Chapter 139 – First Formal Visit to Another Noble Estate

“Alright, ladies! You’re all prepared! Remember, it’s a good time to practice what you’ve learned in this short time. But don’t forget to have fun as well!” The cheerful maid announced to the three young girls that were dressed up in matching dresses that also went well with their features and ages.

“Don’t worry about it,” The eldest one with the purple hair, Ann, seemed pretty confident and relaxed.

“W-will it be alright?” The middle one with short green hair, Faye, trembled a bit. She had never worn such a dress, and she continued to stare at her image in the mirror with a confused look.

“Wheeee! Pretty dress!!” The youngest one with lovely pink hair, Fina, was awfully cheerful as she took the hem of her dress, spread it like a flower, and twirled around with it.

“Fina-sama! You can’t do that!! Remember to behave, alright?!” The young maid that just tidied up Fina’s dress scolded Fina, now she had to tidy her up one more time. 

Today, the three sisters of the Doussier viscounty would go to another noble’s house for their very first meet and greet–no, their first invitation.

Among the pile of invitations, Ann only accepted one. 

“If only we could sum up Faye and Fina’s confidence and split it into two, it would be perfect… Anyway, Faye, don’t worry about it too much. This is a practice run, alright? There won’t be any repercussions should you make any blunder. Just take a note about it and fix it later, got it?” Ann patted Faye’s head, trying to calm herself down.

As she looked at the small girl nodding meekly in front of her, she almost drooled from her cuteness.

Too cute! Faye is too cute! The dress fits her so much!!! I wish I can squish Faye now, but I will be scolded…

Ann tried so hard to suppress her feelings of wanting to squish her two cute little sisters in her heart. 

“Really? Will it be alright?” Faye was still worried.

“Yeah. I accepted this invitation because I know it will just be alright. And actually, it’s due time for me to see them…,” Ann scratched her head.

She was the one who should be nervous, okay?

She had promised the ones who invited her that she’d come see them or even write to them, but… she really had no time to fulfill her promise.

Even sending a letter–she simply forgot about it as she got engulfed in the flow of the events.

She felt so guilty, but she couldn’t simply avoid this. 

If I still want to foster a good friendship with them, I shouldn’t avoid them. Let’s face this head on!

***

“Onee-sama, they will come, right?” The tosca-haired boy tapped his fingers on the desk, seemingly impatient.

“They said they would. So, they will,” The sky blue-haired older girl continued to read the book in her hands, not even bothering to look at the younger boy sitting across from her.

“Hmm… I can’t wait to see Arlea-neechan!” The boy said with his yellow eyes sparkling.

“She’s Ann now,” The elder sister corrected her little brother.

“Ah… right. I need to get used to it,” The boy seemed troubled.

Just then…

“Naia-sama, Norrad-sama, the guests have just arrived. We will shortly escort them here,” A maid reported.

“Finally!!” The boy, Norrad, jumped in joy as he looked towards the path leading to the table they were at.

The elder sister, Naia, closed the book she was reading and gave it to her personal maid to safeguard. 

“Prepare the tea,” she commanded.

“Yes, Naia-sama,” the maid quickly obeyed.

Not too long after, the three sisters with different physical characteristics appeared, led by a maid. 

The three of them looked left and right, enjoying the refreshing scenery of the garden that the Rubennhelsch earl residence had. 

“Ann-neechan! Come, sit here!” The overly excited Norrad couldn’t wait anymore as he jumped from his seat to lead the guests to sit on the provided seats.

“Norrad! Long time no see!” Ann greeted the puppy-like boy with equal joy. 

Looking at cute children like him is so healing!

The three sisters from Doussier viscounty greeted the siblings of Rubennhelsch earl before they sat down.

The maid quickly poured tea for all five of them before slightly retreating.

All the while, Faye nervously looked at her surroundings. 

Meanwhile, Fina was happy to see the cake provided for them.

“Ann-neechan! Is it true that you are no longer married?!”

“Eh…”

Ann almost splurted the tea that she just sipped.

Norrad, why is that the first thing you ask me?!

“I heard from my parents that your marriage’s annulled and that you have become the daughter of the Doussier family. Does that mean you are looking for a new husband?” Norrad continued to probe.

“Eh… I am already engaged…,” Ann quickly answered.

“Hmm… Engagement isn’t final, right? What do you think of getting it annulled and being with me instead?” Norrad cheerfully offered.

Ann almost choked on her own saliva.

T-this boy!! Doesn’t he know that if I really agree to do that, I will be a criminal?! 

W-well… He is 12 and my body is 18, nah it will be 19 soon. But we have a 6 years age gap… Sure, if we are older, it won’t be too significant. And this is an era where age gaps mean nothing, but… my modern world standard just won’t accept this!

Moreover…

“Norrad, I am already engaged,” Ann reminded politely.

“That’s why I said you could have it annulled, right? I heard from other people. If you like me more, why not be with me rather than going through an arranged engagement?” 

“Uhm… I do like you, Norrad, but not in that way. Plus, my engagement partner is someone I… l-l-love. So…,” Ann blushed a bit.

“Ehh? Your engagement isn’t arranged? You want it?” Norrad was taken aback.

“Yeah. Exactly. So, I can’t…”

“Awww… I want to be your family…,” Norrad pouted.

Then, an idea popped in Ann’s head.

“Why not get engaged with my little sister, Faye?” Ann asked as she pointed at Faye.

“A-Ann-sam–Ann-neesama?!” Faye got flustered.

