Chapter 12: Bertia (13 years old) (3)

“Hey, good afternoon Bertia”(Cecil)

I found her as soon as I am able to see the garden.

Being on the position of daughter of the prime minister cum marquis cum the fiancée of the crown prince, she’s on a rank that’s only below Shaun. As a proof of that, she was able to host the event at the east wings of the garden, one of the best spot in the school and the member of her event also has quite an influence, thus making her event stand out even more.

By the way, on the way here I asked Shaun why did he not host a tea party, but his reason is apparently [It’s because I want to see elder brother first that’s why my tea party is on 4 pm.] I have a feeling that it borders bro-con, but I hope it’s just my imagination.

Yeah, just leave it as my imagination.

“Y-y-y-y-your highness!? W-Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to come late? Besides, the other conquerable targe…… members of the student council came too?” (Bertia)

Because the whole member of the student council is here, in addition of we being conspicuous she quickly noticed us and greeted us in a hurry while being surprised.

…hm? Why is she startled? Aren’t we supposed to meet here at this time? I didn’t tell her that we’re going to be late.

Could it be she’s startled because all the members of student council suddenly came?

But I feel that it’s not solely because of that.

“You do say amusing things bertia. There’s no way I’ll be late to your enrolment tea party right?”

“no , but ….”

Bertia seems confused and her eyes started to wander around.

She opened her mouth and closed her mouth a few times but there’s no word coming out of them. I’m sure she has something she wanted to ask me.

“It’s been a long time, Your Highness Cecil. I am Joanna. Celtswarren. May I have a word with you?”(Joanna)

Suddenly the noblewoman beside her spoke to me.

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……duchess Joanna Celtswarren.

I’m a bit surprised that she was called to Bertia’s tea party event.

Lady Joanna is my classmate, and it’s also Shaun and my second cousin.

Blessed status, talent, and charisma, and to add up that we’re on the same age, she used to be one of my fiancée candidates.

Because of that, although we haven’t done any marriage meeting, we did met a few times.

But in the end, Bertia became my fiancée and she…… now became the one of the fiancée candidate of shaun.

At the end of the day she’s just a [Candidate]. Because shaun is bad with her, there are no further talks of the engagement.

Although political marriage is one of the duty of a royalty, since it’s possible it’s better to announce it when shaun and lady joanna’s relationship became more stable. That’s why now they stopped further arrangement with the pretense of [Period for them to deepen their relationship.]

Well, the time limit is [until they graduated] though.

“It’s been a long time lady Joanna, I don’t mind please speak”(Cecil) Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

“Then please excuse me. Lady bertia thought that since you’re a busy individual, would not be able to make it to the tea party today and she was quite worried about it earlier. It might be the contradiction of wanting for you to come but also didn’t want you to push yourself. Her restless figure as she looked around for your figure and her surprised figure upon looking at your figure is so cute that….”(Joanna)

“Wa, wait a second lady Joanna, what are ……”(Bertia)

“Your highness, you sure are well loved”(Joanna)

Splendidly ignoring the fluttered lady bertia, Hiding her smiling mouth, she looked like she was having fun…… Ahh… I can feel that she’s having fun looking at bertia’s reaction as she tease her.

“If that is so, I must have used my luck to became her fiancée”(Cecil)

“fufufu… You’re exactly right on that. When I first met her, trying to protect me from the nobles making persistent advances on me, she told them [I have some business with her. Please leave it at there. Don’t you know who I am? I am the future q..q..queen you know! Ce-Cecil hi-highness’s f-f-f-fiancee you know? You have guts to defy me!] with red cheeks and protected me. At the time… lady Bertia is so cute that I might fell for her without noticing.” (Joanna)7

“S-Such a thing never happened, I elegantly…” (Bertia)

“It’s because bertia is very easy to be embarrassed. Although, I didn’t know such a thing happened. Please don’t do anything dangerous alright?”(Cecil)

“It’s not dangerous at……”(Bertia)

“Your position as my fiancée won’t protect you from everything you know? Especially if a guy is involved then there is chance that it won’t go as planned. When in danger, either find someone who can deal with it or deal with it with numbers” (Cecil)

Approaching the fluttered and beet red Bertia, I glanced at her face and pat her head.

Helping someone troubled is a praiseworthy act but if there is danger accompanied with it then I can’t overlook it.

Bertia is straight in both good and bad ways, because of that she’s prone to be in danger. That’s the reason, I’d like her to take more precaution when I’m not around.

