Chapter 45 - Hidden Gem

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  Her outward appearance was that of a calm and confident young lady, but her insides were in turmoil.
It's been half a year since she last saw the boy, and Sylvia was doing all she could to hide how nervous she really is. Everything she learned this past year and a half was all for situations like this.

'Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot.' She chanted in her mind, remembering her lessons. Catching the boy's cool and calm gaze, she almost blushed but steeled herself and continued walking to stand behind her father alongside her older sister.

"You called father?" Her sister Jillian asked.

"Yes. Come greet our guests. You too, Sylvia."

"Good afternoon Mr. Paltos, thank you for visiting on your day off. Is this your son?" Jillian inquired pleasantly.

"Yes, Miss Jillian. This is Kaidus. I don't believe you two have met." The boy's father replied with a grin.

"I am Jillian Varath. Nice to meet you Kaidus." her sister made a curt bow and greeted the boy.

"Kaidus Paltos. Sorry for the intrusion." Kaidus replied warmly.

"Hello Mr. Paltos. Hello Kaidus." Sylvia greeted the two after her sister, giving a practiced curtsy.

"Good afternoon Sylvia".
"Hi Sylvia." The boy replied, staring at her as if peering right through her facade.

'What do I do?' She thought to herself.
Ever since the outing outside of Ferrent half a year ago, she had worked tirelessly and diligently. Yet, everything she'd learned in all her lessons were crumbling to the ground.
Learning is one thing, but putting it into practice was another altogether.
She was always a timid girl, and in front of the boy, she couldn't help but want revert back to her old self and hide behind her mother.
Managing to not make a fool out of herself, Sylvia silently took a seat next to her mother.

"Sylvia, why don't you give Kaidus a tour of the house?" as if sensing her internal discord, her mother threw her a lifeline before she situated herself.

"Ah, that's a good idea. This is Kaidus' first time visiting like this." Her father added.

"Really? If that's the case, I can show him around." Her brother Larant volunteered with a teething grin.

"Someone closer to his age should do that. Let Sylvia do it." Her father objected, smiling at her. "Why don't you show him the grounds and the library?"

"Down that hall is the servants' quarters," Sylvia pointed down a corridor, "and through that door there is the kitchen and the storerooms."

Adhering to her mother and father's words, she was giving Kaidus a tour of the house. Although not her first time at the Varath manor, Anise also joined them. The three of them were walking side by side.
Standing next to him, seeing how he acts towards his younger sister, seeing his face up close, Sylvia was starting to see how Kaidus is amongst his family.
Besides the first time she locked eyes with him, she had actively avoided looking him in the eyes, opting to only sneak in glimpses here and there as they made their way around the manor.

"Shylvia are we going outshide?" Anise asked as they walked towards the back of the Manor. The younger girl was holding onto her brother's hand—Kaidus' hand.

Sylvia had shown them the great hall, the guestrooms, the four washrooms on the first floor, the guard house, the courtyard where the guards train, and the various rooms where she and Jillian took lessons. Having toured most of the first floor already, all that was left was the second floor, and the backyard.

"We've seen most of the first floor. Do you want to go see father's library?" She asked, playing the dutiful host.

"Look Kai! Flowersh!" Anise exclaimed excitedly, looking outside through the back windows.

"Would it be alright if we go to the backyard?" The boy responded kindly, patting his sister's head.
Seeing the excitement on the younger girl's face. She could see that his answer was for Anise.

There was an air of warmth and care around him today unlike the other times she'd seen him. He made sure to slow down his pace and allowed Anise to lead him, he patiently walked beside Anise's short strides allowing her to choose where to go. He was even smiling and his usual indifferent face was nowhere to be seen.

*Ba-bump*. A different emotion: one beyond the feelings of 'I want him to notice me' bloomed inside her. She recalled something from that evening after a day outside of Ferrent.

--
-The beginning of Hiso, 4 turns ago-

She was asking for her mother's continued help in the lessons.
She apologized for her lackluster performance in her lessons, and explained that she would work hard on them from now on. Promising to do her best.

"Something happened earlier didn't it? Why didn't you tell me at dinner?" Her mother asked. It was the night after they'd returned from outside of Ferrent.

"Promise you won't laugh?"

"I promise." Her mother caressed her cheeks tenderly, giving her an earnest smile.

"I... I think I know why you and daddy want me to m-marry K-Kaidus." she answered sheepishly, trying to hide her embarrassment. Her mother's smile widened at her words.

"Honey..." She was embraced. "I would never laugh at you for something like that." Her mother told her.
After the hug, she was examined closely. There was a glimmer in her mother's sharp eyes, and she knew her mother saw her secret. "Did my little girl already fall in love?" her mom asked with a playful grin.

"Fall in Love?"

"Yes darling, with the Paltos boy?" the grin broadened.

She was unsure what it meant. "Like I love you, and father, sister Jillian, brother Larant, and everyone who lives here with us?" she replied quizzically.

"That is different. That's familial love."

"Different?"

Her mother thought for a moment, then spoke up. "Do you like Kaidus?"

"I..." Sylvia lowered her head in shame.

"Do you like Kaidus a lot?"

The boy's name and face ran through her mind, and her face lit up like a torch.

"Hehehe." Reanne giggled, seeing the adorable reaction.

"You said you wouldn't laugh..." She sulkily rebuked her mother.

"Sorry dear. I laughed because of how cute you are right now, not because you like someone." Her mother's warm smile returned. "It's okay, you don't need to know what love is right now. One day you'll understand."
--

"Sylvia?" Kaidus was looking at her.

"Y-yes?" she quickly replied, trying to remember what was happening before she relapsed into her memories.

"Can we go to the backyard?" Kaidus asked, still holding onto Anise.

"Oh, sorry. Yes we can." She quickly walked towards the backdoor to conceal her embarrassment. Her mother's words replayed in her mind, and she could feel her strong front being whittled away little by little.



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