Chapter 106: Greeting Rounds

Belfriet Terra Refrain. Like Elliott and Jean, he is one of the capture targets in ‘Starlight Symphony’, the first game—that is, ‘1’. Belfriet is a frail, slender boy, one year senior to Estelle. The quiet senior and Estelle meet by chance, get to know each other, and deepen their relationship. Certainly, in the Belfriet route, a character named Melfries appears as his twin sister. However, she is not the villainess of the Belfriet route. Her role is to tease the relationship between her twin brother and Estelle, and she doesn’t get involved that deeply in the story. That’s why I couldn’t remember immediately…

“Lady Sakuraile? Is something wrong?” “Ah, no. I heard the Refrain family had twins, so I assumed they were same-sex twins. They are opposite-sex twins.” “Ah… Everyone says that, but it’s actually quite common. Boy-girl twins don’t have the same gender or face, so if seen separately, people don’t think they are twins, and they aren’t recognized as such much.”

Come to think of it, that’s true. Same-sex with same face stands out, but opposite-sex with faces not that identical would just end with ‘Are they siblings or relatives?’. Actually, in the game too, Belfriet has a somewhat feminine face, but not exactly identical to Melfries. Just normal sister-brother level.

“Lady Sakuraile, can this Mont Blanc be bought somewhere? I want to let my brother eat it too…” “Umm… I can give it to you, but I believe it won’t last two days. Taste will start changing tomorrow, and I think it will be uneatable the day after.”

If I recall, Refrain territory is quite a distance from the Royal Capital, right? Don’t think Mont Blanc will last that long. Feeding him rotten food and lowering Mont Blanc’s value, or causing Belfriet a stomachache is unintentional, so I have to refuse this.

“Then it’s fine! The small box imbued with [Storage Magic] at my house also has [Time Stop] imbued…”

Hee. Refrain house has a storage box with [Time Stop]. Heard boxes and bags imbued with [Storage Magic] are quite common, but ones imbued with [Time Stop] too are rare. If I recall, the storage bag Father has should have it. My pochette from His Majesty doesn’t have it. Refrain house’s storage box is apparently only about the size of a B5 cardboard box, but still, maybe can fit about six Mont Blancs? Once put in the box, shaking or dropping won’t affect the Mont Blancs inside. Should be able to transport to Refrain territory without problem.

“Then please take them home. Besides Mont Blanc, if there are sweets your brother seems to like, take those too.” “Thank you very much!”

For a moment wondered if getting involved indirectly with a capture target is okay, but don’t think something like Mont Blanc changes anything, so decided not to care much.

“Also, umm, this is presumptuous but, could I receive a few Heavenly God Tree Fruits… I want to give my brother good medicine.”

Timidly, Lady Melfries voices such a request apologetically. Aah~, Belfriet had a setting of being sickly in childhood and hardly playing outside. Said he never left the territory until entering the academy, and even after entering collapsed frequently… Heavenly God Tree Fruits… If plums (Ume), can make better medicine. No wonder Lady Melfries wants them. In the battle with that Dullahan Lord, the Heavenly God Tree on Spiritual Peak Eldora was completely knocked down. Heard that after I purified the area with [Holy Sword], seeds from the fruits sprouted, but takes years to grow. If from seed, five or six years, right? So currently, I’m the only one possessing Heavenly God Tree Fruits in this country. Accurately, ‘Salted Fruits’ though. Normally should deal properly through Father and others (above)… but Lady Melfries is thinking of her brother. Not trading hundreds, so maybe Father will forgive a little? I took out a pack of small amount of Umeboshi sold at the convenience store from the pochette and handed it to Lady Melfries.

“Then take this. I hand it to you in advance. Please go through Father for payment and subsequent purchases.” “Th-Thank you very much!”

Lady Melfries hugged the handed Umeboshi pack to her chest and stated thanks. Squeezing too hard might get plum vinegar on that nice dress… Waving to the grateful Lady Melfries, I left the table of Refrain Marquis House and its faction.

“Phew… Ritsu, next?” “Next is Arabesque Marquis House, table of ‘Traditionalist Faction’ young ladies.” “Ooh, came to that…”

‘Traditionalist Faction’. Faction opposing the ‘Royalist Faction’ Father belongs to. So-called ‘Treat nobles more favorably’ faction. This faction has many old nobles. Houses continuing since the founding of the country, only lineage is splendid. That’s why pride is high, and many genuinely think they are supporting this country. The head was the Ragtime Marquis House abolished the other day. Several houses were abolished by association, but Traditionalist Faction itself didn’t disappear. After Ragtime Marquis House disappeared, seemed some dispute over who takes leader seat within faction, but eventually Arabesque Marquis House settled in that seat.

