CSWH Chapter 108: My Long Holiday

Having entered the long school holiday and returned to the Anderson Marquis House, I was making full use of my vacation.

I met up with those that had treated me well prior to my admission to the Academy, and went around town to visit stores to see what was good and bad.

At times, I went a bit further out, and went around to tour famous places in the country.

Naturally, I also participated in training as Mel, and attended Aurelia-sama’s lectures on being a lady.

“……now then, today let us start from here.”

And the first thing we spent time on today were preparations for the welcome party for guests coming from the Rinmel Principality.

The party itself was scheduled to occur at the end of my holiday, so it was quite far off in the future, but when you think about the preparations that needed to be made, there was never enough time for it.

As such, I was quite thankful that I was currently on holiday where I could freely use my time.

The Rinmel Principality’s language was similar to Tasmeria Kingdom’s, and was something I learned during my lady’s education with Aurelia-sama, so there was no issue with that…….though for the time being, I was doing some review with Aurelia-sama.

And then, the arrangements for the dress I was to wear for the party.

That was already previously arranged with Rui, so the colour and style was decided. Incidentally, it seems that Rui will be wearing a tie that will be the same colour as my dress.

All that was left was to study up on the Rinmel Principality.

As the ones welcoming them, it was only natural to drill information on the Rinmel Principality into our heads beforehand.

Hence, right now I was reading a book on the Rinmel Principality’s history and culture, and was studying everything that I could.

I had selected the books that were recommended by Aurelia-sama and Rui, and was steadily making my way through them.

And during the times when Rui was able to make some free time, he helped to explain to me the exchanges between this country and the Rinmel Principality, as well as the situations with other countries and other world affairs.

“……please excuse me, Ojou-sama.”

“Oh, Anna. What’s wrong?”

“It is almost time for your appointment with Sharia-sama.”

“……oh, it’s already that late? Thanks, Anna. Let us start our preparations then.”

After having Anna help me finish the preparations, we headed towards Count Telrose’s home.

To me, Sharia was my first friend of the same age and gender.

When thinking about who my friends were, those who were the same gender only included the Onee-samas from Madam’s store, while those of the same age were the latest recruits from the Army.

Rather than friends, the former was more like older sisters that I could consult, while the latter was recognized more as comrades who managed to go through Father’s training together with me.

Thus, I was unbelievably happy to be able to visit a friend’s house like this.

“Welcome, Mellice!”

“Thank you for inviting me.”

The place we arrived at after Sharia’s guidance was her own room.

“No no. Rather, I must apologize…….even though we were originally planning on going to the theatre, I wasn’t able to get permission from my parents after all.”

“It can’t be helped. Since it’d be quite late when we return from the play, it can’t be helped that Count Telrose was worried.”

“Even though there’s nothing to be worried about as long as I’m with you…….as expected, that incident from the past has caused them to worry excessively.”

“……since the Count doesn’t know of my accomplishments, being with me won’t serve as material to help dispel his anxiety. And it can’t be helped that he’s worried since that sort of incident occurred.”

“While that may be true…….I still don’t have a fiancé. He’s been completely declining everything other than parties for official events, and even if I receive any proposals, he says that it’s still too early for me and turns down each and every one of them while asking me to stay by my parents. On top of that, even if I find something that I want to do, he always opposes it. I’m thankful that they’re treating me preciously, and I do feel bad for making them worried, but……being told “that’s no good, and this is no good”, I feel like a caged bird. If I’m kept imprisoned like this, I’ll eventually grow weak. Even if it may be tough or painful……I want to decide where I fly in the sky by myself.”

I reflexively smiled, thinking that those words were just like her.

[How could I despise the mud that you were covered in for our sakes?]

If it’s her who was able to stout-heartedly smile and say that during that dreadful situation……

Certainly, no matter how tough or painful it got, she probably would not have any regrets, as long as it was a pth that she had chosen herself.

Rather, she would probably happily accept it and even use it as food for her growth.

……while she was by no means physically strong, her heart was strong.

Though we hadn’t known each other for that long, her actions during that time were that impactful to me.

And I respected this lovable friend who displayed a strength that came straight from her core.

“……what’s wrong, Mellice?”

“Hm?”

“Because you were laughing. I was wondering if I said something weird.”

