HowDeadTL: SS15 My Dear Friend

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The Duke's Daughter Goes Her Own Way

[My Dear Friend]

Translated by: ME

Author's note:

This is Emilia's story.

The timeline is the day when His Highness and Ellie ascend the throne as the new monarchs, and a few days after that.

***

A pleasant, sunny afternoon.

The sky had been heavy and gloomy all morning, but a refreshing breeze, typical of early summer, swept the clouds away, transforming it into a clear, pleasant blue sky by noon.

A few fluffy, cotton-like white clouds dotted the sky, a world away from the morning's dark ones.

What a wonderfully pleasant day.

Thinking just that, I opened the windows I had kept shut all morning, sat in my chair, and began to read a book.

On my lap was my beloved cat, Steve. I found this little one in an alley near my house. He was just a kitten then, being bullied by crows and letting out weak, pitiful cries.

He was covered in wounds, with patches of fur torn out, a truly painful sight.

But I am a 'Doctor,' one who believes in saving every life that can be saved. I would save this kitten! With that resolve, my husband and I took turns nursing him back to health.

Steve grew up full of energy, even if he does walk with a bit of a drag in one of his hind legs now.… Though, because of his early experiences, he became a bit of a cowardly, clingy baby.

***

A pleasant breeze occasionally drifted in through the window, and from outside, I could hear the hustle and bustle of the people.

It was a peaceful, relaxing afternoon.

Into this relaxed, afternoon cityscape, the cathedral's bell suddenly rang out.

Following the *Clang, clang* of the great cathedral's bell, one by one, the sounds of other bells joined in, layering over one another.

From the great cathedrals to the smallest temples in the royal capital, every facility with a 'bell' was ringing them all at once.

Startled by the loud noise he was hearing for the first time, Steve let out a [Meep!], leaped from my lap, and scurried under the cupboard in a flash.

From outside, cheers from the people rose, almost rivaling the volume of the loud bells.

Both these bells and the people's cheers were to celebrate the ascension of the new monarchs.

I shifted my gaze to the window. While it was quite a distance from here, I could see the spires of the royal castle.

Does this blessing reach you?

Everyone is celebrating you both.

…Can you hear it? Lady Elizabeth.

***

[That's pretty awesome!]

As Marie said this, making a circle with the thumb and forefinger of her right hand, I couldn't help but say, [Please don't do that hand gesture.]

[Sorry, sorry,] Marie apologized lightly and took a sip of her tea.

[But seriously, His Highness's and Lady Elizabeth's popularity is even more incredible than I thought! The commemorative goods for their ascension sell out the moment they're stocked!]

[Marie, it's not 'His Highness' anymore. It's 'His Majesty.']

[Oh, right. My bad.]

…She apologizes so casually, but you know, if you did that in public, it could become a serious matter, couldn't it?… Unlike me, you're a noble…

She was lounging relaxedly in the living room of my modest, rented house in the commoners' district, drinking tea. She's been my friend since our student days.

She was gulping down the cheap, 'commoner-approved' tea I served without a single complaint.

…Speaking of which, Marie, maybe you shouldn't 'gulp it down' like that… Why is it that this girl never, ever acts like a noble…?

The earth-shakingly loud bells that rang through the capital the other day announced and celebrated the former king's abdication.

The new king, His Majesty Leonard, is also someone I shared a classroom with during our student days.… Not that we were on casual terms where I could call him a 'school friend' or anything.

And his wife, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, is my precious friend.

Who I am today is largely thanks to Lady Elizabeth's influence. She is a very, very dear friend.

And Marie, who is now sitting in front of me saying, [These nuts are super delicious!] while popping one after another from the bowl into her mouth, is also an irreplaceable friend.

Myself, Marie, and Lady Elizabeth.

The three of us, despite our different stations in life, attended the same school and became close.

Looking back now, those days felt like a dream.

Me, born in the commoners' district of the capital; Marie, the daughter of a Count; and Lady Elizabeth, the daughter of a Duke and the Crown Prince's fiancée.

We were all in the same place, seeing things from the same perspective.

[So, Lady Elizabeth has finally become 'Her Majesty,' too…]

She was always from a world far removed from mine, but this really makes her someone from a 'different world.'

[You attended the ceremony, didn't you, Marie? How was it?]

Marie, being a noble, should have attended the abdication ceremony the other day.

