Chapter 9

"What's the story behind your little sister enrolling at the Imperial Academy as a man instead of a woman? Could it be that she heard about an ancient family heirloom that only men can possess, or could it be that some criminals are trying to kidnap her, and she's trying to hide her identity by pretending to be the opposite sex? Whatever it is, I'm dying to see their love story unfold firsthand while we study together at the academy!"

 

Arietta seemed almost to sing with excitement as she spoke, raising her arms in the air as her spirits celebrated. This caused Jheane to quickly snap out of her daze, and she raised her hand as she opened her trembling mouth. "M-mm... Arietta-chan, this..."

 

—Oh... But what if your sister met Arthur-sama and he fell madly in love with her because of her heroine charms?

 

"What...?" Jheane asked, stunned, not at all expecting the Duke of Draco Silva to suddenly be mentioned in this strange conversation. Much less, for him to claim that "Larisa" fell in love with him as if it were a cliché from a fantasy romance novel, not after that incident...

 

—You know Arthur-sama is gorgeous, right? Just like those male leads in romance novels I love so much♥... I can't help but imagine someone in your little sister's situation having a unique relationship with someone like him, especially being an Archduke at his age... It's like one of my favorite stories is happening in the real world!

 

Thus exclaimed Arietta in a dreamy, somewhat cloying voice as she continued her dance, her hands on her flushed cheeks, her spirit screaming with excitement while her mistress almost seemed to sing a story that could easily be written for a decent novel.

 

—I didn't have to see him more than once to know that his face is truly captivating, a perfection so alluring it could bewitch any woman with just a glance. The sharp angles of his features exude a magnetic allure, refined by an unwavering will and a regal wisdom capable of making even the steadiest of hearts waver. Every detail of his face, from his firm jaw to his high cheekbones, is so meticulously sculpted, so perfect, that it seemed time and hardship would preserve it intact. His midnight hair contrasts with his flawless skin… his expression, with a majestic tone and the elegance of a stalking beast that made him seem dangerous and untouchable… is simply magnificent. And there's a confident, almost predatory charisma in the way his features reflect the sunlight, inevitably drawing all eyes like moths to a flame…

 

...Become a professional novelist or something...

The alchemist thought in a daze as she listened to all this.

I didn't expect this girl to also have a talent for storytelling... At least, when it came to dramatically expressing the excellent appearance of a handsome man, Arietta Noden was very talented.

 

Not caring about Jheane's surprised expressions and the maids around her who blushed at the thought of a certain someone and some even nodded like chickens eating grains at her words, the green-haired girl simply continued chattering happily as if she was thinking of her personal Prince Charming, her eyes seeming to have hearts in them.

 

—He's absolutely perfect~ So beautiful~ How can such a beautiful human exist? It's as if the gods personally molded his appearance! ♥ Furthermore, he's not only the most handsome, but also the richest man in the entire empire! He's the ideal male lead no matter how you look at it♪!

 

—I completely agree with everything you say about Archduke Draco Silva's looks and wealth, but, I must say, it's not exactly a good idea to talk so openly about a distant romance with the fiancé of an Imperial princess, you know— Jheane gently warned the green-haired girl with a drop of cold sweat running down her face, —Also, I should mention that you're having a very funny misunderstanding right now, Arietta-chan.....

 

—Ara... Lady Noden, Lady Lorens, how lucky I am to find you here~

 

Just as Jheane wanted to clear up Arietta's absurd misunderstanding, another woman's dignified yet melodious voice interrupted her, causing both she and Arietta to freeze together as they turned to stare slowly and stiffly at the speaker, the occasional maid gasping in surprise or even admiration in the background.

 

Walking down the same stairs they had both used with one hand on the armrest… was a woman who countless men would call a goddess of beauty without a second’s hesitation with just a glance, gracefully descending with a beautiful red fan of foreign design held in her hand, which was close to her face.

 

A smile graced her tender red lips as she displayed elegant and superior gestures with every step she took, exuding an extremely refined charisma and an extraordinarily seductive charm, proving that her charm standards were truly sky-high.

 

Her elegant hair, as black as the darkest nights and as silky as the most luxurious fabrics, easily reached past her sensual back; reaching her respectable round and firm rear end that was wrapped by her skirt—making even Jheane have to admit defeat—as the mana light began to delicately glow on each of its well-manicured strands.