“It’s not like that…….it’s just that I felt that was just like you.”

“My……”

Hehe, Sharia giggled as well.

“Now that I think of it, Sharia. Will you be attending the upcoming formal event?”

“Yes, I will be. As expected, if it’s a party organized by the country itself, not even Father could give a negative reply…….you will also be attending, right? Has your dress been decided upon?”

“Yes. I’ve already ordered the dress. This time I plan on venturing out and using an old style dress with Watteau pleats. On the other hand, it’ll be low cut, so I’ll have to make sure that the condition of my skin is good.”

“My, Watteau pleats? Is there something about it, considering that you are choosing to wear that?”

“I was recently able to obtain a cloth that I liked, so I wanted to fully display that.”

“Fufufu……I’m looking forward to your dress. It seems like everyone is curious about what sort of dress you will be wearing, you know? Various people have been asking me about it.”

“My……I can’t let them down then.”

Hehe, the two of us giggled together.

“Speaking of betrothals, is there anyone that you are interested in?”

“Since his Highness the Crown Prince’s fiancée hasn’t been decided yet, there are still a certain number of ladies whose betrothals have yet to be decided. Thanks to that, there’s a set number of gentlemen whose betrothals haven’t been decided…….well, it would be reasonable to have a betrothal made with one of the men amongst them.”

“That’s…true.”

Though I was a little surprised at the unexpectedly cold statement she made, upon thinking about it carefully it was a very respectable statement to be made as a noble lady.

The marriage of nobles was linked to politics.

It was in order to strengthen the links between houses, and to allow their house to prosper.

When you thought about that, there was probably no better match than the joining of the Anderson Marquis House and the Armelia Ducal House.

After all, the Armelia Ducal House that was a top noble house from which generations of Prime Ministers have emerged, and a reputed military family, the Anderson Marquis House, whose head has been named as a hero, will become blood relatives.

Now that I think back on it, it was a fairytale-like story.

The relationship between Rui and I was not made because we were a good match politically, but because we coincidentally met in town and became attracted to each other.

I believe it is often said that the truth is stranger than fiction.

“Though this is any time for me to be worrying about other people, I hope that his Highness the Crown Prince quickly decides on a fiancée. Because right now all of the ladies of our generation whose engagements have yet to be decided are being seen as those aiming for the position of the Crown Prince’s fiancée. Rather than the men looking at things that way, it is the women……which makes them hold a strange sense of rivalry, and it’s quite tiring.”

Saying that, Sharia let out a deep sigh.

“Ahh……I see. If I recall correctly, the one at the top of the list of candidates is the daughter of the Maelian Marquis House, right?”

“Yes, indeed. It is Elia-sama. She is quite aggressive towards ladies whose fiancés have yet to be decided. On top of that, she has been conducting herself in a way so that the gentlemen and others haven’t noticed, so it is even more frightening.”

“As expected of the daughter of the greatly vigorous Maelian Marquis House.”

The Maelian Marquis House……though they were originally a noble house with a history, they had only begun to show a sense of existence in high society within the past two generations.

They deepened their intimacy with other houses that had a history, growing their influence to the point where the Armelia Ducal House……as well as the Royal Family could not ignore them.

It was only natural to think of them as being on the top of the list of candidates for the position of the Crown Prince’s fiancée.

It also seems that the candidate in question……the Maelian Marquis House’s Elia, was also obsessed with marrying the Crown Prince.

As such both the parents and child of the Maelian House were placing pressure on others.

The worries of Sharia, whose fiancé hasn’t been decided upon, are……easily guessed.

In addition……-at that moment, I stopped my thoughts that were about to go in a different direction.

Even though I finally had this time to spend with Sharia, it would be wasteful to be spending it immersing myself in my thoughts.

“Since it’ll be an official party, you may not have the time to spare to do so, but I will be praying from the bottom of my heart that you meet a good partner…….although, you are such a charming lady after all. I believe that you’ll find someone soon even without me worrying about you.”

Sharia let out a small laugh at my words.

“Hearing Mellice say that relieves me.”

After that we enjoyed talking about the recent confection and dress fads.

And then, as we amused ourselves while conversing happily, time passed in the blink of an eye.

When a good amount of time had passed, I left the Telrose house.