After all, Marie is now the 'Countess Fluorite.'

The Countess, who had single-handedly finished off the bowl of nuts, was now reaching for a different bowl of sugar candies.… Maybe I should have served them in smaller batches. This girl still has the habit of eating everything in sight…

Marie stopped her hand from taking a candy and looked at me with a serious expression.

Wh-what is it?… Did something that serious happen…?

[I spent two whole hours staring at the back of some old man's head!]

Eh…… Ehhhh~~…

And here I thought she was going to say something important…

[At those kinds of ceremonies and stuff, the seating is decided by rank. And usually, you need to be a Count or higher to even get invited.]

[You're a Countess, Marie, so that shouldn't be a problem, right?]

[That's true, but… just think about it.]

Marie took another sip of tea and then tossed a sugar candy into her mouth.… Really, Marie, must you eat like that…?

[I've only been a 'Countess' for a little over ten years! That means my family has the lowest seniority among all the Counts.]

[Ahh…]

Marie's family was promoted from Viscount to Count just before she entered the Academy, if I recall. Indeed, their history is shallow compared to Count families that date back to the founding of the current Berclair royal line. Shallow is an understatement; it's practically 'nonexistent.'

[But Marie, your family runs one of the largest merchant guilds in the capital now, doesn't it? Doesn't that help your rank?]

[It does. Next year.]

[Ahh… So it was a matter of timing…]

[Exactly.]

Marie nodded and tossed another candy into her mouth.

…I wonder if this girl ever thinks about things like 'gaining weight'… It must be nice to be able to toss back sweets like that… Lately, everything I eat seems to turn directly into fat…

[Because my family's rank is so low, my seat was way off in a corner of the hall.… And the old man sitting right in front of me was this really tall, stout man…]

[…And so, you stared at that man for two hours…?]

[That's the gist of it.]

As Marie nodded with a [Mhm], I couldn't help but sigh.

And here I was, hoping to ask Marie what Lady Elizabeth's once-in-a-lifetime grand ceremony was like…

[But you know, Emilia! Thanks to the man in front of me, I had a brilliant idea!]

With sparkling eyes, Marie leaned forward toward me.

[What is it?]

When I asked, Marie's face broke into a full, beaming smile, her eyes shining.

[It's that natural-looking wigs have infinite potential!!]

This girl… what in the world is she talking about…?

[Rather than forcing the hair on the sides to comply, I thought, if we had wigs that felt more natural, with less of a 'I'm wearing a wig' feeling, then all the gentlemen could wear them without resistance! Not like 'hairy hats,' but something that feels more natural.]

[O-oh, is that so…]

[Yes! Hair growth potions are impossible, but we can make wigs! Even Paul said it 'might be a good idea'!]

…So, the old man in front of her had a hairstyle that 'forced the hair on the sides to comply,' and his hair was, well, in a state that required a wig…

…More importantly, what kind of story am I being subjected to?…

I just wanted to hear about how Lady Elizabeth was at the ceremony…

For a while after that, I was treated to Marie's lecture on [The Necessary Elements for a Natural Wig].

[…So, is Lady Elizabeth doing well?]

Seizing the moment when Marie's wig monologue had settled down, I asked. Marie nodded while sipping her tea.

[She seemed fine. I haven't seen her myself lately, so this is all from what Paul's told me.]

[I see. As long as she's well, that's all that matters.]

[She's probably fine—]

Marie said in her relaxed tone, but then, for some reason, her expression clouded over and she sighed.

[Marie?]

[I think she's fine… It's just, the other day, Paul came home with some cookie-like 'thing' he got from Her Majesty that turned to powder with the slightest pressure and had no taste…]

[Ahh…]

Lady Elizabeth… some things never change…

[…This time, it's 'powder,' then…]

[It was powder… Tasteless, odorless powder…]

[At that point, isn't it just… plain flour?…]

[We can't rule out that possibility… It was something that turned to dust when you tried to pick it up.]

[…That's a very ephemeral confection…]

[Yeah. It's kind of mystical, isn't it?… In many ways.]

We sighed in unison, then looked at each other and laughed.

***

Someday.

I hope we can have tea together again, all three of us, just like we did in our student days, with Lady Elizabeth joining us here.

That's what I thought.

And.

I strongly resolved that if such an opportunity ever arose, I would be sure to tell Lady Elizabeth, [Please, no gifts are necessary.]

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