[Alterisa's POV]
After having a short conversation with Lu-nii and Alex, and getting to know a little more about Elyria, Yulia, and Cleo, the members of the student council had to leave to take care of some staff following the end of the Matriculation Ceremony.
But as they were about to go, Alexus seemed reluctant and looked at me hopefully.
"Hm? What's wrong, Alex?"
"...I'm sorry I can't accompany you for the rest of the day. I promise I will make time to guide your around the academy tomorrow."
"Oh, don't worry~ I'll be meeting up with Evelyn, Celine, Illya, Noir, and Valerie-chan anyway after this~ I'll look forward to sight seeing the academy tomorrow~"
I told him with a wide smile, hoping he wouldn't worry. But instead, his frown deepened and he became even more reluctant to leave.
"What's wrong? Go on, already. You can't leave everything to your friends."
"Hah... Alright. I'll see you soon, Risa."
"Mm~"
He picked up my hand and pressed her lips onto it a little longer than usual, earning him a whistle from Elyria and an ojou-sama giggle from Yulia.
I became a bit embarrassed, and I thought he would be too. But instead, he seemed proud and smiled at me ever so lovingly, before leaving.
U-Ughhh... That smile was dangerous... That made my heart skip a beat...
But as I was watching his back receding into the distance in a daze, he stopped and looked back with a sad expression, before turning back and continued walking.
...He's becoming more and more like a puppy. Even more than Fubuki...
Well~ Time to find the girls~
We promised to meet up at the entrance of the building after the Matriculation Ceremony ended, so I'll make my way there.
But as I headed to the entrance, one... two... and a crowd of students quickly began to surround me to greet me...
O-Oh no... Why are there so many people...?!
H-Hey, Alexus is that way!!! I can show you guys where he's going! Go bother him instead! You're here for him, right?!
Alexus! Lu-nii! Elyria-senpai! Someone, help meeeeee!!! I need to meet up with my angels!!!
"Ufufufu~ Everyone, please excuse me~ We have made a promise with Risa-sama~ May we please have her~?"
Just then, like a knight in shining armor or a Goddess who had descended upon hearing my plight... My Evelyn onee-sama appeared. And behind her, my other best friends also came one by one to my side.
"This way, Alterisa-sama~ Let us head to the garden where we'll be having tea~"
"Uhn, we've also called Anne, Maria, and Iris to come as well."
"Everything has been prepared, so let's go quickly, Risa-chan~"
"Uhn~! We've also prepared a lot of snacks!!!"
"Alright, everyone. Please make way!"
Evelyn, Illya, Noir, Valerie-chan, and Celine all came and helped me with the crowd, and we began making our way out of the building and to the courtyard/garden beside the right wing of the massive academy building.
"Everyone, thank you very much. I was caught by the students on my way exitting the building..."
"Fufufu~ Please don't worry, Risa-sama~ We've expected this outcome~"
Wow... As expected of Evelyn~ She's so smart~ To think she'd expect this~
"Uhn~! Don't worry, Risa-chan~"
"I knew you would be caught in a crowd. I've told you to ignore them multiple times. If you entertain them, they'll keep on coming!"
Celine huffed and crossed her arms under her breasts.
"Ehehehe... I'm sorry. I don't want to be impolite, especially on my first day here."
"Hah..."
"That is admirable, Alterisa-sama... But please be more careful, next time..."
"U-Uhn...!"
I nodded to Illya and Noir with a smile.
"Uhn~ I'll keep that in mind~"
--------------------------------X--------------------------------
We soon arrived in the garden and saw Anne, Maria-chan, Iris, and the girls' maids already finished with preparing our table.
It was a large, circular table covered by a pure-white table cloth with ornate laces along the edges, a beautiful bouquet of flowers as the centerpiece, and various desserts, cakes, cookies, a three-tiered cake tower stands with small sandwiches at the bottom, cupcakes at the middle, and small fruit cakes on top, and many more.
And beside the maids were three trolleys with beautiful golden decorations on the handle and trays with ceramic pots and cups of tea on top, more desserts at the center, and napkins, small plates, eating utensils, etc. at the bottom.
"Alterisa-sama."
Anne, Maria-chan, and Iris bowed and greeted me when I saw them. And Fubuki, who was curling around Iris's neck jumped off and run to me, and leaped into my arm.
I rubbed her chin as she nuzzled into my neck, and turned to the three.
"I apologize for making you wait, everyone~ Thank you for preparing this for us."