 

Her proud breasts were squeezed tightly by the arm holding the fan, making them stand out; being absolutely larger than the alchemist's in size, which would easily attract the gaze of countless knights upon them in seconds, filling them with an almost uncontrollable carnal desire at the sight of those considerable nipples protruding weakly through her uniform without being able to be hidden.

 

Her small oval face contained exotic features that you would only see on people from the ancient lands of the Yamato Empire, easily attracting people's attention not only because of her rarity in this Western nation, but because of her unique beauty that captivates onlookers of all genders with its unparalleled splendor.

 

Her soft, delicate, perfect skin, which was the only thing she seemed to have inherited from her Loveritian father, looked as beautiful as Arietta's and Jheane's, and her bright obsidian black eyes were slightly narrowed with the gaze of a sly fox, fixed in his direction and slightly covered by the 'Hime' cut bangs that he remembered the old pervert who was her Master liked so much, with a very beautiful floral decoration on the side of her head in a charming violet color.

 

For all her elegance and glamour, no one could deny that the academy uniform also highlighted the erotic nature of her curvaceous body, with her narrow waist and wide hips clearly outlined for anyone to see.

Even Jheane felt a little envious of her body and a little desire at the same time, thinking how great it would be to be able to play with a woman like her, with those impressive breasts and those nipples the size of a big button... although, unfortunately, she would have to keep her distance in order to try to have a quieter life.

 

That same woman who filled her with complex feelings looked at them calmly, gracefully ignoring their obvious discomfort as she parted her erotic lips. "I'd like to talk to you for a moment... if it's not too much trouble."

 

With a voice that would make virgins shudder with how sweet and slightly seductive it sounded, this girl—no, this noble and seductive woman of extraordinary beauty—deigned to speak to them. Her tone, though slightly gentle and humble as she spoke, held an unmistakable dignity that also radiated throughout her body.

 

…Lady Dominguez.

 

Jheane held back the involuntary moan that was about to escape her lips as she looked at the woman she perceived to be the so-called Yamato Nadeshiko, Aria Dominguez von Cerodian.

 

And before Jheane could quickly try to refuse using her encounter with Lars as an excuse, the beautiful lady told them even faster, "I intend to invite you both to a tea party with the rest of the students of Class SS."

 

—A tea party?

 

The two beautiful girls looked at her in bewilderment at these casual words.

 

♦♦♦♦

 

Tea party.

 

This was widely known as a rather traditional social event among the noble women of Loveritia that was celebrated even in the days of the Old Romanian Empire, which in turn had adopted these customs from the Great Yamato Empire.

 

The ladies here would sometimes send invitations a week in advance to young ladies with whom they wished to develop personal connections through a tea party—whether they were other noblewomen or even bourgeois—having to plan every arrangement, every detail, with absolute perfection so as not to upset their guests and to ensure they would make a good impression on their potential allies.

 

There, the noble hostesses did not flaunt their wealth, although they had some, but rather tried to demonstrate their organizational skills, their deep knowledge of tea (if they had any), and their ability to satisfy their guests with their ideas.

 

Furthermore, in noble society, tea parties are crucial for face-to-face interaction, the exchange of information, and the establishment of power dynamics. Therefore, noblewomen who do not attend them are often considered nonexistent in imperial high society.

 

Therefore, many women strive to attend and organize these meetings to maintain their position and not bring shame to their families.

 

That was, in part, what Jheane knew about tea parties thanks to the basic teachings of her master, who had to teach her various knowledge about how the aristocracy worked, considering that one day she might be invited to such an event.

 

Naturally, Jheane wasn't interested in such things and her own teacher understood this as he himself didn't like such things at all, so he only taught her a few things in case she was in a situation where she simply couldn't refuse such an invitation when she came to live in my dorms at the Bomenslik Imperial Academy.

 

And somehow, Jheane felt like she was in that exact predicament, right now.

 

—What do you mean by inviting us all to a snack, Lady Domínguez? And I didn't know snack invitations were made that way...

 

With a relatively polite tone, Jheane asked with confusion evident in her voice, the insinuation behind her words not escaping the astute lady of a dukedom at all as she let out a soft chuckle that made the two girls in front of her subtly glance at each other.