“The young lady in the center of that table is Lady Donatella Now Arabesque. Second daughter of Arabesque Marquis House, seventeen years of age. Seems debutante is not yet done.”

Seventeen, normally should have debuted already, right? Not debuted in society. That’s why she’s here. Social debut gets delayed variously depending on house circumstances. If too late, gets said ‘That house’s child isn’t educated enough to put out in society’, so debutante is held around eighteen at latest. So this Lady Donatella isn’t ‘too late’. Though ‘late’. Is there some family circumstance, or problem with herself? Debutante is, so to speak, presentation to noble society. Coming of age ceremony informing surroundings the daughter became independent as an adult. Once in a lifetime thing, so naturally the house puts effort into that daughter’s debutante. Possibility of catching eyes of upper nobles on the spot exists. Cannot cut corners. Therefore, often hear stories of delaying debutante until funds can be raised. Delaying timing because targeted marriage partner isn’t in Royal Capital exists too apparently. Well, due to various such speculations, timing of social debut is influenced. If early, debut at thirteen exists apparently. Then engagement decided, marrying at fourteen happens. For me bound by Earth Japan’s common sense, marriage in middle school is unthinkable, but not impossible for nobles of this world… Even my Mother married at fifteen, pregnant at sixteen, gave birth to me at seventeen… No, Mother is on the early side though. Regarding marriage, family conditions overlap further, sometimes reaching around twenty-five. …Well if marriage age is delayed, rumored like ‘Is there a problem with that young lady?’. Lady Donatella is seventeen, but somehow looks older. Maybe because makeup is thick. Also that vertical roll ringlet hair is unacceptable. Certain number of people have this hairstyle… Doesn’t seem that popular though.

“Good day, Lady Donatella. Are you enjoying yourselves?” “…Good day, Lady Sakuraile. We are enjoying ourselves. By the way, seemed like some disturbance earlier, is it really okay?”

Well, they ask, right. Because our blunder might become their pretext for attack.

“It is fine. Seems various things even within the Empire… Highness Leticia said she would handle it there, so I think we outsiders shouldn’t interject. No country is monolithic, it seems.” “…That is true. Truly troubling about the Empire.”

Included a little sarcasm, wonder if conveyed. Implicitly saying if your faction plots unnecessary things, it’s a nuisance for us too. Abolishment of Ragtime Marquis House must have hurt Traditionalist Faction, but maybe not bad story for Arabesque Marquis House. Top seat of Traditionalist Faction rolled in on its own. As expected don’t think they’ll cause trouble again in this short period, but likely starting unnecessary maneuvering behind scenes. Well, we have Nanane Clan, so won’t lose in information war.

“Even so, for Crown Prince to burst in, what is happening with this Autumn Cooling Party.” “Well, it is something children do…”

Guu. Can’t say anything when blamed there… Me being a child saying ‘something children do’, talk about pot calling kettle black. Certainly Elliott and others’ intrusion isn’t praiseworthy. Not a problem for severe punishment, but clearly bad manners. Not big, but undoubtedly a loss point for Royalist Faction.

“Even if a child, he is the future Emperor, you know? Wish he had a little more awareness. Ah, for Lady Sakuraile, Crown Prince’s loss point might be appreciated though.”

This bitch. You guys were the ones spreading good-for-nothing rumors like I’m trying to kick Elliott down to become Empress Regnant, how dare you say shamelessly…!

“Calling that a loss point is exaggeration. Thanks to Crown Prince’s action, we could find the First Generation’s treasure vault. Compared to someone’s loss point of plotting recklessly and having house abolished, it is trivial. Ah, was that a grateful loss point for Arabesque Marquis House?” “Wha…!”

Lady Donatella‘s face turns red—kaaa. Hmph, how does it feel being told the same thing. Well, unlike me, for Arabesque Marquis House, Ragtime Marquis House’s abolishment might truly have been grateful.

“Then please continue to enjoy tea. Good day.”

Leaving the place quickly before she retorts. Ah, hate it, hate it. Why must I exchange such sarcasms. Just drink tea happily.

“Lady Sakuraile, next is that table’s…” “Yes yes…”

Heading to greet next table as told by Ritsu. Do this again at Spring Sun Party half year later…? Is there no way to avoid greeting rounds… Ah, how about recording greetings and food explanations on cassette recorders and having them played at each table? No good…? No good probably…