Norrad continued to stare at Faye, “I think I’ve seen you somewhere…”

“Ah. You must have seen her before. She was my personal maid before. But she is now my sister! What do you think, she’s cute, right?” Ann proudly explained.

Then, she added, “If you marry Faye, I will become your sister-in-law!” 

Norrad’s eyes sparkled at the idea.

“A-Ann-neesama! Stop it!” Faye blushed hard.

“Yeah, yeah. I am just kidding. You two should be friends instead. Don’t get engaged or marry someone unless the two of you like each other, alright?” Ann quickly dropped the idea and chuckled.

I can’t help it, teasing Faye is so fun!

“Awww… Ann-neechan, are you sure about this? Is your fiance a good man?” Norrad continued to ask as he mumbled, “I have seen him before and he seemed like a scary man…”

“Alright, cut it out, Norrad,” Naia finally interjected, as she politely said to Ann, “Apologies for my younger brother’s words. He is truly immature for his age… Don’t take it to heart. When he was much younger, he said he’d marry our mother. Then, he said he would marry me. Now, he said he would marry you. We don’t know who else is next.”

“Onee-sama! Don’t say that!” Norrad seemed to be embarrassed.

“Haha, yeah, don’t worry about it. I just ask that you would be friends with Faye at least. Faye is 10 years old, so your ages aren’t too far apart,” Ann first answered Naia, before turning to Norrad.

“Of course! Ann-neechan’s sister can be my friends~” 

“Still… I didn’t think you would accept our invitations, hearing that you rejected all other nobles’ invitations,” Naia said in a tsundere way.

“No way~ How could I, a mere viscount’s daughter, dare to refuse the invitation from the children of an earl?” Ann responded in a joking way as well.

“You refused the other earl’s children’s invitations.”

“Oh, did I? I guess I did,” Ann chuckled.

“You really are daring. Do you know how many nobles whisper in jealousy that you have been acting arrogant, rejecting their invitations, since you’d soon be a duchess again?” Naia asked.

“Eh? I see. I guess it’s natural for me to act arrogant, then?” Ann blinked.

“You’re missing the point…,” Naia sighed.

Ann chuckled, “I know, I know. Thanks for getting worried about me.”

“Who told you that I am worried about you? I am just giving you a warning as a thanks since you accepted my invitation.”

“Yeah, haha. Thank you so much, Naia… or should I call you Lady Naia, since I am just a mere viscount’s daughter?”

“Stop jesting.”

“Alright, I will. Don’t worry, I will continue to be guarded against the other nobles. I know how two-faced they can be. It’s better for me to have a smaller circle of genuine friends in the nobility rather than having a huge circle of friends who aren’t sincere,” Ann answered.

“You seem to have gotten the hang of it,” Naia noted, hinting that she didn’t expect it since she knew that Ann was of commoner origin now. She was afraid Ann would be too accepting of other nobles who tried to flatter her, yet badmouthing her in the back. 

“Well… I mingled a bit with the nobles, right? So, I already have experiences,” Ann quickly said.

In truth, she was accustomed to it since she came from the modern world…

“Right. Friends, huh? Do you have any?” Naia suddenly asked.

“Huh? Eh? What?” Ann was taken aback. Isn’t Naia already her friend?

“I don’t know. I thought you didn’t consider me or Norrad as friends, since you didn’t bother visiting before this, or even writing back to us for quite some time,” Naia jabbed a bit. But Ann had already seen through Naia’s tsundere antics, she even noticed a slight blush in Naia’s ears.

“Wha?! S-sorry, I didn’t get the chance to do so… Really, I swear!” Ann awkwardly answered, hiding the guilt that she actually forgot to write back to Naia due to the roller coaster of her recent life story…

“Thank you for being my friend!! I don’t really have many friends here, so I am glad!” Ann quickly said.

“Wha–? Who in their right mind would admit it out loud that they don’t have many friends?!” Naia was taken aback by Ann’s remark.

“Right! Please guide me well from now on, Lady Naia!” Ann saluted.

“I told you to drop the formalities! You’ll be a duchess soon!” 

Ann chuckled. It was also fun teasing Naia!!

With that, the atmosphere around them loosened up as they caught up with each other.

Meanwhile, Norrad had been talking with Faye and Fina. 

Ann would eavesdrop upon their conversations and look at the three young ones amidst her conversation with Naia.

“You’re a bird halfling, right? Are those wings? Can you fly with it?” 

“N-not yet, but perhaps soon I will be strong enough to do so…”

“Fina can fly! Just not too high!”

Ann felt at ease seeing that Norrad didn’t have the slightest contempt towards Faye and Fina, who were bird halflings, unlike other nobles.

Perhaps Norrad’s acceptance caused Faye to finally relax and converse with Norrad without being too nervous. She even voiced her concern about her identity as halfling and the contempt she’d face in the noble world…

To which Norrad said, “Tell me if anyone dare bully you two! I will help!”

“Norrad, you’re not one to say that. You’re also timid!” Naia reminded Norrad, as she couldn’t help but hear Norrad’s loud declaration.

“Naia-neesama! I want to look cool, too!” Norrad’s face was as red as a tomato. 

Ann, Faye, and Fina laughed. 

Still, Ann felt warm inside, and she could relax a bit seeing that their first get-together was a success, and that both Fina and Faye had a good friend by their side.

Hopefully, there will be other nobles around their ages that can accept them for who they are, and won’t discriminate or look down on them.

But having Norrad as their friend really put me at ease. At the very least, Faye and Fina wouldn’t be too lonely without a single friend now.