"It is our pleasure to serve you and your friends. Please take a seat. The tea has been prepared."
The other maids bowed their heads to my words before Anne gestured us to the table and we took a seat.
I sat with Evelyn and Noir to my left and right respectively, followed by Celine to Evelyn's left, Illya, and Valerie-chan.
And with Fubuki resting on my lap, we began chatting and enjoying the tea along with the multitude of desserts prepared by our maids.
--------------------------------X--------------------------------
[3rd Person POV]
As her mistress enjoyed her day with her friends, Iris stood guard a few distance away from her. She wasn't too close that she would disturb her conversation, and not too far either that she couldn't be her shield at a moment's notice. And as she did, she observed the surroundings keenly for any danger that might befall her mistress.
A lot of people had begun gathering and started their own tea party in the garden as well with their friends. Most were females as they were the ones that would partake in activities such as tea parties, but there were also some males who had joined the females in their table. And despite trying their best to hide it, Iris's keen eyes noticed them glancing in their direction from time to time.
Most were glances filled with curiosity, admiration, and awe, which were normal. Her lady had always attracted such gazes wherever she went. But, she still looked out for any signs of animosity, greed, and envy. While the first was quite rare, the latter two were fairly common, and perceiving it early would allow her to protect her mistress better.
After a while, she sensed a familiar presence coming towards her mistress and her group.
Iris turned towards it and saw the familiar figure of her instructor's son, Luke von Raeven, walking in the direction of her mistress.
Murmurs and shrieks erupted from the crowd that had formed around the little bubble where Alterisa and her friends were, and they too noticed his presence approaching them.
"Onii-sama!"
Noir was the one to perk up first as Luke approached them and greeted the girls with a formal bow.
"...Greetings. Please forgive me for disturbing you."
Alterisa looked at him in slight surprise.
W-What is he doing here? Isn't he supposed to be patrolling the school as part of security?!
In the game, Luke was supposed to be walking around the academy and meet the heroine "coincidentally" when she was lost before escorting her back to the female dorms! That's the first event they'll be having together!!! So why is he here?!
Evelyn smiled brightly at the jet-black haired swordsman.
"Greetings, Raeven-sama. To what do we owe you the pleasure~?"
Luke turned his usual cold, icy gaze to Evelyn. And despite her smile, he could sense the coldness in her words and translated her words to what she really meant.
"What the hell are you doing here, Raeven-sama~?"
Those who had not spent much time with her would never notice. But having been in acquaintance with her for years and met her frequently whenever he would come to a tea party Alterisa held, he had been on the receiving end of it numerous times before whenever he'd talk to, or even be in the presence of, Alterisa while she was there.
He had already become used to it and didn't think of it as much, so he replied with an excuse he had prepared.
"...I am here to see my sister and check on her well being."
"I see~ Please don't worry about Noir-sama, Raeven-sama~ We shall take care of her well~"
"So please go away~"
Luke felt like he could hear that last part left unsaid but implied from the way Evelyn was smiling. But he simply nodded and ignored her before turning his gaze towards Alterisa.
A wave of happiness filled his heart the moment he set his gaze upon her beautiful visage. A smile, that would've rarely found its way to his face, began to bloom on his countenance.
"Raeven-samaaaaaaaa~!!!!!!!!"
But just as he was about to say something, a loud, over exaggerated gasp followed by a loud voice shouting his name with a sickeningly sweet voice interrupted him.
His eyes immediately turned cold, his smile disappeared in an instant, as they all turned to the source of the voice to find a golden-haired female student with an obviously fake surprised expression and blushing cheeks.
Luke ignored her and turned his attention back towards Alterisa, and his eyes widened in shock when he saw her face gone slightly pale as she stared at the girl in shock.
W-Why is she here? Wait... She yelled out Luke's name... That means... She came to meet him!!!
Alterisa knew she would be far away from any events after Alexus' event this morning since she'll be having tea and snacks with the girls in the garden. But Luke came here to meet his little sister and brought the heroine with him!!!!
Gununununu... This damn siscon!!! He led the heroine right to me!!!
The heroine of Lovely Happenings, Aria, dashed towards the black-haired knight, ignoring the shocked and appalled gaze around her, and stopped right in front of him.
She raised her adorable, angelic face and looked up to him with upturned eyes and pouty lips.
"R-Raeven-sama! U-Uhm... I-I would like to introduce myself... M-My name is Aria... A-And upon seeing you, I-I just had to approach you! I-I'm sorry if I bother you!
