Chapter 12: Encounter with the Villainess

“Sakuraile-sama?”

 

It was Estelle. Huh? I thought she wasn’t coming to the party… Estelle was wearing a pale cherry-blossom pink dress. It was not flashy, but it had fine embroidery and a cute design. Yes, it suits Estelle very well. So cute.

 

“I’m so happy to see you again so soon! Have you been well?”

 

“A-ah, yes. I am happy too…!”

 

Estelle, who moments ago had a slightly frustrated expression, smiled. Hmm, always a good smile. I wish I could capture it in a CG.

 

“Wait! Who are you, interrupting us like that!”

 

“Exactly! Isn’t that highly improper!?”

 

“You are rude! State your name!”

 

The three young ladies were sputtering something. Improper? Are you saying ganging up on one person and mocking her is not improper?

 

“I apologize for the rudeness. I am Sakuraile le Philharmonie, daughter of His Grace, Claude le Philharmonie, the Duke. I saw my best friend, Lady Estelle, and couldn’t resist interrupting our conversation. My apologies.”

 

When I announced myself with a curtsy, the three young ladies’ faces changed color dramatically.

 

“P- le Philharmonie…”

 

“The Duke’s Daughter…”

 

“His Imperial Highness, the Emperor’s brother’s daughter…!”

 

The three, their faces pale, uttered the typical line, “W-we, we just remembered an urgent appointment!” and vanished from my sight like startled rabbits. Ah, that was satisfying! A fox borrowing the tiger’s might? That’s fine! You have to use whatever resources you can!

 

“Best friend…”

 

“Is something wrong, Estelle?”

 

“N-no, nothing at all!”

 

Estelle shook her head, her face bright red. I led Estelle back to the long bench where I had been sitting and sat down again.

 

“I was surprised because I didn’t think you would come, Estelle. You know, since your house just became a Baronetcy, you must be spending a lot of money on various things?”

 

“Yes. But my father managed to raise the funds and brought me… My mother couldn’t come, though… This dress was sewn by my mother.”

 

I see… so that’s why she was so upset. Having the dress her mother worked hard to make for her ridiculed, if… Huh?

 

“Um, what is Estelle’s mother like?”

 

“Eh? She’s a kind mother, although she is currently ill. She used to be an adventurer with my father a long time ago, I think…”

 

The reason I asked this is that in the original “Starlight Symphony” game, Estelle’s mother was deceased at the start of the game. Was it illness or an accident…? What was it? I vaguely remember seeing it in the story or in the setting material book my cousin lent me… Ugh! Come on, remember! Mmmh!

 

“S-Sakuraile-sama!? Your face looks terrible…!”

 

“Eh!? Ah, ah, I’m sorry.”

 

Estelle noticed my contorted face and worriedly drew my attention to it. I mustn’t, I mustn’t. A noble lady must always smile. I was concerned about Estelle’s mother, but I decided to try to remember later.

 

“I think your dress is very lovely, Estelle. It’s cute, and it’s detailed down to the finest points. The color is beautiful too.”

 

“A-ah, thank you very much. I asked my mother to make it this color because your hair color is so lovely, Sakuraile-sama.”

 

Eh? W-well, that’s kind of embarrassing… I’m proud of this hair, inherited from Mother, but hearing it praised face-to-face like this makes me feel bashful. She seemed embarrassed by her own words too, and we both shared a shy laugh. What is this awkward, pleasant atmosphere…?

 

“Ah, speaking of which, Estelle, you’ve also been given a [Gift], haven’t you?”

 

I spotted the divine crest on Estelle’s right hand and brought up the topic of [Gifts]. It was the familiar crest of [Holy Miracle] from the game. It gave me a nostalgic feeling.

 

“Yes. I received it from Holy Goddess Hōly-sama. Although it can only heal minor scratches… I didn’t have the money to receive the ‘Ritual of Oracle’ until I became a noble, and now that I finally received it, I can’t seem to master it… Perhaps it’s because I have no talent that Hōly-sama doesn’t show any interest in me. It can’t be helped.”

 

Seeing Estelle smile sadly, I instinctively took both of her hands. “That’s not true! I know better than anyone that [Gift] holds incredible power!

 

“It’s alright! That [Gift] will definitely be useful to you! It’s just that its power is small right now. You just need to cultivate it and make it grow bigger from now on! You are loved by Hōly-sama! Absolutely!”

 

“A-ah, thank you very much… Hearing you say that, Sakuraile-sama, gives me confidence…”

 

Estelle smiled shyly. Yes, Estelle definitely looks best when she smiles!

 

“Um, Sakuraile-sama, your hands…”

 

“Ah! I’m sorry!”

 

“N-no…”

 

Realizing that I had been holding her hands the entire time, I quickly released Estelle. Estelle was looking down, her face bright red. Stop reacting like that! It’s making me embarrassed too!

 

“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, Her Imperial Majesty the Empress, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince are arriving!”

 

As if to shatter the atmosphere, the three figures of His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince appeared, stepping onto the red carpet from the top of the stairs in the venue. Grandmother, the Empress Dowager, seemed to already be seated with the other guests. The nobles and their children present immediately bowed in reverence. We, who had been sitting, also stood up and greeted the three with a curtsy.

 

“Everyone, I sincerely thank you, not as a King, but as a parent, for coming today to celebrate the birth of my son, Elliott Le Sinfonia. Please enjoy yourselves.”

