87 A Blasphemous Road

No! No, I can't continue on this blasphemous road!

I cleared my head and pulled on Asu's arm pitifully. "I thought we were gonna play together, Clareeeee."

Her eyes widened in surprise before blurting out, "I-I-uh-Y-Yeah! Let's play together then!"

Alas, she stopped in her steps, seemingly due to regret for saying such words so quickly. Asu glanced at the young boy, who glanced back at her in confusion.

I felt my eyes twitch. No. This is our date, Asu and I's date! No one can disturb us, especially suspicious young men who may be wolves in disguise as sheep!

"I don't want to play chess anymore!"

"Huh?! Wh—" Asu opened her mouth to protest, but I cut her off by pulling her small stature into my arms.

"Let's go dancing!"

I asked for her hand—like a gentleman*—and twirled her around.

*VA note: Gentlewoman…?

She burst into giggles, conceding herself to my antics, and I grinned triumphantly.

Upon receiving Asu's approval, I immediately waltzed her over in the direction where I previously heard distant music—leaving the pitifully confused youth behind.

…

"W-What dance are we going to…?" Asu asked reservedly.

I chuckled and took her hand, kissing it. "Whatever you wish, my lady~"

At first, she looked at me in a daze, but soon, she pulled back her hand in embarrassment. "Y-You! W-W-Why are you acting so… so…"

"So pleasing to the eye?" I offered.

Asu hurriedly turned away her expression hidden under her azure mask. "No! Of course not! D-D-Don't get too carried away!"

"What a shame…"

"What shame?! You mean you are shameless? Then yes, very!" She harrumphed grumpily right after I finished my words.

"T-Then Clare, why don't we dance 'Dragoste'*? It is a magnificent style, and we also learned it in school."

"Wha—no! Don't think that I don't know what you're getting at, you Hall—ahem—Lance."

*VA note: I suggest looking up what the word means in Romanian. ;)

For a second, I didn't say anything.

The light in my eyes faded. "So in the end, I'm just a bother, aren't I? Am I forcing you to come to this da—festival?"

My shoulders slumped in sorrow.*

*VA note: The question is: Feigning sorrow? Or true sorrow? :think:

"Ah…" Slightly stunned at my change, Asu opened her mouth and immediately refuted, "No! You aren't forcing me! You aren't a bother either!"

I lifted my head expectantly. "Really?"

"O-Of course! It would be beneath me to lie! It's just that sometimes, you go too far. That is all!"

"Then can we dance 'Dragoste?'"

"…"

"Hmm?"

"… In order to not attract attention, let's just dance like how everyone else is dancing. There doesn't seem to be a particular style…" Asu turned away.

But even as she said to not attract attention, she herself would be in the limelight by the end of the night, becoming a shining star no one will ever be able to forget.