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The Duke's Daughter Goes Her Own Way

Ellie's first tea party

~The sky is so blue...~

Treat me to a Ko-Fi to give me more motivation!!!

*****

Howdy-doo~, I'm Elizabeth da yo~.

I've turned eight years old now~.

A beautiful five-year-old toddler, after three years of time, now emerges from her chrysalis as a butterfly―――

...Or not.

Still a chrysalis. A beautiful chrysalis.

I'm still keeping up a loose-and-easy relationship with my fiancé, Crown Prince Leonard.

To His Highness, who is four years older than me, an eight-year-old must seem like a little sister.

I am being thoroughly doted upon.

I can tell that he treasures me properly "as a fiancée." So I'm working hard to reciprocate.

Education to become the Crown Princess started when I was six, but surprisingly, it's actually pretty fun.

In novels and such, people always seemed to be coughing up blood over it, but all the basic academics and history of neighboring nations got completely skipped for me.

(Man, I wanted to study history!!)

When I grumbled about that, His Highness smiled at me with distant eyes, saying, 「No, you've done quite enough...」

Apparently, he was utterly appalled by what I was reading back during our first meeting. How rude.

Currently, I'm having the languages of neighboring countries and basic etiquette hammered into me.

My etiquette teacher, Lady Hamill, who never loses her smile even when angry, looks so much like Naoto Takenaka that every time she lectures me, I have to try with all my might to hold back my laughter.

And on top of that, there are classes in economics, law, and the like.

This is fun in its own right too!

Fundamentally, learning things you didn't know is fun.

(Uh-oh. I might actually be suited to being a queen.)

(...Just kidding. Got ahead of myself there.)

「What kind of lessons did you have today?」

Sitting across the table from me in a garden tucked away in the depths of the royal palace, His Highness asked.

「Today was economics.」

His Highness, having turned twelve, is hurtling straight down the path of a remarkably handsome youth as usual.

He still has the air of a boy, but thinking that this particular radiance will only last a few more years makes me regret that photography technology doesn't exist. Though, knowing His Highness, he'll still be drop-dead gorgeous as a young man.

After taking lectures at the palace, if our schedules align, having tea with His Highness like this has become routine.

The tea is delicious, and the sweets are delicious.

Right in front of me is a super beauty.

(This might just be what heaven is like.)

(Pure bliss, pure bliss...) As I was sipping my tea, His Highness tilted his head slightly.

「Are your studies not too difficult?」

「Not at all~. They're actually quite fun.」

I still have enough leeway to enjoy them.

Besides, as expected of an education for a future crown princess, the teaching staff is top-notch! It sounds like a pitch for a famous prep school, but there's really no other way to put it.

After all, I've seen or heard every single tutor's name somewhere before.

It's truly wonderful.

「As the one fortunate enough to receive these lessons, I can hardly complain about them being "difficult." Your Highness is far busier than I am, after all.」

「Elly.」

Taking issue with my words, His Highness smiled brightly.

Smile, smile, smile...

The silent pressure is intense.

Now, time for a quiz.

Which part of my previous sentence was he taking issue with? (Worth: 5 points)

The correct answer is――

「...Lord Leon.」

「Mm.」

As if saying, "That's correct," His Highness smiled with an expression whose temperature was completely different from before.

He asked that when it's just the two of us, I call him by his name instead of "Your Highness."

It's already been a year since he told me that.

(Who cares about how I address you, right?! But if I said something like that to His Highness, there's no telling what he'd do to me!)

As a present for my birthday last year, His Highness took me to the Republic of Mithras, saying, "It's a month early, but..." It's a country with ruins of the Demain Empire.

His Highness was there on official business, but I was allowed to accompany him.

Master Nathaniel, who was originally supposed to teach me history, came along as well.

His Highness seemed busy with his official duties, but the Master and I (with guards, of course) had a grand old time playing around at the ruins.

Complete with commentary from the Master, who specializes in the Agathia River civilization!

I went wild at shady souvenir shops alongside a professional scholar.

I even bought a replica artifact without the slightest clue what it was used for! The Master even praised me, saying, 「It's completely useless and thoroughly in the way—it's the best!」

And then, having gotten far too swept up in the excitement, I came down with a fever.

(What am I, a kid?!)

(Wait, I WAS a kid!!)

While I was bedridden with a fever at the luxury hotel where we were staying, His Highness came in the middle of the night, muttering something about being too worried to leave until my fever broke... and ended up actually sleeping in the same bed with me.

("Boys and girls shouldn't share a bed after age seven"... or do they not say that in this world?)

(Is it okay when we're about seven and eleven?)

