Chapter 37: So you’re Fate?

Right now, I sat on top of my bed. In front of me was a girl with blond hair tied into twin-tails. She had large crimson-red eyes, rosy cheeks, and a very cute mouth. Actually, when I saw her, the first thing that came to mind was ‘Fate Testarossa’. As a result, I was able to calm down.

She wore the uniform for general students, and despite not being a noble, her uniform had the clover embroidery on it. She was slightly taller than me; I’m 157 cm tall while she was 160 cm tall, and like me, she had a small chest. I’m not worried about my height and chest, though; I’m still 12 years old and have room to grow.

“Her name is Fate Amethyst, a fourth grader and the only daughter of a great merchant family. Their family deals with grape wine, and because of the business her father had done in the past, their family has grown to be one of the most influential merchants in the capital. Currently, their profits are second only to the four great households.”

Hearing Emilia’s explanation as she ushered the girl into my room, cold sweat began to form on my back.

“So you’re Fate, huh? Nice to meet you.”

Doing my best to hide my nervousness with a smile, I reached out my hand to shake hands with her.

“I-it’s an h-honor to meet you, Lumina-sama. I am Fate Amethyst!”

For some reason, Fate had a very awkward smile, and the movements of her hands looked very rigid.

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“So, I heard from Emilia that you wanted to sponsor the party for me. For that, you have my than—”

“I-I’m so sorry!!!”

The girl, who looked a bit like Fate from *Lyrical Nanoha*, bowed down in front of me with her head touching the floor. She was exquisitely displaying a Japanese dogeza to me.

“Please forgive me for being rude to you! I only have one wish from you, Lumina-sama. Please don’t make the punishment painful. I don’t like pain.”

I was at a loss for what to do with her. I made a troubled smile and said, “Why would I punish you? I’m thankful that your family is willing to sponsor the party for me.”

“Eh?”

“In fact, I’m wondering how you arrived at that conclusion.”

Fate raised her head from the floor and asked me, “So, you’re not gonna punish me?”

“I won’t.”

“…. Yes.”

Huh? Is it just me, or was there a hint of disappointment in her voice just now?

...

Well, let’s ignore that for now.

“Please raise your body. It’s quite awkward to talk with you if you’re in that position.”

“Y-yes.”

Because she quickly stood up, her body was unable to keep up with the sudden change in posture. As a result, she stumbled in front of me.

“Ouch!”

“Are you okay?”

“She’s fine, Lumina-sama. This usually happens to her.”

When I asked her if she was okay, Emilia told me that it was fine with a straight face.

“Yes… I’m already used to this… Ehehe…”

The girl, who fell down, got back to her feet and was now patting her skirt with an awkward smile.

“If the two of you say so.”

*Cough*

Emilia coughed from behind. This cough was a message directed at me. It meant that since she was now relaxed, it would be best to start talking.

“Fate.”

“Yes!”

When I called her name, she became stiff again and stood in front of me with her eyes facing forward.

“Don’t be too nervous around me, okay? I won’t bite.”

“R-really.”

“Yes.”

I showed her my most gentle smile so she could relax. In my eyes, she started to relax, and I hoped that the skeptical look she currently had was just my imagination. Yes, that was just my imagination.

“Let me say it again. I would like to thank you for sponsoring the party for me. You were a real lifesaver.”

A very weird smile appeared on her face. She rubbed the back of her head with her right hand while shaking her head from left to right.

“It’s nothing, Lumina-sama. I’m your servant, so these kinds of things are natural.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

She made a really big nod as she gave me a positive response. I was about to open my mouth and ask her something when the door suddenly opened.

“Victoria, look! It wasn’t my imagination! Lumina-sama really is awake!”

Vertica—no, let’s stop calling her that. It’d be bad if I forgot her name again.

Let’s do it over.

Liza was the one who suddenly opened the door. Behind her stood a girl with a beret on top of her white hair; she wore a very relieved smile as she looked at where Liza was pointing. Following her was a girl with pink hair styled in a short bob who breathed a sigh of relief as she carried a tea set with her.

Liza quickly ran towards me and held my left hand with both of her hands.

“Uuh… I’m so glad that you’re okay, Lumina-sama… I was so worried.”

Making an awkward smile, I patted Liza’s head and waited for her to stop crying.

“Why don’t we have some tea, Lumina-sama? Victoria made some brownies.”

The girl with pink hair nudged the girl with a beret. Judging from the context of what she said, the girl with the beret’s name is Victoria. Since I already know Liza and have identified who Victoria was, all I needed to do was wait for someone to utter her name.

“Ahh, Mary’s right! Emilia, is it okay if we have tea with Lumina-sama here?”

“It’s fine. I’m pretty sure she was going to ask me for some later on.”

“Then!”

Liza made a table of mana. Mary, who I just identified, placed the tea set on top of it and sat on a chair she made. Victoria then made a plate and placed the brownies there. As for me, I naturally stood up from my bed and sat near the table.

Emilia poured the tea into my cup. I ate some of the brownies and drank the tea. From the aroma and taste, the tea Mary had brought was black tea.

