountess is to be replaced with that of a countess in my own right."
The news brought another round of surprise from those present. Leon was the first to react.
"Nina, congratulations!" He stood up so quickly that he nearly jostled the table. "After all these years you've spent working for Muno, you have no idea how happy I am that they thought of you as well."
Nina accepted his enthusiasm with a smile.
"Thank you, my lord. Although I believe we should examine what both appointments mean."
"Yes, of course." Leon returned to his seat and looked at the letter again. "It's just... a marquis? I already felt they were granting me too much with the title of count. I haven't even finished rebuilding the villages."
"That doesn't mean you can't celebrate!" Karina interjected. "Not long ago, nobody believed Muno would come this far."
Soruna took the letter from Nina and reviewed the decrees more calmly. She knew about the Court's recent interest in the territory and in Satoru. Two such extraordinary promotions at the same time were difficult to explain through Muno's improvements alone, but she had no intention of turning her father's good news into an interrogation.
"We'll still have to prepare for the responsibilities that come with those titles," she pointed out. "But I agree with Karina. This is good news for our family."
"It is!" Leon replied, as though saying it aloud might help convince him. "I only hope I don't end up embarrassing myself in front of the other marquises."
"Father..." Soruna murmured with a mixture of patience and affection.
Hauto had been listening from his seat. When Soruna looked toward him, the young man seemed to realize that he could join the conversation as well.
"Congratulations, Lord Leon. I'm sure you'll find plenty to talk about in the Capital."
"That's exactly what worries me, Hauto!" The baron gave a nervous laugh. "I barely know any of them. And what am I supposed to say when they ask about my territory?"
"You could tell them about the people who live there," Soruna suggested.
Leon looked at her for a moment.
"That, I could do."
Karina did not wait any longer. She approached her father and hugged him, and Leon wrapped his arms around her with an expression far happier than the one he had worn upon reading his new title.
"I'm so proud of you!" she told him.
"Thank you, my dear." Leon stroked her hair. "If this helps us obtain more things for Muno, then accepting all those responsibilities will have been worth it."
"And everyone needs to congratulate Nina too!" Karina added as she pulled away.
The viscountess barely managed to place the letters somewhere safe before receiving her hug.
"Karina, be careful of the ink."
"For once, you can stop thinking about documents!"
"That's a difficult request when we've just received such important news."
Soruna laughed and approached to congratulate her personally. Meanwhile, Tama and Pochi had been watching the family's happiness with growing interest. Pochi turned toward Leon.
"Congratulations on becoming a marquis, sir!"
"Congratulations~!" Tama joined in.
"Thank you both very much," Leon replied, thoroughly pleased. "Although I think I'll still need help getting used to being called that."
"Pochi can help!" the girl offered.
Satoru listened calmly. He had seen how the high-ranking officials of Shiga and Saga had tried to win his favor since the Black Dragon's death. Once they realized that their direct proposals held little interest for him, they began facilitating agreements with Muno, where he had chosen to remain. These appointments were another way of benefiting those around him.
Nina was also aware of that background. She had been responsible for taking advantage of many of the commercial opportunities that had arisen from the attention Muno was receiving, and she was unlikely to mistake Leon's marquisate for a purely administrative reward.
The baron, on the other hand, was still trying to understand why the Crown had decided to grant him such a high rank before he had even received his title of count.
"Lord Satoru," he asked once Karina had returned to her seat, "do you think His Majesty took into account the fact that you live among us?"
"That is very likely. They had already shown an interest in maintaining favorable relations with me."
"Ah..." Leon lowered his eyes to the letter. "Then I should thank you for this as well."
"I did not request these appointments," Satoru pointed out. "The decision belongs to the Crown."
"I know, I know. But ever since you arrived, Muno has been able to do things that once seemed impossible." Leon smiled again, although somewhat sheepishly. "They're even going to make us a marquis and a countess! I don't want you to think I don't appreciate it."
"I do not think that."
Nina intervened before Leon could thank him again for something neither of them had requested.
"The new ranks may make certain agreements easier for us, Lord Leon. We'll have to proceed cautiously and not assume that every favor comes without expectations, but there's no reason to reject a legitimate advantage for Muno."