(I can't tell because of my fever. I probably wouldn't know even without a fever, though.)

The next morning, both His Highness and I got thoroughly chewed out by the Chief Chamberlain.

I couldn't exactly say, "Hey, I'm still recovering from an illness here~...", so I just swallowed it and took the scolding.

Furthermore, in this world, there's a custom called "bed-leaving at six," where it's standard practice that once a child turns six, they don't share a bed with parents or children of the opposite sex. You were super duper out of line, Your Highness!

Apparently, His Highness hadn't liked that I was having such a blast with the Master, even though he was the one who brought me along.

Well, that makes sense.

Honestly, my bad.

And the price for that was a lecture from the Chief Chamberlain lasting over an hour...

The calculating Prince brilliantly let that scolding go in one ear and out the other...

What on earth did you drag me into...

Because of that, I've already learned that souring His Highness's mood is subtly not worth the payoff.

Besides, calling him by his name costs me nothing!

The stage for today's tea party is the garden near His Highness's private chambers.

This area is enclosed by buildings on three sides, while the remaining side leads into a forest.

I glanced around at our surroundings.

He must be used to this by now. I happened to catch the eye of one of the guard-onisan, and he gave me a light, cheeky grin.

(Ooh-la-la~♪ Look at you being all suave, mister guard.)

「Are you satisfied?」

At His Highness's teasing voice, I smiled and nodded.

「It's perfection again today! Simply marvelous.」

When I said that, the two guard-onisan present today both placed fists over their mouths to hold back their laughter.

The positioning of the guards today is once again flawless. And there are no blind spots.

Maximum efficiency with the minimum number of personnel.

It's a marvelous setup.

Apparently, His Highness had found it strange when I was scanning our surroundings back during our first meeting.

When he later asked me, 「What were you looking at back then?」 I answered honestly that I was observing the guard knights' lines of sight. Well, I didn't bring up the part about snipers or anything.

I told him I was impressed that they were positioned so that there were no blind spots in their field of vision.

When I gave him that answer, His Highness looked more slack-jawed than I had ever seen him before.

Well, he was still drop-dead gorgeous even with that look on his face, though~.

After pulling himself out of his stunned daze, His Highness explained that the positions of the guards are predetermined depending on the location.

If a table is set up in that grand garden at the spot where we had tea, it's arranged like that.

Apparently, there's someone who determines the placements from a top-down shooter perspective. I want to meet them!

My gamer brain is tingling!

When I mentioned it, his reply was that palace security is classified information, so it would have to wait until my education progressed further.

Classified, huh...

Well, that makes sense~...

Feels like once you learn it, there's no turning back~...

Oh well. Wait, is that bad? No, it's probably fine.

I've decided to walk down this path. Let me march forward.

「Are preparations for next month's tea party going smoothly?」

When asked, I nodded.

「There are no particular issues at present. We've finished distributing the invitations as well.」

That's right, next month.

An invitation-only tea party hosted by Her Majesty the Queen will be held in that grand garden of the royal palace.

The invited guests are noble madams and their young daughters.

And I'm the one who has to organize the "children's section."

First, decide which houses to invite, send out invitations, weigh the political factions to arrange seating...

Is this wedding planning?!

While a wedding is once in a lifetime (not necessarily, though), this happens at least once every season!

It drains so much mental and physical energy!

However, if I can't manage it to a certain standard, it's my disgrace. By extension, the Duke's house's disgrace. And beyond that, the disgrace of the Royal Family who set me as his fiancée.

The shared liability is way too heavy...

「If you manage to finish it without a hitch, shall we go to White Birch Cafe on Cassard Street?」

At His Highness's words, my face instantly broke into a bright smile.

Cassard Street is one of the main thoroughfares in the royal capital. It's a street especially packed with historic, long-established shops.

White Birch Cafe is a cafe located on that street.

The menu is extremely limited, consisting only of original blend tea and coffee, plus fruit cake.

However, the tranquil interior is lovely, the antique tea sets are lovely, and the cake is divine.

It's my absolute favorite place.

「Are you serious?! Is that a promise?!」

「Yes. I'm looking forward to it as well, so please make sure you pull it off successfully.」

Even for nobility, it's a very quiet cafe where a child would feel awkward going in alone.

Knowing that I'm hesitant, His Highness occasionally invites me out like this.

I have zero business on Harvey Street, where fashionable youngsters gather. Pancakes are tasty too, but White Birch Cafe's fruit cake is simply supreme.

Call me mercenary, but I actually got a boost of motivation.

I might actually be fond of His Highness. (How shallow.)

