9 years passed so slowly for the princess, the daily schedule, duties, and responsibilities that were increasing day by day made the princess lock up her former childish desire to achieve perfection as a princess that was expected by her kingdom.
There are no siblings to accompany her, a personal butler who successfully passed the selection stage at the age of 8 years has also become a friend and companion who accompanies her wherever she goes.
She did not want many friends, the princess felt her current circle of friendships was more than enough to make her feel perfect. From the triangle consisting of Rilliana and Reinhard only, now Haruta (although they fight more and have different opinions, the differences of opinion sometimes benefit the princess) and Gavin.
Gavin, who is now her butler and has taken an oath until the end of his life, will always protect and always be by her side, he no longer has to live alone in his grandfather's spacious house. He used to only have a local merchant as a friend to chat with, now he doesn't have to worry because there is Miona, a child he can talk to and play with (and even then, if Miona invites him because Gavin's job is a butler so playing is forbidden while he is working).
"Miss, it's time to wake up"
Irina slowly opened the curtains on the balcony, then tied them with a violet ribbon hanging from the side of the curtain. Then she walked up to Miona for the second time.
"Miss today your agenda is to go to the meeting of the royal princesses"
The young blonde maid patted the figure that was under the blanket. But no answer at all.
*click*
The bathroom door opened and out came the young princess with golden brown hair that shone in the bright sunlight, wrapped in a wine red towel. She was surprised to see Irina who was opening the wardrobe.
"Irina?"
"Oh good thing you're awake princess, let me help you change clothes" Irina quickly approached Miona and directed her to the dressing table.
For a moment when she sat on the dressing chair, Miona looked at Irina's figure from her makeup mirror "I can do it myself Irina, I'm not a child anymore" she said in a slightly annoyed tone.
Irina who was busy combing the princess's hair then chuckled then started to string each strand of Miona's hair "That's right, that's why I helped you miss" she replied.
From the answer Irina gave, Miona could feel that her maid didn't care about the statement she just made "I'm 14 years old Irina, I'm going to be a teenager soon. And that means I'm no longer a child," Miona said firmly.
Hearing Princess Osforia's words, Irina only answered with a 'hmmm'. As if still can't believe the age of the princess.
"Your Highness, I will make you look even more mature from now on" without waiting for the princess to answer, Irina immediately put a little makeup here and there on her master's face and then gave a little touch to the hairstyle she made.
And without them knowing it, the simple makeup they do seems to take a lot of time.
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*sigh* "Miss, we are late for the event"
"Relax, Gavin. We will come just in time" said Miona confidently.
But those words didn't seem to make Gavin believe it at all, quite the opposite. And now the butler had to check his pocket watch again. 'It's almost 11.00, plus the road to Erziehen kingdom'. Knowing how the state of the royal roads was, Gavin grumbled. Then he secretly glanced at the young girl sitting right in front of him. 'It seems that Irina dressed her up'.
Miona, who had not yet realized, turned her attention to the street outside, leaning her head against the window blankly.
Gavin's gentle gaze turned serious, the two-person seemed lost in their thoughts.
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At 11.20 they arrived at the venue and were greeted with great joy by all the princesses who had attended first.
"Princess Miona!!"
A blonde-haired princess came up to her and dragged her quickly, Gavin who had not had time to unload their luggage just stared at his master who had disappeared from his radar.
'And she disappeared with the others' thought Gavin.
"Master Chevalier, does this item need to be taken down as well?" a servant approached Gavin.
Just woke up from his daydream, Gavin answered the servant's question then he stood alone outside while carrying the princess's luggage.
While some of the princesses who had arrived at the kingdom were also clustered and sat in their respective chairs while waiting for the arrival of the other princesses.
Princess Osforia sat right between the blonde-haired princess and the princess with green eyes like water in a lake. She looked around – to be more precise, looking for the presence of someone she hadn't seen in a long time. But to no avail, she found no sign of the person.
"If you are looking for princess- I mean Queen Rilliana, then it's a pity. Because yesterday she sent me a letter with a statement she was unable to attend today's event," said the blonde princess who was now busy welcoming the princesses who had just arrived after Miona.
