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Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast Volume 3 Chapter 4 Part 2

Somehow Edinburgh managed to come up with a safe enough answer here, and she felt greatly relieved by that fact.

To be honest, Edinburgh really wanted to participate in a ball, even if it was going to be just this once.

But as it was expected, there was no way that she could say such a thing out loud, especially when she was holding the position of the Acting Head Maid right about now. If she won’t be able to perform her duties well, her failure is going to be taken as the collective performance of all the members of the Maid Corps, and the damages that would be done to the formation this way would have been irreversible.

It would have been nice if she could have been able to say things in a little bit more proper and concise way, but anyways! Edinburgh thought that she still deserved words of praise for doing such a good job in both expressing her gratitude for being taken into account and politely declining the offer for not being qualified enough to attend such a grand event.

—— Uuuhhh…… But still, I would very much like to go…… To the ball, that is……

Edinburgh, with his head still bowed down, was almost about to burst into tears.

「Hmm, is that so? Well, if you say that, there is no helping it really, but I do not think that things like qualifications really matter for gatherings like that. So if possible, I would really like to see the Maids attending the ball.」

While staying wide-eyed, Le Triomphant stared at the meat dish that she was currently consuming.

「Especially if you can make such an elegant and exquisite dish. Anyone capable of doing that is the most welcome.」

Elizabeth, while still holding onto her teacup, looked towards Edinburgh.

「She’s right, you know? Edi, why are you trying to be so modest? How about you stop holding back for once?」

But lo and behold, Elizabeth commenced another irregular attack just now.

「H-Huh!? Oh my.」

For reasons whatever, just now the ball has been kicked back into Edinburgh’s court, forcing her to struggle to find the right words once again.

It would seem that this situation would continue to repeat itself over and over again until Edinburgh would agree, but she should have properly refused because it was impossible for her, a mere maid, to appear at the grandiose event such as a ball, but for some reason, she got a reaction like she made a mistake in dealing with those two people in particular.

Edinburgh lifted her glasses up on her nose and asked them, looking at the two of them really intently.

「Ah, umm…… Is it really okay for someone like us to join the guests at an event like that? After all ,we are mere maids, I hope that you realize that? And that is going to be a ball.」

「And I keep on telling you that this is perfectly fine. Say, you have been awfully defensive about this idea for a while now, haven’t you, Edi?」

Elizabeth says so with a really suspicious expression painted all over her face.

「I-I mean, it’s just that the ball is a little bit……」

At that moment, in Edinburgh’s mind, the spectacle of the ball flashed brightly, as if she was right there this instant.

The ideal scene that she always dreamed of. Gracefully moving across the dancefloor with her esteemed partner. The aesthetic music playing from the sidelines. Glittering lighting illuminating the guests moving in the spotlight ——

Just being able to imagine herself dancing elegantly under a gorgeous chandelier in a beautiful shining dress was more than enough for Edinburgh’s face to assume the fascinated and mellow expression.

Of course, Edinburgh was not the only one who just so happened to overhear the conversation between Elizabeth and Le Triomphant.

Suffolk, who was also serving at the banquet just now, began to move around restlessly, unable to hide the turmoil that was starting to boil deep down inside of her chest..

A little farther away, Sheffield exhaled long and hard in annoyance, and Sirius, who was standing guard at the front of the door leading into the Guest Room, did not seem to be bothered by what the two of them were talking about in the least.

「No, to be perfectly honest…… It’s like a dream to me……」

Edinburgh put her hands together in front of her chest, as she became more and more intoxicated by the flashy appearances of herself at the ball that just kept on emerging one after another inside of her mind.

Because of that, even though the dinner party continued as planned with nothing out of the ordinary happening, all of the waitress’s staff could not get themselves rid off of the somewhat exasperated mood.

* * *

「—— Alright then, on the weekend, I will be waiting for you at the ball venue.」

After the dinner party was over, Le Triomphant came outside the Royal Navy’s Dormitory and slowly bowed her head to Elisabeth and the others who were present.

「Please allow me to take you back home. But since it’s already pretty dark, please watch your step on our way.」

「Thank you very much, Sirius.」

Guided by Sirius, Le Triomphant and the other shipgirls from Iris Libre left the dorm’s premises, and Elizabeth entered the dormitory together with Warspite when their guests could no longer be seen.

After letting out a long and big yawn, Elizabeth looked back at Edinburgh.

「So, Edi. Good luck at the ball and all that. I hope that you will manage to learn how to dance properly before that time.」

「Y-Yes, Your Highness!」

Looking straight ahead, Elizabeth started to walk away slowly.

「Waaah…… I’m getting really sleepy already. Let’s just call it a day, Warspite.」

「Yes, Your Majesty.」

After seeing Elizabeth and Warspite go up the stairs to their room, Edinburgh went back to cleaning up after the dinner party.

「——That’s right, please put the tableware together right here.」

When she returned to the Guest Room, she heard the voice of Belfast from the inside.

Edinburgh rushed into the room where she spotted Belfast who apparently came back from the Dining Room after making sure that everything was proceeding as planned there. And when she spotted Belfast, she approached her with a sweet but tired voice.

「Oh Bel~……Listen to me here, it’s been so hard~……」

Edinburgh thought that Belfast would let herself be hugged and so she launched right at her with her arms outstretched wide, but……

「What is it all of a sudden, Nee-san?」

Belfast dodged Edinburgh’s body with a true grace and skill as she tried to hug her tightly.

It was a really nice escape. Edinburgh, who was overwhelmed by her momentum and was unable to stop herself, responded by stepping on the spot and turning around to face her little sister.

「Wait! This is a moment where I should get properly spoiled for doing a good job despite things being so hard!」

「Must I remind you that we are still technically at work now, Nee-san?」

Belfast said while letting out a sigh and shaking her head in apparent disbelief.

「Now, it would be really helpful if you could tell me what exactly happened after I was gone, Nee-san. With as much details as you can give me, if you’d be so kind.」

「Well, you see, the thing is, while you were away to the Dining Room, Bel, Le Triomphant-san did ——」

Edinburgh then began to recall everything that transpired after Belfast left the Guest Room, all the way to the situation where it was decided that they would take part in the ball..

「—— And that is why we are going to participate in that ball next week.」

「Hmm, I see. But still, that’s actually a little bit troublesome, I won’t lie.」

Belfast then put her hand on her chin as if she was thinking about something on the spot.

「What’s wrong? Is it really a matter that requires you to be thinking about it so deeply like that?」

When Edinburgh wondered about that matter and asked in earnest, Belfast immediately looked up.

「Yes, well…… First of all, we do not know the detailed manners protocol and etiquette that is required at the ball.」

「I-Is that so…… B-But if you go to the Academy’s library, I am sure that you will find books out there that describe those things in great detail, so if we are to study that matter in advance, we should be perfectly fine.」

「I’m afraid that it’s not that simple, Nee-san. It would indeed be fine as long as only one person had to remember all that information. However, in this case it is something that everyone participating has to remember at all times.」

「Ugh, yes, you are right. I forgot about that part.」