(Ulula is... No, it’s not exactly surprising, but isn't she a bit too beautiful?)
Rest had always known that Ulula Lavender was a striking girl with refined features. He had even considered that she would be breathtaking if she ever bothered to dress up.
But actually facing a perfectly groomed Ulula in person was a shock that left him utterly speechless.
To Rest, Ulula Lavender had always been "the nice, slightly gloomy girl." She rarely spoke of her own accord—a downer-type beauty who never tried to stand out despite her good looks.
That was how she was supposed to be, yet the girl standing before him gave the exact opposite impression. She had become an impeccable noblewoman, a flawless beauty.
(Why is she dressed like this in the first place? No, wait... maybe this is just her loungewear, and she always dresses like this at home?)
Usually, people dressed casually at home and only put on their best for outings, but perhaps things were different for Ulula.
(Could she have dressed up for me? No, no, there's no way.)
Rest wasn't like those flighty guys who jumped to conclusions. He wasn't the type to see a girl in a nice outfit and immediately think, "She did this all for me, didn't she?"
He quickly suppressed his agitation, straightened his posture, and placed a hand over his heart.
"Ah... thank you for the invitation today."
"............Yes."
"It’s an honor to be welcomed into the home of Lord Margrave Lavender, a man known as the most powerful figure in the eastern Kingdom. I would like to pay my respects to him later."
"............"
Ulula remained silent. She simply stood there, staring intently at Rest’s face.
"Ah... Ulula?"
"Ahem."
As Ulula lapsed into silence and Rest struggled to find his next words, the butler standing beside her let out a loud, pointed cough.
"Yes...?"
"Ahem, ahem! Ahe-he-hem!"
When Rest turned to look, the butler repeated the performance. The look the man gave him was incredibly pointed, as if he were being physically prodded to do something.
"Cough, cough."
"A-hem."
"Mmm, nngh..."
The butler wasn't the only one acting strangely. The other maids and servants followed suit, coughing or clearing their throats to exert a wave of silent, expectant pressure on him.
(It’s not like a cold is going around the Margrave Lavender Territory... is it?)
At last, he realized exactly what they were demanding. Rest took a shallow breath and faced Ulula once more.
"Um... Ulula?"
"Ulula."
"Right, Ulula..."
"Mm."
"Ah, well... you look good. I think you're very cute today—well, I mean, you're always cute, but you look especially great today."
"............"
It was a clumsy, stumbling compliment. Rest felt incredibly nervous; while he might have grown used to praising Viola or Primula, he had never said anything like this to Ulula before.
"Sigh..."
Collective sighs leaked from the surrounding staff at his less-than-poetic delivery.
(My bad! It’s not like I can just spout flowery lines on command...!)
He grumbled in his head, but a moment later, he was hit by a devastating follow-up attack.
"Cute... I'm happy."
"Eek...!"
Ulula had broken into a radiant, soul-stirring smile. To have such a stunning beauty smile at him from inches away was overwhelming. Precisely because she was usually so expressionless, that single smile possessed absolute destructive power.
(The sudden smile of a quiet beauty... that lethality is off the charts...!)
"Well, that's a passing grade, I suppose."
"Just barely. But our lady’s smile makes it worth it."
"He may be a Count, but he's still a teenage boy. This is probably the best we can expect."
"I find it rather endearing, actually. I heard he had multiple fiancées, but he's surprisingly refreshing and innocent."
The servants nearby were whispering amongst themselves. Rest wanted to snap at them for evaluating a guest so brazenly, but since the feedback was technically positive, he decided it was best to let it slide.
"We have tea prepared in the other room. Please, this way."
"Let's go."
The butler guided him further into the mansion, and Ulula beckoned him along in high spirits.
"The Margrave Lavender House... it's a lot more pleasant than I expected."
He wondered what he had been so tense about. As Rest felt the strength leave his shoulders, he caught himself and mentally shook his head, tightening his nerves once more.