《M A N I A》|| Various! Slight Yandere! Anime-Manhwa-Manga X OC

《VI》

"Eztia?"

The said young maid whirled around her body in an instant once the voice of someone she had known for two years called her name out. As her eyes landed on the person, a small smile started blooming on her lips, unknowingly she had caused the person's ears to redden.

"Ah, young Lord Edward." Eztia curtsied.

Edward was approaching the girl and when he was near her, he gripped her shoulders and made her straighten up from her curtsy posture. Green-emerald orbs stared at her rare colored ones, and Edward raised an eyebrow at her.

"Are you still not going to call me without formality?"

"I apologize, but I'm not, young Lord."

Edward, hearing she didn't mention his first name, exhaled a sigh and he pinched the bridge of his nose while he thought the girl just made it worse.

"There you go again, saying the words oh so formally. Come on, Eztia, it's been two years. We've been friends for two years! You used to not care about my title -- well, not really -- when we're playing back then. Anyways, are you not going to call me without the formality? It's my birthday today!"

He's too persistent…!

The jet black haired girl, who had been feeling nervous with regard to how Edward's personality seemed different than what she had seen or read and wondering what had caused him like that, felt her start perking up at the mention of his birthday. She blinked her eyes rapidly, and her mouth went agape, immediately forgetting what she was thinking earlier.

"Your birthday?!" Eztia slapped her hand to her mouth as she took a step backward and after three seconds passed, she cleared her throat awkwardly. "I apologize, young Lord. However… why did you never tell me when your birthday is?"

Once again, Edward let out a sigh. Seriously, this friend -- or crush -- of his was such a burden to his heart, but it was not as though he did not like it. Instead this trait of hers was one of the things from her he loved.

"I already told you. Yet since I have already known you for so long, I guess I can let it aside for now."

"Oh…"

Eztia stared at the blond haired boy, which he stared at her back, and she could feel tension start building up between them, an awkward one at that. Smacking her lips silently, although a little bit hesitant and ungainly, Eztia opened her arms and embraced the teen boy, patting his back.

"Um, Happy Birthday, Edward. I wish you the best that life has to offer. Things might not get easier as you grow older, but don’t let that get in your way. Hard work always pays off, y'know. And I know that you're going to be a great Earl in the future." Eztia uttered. "Also, you don't have to act your age. Live it up while you can, Edward."

Hearing all of those words come out of her mouth, Edward's eyes were broadening, and they gleamed in some emotion he couldn't describe as his heart unusually thumped faster than previous. Slowly, he raised his arms and wrapped them around her.

He didn't understand what happened to him all of a sudden, but he understood that he was currently experiencing a joyful feeling. Though there was another foreign feeling, he chose to not pay attention to it.