Chapter 151: An Idyllic Spring Birthday

Spring has arrived in the Imperial Capital. Budding trees and flowers, warm sunlight. The people are full of energy, their steps light; it is truly the height of spring. The many cherry trees located in a corner of our Philharmonie Ducal House’s vast garden were already in full bloom, proudly displaying their beauty. Without even looking up at those cherry blossoms, our maids and servants had been incredibly busy preparing for a banquet since early in the morning. What banquet, you ask? My birthday party, of course. Combined with my previous life, I’m twenty-six—no wait, I turned twenty-seven today… Well, for someone with one foot already in her late twenties, birthday parties are somewhat embarrassing, to be honest.

“Milady, are you absolutely sure it’s alright not to prepare chairs and tables?” “Yeah. We’ll be sitting on picnic sheets for the cherry blossom viewing (hanami), after all.”

At my words, the maid, Arisa-san, makes a complicated expression.

“However, to have our guests sit on the bare ground is…” “They’re all close acquaintances and family, so it’s fine. …Probably.”

There are some people who aren’t quite as close, like Luca’s older brother, but well, they shouldn’t snap over something like this. Just in case, I also placed some long floor cushions sold at the Fashion Center, so their legs shouldn’t hurt. I wrote on the invitations that casual attire is fine, and we have two gazebos out here, so if anyone absolutely insists on having a chair, I’ll have them go there. In Japan, paper cups and paper plates from a convenience store are the standard for cherry blossom viewing, but I wondered if using those as a noble would be pushing it a bit too far. So, we decided to use normal plates and cups for that part. If we set out the vermilion-lacquered trays from the pawn shop, it should work out somehow. Most of the food will be served from my stores, and the alcohol and drinks will also come from there. As long as the men are given booze to drink, they won’t complain…

“Lady Sakuraile, Baron and Baroness Euphonium and Lady Estelle have arrived. Also, Pamela-sensei, Stram-sensei, and Master Ballei as well.” “Oh, they’re here already?”

Sebastian announces the arrival of the guests. There isn’t a strict rule, but unlike the New Year’s Banquet, it seems that for this kind of invitation, people of lower status are supposed to arrive first. I wonder if it means “don’t keep your betters waiting”? Well, if His Majesty the Emperor had to wait until all the guests were assembled, it would probably give both the hosts and the guests a stomachache. Before long, guided by a maid, my music teacher, Pamela-sensei, and my academic tutor, old man Stram, arrived.

“Lady Sakuraile, thank you very much for the invitation today.” “Lady Sakuraile, a very happy birthday to you.” “Thank you very much, Pamela-sensei, Stram-sensei.”

Even though they are commoners, they are both of noble birth, so their etiquette is impeccable. I also greet them with a curtsy.

“Yo, little lady. Happy birthday. I came to drink some booze.” “You know… Well, whatever, that’s fine.”

The one lacking manners is the dwarven blacksmith, Ballei-san. Well, it’s pointless to expect proper etiquette from a dwarf, so I’ve decided to just ignore it. Honestly, I wanted to invite Pamela-sensei’s fiancé, Jeremy-sensei, too, but I can’t exactly summon him away from his duties at the “Academy”. For now, I leave the three of them to the maid who guided them and have them take appropriate seats. Next, the Euphonium Baron House… Estelle’s family of three arrived.

“Lady Sakuraile! Happy birthday!” “Thank you, Estelle. Yuria-sensei, Baron Euphonium, welcome. Please enjoy yourselves today.” “Thank you very much. We will gladly take you up on that offer.” “T-Thank you for having us.”

Setting Estelle aside, Yuria-sensei is also my swordplay teacher, so she’s used to this, but Estelle’s father, Baron Euphonium… Robert-san seems rather nervous. I’d love to talk with Estelle more, but there are people waiting behind them, so I leave the guiding to Arisa-san. Next came Bianca’s family, the Serenade Viscount House, and Leon’s family, the Traumerei Viscount House. Today, Bianca is invited as the daughter of Viscount Serenade rather than as my guard. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to invite her. After that came the Staccato Count House of Count Jean’s family, the Tenor Marquis House of the Prime Minister, and my retired grandfather, the former Margrave. The current Margrave, my uncle, and his family were with him as well. From here on out, it’s mostly relatives. My great-aunt, the head of the Concerto Ducal House; my grandmother, the Empress Dowager; and Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress along with Elliott. This concluded the domestic guests.

“It’s been a while! Sakuraile!” “I-It has been a while…” “Tifa! And Risha too!”

Tifania from the Minuet Queendom and Risha from the Allegretto Empire made their appearance. Behind them were their respective older sisters, Princess Nero and Princess Leticia.

