◇007 Destiny's Encounter × 2
"Do you remember Lisshel and Elliot?"
"Um..."
Grandmother turns her gaze toward the Empress and the Crown Prince. I remember the Crown Prince from the game, but that's a different story entirely.
"...It's not surprising considering how young you were. This is Empress Lisshel. And the boy here is Crown Prince Elliot."
Grandmother knows I've lost my memories. Her earlier words were likely an attempt to trigger something. Regrettably, I can't recall the moment.
"Long time no see, Sakauraile. We only met once, so it's only natural you wouldn't remember. Elliot was young too, so he likely doesn't remember you either."
"Yes, Mother. So... it's nice to meet you, Sakauraile. I'm Elliot Li Symphonia."
The golden-haired, emerald-eyed Crown Prince Elliot greets me with a warm smile. As expected of a potential love interest—his smile holds a powerful charm even from childhood. I must not be swayed.
"Nice to meet you, Crown Prince Elliot. I am Sakauraile La Philharmonie."
In response, I perform a curtsey once again, gracefully evading his charm. True, his smile is captivating, but it's merely a child's smile. Nothing deeper stirs within me.
I must maintain a respectful distance and minimize interaction. We are cousins, nothing more and nothing less. That is the ideal relationship.
"I recently received a 'Gift,' and I brought some souvenirs from it for everyone. I hope you will enjoy them."
The previously presented gifts are carried in by the castle's maids.
Sweets, carbonated drinks, and toys. The sweets are individually wrapped and arranged on platters. After all, there could be taste-testing involved.
"This is...! I've never seen anything like it before."
"This platter contains various sweets—some are sweet, some are salty, and even spicy. The drinks might be a bit strong, but they're quite delicious, Brother."
Father smirks knowingly. Indeed, I recall Father looking bewildered the first time he tried carbonated drinks. Most likely, he has a similar fate planned for His Majesty as well.
"What is this? An accessory? An ornament?"
Crown Prince Elliot picks up a certain item, tilting his head in confusion. Perfect! He's intrigued!
"This is called a 'Six-Sided Puzzle.' The colors are jumbled across six sides, but when arranged like this..."
I take the miniature six-sided puzzle from Elliot, swiftly moving the pieces to align all six sides within a few minutes.
Heh, my father from my past life taught me this trick, so I excel at it.
"Wow! It's all different colors perfectly aligned!"
"It's tricky, but would you like to try?"
"Yes!"
Carefully, I manipulate the puzzle to become a chaotic mess of colors before handing it back to Elliot.
Elliot becomes fully engrossed, moving the six-sided puzzle with a focus that pulls him into his own little world.
Hmph, mission accomplished. I know he gets deeply absorbed once he focuses on something.
As planned… a sly smile forms on my lips.
"Oh my! This candy is absolutely delicious! It's bittersweet but sweet at the same time!"
Ah, it seems Empress liked the petit chocolate cake quite a bit, which is a relief.
Meanwhile, His Majesty the Emperor sips on the cider, his face surprised by the taste. Father smirks next to him, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
"Who would have thought I'd enjoy such delicious frozen treats… These ice desserts are nothing like the ones served in the castle with fruit."
Grandmother is savoring the ice cream, her expression reflecting pure pleasure. While there are other frozen treats available here, they mostly consist of fruit-based sorbets.
"You've received a wonderful 'Gift,' Sakauraile," Grandmother says with a gentle smile while continuing to enjoy her ice cream.
<Store Summoning> is undeniably a useful "Gift," albeit limited. Honestly, I wish my "Gift" was something more combat-oriented, but...
"Yes. There’s still room for growth, but I haven’t fully mastered it yet."
"'Gifts' are divine blessings. With effort, you can unlock even greater power. Hehe, I look forward to seeing how much more you can achieve."
It's similar to what they call a "Blessing" here.
In the game, "Gifts" are level-based. For instance, a Heroine's "Gift," <Sacred Miracle>, at level 1 could perform minor healing, level 2 could handle recovery magic, and so forth. At level 3, it would include sacred summoning magic. The higher the level, the more powerful the healing and recovery become. Truly an incredible "Gift," worthy of a protagonist.
