"Senior, I've arrived."
Behind Yuni were maids, looking flustered and trying to stop her.
She seemed to have barged in without proper guidance from a maid.
I was taken aback at Yuni's appearance.
I had heard no news of her coming.
More than that, it was puzzling that she was in the capital.
Rie had tasks remaining at the Academy and was scheduled to leave a week after me.
I had thought Yuni would come with her, but here she was, right before my eyes.
However, knowing the guest was Yuni brought some relief.
It would have been troublesome if it were a noble unfamiliar with me.
With Yuni, I could later explain the situation, which was fortunate in this regard.
But the issue was how Yuni would act.
If Yuni caught on to my behavior and questioned it...
Still, I trusted Yuni.
She had changed lately, becoming more perceptive and socially adept.
If I gave her a signal, she would surely catch on.
I looked at Yuni and quickly made a gesture.
I glanced at Karen beside me, then widened my eyes to signal Yuni.
Yuni caught my gesture and furrowed her brows.
"What are you doing?"
Yuni looked utterly clueless, gazing at me.
The trust I had quickly turned to despair.
"Hmm?"
At Yuni's words, Karen looked at me.
I quickly changed my expression to a nonchalant one, pretending nothing was wrong.
Karen glanced at me, puzzled, then turned her attention back to Yuni, examining her closely.
"Could it be... Princess Yuni?"
"Hmm? And who are you?"
Karen immediately stood up and greeted Yuni with respect.
"Apologies. I am Karen Mayer, the eldest daughter of the Mayer family. An honor to meet you, Princess Yuni Von Ristonia, the flower of the empire."
Despite her peculiar personality, the greeting was impeccably polite.
Yuni, hearing Karen's introduction, pondered for a moment, then clapped her hands.
"Ah! The lady preparing to become a knight!"
"Yes, that's me."
Yuni, notorious for not remembering faces and names, surprisingly recalled Karen.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})Whether it was because Karen was preparing to be a knight, or because the Mayer family was part of the noble faction, Yuni remembered her.
"Nice to meet you."
Yuni smiled with her eyes and waved at Karen.
It was a normal greeting, but a sense of unease grew within me.
"But why are you with senior?"
"…What?"
"Huh?"
Their eyes and mouths were smiling.
Yet, the atmosphere felt chilly.
It was the first time I had seen Yuni emit such an aura.
"Why are you here?"
"Ah... I heard Rudy had returned... just wanted to see him..."
"What business do you have seeing senior?"
"That... we were close since childhood... so..."
"Being close as children means you're still close now? Or is senior so idle that he dines with just anyone?"
"It's not like that..."
Under Yuni's pressure, Karen's voice grew increasingly meek.
Believing I couldn't leave the situation as it was, I opened my mouth.
"Stop it there."
"…Senior?"
"Isn't that enough?"
As I was about to scold Yuni,
"No, it's not!"
Karen interrupted.
"I'm the one at fault, so it's only right for me to be reprimanded!"
Her face was slightly flushed with excitement.
Karen looked at Yuni.
"Princess! You can reprimand me more!"
"…What?"
"I deserve to be scolded! Everything you said, Princess, was correct!"
Yuni flinched and stepped back, then looked at me with fear in her eyes.
"Senior… what's with her?"
I had no answer.
I didn't understand it myself.
"Have you eaten yet?"
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"…No, not yet."
"Then sit down. Since we're eating, let's eat together."
"…Okay."
Yuni sat at the table, her eyes filled with terror as she looked at Karen.
Fear of the unknown.
While I was somewhat familiar with such behavior, for the young Yuni, it seemed to be a shock.
I sighed and was about to call the maid.
"Let's have the meal…"
Before I could finish, the door to the room opened again.
"Young master Rudy… the meal you requested…"
"Ah…"
The meal I had ordered for Karen arrived.
Stew, bread, and salad.
Exactly double the amount Karen initially received.
Yuni looked at me with a puzzled face.
"Senior… is someone else coming?"
As Yuni spoke, Karen raised her hand.