 

Following His Majesty the Emperor’s address, Elliott stepped forward.

 

“Thank you for gathering here for me today despite your busy schedules. I intend to continue striving to repay the kindness of my Father and Mother who raised me. I ask for all of your continued support.”

 

As Elliott bowed, warm applause filled the venue. Oh, very Crown Prince-like. He doesn’t seem like the person who was so absorbed in the ‘Six-Sided Puzzle’ that he forgot himself.

 

“Is that His Highness the Crown Prince…? I’m seeing him for the first time, but he seems like a kind person.”

 

“Ah, what? Are you interested? I can introduce you if you like?”

 

“N-no! That’s too much, I couldn’t!”

 

I offered to introduce Elliott to Estelle, who was also applauding, but she refused outright. Hmph. I think if the capture target and the heroine get together quickly, the doom flag would be completely broken. Well, I also don’t want to force a boy she doesn’t even like onto Estelle, my new friend. She probably hasn’t even had her first crush yet… His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress descended the stairs and headed toward the nobles, while Elliott went toward the noble children. Immediately, young ladies began to swarm around Elliott. Oh, my cousin is very popular. With his handsome appearance, gentle and calm personality, and being a Prince, there is no reason for him not to be popular. I’m not interested, though. But, the girls in this world are quite proactive… Or should I say, the noble ladies. Elliott seems overwhelmed by the press of young ladies.

 

“Gah…!”

 

“Gah?”

 

When I saw a red-haired boy rushing toward Elliott, I involuntarily let out a strange noise, one not befitting a Ducal Daughter. Jean Ludra Staccato. The son of the Knight Commander, and another capture target. He came after all…! And behind him was Bianca Latia Serenade, the villainess of the Jean route! Jean and Bianca are childhood friends, so it’s not surprising they’re moving together, but how troublesome…! Jean positioned himself behind Elliott and began to ward off the young ladies pressing in. He’s probably acting as a bodyguard. He’ll be his aide later on, after all.

 

“Sakuraile-sama? Is something the matter?”

 

“Ah, um, let’s go over there! There’s something delicious over there!”

 

I took Estelle’s hand and moved as far away from Elliott and the others as possible. I wanted to avoid getting involved with them if I could. Drinks and food were being continuously brought into the party venue. It was a standing buffet format. Estelle and I were thirsty, so we got some fruit water and picked up a cookie from a nearby table.

 

“…It’s hard.”

 

“Do you think so? I think this is normal?”

 

Hmm, it’s hard and not very sweet compared to the cookies and biscuits sold at the cheap sweets store I summon…

 

“It’s true that after tasting Sakuraile-sama’s sweets, these feel lacking, but…”

 

“Ah, were the sweets I sent delicious?”

 

“Yes! Absolutely! I’ve never eaten sweets like that in my entire life! I love the sweet, melting chocolate, but I still prefer the subtle sweetness of the ramune!”

 

Estelle spoke enthusiastically with sparkling eyes, which made me happy but also slightly taken aback. That much? Well, since she’s happy, I guess it’s fine.

 

“Then I’ll give this to Estelle.”

 

I placed a small, individually packaged sweet from my pocket onto Estelle’s hand.

 

“What is this?”

 

“It’s ramune. The shape is a little different, though.”

 

The one I gave Estelle before came in a case shaped like a canned juice with round ramune, but this one is wrapped individually in cellophane. This one is easier to dissolve and has a better texture, I think. I opened the red cellophane and put the ramune in my mouth. Estelle opened the green cellophane and popped the ramune into her mouth the same way.

 

“It’s delicious…! I really love this sweetness…”

 

Mmm, it seems Estelle has become quite fond of ramune. Well, it can’t be helped since it’s a sweet that doesn’t exist in this world—Gyah!?

 

“Hyah!?”

 

I let out an un-Duchal Daughter-like strange sound. A silver-haired girl had appeared beside me without my noticing and was staring intently at my hand.

 

“W-what is it?”

 

“…What is that?”

 

The short-haired, silver-haired girl muttered, her gaze locked onto my hand. Ramune? Is the ramune so unusual that she’s curious? Or is it the cellophane wrapper?

 

“It’s ramune. A sweet confection.”

 

“Ramune…”

 

Now, where have I seen this girl before…? Is she a character from the game!? No… I don’t think there was a young lady like this in “Starlight Symphony”… Is she a mob character? Like the Chancellor, she might be a character who was in the background of some CG. Estelle was like that too, and it’s hard to recognize children. They only vaguely resemble their older selves. Looking closely, this girl is not from the Empire. Her dress is slightly different from the Sinfonia style. Could she be a young lady from the neighboring Prelude Kingdom, across the big river? I can tell because I also lived in the Prelude Kingdom for a few months. The old apothecary only referred to it as the ‘Kingdom,’ so I never thought it was the Prelude Kingdom from the game. Ah, the Prelude Kingdom itself doesn’t appear in “Starlight Symphony.” It’s just that there are students from there who are mob characters. But in the sequel, “Starlight Symphony 2: Revival,” one of the new capture targets is the Prince of the Prelude Kingdom, and… ……………… …W-wait a minute.

 

“U-um, may I ask your name, if you don’t mind…?”

 

I spoke to the silver-haired girl, trying to remain calm. I prayed that I was mistaken.

 

“Lucariola Le Prélude. Give me some of that ramune, too.”

 

Tell me it’s not true! Why…! Why is the villainess from ‘2’ here!?