For my <Store Summoning>, the likely upgrade would enable me to summon new stores. But surely, it won’t just expand the store size, right? That shop stayed the same size until it closed, so that shouldn’t happen.
But wait—what if it's something like "new products" arriving? Though, in that case, it would be more like a <Candy Shop Summoning>, not just a <Store Summoning>.
Hmmm… lost in thought about my "Gift," I’m jolted out of it when His Majesty the Emperor, munching on pickled squid, addresses me.
"There have been a few instances of summons from other realms in the past, but they rarely exceeded one or two items, and the summoned goods were often unclear in nature. The fact that you’ve managed to summon such a quantity is unprecedented. It seems the Goddess of Summoning, Samonia, must have taken quite a liking to you."
Really? I only intended to wish for <Beast Summoning>, but…
In a way, my very existence might be a form of summoning to this world, which could explain the favor from Samonia.
"While Elliot's <Gravity Manipulation> is a useful 'Gift,' your summoning abilities seem to have a greater appeal among the subjects."
Prince Elliot's <Gravity Manipulation>, as the name suggests, is a "Gift" that alters the weight of anything within his range, excluding himself.
While I don’t know his current level, by the end of the game, his power was capable of rendering a person completely immobile. I should know—I was that person, the villainess who lost control when confronting the heroine.
Certainly, <Gravity Manipulation> is useful, but <Store Summoning> still seems to offer more value in terms of statecraft. Reselling items for profit is an option, or simply bestowing them as gifts works too.
"That 'Gift' would be immensely helpful for the royal family. What do you say, Sakauraile? Perhaps you’d consider an engagement with Elliot—"
"Oh, no thank you."
That’s as far as you go!
The moment I firmly decline the king’s proposal, the people around us freeze in place. Well, not Elliot, as he remains completely absorbed in his six-sided puzzle. He hasn’t heard a word of this.
In a formal setting, such disrespect would have serious repercussions, but this is a private gathering with family. A bit of informality is allowed—especially given this is the only chance I have to refuse an engagement with the Crown Prince. Thus, I firmly decline.
"Ah, er, is there a reason?"
The king tilts his head in confusion, then asks for an explanation. I raise three fingers in response.
"There are three reasons. First, I want to choose my own marriage partner. While noble families arrange marriages for the sake of alliances, unwanted unions can often lead to discord and even the downfall of houses. Personal feelings are paramount.
Secondly, I have no interest in those my age or younger. I prefer someone older and more dependable, like Father.
Lastly, I have no intention of leaving my parents. I want to remain close to them and show my gratitude for as long as possible. If you insist that I must marry soon, then I’ll comply, but…"
"You won’t be told to marry!"
"Of course not! You can stay with us as long as you like!"
Father and Mother both embrace me tightly, forming a sandwich of family support. Hehe, as expected. Take that, King! Can you split up this close-knit family?
Empress, seated next to His Majesty, chuckles softly.
"Hehe, it seems this is a futile effort, doesn’t it?"
"…Indeed. Well, it can’t be helped. However, for the sake of this kingdom, as a member of the Philharmonie family, I hope you will lend your strength."
"Of course. I’d be happy to."
Yes! I’ve shattered that engagement proposal! Victory is within my grasp!
This kingdom allows women to inherit titles and even claim the throne. Given that I have no younger brothers, the likelihood of my succession to the position of Duchess Philharmonie is high. There’s no way I’m leaving to marry into another house!
…Now that I think about it, do I have a claim to the throne? A significant one, at that?
Elliot is first in line for the throne, followed by Father as the second, and then—me?
Considering my royal bloodline, it seems logical.
Should Elliot marry the heroine and have children, that line of succession will shift. Though that’s still far off.
Alternatively, if Elliot were to have younger siblings—wait, were there any younger siblings in the game’s canon for Elliot?
For now, I’ve completed my task. With my mind at ease, I remain quiet for the rest of the evening, listening to the adults’ conversations. Grandmother and I chat briefly, and my first official royal gathering concludes peacefully.
Prince Elliot stays focused on his six-sided puzzle until the very end. He manages to align one side, but just one.
