Chapter 8: First Friend

“Wha-what is it, Sakuraile!? Did this child do something to you!?”

My grandfather called out to me, who was still standing stock-still in shock. Ah, this is bad. I have to cover it up!

“A-ah! No, I just remembered that I hadn’t given her a ramune sweet yet, so I was thinking about it. I apologize for startling you, Grandfather.”

I gave a strained smile and took out the ramune container, which was modeled after a canned juice, from my pocket and handed it to Estelle.

“Ah, thank you very much, Sakuraile-sama.” “You are welcome… I am glad you like it.”

I could barely manage a stiff smile in response to Estelle’s genuine one. Why is this happening? I don’t know what the heroine looked like as a child because there was no CG of her! Her hairstyle is different, too, though if you look closely, I can see the resemblance now. I truly wanted us to remain strangers… But since we’ve thoroughly gotten acquainted, I have a feeling it would be bad to be disliked by her. No, of course, I wouldn’t bully her!

“Oh, my. You two are good friends. Sakura, I’m so glad you made a friend.” “F-friend!? Ah, ah, yes, a friend…”

I reacted excessively to Mother’s unexpected words. What kind of plot is it where the heroine and the villainess are friends? That doesn’t make sense as an otome game. …Doesn’t make sense as a game…? Wait a minute. Depending on how I look at it… isn’t this not bad? If I can prevent it from working as a game, won’t all the doom flags disappear? If I am friends with the heroine, there will be no conflict… right? I often hear about rivalry between friends over love, but since I have absolutely no intention of pursuing the capture targets, there is no way for a conflict to arise.

“T-to think that someone from common origins like me could be friends with a Ducal House’s daughter…”

Estelle looked down, appearing discouraged. Ah, that’s right. The Euphonium family were nouveau riche nobles who rose from commoners, and she was looked down upon at the academy… Yes, and the one who looked down on her was the villainess, me… Somehow, even though I haven’t done anything, I am feeling a sharp pang of guilt. Since this child is the player’s avatar, the protagonist heroine, I roughly know her family background and upbringing… Though I certainly didn’t know what she looked like as a child…

I smoothly extended my right hand to Estelle, who was still looking down.

“That does not matter. You are about to become a Baroness, are you not? We are both nobles. I have been ill for a long time in recuperation and have no friends. If you don’t mind, Estelle-sama, please be my friend.” “Ah, yes! If I am good enough…”

Estelle hesitantly grasped my hand. A smile had returned to her face. Good, now we are friends. Friends with the heroine. I will avoid any doom flags with all my might.

“That’s wonderful. Estelle, when you come to the Imperial Capital, don’t hesitate to visit the mansion.” “Ah, Ashley-sama. Well, my daughter has not received noble education, so if she commits any rudeness to your daughter…”

Robert, Estelle’s father, spoke to Mother with an apologetic tone. Oops, I won’t let him interfere!

“We are friends. I won’t make a fuss over such a thing. Besides, I haven’t received a noble education myself, either, mff!?” “Sakura? Let’s close your mouth now.”

Mother covered my mouth from behind. Oops, that was bad. It was supposed to be a secret that I hadn’t received a noble education. Even Grandfather looked shocked. A blunder, a blunder.

“W-well, look here. Since my granddaughter says so, Robert, if you are fine with it, please let young Estelle come over to play.” “Ah, well, in that case… If your daughter is fine with it…” “Thank you, Father!”

Estelle hugged Robert again. Come to think of it, this father was a bit of a worrywart. He was a ‘letter maniac’ who sent letters from his home estate about everything. Mother spoke to the ‘letter maniac.’

“If you are being granted a Baronetcy, will you establish a mansion in the Imperial Capital?” “Yes. I have asked Margrave Zalbag On Einsatz to help me find one, and he is currently in the process of searching.”

Barons are mostly local nobles. Since they govern their territory themselves rather than through a deputy, they generally do not live in the Imperial Capital. However, as they are nobles, they often stay in the Imperial Capital during the social season. It is common for local nobles to establish a separate residence in the Imperial Capital for that purpose.

“Father, wasn’t there a vacant house owned by the Margrave’s family in the Second District? The one I received before I married, which is in my name. I don’t mind selling it to the Euphonium family.” “That one? That’s kind of you, Ashley, but are you sure?” “I don’t mind. It’s much better than leaving it vacant.”

From there, the Euphonium Baronet family’s Imperial Capital residence was decided in rapid succession. This is probably a different location from the game… Well, a secondary residence in the Imperial Capital never came up in the game, anyway. Everyone lived in the academy dormitory. In any case, this created the fact that the Euphonium Baronet family was indebted to the le Philharmonie Ducal House, establishing a friendly relationship between the two families. Mother, nice assist! If the families are on good terms, the doom flag will move even further away… I hope.

“Madam, it is time for us to return…”

Tanya Celesta, who had been waiting patiently, spoke to Mother. We had chatted longer than expected. Robert and Grandfather now had the ennoblement ceremony to attend. We couldn’t get in their way.

