Clatter, clink—
“If you need more tea or refreshments, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”
“Thank you, Ameri.”
After placing tea and snacks on the table, Ameri bowed politely to the princess before quietly retreating behind me.
I’d like to include Ameri in our tea time if possible, but since I’m not alone with her, it might be difficult.
I’ll have to call her separately later and enjoy some relaxed time together.
“Amy, I have a few questions. May I ask?”
“If Lady Sharen is curious, how could I refuse?”
“This is not a question from me as a princess. I’m asking as your devoted friend, Sharen.”
…She’s quoting what I wrote in my letter.
Coming at me like this makes it even harder to refuse.
She may seem lighthearted, but she’s still a princess, after all.
“…I’ll answer anything I can within my limits.”
“Good. I’m not trying to ask anything too serious, so relax.”
Please, keep the questions light.
Thanks to Ameri’s medicine, my stomach ache has improved, but there’s still a faint pain lingering…
“Amy, where did you learn your magic? It’s a type I’ve never seen before.”
…Coming on strong right from the start.
“I learned it from Alyssa. As for the specific classification, I’m not well-versed in magic systems, so it’s difficult for me to say.”
When lying, it’s best to hide it among truths.
This will shift the focus to Alyssa, but she’s smarter than me, so she’ll handle it fine.
“Hmm…”
Lady Sharen stirred her tea repeatedly with a teaspoon, as if something about my answer didn’t sit well with her.
“Amy.”
“…Yes?”
“That power of yours, isn’t it dangerous?”
Thump, thump.
I hesitated because even I, the wielder of this power, couldn’t be sure it was safe.
The rampage when I first discovered magic, the encounter with the mercenary-disguised thief, the incident with Lady Marybell in the bath…
Too many things have happened since I learned dark magic— most notably, concealing the sun itself.
As long as I remain inexperienced, this power might truly be dangerous.
“You don’t have to answer.”
“Lady Sharen…”
Could she have read everything from my expression?
The lighthearted demeanor she usually showed was gone, replaced by a serious look as her sharp gaze pierced through me.
“Amy, there’s no need to tremble. As I said, I didn’t come to discuss anything too heavy. Although… I suppose it might get a little heavier.”
Stir, stir.
“If you were to stray far from me, I might worry a little. But you’re already in the same S-rank as I, aren’t you? So, there’s no problem.”
During the entrance exam, Lady Sharen had sided with Lady Marybell to help elevate me to S-rank.
I thought she did it out of goodwill, but it seems she had this in mind all along.
…I really am such a fool.
It’s common sense that the heir to an empire wouldn’t meddle in an institution like the academy for mere personal reasons.
“Amy, didn’t I once ask you to become my maid?”
“You did.”
“At the time, your sister interrupted, so I couldn’t hear your answer. May I assume you still have no intention of accepting?”
“…That’s correct.”
“Then let me alter my proposal slightly. If being a maid doesn’t suit you, how about becoming my partner?”
“…Partner?”
“Yes. Like the founding emperor Andrea and Lady Aurora, you and I could rely on each other to overcome countless challenges, becoming indispensable to one another.
A maid is precious, but a partner is something on a whole different level, isn’t it?”
A partner.
A bond as close as, if not closer than, marriage.
A mutual affection and care surpassing all others…
A promise of love between two women.
Given her position as the empire’s princess, she should choose someone from a higher station.
“Lady Sharen… Honestly, I’m taken aback. Why would you make such a proposal to me? I don’t believe I’m worth such an offer…”
“My instincts tell me so. They say I must secure you now.”
“Instincts…?”
“Yes. Do I need a better reason? If I must provide one, I’d say you’re beautiful, eloquent, and… well-endowed, making it worth touching.”
…I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that last part.
It was undoubtedly an excellent offer.
Becoming Lady Sharen’s partner would mean no one in the empire would dare oppose me, and it would secure the revival of the Rosewell family.
However, my heart remained unchanged.
Still bound to Alyssa, unable to voice my acceptance.
…I haven’t learned all of her magic yet.
That’s why I can’t leave her side.
“It seems I’ve been rejected again.”
“Lady Sharen…”
Smirk.
“Well, isn’t that all part of the fun? The more Amy rejects me, the more my desire burns. Hard-to-get flowers are all the more tempting.”
Clink.
“Now then, let’s end this dull conversation. Amy, let’s enjoy a bath full of your favorite bath salts and share some naked camaraderie!”
As expected, this person has a big heart.
They’re on a completely different level compared to a small-minded person like me.
If I had been rejected several times by someone inferior, my pride would surely have been bruised.
But someone of such high status treats me the same as before, as if it’s nothing.
…Someday, if I completely part ways with my sister and walk my own path,
Will the day come when I accept the princess’s proposal?
“Sharen, when you speak like that, you sound vulgar. Please mind your words and actions. A person of your standing shouldn’t behave so frivolously.”
