The Duke's Daughter Goes Her Own Way
[ (Appreciation Sale!) Is Appearance 90 Percent of a Person...?]
Translated by: ME
Me's note:
I kinda missed this chapter, this should be the 3rd short story not the 16th but changing stuff is a hassle so I'll just put it here. It's fairly short compared to the rest but it's still interesting.
Author's note:
As a thanks for your continued patronage, here's the third spontaneous short story.
You might wonder every time, "What's this 'Sale' in the title?" It's a sale where the word count is slashed by 50%, thanks to my gratitude for your patronage leading to these almost impulsive, one-shot writings. It's user-friendly for those short on time.
This time, the timeline is roughly the same as the main story. His Highness is sixteen, Elly is twelve.
***
I am currently attending the academy.
It was arranged somewhat self-indulgently, but precisely because of that, I must properly do what needs to be done.
Their Majesties try to reduce the official duties I participate in as much as possible, but there are still some that cannot be skipped. On those days, I am absent from the academy.
The academy has been informed, and for me, attendance rate is not factored into my credits.
I am causing trouble for various people, but I am very grateful that they allow it. To repay them, I must not cut corners on the things I need to do.
Besides official duties, there are also days when paperwork piles up and I have no choice but to take a break.
Today is one of those days.
I basically leave it to my three aides, but there are many matters that absolutely require my approval. When these pile up to a certain extent, I have no choice but to miss the academy.
***
Walking down the castle corridor with my aide Robert, I saw Ellie walking towards us.
Ellie sometimes walks with a bouncing, springy step. I find it adorable and like it, but as manners for a young lady, it's not very praiseworthy, so I can only see it occasionally.
...If it's not an official setting, she doesn't need to be so careful. Because it's cute. I'm sure no one would complain. Because it's cute.
When Ellie noticed Robert and me, she moved to the side of the corridor to yield the way.
「Welcome back, Ellie.」
I said to Elly, who had probably just returned from the academy. Elly looked at me and smiled.
「I'm back now. Lord Leon, thank you for your hard work.」
「Yeah. I'm tired……」
Though I'm not finished yet.
「And to you as well, Your Excellency.」
As Ellie slightly bowed her head towards Robert, he said something like, 「No, please don't trouble yourself.」
When Ellie raised her bowed head, she looked at Robert as if suddenly remembering something.
「That reminds me, is your younger sister doing well?」
「My sister?」
Robert looked puzzled by the sudden question.
Robert's sister... that young lady? ...What was her name again...?
Thanks to Ellie, only 'Drill Hair' comes to mind...
I wonder if Ellie remembers her name.
She has a good memory, so she might remember. But she can be surprisingly careless, so there's also a real possibility she doesn't.
I leaned close to Robert's ear and whispered, 「Ask Ellie for my sister's name.」
Though he made a face that said he didn't quite understand, Robert smiled at Elly.
「Even though you, Lady Elizabeth, have only met my sister once, thank you for remembering her. ...By the way, do you know my sister's name?」
「Her name is, ta... no, Mmm, my apologies. I'm very sorry, I can't quite recall it at the moment...」
She said 'ta'!
So in Elly's mind, she is indeed 'Drill Hair'!
Robert looked at me as if to say, "Is this alright?" and I secretly nodded.
「My sister's name is Florence. ...Although, it's not as if my sister will appear before you, Lady Elizabeth, so there's no need for you to remember it.」
「Ah...! That's right. Lady Florence. I remember now.」
She nodded, saying "Uh-huh, uh-huh."
...Well, I shouldn't talk, but you had completely forgotten, hadn't you, Ellie?
「Um, may I ask you something, Lord Robert...?」
「Yes, what is it?」
「How does Lady Florence arrange her hair? Do you know, Your Excellency?」
So you *hadn't* forgotten, Ellie!!
After the tea party when she was eight, Ellie had been very concerned about her hairstyle for a while. ...But since it stopped being a topic of conversation soon after, I thought she had lost interest...
「Her hair...?」
「Yes. Lady Florence had such a wonderful hairstyle, I couldn't help but be curious.」
Seeing Elly nod with a serious face, Robert looked at me somewhat troubled.
It's not as precise as the Macnagan family's hand signals, but we too can communicate to some extent without words. A skill born from spending long hours together.
I looked at Robert with the thought, "Even if you know, don't tell her." Robert looked at Ellie and gave a wry smile.
「No. My apologies, but... I have little interest in women's preparations, so even regarding my sister, I don't know much.」
「I see... Yes, of course. My apologies as well, for asking such a strange question.」
Did she give up?
She gave up, right!?
「Well then, Lord Leon, Your Excellency, I shall take my leave. My apologies for detaining you.」
Ellie bowed gracefully and left.
I feel somewhat uneasy, seeing her talking about something with Marina, who was behind her...
***
「...Your Highness, what was the intention behind Lady Elizabeth's question earlier?」
After Elly and the others were sufficiently far away, Robert spoke up.
Well, it must be strange from Robert's perspective. Elly and the Vertical Rolls young lady have had no contact since that tea party.
I let out a deep sigh.
「Ellie likes your sister's magnificent vertical rolls.」
「.........Ha?」
Robert frowned deeply, looking utterly perplexed.
Yeah. You wouldn't understand, would you? I don't understand either.
