- Esh, how are you? Nothing hurts? - Approaching me, Emilia asked after Alice moved away from us
- " Everything is fine, I didn't fall much. - I answered, looking at Emilia, and then at the maid who stayed with us - Did you want something? - I asked her
- No, please forgive me, I stayed to make sure that everything is fine with you, young master. - Having said this she bowed
- I'm fine, thank you for your concern. - I replied, and turned to Alfred said - Alfred, please conduct us to our rooms.
- Of course, please follow me .
After five minutes of walking along the richly decorated corridors, we reached our rooms. My room was the same as at home. A large, double bed, several wardrobes, a small table and sofa, all you need for everyday life. As soon as I ran around the room, I lay down on the bed and fell asleep.
***
* Knock knock *
A knock on the door woke me up - " Come in " - I said, wiping my face with my hands and putting my hair in order.
- I apologize for the fact that your sleep is disturbed young gentleman. - entered the room with a small tray on which was a kettle with a cup and a small dessert, said the maid, who had previously led away princess.
- You want something? - I asked, getting out of bed and head to the sofa with a table
- This concerns the princess. - Having received the unspoken permission to come in, she put dessert and tea on the table - May I ask you to listen to me?
- With the princess is something wrong? - Having taken a sip of tea, I asked
- No young master, it concerns her surroundings. - Putting a tray, she moved away from the table and continued - As you probably know, the princess is the only child of His Majesty the Emperor, so he is very worried about her, because if there is something with her happen then they could ut lose the heir to the throne. - With a sigh, she continued - As you probably already understood, the princess has very few friends of her age, and to be honest, they don't exist at all.
- You want me to be friends with her? - Finishing tea I asked
- We do not want, we ask you. - Having said this she bowed
- Why not ask about it, I already wanted to make friends with her. - With a gesture showing that she rose, I continued. - But why did she run away from you in tears today? Something happened?
- Soon she has a birthday, so we chose her outfit that she will wear on bliss, but she doesn't want it ... - Having let out another sigh, she indecisively continued - Last year, there was one unpleasant incident on her birthday , which is why she does not want to celebrate her birthday this year.
- Well, I understand, I will try to make friends with her.
- Thank you very much young gentleman, " she said, bowing, and as she was about to leave my room, she hesitantly asked. - Young master, and ... what color do you like?
- Bright Blue, but what? - Not understanding what this is, I asked
- There is nothing, thanks for answering. - Having bowed again, she turned and left the room.
" And why is she my favorite color? "
***
After this conversation with the maid, I went with Emilia to the dining room in order to have lunch. The sun was at its zenith, so after lunch, Emilia and I decided to take a little walk around the palace and its garden. Having reached the dining room, we took up empty seats, of which there were a lot, and began to wait for our parents.
- You are already here? Apparently you are very hungry, since you came faster than us. - Our father heard a voice from the doorway, which, together with my mother and Roxy, came to the dining room.
Having taken up empty seats, we waited for us to get food out and at that moment another lady came into the dining room, this was Her Highness Princess Alice. She was wearing a white and blue dress that was perfect for her golden hair. Entering the dining room, she curtsied and said
"So why did her maid ask about my favorite color ..."
- Good afternoon, Duke Edgar Rise, good to see you. Saint Julia, I am glad that you were able to come to such a difficult place for you. I am the first Princess of the Kraus Empire, Alice Kraus, and I am pleased to meet you. - Saying this, she looked at me and, taking a seat next to me, added in a low voice. - Another hello, Esh, I'm sorry for what happened in the morning. I'm not on purpose.
- Good afternoon, Princess Alice, I am Emilia Rise, the first daughter of Duke Edgar Rise, I hope we get along. - said my sister, who was sitting to my left.
- I hope ... - Alice answered
After Alice arrived, the maids immediately brought out the food. We dined in silence, mainly due to the fact that my mother went for a little snack to feed Roxy, and my father, quickly eating his lunch, went to the council hall.
