"Alterisa-sama... Please mind your behavior... You've been like this since you finished breakfast..."
"I can't! I'm too excited!!! Illya is coming! I've only talked to her through letters since my debutante!"
"That doesn't mean you can pace around the couch! Please calm down and take a seat! Look, Maria has prepared tea for you to enjoy!"
"Ah, thank you, Maria-chan~!!"
"Hehehe~ You are very welcome, Alterisa-sama~"
Mm~ Maria-chan is cute as well today~
I plopped down to the couch, my dress fluttering around in the air for a moment, and began drinking the warm cup of tea that immediately calmed my tension down.
Fubuki, who was curling up on the table, also stood up and jumped into my lap before curling up again. I pet her head and fluffy ears and closed my eyes and swung my feet.
Hehehe~ What should we do, I wonder~
Would she like to read books with me~? Or maybe we can play around in the garden with Fubuki~
Ufufufu~ I'm super looking forward to it~
"Oh, princess? Are you waiting for your guest?"
Suddenly, a voice came from behind me. Judging by the way he called me... Well, the only one who would call me princess is...
"Dad? Ah, are you going to the castle?"
I saw dad and his chamberlain/assistant, Axel, dressed even more formally than usual and heading to the entrance.
"Yes we are. We're going to have a meeting with his majesty."
"Oh, okay~ Have a nice trip~!"
"Speaking of which, who are you going to be meeting today? I've only heard about someone from the Luminum household visiting our estate."
"Yes. I've invited the daughter of Marquis Luminum, Illya, to our estate to play~ We met during my debutante and we have been writing letters to each other since~"
"Ah, the daughter of Marquis Marvin. If I'm not mistaken, she is called the "Blooming Flower of Luminum", right?"
"Eh? Blooming Flower of Luminum?"
Is that Illya's nickname? I've never heard of it.
"Hm? Are you not aware of this nickname?"
"No?"
What? Don't look at me like a helpless child! You too, Axel!!!
"My lady..."
A-Anne as well?!?! What?! Am I the only one not in the know?!?!?!
M-Maria-chan, you don't know about this either, right?!
I turned to her and saw her beaming a beautiful smile.
That's a beautiful smile, indeed. But what does that mean?!?!?! Do you know?!?!?!
Dad giggled and patted my head.
U-Uughh.. Don't pity me please... It just makes me feel even more embarrassed...
"It is the nickname given to the first daughter of the Luminum household after news about her rapid improvement in etiquette, academic, and swordsmanship spread in the noble society. It was very sudden that it surprised many members of the nobility, as well as her own father apparently. In terms of how quickly she grew, she'd only be second to you, the crown prince, and the crown princess."
E-Eeeeeehhh?!?!?! I-Isn't that amazing?! She surprised the noble society!!! Why don't she tell me about this?!?!?!
She only told me how well her lessons have been going! Illya, this is not on the level of "well"!!! This is amazing!!
"That's amazing!"
"Yes it is. Moreover, seeing as she was still without a fiance, it seems that the Luminum household had been receiving plenty of marriage proposals for her daughter from various nobles."
"Woooww, that's very amazing... She never mention any of this in our letters..."
"I see. Perhaps she wanted to leave it as a surprise."
Suddenly, dad kneeled down in front of me and looked at me at eye level.
W-What? What's this all of a sudden?
"Alterisa. There is something I want to warn you about Marquis Luminum."
"Hm? What is it that?"
"Marquis Luminum is a good man with a good head on his shoulders. But, he is not without his flaws. As you may know from his daughter, he is focused on his work, enough to neglect his family. He isn't someone who will ignore the will of his daughter entirely, but just like everyone in the noble's society, he will still try to approach those with power greater than his, just like our household, and use his daughter to do so."
Oooohh... Right. No matter how innocent and cute Illya is, her father wouldn't be as innocent and cute. After all, he's a Marquis, a member of nobility. In that kind of world, he'll be eaten alive if he's cute and innocent.