As a token of my apology and gratitude, I offer him a larger six-sided puzzle, which delights him immensely. It serves as a small but heartfelt gesture.
Father has other matters to discuss with His Majesty, so Mother and I decide to take our leave.
"It’s good to see that the Empress Dowager is pleased," my mother said with a gentle smile.
"Yes. The next time we visit, I’ll bring something even more enjoyable," I replied, walking down the wide corridor toward the castle gates with my mother and Tanya, my personal guard (Ewan remained with Father in the garden).
As we strolled, I thought I heard a soft, almost weeping voice coming from somewhere nearby. Pausing, I glanced around and spotted a small girl huddled behind one of the stone pillars, sobbing quietly.
She looked about my age, with bright, flaxen hair catching the light from the windows, shimmering faintly. Her short bob framed a tear-streaked face.
A noble child, perhaps? Her mint-green dress seemed modest, not particularly extravagant.
"What’s wrong?" I asked softly.
The girl startled, wiping her eyes hastily and looking up at me. She seemed taller than me, though I’m quite short myself.
"I-I’m lost," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I… I can’t find my room. It’s my first time at the castle."
"Ah, I see. Are you a noble child? What’s your family’s name?"
The girl lowered her head and remained silent. No family name? Was she not from a noble house?
Unable to answer, her face contorted with sadness once again, and tears threatened to spill anew.
In a rush, I reached into my pocket and handed her a candy.
"Here. It’s sweet and delicious."
"Huh?"
Confused, she took the candy, while I pulled out one for myself, unwrapping it and popping it into my mouth. Mmm, sweet.
The girl hesitated before cautiously unwrapping her own candy and placing it in her mouth.
"Sweet… It’s good…!"
"Finally, a smile!"
Sweetness truly is magic. Seeing her smile was far better than watching her cry. Especially because she turned out to be such a cute little girl when she smiled. There’s no use in wasting such a precious moment in tears.
Okay, time for more sweets!
Turning to Tanya, I asked her to bring a bag of candies—this time, along with some baby castella and chocolate bars.
Tanya quickly returned with a paper bag filled with these treats, which I handed over to the girl.
"Here, take these. They’re for you."
"E-Eh? Are you sure…?"
"Of course. I have plenty. Eat as much as you like. I’m Sakauraile. Sakauraile La Philharmonie. What’s your name?"
Though she didn’t know her family’s name, surely she knew her own name. Still, upon hearing my introduction, her eyes widened in shock.
"Phil… Philharmonie?! The House of Philharmonie…? Ah, um, I-I’m…!"
"Estelle!"
From further down the corridor, a loud voice echoed, followed by several men running toward us. Wait—was that my grandfather leading the group?
"Father!"
"You shouldn’t wander off on your own! I told you not to! I was worried sick…!"
The girl, Estelle, sprinted into the arms of the man at the forefront—her father.
Seeing the heartfelt reunion brought tears to my eyes. Nearby, my father and I shared a similar moment of warmth.
"Father? Why are you here?"
"Ah, Ashley? Sakauraile too? Didn’t I tell you yesterday? Robert is being knighted for his defense in this campaign. He’ll receive a baronetcy from His Majesty afterward. I’m here to accompany him."
Knighted? That must mean becoming a noble, right? Oh, that’s why she didn’t know her family name yet—she hadn’t been granted one yet.
"A baronetcy, you say? In Euphonium?"
"Yes. The land there is the only one available. It’s currently untamed, but with time, it will be restored."
Hmm? Euphonium?
Wait a minute… Didn’t I just hear the name Estelle?
Estelle Euphonium? Estelle Kline Euphonium?
"Ah, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh—?!"
I pointed frantically at the girl as I shouted her name in my mind, causing not only her but the surrounding adults to gawk in surprise.
My mind, however, wasn’t focused on the others.
There, standing before me, was the heroine. The heroine of Starlight Symphony, Estelle Kline Euphonium.
The player’s stand-in, guiding the protagonist and the pursuit of me—the villainess—toward a path of doom. She was the source of countless destruction flags. And now, she stood before me.
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