Knight in Shining Armor

On the second day of the three-day holiday, Adelaine was walking alone toward the city library.

Reading romance books is her favorite hobby and today, she finished reading another story. 

Adelaine was on her way to the city library to borrow more romance books.

After a few more minutes of walking, she finally arrived.

Adelaine quickly showed her identification card and logged her name on the library's records before proceeding to the romance books section.

She scanned through the books on the first and second levels of the bookshelves but there was nothing there that piqued her interest.

"Haaaahh…I've finished reading all the books in the first and second levels of this bookshelf…When will I get my turn to experience romance?" 

"Even big sister and big bro Blanc already experienced romance… If I just stay inside my office and leave the city to strike business deals, I'll never find a romantic partner…"

"When will my knight in shining armor arrive with his white horse?"

Adelaine sighed as she tried to climb up to the third level to try and look for the next romance book she would borrow.

Alas! As she was climbing up, her foot slipped and she started to fall down! Although she is not in danger of dying, she might suffer from broken bones if she fallsw to the ground from the third level.

"Aaaaahhh!!!"

Adelaine screamed while falling down. She closed her eyes and just as she was about to hit the floor…

*THUD*

"I…didn't fall?"

Adelaine opened her eyes and recognized that she was caught by a man before she fell to the floor.

She slowly looked up at the man's face and her eyes widened in surprise.

"Commander Alexander!"

Adelaine exclaimed.

"Are you okay Lady Adelaine?"

"I-Im fine! Thank you for catching me. What brings you here, commander?"

"Oh, me? I'm here to borrow some romance books. You see, I like reading romance books before going to sleep at night."

Adelaine was surprised upon hearing about Alexander's hobby. Not only that, she was also surprised to hear him admit it so honestly.

She thought that this commander Alexander was a stern man full of masculinity. Unexpectedly, he had a cute side too.

"Oh, I see! What a coincidence! I like reading romance books too!"

*CHATTER* *CHATTER* *CHATTER*

Alexander and Adelaine kept chatting about trivial matters while they were both looking for books to borrow.

After a while, the two of them managed to pick a book that they liked and they went to the counter together to log a record.

After successfully borrowing the books, it was time to part ways.

"Well then Lady Adelaine, It was fun talking to you."

Alexander said as he turned around to leave.

"W-Wait! C-C-Commander Alexander! My sister was supposed to take me around the northern side of the city today but she bailed on me to hang out with big bro Blanc."

"I w-was j-just wondering if you could show me around the northern side of the city? M-Maybe eat together and t-talk about romance books?"

Adelaine blushed after impulsively asking Alexander out.

"What has gotten into me?! Why did I do that? Just because we have the same hobbies? He must be thinking that I'm weird now!"

Adelaine anxiously thought to herself.

"Oh, I see, so that's why you're alone today. Sure! I'll just drop off my groceries at home then I'll pick you up at your house. Is that okay with you?"

"Oh, I see, so you're busy, tha– Eh? You agree?"

"Yes, after I drop off my groceries I'll come to pick you up at your house if that's okay with you?"

"Yes! Sure! That's totally fine with me! Well then! See you later!"

Adelaine sprinted back home while her heartbeat was beating fast.

"W-What am I doing?! My sister will kill me!"

She thought to herself after arriving home. Adelaine drank some water in order to calm down and after a few minutes, she finally managed to gather her wits.

"Phew…Well, at least Commander Alexander is willing to be friends with me! I'm sure that's it! Yes! Just friends!"

Adelaine consoled herself after making an impulsive decision that she couldn't reverse.

After spacing out for a while, she suddenly remembered that it might not take long before Alexander came to pick her up so she immediately ran towards her closet to find a good set of clothes to wear.

Adelaine quickly found a good set of clothes that she was satisfied with and wore them.

"Calm down…He's just going to take you around the city and talk about your hobbies like friends…Don't overthink…Breathe…"

Finally, after taking lots of deep breaths, Adelaine calmed down.

*Knock* *Knock*

"Lady Adelaine? I've come to pick you up!"

"Commander Alexander? Just a second! I'm coming!"

Adelaine thought that time slowed down after going out of her house. Alexander was there, wearing a nice outfit while riding a beautiful white horse.

"K-Knight in shining armor…"

She was somewhat dazed after thinking her knight in shining armor finally arrived to pick her up.

"Lady Adelaine? Are you okay?"

Adelaine's fantasies were cut short by Alexander's words.

"O-Oh! Y-Yes, I'm fine! S-So, will we go around town while riding this lovely steed?"

"Yes, Lady Adelaine, I thought that it would be better to go around town while riding a horse. Do you…not like it?"

"I do! I do like it! So don't worry…"

Alexander gently helped Adelaine climb up the steed and sit right in front of him.

After seeing that Adelaine had already settled down, He drove the horse towards the northern part of the city.

Half an hour later, they finally arrived at a coffee shop that Adelaine suggested while they were chatting on the way.

Adelaine finally got over her nervousness and she started blabbering about things related to romance books as they slowly sipped their coffee.

Alexander also found chatting with Adelaine very enjoyable so he started talking casually with Adelaine as well.

By the time they finished their coffee, they were calling each other by nicknames!

"Hahahaha Alex you're so funny! Who would've thought that you were like this? I was slightly scared of you every time I saw you in the training grounds you know!"

"Ahh…Hahaha well, I just have to show them that tough front, or else they won't listen you know? Well then, we finished our coffee, shall we go to other places, Ady?"

"Sure! Oh! I know! There's this place that I've always wanted to try!"

*CHATTER* *CHATTER* *CHATTER* *CHATTER* 

After enjoying themselves for a whole day, Alexander dropped off Adelaine in front of their house.

"Well then Alex! Good night! Thank you for showing me around the northern part of the city today! I had lots of fun!"

"You're welcome Ady, I had fun as well."

"Well then, I'll go inside! You take care!"

Adelaine said as she walked to the door of her house. She was a bit sad that the day already ended and she couldn't help but wonder if there would be a next time.

However, asking out Alexander today took all of her courage and she couldn't bring herself to ask him again.

In the end, she decided to just stay silent and let fate work its wonders. However, just as she was about to enter her house...

"Ady!"

Alexander called out to her and Adelaine quickly turned to look at him.

"Hm? Is something the matter Alex?"

"U-Uhm…I w-would like to ask if you're willing to go with me to the eastern part of the city n-next time that we're both available?"

Adelaine smiled cutely upon hearing Alex's request.

"Gladly!"