"I don't mean you can't be friends with her. But keep this in mind. You inviting her to our estate will not cause a problem since our households are allies. But any further, then it will have its own repercussions, especially because she is a girl and your brother still doesn't have a fiance."
"Oh... I see. Then should I not let her meet Lu-nii?"
"...Maybe not this soon. If she meets and becomes close with him this soon, other nobles may think that your friend is trying to seduce Lucas into falling in love with her through you. She will not be seen in a good light."
"I see. I understand. Then would it be better if they meet after talks about her achievements die down?"
"Mm. That will be better. I will also speak with Marquis Marvin about this and tell him not to say anything about her visits here for now. I'm sure he will listen."
"Okay. Thank you, dad."
"You're welcome, dear."
He kissed me on my cheeks and stood back up.
"Then, I will be leaving now. See you later, princess."
"Uhn! Bye bye~"
Hah... Nobility is such a pain, isn't it~
--------------------------------X--------------------------------
"U-Uhm! A-A-Alterisa-sama! T-Thank you very much for your invitation!!!"
She's heeeeeeere!!!!!!!!! MY BABYYYYY!!!!!!!
Oooohh~! She looks different from when I first met her!
Illya was very timid and had a gloomy and melancholic aura around her that made her look like a tragic heroine when I first met her during my debutante.
But now, she had become so much more beautiful and bright!!! Her timid frown had turned into a shy but cute smile. Her beautiful long brown hair that was styled simply before was now tied into a beautiful crown braid! She doesn't exude a timid or melancholic aura anymore!
She... She became just as bright as the beautiful, powerful, and elegant swordswoman she would be in the future!!!
"Illya~ Welcome~! I'm so happy you came~!"
Ufufufu~ But of course, I shall keep my elegance as a duke's daughter~!
Hey Anne, please don't look that surprised. Maria-chan as well, why do you look worried?
I approached her and hugged her softly. After all, I didn't want to squish her cheeks into this flat chest of mine...
"I've missed you~ Hehehe~ You've become so cute since I last met you~"
"T-T-Thank you very much! I-I did my best... So I could stand by your side..."
"Hm? What was that?"
I didn't catch the last bit of it because I was preoccupied by the fragrant smile of her hair.
"N-Nothing! I-I've missed you as well, Alterisa-sama."
"Hehehe~ I'm glad we could finally meet~ Let's go to the parlor and have tea~ Anne and Maria-chan's tea is amazing~ I'm sure you'll like it!"
"Maria-chan...?"
"Ah, that's right! Let me introduce you to the new apprentice maid serving me! Maria-chan~!"
Maria elegantly stepped forward and lowered her head with a beautiful smile on her face and introduced herself.
"It is an honor to meet you. My name is Maria, an apprentice maid under the ducal house Lorya serving the young lady, Alterisa-sama. While I am still inexperienced, I shall serve you to the best of my capabilities as a servant of this household."
Umu umu~ Maria-chan is so cute-cool when she acts this formal~
Ufufufu~ Even Illya-chan and her maid-san over there are super shocked! They didn't expect such a small and cute child like her to be so elegant!
"Y-Yes! It is nice to meet you as well, Maria. My name is Illya von Luminum, eldest daughter of Marquis Luminum. I am pleased to be your acquaintance."
"Ufufufu~ Now then, let's go to the parlor! Oh, Maria-chan. Can you please call Iris to come to the parlor too? I would like to introduce her to Illya as well!"
"Of course, my lady. I shall call upon my sister."
"Thank you~ Then, let's go~"
"Very well. Please come this way."
With Anne in front leading us and Maria-chan's maid behind us, we walked side by side.
Ah~ What a bliss~ Walking together with such a cute girl side by side~ Her smile radiating so brightly, as bright as the sunshine shining through the high window glass behind her.
Mm! I would like to capture this scene and burn it into my brain for all eternity please! It's so beautiful~~!!!
There's nothing more beautiful than a beautiful girl's bright smile!
We quickly arrived at the parlor and Anne immediately went to serve us tea with several plates of sweets for us.
