An Extra’s Rise in an Eroge

Her blush deepened, her hand brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "You've changed, Arthur. You used to be so… reserved. Now you're—"

"Charming?" I teased, leaning on the railing beside her.

"Bold," she corrected with a soft laugh, though the word came out almost like a compliment. "It's not a bad thing."

The sudden intimacy between us made the world seem to pause, and for a brief moment, nothing else existed. Alicia's presence was magnetic, her every shy glance and gentle smile drawing me closer like a moth to a flame.

The soft breeze ruffled her hair, catching a stray lock that danced across her face. Without thinking, I reached out, tucking it behind her ear. My fingers brushed against her skin, and she froze, her wide eyes meeting mine.

"Arthur…" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rustling leaves in the garden below.

"I mean it, Alicia," I said softly, my hand lingering on her cheek. "You're stunning."

Her blush deepened, spreading across her cheeks like a rosy sunrise. She looked away, flustered, but she didn't move away from me. Instead, she gripped the edge of the balustrade tightly, as if steadying herself against the storm of emotions building between us.

"You're surprisingly smooth," she muttered, her voice trembling but laced with a playful undertone. "Where did this confidence come from?"

I chuckled, leaning slightly closer. "Maybe I just can't hold back anymore."

Her breath hitched, and she turned back to face me, her gaze searching mine as though trying to decipher my intentions. The vulnerability in her eyes was disarming, yet there was something else—a spark of excitement, of anticipation.

"I… I don't know what to say," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You don't have to say anything." I stepped closer, leaving only a breath of space between us. My hand slid from her cheek to her shoulder, resting lightly as if giving her the chance to pull away if she wanted.

She didn't.

Instead, Alicia tilted her head slightly, her lips parting as her eyes fluttered shut. The moonlight wrapped around her like a silvery veil, illuminating her delicate features and making her seem almost ethereal.

I leaned in, my heart pounding in my chest as her warmth drew me closer. Her scent—soft and floral, like the roses blooming in the garden below—filled my senses. Time seemed to slow, the world fading into the background as I focused entirely on her.

Her fingers brushed against mine on the railing, hesitant at first, then intertwining with a gentle squeeze. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through me, and I felt a wave of courage surge forward.

"Alicia…" I murmured, my voice barely audible.

Her lips trembled slightly, her face tilting just a bit more. The soft glow of the moonlight reflected in her eyes for the briefest moment before they closed completely.

And then, just as our lips were about to meet—

"Arthur! Alicia! Dinner's ready!" Cedric's voice rang out, startlingly loud against the serene quiet of the gardens.

We both froze, the spell between us shattered. Alicia's eyes snapped open, and she pulled back slightly, her face turning scarlet. I exhaled sharply, trying to mask my frustration as I glanced toward the source of the interruption.

Cedric, utterly unaware of the moment he'd just ruined, strode onto the balcony, his cheerful expression faltering as he took in the scene. His gaze flickered between Alicia and me, his brows furrowing in confusion before widening in dawning realization.

"Oh…" He paused, his eyes darting nervously. "Oh! I—I didn't mean to… uh…" His voice trailed off, and his face turned beet red.

Alicia groaned audibly, burying her face in her hands. "Cedric…"

"I—I'm so sorry!" Cedric stammered, backing up toward the doorway. "I didn't know—I just—Dinner! It's ready! That's all! Sorry!"

He practically tripped over his own feet in his haste to retreat, leaving us alone once again.

For a moment, silence reigned. Alicia let out a long, exasperated sigh before turning to me, her cheeks still flaming. "I'm going to kill him," she muttered, her voice muffled by her hands.

I couldn't help but laugh, though I tried to keep it soft. "Well, at least he's enthusiastic about dinner?"

She peeked at me through her fingers, her embarrassment clear. "You're finding this funny, aren't you?"

"Maybe a little," I teased, stepping closer again. "But… we were interrupted, not stopped. There's always next time."

"That's not the point!" she huffed, turning away in frustration. "I—ugh! Let's go to dinner before this gets any worse."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

I reached out, gently taking her hand. She stopped, looking back at me with wide eyes.

"Alicia," I said softly, my voice carrying the sincerity I felt. "For what it's worth, the moment was perfect… even if it didn't end the way we expected."

Her lips parted, and for a second, she looked like she might say something. Instead, she just nodded, her cheeks still faintly pink.

The dining room was alive with conversation when we arrived. The large oak table was set with an array of dishes that smelled so good they could make anyone forget their troubles. Lily, Lira, Lyra, and Kaela were already seated, chatting with Leonard, who had joined at Alicia's insistence.

Cedric, however, was noticeably quieter. He glanced up as we entered, his gaze flickering nervously between Alicia and me.

Alicia didn't miss it. She leveled him with a glare so sharp it could have pierced armor.

Cedric winced, visibly shrinking in his seat. "I'm… really sorry," he muttered, barely audible.

Alicia's eyes narrowed further, her annoyance clear.

"It's fine," I interjected quickly, attempting to defuse the situation. "Let's just eat, shall we?"

Alicia huffed, but she let it go—for now.

Dinner began, and the tension eased as the conversation turned lively. Leonard regaled us with tales of his younger years, recounting amusing anecdotes about his time serving the Raven family. Even Cedric, despite his earlier blunder, couldn't help but chuckle at some of the stories.

"I remember when young Alicia decided to 'help' in the kitchen one morning," Leonard began with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"Grandpa Leo, don't you dare—" Alicia warned, her face turning red for an entirely different reason.

"She insisted on baking a cake for her father's birthday," Leonard continued, undeterred. "The entire kitchen staff was banned from entering, and by the time she was done, the kitchen looked like a battlefield. Flour everywhere, eggshells in the batter—"

"Okay, that's enough!" Alicia exclaimed, burying her face in her hands as the rest of us burst into laughter.

The lighthearted atmosphere carried through the rest of the meal, the earlier awkwardness all but forgotten. By the time dessert was served—a decadent chocolate mousse—Alicia had even forgiven Cedric, though she still shot him a pointed look every now and then.

After dinner, Leonard rose, thanking everyone for the wonderful company before excusing himself to attend to some late-night duties. The rest of us began to retire for the night, the maids guiding each guest to their assigned rooms.

Alicia walked beside me as we made our way down the hallway. Her earlier embarrassment had faded, replaced by a soft, contented smile.

"Thank you, Arthur," she said quietly.

"For what?"

"For… being here," she replied, her gaze fixed ahead. "Today was nice. Even with Cedric's… interruption."

I chuckled. "It was. And hey, the night's still young. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?"

She glanced at me, her expression unreadable for a moment before she smiled. "Goodnight, Arthur."

"Goodnight, Alicia," I replied, watching as she disappeared into her room.

As I stepped into my own room, the memory of her under the moonlight lingered in my mind. The day had been eventful, to say the least, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.