Alright, Elly-chan is gonna give it her all~!

***

...I said I was gonna give it my all. That was a lie.

Please forgive me for feeling like saying that.

The weather is fantastic, and today the grand garden is meticulously manicured and beautiful down to every corner.

The crisp white tablecloths set up for the tea party stand out brilliantly against the greenery of the garden.

Right there at the venue.

A young lady with blonde vertical drills and a young lady with soft chestnut hair.

For some reason, they are locked in a full-blown physical brawl...

Ehehe... What lovely weather~...

It all started ten minutes ago.

Lady Drill Hairs started picking a fight with the chestnut-haired lady at the same table.

And apparently, over me.

The vertical-drilled young lady is Lady Florence of the Arist Ducal House. She is the daughter of the premier ducal house.

It's a family with an extremely long history and deep ties to the royal family. Well, all ducal houses were originally branch families of the royal line anyway.

This Lady Florence, for some reason, seemed to firmly believe without a doubt that she herself was going to marry the Crown Prince.

Then, three years ago, came the out-of-the-blue news: "The Crown Prince is Engaged"!

And the partner was a younger child she had never even met!

If I may speak up, it was a complete bolt from the blue for me too, you know! My ears were ringing!

Even after three years, she still hasn't accepted it, and apparently she's still muttering and venting complaints to everyone around her.

Redirect that vitality toward something constructive, will you?

And sure enough, here too, she was picking apart my every single move like a nagging mother-in-law.

Though my actual mother-in-law (the Queen) was just laughing breezy-like, saying, 「Do your best, Elly-chan~」.

At those endless grumblings and her ridiculous attempt at peer pressure with "Doesn't everyone agree?!", the chestnut-haired lady at the same table snapped.

The young lady with soft, beautiful chestnut hair and an adorable face is Lady Susanna of the Earl Weimss family. In terms of house status, she's right at the absolute bottom threshold to attend this tea party.

Seating her at the same table as the daughter of the premier ducal house was done because of Her Majesty the Queen's intense pushing.

...Your Majesty, you planned this on purpose, didn't you...? Like mother, like son... or rather, like son, like mother...

Despite her sweet face, Lady Susanna turned out to be a strong-willed person with a rock-solid spine.

To Florence, who was seeking agreement from those around her, Susanna scoffed, 「At least Lady Elizabeth doesn't go around whispering gossip behind people's backs, though!」

Why are you baiting her?!

Let's try to handle this a bit more peacefully here!

And Lady Drill Hairs turned out to have absolute zero bait resistance...

From there on out――

「(Eeeek!) What did you just say?」

「I merely suggested that you take a good, long look at your own position (Pfft).」

「I am a member of a ducal family!」

「I am aware. Using that as a shield to demand agreement from those around you is somewhat unsightly.」

「Wha... W-What did you say?! (Rage!)」

※Parentheses are mental images.

Yes.

And that brings us to the present.

This is clearly that time.

Time for our wonderful guard-onisan to step in.

When I caught the eye of the nearest guard-onisan, he moved swiftly in acknowledgment.

「Please handle them with the utmost courtesy. Ensure neither of them gets hurt.」

「Understood.」

Two guard-onisan headed over and pulled the young ladies apart.

When the Queen arrived as well, she offered a wry smile as if saying, 「Oh dear, oh dear.」

「Young ladies, go cool your heads off for a little while.」

Saying that to the two of them, she signaled the surrounding maids with a glance.

Taking that as their cue, the maids sprang into action all at once.

As a result, the two of them were escorted away somewhere, and the remaining two at that table were asked to relocate to other tables.

Why... did trouble have to strike on the very first try...

Ah, what lovely weather... The sky... is so blue, wow............

Somehow or other, the tea party wrapped up, we finished seeing off the guests, and currently I'm heading with Her Majesty the Queen toward the room where those two were shoved in.

When we entered one of the numerous reception rooms, the two young ladies were sitting at opposite ends of facing sofas, stubbornly looking away from each other.

You two are so blatantly obvious!

Beside them sat their mothers, both wearing troubled expressions.

Noticing Her Majesty the Queen, the mothers and Lady Susanna stood up briskly and bowed.

Lady Florence was a beat slow.

Lady Drill Hairs, that's precisely your problem (probably).

Once Her Majesty took her seat, she quietly said, 「Raise your heads.」

My seat is right next to Her Majesty. The vibe of quiet fury radiating from beside me is so intense that my stomach has actually been hurting a bit ever since we walked over here.

His Highness is like this too, but both Their Majesties the King and Queen smile chillingly when they're angry.

What is that, genetics? Is it genetic?

