Vill-V could not refute him.
There was simply no reason to argue against Edward’s words.
No one had truly paid any attention to him, not even Elysia, who had organized the birthday banquet only to shift its focus midway into something more like a casual social gathering.
Edward’s arrival had drawn little notice, certainly not from the real center of the event.
A few guests glanced his way when they sensed something amiss, but no one acted.
At most, they offered a brief look before turning away.
This gathering belonged far more to Elysia and everyone else than it did to him.
His thoughts drifted on, until an indifferent voice cut through them.
Edward held out the hat, his expression calm and free of resentment or disappointment.
His dark eyes remained steady, like a still night sky without a single ripple.
“Don’t dwell on all that nonsense anymore.
Here is your hat.
I meant to return it earlier, but you left too quickly.”
His tone stayed even, without the slightest shift.
It seemed he truly did not mind that the girl had guessed wrong… or perhaps he had already accepted the possibility and simply let reality pass him by.
Why had he looked so disappointed earlier?
Had Edward faced similar situations before?
Vill-V felt a flicker of doubt, yet she still accepted the hat with genuine gratitude.
“Thank you.”
Their fingers brushed as she took it.
Her delicate, petal-soft touch lingered for a moment.
“You are welcome.
It was only a small favor.”
Edward waved it off lightly, his expression unchanged, and watched as she placed the hat back on her head and smoothed her long hair.
Only then did he have a chance to study her outfit properly, from a normal vantage.
Her khaki hair, once slightly tousled, now fell neatly around an exquisite black lace hairpin accented with dark gold gears.
The delicate little hat on her head featured decorations that fanned out like petals.
A black lace tie framed her slender neck like a white collar, while a small metal component at the front connected to flowing ribbons that traced her figure.
Her smooth shoulders, pale as if bathed in spring water, remained bare to the air.
White satin wrapped her wrists and upper arms in the style of a princess, secured by black leather bracelets engraved with golden gear motifs.
The strapless white top accentuated her graceful form, and a fabric belt cinched her slim waist with no trace of excess.
The pristine white hem flowed like gathered blossoms, yet the true skirt consisted of sheer black fabric.
Leather straps looped over her thighs, connecting to black striped stockings, while her combat boots had been styled with high heels.
Coffee-colored panels gave way to white sides etched with mysterious patterns.
The entire ensemble radiated refined beauty, the kind one might expect from a master designer.
===
[At the social gathering, Edward and Vill-V found themselves getting along well.
He returned her hat, and in turn she presented him with a birthday gift she had prepared in advance.]
[Out of respect and courtesy, he did not open the gift right away, but he could not help admiring the exquisite design of the box. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
He also praised the thoughtful design of her dress, calling it the work of a true genius.]
[To his surprise, a few sincere compliments left Vill-V blushing so deeply she could barely raise her head.]
It felt a little strange.
Wasn’t Elysia supposed to be the childhood friend in this story?
Yet here he was, suddenly forming a close connection with Vill-V after only one or two brief meetings.
Their rapport had grown remarkably fast.
Vill-V was never meant to be won over so easily.
She carried the reputation of someone difficult to approach.
If a respected Flame-Chaser could be swayed this quickly, the whole situation would feel far too convenient.
[During their conversation, Edward quickly recognized the true nature of the girl before him.
She was undoubtedly a genius whose intellect surpassed that of every scholar he had ever known.]
[Yet an unimaginable shadow lingered over this lovely young woman.]
[Insecurity.]
[When he first reached that conclusion, he wondered if Elysia’s earlier behavior had clouded his judgment.]
[A genius of her caliber needed no boasting.
Even in casual talk, she casually referenced the highest peaks of subjects he still studied with great effort.
A few modest remarks from her left the self-proclaimed scholars nearby stunned into silence.]
[The elegant and luxurious dress she wore had been designed by her own hand.]
[How could someone so perfect, so undeniably brilliant, carry even the slightest trace of insecurity?
It seemed utterly absurd at first.]
[But once he confirmed his thoughts were clear, and once he observed her demeanor more closely, he realized her insecurity ran far deeper than he had imagined.]
[Only then did he truly understand how vast and surprising the world could be.]
[Because this stranger had given him a birthday gift—the only one besides his parents and Elysia—he resolved to help Vill-V in any way he could.]
[At the very least, she had made his birthday feel real.
For once, someone had offered him sincere blessings.]
[Complimenting someone who felt insecure was a small thing.]
[Thanks to the years spent with Elysia, his words carried the same genuine warmth she showed others, without a hint of pretense.]
[As for companionship, he was more than willing to become her friend.]
[Talking with her right now felt genuinely comfortable.]
“You do not need to overthink it.
Your keen sensitivity to other people’s feelings is simply further proof of your talent.
Foolish people take pleasure in putting others down, but that does not make them capable.”
Edward’s expression remained serious.
His dark eyes showed nothing but sincerity.
“Eh…”
“I… I am not that amazing.”
The sudden praise left Vill-V dizzy with bewilderment.
She could only tilt her head slightly, biting her lip to hold back her emotions and hide the way her silver-gray eyes had begun to spin.
“Your ability itself is all the proof needed.”
Edward gently adapted one of Elysia’s favorite lines of praise. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
He tilted his head, his gaze full of earnest warmth.
“You truly helped me today.
Even though I do not consider this my birthday banquet, you still gave me a gift and offered sincere blessings.
That alone means more than you know.”
“Humans are social creatures, after all.
It is impossible to live completely without friendship.
You helped me, so to me you are already one of my few true friends.
If you ever need anything, I will do my best to repay that kindness and help you in return.”
There was no falsehood in the young man’s words.
After years of traveling with Elysia, he had visited countless places, yet the number of people he could genuinely call friends remained small.
Talent and ability were not the only measures that mattered.
Personality counted just as much.
“…But can something this small really lead to becoming real friends?
I… I truly want friends I can talk to, but for so long, hardly anyone has even acknowledged me…”
Vill-V murmured the words almost without thinking.
Only after they left her lips did she realize what she had revealed.
“It is simple.”
“I can be your friend.”
===
At that moment, a whirlwind of thoughts, ideas, and emotions swirled inside Elysia, yet her mind felt strangely blank, completely empty.
Her emerald starry eyes could focus only on the young man nearby: his gentle, water-like dark blue eyes, the soft smile on his lips, and his outstretched hand.
A scene she had imagined only in dreams, one she had never dared to hope for.
It felt so unreal that she instinctively bit her rosy lower lip and reached out almost cautiously.
Until her genius mind finally caught up.
Okay… No!
This was not good.
Not good at all!
Something like this should take months of time together before anyone said such words.
They had only met the day before.
They had spent less than a few hours in each other’s company.
This atmosphere did not feel like the start of a simple friendship at all.
…
Vill-V, who had nearly been swept into the swirling mood, finally pulled herself free from her tangled thoughts.
She lifted her face and met the young man’s gaze with shy, dazed eyes.
An uncontrollable blush spread across her fair cheeks.
What had she just said?
What had she been thinking?
A deep, primal fear of social embarrassment rose from the bottom of her heart and momentarily drowned out every other emotion.