“Sakuraile-sama! I will definitely come to the Imperial Capital again!” “I’ll be waiting! Please write me a letter to let me know what you thought of the sweets!”

I waved goodbye vigorously to the three as they left. Well, well… To encounter both a capture target and the heroine in quick succession… I was prepared for Crown Prince Elliott, so I had a plan, but Estelle was a complete surprise, so I’m exhausted… The fatigue must have hit me on the way home, as drowsiness crept up on me. Come to think of it, Estelle didn’t have the [Gift] crest on her hand. Perhaps she is planning to receive the ‘Ritual of Oracle’ in the Imperial Capital this time. Since Estelle received the ritual at an older age, maybe that’s why she was blessed with [Holy Miracle]. Perhaps I should teach her how to use it next time we meet. At first, it can only heal minor scratches, so she might mistakenly think it’s a useless [Gift]. That [Gift] skyrockets into a highly usable [Gift] just by leveling up to Level 2. However, the catalyst for that is an event with a capture target… Maybe it’s bad if I push things forward on my own. Still, I’m glad Estelle is a good girl. The protagonist’s personality often changes depending on the player’s choices. …Could it be that the Estelle in this world is the one I played? I don’t think I made her do any particularly strange actions… I didn’t choose any options that were obviously landmines. …No, wait, I did choose those options to see the bad endings…? But in the main route, I just played normally, though… As I was recalling the game content, I finally lost to sleep and was led into a deep slumber.

◇　◇　◇

“I have to say, Sakuraile is unusual. That sensibility might be the strength she developed living in the city.”

Windham Le Sinfonia, the Emperor, muttered while chewing on the vinegar squid Sakuraile had given him. He seemed to have taken a liking to it. The Emperor seemed to prefer the savory cheap sweets. The Empress was eating a castella stick. It seems women generally prefer sweet things.

“She is a clever girl who is not easily intimidated. It’s a shame she couldn’t become Elliott’s fiancée, but we can’t force her into it.”

“She has been forced to live an uncomfortable life up until now. It would be pitiful if, right after being freed from that, she was immediately bound by noble customs. If she were to say that life in the slums was better and freer, I wouldn’t be able to recover…”

Claude le Philharmonie, Sakuraile’s father, imagined the scenario and slumped his shoulders in distress. As a Ducal Daughter, a noble education was absolutely necessary, but he wasn’t intending to force it on her yet. Both Claude and Ashley believed she could gradually get used to it. The Emperor smiled wryly at his brother, who had completely become an overprotective parent, and looked at him with an inexpressible gaze.

“Now, in that case, we must choose Elliott’s fiancée from the other candidates, but…”

Imperial fiancées are usually chosen from a young age. This is necessary to foster an early awareness of their role as fiancée and deepen their bond, but the truth was that the candidates for Crown Prince Elliott’s fiancée had not been narrowed down.

“There is the option of bringing in a candidate from another country…”

“Not an Empire. A Kingdom or a Queendom…”

The Sinfonia Empire borders three countries. The Allegretto Empire across a rugged mountain range to the east, the Prelude Kingdom across a large river to the west, and the Minuet Queendom across a scorching desert to the south.

“Take a princess from the Queendom to be Elliott’s bride? The women from there are not easy to handle. Won’t Elliott be completely dominated?”

“However, given his personality, a woman who can confidently take the lead might be more suitable as his wife.”

The Emperor was against taking a bride from the Minuet Queendom, while the Empress was in favor. As the name suggests, the Minuet Queendom was a country where women held significant power. Consequently, the women of that country were generally strong-willed. The relationship with the Sinfonia Empire was reasonably friendly. Many nobles had established friendships through acquaintances made at the ‘Academy.’

“I believe the Queendom has a Third Princess who is the same age as Crown Prince Elliott. The age should not be a problem.”

“Hmm… But it would be wrong to proceed on our own. I wonder if we could invite that Princess here. It wouldn’t be too late to decide after Elliott meets her.”

Although not entirely moved by Sakuraile’s words, the Emperor began to consider that if people who held no affection for each other married, both the family and the individuals might be unhappy. It would be better if they met face-to-face first. Perhaps things will go well, the Emperor thought.

“Then we shall arrange that with the Queendom. Let’s see… How about inviting her to Crown Prince Elliott’s birthday party in one month? It coincides with the time of the Founding Festival, so she could stay for a longer period.”

“Yes, that’s a good idea. Let’s do that. I believe the Prelude Kingdom also has a Princess of a suitable age. Please send an invitation to her as well.”

In this way, an arranged meeting party was secretly orchestrated without the Crown Prince himself knowing. However, they did not realize that this action would attract even more important characters from “Starlight Symphony.” If Sakuraile had been present, she would have surely screamed, “What are you doing!? Don’t do unnecessary things!“

Thus, the story turns. Regardless of the villainess’s wishes or lack thereof.