"It's, it's for me!"
Karen, who clearly had already eaten, left Yuni confused.
"You've finished eating, haven't you?"
"No! Young master Rudy definitely said to eat double…"
Karen stopped mid-sentence.
She seemed to realize what she was doing.
"…But, Young master Rudy… I don't think I can eat all of this. I'm too full…"
Karen turned her gaze to me.
Her eyes begged not to be punished.
"…Yuni."
"…Yes?"
"Eat that."
"…That? It's too much."
"Eat what you can…"
"Ah…"
Karen let out a sigh tinged with regret.
She couldn't say it out loud and just looked at me.
Her eyes conveyed a message.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})That food was meant for her.
I ignored Karen's pleading gaze.
My conscience couldn't bear it.
And then,
"What's this… Scary…"
Yuni trembled in fear at the sight of Karen.
After the meal,
Karen returned to the Mayer mansion.
Initially, she was reluctant to leave, but after being admonished a few times by Yuni and me, she left with a satisfied look.
Yuni, sitting across from me, asked.
"What's with that person?"
"She's the daughter of the Mayer family."
"I know that. But why does she have such an expression when being scolded?"
I couldn't bring myself to answer that.
I didn't have precise information, just speculations.
And I didn't want to expose Yuni to such depths.
"Okay, let's say that behavior is possible. But what's her relationship with you, Senior?"
"Me?"
I answered without much thought.
"A bridge to the Mayer family?"
It didn't feel right to call Karen a childhood friend since I knew so little about her.
If Yuni started probing into this, it would surely become a headache.
Better to imply that we weren't close in the past.
"Hmm? But she said she was your childhood friend."
"You said it yourself. Just because we were close as kids doesn't mean we are now."
"Right? The present is what matters?"
Yuni seemed satisfied with my answer and smiled pleasantly, then continued.
"So, what am I to you?"
I replied without hesitation.
"You're you."
"…What's that supposed to mean?"
Yuni is Yuni.
She's quite unique, so in my mind, 'Yuni' has become its own concept.
Yuni pouted her lips and grumbled.
"You know, like 'the woman who shakes my heart~'. When she's around, my heart pounds~."
"That's definitely not the case, so don't worry."
"Tch. You're too blunt. That hurts."
Yuni scrunched up her nose.
"Even if it's not to that extent, appreciate that I give you special treatment."
I couldn't guarantee that this special treatment was entirely positive, but considering her a good person, it seemed alright.
Yuni seemed displeased and glared at me.
"If you keep talking like that, I won't tell you why I came."
"Why did you come?"
I tilted my head.
"Now that I think about it, why are you here? You could have at least told me. I would have prepared."
"I can get that treatment at the royal palace. Whatever you offer would just be uncomfortable."
Yuni sighed and looked at me.
"So, what am I to you, Senior?"
"…A good younger sister?"
"Is that all?"
"You are you. What more do I need to say? Isn't this better compared to some ordinary relationship?"
After hearing my words, Yuni pondered and then her eyes widened.
"So, I'm someone with an incomparable relationship to you?"
"…"
It seemed a bit twisted, but if only considering the meaning, it wasn't far off.
I didn't quibble over it.
If she remained upset, it would take time to appease her…
"So, to you, I'm that kind of person, right?"
"Yeah, let's go with that. So why did you come?"
"Your answer is a bit unsatisfactory. But I'll be kind and let it slide."
Yuni smirked mischievously and leaned closer to me.
I stepped back slightly at Yuni's approach.
Yuni came closer and spoke in a soft voice.
"Right now, you haven't been able to meet Astina, have you?"
"How did you know that?"
I was trying to gather information to meet Astina, but all my attempts had turned into nothing.
I couldn't even request a meeting with Astina, and sending a letter was just as difficult.
I wasn't sure where the problem lay, but it looked impossible to meet Astina through ordinary means.
Yuni spoke confidently.
"It's obvious. That's why I came."
"You?"
"Even though I'm just a princess."
Yuni puffed out her chest.
"I'll arrange a meeting for you."
