Arthur almost smiled.
...So she’s socially awkward?
Genesis responded.
〘Probability: 93.7%.〙
Arthur finally answered her question.
"I wouldn’t say I do it often."
He looked back toward the endless night sky.
"But I do find myself looking at the stars whenever I get lost in thought."
"...Oh."
A small smile appeared on the young woman’s face.
"W-Well..."
"I often find myself doing the same."
Genesis spoke without hesitation.
〘Statement determined to be false.〙
Arthur replied inwardly.
...Yeah.
That was pretty obvious.
He stole another glance at her.
So...
She’s just trying to keep the conversation going.
Looks like she isn’t nearly as good at flirting as the other Young Lords.
The thought amused him more than he expected.
A quiet laugh escaped his lips.
"...Pfft."
The young woman immediately stiffened.
"...?"
She looked at him in confusion, a hint of panic flashing across her face.
"...D-Did I say something strange?"
Arthur quickly waved a hand.
"My apologies."
"I wasn’t laughing at you."
He smiled warmly.
"It’s just..."
"You looked rather cute when you stumbled over your words just now."
"...!"
The young woman’s face immediately flushed a faint shade of pink.
She quickly looked away.
"...O-Oh."
"I... understand."
She cleared her throat several times before finally regaining a measure of composure.
Turning back toward Arthur, she gave a polite bow.
"My apologies for the poor introduction."
"My name is Lyra."
"I’m the Young Lord of House Evergreen."
"It’s... a pleasure to finally meet you, Young Master Arthur."
Arthur smiled politely.
"Likewise."
Before either of them could continue...
Genesis suddenly spoke inside his mind.
〘Ooh... she’s packing on both the front and the back. Just the way you like it, Master.〙
Arthur nearly choked.
〘Additionally, her social awkwardness makes her appear graceful, sincere, and pleasant to be around.〙
〘Overall compatibility assessment: 9.5/10.〙
〘Recommended match.〙
Arthur frowned inwardly.
...Since when did you become a matchmaker?
...And was the first part of that statement really necessary?
Genesis answered without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
〘I was merely taking Master’s recorded preferences into consideration based on the data I have collected.〙
Arthur let out a silent sigh.
...Genesis.
...I don’t need your advice on matters like this again.
There was a brief pause.
〘Understood.〙
Another pause followed.
〘...But you do realize I’m right.〙
Arthur’s eyelid twitched.
...Genesis.
The little AI let out an innocent giggle.
〘Hehe... Sorry.〙
Arthur could only sigh inwardly.
For the first time...
He felt like a parent whose child had learned just a little too much from the adults around her.
Was this now how she saw him?
Looking back on the conversation he’d had with Ian earlier...
He suddenly understood his father’s pain.
Arthur smiled politely.
"No offense..."
"...but House Evergreen doesn’t exactly seem to be one of the more well-known noble houses."
He glanced at her with curiosity.
"This is actually the first time I’ve heard its name."
Lyra didn’t appear offended in the slightest.
Instead, she smiled softly before walking over to stand beside him.
She rested both hands lightly against the balcony railing as the cool night breeze gently stirred her emerald hair.
"None taken."
"It’s not as though we’re a particularly powerful house."
Her smile carried a hint of self-deprecation.
"Our family mainly deals in the cultivation and sale of exotic spirit plants."
"We’re also contracted for large-scale forestation and ecological restoration projects across several star systems."
She glanced toward the distant city lights.
"And we’re fairly well known for taming and trading exotic spirit beasts."
She let out a small, awkward laugh.
"Although..."
"We do occasionally sell battle beasts as well."
She scratched her cheek.
"They just aren’t especially popular these days."
Arthur tilted his head slightly.
"Oh?"
Lyra nodded.
"Most noble houses would rather purchase Android Guards or hire Iron Angel mercenary companies."
"They’re generally considered more reliable, easier to command, and far less expensive to maintain."
A faint sigh escaped her lips.
"So the market for battle beasts has been shrinking for quite some time now."
She smiled again, though there was a trace of resignation behind it.
"We’re a fairly ordinary house, all things considered."
Standing this close to him...
Lyra could feel her composure slowly beginning to crumble.
...He’s so handsome.
Her emerald eyes cautiously drifted toward his face.
...Is he actually real?
The pictures...
The rumors...
None of them came close.
Her heart pounded against her chest.
...Do I really have a chance with someone like him?
A tiny voice inside her head immediately answered.
Absolutely not.
She quickly shook the thought away.
No...
Calm down.
Calm down.
Our conversation has been going well so far.
...Even if we haven’t really talked about anything important yet.
At least...
I have his attention.
That’s a good start.
Okay...
Don’t screw this up.
Don’t screw this up.
Suddenly...
Arthur’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
"...Ease up a little."
"...Huh?"
Lyra blinked in confusion.
She turned her head.
Only to realize Arthur had unknowingly stepped much closer while speaking.
He was now standing right beside her.
Close enough that she could clearly see the reflection of the twin moons within his obsidian eyes.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Arthur tilted his head slightly before giving her a reassuring smile.
"You’re trembling."
Lyra froze.
"...!"
Only then did she realize her hands, resting on the balcony railing, had been shaking the entire time.
Lyra immediately pulled her hands away from the railing.
"...!"
She quickly folded her arms across her chest before taking a hurried step to the side, turning to face a different direction altogether.
Her cheeks had become a deep shade of pink.
...W-What am I doing...?
Arthur couldn’t help letting out a quiet laugh.
"Come on now..."
"I don’t bite."
He smiled gently.
"There’s no need to step away."
Lyra’s shoulders stiffened.
"W-Well..."
"I..."
She fidgeted nervously.
"I just didn’t want anyone to walk in on us standing that close together."
She forced an awkward laugh as she rubbed the back of her head.
"I wouldn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea..."
"...especially seeing the Young Master of House Ashbourne standing beside someone from such an insignificant house as mine."
"Haha..."
The laugh sounded so forced that even she cringed at herself.
Inwardly...
She screamed.
...What was that?!
Why would I say something like that?!
Now he probably thinks I have no confidence in myself!
This is hopeless...
I might as well accept that I’m going to die single.
I can’t handle this kind of pressure!
Her soul felt as though it had already left her body.
Meanwhile, Arthur simply watched her with an amused smile.
...She’s kind of adorable.