[A Whisper of Sweetness] ā Nero Turner SSR Card Story Translation
Ft. Akira, Figaro, Mention of Bradley
Charmed by the Heartthrob - Chapter 1
Once every seven years, in a castle where the stars cross, a masquerade ball to enjoy flirtatious romance is held. The party is known as the "Ball of Princess Lyra". Having finished our investigation there, weāve decided to rejoin the partyā¦
Figaro: I keep getting approached when I'm in the hall, so I thought the garden might be a bit better.
Akira: The thickets here have a unique atmosphere, probably because it's known as "a place for lovers to deepen their bond." Besides us, everyone here is a couple, so it feels like we've stumbled into a super famous dating spotā¦
Figaro: Maybe we should act a little closer than usual so we donāt stand out. Hmm? Is thatā¦
As if he noticed something, Figaro stares, focusing on a single spot. Following his gaze, what I saw wasā¦
Akira: (Nero! And heās with a womanā¦)
Figaro: This way, Master Sage.
Figaro gently urged me, and we hid ourselves in the bushes.
Figaro: Looks like heās really into it.
Akira: Y-Yes, he is. And itāsā¦ what should I say...
The woman in the jet-black dress had her arm wrapped around Neroās, leaning on him with a seductive charm. As for Nero, he showed no signs of being flustered, holding the woman by her waist and accepting her advances as if it were a matter of course.
Akira: (The atmosphere is so matureā¦!)
Nero: ā¦Youāve got unusual taste, yāknow. This is the Ball of Princess Lyra. You could find a dozen men more charming than me without even tryinā.
Lady in the Jet-Black Dress: I like you, though. I saw you in the hall and it was love at first sight, so I followed you all the way out here. Tell me, what kind of person do you like? What do I have to do to make you look at me?
The woman's beautiful hand touches Nero's cheek, as if pleading for his attention.
Akira: (W-woahā¦! Is it okay for me to be watching this? And is it even polite to be peeping from the bushes like this!?)
Figaro: ā¦I see. Come here, Master Sage.
Figaro took my hand and started heading toward Nero.
Nero: Donāt get me wrong. Having someone come on strong like you aināt a bad thing. It's just that Iāmā¦
Figaro: ā¦into this kid. I brought her for you.
Lady in the Jet-Black Dress: ā¦
Next to Nero, who was wide-eyed, the woman stared intently at me. As I stood there, unable to continue the charade, she let out a little chuckle and shrugged her shoulders.
Lady in the Jet-Black Dress: ā¦Sheās certainly a completely different type from me. I surrender. Just as you said, I'll go look for someone more suitable.
Charmed by the Heartthrob - Chapter 2
After the three of us see the woman off, I turn back to Nero.
Akira: Umā¦ Nero. Iām sorry for spying on you.
Nero: Nah, donāt apologize. If anything, I should be the one saying sorry for dragging you both into that awkward mess.
Nero: Stillā¦ you showing up saved me. Thanks.
Figaro: Don't mention it. But I was wondering where you were in the castleā¦ and here you are, in a place like this?
Nero: I wasnāt tryinā to be shady! You saw me, I was turning her down as politely as I could.
Nero shakes his head, as if trying to brush off Figaro's knowing gaze, then looks toward the castle with a sigh.
Nero: ā¦I was keepin' to the edges at first. But people kept strikin' up conversations. Thought if I slipped into the garden, no one would bother me and I could finally relax. Guess my prediction was off. Got stopped before I could hide.
Figaro: Well, that's how it goes. There are a lot of forward young ladies here. Besides, you seem pretty used to dealing with women.
Akira: You're right. Nero, you seemed a little more like a bad boy than usual when you were talking to that woman. It was a refreshing changeā¦
Akira: Ah, but I didn't mean that in a bad wayā¦! I think Cain and Rustica are also used to escorting women, but with you, it feels a bit wilderā¦
Akira: Yes, exactly! In any case, it felt like you'd be really popular!
Nero: Ehā¦ I've just lived a long time, so I've had my share of conversations with ladies. I used to be in customer service, after allā¦
Just as Nero tries to make an excuse, we hear whispering voices and feel their gazes on us.
Lady in the Purple Dress: What's the relationship between those threeā¦?
Young Man with Brown Hair: Lovers and friendsā¦? But in the garden of this Star-Crossing Castleā¦?
Akira: (Oh noā¦! It must look a little weird for the three of us to be here!)
More and more curious eyes turn toward us. As I shrank back, my shoulders were suddenly grabbed from both sides at the same time.
