An Angelic Voice

There was a beautiful maiden awoken from her beautiful slumber. Her platinum white hair falling straight down was more beautiful than any jewel glimmering amidst the gentle illumination from the morning light, her crimson eyes so captivating were as gorgeous as the full moon shining in the night, and her beauty was unmatched by any other, nor by the view of the sunset by the shores, nor by the ever flowing river in spring. A peerless existence.

Who could this beautiful girl be?

That's right! It's me! Estelia!

Quite an introduction, don't you say? Well, just trying to keep the mood bright and positive!

Okay, for what reason was I beaming with energy? Well, surprisingly, despite sleeping during the day yesterday, I still had one hell of a good sleep in the night.

I couldn't be more refreshed.

At the moment, I was on my way to breakfast along with my usual pair of servants when Mera spoke out of the blue.

"Milady, last night… There was singing."

I flinched a little. Hm. It seems I got carried away. No, I definitely got carried away! I know! I know! But do I have to see this as a big issue?! No harm doing it. No harm at all! Plus, I like doing that.

And there are just some times that you just don't care about anything else except what you want. And that was one of those times.

I tried not to look back at her.

Vernon meanwhile nodded his head.

"I did hear a girl… singing while I was on my patrol."

I can feel their gazes piercing through me. Yup, of course they have an idea who that was. Ultimately, Mera was just nearby my room, so she definitely heard it on the quiet night.

I'll just keep acting ignorant for a moment.

"I was surprised to hear such a wonderful voice," Mera said with awe.

I stole a glance at her from the corner of my eyes.

"I didn't hear it much, but, yes, it was good."

Vernon then added.

Now now, how kind of them to compliment the someone in question.

"Milady, I didn't know you could sing that wonderfully."

I smiled wryly. She just went straight for the head.

"Ha-ha-ha…" I acted bashful as I glanced at my two servants. "You heard that, huh. I'm sorry I disturbed everyone."

"Milady! You did not inconvenience anyone at all. My fellow maids were dumbstruck by your voice, echoing in the silent and peaceful night."

She said so with a bright smile as both her hands were on one side of her cheeks.

"And that song, such a marvelous song, truly tugged someone's heartstrings."

"T-Thank you…"

"Your highness, I never expected you to possess such talent. We never even had a hint of it."

Vernon was visibly surprised. Yeah, how surprising I have talent. I thought I never had one… hehe… hmmm.

"Well, I have been keeping it. It's embarrassing to show to anyone."

"And, you sang a song… with lyrics…"

"Milady, where did you hear that song? I never heard of it even once."

"I am too. As her highness mostly never goes outside, she might have learned it somewhere in the palace. But I cannot recall someone else singing it."

"Could it be that milady came up with it?"

"Wah," Vernon let out a breath of amazement. "This is surprising…"

Come on, don't think too much about it! I know this is to be expected, but still…

And, I did not come up with it at all. What should I do? I can't just say: yeah I made it up.

Well, there is no legal system that would sue me, hehehe, not that such a thing would be an issue in the old world for me, sue me all you want. In addition, no one would recognize that song here. So I guess it's fine.

But that will make me feel bad!

Hey, even I respect their respective owners. Most definitely in music.

"Mmm."

So, I just shrugged my shoulders with that mumble. I neither denied nor confirmed it.

"I wonder if your parents heard it, seems unlikely…" Vernon quietly said.

My voice was not that loud that I seemed to be shouting. In addition, my family's rooms were not adjacent to mine, so I doubt they heard me. Wait, where was Vernon patrolling when he heard my voice?

Eh — whatever no need to press the matter. If I ask, he'll just ask for more questions.

Because of this, I slightly quicken my pace.

I arrived at the dining table and managed to eat peacefully. Until, amidst the leisurely consumption of delicious cuisine, my father spoke.

"Oh yeah, some knights heard a singing at the side of your room, Estelia."

I froze in place. I kept my eyes at the food that was about to enter my mouth. It was at this moment that I knew, there was no escaping.

"Oh? Singing?" Estevan chimed in with interest. "Good or bad type of singing?"

"They say it was angelic."

I'm flattered.

"Actually, some of the knights recognize that voice, and you know whose voice they think it was, Estevan?"

"... Who?"

My father's eyes then moved towards me, obviously indicating that it was my voice. I looked away with pursed lips.

"Hm? Hm? E-Estel?" My brother sounded shocked because of the revelation.

I ignored him and ate a spoonful of the food. Ah, what a fine meal.

"Estelia, daughter dear," my mother called out to me from my side, she sounded amused. "Don't hide or deny it."

"...."

Aaaah. Perhaps you are wondering why I was avoiding it when the fact that singing was not a bad thing. Well the issue was, well, they definitely will think I made that song. I can't even lie that I heard it.

Oh? What about I say I heard it from the outside? You know, during my outing… No! Who would believe that obvious lie of a scenario. No one sings that kind of song in a rowdy and crowded street.

But still… there might be a chance…?

"Y-Yes, that was… me."

They all gasped in surprise.

"You made the song you sang? I mean, you won't get much of a chance to hear and memorise a song. Your lessons also only teach an instrument…" my father asked.

"... Um…" I acted all embarrassed. "What if I say I heard it from the outside?"

"Impossible," my father flatly said. "The knights said they never heard that song. So it's unlikely it's from the outside. And, there is no way you could memorise it while you went out."

"And, if it's from bards, one could hardly memorise a song and sing it fluently from such a short time of watching," Mother said.

"And there were no bards at that time at all. I ran around searching for you, remember? If there were, they would be in that plaza since crowds gather there," my brother just had to add that.

I'm cornered. No escape. How could have I been pushed this far back and unable to counterattack? Haaah, I'll just say nothing, to confirm nothing.

I just turned my head away from them, my cheeks flushed red.

"You made it didn't you, dear sister?"

"Don't try to hide it, dear daughter."

"Estelia, no need to be embarrassed. My cute baby actually hid a talent?"

Say nothing, confirm nothing.

"What a waste I couldn't get to hear it… Should I hang around your room every night, Estel?"

"Definitely not, brother…"

"Hahaha!"

And so my breakfast went by with a bunch of teasing from my family all the while. They even asked me to perform live during dinner. Of course I refused.

Although, I don't mind performing.

But let's calm them down for a while. No time to perform yet. Plus, I'm not comfortable singing in public without an instrument. For me, I just feel a song is incomplete without an instrument. And I have yet to learn much of that 12 stringed instrument in my room.

Maybe next time.

Yes, I told them next time.

After that, I went to one of the large rooms used during my lectures. Well, the library was still in repair, so we couldn't practice there yet. Vernon was the one to bring the book then placed it on the table in the center of the room.

"Your highness, I will be closely watching you in your training to not repeat what happened a few days ago."

"That is a relief. But, would you be able to stop it in time? I mean, that time it instantly went out of control."

"It will be fine if I act in an instant. That is why I will be closely watching. With that said, I will also be able to help you just a little bit in your spellcasting now that you are able to control your mana, am I correct?"

"I think I can. I'm just a bit wary though so I never tried it yesterday."

"It will be fine. Just release it carefully and do it in a minimal amount. At the first sign of going out of control, forgive me but I will be knocking you unconscious, your highness. I have also received permission from the King."

Huh, it must be hard to have to knock out a princess with your own hand. Hey, I know you'll manage.

"That is fine. Then, let's begin."