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?” “It has been a long time, Lady Sakuraile. Happy birthday.”

Nero-san had her usual frank attitude, but Leticia-san, in a complete 180 from before, greeted me incredibly politely. Having an older Imperial Princess from another country treat me like this makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable… How did it end up like this…?

“Um, you can just act normally, you know?” “No, I cannot take a disrespectful attitude towards the lifesaver of Risha and my esteemed elder brother. Presumptuous as it may be, I consider you to be the savior of the Empire, Lady Sakuraile.”

Next to her, Nero-san was staring at Leticia-san as if looking at something unbelievable. Yeah, well, Leticia-san used to have quite a harsh personality. As a friend since their academy days, it must be hard for her to accept.

“Leticia, do you have a fever or something…?” “How rude. I am merely adhering to proper etiquette as a human being.”

Leticia-san showed an expression as if saying she was deeply offended by Nero-san, who was peering at her worriedly.

“My older sister is truly grateful to you, Lady Sakuraile. To the point that she always offers a prayer in the direction of the Empire before she sleeps.” “What the heck, that’s scary.”

I was thoroughly creeped out by the information Risha secretly whispered to me. Isn’t that taking it a bit too far…?

“H-Hello, Risha.” “Ah… E-Elliott-sama, it has been a while.”

Turning toward the voice that suddenly spoke up, I saw Elliott had come to greet Risha. I wonder if he felt he had to escort her as her fiancé? Reunited for the first time in a while (well, it’s only been about half a year, though), they both seemed a bit embarrassed, struggling to keep the conversation going. How innocent. Well, on Earth, this would be akin to a first-grade romance, after all. While I was watching them with a lukewarm gaze, a large shadow suddenly fell over my feet.

“Elliott, could you guide these four to the cherry blossom viewing spot? It looks like the next guests have arrived.”

Seeing the Simurgh, Oboro, flying right above the Ducal House, I asked Elliott to guide them. I had told Ritsu, who commands Oboro, to land in the backyard because landing near the cherry trees would blow all the petals away with the flapping wings. Oboro disappeared behind the mansion, and after a short while, the elf sisters, Mutilia-san and Eltilia-chan, arrived alongside Ritsu. The elf escorts were with them as well.

“Welcome, everyone. Please enjoy yourselves today.” “Thank you for the invitation. We will be in your care once again.” “In your care!”

The elf party was slated to stay at our Ducal House again until the Spring Sun Party was over. Everyone who was sitting at the viewing spot (especially those from out of the country) had been startled by the sudden appearance of the giant bird, Oboro, but they seemed to have calmed down after Father explained things. Oops, it looked like the final guests had arrived. Guided by a maid, Luca and her party from the Prelude Kingdom made their appearance.

“It’s been a while, Sakuraile.” “It’s been a while, Luca. Have you been well?”

I exchange letters with Luca, so I already knew she had been well, but this was just a standard formality. And then, I felt a slight twinge of nervousness toward the person standing behind Luca.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Prince Alfort. I am the eldest daughter of the Philharmonie Ducal House, Sakuraile la Philharmonie.” “It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Sakuraile. I am the Crown Prince of the Prelude Kingdom, Alfort ze Prelude. Thank you for inviting me today.”

I greeted him with a curtsy and smiled brightly with a proper young lady’s smile. Even by mistake, I absolutely could not let my inner feelings of “I totally didn’t invite you!” show on my face. No, because I really didn’t invite him… When Luca asks me, “My big brother says he wants to go too, is that okay?” I can’t exactly say no, can I…? Ngh, does that mean it counts as me inviting him in the end?

“This is a party restricted to close relations this time, so we are doing away with all formalities. I imagine there may be things that bewilder the royalty of another country, but please overlook them.”

“You came completely on your own, so don’t you dare complain…?” I explained things to Prince Alfort while lacing my words with that kind of nuance.

“No, no, when the country changes, the culture changes as well. Being invited to the ‘Princess of the Holy Sword’s’ birthday party is an honor in and of itself.”

A flawless prince as always, huh. Besides, he is an incredibly beautiful boy despite only being eight years old. If I didn’t have immunity from the game, I might have ended up blushing and swooning over him like Ritsu is right next to me. But you know, I am well aware. I know that this beautiful prince is actually a bit of a disaster who has a tendency to run wild out of nowhere. I know about the troublemaker personality hidden behind that beautiful face! Let sleeping dogs lie. My best option here is to just gloss over him appropriately. Anyway, it seemed like everyone was gathered now, so I decided to start the party. Or rather, the men had already started drinking. These guys… Can’t you wait even a little bit?!