It's terrifying, so could you please give me a break?

Waiting until everyone was seated, Her Majesty swept her gaze across the room.

The two mothers with troubled expressions. Lady Susanna looking downcast and dejected. Lady Florence biting her lip with her head lowered.

Lady Drill Hairs' expression looks a bit suspicious as to whether she's actually reflecting.

That's precisely your problem (second time)!

「Duchess Aristoll.」

Called upon by Her Majesty, the Duchess gave a slender 「Yes.」

「How old was your daughter again?」

「...She is eleven, Your Majesty.」

The Duchess replied looking exceedingly awkward.

And Her Majesty's smile in response—oh, how radiant it was.

「Ah, that's right.」

With a soft chuckle, Her Majesty said only that and fell silent. Her mouth was concealed behind her fan, but one corner of her lips was curled upward.

Nooo~! The subtext! The subtext is terrifying~!

The daughter of the premier ducal house, at eleven years old, acting in such a deplorable state?

Is that what she's getting at?

Even though it's early summer. Even though it's clear skies today and practically warm in the sun.

The air inside the room is freezing cold...

Your Majesty, are you physically emitting cold air?

「Countess Weimss.」

Answering with a 「Yes,」 the Countess bowed smoothly, and Her Majesty waved her hand lightly to prompt her to rise.

「Your daughter seems to be a girl with a strong sense of justice.」

「Indeed she is...」

The Countess likely knew that and usually tried to restrain her.

She knit her brows in deep distress and let out a sigh.

「I do not mean to say that is a bad thing. However, young lady... what is your name?」

Addressed directly, Lady Susanna bowed smoothly to Her Majesty.

「My name is Susanna, Your Majesty.」

「I see. Raise your head. ...Susanna, you must learn methods other than charging straight ahead. If you crash head-on into every wall you encounter, you will end up covered in wounds.」

Pausing briefly, Her Majesty turned toward me and gave a mischievous smile.

「Elly, who is smaller than either of you, was left at a complete loss because she couldn't stop you.」

That's so true~.

Me, eight years old. Those ladies over there—Lady Drill Hairs is eleven, and Lady Susanna is ten.

With children around this age, a single year makes a huge difference~.

Though really, I'd like to be excused from breaking up a catfight~.

I have nothing but bad feelings about catching stray bullets.

I seem to have terrible reflexes, or rather, an exquisite level of clumsiness. Once, when I went to observe the knights' training, His Highness smiled while pressuring me beforehand: 「Make sure you never say 'I want to give it a try,' alright?」

My usual guard knight brothers nodded furiously at His Highness's words too.

(...It's a secret that I was a little bit hurt.)

Besides, if I foolishly barged in and ended up getting hurt, it would cause a massive disaster.

Even so, I am technically the "Crown Prince's Fiancée." My current status is semi-royalty. Even for the daughter of the premier ducal house, injuring me would become a grave question of liability.

「Elly, is there anything you would like to say?」

Prompted by Her Majesty, I thought for a moment before answering, 「Not particularly.」

Because, you know?

Lady Drill Hairs might not like me, but she hasn't said or done anything to my face.

Judging by today's brawl, Lady Drill Hairs clearly lacks popularity anyway. Getting badmouthed behind my back by a kid like that doesn't hurt much at all.

(...Well, the only thing that bothers me is that Lady Drill Hairs doesn't seem to be reflecting at all. But I'm sure the Aristoll Ducal House will deal with that somehow.)

If I spoke up, it would only cause unnecessary friction.

「Then, Susanna, do you have anything to say?」

Asked by Her Majesty the Queen, Lady Susanna bowed deeply once again.

「I offer my most sincere apologies for causing such a disturbance. Your Majesty, Lady Elizabeth, I am deeply sorry for troubling you.」

Hmm. A solid apology.

「Exercise care from now on.」

Answering 「As you command」 to Her Majesty's words, Lady Susanna raised her head. However, her eyes remained lowered.

I can tell she's reflecting. Awarding 10 points.

「Now then, daughter of Duke Aristoll, what about you?」

Yes, Her Majesty doesn't even address Lady Drill Hairs by name~. How terrifying~.

In short, Lady Drill Hairs is evaluated as "currently not even worth remembering the name of."

The Duchess naturally notices this. Her complexion is ghastly. How tragic.

However, Lady Drill Hairs herself doesn't seem to realize it at all. ...Are you going to be okay, kid?

「...I am... deeply... sorry...」

There was a huge delay before she even opened her mouth, and on top of that, "I don't want to do this" was written in huge letters all over her face, her apology broken and chewed out bit by bit.

