◇12 The Villain's Encounter
"Sakuraile-sama?"
It was Estelle. Huh? I thought for sure she wouldn’t come to the party...
Estelle was wearing a pale pink dress. It wasn’t flashy, but the intricate embroidery and cute design suited her perfectly. Yeah, it looked great on her. So cute.
"I'm so happy to see you again so soon! How have you been?!"
"Ah, yes. I'm happy too..."
Estelle, who had been wearing a slightly frustrated expression just moments ago, smiled. As always, a wonderful smile. It’d make a perfect still shot.
"Hey! Who do you think you are, interrupting from the side?"
"That's right! Isn't that rude?!"
"How disrespectful! Introduce yourself!"
The three young ladies were saying something. Disrespectful? So, it’s not disrespectful to gang up and mock one person?
"My apologies. I am the daughter of Cloud Li Philharmonie, Duke of Philharmonie, Sakurailel La Philharmonie. I happened to see my dear friend, Estelle-san, and couldn’t help but join in the conversation. Please forgive me."
When I introduced myself with a curtsey, the three young ladies' faces changed in the most amusing way.
"Ph, Philharmonie...?"
"Du, Duke's daughter...?"
"She's... the younger cousin of the Imperial Prince...!"
The three of them, their faces now pale, quickly muttered something like "W-we just remembered something!" and fled as if they were escaping from a rabbit.
Ah, that felt refreshing! Borrowing the tiger's power? It’s fine, if there’s something I can use, I’ll make the most of it!
"Dear friend..."
"Is something wrong, Estelle?"
"N-no, it’s nothing!"
Estelle, her face flushed red, shook her head. I led her back to the long bench I had been sitting on earlier.
"I honestly thought you wouldn’t come, Estelle. After all, with your family just becoming barons, I figured there’d be a lot of expenses, right?"
"Yes. But my father managed to arrange everything and brought me here... Unfortunately, my mother couldn’t come... This dress was made by my mother."
I see... That must’ve been tough for her. To have her mother’s efforts to make the dress for Estelle mocked... Huh?
"By the way, what’s your mother like, Estelle?"
"Huh? Oh, well, she’s been ill recently, but she’s a kind mother. Apparently, she used to be an adventurer with my father..."
The reason I was asking is because, at the start of Starlight Symphony, Estelle’s mother had already passed away.
Was it from an illness or an accident...? What was it again? I remember glimpsing something in the setting materials I borrowed from a cousin or something... Argh! I can’t remember! Come on, think, me! Ugh...
"S-Sakuraile-sama!? Your face...!"
"Huh!? Oh, sorry!"
Estelle, who had noticed I was contorting my face, was concerned and pointed it out.
I can’t let that happen. A lady must always be smiling.
Although I’m curious about Estelle’s mother, I’ll put those thoughts aside for now.
"Estelle, your dress is really beautiful. It’s cute, and the detail is amazing. The color suits you so well."
"Ah, thank you. I asked my mother to make this color because I admired your hair, Sakuraile-sama."
Huh? Wh-what? That’s a bit embarrassing... My hair, inherited from my mother, is something I’m proud of, but hearing someone compliment it face-to-face makes me nervous.
It seems Estelle was also embarrassed by her words, and we both ended up with shy smiles. What’s with this awkward, heartwarming atmosphere...
"Ah, by the way, I see you’ve received a 'Gift' as well, Estelle-san."
I noticed the holy symbol on Estelle’s right hand and brought up the topic of her "Gift."
The familiar Sacred Miracle symbol from the game... It brings back memories.
"Yes. I received it from the Holy Goddess, Holy-sama. I can only heal minor wounds, but... I didn’t have the money to undergo the Divine Revelation Ritual before becoming a noble, so when I finally received it, I couldn’t even make good use of it... I don’t have any special talents, so I guess Holy-sama didn’t think I was worth her attention. It can’t be helped."
Estelle smiled sadly, and I couldn’t help but take both of her hands. That’s not true! I know better than anyone how much potential that "Gift" holds!
"Don’t worry! Your 'Gift' will surely help you! Right now, its power might be small, but it will grow as you nurture it! You’re loved by Holy-sama, and I’m sure of it!"
"Ah, thank you... Hearing you say that, Sakuraile-sama, I feel like I can gain some confidence..."
Estelle smiled shyly. Yeah, her smile really is the best.
"Ah, Sakuraile-sama, your hands..."
"Ah! Sorry!"
"N-no, it’s fine..."
I suddenly realized I had been holding onto Estelle's hands the whole time, and I quickly let go, flustered.
Estelle was blushing deeply and looking down. W-wait, don't react like that!? Now you're making me feel embarrassed too!
"The Emperor, the Empress, and the Crown Prince are here!"
Just as if to shatter the awkward atmosphere, the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince appeared, stepping onto the red carpet from the stairs at the far end of the hall.
The Empress Dowager, my grandmother, was already seated with the other guests at a table.
All the nobles and their daughters in the hall stood up and respectfully curtsied. We, too, rose from our seats and curtsied toward the three.
"My people, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming to celebrate the birth of my son, Elliot Li Symphonia. As a king, but more as a parent, I truly appreciate your presence. I hope you enjoy yourselves tonight," said the Emperor.
Following the Emperor's speech, Elliot stepped forward.