Figaro: Hey, let go of them.
Nero: Canāt grant that request. Sorry, but I've got no intention of givin' in to you. I was the one who fell for Akira first.
Akira: (Huh, what is this!?)
Akira: Whatās with you two, all of a suddenā¦!
Young Man with Black Hair: Ohh. So they're both fighting over the person they've fallen for.
Lady in the Pink Dress: How passionate. I'm jealousā¦
Akira: (Are they pretending to fight over me so that it doesn't look weird for the three of us to be togetherā¦!?)
The two exchanged a quick glance, then took my hands, turned their backs to the castle, and looked at me.
Figaro: Listen, Master Sage.
Figaro, Nero: Will you dance with me at the Star-Crossing Castle?
Charmed by the Heartthrob - Chapter 3
And so, with the two of them escorting me, we successfully reached the hall.
Figaro: That's a relief. It looks like we didn't raise any suspicions.
Nero: Phewā¦ Guess I won't be able to relax as long as I'm in this castle.
Akira: Nero, Figaro. Thank you. Thanks to both of you, we were able to get back to the castle naturally.
Nero: No, I'm sorry for acting so familiar with you, even if it was just to get out of that situation.
Akira: Not at all! It was a little heart-pounding, but it was fun. It felt like I was being charmed by both of you.
Nero: Hahaā¦ ā¦If I was really tryinā to charm you, I'd want to be more earnest about it.
Figaro: Right. I would probably act more like a gentle, sincere young man. But Nero, you didn't hesitate at all to pull Master Sage's shoulder. You could've tempted me, you know.
Nero: Youāre one to talk. You grabbed Sage first.
Figaro: Ahaha, you caught me. But it was my own way of being considerate. I thought that if I suddenly touched your shoulder, I might surprise you. Wizards from the Eastern Country are delicate, you know.
Nero: Thanks for the consideration.
They exchange witty banter effortlessly. I can feel enchanted gazes on them from a distance. Nero, trying to escape their stares, turns back to me.
Nero: Anyway, maybe bringinā you young folks here wasnāt the best idea.? Itās a lot more focused on romance than I expected.
Akira: It's a little intense, but I'm enjoying being somewhere with an atmosphere that's so different from what I'm used to. And even though it was by chance, I got to see a side of you that I normally don't!
Nero: Ahā¦ I'd rather you forget about that part.
Figaro: Oh, now that you mention it, I interrupted you and didn't get to hear your answer. What kind of person are you actually into, Nero?
Nero: Cāmonā¦ do we really gotta talk about this now
Figaro: Well, I'm sure Master Sage is curious, too.
Akira: I meanā¦ I can't say I'm not curious, but I don't want to force you to answerā¦
Nero: Well, if I have to sayā¦ someone who eats my food deliciously, maybe?
Figaro: See? What I said wasn't so wrong after all. Neroās type is the Master Sage.
Nero: Haha, maybe you're right. Sage, you always eat my food with such a good appetite.
Nero answers casually, as if just making small talk. There's no shyness or awkwardness in his response. It's an incredibly smooth counter to Figaro's teasing.
Akira: ā¦Nero, you really do seem like you'd be popular.
The Secret of the Star-Meeting Night - Card Episode
Akira: The Ball of Princess Lyra was very stimulating. Just as they say, it really is a "place for playful love."
Nero: I know. Everyone was so forward, I couldn't even relax.
Akira: Speaking of which, I saw you talking to a woman at a different time, too, when you weren't with Figaroā¦
Nero: Huhā¦ When? The young lady in the lace gloves? Or the one with her hair in a ponytail?
Akira: (He has so many in mind!?)
Akira: I thinkā¦ she was wearing a yellow dressā¦
Nero: Ah, that person. ā¦I see. So you saw that, too.
Akira: ā¦What were you two talking about, if I may ask?
Nero: Ahā¦ Well, it was the kind of conversation you'd expect at the Ball of Princess Lyra, a place for meetings and love. Something like, "Hey there, handsome, how about we skip the party and make a little secret of our own?"
Akira: Wow, so matureā¦! That's a great pickup line, and it really fits the party. But in the end, you two parted ways quickly, right?
Nero: Right, right. So, I didn't do anything to feel guiltyā¦ And as for what else we talked about, that's a secret between me and that young lady.
"Huhā¦ So the reason the Weaver and the Cowherd had to be separated was because they fell in love? It feels amazing to be so devoted to someoneā¦ If it were me, I think I'd be scared, feeling like both I and my partner would be distorted by it. Have you ever been in love like that, Master Sage?"