“Hmm? Amy, hasn’t your attitude changed a little?”
“You’re imagining things. I haven’t changed.”
Although, perhaps I should say my thoughts have shifted slightly.
Someday, if Sharen becomes my partner, it wouldn’t hurt to start teaching her early.
— — —
‘This is… a royal bath additive…
The water in the large bathtub sparkled with a clean blue hue, reminding me of the sea I had seen only once as a child.
Ordinary bath additives produced beautiful colors too, but the royal bath additive maintained its transparency despite turning blue, so clear the bottom was visible.
You could feel the difference in quality.
‘It even smells nice…’
Just inhaling this luxurious scent was calming, like something you could smell for hours…..
Ah…
“It seems to have captured Amy’s heart.”
“Ah!”
“If you become my partner, you can use this kind of bath additive as much as you like. How about it?”
“Pl-please don’t tempt me with such things…”
“Hmm? Your voice is trembling. How about it, hmm? There are plenty of other bath additives you haven’t experienced yet.”
“Ugh…uh…”
I’m just joking. I wouldn’t resort to such petty tricks to lure you in.
Come on now, it’s getting cold.
Let’s get into the bath.
Ahaha!
…I’ve been defeated.
Sharen has completely teased me.
Bathing is one of my few hobbies…
No matter how hard things were, soaking in warm, fragrant water made me forget everything.
So, even if my heart wavered a little, it’s understandable, right?
Yes, that must be it.
Splash-
“Sharen, thank you for everything.”
“Hmm? For what exactly?”
“…For various things. First of all, for caring about my maid.”
And for overlooking my faults.
“A maid who’s loyal to their master deserves to be rewarded at all times. So don’t worry about it.”
Even the servants’ bathroom, which we weren’t using, was filled with the royal bath additive.
I felt guilty enjoying the royal bath additive alone while leaving Ameri behind, but now my guilt is somewhat lessened.
“So, why not hurry and get in? Standing outside too long will make you cold.”
“…If I’m going to take off my towel, could you please look
away?”
“We’re both women, so I don’t see why I need to. Don’t act like a bride on her wedding night. Hurry and get in!”
I’d like to ignore it, but I can’t, since Sharen is staring directly at my chest.
Even though I’ve confirmed again that she’s definitely a woman, why does she pay so much attention to my body?
Sss-sss-
“…Oh.”
Splash-
“Amy, may I touch it just once? Hmm? It’s okay, right?”
“If you touch me recklessly, I’ll never tell you another story
again.”
“You’re so stingy in the strangest ways. I’ll let you touch mine in return. What do you think? Hmm?”
“Sigh… Sharen, why are you so fixated on this unattractive chest of mine? Even by my standards, or anyone else’s sense of aesthetics, your figure or Alyssa’s would be considered beautiful.”
“Because it’s fun?”
“…I asked something unnecessary.”
“You dare to ask and then act impertinent!”
I placed my hand on my chest to avoid Lady Sharen’s gaze, but feeling that I was being overly self-conscious made it seem more suggestive, so I stopped.
The occasional criticisms from young ladies of the domain calling me ugly, fat, or indecent…
Those insults were endless, but Lady Sharen’s peculiar obsession seemed to have influenced me too.
‘…I’m happy.’
Though there had been some commotion, the warm blue water enveloped my body softly, easing every part of me into comfort.
Submerged in water, yet it felt like lying on a soft bed.
How could something be so different and yet so delightful…
This is too good…
“Ah, Amy. I forgot to mention, but you and your sibling have officially been admitted to S-rank. Even the principal readily approved.”
“…Is that so? Wouldn’t it have been better to mention that first?”
“Silence! I was also flustered after hearing the same from Alyssa!”
Now that I think about it, Alyssa did say something unnecessary to Lady Sharen about my frail health.
…I had forgotten for a moment, but why did Alyssa say that?
Though she had changed a bit recently, I still believed she wasn’t the type to act without reason.
“Alyssa will be giving the representative speech at tomorrow’s entrance ceremony. Originally, Amy, you should have taken the top spot as a completely undefeated candidate, but given the circumstances, precise evaluation was difficult.”
“That role suits her better, so I’m relieved.”
Alyssa as the representative…
Yes, it’s best for her to take on such troublesome roles.
If I had to do something like that, I probably wouldn’t even be able to stand properly due to stomach pain.
“Amy.”
“If anything happens, rely on me. Though I don’t have much time, for your sake, nothing would be too much.”
With Lady Sharen as my supporter, there would be nothing to fear. Who would dare oppose me?
But still.
“I’m fine.”
“Hm? Even when it’s a favor expecting no return, you reject it?”
“Lately, there’s been a little knight who keeps trying to protect me.”
“…It seems this body’s greatest rival might not be anyone else but that person.”
“Don’t misunderstand. That kid is nothing but trouble.”
A truly troublesome and high-maintenance… younger sibling.