What happened to a young lady's signature skill of "political deceit"?!

More importantly, that is Her Majesty the Queen right in front of you?!

T-h-a-t-i-s-p-r-e-c-i-s-e-l-y-y-o-u-r-p-r-o-b-l-e-m!! (Third time)

The Duchess beside her was already deathly pale. Absolutely pitiful.

Her Majesty the Queen let out a sigh of exasperation and rose fluidly from the sofa.

Rising cleanly with zero windup is insanely difficult, you know! As expected of Her Majesty, she did it so gracefully, though!

「Daughter of Duke Aristoll, you are forbidden from entering the royal palace for the next year. Re-learn not only etiquette, but various other matters from scratch.」

「As you command.」

The one who answered immediately was the Duchess.

Lady Drill Hairs stared down, biting her lip and clutching her dress tightly.

I mean, come on... at least respond, will you?

Since Her Majesty stood up, I stood as well.

Following Her Majesty as she exited, I hurriedly left the room behind her.

The air in the hallway tastes amazing!!

Escaping the suffocating scolding room!!

*Phew*... I let out a sigh trying not to be noticed, but she caught it completely.

Her Majesty looked down at me, holding her fan to her lips with a chuckle.

「Elly, thank you for your hard work today.」

「Yes.」

Dropping smoothly into a curtsy, I bowed, and Her Majesty chuckled again.

「At ease. Let's hold our debriefing tomorrow. ...There's someone waiting in ambush to comfort you.」

*Hohe?* Raising my head, I followed the direction of Her Majesty's gaze to find Crown Prince Leonard standing further down the corridor.

「Your Majesty, may I borrow Elly?」

Walking toward us, His Highness asked Her Majesty the Queen. To which Her Majesty nodded with a smile.

「Yes, go ahead. Give her plenty of praise for doing so well.」

「Naturally. ...Come along, Elly. You must be exhausted, right? I've prepared some sweets.」

Sweets...!

I must have had a thoroughly dazed look on my face.

Her Majesty laughed cheerfully.

「Well then, Elly. Until tomorrow.」

「Yes, Your Majesty. Please excuse my departure.」

Beside me as I bowed, His Highness was also bowing his head to Her Majesty.

Even though they are parent and child, outside of private spaces they are fundamentally monarch and subject.

Princess Linalia is somewhat more relaxed, but Crown Prince Leonard is thorough about it. I've only heard him address Their Majesties as "Father" or "Mother" a countable number of times.

As Her Majesty departed accompanied by her maids, His Highness and I straightened up simultaneously.

「Now then, shall we go? I've also prepared your favorite elderflower cordial, Elly.」

Hand in hand with the beaming Prince, I began walking in the opposite direction from where Her Majesty had left.

Tea was set up today once again in the garden near His Highness's private quarters.

Instead of black tea, a juice-like drink made from elderflower called cordial was prepared for me.

In the glass, even precious ice was floating.

「It's ice-cold!」

Overjoyed, I looked at His Highness while laughing, and he let out a small, amused chuckle as well.

「Indeed. Thinking you might be tired, I had something cold prepared.」

「Thank you so much! I'm so happy!」

It's not that I dislike lukewarm drinks, though.

When you're tired, an ice-cold drink hits a little differently, doesn't it?

Saying my thanks, I gulped down the cordial and let out a soft *phew*.

I'm coming back to life~.

His Highness's thoughtfulness is simply marvelous~!

「Is it good?」

「Yes! It brings me back to life!」

Setting down my glass, I stated my honest impression, but the guard knight brothers' shoulders were trembling. What are you laughing at, hey?!

「It sounds like today was quite an ordeal.」

I don't know how detailed his knowledge was, but a report must have reached His Highness as well.

「Indeed... I need to learn to handle things a bit more adroitly.」

「There is still time. I'm sure you will do just fine, Elly.」

「I shall exert my utmost efforts to live up to your expectations.」

When I bowed deeply, His Highness let out an exasperated chuckle.

「You are working hard, Elly.」

「Thank you very much.」

When I offered my thanks, His Highness smiled with a slightly troubled expression.

I mean, I get it. I know His Highness is saying that from the bottom of his heart.

Even so, I personally think there's still room for improvement.

After that, I enjoyed the delicious cordial and sweets, and His Highness praised me plenty for today's efforts.

And he promised to take me to the cafe in the castle town together at a later date.

Apparently, I was thoroughly exhausted, because I fell asleep right in the middle of having tea.

When I came to, I was in bed inside my own room at the Macnagan ducal estate.

*****

Could have used vertical rolls instead, but drill hair have more visual impact while reading it.

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