Having finished my portion, I turned to Emily and asked her - " Are we going Emilia? "
- Let's go! - Getting up from her chair, she thanked the maids who brought us food and headed for the exit
I, too, got up and thanked them, was about to follow her, but then I was stopped by a small pen that grabbed my suit
- Esh ... and where-in you go? - Alice asked in an uncertain voice
- We wanted to take a stroll through the palace. - I said, and seeing as her eyes welling with tears, said. - Do you want going with us?
As soon as I asked this, a joyful smile spread across her face and she answered - Yes !! I'll show you everything here! - She said in a joyful voice and headed for the exit from the dining room. - " Come on, come on, we have little time, and the palace is very large !!!" " - Seeing that I was standing still, she ran to me and began to drag my hand
- I'm coming, I'm coming - Having surrendered I went to study the palace with her hand
Emilia, seeing that I left the dining room by the hand with the princess, smiled and nodded lightly to me, apparently the maids also told her that the princess had no friends.
The next three hours we walked around the palace with a very active guide, in the form of a princess. We visited the library, the hall of the Emperor, in which there was nobody, a green imperial garden and a greenhouse with flowers. By the beginning of dinner, we were all tired and wet, so we went into our rooms to change our clothes. For dinner, we also arrived earlier than everyone else, waiting for our parents, we sat at a small table and sipping tea, just talked on various topics, all this time Alisa for some reason did not let go of my hand.
After about twenty minutes, our parents came, namely my dad and mom and a couple more man and woman. Seeing these people, Alice smiled her sweetest smile and, pulling me along, ran to them
- Mom, Dad you come!! - She said , letting me go and sticking to her parents.
"Mom and Dad? So is it the Empress and the Emperor?"
- My name is Esh Rise, the first son of Duke Edgar Rise, I am glad to welcome His Majesty the Emperor and Empress. - I said bowing
"Damn, I don't know how to greet such people, why didn't Claire teach me this !!!!"
- My name is Emilia Rise, the first daughter of the Duke Edgar Rise, I am glad to greet His Majesty the Emperor and Empress. - Having done Reverend, my sister repeated after me
"Yes, Emil, well done!!! If it's a shame, then to both!!! Thank you!!!"
- At such a young age it is so formally presented, I am surprised. - the Empress was surprised
- Such young ones, but already know the rules of etiquette. - The Emperor supported her
- My name is Sirena Kraus, Empress of the Empire Kraus, glad to meet my daughter's friends. - The Empress introduced herself and after a short pause continued - You can call me by name.
- Well, my name is Egert Kraus, I am the Emperor of the Kraus Empire. - After the Siren, her husband Egert introduced himself - I will also be glad if you call me by name. My daughter's friends are not required to contact me so officially.
- What, though, once we introduced, it can sit down to dinner? - Siren said and sat down at the table.
- I agree, there's no reason to just stand there. - Egert agreed with his wife and sat next to her.
Having taken her places, not only to mine, but also to the surprise of everyone who was here , Alice, unfastening herself from her parents, did not sit next to them, but next to me. The second surprise of her parents gave way to a joyful smile that said so - "Our daughter was able to find a friend!" - but I decided to pretend that I did not notice this, just like Emilia.
After dinner, Alice went with the maid to try on new outfits, at first she did not want to, but after the maid whispered something in her ear , she blushed and said in a sweet little voice.
- Until tomorrow Esh ~. - She skipped along with her.
After breaking up with Emilia, I went to the library with Alfred. Since I already understood the language of this world very well, I decided not to waste time and look for some interesting books on magic, or if there are none, simple books on the history or geography of this world.
***
Having reached the library, Alfred asked one of the maids to bring me tea. The library was gigantic, although what else could you expect from the library in the imperial palace?
- Aina, can you help me with finding Dark Magic books and Lightning Element spell books? - I asked my assistant
[ Of course, Master, use the [ Search] skill , magic books always give out a small amount of mana, this will help you weed out unnecessary books ] - Aina suggested
- Hmm , good idea, can you help me with this?
