Chapter 149: The Arrival of Spring

“They still look like buds, huh.”

I voiced that impression while looking up at the cherry trees planted in the Ducal House. I heard that these cherry trees were transplanted using earth magic from Grandfather’s mansion and territory when I was born. Apparently, they are cherry trees that had been around since Mother was a child. It was probably a childbirth celebration gift from Grandfather to his daughter. And also a celebration of my birth. Even so, aren’t there too many planted…? One corner of the Ducal House is completely filled with cherry blossoms. It’s like a forest of cherry trees. Grandfather probably went a little overboard with this… W-Well, being able to do cherry blossom viewing (hanami) at home is a good thing, right.

“I’m sure they will be in full bloom on your birthday, Lady Sakuraile.” “I hope so.”

I replied with a smile to Ritsu’s words. My birthday is at the end of this month. And ten days after that is the Spring Sun Party. I made sure to let Luca, Tifania, and Risha know along with their invitations. I hesitantly wrote that they didn’t have to push themselves to come early, but I received replies from all three saying they would definitely attend. Tifania is bringing her older sister Nero-san, and Risha is bringing her older sister Leticia-san. Well, they are fine, yeah. The problem is that Luca’s older brother is coming too…! A capture target from 2! It seems he heard stories from Luca and got interested. Whether that interest is in ‘me’ or ‘my stores’, I don’t know. Please let it be the stores!

Umm, if I recall correctly, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alfort ze Prelude. He should be one year older than us. Since I’m turning seven soon, is he currently eight? In this Crown Prince’s route, I get arrested, raising a ruin flag of umpteen years of imprisonment. However, the Sakuraile in 2 appears as Luca’s personal maid after being exiled from the country in 1, and she ends up in the slammer as a result of whispering all sorts of lies to her and committing evil deeds. I don’t think I have any reason to be arrested right now, but… I don’t think so… I’m worried that some weird flag might be raised… I might get arrested for some unreasonable excuse… Am I overthinking it?

Truth be told, Risha’s older brother, the Crown Prince, apparently wanted to come here too. Saying he absolutely must thank her lifesaver. As expected, he seemed to have been persuaded to reconsider since it would be a bad idea to leave the country in the middle of a political struggle with the Second Prince. The one who cured the sickly Crown Prince was the potion imbued with Estelle’s ‘Gift’, not me, though. It’s quite a complicated feeling.

“Ah, I forgot. The rice seeds (Touka) from the Gagaku Country have arrived.” “Eh, really?”

It is called Touka in the Gagaku Country, but it’s the rice of this world. It’s the rice plant. It seems they mainly use it for livestock feed in the Gagaku Country, so I harbored the ambition of deliciously partaking in it here in this country instead. Apparently, some people do eat it, but very poor people supposedly eat it by making it into a mushy soup. Is it rice gruel (omoyu)…? Rice planting is from May to June, right? For now, I need to make a rice paddy in the Philharmonie territory somewhere close to the Royal Capital. I think I could make one quickly using earth magic, but it’s based on my hazy memory, after all. I’m worried about whether I can do it properly.

“We know how to grow Touka, so it will be fine, you know? It was livestock feed, but we grew it in the hidden village too.”

Seriously!? That’s a lifesaver! Then I’ll just leave it to anyone in the Nanane Clan who doesn’t mind doing agriculture. If that goes well, I’ll grow rice in various parts of the territory starting next year. The provincial capital will be a tourist destination, and the regions further away will be rural agricultural zones. His Majesty the Emperor also seems to be thinking of spreading rice throughout the country, so he should agree to it. After that, I guess I have to spread how to eat rice. It’s already becoming known among the nobles, but I don’t intend to make it a food exclusively for the nobility. I think the Prime Minister and His Majesty the Emperor are considering that part as well. We might need something like a rice pot (okama). It’s not impossible to cook it in a normal pot, though. While pondering various things like that, I decided to drink tea in the gazebo located in the corner lined with cherry trees. When the cherry blossoms bloom, it might be nice to pickle them in plum vinegar and salt to make cherry blossom tea (sakurayu).

“Come to think of it, there’s a slightly concerning rumor in the Royal Capital.” “Concerning rumor?”

Ritsu brought up the topic while brewing black tea. New information flows in every day from the Nanane Clan scattered throughout the Royal Capital. Ranging from a certain store releasing a new product, to dark rumors about the nobles. Technically, I’m the master they serve, but in reality, the information flows to Father. Because there are many things I can’t handle as a child. Even so, I do hear various things from Ritsu like this. Even if it’s a story I don’t want to hear, it’s better to know than not to know.

“Apparently, a phantom thief has appeared.” “Huh?”

A phantom thief… you mean that kind of phantom thief? The ones wearing top hats and capes, or a trio in leotards?

“I haven’t heard any stories like that, though…” “That’s what makes it so strange… It’s certain that a few mansions were broken into, but it seems those nobles haven’t filed any damage reports.”