“Eh… but…. Im a villainess” (Bertia)

“Bertia what’s your answer?”(Cecil)

“…Okay”(Bertia)

Trying to say unbelievable excuse, I put pressure on my gaze and looked at her while smiling…… somehow her face turn redder while she’s nodding.

Does she really get it?

“Ah but! There’s nothing to worry anymore! I, during the 2 years that your highness has enrolled here, have made a friend…… I mean henchmen! Have a look at it!”(Bertia)

Turning red, she suddenly realized that she has yet introduced the girls that are sitting beside her on the tea party

“I’ll introduce you! From my right, duchess Joanna Celtswarren, countess Silica Ruena, marchioness Anne kogares. Anne is a senior from the 2nd year, Joanna is on the year as your highness, a 3rd year. All of them is the [Rival noblewoman] you know?!”(Bertia)

Nnn? Did she just nonchalantly mention something using her previous word’s slang?

Furthermore since earlier, she seems keep changing her words from [Friend] to [entourage].

Since there are someone who has the same or higher status than her, isn’t it kind of bad to do that?

No other choice, I need to warn her a little.

After greeting with various noblewoman, and introducing my members, I remonstrated her for a little.

“Bertia, since they are [worthy of being your rival] isn’t calling them henchman rude? They are your dear friends aren’t them?”(Cecil)

“No they are not….. no ehm…. I mean yeah… I’m sorry”(Bertia)

Pointed out by me, she tried to refute me. But in the end she noticed that It’d be bad to say it out and honestly nodded to accept.

I think she’d like to refute me like a true villainess would, but from the second where she are being looked with warm gazes by them, it already failed you know?

Rather than trying hard to do impossible things and lower your value, I think it’s better to just give up on doing that.

“Your highness Cecil, we are [lady bertia cherishing society] so in a sense we are lady bertia’s henchmen, please do not mind us”(Joanna)

“Bertia cherishing society…? Lady Joanna what in the world is that?”(Cecil)

“fufufu……, it’s unofficial so I can’t go into details but just take it as lady Bertia fan’s gathering. They are all either the fan of the book [This is the season! The compilation of capital’s recommended spot!] written by lady Bertia. Or people who fall for her after seeing her trying her best to hide her kindness during the social debut and wanted to look-over her. Or even people who fall for figure when she would cry when things doesn’t work out and still try her best to do it.” (Joanna)

“Eh? Wait a second, what is happening lady Joanna?”(Bertia)

“Looking at lady bertia heals us up right?” (Anne)

“Lady Anne, I’m not such a character…”(Bertia)

“The social world is a place where people only cares about their position. There are more and more people who had ulterior motives approaching me. In the midst of that, lady Bertia who’s not honest to herself despite being gentle is so pure that I feel relieved staying around her.”(Cynthia)

“Even lady Cynthia too?”(Bertia)

“How do I describe it…… I just can’t leave her alone. To let this kid grow up this way without getting tainted, I must protect her! Kind of feeling just suddenly came out.”(Silica)

“That is already on the view point of a mother right!?Lady Silica, We are the same age right?!”(I guess you don’t need me to tell you who says this.)

Bertia was startled for being told such a thing by someone who’s supposed to be her henchmen. The girls looked like they’re having fun looking at bertia’s figure.

Despite having learned etiquette, she would often screw up on these social event. These brilliant and famous noblewoman started to became her ally…… or should I say guardian.

In addition, they became such unconsciously.

“moumoumou! Everyone takes their jokes too far!! Please don’t tease me!”(Bertia)

Bertia, let’s try to notice that when they start to tease you, it already stopped being a [joke].

“Rather than that! Your highness, on your way here did you see a cute girl playing with a white bird?”(Bertia)

Smiling wryly to her that’s forcibly trying to change the topic, I tried to think about what she’s saying

Come to think of it, certainly when coming here, I can see a girl student chasing a white bird on a lawn while smiling and saying [Wait~].

“Hmmmm is it that girl? I saw a female student Whilst chasing a white bird, she would laugh in a high pitch sound like a drug addict. Sometimes she would do shady things like glancing at me and suddenly started talking to the bird. But since I’m almost late to bertia’s tea party, I only asked Gulgan to inform the teacher and came here right after. Is there any problem?”(Cecil)

“D-drug addict!? Don’t you feel attracted or interested to her?”(Bertia)

“I do think that she’s a weird one, and quite dangerous and that. But compared to a girl playing with a bird, a girl who is using a black fox as a scarf is more interesting.”(Cecil)

“H-heroine…… m-meeting event is……” (Bertia)

Finishing my introduction, sitting at the seat prepared right beside her, I can hear her murmuring something with a panic expression.