It was the expression she had used to steal numerous men from other girls without fail in her hometown, and with her looks that she was extremely confident in, she knew she would be able to steal the heart of this hunk before her.
But while it may work on regular townsfolk and possibly a few low-ranking nobles, those around here were all high-ranking nobles who had always been surrounded by beautiful people and things and have learned and mastered the skill of looking through beautiful appearances and veils.
To Alterisa, Luke, and everyone around them, she was blatantly acting to be cute.
And despite her initial fear, Aria's supremely abhorrent acting skills replaced her fear with cringe.
W-Why is she acting like this...? Not even elementary schoolers would be fooled, you know? Even the first years who just joined my club could act better than this... And what are you even saying...?
Alterisa couldn't help but think if she was crazy. Who would just approach someone and disturb them mid conversation just so they could introduce themselves? Even in Japan, you'd be labeled rude and out of your mind. And this is high society! Even though it's a pure meritocracy-based academy, it's still super rude to interrupt people talking!!!
Evelyn, Celine, Illya, Noir, and even Valerie narrowed their eyes on her as they, and everyone else in the garden, shared Alterisa's thoughts.
Luke's frown deepened, his eyes looking at her as if saying "What in the world is she doing?"
He then simply turned his attention back towards Alterisa and ignore the golden-haired girl, acting as if she didn't exist."
"...I would like to ask you something."
Alterisa snapped out of her thoughts and turned towards Luke in a hurry.
"Eh? Yes...?"
"Will you join the first weapon combat training...?"
Alterisa tilted her head for a moment.
Weapon combat training... Ah, he must be talking about the combat training class.
"Of course. I wish to see the extent of my skills that had been trained by Roland-sama compared to my peers. Why do you ask?"
Luke nodded and his lips finally curled into a small smile once more.
"I will be helping in instructing that class. I look forward to seeing you then."
"Oh, I see. I look forward to seeing you then as well~ Perhaps, we could also spar, just like old times."
And of course, I'll win too, just like old times~
Alterisa beamed a smile at him. And to her surprise, he suddenly kneeled down before her and took her hand for a kiss, before rising up again.
"Mm. Then, please excuse me."
Luke bowed to the group and left, leaving Alterisa and all the girls around her, including the heroine stunned...
And before she could react, she heard a tongue click from her side and saw the heroine running away, hands clenched into a fist.
"Ufufufu~ What a strange thing that just happened~ Risa-sama, may I have your hand?"
"Eh? Ah, sure..."
Alterisa put her hands on Evelyn's, who began wiping the back of her hands with a napkin.
"Hm? Evelyn, I appreciate it, but my hand is still clean."
"Your hand unknowingly touched the cream of the cake you were eating, Risa-sama. There you go, all clean now~"
"Oh really? Thank you very much, Evelyn."
"Fufufu~ You are very welcome~"
"Geez! Evelyn-sama, that's unfair!"
Noir suddenly raised her voice and pouted. Although her voice wasn't as loud as the heroine's yell, it was still louder than her normal soft-speaking voice.
"Oh my~ What's unfair, Noir-sama~? I was just wiping Risa-sama's hand~"
"Geez... Just when Nii-san did something good..."
"Hm?"
Alterisa tilted her head and looked between Evelyn and Noir back and forth, confused.
But, seeing Noir pouting, she couldn't bare to see her be like this any longer and began to comfort her and entice her with sweets.
"Noir~ Please don't feel bad anymore. Here, I'll give you a taste of my cake~ Aaaaaaah~"
"Ah, A-Alterisa-sama~! T-Thank you very much~ Then, I shall humbly receive it~ Aaaaaaum~ Mmmh~!!! It's so delicious~"
"Fufu~ Isn't it~"
Yes~! She's smiling again~! As expected, a smile suits her best~!
"Ah! Risa-chan, I want to be fed by you too!"
"M-Me too... I-If possible..."
"H-Hmph! T-This is the public, you know? H-How could you act like this?"
A-Ah... That's right... I forgot for a moment that we're still in public...
Alterisa smiled helplessly and turned towards Illya and Valerie, who were looking at her expectantly.
"I'm sorry, Illya, Valerie-chan. But Celine is right. I'll do this next time when we are in a more private setting, okay?"
"Uuuhhh... Fine. Promise!"
"Y-Yes! I-I will be looking forward to it!"
AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please vote and comment your thoughts~!