 

Aria placed a hand on her neckline, radiating an almost irresistible charm and charisma as she smiled, and replied in a somewhat amused tone, “It’s true that nobles usually send tea party invitations through servants, but you know... Don’t we all live in the same dorms right now? It would be disrespectful, at least to me, not to give you my invitation personally as your hostess when technically we share the same space where we might socialize a lot in the future, and not just in the classrooms assigned by the academy.”

 

"I suppose..." the alchemist replied hesitantly, a little surprised by the young noblewoman's strange display of consideration towards this matter.

 

Is she trying to curry favor with her colleagues by personally inviting them to her tea party? I'm sure she's trying hard to build a good network, I'll admit it. Still, I really don't want any part of this...

 

That was what not only Jheane felt, but also Arietta, who had a difficult expression beside her; the elementals she had unintentionally summoned long ago had returned to the elemental plane where they belonged. However, the young alchemist felt that if she ignored this and didn't go, with the vast majority of the SS-Class girls agreeing, there was a high probability of becoming an outcast in the place she had called home for the past four years, which could become problematic.

 

Should I go then? Well, it's just a social gathering, and most of the students here aren't all nobles, so I might be able to make friends with a few... though it would be annoying to have to deal with the disdain of some noble ladies too proud of their lineage to recognize our capabilities...

 

As Jheane pondered such complicated matters, she felt the exotic, black-haired beauty approach with gentle steps and hand her a card with her family's coat of arms, which she pulled out from somewhere with a serene smile. "On these cards, you'll find the information you need to know where to go and what dress code you should follow. You don't need to answer me now. Think carefully, and if you'd like to join us that day, I'll be happy to see you."

 

He finished saying that while passing a terribly similar card to Arietta as well, who let out a weak "Ah... Thank you, Lady Dominguez..." to which the princess of one of the four most important duchies of the Loveritia Empire only responded with a soft smile.

 

—Well, I won't bother you any longer. If you'll excuse me, I have something to do. See you later.

 

-Alright...

 

-Of course

 

"Oh!" Aria exclaimed, walking past them with a friendly air, as if she'd just remembered something. "And please call me Aria, even if it's something more comfortable. As you know, I want to be friends with both of you, so I'd like us to be less rigid next time."

 

Jheane hesitated, scratching her cheek with an awkward smile while Arietta clasped her hands with the card between them on her stomach with a worried face while both of them, curious, answered at the longest possible time with uncertain tones, "W-we'll try."

 

Without seeming embarrassed, insulted, or even hurt by their obvious discomfort at the idea of ​​associating with her, Aria gave them a friendly smile before turning elegantly toward the exit, demurely greeting the maids, who bowed respectfully as she passed. As she walked away from the two, Arietta seemed to be breathing normally again. She placed a hand on her modest chest in relief, and even sighed.

 

—That was really awkward… at least he didn't try to indirectly convince me to join his faction or anything like before…

 

— Right? But... a tea party... What do you think, Arietta-chan?

 

-Don't know....

 

Maybe we should go, huh? We might risk being ostracized by our classmates if we ignore the invitation... well, if most of them decide to go. Jheane looked suspiciously at the invitation card in her hand as she spoke.

 

—Huh? Don't tell me that's what she was planning! Oh... so she was like a villain in a novel after all!

 

—What? No, nothing of the sort!

 

-...¿No?

 

“Of course not,” she sighed, somewhat frustrated by this friend of hers who seemed prone to misunderstandings, her mind easily confusing reality with one of her romance novels, surely lacking much value beyond titillating young girls with unrealistic romances. “What I mean is, if the majority of the students in Class SS decide to join Lady Dominguez’s faction after the tea party, it’s quite possible that they’ll all decide not to socialize in any way with the one who ignored their leader, whether to avoid unnecessarily offending her or for any other reason they can think of… and if it’s possible that I’m just overthinking it and nothing of the sort is happening, maybe we shouldn’t risk it. After all, if I’m going to live here for four years, I’d like to get along with all my classmates.”

 

Arietta blinked, slightly surprised by all the analysis Jheane was doing, and then said with what sounded like some respect and admiration in her voice, "You sure put a lot of thought into this, didn't you?"

 

The alchemist simply snorted with a slightly arrogant smile. “As high-level aspirants, we have minds that function at high speed and process information better than normal humans. So, when is the best time to take full advantage of them?”

