Chapter 305: Bright House (II)

As always, Giliath demands your power stones!

*****

Earlier that day.

Rolent.

The Bright House.

"Oh my, that certainly was a lovely breakfast, Miss Estelle. I didn't expect you to be such a good cook.", Musse praised as she placed her silverware back down to the sides of her plate, and proceeded to clean her lips with her napkin.

"I know, right? I'm pretty good at making scrambled eggs. Normally we assign cooking duty to one of us, but since it's just Joshua and I here most of the time, we alternate every other day.", Estelle said, puffing her chest out. She wasn't expecting to suddenly serve a full table of guests, but it looks like it went well. Everyone present at the table could be seen with satisfied looks.

"We weren't expecting to have such a full house for new years. First it was Dad and his military friends, and now you girls showed up out of the blue. Estelle has been worried you know? Especially Renne, you went quiet these last few months. She hasn't gotten any letters from you.", Joshua said, observing the violet-haired girl next to him. Estelle nodded her head to Joshua's remark.

"Uh-huh. I know you have your own things to attend to, Renne. But a big sister can't help but worry about her little sister you know?", Estelle asked as she also looked at Renne.

Renne tilted her head a bit as she observed Estelle, who was seated next to Joshua.

"Big Sister?", Renne asked.

"Oh! I realized I didn't bring it up to you. I was considering making you my little sister. You're just so adorable!", Estelle happily replied, clapping her hands together.

"Hmm.", Renne pondered, turning quiet for a moment. Estelle became a bit worried seeing Renne not immediately answer her.

"Do you not like it?", Estelle frowned.

"Oh nothing of the sort. I just have a Big Brother already. I suppose I can accept you as my Big Sister, Miss Estelle.", Renne answered. Estelle smiled hearing that.

"Perfect! And you can drop the 'Miss' part. I'm not much for formalities. The same goes for the rest of you.", Estelle urged the rest.

"Works for me. I'm pretty direct when I address people.", Fie said, nodding her head.

"I'm in the same boat, even though I'm a noble. I only address people in certain ways when I need to. Thank you for having me, by the way. I'm glad I was able to squeeze in some time. When Renne dropped by the guild house, I didn't think she would make some room for little old me~", Angelica happily replied.

"More the merrier as they say.", Renne spoke back at Angelica.

"Is it alright for you to be absent like this, Angie? Aren't you in the middle of your studies?", Ennea asked, who was seated beside Angelica.

"Shera allowed me to have a bit of time off to enjoy the new years. Most of the guild is only operating on minimum staff right now so they can be with their families. My studies will start up again once I return in a week or two.", Angelica explained.

"Speaking of which, you really are learning under Shera huh? It's a small world out there. We were learning under her not too long ago ourselves! Shera concluded our progress was satisfactory, so we returned to Rolent. I'm sure she'll check in to see how we're progressing in this next year. We plan to take the Bracer Exam in two years' time.", Estelle explained.

Estelle would be turning fourteen this year, so by the time she takes her Bracer Exam along with Joshua, she would be sixteen years old.

Angelica nodded her head at Estelle's words.

"It is never good to rush these things. You need to be prepared to become a Bracer. As for me, I plan to take the test at the start of next year. That way I'll be able to have a year's worth of work under my belt before my school studies begin. My time used as a Bracer will become much more limited then.", Angelica said, drawing everyone's interest.

"School studies huh? You know if Joshua and I weren't already prepared to become full-time Bracers, we would probably enroll at a nearby school. I know Kloe plans to attend Jenis next year, but that school is for the Liberl's rich folk and top-class nobility right? I don't think I could stay inside in such a place for that long hehe.", Estelle giggled.

"Many of Liberl's top class does indeed attend Jenis each year, but it isn't solely restricted to them. It is open to the public, but I hear its tests are quite rigorous. You need to study for long periods of time to advance onto the next grade. No ifs, ands or buts.", Angelica explained.

"I've heard Jenis is pretty strict too. School studies back at my school in St. Astraia are also similar. They constantly monitor what we study and only allow us to study certain materials. St. Astraia is an all girls' school so that makes sense. It even brings in nobility all around Erebonia. I've also had the personal pleasure of studying alongside Her Highness, Erebonia's princess~", Musse happily responded, clapping her hands together.