"Then I trust your judgment, Nina." Leon set the letter on the table and looked at the others. "Well, I suppose this calls for a celebration."
"We're already gathered for a meal," Soruna reminded him.
"True! But now we have another reason to enjoy it."
Karina immediately agreed. Hauto offered to help Soruna with whatever remained to be served, and Leon asked that the cooks be informed they could add some of the dishes he had reserved for another occasion. Nina had to remind him that there was no need to turn the meal into a banquet.
In the end, they changed very little of what had been prepared. The news alone was enough to keep Leon occupied for much of the afternoon with congratulations, questions, and small attempts to imagine what his new position would mean. At one point, he approached Satoru to ask whether it would be appropriate to continue dressing as he usually did while staying in Muno.
"I suppose I'll have to ask Soruna," he concluded when he realized that Satoru did not know every detail of Court etiquette either.
Satoru agreed. It was one of those matters in which the experience of a noble family was far more useful than his own knowledge.
Later, when the others began to leave, Nina approached him with the documents for the upcoming trip. The Crown was organizing the gathering of nobles and the celebration afterward; in Muno, they only needed to make sure they arrived on time and that Leon presented himself properly to receive his new title.
"I wanted to ask whether you would accompany us to the Royal Capital," she said. "I won't hide that your presence could help us, but I wouldn't want you to consider it an obligation."
Satoru had already thought about the trip. He was interested in learning more about the atmosphere of the Court and saw no reason to refuse Nina's invitation.
"I will accompany you."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"There is something I would prefer to ask before we go. I know the kingdom's noble titles, but not the customs expected during a reception of this kind. Is there anything in particular I should be careful about?"
Nina observed him for a few moments before glancing at the document she was holding.
"I can teach you the rules worth knowing. Although I should point out that no one in the Capital who knows even the slightest thing about you will have the nerve to put you to the test."
Satoru shared that impression. After what had happened with the Black Dragon, it was difficult to imagine a noble attempting to humiliate him over a formality or deliberately provoke him. Most of those seeking an audience wanted to gain his favor, not make an enemy of him.
"In that case, it does not seem essential," he replied.
"Essential, no. But there are customs you'll be glad to know if you intend to spend several hours among nobles, especially if you want to avoid causing trouble for Leon and his family."
"Then I would like to learn them."
Nina seemed pleased.
"It will be easier than you imagine. And if you want to ask me about any particular ceremony afterward, we can go over it."
* * *
Over the following days, Nina explained the order of introductions, the differences between addressing a count and a marquis, and the customs observed at receptions attended by much of the kingdom's nobility. She also showed him how to recognize certain indirect invitations and the expressions used to accept or decline them without turning a refusal into an insult.
Satoru learned quickly and did not find memorizing the rules of Shiga's high society particularly difficult. Some seemed unnecessary to him, while others reflected differences in rank that he did not consider important. Still, he understood why they were maintained and had no objection to using them when appropriate.
Nina was also aware that her student was unlikely to need etiquette to protect himself from other nobles. Those men and women were far more likely to worry about making a favorable impression on him. Even so, whenever Nina introduced a new custom, Satoru listened, asked the relevant questions, and incorporated it without complaint.
Over time, she stopped limiting herself to the essential rules and began telling him other details about life at Court. Satoru listened to those explanations as well. He found it interesting to learn why certain traditions had arisen, even when he did not agree with all the reasoning behind them.
Among the subjects they covered was dancing. Nina explained the most common rules and how a couple was expected to behave during a formal celebration. Satoru had witnessed enough dances to understand how they generally worked, and he found her explanation thorough.
That was why he was somewhat surprised when, a few days later, Nina asked him to come to a drawing room for another practice session.
Liza accompanied him down the corridor as usual. Tama and Pochi had left earlier at Karina's invitation, and Satoru heard their voices as he approached the door.
Inside, Karina was sitting with the girls, an open book resting on her lap. She was reading them a story while Pochi followed the illustrations with extraordinary attention and Tama tried to guess what would happen on the next page. Nina waited beside a piano positioned near the wall.
Karina looked up when she heard him enter.
"Satoru! You're just in time."
Tama and Pochi turned toward him almost simultaneously.
"Master~!"
"We were listening to a story, Master!"
"So I see. Have you been enjoying it?"