Illya's maid, a woman with neatly braided black hair, a few years older than Anne, also helped her with arranging the coffee table for us.
"Ufufufu~ Once again, I'm so happy to have finally met you again, Illya~ I've heard about how amazing you've become, more than you let me know from our letters!"
"Ehehehe, thank you very much for you praise, Alterisa-sama. I just didn't think of it as anything much compared to your achievements."
"That's nonsense! How could it be nothing much! I've heard about how quickly you finished your academic studies, etiquette lessons, and how amazing you've become in swordsmanship!"
"Y-You've even heard about them, h-how embarrassing!"
K-Kuuh! Please don't fidget shyly like that! I'll get the urge to push you down!!!
"You are so amazing, Illya~ Ufufufu~"
Illya shyly raised her head and looked at me. Her eyes moist and her cheeks blushing red.
"I... I've been working hard ever since our meeting. I wished to be someone you can proudly call your friend, Alterisa-sama. I know it might be presumptuous for me, b-but I simply wish to be able to walk by your side!"
I-Illya... K-Kuh! A-Are you trying to make me fall in love with you?!?!?!?!
I-I can't stand it anymore!!!!
I smiled back and hugged her tightly, just like the night of our first meeting.
"I'm happy you think that way. But I've considered you my friend ever since our first meeting. I have never thought otherwise, nor would I have not consider you a friend anymore if you didn't change. Illya is Illya, a strong, kind, and beautiful girl whose heart is as wide as the sea, warm as a hearth, and strong. She was back then, and now, even though you shine brighter than ever, you are still the kind and strong girl I met back then. I am very happy for you, Illya. You've finally found your confidence."
"Alterisa-sama..."
She lowered her head and nuzzled onto my flat chest and began sobbing.
Ah, I've made her cry... I'm sorry, Illya. But these are my true feelings.
Even if you didn't achieve those amazing things, I would still consider you my friend. Even if you didn't turn out to be the same Illya like in the game, I would still treat you like your own person, not a character in the game, and a friend. I wanted to convey this to you.
Hah... If only my chest was bigger, then I could comfort you with them. Mom's enormous chest is so comfortable that I'd sometimes fall asleep with my face down on her chest.
I shall have them soon in the future.
I continue to pat her back, stroking her hair softly, until her sobs finally quiet down.
"P-Please excuse my unsightly display..."
"It is fine, Illya~ Here, please use this to wipe your tears~"
I handed her my handkerchief.
"E-Eh? I-It is fine, Alterisa-sama! I wouldn't dare dirty your-"
"Ssshhh. If you don't do it yourself, then I'll do it, you know~?"
"U-Uuuuhh... T-Then, thank you very much... I shall wash it and return it to you as soon as possible."
"Hehehe~ Don't worry about it, okay~"
"T-That will not do!"
Illya looked at me with a pout and unyielding eyes.
Hm... She's quite the stubborn one isn't she.
"Hm~ Then, you can have it, Illya~ Think of it as a present from me~"
"E-Eh?! I-Is that fine?!"
"Ufufufu~ Of course, it is fine~ I will be happy if you would treasure it instead~"
It wasn't a gift from my family or anyone important. I think it was a gift that someone gave me for my debutante. I like it quite a bit since it is a wonderful white handkerchief with light blue embroideries around its edges, but if it would make Illya happy, then I don't mind parting with it.
She looked at it wide eyed for a moment, before a super bright smile bloomed on her face.
"T-T-Thank you very much! I shall treasure it preciously!!!"
"U-Uhn... You're welcome..."
O-Ooooh... She seemed to like it a lot. I'm glad.
Ah, now she's staring at it with such a loving gaze. Does she like this brand that much? I don't even know what brand it is since I'm not that into fashion. Is it a famous brand?
Does she just like the color scheme? Or does she like the design of it?
Hm... This might be a good reference for when I search for a birthday gift for her.
Umu. Let's remember this.
AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please vote and comment your thoughts~!