Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast Volume 4 Chapter 4 Part 7
「…… Good grief, I guess it cannot really be helped, huh?」
The one who appeared in front of Cygnet while saying that was Sheffield, the auditor of the Costume-Making Team.
Then, she made sure to apply a thick layer of foundation to Cygnet’s face while asking “So, how is it now?”, in order to deceive others and not let anyone else know what was up.
So far that trick seemed to have been working really good, for Cygnet was able to hide the fact that she was on the verge of tears from everyone else, both actors and the audience. But that was all coming to an end right now.
「Boo-san…… Higuh!」
Javelin unintentionally started to sob, moved by Cygnet’s emotional performance.
As for Emile Bertine, she sensed what was going on, and she hurriedly switched places with Javelin in order to give her some time to collect herself. So while Javelin was currently hidden behind Emile Bertin’s back, she started to wipe her teary eyes in a hurry.
After that, the story changed to a scene in which everyone returned to the Home Port after they successfully managed to eradicate the Elite Siren.
As for Boo-san, she was plunged into the depths of despair.
Even though she was trying her best to be as bright and cheerful in front of everyone else, she could not hide how depressed she really was.
She would always show a bright and warm smile when someone was calling out to her, but even though she was doing that, she was lacking her usual energy and vigor that she would always exhibit at all times.
And it was during one of such days at the Home Port that ——
「—— Please pardon the intrusion.」
An unfamiliar person appeared before Boo-san while she was in the kitchen.
「Yes? And who might you be……?」
Boo-san, who was played by Cygnet, asked the newcomer that question.
「You have been ordered to return from the Home Port to the main Royal Island by noon tomorrow at the latest.」.
Saying that, the silver-haired girl slowly bowed her head and got ready to leave at once.
「—— My name is Bel. See you later.」
「R-Right…… 」
Then, to the new character named “Bel” played by Belfast herself, Cygnet bowed her head in the same way she did.
「Oh, t-that’s right! I need to prepare some tea right away!」
Saying that, Cygnet got ready to prepare the tea.
As for Bel, instead of leaving, she sat in a chair in front of the small desk and watched Boo-san make tea while she acted to boil the water on top of the stove that was placed as a prop on top of the stage.
「Uhh, umm…… I’m pretty sure that it was somewhere in here…… Ouch!」
When Cygnet fell down and dropped the kettle that she was holding in her hands, the dispatcher from the Royal Islands named Bel stood up from her chair and gently told to Boo-san.
「No need to rush. We are not in a hurry here. Take as long as you need.」
「I…… I am really sorry for that……」
Cygnet picked up the kettle and she started to make preparations in order to brew the tea once again.
After Cygnet pretended to pour the tea into the cup, Bel slowly picked up the cup while sitting in the chair, and after a moment she said.
「……Did you know? You can tell what kind of person you are by the way you brew your tea.」
「……Huh?」
Bel brought the cup to her mouth, and she slowly returned the cup to the saucer on top of the table after a moment in front of the audience who were all watching the play develop in complete silence.
「Your brewed black tea has a very simple and gentle taste to it. I’m sure it’s a taste that I would be unable to reproduce even if I tried really hard.」
After saying that, Bel slowly raised her face and stares at Cygnet.
「However, I do also feel a little pinch of astringent somewhere in there as well.」
「Huh ——」
「Could it be, is there something that is troubling……」
At that moment, Bel stood up while being a little flustered in line with Cygnet’s performance that averted her eyes.
「I really do apologize…… I can see from your reaction how it is. It was rather insensitive of me to ask. Please forgive me.」
In response to Bel awkwardly trying to extend her hand towards Boo-san, Cygnet just shook her head.
After a short pause, she began to speak slowly.
「—— Y-You see, the truth is……」
At the side of the stage, both Edinburgh and Bel-chan were watching the two on stage with their mouths hanging wide open.
「I guess that this is Bel for you…… Acting in such a natural way that does not seem to be forced or artificial at all……」
「But, Edinburgh-nee-sama, I would hardly call that thing just now acting! It was more like Belfast-nee-sama was being her usual Head Maid self.」
「W-Well, when you put it that way, I guess that it certainly is true, but still……」
In fact, by changing the content of the stage play, it became necessary to create a new character who would have the role of announcing to Boo-san that she was bound to return to the main Royal Navy islands from the Home Port, so Belfast suddenly decided to step up and offered that she would take that role on.
At that moment, while also watching from the backstage, King George V crossed her arms at her chest, looking all impressed by the performance she was witnessing.
「But even so, I must say that I am really surprised. It’s the first time I get to see Belfast act on top of the stage like that, and it is a performance that is every bit as graceful and elegant as you might have expected it to be. She really does look like some high-ranking official who just got here from the main Royal Navy islands to deliver a message.」
「She has been a person who was full of grace and dignity in the first place, so it’s actually hardly even surprising. She must be more proud of being a Royal Maid than anyone else in here, for sure.」
That’s what Hood said as she was preparing herself to venture onto the stage once again.
「—— We are all ready in here as well!」
Then Newcastle came over and poked both Edinburgh and Bel-chan on the shoulders in a gentle manner.
「You two, you’d do best to go and change your clothes as well. Iris Libre girls prepared them specially for you once again.」
Seeing Newcastle’s smiling face, Edinburgh gave her a wry smile in return.
「But Newcastle-san…… Are you absolutely sure that we really want to do this?」
「Yes, I am absolutely sure. Besides, Her Majesty also seems to agree with me on that subject. She said that this will be a rather suitable ending for our story.」
While Newcastle and Edinburgh were still busy talking to one another, Bel-chan already decided to head towards the waiting room.
「Edinburgh-nee-sama, Edinburgh-nee-sama! Let us hurry! I never thought I would be able to wear a party dress once again so soon!」
「Goodness gracious, this girl…… But really now. We are not even going to pretend and hide our true motives here anymore, huh? I guess that’s yet another Episode to be added to our collection, huh?」
While mumbling like that, Edinburgh glanced at Belfast in the middle of the stage.
And then she simply smiled in a happy way, and followed right in Bel-chan’s footsteps.
* * *
Soon enough, the news about Boo-san having to go back to the main Royal Navy islands spread across the Home Port.
Feeling regretful about that order, everyone decided to hold a grand dinner party on the final night that Boo-san was supposed to spend in the Home Port.
At that moment, the stage went dark once again.
As the audience waited patiently, the lights soon turned on and the elegant music began to flow from the speakers.
As expected, the Royal Navy shipgirls were not able to prepare the necessary background in time, but by cleverly arranging the small items they have brought from the Dormitory with them, they somehow managed to create the atmosphere of an elegant tea party.
And all the cast members who have appeared on top of the stage thus far made an appearance while wearing formal party dresses.
「Now then, let us dance and be merry! Let’s have a whole lot of fun, so that we can get Boo-san a proper send off!」
As soon as Emile Bertin said that, she took Javelin in her arms and the two started to dance across the stage in a way that completely captivated the entire audience.
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