"Thank you so much for gathering here today, despite your busy schedules. I will do my utmost to repay the kindness my father and mother have shown me. I hope you will continue to support me," Elliot said, bowing deeply.
Warm applause filled the hall as Elliot lowered his head. Ah, how very Crown Prince-like. It's hard to believe this is the same person who was once so engrossed in a six-piece puzzle that he lost track of himself.
"Is that the Crown Prince...?" Estelle asked, watching him.
"Yes. First time seeing him, huh?”
“He seems like a kind person."
"Huh? Do you want to meet him? I could introduce you."
"N-no! I couldn’t...! That would be too much!"
I teased Estelle, who had also been clapping, about introducing her to Elliot, but she firmly rejected it.
Hmm. If only the heroine and the target character would get together already, maybe the doom flag would be averted.
Well, I wouldn't want to force a boy she doesn't like onto Estelle, especially when she’s still probably inexperienced in matters of the heart...
As the Emperor and Empress headed to the nobles, Elliot moved toward the daughters of the nobility.
At that moment, a crowd of young ladies quickly gathered around him. Wow, looks like my cousin is quite the heartthrob.
Good looks, a gentle personality, and to top it off, he’s a prince—there's no reason for him not to be popular. Not that I'm interested.
But the girls in this world are so forward... or rather, the noble ladies, to be specific. Elliot, too, seemed exasperated by all the attention as the ladies crowded around him.
"Ugh...!"
"Huh?"
I couldn't help but let out a strange sound when I saw a red-haired boy rushing toward Elliot.
Gene Ludra Staccato. The son of the commander of the knights and another one of the game’s targets. So he really did come after all!
And behind him was Bianca Latia Serenade, the villainous daughter of the Latia family!
Gene and Bianca are childhood friends, so it makes sense they would stick together, but this is so troublesome!
Gene stood behind Elliot and started intimidating the noble ladies surrounding him. He was likely playing the role of his bodyguard. After all, he's going to be one of his close aides later on.
"Is something wrong, Sakuraile-sama?" Estelle asked, noticing my distraction.
"Oh! Uh, well, how about we go over there? I think I saw some tasty treats!"
I pulled Estelle’s hand and led her away from Elliot’s group. I’d rather not get involved with them, if I can help it.
Food and drinks were being brought out one after another for the standing buffet-style party.
We were both thirsty, so we grabbed some fruit water and picked up a cookie from the table.
"...This is tough."
"Really? This is the usual texture for cookies like these."
Hmm, compared to the cookies and biscuits from the snack shop I usually visit, these are a little too hard and not very sweet.
"I admit that after eating the sweets you brought, everything else seems a bit lacking," Estelle said with a smile.
"Oh, did you like the treats I sent you?"
"Yes! They were amazing! I’ve never eaten anything like that in my life! I do love sweet, melting chocolate, but I think I still prefer the subtle sweetness of 'ramune!'"
Estelle spoke with sparkling eyes, passionately describing her love for ramune. I was happy to hear it, but also a bit taken aback. She really loved it that much?
"Well then, I’ll give you something else," I said, taking out a small wrapped candy from my pocket and placing it in Estelle's hand.
"What's this?"
"Ramune. It’s a little different from the last one."
The one I gave her last time had round ramune inside a can-shaped case, but this time it was individually wrapped in cellophane.
This one would melt more easily and have a nice texture.
I opened the red cellophane, popped the ramune into my mouth, and Estelle did the same with the green cellophane-wrapped candy.
"It’s so good...! This sweetness is exactly what I love!"
It seems like Estelle has truly become a ramune enthusiast.
Well, it's a snack they don't have in this world, so I can't blame her... Huh!?
"Eh?!"
I let out an unexpected sound when a silver-haired girl suddenly appeared beside me and stared intently at my hand.
"W-what?"
"...What is that?"
The silver-haired girl with a short haircut muttered, locking her gaze on my hand.
Ramune? Is she intrigued by the ramune, or perhaps by the cellophane wrapping?
Hmm? I feel like I’ve seen this girl somewhere before... Could she be a character from the game!?
No... I don’t think there was such a noble lady in Starlight Symphony... though, maybe she's just a mob character?
Like the Chancellor, maybe she was just included in some still image. Estelle was the same, but when they’re children, it’s hard to tell. It’s more like there’s a resemblance, a faint sense of familiarity.
Upon closer inspection, this girl isn’t from the Empire. Her dress is a little different from the ones worn in Symphonia. Could she be a noblewoman from the neighboring Prelude Kingdom, separated by the great river?
I spent a few months in Prelude Kingdom, so I can kind of tell. The old herbalist only mentioned "the kingdom," so I never thought it would be the Prelude Kingdom from the game.
Oh, and Prelude Kingdom itself doesn't actually appear in Starlight Symphony. It’s just that a student from there shows up as a mob character.
But in the sequel, Starlight Symphony 2: Reprise, the new target character is a prince from Prelude Kingdom, and...
....................
...Wait, hold on a second.
"Um, may I ask your name...?"
I spoke to the silver-haired girl, trying to remain calm. I silently prayed that I was mistaken.
"Lucari de Prelude. Please give me some 'ramune' too."
No, please, nooooooo! Why is the villainess from Starlight Symphony 2 here?!
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