"Erebonia's princess?", Estelle asked.

"Oh for the love of...", Joshua retorted, smacking his head with his hand. "Did you forget already, Estelle? Her Highness Princess Alfin was in the headliner of the paper dad was reading when his friends were over. How could you forget such big news after a single day? This is going to cause our country and Erebonia to hopefully become tighter allies, despite the war happening almost a decade ago.", Joshua explained as he let out a sigh.

"Oh, right! That princess! She looked very cute dressed up in that fiery red dress. Now I remember. That prince guy was also next to her. What was his name again? I know we met back in Grancel, but it's been a while...", Estelle wondered, tilting her head again as she placed a finger on her lips.

"His Highness Naoto. He's my Big Brother I previously mentioned.", Renne stated. Estelle's eyes turned wide in surprise.

"Wait, that prince is your Big Brother!?", Estelle exclaimed.

"You just now noticed this?", Joshua retorted again. "Didn't you ask me what a royal harem was two nights ago, Estelle? How could you forget about His Highness already?", Joshua asked her.

"I can't help it alright? I was too distracted with Renne paying a sudden visit.", Estelle frowned, retorting back at Joshua. "But can you explain what that means again? I kind of...forgot already.", Estelle responded.

"...", Joshua tried to say, unable to find any words for Estelle's comment.

"Hahaha, it is a pretty foreign term to commoners like you guys. I don't mind explaining what it is.", Angelica began to say. "There is a reason behind why I address Naoto on a first-name basis. You should know his standing as Crown Prince to Liberl right? He is set to take over Her Majesty's spot in the coming future, we just don't know when that will happen.", Angelica continued.

"Uh-huh. Most people address royalty by their title right? Isn't it against the rules or something if you call them by direct name if they don't personally allow it?", Estelle asked.

"More or less. It hasn't been formalized by Her Majesty, but Naoto did accept Renne here to be part of his family. That is why she addresses him as Big Brother. Me, on the other hand, I'm a tad bit different.", Angelica said.

"Oh? How so?", Estelle asked with interest.

"I'm currently dating him. We've gotten quite close to each other to address each other like that~" Angelica teased.

"F-Fueh?", Estelle stuttered as a light blush appeared on her cheeks, not expecting Angelica to say that. "You're dating a prince, Angelica!?", Estelle exclaimed.

"Oh my. Now that is an interesting story.", Musse also mused. "Tales of His Highness's royal harem announced by Her Majesty have reached as far as Erebonia. I'm sure many invitations have been sent out, but I don't think His Highness has accepted anyone yet. I didn't think he'd have girls inside it already~", Musse continued.

"Are you suggesting the prince can date more than one girl like this?", Estelle frowned.

"That's a very simple way of painting the image, but in a way, yes. The sole function of a royal harem is to ensure a royal family's lineage doesn't die. It is to produce heirs.", Angelica explained.

"That's more or less the gist of it. I didn't expect for you to have such a standing, Angelica. Did the guild allow it?", Joshua wondered.

"Oh, Elnan knows my present relation to the royal family, and I hope you all won't be distracted by it either. I try to make it so it doesn't get in the way. I don't have any official duties or the likes. I will become a Bracer before departing Liberl to enroll in my school.", Angelica said, nodding her head.

"This sounds like it's way too complicated for my liking...", Estelle frowned again. Her eyes started to spin as she continued listening to Angelica's explanation with how matters were back inside Grancel Castle.

"Hehe, it's nothing for you to worry about yourself, Estelle. You're my friend, and I hope you continue to treat me as such. This shouldn't impact you, unless you personally express interest.", Angelica replied.

"Aww...", Estelle said. Her lips curved up into a heartfelt smile hearing Angelica say that.

"You needn't worry about me either, Estelle. My standing isn't so much at the castle compared to Angie. I do apologize for not being in contact these last few months though. I was a bit preoccupied. Big Brother took me to explore some ruins south of Bose~", Renne happily said.

"Exploring ruins huh? Isn't that dangerous for a little girl like you?", Estelle complained.

"Big Brother is super-duper strong you know? Renne was completely safe and unharmed!", Renne replied, ensuring she was safe. Ennea looked at her in a weird light, but remained quiet.

"If you say so...", Estelle uttered.