 

That's what Jheane believed.

 

As an aspiring sorceress specializing in alchemy, she had to deal with numerous magical formulas and alchemical recipes throughout her training, and she came to believe it was only natural to take advantage of her superior intellectual capacity to quickly absorb the problems presented to her. This, naturally, applied not only to sorcery but also to life in general.

 

Mainly creating very realistic mental simulations of wild sex, and I can already think of many scenarios you could participate in with Arietta, hehe~

 

She kept that thought to herself with a mischievous smile as she continued to explain her point of view to the spiritualist.

 

“As you know, Lady Domin… uh…” He hesitated for a moment, then had to admit it. “Lady Aria… she already knows that you’re trying to consolidate your position at Bomenslik Imperial Academy through us, so she won’t treat us badly if we join her. It’s quite possible that the others will see this and decide to switch sides to your side to gain certain benefits… In that sense, it’s not unreasonable for the majority of our class to join your faction, so there’s a chance we’ll be harmed if we simply ignore you. We don’t need to commit to your faction; simply attending might prevent them from showing hostility toward the two of us, so we’d better go.”

 

As a woman raised to be the next Master of the Alchemist's Guild (a position she did not want), Jheane was carefully guided by her master so that she could discern the nobility's intentions for herself, thus avoiding falling into their well-woven word games like poisonous web traps.

 

As far as she was concerned, Aria's plan was obvious.

 

By personally inviting many of the talented elite students, barely below them in intelligence and influence, she demonstrated her sincerity and how much she valued them, as well as conveying the hidden message that she was willing to treat them very well if they agreed to be by her side. At the same time, she conveyed to those hesitant to even approach her the idea that they feared social isolation in their own home, as people intelligent enough would realize they would be at a disadvantage if a large portion of their class belonged to Aria's faction.

 

Anxiety, at the very least, would compel them to go so as not to insult Aria's honor or earn the hostility of her faction. That is precisely what she desires, for by simply attending the tea party, they would be forging a kind of connection with her that they wouldn't be able to easily deny if the first steps of their ambition were successful.

 

For noblewomen, tea parties were a status symbol. Successfully inviting a prestigious guest was a sign of the host's influence. In that sense, it would be natural for Aria to strive to win over future geniuses like them with subtle manipulative tactics.

 

Very clever, Lady Aria, very clever.

 

Not in vain was he one of the greatest geniuses to appear in the Noble Dominguez Clan, bringing pride to his lineage not only with his amazing magical talents, but also with his scheming mind capable of devising a plan like that that can be implemented with such simple and seemingly insignificant actions.

 

Either that, or Jheane was just overthinking things—the curse of a smart person at its finest.

 

Haha...no way

 

Jheane quickly began to deny the possibility in her thoughts when Arietta finally responded to her relatively straightforward analysis of the situation.

 

—I see... if what you say is true, then I don't see why I shouldn't go. But you didn't say when it would be...

 

—That's what the invitation is for. I'm sure he wrote it the day the tea party starts there.

 

"Why don't you just say it?" Arietta tilted her head, and a smile seemed to spread across Jheane's lips.

 

Because it's quite possible she wanted to surprise us with the location of the tea party when we read it on the card, or perhaps something else. In any case, we'll know when we open them, won't we? He waved the card with a wink, and Arietta laughed, letting out a soft, silvery voice.

 

—Okay, that makes sense... I still feel uncomfortable around Lady Dominguez, but I guess I'll think about it after reading the invitation.

 

—Yes, yes, me too.

 

—Oh! But shouldn't you go with your little sister?

 

The spiritualist genius tenderly blinked his lapis lazuli eyes as he asked with a finger to his rosy lips, and Jheane froze at that very moment, completely bewildered.

 

Shit! I forgot about Larisa!

 

—Arietta-chan, excuse me for being blunt, but I have to go! See you later!

 

—Ah!

 

Arietta raised a hand, but the Demi-Bestian who had used her canine nature to run at great speed through the splendid halls was already entering through the luxurious twin doors that led to the Visiting Room.

 

"I hope you have a nice sister reunion..." Arietta smiled softly as she whispered with her hands behind her back, turning to return to her room with the well-decorated card in her hand in a good mood.

 

Unbeknownst to Jheane, she completely forgot to clear up this adorable little girl's misunderstanding about her "little sister"...