"Yes, Master!" Pochi answered. "Karina was telling us what the knight was doing!"
"He defeated a dragon, just like Master!" Tama added, pointing at an illustration.
Karina carefully closed the book and placed it on the table. Liza took up a position near the door, where she could comfortably observe the room.
"I thought we had finished the dancing lessons," Satoru remarked when he noticed that the center of the room had been cleared.
"The theoretical part, yes," Nina replied. "But gaining a little experience with a partner before attending a celebration is never a bad idea."
Karina stood up almost immediately.
"I volunteered to help you!"
Her eyes shone with enthusiasm. When Satoru looked at her, the young woman seemed to realize how quickly she had answered and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The faint color in her cheeks did not disappear when she smiled at him again.
Nina added that a written explanation could not demonstrate every difficulty involved in following the music and adjusting to another person's movements.
It was a valid reason. Satoru recalled, however, that no other part of the lessons had required such elaborate preparations, complete with a piano, a cleared room, and a volunteer who seemed to have been looking forward to the practice for quite some time.
He looked at Karina once more. It was not difficult to imagine why Nina had chosen this particular way to continue the lessons.
"Very well," he replied. "If you are willing to help me, Karina, I would appreciate the practice."
"Of course!"
Nina sat down at the piano. After checking the first few notes, she instructed them to take a simple position and began playing a piece Satoru had heard during the earlier explanations.
Karina offered him her hand with a smile and stepped closer to help him take his place opposite her. As she did, however, her ample bust brushed against Satoru's body.
"Ah!"
Satoru glanced down at the sound. Karina blushed even more when she realized she had drawn his attention.
"I-it's nothing," she said hurriedly.
He did not press her, and they began to dance. Karina tried to keep a little more distance, but whenever their movements brought them closer, the contact happened again. At first, it distracted her, and she could not help glancing at Satoru to check his reaction. He remained as composed as ever and made no comment.
Little by little, Karina stopped worrying about the brushes and returned to enjoying the music and his company.
She knew those dances well, and Satoru learned quickly enough to accompany her without difficulty. Before long, they could talk as they moved around the room.
"You learn too quickly," Karina remarked, with a hint of complaint in her voice.
"Is that a problem?"
"A little..."
Karina lowered her gaze, as if she had said more than she meant to. Satoru noticed her expression and chose not to press the matter. There was no reason to hurry through the dance, either.
The young woman soon regained her enthusiasm. She told him about the afternoons when Soruna had made her practice those dances, back when all she had wanted was to go out into the castle courtyards.
"I complained so much," she admitted. "Now Soruna never lets me forget it."
"It seems her lessons were useful."
"They were. Although I'd rather she didn't find out I just admitted that."
Satoru found the request amusing. Knowing Soruna, she would very likely take advantage of the opportunity if she heard about it.
"I will be discreet."
"Thank you!"
Karina laughed and went on to share a few more small stories from her childhood. Satoru listened with interest. He had often seen her enthusiasm when she talked about Heroes, but that afternoon he was hearing memories that rarely came up in their usual conversations. She seemed pleased to have his attention.
When the piece ended, Karina remained in front of him for a few moments, still holding one of his hands. Her smile turned a little shy.
"Satoru, could I ask you a favor for the celebration in the Capital?"
"Go ahead."
"Would you dance with me there too?"
"I see no problem with that."
Karina blinked in surprise. She had expected at least one question before he agreed.
"Just like that? I haven't even had a chance to explain why I'm asking."
"I do not see why you would need to justify it."
Karina let out a small laugh, still a little embarrassed.
"The truth is, I almost never dance when we attend those gatherings. I feel uncomfortable being so close to men I barely know."
As she said it, she remembered how close they had been during the dance and blushed again.
"But I feel safe with you," she added more quietly.
Satoru listened without interrupting her. Karina looked away for a moment, then smiled again.
"Then it's a promise!"
Tama and Pochi came running into the cleared space as soon as the conversation ended. They had been watching from a corner and had no intention of missing out on the fun.
"Tama wants to dance!"
"Pochi wants to dance too, Master!"
Karina bent toward them with a smile.
"Would you like me to show you how?"
"Yes, please!"
Karina began teaching them a simple movement while Nina chose a livelier melody. They had barely tried it when Tama took one of Satoru's hands and Pochi claimed the other.