「Even after that tea party, she kept talking about it. Wondering how one could create such magnificent vertical rolls, drill hair.」
「Ha, ah...」
「She even came close to suggesting sneaking into the Aristoll mansion to uncover the secret.」
Robert didn't even reply anymore. He was just dumbfounded.
「She said there are no other vertical rolls as splendid as those. Wondering how one could manage to keep them from getting messy. She seemed to be brooding over it for several days.」
「Why to that extent...」
「She says it's 'romance.'」
「Romance...」
You don't get it, right?
Yeah, of course you don't. But.
「You, whatever you do, don't bring up that topic with Ellie.」
「Why?」
「If you bring it up and then make a face like 'I don't understand,' like just now, Ellie will lecture you earnestly. About 'what kind of romance is packed into drill hair.'」
It happened to me. Definitely.
And it was a story I couldn't understand at all, even when I listened. It was a bit painful. Even I, who find Ellie cute no matter what she does, found it painful. For anyone else, it would probably feel even more painful.
Perhaps because I got a distant look in my eyes, Robert made a solemn face and muttered, 「I shall bear that firmly in mind.」
***
Some time later, on a weekend.
The academy is closed on weekends. Many departments within the castle are also off.
But I was holed up in my office, intending to finish up the work that could be done during this time.
Robert was helping me too.
The door knocked, and a valet showed his face.
「Pardon me, Your Highness. Lady Elizabeth wishes to see you. What would you like to do?」
「Show her in.」
「As you wish.」
The valet bowed politely and withdrew. Shortly after, Elly arrived.
「Thank you for granting me your time.」
Looking at Ellie, who bowed politely at the doorway, I couldn't help but be dumbstruck. Robert also looked her way and dropped the pen he was holding.
Elly was, unbelievably, sporting magnificent vertical rolls, the infamous drill hair.
And with a terribly satisfied smile. She even looked a bit proud.
「How is it, Lord Leon! Isn't this a rather well-made set of drill hair!?」
「Ah, well... that is, how did you...?」
I have no way of judging the quality... I don't even know what to say anymore...
「Since meeting Lady Drill Hair at that tea party, four long years of struggle! I have finally reached this point!」
Ellie, Robert's sister has become 'Drill Hair'!
And wait, does that mean she's been researching it ever since!?
How... pointless...
「How about it!? Even if I shake my head, look...」
As she said this, Ellie shook her head from side to side. Not a single strand of Elly's vertical rolls was out of place.
...Eh!? How is this happening!? It's just like the real drill hair young lady's vertical rolls!
「They don't get messy at all!」
Ellie puffed out her chest as if to say "Ahem!" She's cute, but... Why... vertical rolls...?
「What do you think, Your Excellency! Don't you think they are getting closer to Lady Drill Hair's vertical rolls!?」
Her name is not 'Lady Drill Hair,' Ellie!
...She's too excited to notice...
「Yee...es, I suppose?」
What a hesitant reply. This is the first time I've seen Robert so lost for words.
Ellie really is amazing, as always... In her own unique way.
But Ellie was in high spirits.
「Right! I finally achieved a quality that satisfies me, so I just had to show you, Lord Leon!」
「Ah... ah, is that, so...」
What should I do? ...Should I thank her?
Tell me the right answer, Ellie...
But there's one thing I must say.
「Hey, Ellie...」
「Yes?」
I'm sorry to throw cold water on your happy mood, but please let me say this!
「I prefer your usual self.」
At those words, Ellie, as expected, made a face that looked shocked.
「No good...? The vertical rolls...? Even though they turned out so wonderfully...」
Taking a strand of her beautifully coiled hair in her hand, she sadly looked down at it.
Somehow, I feel like I said something terribly bad...
...No!!
I didn't! It's fine!
I definitely didn't say anything wrong!
「No, I think they are wonderfully done. But people have preferences, right?」
「That... is certainly true...」
While still looking dejected, Elly gently released the hair she was holding and raised her face.
「I prefer Ellie's usual hair. Could you please, in front of me, stay just as you usually are?」
「...Yes.」
Elly nodded, though she seemed a little disappointed, and I felt relieved from the bottom of my heart.
「Then...」
Looking straight at me, Ellie smiled as usual.
「I shall enjoy the drill hair when Lord Leon is not around.」
That's not... exactly what I meant...
No, I should compromise here. I don't wish to sadden Ellie any further.
「By all means, please do that. Sorry.」
「Not at all. Well then, thank you very much for your time. I shall take my leave.」
Ellie bowed politely just as she had when she entered, and then left.
「Your Highness... What in the world was that...」
I sighed at Robert, who was staring blankly at the quietly closed door.
「Four years... she was researching it...」
Giving up is also, sometimes, important, you know, Ellie...
At this rate, she probably hasn't given up on making sweets either... What is it... I have nothing but a bad feeling.
「Lady Drill hair is...」
「...Let's not touch on that.」
She probably hasn't realized it herself.
***
Later, it came to light that in Ellie's vertical roll research, her academy friend, Lady Emilia, seemed to have made a great contribution.
"As expected of Lady Emilia! Her feminine prowess is skyrocketing!" Ellie said excitedly...
My feeling of happiness that she has made a good friend and my feeling of "What on earth has she been telling her?" were locked in battle...
***
Elizabeth thinks:
Just as chocolate coronets are filled with chocolate, drill hair is filled with romance.
Drill hairs are awesome, you know. They're full of romance till the very end.
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