Second Arc: Twentieth Chapter

Under the clear, pleasant blue of an autumn sky, the Founding Festival tea party was held on the school's garden terrace. For the occasion, the garden's plants had been replanted with autumn flowers, and the white-clothed tables were decorated with blooms as well.

Adorning the tables alongside the flowers was an array of sweets, brilliant to the eye, made with the fruits of the season. Apple pie, glossy pear tarts, wobbling muscat jelly, pumpkin pudding, sweet-potato confections…

Is this torture?

Ever since I'd tried the dress on, I'd thrown myself into dieting, hoping to win even a little room between the corset and my stomach. But my efforts came to nothing: whatever room I made, Sissi only cinched the corset that much tighter — a demon's work, and all that awaited me.

The carrot dangled before me… no, rather, the array of sweets tormented me.

"Lady Cosette. This apple pie is so delicious! The pastry is crisp and flaky, and the apple has a lovely hit of cinnamon!"

"Oh, this pear tart is superb as well. The saltiness of the cookie base against the sweetness of the pear is just exquisite! And it's fun how the pear keeps its texture."

"No, no, this muscat jelly is even better! There's a faint scent of liquor to the muscat — a grown-up flavor. So smooth I could eat it forever!"

Watching Lady Julia and the others at my table beam as they ate their sweets, my patience passed its limit.

Nnngh, just a little, just a little bit—!

Just as I reached for the pudding in front of me, a voice from close by cut in as if to stop me.

"Hello, Cosette. You're lovelier than ever today. Like an autumn fairy."

I drew my half-extended hand back with a creak, creak, and turned around.

Farewell, my pudding…

"Your Highness, a very good day to you. I'm honored by your praise. …By the way, Your Highness, did Sissi happen to say anything to you?"

"To me, from Sissi? No, she said nothing."

I see. The timing was so perfect I'd half taken him for one of Sissi's agents.

"Was there something you needed?"

"No, no, oh-ho-ho. It's nothing at all. Oh-ho-ho-ho."

"Oh-ho-ho-ho."

After my evasive little laugh, a mysterious backing chorus followed in unison. I whipped around to find the traffic-light ladies with their hands clapped over their own mouths, eyes wide.

"P-pardon us. Force of habit."

"Conditioned reflexes are a frightening thing."

"It's soaked right into our bodies."

The three of them muttered among themselves.

"Come to think of it, I wonder how Lady Remie is faring… Has she reached Lumelica by now, do you think?"

Lady Julia murmured it under her breath. About two weeks had passed since we'd sent Lady Remie a letter, and no reply had come yet.

Unlike in my past life, this world has no dedicated postal carriers. Letters between nobles within the country are carried by servants and so reach their mark reliably, but letters abroad are usually handed off to merchants heading that way. So it's a given that they take time to arrive — and sometimes they never reach their destination at all.

"I'm sure she's just about there by now. A letter may well come any day."

I smiled at Lady Julia to comfort her.

"That's right," said His Highness. "It's about a week to the Lumelican border, and longer to the capital, but she should be arriving around now. I'm sure she'll write once she's there."

His Highness offered kind words too.

"Hello there, ladies. What's got you all so downcast?"

"Yo! You eat the pudding yet? That stuff's good!"

Remias and Georg had come over together.

…Curse you, Georg. Hand over that pudding in your hand! My eyes gave a hungry gleam. …I'm starving.

"Remias, Georg. We were just talking about Remie. I wonder if she's reached Lumelica yet."

At His Highness's words, Remias looked around at us in surprise, then gave a soft smile.

"I'd say Remie is in Medius about now — the town on the Lumelican border. There's a festival on there this time of year, and I arranged things so she could take it in."

"Oh, a festival!"

"How fun that sounds."

I do hope Lady Remie is enjoying herself. Thinking of her, far away in Medius, we all looked up at the sky together.