"This way, Master~!"
"Pochi wants to lead you too!"
They tugged gently at him in opposite directions.
"I am afraid I cannot go both ways at once."
Pochi burst out laughing and hurried to join Tama. Karina stopped trying to guide them and joined in the game. Amid the spinning and laughter, the girls soon had Satoru participating just as much as they were.
Normally, they accompanied him while he tended to his own affairs, or carried out tasks and waited for him to praise their efforts. This time, they could take his hands, pull him wherever they wanted, and share an activity with him that required nothing more than having fun together. That seemed to make them particularly happy.
Even Nina smiled from the piano when she saw Satoru surrounded by the three of them. He made no attempt to bring order to their improvisation and kept dancing with them until the music ended.
"Again, Master!" Pochi pleaded.
"Again~!" Tama insisted.
"We can do it again another time," Satoru replied.
Pochi went over to thank Karina for dancing with them, while Tama wanted to make sure they would get together to play again.
"Of course," the young woman replied. "Although you should rest for a little while now."
Nina rose from the piano as the girls returned to the book. Liza had remained near the door throughout the practice. She had followed their movements attentively but had made no attempt to participate.
"Liza," Nina called as she approached her. "Wouldn't you like to dance too?"
The warrior straightened slightly.
"Thank you for the invitation, Lady Nina, but there is no need. I am here to accompany Master."
"I know. That's precisely why I thought it would be nice for you to participate. Everyone else has had a chance to enjoy themselves a little."
"I am fine as I am, my lady."
Nina glanced toward the girls, who were still talking about what they had done, before turning back to Liza.
"It would be a shame if you ended up being the only one watching. This isn't an official reception, and no one is going to judge you for wanting to dance."
Liza remained silent. She had watched Karina share a dance with Satoru as naturally as any young noblewoman, and she knew that her own position in the Capital would be very different. Even here, among people who treated her with consideration, accepting something like that was difficult for her.
"I am not very familiar with those dances," she finally replied.
"That's something you can learn," Nina assured her. "And you don't have to do everything perfectly."
Satoru had approached while they were speaking. He heard the last few words and looked at Liza, who still had not moved away from the door.
He had not expected the invitation to be so difficult for her. She could accompany him into battle, protect him during a mission, and remain at his side under far more dangerous circumstances. Yet sharing a dance in front of the others seemed to require a different kind of courage.
Satoru extended his hand.
"Would you like to dance, Liza?"
She looked at him. For several moments, she remained motionless, as though she needed to make certain that he was really addressing her. Her eyes moved down to his outstretched hand before returning to his face.
"Master, I..."
Satoru waited without withdrawing his hand.
Liza finally stepped closer. After one last hesitation, she placed her hand in his.
Nina returned to the piano and began playing a slow piece.
At first, Liza kept her eyes lowered, concentrating on recalling what she had seen Karina do. But when she stepped forward too early during a turn, she ended up stepping on Satoru's foot.
"Ah! Forgive me, Master."
"Do not worry."
Satoru continued naturally, giving her time to find her place without stopping the dance. Liza followed, her cheeks flushed. She had watched Karina dance with such ease that she felt embarrassed to struggle with even such a slow piece.
A little later, she stepped forward too early again. This time she managed to avoid Satoru's foot, but she ended up gripping his hand more tightly.
"I apologize, Master. I thought I would be better at this."
Satoru noticed how serious she had become. Each time she made a mistake, Liza seemed to forget entirely that she had accepted the invitation to enjoy the moment.
"Liza, do you remember how Tama and Pochi were dancing a little while ago?"
"Yes, Master."
"One wanted to lead me one way and the other in the opposite direction. They seemed to be having quite a good time."
Liza remembered the girls' laughter. Even she had smiled as she watched them.
"Yes. They looked very happy."
"I enjoyed dancing with them too," Satoru replied. "And I enjoy being here with you. There is no need to worry so much about making mistakes."
Liza raised her eyes to his. She seemed to search for something to say, but in the end she nodded, still looking somewhat embarrassed.
"I understand, Master."
They continued dancing. Liza still made mistakes from time to time, and on occasion her feet met Satoru's again, but he simply kept dancing with her. Little by little, she stopped preparing an apology whenever things did not go as she expected.
