The Scary Big Sisters

Translated by: ME

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*****

As soon as I realized the music playing was a waltz, my spine straightened reflexively. It was because the memories of my intensive training sessions came rushing back.

Dance = Claude.

This equation had been etched into the very marrow of Magnolia and Dean’s bones. The rule was simple: *When you dance, you must not show a single unsightly move!*

(Yes, sir!!)

I saluted sharply in my mind. He hadn't actually said anything, but the image of his piercing gaze—that silent, overwhelming pressure—loomed unbidden in my thoughts.

(Hmm...)

That said.

The live-action Lady Oscar, Marchioness Perronsch, was roughly 175 centimeters tall. I was 108 centimeters.

「...Do you think we’ll be able to dance?」

「It will be fine. Leave the leading to me.」

Looking at her dazzling smile, I managed a strained grin. Her high-collared blue military uniform exuded an air of stoic restraint.

(…Honestly, she’s probably more popular with the ladies than most men around here.)

I placed my tiny hand in her offered palm and accepted.

The mismatched pair—one large, one small—began to dance. It was a sight both heartwarming and slightly bizarre, and the onlookers watched over us with gentle smiles. There was no doubt we were a pair of beauties; it was just that we were both female, and one of us was at an age where she’d be better off coming back in ten years.

「...Thank you for helping me earlier. And I apologize for causing such a scene.」

「Not at all. I’m just glad you’re safe. You must have been frightened.」

Well.

I was startled, but I wasn't exactly "scared." If anything, I was worried that I might accidentally become a human bomb.

They said the device was "small-scale," but a terrifying thought had crossed my mind: if the whole thing went off, wouldn't it blow up the entire hall and everyone in it? I could already see the newspaper headline: *Catastrophe at Debutante Party.*

I made a mental note to properly verify the actual yield of that thing later.

「No... there were palace guards present, after all...」

「True. It was just a matter of poor positioning. The whole thing only lasted a few minutes; had it happened elsewhere, the knights would have arrived even sooner.」

***

My eyes met Servas’, who had just returned to the hall after forcibly peeling himself away from the lingering old men. I gave him a small nod. Even if I was the star of the show, it wouldn't do for me to be without a guardian.

Besides, it was definitely better to have the cool-headed Claude intervene than the "Granddaughter-is-Life" Servas.

(Otherwise, Brother Bra would be in serious trouble...!)

If you asked whether I liked or disliked Brian, I certainly didn't favor him. But I didn't want him to be ruined, either. I don't know how he feels, but personally, I’m fine with him living happily—as long as it’s somewhere far away from me.

Iris, for her part, stared intently at the young girl who seemed perfectly unfazed despite everything that had happened.

(Heh. The Gilmore family really is full of eccentrics.)

She thought the same thing Victor once had while looking down at the crown of Magnolia’s pink hair. Still, Gerald’s behavior was what truly bothered her. It was completely unlike him. The more she learned about Magnolia’s character, the more certain she became.

「...The Honor Student is acting strange...」

Magnolia had been subtly (?) scanning the floor as she danced to make sure no glass shards remained, but she looked up at Iris’s quiet murmur.

「...Strange?」

「Ah, no... I was referring to your father. I don't know your personal feelings on the matter, Lady Magnolia... but he is supposed to be a fair and just man. And underneath it all, he’s actually quite compassionate.」

Iris trailed off, recalling the past but hesitating for the sake of Magnolia, who had likely been treated coldly by her parents. Magnolia immediately connected Iris's words to the sense of wrongness she had felt regarding her father for some time now.

「Please, don't worry about me. I have always thought it was strange myself. Based on what I've heard and read, he’s acting... 'out of character,' so to speak. ...By the way, are you an acquaintance of my father?」

Given their similar ages and social standings, it wouldn't be unusual.

「We were classmates at the Royal Academy. For that matter, Victor... the son of Duke Bristol, was one year ahead of us. Don’t tell Colette I told you, or she’ll get cross.」

She smiled mischievously and pressed a forefinger to her lips.

「...The son of Duke Bristol...」

「That guy. He wasn't like that back then. I wonder when he started looking like a mountain bandit?」

Iris tilted her head with a wry expression. As she spoke, she noticed Colette and Victor watching them dance while engaged in a serious-looking discussion.