“Mmm… This black tea is very delicious.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“Oh, you brewed this tea?”

“Yes.”

I widened my eyes in shock at the identity of the brewer, which was Mary. It’s because, like me, she was a noble, and I know that we nobles rarely visit the kitchen. Because of that, most nobles don’t know how to cook. Victoria was an exception; she liked to bake like Emilia. I would often see her go to the kitchen and talk with Emilia.

“I was very worried about you, Lumina-sama. You didn’t wake up yesterday.”

“Yeah, she was so worried that she spent the entire day by your bedside. Thanks to Emilia’s efforts earlier, we managed to remove Liza from your bedside and have her rest in her room.”

“Nn, what Mary said was true.”

“Is that so? I’m very sorry for worrying you.”

“Ehehe…”

*Cough*

While I patted Liza’s head, Emilia suddenly coughed from behind me.

“Is there something wrong?”

“Aren’t you forgetting something, Lumina-sama?”

“Hmmm?”

I placed my index finger on my cheek and pondered for a while.

“Ahh! That’s right! Fate!”

When I finally remembered what I was previously doing, I searched around the room and found her. She was crouching while facing the corner of the room and emitting a very depressed atmosphere.

“U-uhmm, Fate, how about you join us over here.”

“Eh?”

Fate quickly turned her head around. Her eyes became bright, and the atmosphere she previously emitted disappeared without a trace.

“It’s okay?”

I looked at Liza and the others, and the three of them nodded to me.

“It’s fine. I was the one who called you here. It’d be rude if I forgot to entertain you.”

*Cough*

Emilia coughed from behind me. That cough contained the retort, ‘Didn’t you just forget her?’

However, I ignored her and beckoned Fate.

“It’s the least I can do to thank you for sponsoring the party.”

“Party?”

Liza repeated the words I just said with a confused look.

“Yes. She, Fate Amethyst, said that she was going to sponsor me.”

“““ Amethyst!”””

The three of them exclaimed in unison.

“She’s the daughter of the wealthiest merchant in the capital!?”

“Eh?”

“The family that was given the rank of Earl due to the donations the Amethyst household has given to the kingdom!?”

“Eh?”

“I’ve heard that the head of the Amethyst household just became the head of the merchant’s guild! They say that the economy of the kingdom depends on his mood!”

“Eh?”

While Liza and her friends continued to speak, my eyes became dead, and I turned my head towards Emilia. I was sending distress messages through my eyes; however, Emilia ignored my messages and diverted her gaze elsewhere.

“Uuu… Yes…. I am the only daughter of that Amethyst household. I’m so sorry!”

Why did she apologize?

“Come, come! Sit down!”

Liza ignored her apology and told Fate to sit at the table. Fate had a very red face and took a chair to sit in. She took one of the brownies and started nibbling on it

.

“Lumina-sama said that you were going to sponsor her party. When she said party, did she mean THAT kind of party?” (Liza)

“Yes. THAT kind of party.”

“I see... Though my mother’s position was overtaken by the concubine because I didn’t have enough magic power, if she’s going to throw THAT kind of party, then I think my mother would be really happy to attend it.” (Mary)

“Likewise.” (Victoria)

“Mine’s a bit complicated. Though my younger sisters have more influence in my family, my mother wasn’t replaced by the concubine. So, I’m not quite sure if my parents will come.” (Liza)

“E-eh? Liza-sama, doesn’t your family serve Carlos-sama’s house? If your mother’s position wasn’t overtaken by the concubine, shouldn’t you serve him instead?” (Fate)

“It’s fine. When we enrolled here, Carlos-sama already had my younger sisters. I think they’re fine, and besides, I’ve already pledged my loyalty to Lumina-sama. So nothing should happen. But since Lumina-sama is throwing THAT kind of party, it’d be good if my parents come.” (Liza)

“Liza, by parents, you mean your father is also coming?” (Victoria)

“Yeah, it’s because my mother is still the legal wife.” (Liza)

While the four of them continued their heated discussions, I was sipping on my cup of tea. Since my family wasn’t as complicated as theirs, I wasn’t in any position to join their conversation.

Although I wondered why they kept emphasizing THAT to refer to the party, because I came from a low-ranking house, I would have a hard time understanding. Though I knew that the party was only for introducing their parents to me, somehow, whenever they said, ‘THAT kind of party,’ it made me really uneasy.

(Well, let’s just wait and see what’ll happen. Since Emilia and I don’t really understand how high-ranking nobles behave, we won’t have any idea. So let’s just go with the flow this time.)

I sipped my cup again as I observed the four of them. Liza was smiling as she talked to Fate, who looked very shy. Mary giggled from the side as she sometimes suppressed Liza. And lastly, Victoria looked at the three of them with a very serene expression.

Also, I erased the fact that Fate was the only daughter of an Earl and that the kingdom’s economy depends on her father’s mood from my mind. Learning how powerful she was would only give me a stomach ulcer. Since ignorance is bliss, let’s be ignorant of her social status and blissfully become friends with her.