Mushoku Tensei: Sword, Magic Hats, and the Romance System [159]

The moment those words fell, Sylphy’s whole body went rigid.

Every bit of exposed skin was tinged with crimson.

At the first instant of hearing the words “ball”, her mind had indeed conjured up certain “scenes” she had longed for—full of a young girl’s romantic sentiment.

And then that picture had been captured with pinpoint precision by Hilda.

Or perhaps—it had been part of her inducement from the start.

Sylphy’s pupils trembled, but she quickly reacted.

“E-Eris’s birthday… why would someone else be dancing?”

Hilda, watching Sylphy’s expression up close, pressed her lips into a small smile, then straightened elegantly in her chair and leaned back against it.

“Who said only the guest of honor can dance? What kind of ball would that be?”

“Yes, the banquet will open with Eris dancing. But after that, the ball belongs to all the guests.”

“Then everyone can dance in the dome hall prepared especially for the banquet, beneath bright firelight, to the accompaniment of music.”

“And at Eris’s fifth birthday, since she was so young, we went straight into the ball segment from the start. Hehe… I still remember how she kept clamoring for cake. She was still at the age where cuteness outweighed willfulness. Such a fond memory…”

Sylphy nodded blankly. “I see.”

But Hilda’s next words made her pupils quake all over again.

“So, there will be noble sons and daughters from all across the territory. And at this age, what could be faster for mutual confession than a close-face dance? This is why my dear husband calls it a ‘place for courtship.’ It’s an excellent opportunity to deepen bonds among our vassal nobles, and marriage ties are without doubt the best way to make the nobility hold tightly together.”

“At that time, there will be boys and girls inviting each other to ‘share a dance.’”

“That is the code.”

“And also the most straightforward way to express fondness and closeness.”

She lifted her teacup.

Glanced at Sylphy.

The latter was already petrified.

Hilda looked into the tea in her hands and turned up the heat.

“As far as I know, the noble girls nearby are quite forward. I wonder how many will invite Allen to dance that night… ah, it’s exciting just to think about.”

“G-Girls… inviting?”

“Yes. In some respects, noble girls may even mature earlier than boys.”

Hilda tapped her own eyes.

“And from my observations, the girl taking the initiative happens quite often.”

She looked at Sylphy’s “eyes swirling into mosquito coils” expression—

And spoke leisurely:

“That’s why the very first dance becomes especially important.”

The dagger revealed at last.

Hilda finished and nodded with satisfaction, sipping her tea to moisten her throat.

The cup gradually blocked her gaze as it fell on Sylphy’s face.

Sylphy had been frozen for quite some time now; her expression had shifted from initial shyness to a kind of dazed blankness.

She thought of Allen.

Thought of mutual confession.

And then—

Thought of Roxy.

The next instant—

Hilda’s voice drifted from behind the teacup.

“…Your teacher doesn’t seem to be around. Isn’t Allen a little at risk, then?”

“What should we do, Luffy?”

Sylphy’s mouth opened and closed, stunned into a very adorable silence.

Hilda set down her cup, propping her chin in one hand to gaze out the window.

“I suddenly remembered… there’s still that evening dress here.”

Sylphy, remembering that rather revealing gown, jolted and switched into rapid-fire response mode.

“E-Eris will invite Allen to dance!”

Hilda blinked in genuine surprise, mouth parting before she let out a soft laugh.

“Were you seriously considering my earlier suggestion?”

Sylphy’s mouth hung open.

“Ah—no! I meant Eris, not—”

Hilda shook her head.

“Don’t be nervous, Luffy. I was only joking. In the past half year I’ve watched them interact, and it’s completely unrelated to any boy-girl romantic atmosphere.”

“Seeing them together in swordsmanship lessons—”

Her smile faded; she set down her cup.

“For some reason… I always have this illusion, as if they’re…”

“Brother and sister.”

“Speaking of tenth birthdays… I wonder what form the celebrations in the royal capital take. It makes me curious.”

In just a few sentences, the panic, shyness, and fluster on Sylphy’s face melted away like snow.

Her expression firmed again; her red-brown eyes focused intently on Hilda.

The latter was gazing at the trees outside.

Her eyes held neither sorrow nor joy.

Because what was missed was already fixed fact.

And—

It had been more than a year.

She had thought about it too many times.

Allen in the royal capital.

Her eldest son.

A year and ten months ago—December 31st.

How had he spent his birthday?

Was it in the embrace of James and his wife and children, in the laughter of a family banquet?

Or, as Philip imagined, was it at a ball, fielding invitations from noble girls in the capital fluttering toward him like butterflies?

Or—because he was not truly a blood son—was he neglected by James, standing alone somewhere in the night, staring at the moon?

Just like...

She herself had been doing that day?

Hilda had turned it over too many times.

Dreamed it too many times.

Never with an answer.

In the dreams...

“Allen’s” face was always blurred.

“…Your child must be missing you too.”

Hilda blinked, turned toward Sylphy, lips moving a few times before she finally only gave a helpless smile.

“He probably doesn’t even know he has a mother like me. But… thank you for the comfort, Luffy.”

Sylphy lowered her eyes, avoiding Hilda’s gaze—but then shifted the topic back.

“So you think Allen and Eris… seem more like siblings?”

Hilda glanced at her.

“Yes, Luffy. I’ve always felt Allen and Eris interact like siblings. I’ve never thought of pairing them up.”

“Perhaps because Allen’s name happens to be the same as my son’s, I see my own child’s shadow in him.”

“Maybe…”

“It’s just an illusion.”

After that, the two sat in silence for a while.

Then Sylphy lifted her head with a smile and said:

“Then, Madam, would you like to come and see up close? Allen and Eris’s interactions in class are quite fun to watch.”

Hilda blinked; she’d only meant to reassure Sylphy—she hadn’t expected her to bring that up, and instinctively replied:

“Really… the image is intriguing just to imagine. But if I went, wouldn’t everyone be nervous? Last time I visited swordsmanship class, Ghislaine, Allen, and Rudy all visibly stiffened. That’s why I avoid your class time.”

“But if it’s as a teacher, you wouldn’t make them nervous.”

“As… a teacher?”

Hilda blinked, looking at Sylphy.

The latter sat straight, a strange gleam in her eyes.

Her soft voice drifted into Hilda’s ears:

“Recently etiquette class has been covering Boreas noble etiquette.”

“Nothing would be more authoritative than Madam personally teaching it, right?”

In the short span of this tea-time conversation, the emotional atmosphere between Hilda and Sylphy—

Was inducement.

And also expectation.

Mother- and daughter-in-law conspiring in mutual “assistance,” already eager to see the banquet scene unfold!

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This is a fan translation of 无职转生：剑，魔法帽与恋爱系统 by 意外火灾 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!