「I’ll introduce you to Colette. You already know Victor, right?」

「...Yes.」

*Know him? I’m practically in his debt up to my eyeballs.*

***

As the music ended, I was led—or rather, escorted—over to the two of them. I was met with a gaze of intense, focused power.

(Snow White... at least in appearance.)

Baroness Orsay was a lovely woman with porcelain skin, a straight-cut brunette bob, and blue eyes. She was the embodiment of the Snow White I had seen in picture books back when I lived in Japan.

...However, one could sense that the words "shrewd" and "formidable" likely followed her everywhere. As I prepared to greet her, she raised a hand slightly and dropped into a deep, graceful curtsey. It seemed she intended to follow protocol strictly.

She clearly had no intention of leaving a single opening for petty criticism. She seemed every bit the professional who had spent years in the world of business.

A soft, sweet scent—distinct from perfume and somehow nostalgic—brushed past my nose.

「It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Colette Orsay. I trust you are in good spirits, Lady Magnolia. I look forward to our acquaintance.」

Her head was lowered respectfully, but when she looked up, her face wore a brilliant social smile while her eyes remained sharp and piercing.

(…Whoa. She’s the type you really don't want to cross.)

Magnolia chuckled inwardly and decided to play the part of a typical child as much as possible. First, she needed to give a proper greeting and thanks.

「Thank you for saying hello. I am Magnolia Gilmore. Welcome today. And thank you very much for helping me earlier.」

The contrast between this childish tone and the Magnolia who had been speaking like an adult just moments ago made Iris blink and Colette's expression shift to one of surprise. Beside Colette, Victor let out a small snort.

「See? Colette, you were trying to do a high-pressure interview, so you scared her.」

「...I did no such thing.」

*Ho-ho-ho.* She laughed a forced social laugh. Immediately, her expression changed to one of pure curiosity, and she scrutinized Magnolia from head to toe.

「............ Your iron fan was very cool. And thank you for taking care of my uncle-in-law. Good day to you.」

Alright, I’ve been introduced. I’d better beat a retreat before I accidentally let something slip. I gave a smiling bow and prepared to leave, but Victor stopped me.

「Wait now, wait.」

「Lord Duke Bristol. Thank you for your help as always.」

I’ll give Victor a little jab. ...I think I'll call him that every time I see him from now on.

「My bad, my bad. Personally, I consider myself a commoner, but the Prime Minister keeps throwing these unreasonable demands at me.」

*How sad,* Magnolia thought while looking at him. *He thinks he’s thrown it all away, but the world won't let him off that easy.*

(Yeah... I’m sure Victor is annoyed, but I also feel for the Prime Minister.)

I wonder if the Prime Minister has seen his son like this. Parenting is just one crisis after another. It looks tough.

「Colette looks scary, but she’s actually a good person at heart, so it’s okay.」

「I am simply being elegant. Ho-ho-ho.」

Victor sighed at Magnolia, who hadn't lowered her guard in the slightest.

「...She’s totally on guard. You too, Colette! Stop doing that to a little kid. Anyway, you weren't hurt, right? I'm glad you're safe.」

Magnolia nodded slightly. Yes, the whole thing had happened in a flash.

I was cornered by Brian, gave him a cold shoulder, he snapped, and just as I thought he was going to hit me with a glass... knives flew from two directions to pin the glass to the wall, an iron fan flew from a third, a boy tried to protect me but left my head exposed (though I appreciate the sentiment, kid!), a large man provided an iron wall of a block, and the female commander known as the East Wolf Marquis suppressed the threat.

It probably didn't even take five minutes. I was truly grateful, but what kind of group *was* this?

「Do I need to master throwing star-knives too?」

When I tilted my head and asked that, the three adults went blank for a second. Then they all started talking at once.

「Well, given this lineup, we practically look like a clumsy assassination squad.」

「Oh, one of us actually *is* a real assassin, you know?」

「I’m just glad the final boss was elsewhere. The Great Hall would have been leveled.」

As they spoke, they stopped in unison and looked at Magnolia. Their timing was perfect.

「Would you like me to give you an iron fan?」

「Should I order a star-knife magic tool for you?」

「Do you need training methods? Or would you prefer techniques for interrogation?」

............

「No... I am okay, thank you.」

Magnolia gave them a bright, beaming smile.

*****

Note: If you want to imagine Collete, try Imagine Beatrice from Umineko series with white dress and brunette hair.

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