No damage reports filed? Does that mean if it was found out they were stolen, it was the kind of item that would make people ask, “Why do you have such a thing?” and get them in trouble? Like contraband goods? I heard from my tutor, Stram-sensei, that there are extremely dangerous items among magic tools, and some that should be managed by the state. Especially ancient relics (artifacts) found in dungeons or ruins—I hear many of them are pretty dangerous. Come to think of it, there was a dangerous ancient relic (artifact) like that in the desert ruins of the Minuet Queendom too…

“Could this phantom thief be stealing those kinds of things, anticipating that the nobles can’t make it public?” “That is a possibility.”

Hmmm… But a phantom thief, huh… A character like that didn’t appear in the Starlight Symphony series… I think. There were a few bandit characters that appeared. As cannon fodder. They got beaten up by Jean and the others, if I recall. I don’t think there were any among the main characters even in the games I haven’t played. I did check game magazines and such, just in case. Well, I wouldn’t know about the side characters that appear in the unplayed games, though. Speaking of acquaintances, the Prime Minister, the Knight Order Commander, and even His Majesty the Emperor were close to being side characters in the game. Only appearing briefly in a single CG still or something. Is it not a game character? That series had voice dramas and stuff too, after all… If it’s just a simple thief, I don’t think it’s my turn to step up, but… Still, it would be best to notify the Knight Order about this information through Father. Our Ducal House doesn’t have any shady items like that, so I don’t think there’s any worry about us getting broken into. Well, even if someone did break in, Kohaku-san would notice anyway. A phantom thief, though. Even if they are what you’d call a righteous thief, they are still a thief. Let’s have the folks in the Knight Order do their best to catch them.

Or so I thought back then, treating it somewhat like it was someone else’s problem.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Big Brother, are you really going?” “I’m going. I want to see these otherworldly stores with my own eyes.”

In response to Luca’s words, her older brother, Alfort ze Prelude, answered clearly. This boy, the First Prince of the Prelude Kingdom, had silver hair and blue eyes similar to Luca’s, was tall for his age, and was a beautiful boy even from the perspective of his younger sister. He would surely attract the attention of young girls once he enrolled in the “Academy”. Luca was proud of such a brother, but she also harbored anxieties. How should she put it… this brother acted on intuition. When it came to things he took an interest in, the words “restraint” or “mercy” did not exist for him. He would investigate and pursue them to the bitter end. She felt apologetic that the brunt of this had been directed toward her precious friend.

“Even though you can’t attend the Spring Sun Party, Big Brother…” “But you were invited to the Philharmonie Ducal House young lady’s birthday party, weren’t you, Luca? There’s nothing strange about an older brother escorting his younger sister, is there?” “It’s not strange, but you’re a little strange, Big Brother.”

It was no use. The wise younger sister knew that saying anything at this point would be futile. She thought it might have been a mistake to talk about Sakuraile in detail. But rumors of Sakuraile had also arrived from the mouths of traveling merchants, bards, and diplomats. They apparently played otherworldly music no one had ever heard before at the New Year’s Banquet at the Philharmonie Ducal House. To be honest, Luca wanted to hear those songs too. Word was she had even summoned a store that sold instruments this time. Luca had already decided that she would absolutely buy her own instrument at that store when she went to the Spring Sun Party.

As a princess, Luca was also taught to play an instrument, but she didn’t find the flute she was learning very enjoyable. It just didn’t suit her, so to speak. Because it wasn’t fun, her practice was half-hearted, and her skills didn’t improve. Luca personally wanted to play a more unusual instrument, but she had been opposed until now because it wasn’t fitting for a princess. However, if it was an instrument favored by Sakuraile—the Emperor’s niece, a Duke’s daughter, the [Princess of the Holy Sword], and someone under the protection of a Divine Beast—no one would be able to complain. Luca was both envious and highly respectful of Sakuraile, who easily accomplished things she could not.

“I won’t forgive you if you cause any trouble for Sakuraile, you know.” “I won’t cause any trouble. I just want her to show me the summoned otherworldly stores, and if possible, let me do some shopping.”

Saying that, Luca’s brother took a big gulp of chilled cola from his glass. The cola Luca had bought from Sakuraile’s store was her brother’s favorite. Luca suspected that his fixation on Sakuraile’s store was also partly for the cola. Because her brother drank so much of it, the cola she had stocked up on was about to run out.

“According to Sakuraile, cola apparently makes you gain weight, so you shouldn’t drink too much.” “Ugh… I-I know that. I’m exercising properly too, so it’s fine.”

Luca worried unnecessarily that if her beautiful brother became perfectly round because of Sakuraile’s cola, the anger of their country’s young ladies might be directed toward her. She didn’t think that would happen… but her brother was such a beautiful boy that he made her think it wasn’t entirely impossible.

“The [Princess of the Holy Sword], Duke’s daughter Sakuraile la Philharmonie, huh… I look forward to seeing what kind of person she is.”

Directing his thoughts toward the much-talked-about young lady he had yet to meet, Alfort tilted his glass of cola once more.

◇ ◇ ◇

Thus, the seasons cycled, returning to spring once more. The young girl from the slums, though tossed about by a bizarre fate, had survived one year and was about to step foot into a new world. The story turns. Regardless of whether the villainess desires it or not.