In reality she would like to hug her head, although since she’s concerned about the surrounding people, she could only hide her face with a fan and try to hold it.

“Oh yeah! The rose! What happened to the rose?”(Bertia)

“As per requested, I prepared it for your congratulatory gift…… Zeno” (Cecil)

Calling out to zeno who’s standing behind me like my shadow, he immediately handed her the rose.

By the way Kuro the spirit like Zeno is standing behind bertia…… mimicking as her maid.8

A bishojo around the age of 10 with no expression and black hair.

Wearing a weirdly voluminous frilly dress around knee length, around her head stood 2 fox ear…… I have a feeling that I’d lose a lot of things if I touch it.9

Probably those who are not talented in seeing spirit wouldn’t be able to see her ears……… even you can see, you could feel the no touch aura lingering.

“Bertia, congratulations for enrolling. I’m happy that there are more chance to meet you now.”(Cecil)

“Thank you very much your highness……… Wait why is it a potted plant!? Furthermore, Isn’t the blue rose is a legendary class item!!”(Bertia)

Taking my roses by reflex, once she confirmed the flower on her hands, she nearly drop it because of the shock.

I did pluck out all the thorn, and since I also wrapped it up there is low chance of getting hurt, but it doesn’t change that it’s dangerous.

“Hey bertia, hold it carefully. This rose is not natural grown but cultivated by me using a few techniques. As a legendary class item, it might not worth much, but for those who researched to get this color, it is a source of wealth if mass-produced and sold.”(Cecil)

“Just what kind of thing did you made this time”(Bertia)

“Since Bertia like the color, I tried to match the rose to your liking. By the way since I only made this for you, this is a one of a kind item. Don’t drop it or let it wither down alright? Even if you asked for a new one, I couldn’t make it easily.”(Cecil)

“Somehow, I felt my responsibility is huge…”(Bertia)

“Nah, because you own it now, you can do as you like. It’s just that I tried to made it to match your favorite color. If you don’t like it feel free to throw it away.”(Cecil)

“……” (Bertia)

oh? Seems like bertia’s body went rigid as she hugs the pot.

The other’s who’s enjoying the tea party whilst looking at our situation, somehow all of their faces looks strained at the moment…… Recently my surrounding would make those kind of faces, so I don’t really mind it though.

Bertia herself also came to her sense and murmured [The opponent is that android price you know, if you started to care about it you’ll lose]

“…… Ahem. Please excuse my rudeness. By the way your highness, beside this rose, did you bring a normal red roses bouquet and whilst coming here gave it to the girl playing with the white bird?”(Bertia)

“The one that I prepared for your gift is only this. I feel that a normal roses wouldn’t be enough when I made it, do you prefer that one instead?”(Cecil)

I tried to match it with bertia’s favorite color, was it a mistake? I think it was a very beautiful blue color. On top of that it’s a bit dark… like your highness’s eye…… No I didn’t mean that! I mean I like it because it’s a really beautiful color.”(Bertia)

As I expect, she liked that color because it’s my color.

On top of unable to falsify it, her face also started to turn red.

I really think that this is her unique trait.

…… Bertia really made me feel entertained.

“Your highness, then did you give the rose to the white bird girl?”(Bertia)

“I think that it’s a given that I wouldn’t give a present meant for you to a passing by weird girl right?”(Cecil)

“Of course huh……”(Bertia)

Bertia started to stare at the rose pot in her hand.

Even if you stare at it, you won’t find any trace of a stem being pulled out…… Thinking that, her face started to change gradually. First it’s a face of being troubled, Then her face started to warm up like a flower starting to bud. Finally her face brighten up like a rose blooming perfectly.

“…… Well since it’s already a done matter, just for this moment, it’s alright to feel happy right?”(Bertia)

She said it with a small voice, not to be heard by anyone else. Hearing that it gave my body started a weird feeling and my chest tightened up.

After that, the tea party ended. From the story I heard as I sent her back to her dorm, today on the way to bertia’s party, I was supposed to notice the heroine and started to have interest in her. From the banquet of roses that I’m supposed to send bertia, I’ll pluck one out and gave it to her and the [Meeting event] should occur then.

She did complain about me totally her …… but just think about it, it can’t be helped that I have more interest in a girl using a black fox as a scarf rather than a girl playing with a white bird.

In addition, I am already satisfied to be able to see lady Bertia’s face and her interesting reaction, and the slight reaction of the member of student council.