When she lost the rhythm again, Liza instinctively looked at him. Satoru gave her a small smile, and they continued. This time, she returned it with a shy smile of her own before lifting her gaze again.
Satoru had enjoyed Karina's enthusiasm a few minutes earlier and then had fun playing with the girls. With Liza, he found a different kind of closeness, one that did not need constant conversation for him to enjoy it.
He had known her for a long time, trusted her, and was used to having her nearby, but none of that seemed to fully explain what he felt as they continued dancing. He liked seeing her smile that way, even when she still made mistakes.
Liza's shoulders eventually relaxed a little. She still paid attention to the music, but no longer seemed afraid that one wrong movement would ruin the moment. When their eyes met again, Satoru felt no need to interrupt that closeness.
For some reason, being there with her felt more comfortable than he had imagined.
He simply felt at peace.
* * *
Nina and Karina finished waving as Satoru, Liza, and the girls disappeared around the corner. The room became much quieter. The sheet music used during the practice rested on the piano, and the book Karina had been reading to the little ones remained open on a chair.
Karina picked up the book but did not close it. She spent a moment looking at the page without really paying attention to the illustrations.
"Are you really all right with how things turned out?" Nina asked.
The young woman did not immediately raise her head. She did not seem surprised by the question.
"Yes. It was a lovely afternoon."
Karina ran her thumb along the edge of a page before speaking again.
"During all this time, I've realized something about Satoru. He can be talking to a noble, a merchant, or someone he's just met, and he almost always has the same expression. He's kind to everyone, even when he doesn't seem particularly interested in the conversation."
Nina listened without interrupting her. She had seen the same thing: nobles who interpreted Satoru's courtesy as a sign of personal consideration, and commoners who felt respected because he never spoke to them with contempt. Some had even come to admire him for the way he treated people.
But Nina had learned that, in many of those encounters, Satoru simply had no reason to value one person more than another. His politeness came naturally to him; the affection others believed they perceived was not always there.
With the Muno family, however, things had changed.
Satoru was willing to spend time with them even when he had no obligation to do so. He paid attention to Karina's interests, allowed himself personal conversations with Nina, and had gradually become someone whose presence the entire family looked forward to. Nina knew she could not read what went on in his mind, but she felt satisfied thinking that they had managed to earn a genuine place in his life.
"He has treated you differently on many occasions," she observed.
Karina smiled a little.
"Yes. I know. That's why I was so happy when he agreed to dance with me."
Her smile remained for a few moments before fading slightly.
"But it's different with Liza, isn't it?"
Nina looked toward the door.
She had met Satoru when it was still much more difficult to determine what he wanted from other people. Over time, she had learned to recognize some of his preferences, but even now there were things about him she did not fully understand. His relationship with his three demi-human companions belonged to that category.
He sought them out, listened to them, and accepted their small requests with a degree of consideration he showed almost no one else. And Liza seemed to hold a particular place even among the three of them.
Nina remembered the way Satoru had approached when he heard her conversation with Liza. She had not needed to convince him of anything or suggest that he offer his hand. He had done so on his own initiative, and during the dance he had appeared comfortable with a closeness that required no explanation.
"She's a very important person to him," Nina replied. "That's something we can't ignore."
Karina nodded, her gaze still lowered. She had enjoyed every moment of her own dance and still had his promise to dance with her again in the Capital. None of that disappeared simply because Satoru shared a different bond with someone else. Even so, she found it difficult not to wish for a little of the confidence with which she had seen Liza accept his hand.
"Liza looked happy too," she said after a few moments. "I'm glad for her."
Nina did not doubt the sincerity of those words. Nor did she overlook the fact that Karina was still looking at the book without reading it.
She moved closer and gently stroked her hair.
Karina rested her head beneath her hand for a moment.
* * *
Author's Note
Thank you very much for reading.
I really enjoyed writing the dancing scene. I think it turned out quite well, and it was nice to have the characters simply spend some time together and enjoy themselves.
As the beginning of this chapter suggests, things are about to take a more serious turn. The next chapter will officially mark the beginning of the more intense part of this arc.
I don't have much else to add for now.
Thank you again for your patience and support, and I hope you enjoy the chapters to come.