Chapter 2: Spring Palace (part two)

At the drawing room of Spring Palace, we had a meeting with the Duke of Harvan.

The theme of this visit seemed to be the conversation about the development of the silver ore veins at the boundary between Aurelia territory and Harvan territory and the surrounding forest resources.

My father, Duke of Aurelia, was in his forties.

His stroked back golden hair had some white hairs mixed within.

He had short beards on his jaw.

His looks and personality were similar to Edward-onii-sama.

He was very sweet to his family, but he was also a proud person with many meritorious deeds.

My older brother and I who had dressed up was lining next to him.

Then, Duke Harvan and his wife, along with their two children appeared before us.

The Duke of Harvan was younger than my father.

Although he was already in his thirties, he had a beautiful youth style with black hair and gray eyes with a sharp impression.

He was wearing the magician’s formal wear which consisted of loose pale grey robe.

At first glance it was plain and simple, but it was a very beautiful clothing with fine silver embroidery.

The Duchess was a bit young.

She was a woman who seemed energetic and refreshing.

She was wearing a light blue dress with little decorations, her black hair was in an updo, and she had deep azure eyes.

She was an adult woman who combined elegant beauty with mellow cuteness.

Then, there were Klaus the first child and Ann the second child.

Klaus was wearing a black extravagant clothing with silver threads, while Ann was wearing a neat white dress with silver threads.

Both of them were similar to their father in facial expression, while their hair and eyes were similar in color with their mother.

Their straight black hair looked silky, and their intense blue eyes were impressive.

Klaus was especially stood out with the transformation from his dark impression in the game to the bright, child-like facial expression he wore right now.

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He looked like a healthy boy who had never been hurt with plenty of confidence.

I wished he could grow up as a refreshing, healthy young lad as he was.

After the greetings and introductions, Duke Harvan and my father talked about the subject of today’s agenda.

The Duchess of Harvan deemed to decide to take a look around inside the Spring Palace, accompanied by my older brother.

Then I, Erica Aurelia, along with the Harvan siblings, were told to play in the palace’s extensive garden.

During this season, Spring Palace, just like its name, was a flower-filled palace.

And the most beautiful place in the palace, Knot Garden, an ornamental flower garden1, was a large garden with hundreds of flowers, consisting of three gardens of roses.

“Then, from now on I will introduce the garden.”

“Oi, woman. I don’t feel like getting along with you, absolutely no way.”

—Did this person have a personality like this?

I mean, why was a 10-years-old boy calling a girl who was younger than him by two years with the term ‘woman’?

No, this was right.

Klaus Harvan was not only ruthless and gloomy, but he was also a Do-S man. I forgot about that because of his refreshing boyish looks.

“In the first place, I don’t even want to came here! I don’t understand why should my father have to come here, the newcomer of the west.”

Even if you told me such a thing.

In the Spring Palace of Aurelia, there were many transfer gates installed, in addition it was perfect for observing the surrounding mines and forest……that was how it was.

In the first place, Aurelia’s 〈Visitor’s Clan〉 arrived on this continent six hundred years ago, so it was troubling to be called a newcomer.

“Hmph, I have no interest in such a place. Flowers are crap.”

“Onii-sama, please don’t say something childish like that. That is rude to Erica-sama.”

While I was thinking for a matter of seconds about how to counter that in a friendly way, help came when I was silent.

Ann was one year younger than me.

“That was such a rude thing to say to Erica-sama who will guide us through the gardens of Spring Palace, which is an honour.”

“Aah, I don’t want to be with you, Ann. If I’m together with women I will become weak.”

Well, I guessed he was this kind of person, yeah.

As expected, opposite sex should be limited to 2D.

However, it was slightly surprising that he took this kind of attitude towards his sister.

Even though he was a terrible siscon in the game.

“That’s alright. Then, Klaus-sama please do whatever you like. I will show Ann-sama this garden.”

“……Aah, I will do that.”

Klaus left us and went into the palace quickly.

Even so, I wondered what he was going to do in other people’s palace alone?

Well, whatever.

I should entertain Ann right now.

Today’s mission was to protect her safety, not to take care of Klaus’ mood.

Absolutely, I wouldn’t even get close to the western Aurelia’s number one Ruins of Visitor!

“I apologize, Erica-sama. My older brother has done something very rude.”

“I don’t mind it. Thank you for your consideration, Ann-sama.”

“I should be the one thanking you, Erica-sama.”

Even though she was younger than Klaus, Ann was prim and polite.

Her favourable rating within me rose steadily.

Also, one of my concerns was solved.

As a result of meeting Klaus and Ann, Erica Aurelia, the villainous lady who was sleeping within me, was awakened!

……Nothing like that happened, I was still me.

“I was looking forward for this very much. I heard it from the rumors. This large garden is so wide that you can’t see everything even if you exhaust yourself.”

“Oh my, is this your first garden?”

“Yes. There are no people in the east who have low-cut trees like this. So it is very unusual – Ah, those flowers are–!?”

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Although Ann was still seven years old, Ann was very intelligent.

Then she seemed to have a lively, child-like sensitivity.

After we went to the area of Knot Garden that consisted only of evergreen trees, we headed towards the ornamental garden in which a wide variety of flowers were in full-bloom.

Each one seemed to be unusual for her.

“These are dwarf lavenders. It is an improvement form of the original, so their petals are larger.”

“Their pale purple colors are very beautiful……Ah, what is that single white flower?”

“It is one of our original rose species. If you like it, I will tell the gardener to pick several of them for you.”

“……Is it alright?”

“Yes. Please add your favorite flowers to your liking.”

It wasn’t bothersome to listen to the little girl’s request.

I believed that being nice was the basic manner to become intimate with children.

“Is it really alright?”

“Yes, Ann-sama is my precious guest.”

I kept smiling to her.

Ann’s face turned red.

“……Thank you very much……”

Unlike her brother, she was very honest and cute.

Well, Klaus was not honest because that was his selling point, so it couldn’t be helped.

Because there was a demand for that in the world of my previous life.

And, in my mind, I remembered the world where Ann had died.

(That kind of thing absolutely should not happen. I don’t want such a child to die.)

Of course, there was also her cuteness.

I sincerely felt bad that she would be cursed and killed by an evil spirit.

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1 Actually written as a parterre (パーテア), which is an ornamental garden with paths between the flower beds.

…And no, there is no yuri here.