[ Of course sir ]
「Would you like to use the Search skill? 」
- Yes - Mentally confirming my choice, I began to feel weak mana flows throughout the library - There are too many of them ... Well, I have two weeks, before we go back to Aquos, I think I can find at least- something useful
***
302 year, June 15, Morning
Now we are in her room, if you ask what the guy is doing in the girl's room early in the morning, I will answer, she wakes her up with congratulations!
- "Happy Birthday Alice" - Together with Emilia, we cried out
- AA! ??? - Hearing our cry, she quickly jumped out of bed, but when she saw that we went to bed further - Five more minutes, I got up for five minutes ... - she yelled
- Well, no, we got up at such an early time, dressed, took our presents and came to congratulate you, and you are going to sleep !? - In saying this, Emilia tore off the blanket from her and pulled her hand
- Okay-okay , I get up, do not pull me to the floor! - Realizing that she was helpless against Emily, Alice gave up and sat on the edge of the bed with tears in her eyes said - Thank you ...
- Well, don't cry, everything is fine, then sleep/ - Absolutely not reading the atmosphere my sister Alice said - Today is your birthday ! You have to have fun !!
Wiping tears sleeves of his pajamas, she smiled and said - Okay!
- Hold, this is my gift - Sister holding out a small bundle to Alice, my sister said - If I am not mistaken, then you wanted this one.
Taking the gift from Emilia's hands, she immediately opened it and saw what was inside again shed a tear - Thank you ... - There was a hair brooch.
A week ago, when we walked, Emilia put on her brooch on her hair, and Alice, seeing her, asked where she could get it, but when she heard the answer, she was very saddened. After that incident, Emilia, having talked with her father, was able to order one more such brooch, only with a blue stone, and not white especially for Alice, it was made by one of the most famous jewelers in the whole capital, so it did not take a lot of time to create it, all five days.
- And this is my gift. - Poking my hand out from behind, I handed Alice a small box - I will be very glad if you put it on today.
Also, as with Emilia's gift, she opened it right there and saw what was inside crying even harder - Esh, thank you very much * Whimper * , I'm very glad that I got such druses * Whimper-Whine * - Inside was a bracelet with three inlaid blue stones, and our initials were engraved on the stones.
- This is a sign of our friendship. - Having said that, I raised my left hand, on which was exactly the same bracelet - Only four have these bracelets ! I have Emilia, Roxy and now you have Alice. - I said, giving her a small scarf, which I had prepared in advance
- Thank you! - Taking a handkerchief and wiped her tears, she embraced us - Thank you for having me! - she said, still crying.
***
In the evening, a grandiose party was held in honor of Princess Alice, and as soon as she entered the hall, everyone looked only at her. A three-year-old girl, dressed in a blue-blue dress, with a white gold bracelet, and a blue brooch on her head that adorned her golden hair, became the center of attention of the crowd, which is not surprising.
Needless to say, in our environment with Emilia, not a single child dared to come and try to somehow deceive her. Sometimes, we even caught oblique glances in our direction, but as soon as we looked at the culprits, they immediately turned away.
***
So two weeks of our vacation in the capital passed, and today we are going home.
- You must leave !? * Whimper-whimper * - Alice asked me with Emilia, who were about to get into the carriage - " Can't you stay !? "
- Forgive Alice, but it is time for us to return home, we will definitely come to visit you! And you come to us! Soon Esh and I have a birthday, we can all have fun together and relax at sea! - said Emilia, hugging the crying princess
- Really? - Raising her head, asked Alice, who finally learned to pronounce the letter " P " , of course I was the main reason for this progress, who taught her how to do it every day in the library, since my experience from my past life came in handy.
- Of course it's true! We will always be glad to see you! - I said, hugging also hugging the little princess - Be sure to come to us at the end of July, we will be waiting for you ! - On this sad note, we got into the carriage and drove home.