Her head was bowed and there was a sense of disappointment, Miona could only sigh hearing the news of her best friend.
"While waiting for the princess from the land of Yongshee, how about we start the meeting at noon today," said the blonde girl who was now standing beside Miona.
"Thank you all for being here, this meeting is the first to be held in the 470th generation and will later be held in several kingdoms so that we can experience life in those kingdoms"
Then the blonde princess looked down at the guest "Let me introduce myself, I'm the 3rd princess of the Erziehen kingdom. Aline Zeriave, I hope we can have a good relationship with each other"
And the young Aline continued her speech which turned out to be too formal for a 15-year-old child, meanwhile by looking behind her, Miona could see Gavin who seemed to be seriously listening to the princess' greeting.
But it didn't take long, as if he felt called, his eyes met Miona's eyes. 'Miona?', Gavin's confused look appeared on his face but he swiftly approached his master who didn't make a sound at all as if he was afraid of being caught not listening to the greeting that was being given.
Gavin who had approached Miona immediately bowed his body, at the same time the girl brought her mouth to her personal butler's ear and whispered a secret order that no one should know.
The response Gavin gave was only to nod his head and then walk away back to where he was standing while listening to the greeting. When he recalled the order from princess Osforia, he sighed and was surprised by it.
'I want to try to eat cotton candy from this country which is said to be famous all over the world, it tastes soft and will make me addicted to it'
"With this, my friends, let's strengthen our relationship with one another and protect our comrades when disaster strikes. Cheers" she raised a glass of red drink in front of all the guests, her behavior was followed by all the princesses who are present today and then they toast.
When she was about to drink the glass in her hand, Miona could smell the fresh, sweet aroma in it. The glass she brought was pink, with a strawberry fruit decoration stuck on the top of the glass as a sweetener.
'Hmm~ Strawberry Milk. Lucky me~' thought the girl who unconsciously smiled happily.
And the toast ended with each princess going to talk to the other princesses.
Aline, who seemed to be distant herself from the conversation between the princesses, sat quietly beside Miona who was still enjoying her strawberry milk. Seeing the behavior of the golden-brown-haired princess, she smiled and chuckled.
"You seem to like your drink very much, can you explain to me what drink you got?" asked Aline who was now looking at Miona with great attention.
"Eh? A-ah, erm... Strawberry milk?" Miona answered with a confused face and awkward behavior because she didn't realize that her behavior made the host of the gathering interested in interacting with her.
How come? This was the first time she had spoken to anyone other than friends and residents of Osforia, of course alone with no one to help her start a conversation.
"Ahaha you're so funny. I heard this year you're turning 14, right?"
"Y-yes. You remember it?"
With a smile shining into Miona's eyes, Aline nodded her head and took her drinking glass.
"How could I forget the birthday of someone who always got the attention of the prince in Thedric land?" After saying that, Aline took a sip of her drink.
Miona, who was slightly gawking, blushed and averted her gaze "You seem to have misunderstood"
"Hm? Interesting, would you mind explaining which part of what I said was wrong?" tease Aline.
Miona who then looked down finally answered Aline's question in a low voice "That's not attention, but bullying" she said with a face that turned red like a tomato.
Aline laughed softly at the answer given by the daughter who was 1 year younger than her. If this event was allowed to invite other princes, she would likely invite that prince, as well as the 2 people she wanted to seduce.
"Oh, princess Miona don't say that, you know how hard it is to get the prince's attention, hmm?."
Surprised by Aline's words, Miona tilted her head as if she didn't understand what the beautiful princess meant.
She then put down the glass she had been holding, and looked away "Forget it"
At first glance, she felt an uncomfortable aura emanating from the blonde-haired princess, Miona felt that something was being hidden from the princess but she didn't dare to ask it before the princess herself said it.
Suddenly Aline turned towards Miona and stretched out her hand "While we can gather like this, how about we chat with the others? I'm sure they must be curious about you, moreover this is the first time you're out of the palace alone with just your butler" she said cheerfully.
"E-eh? W-wait-"
Without waiting for Miona's words, Aline pulled Miona's hand and took her around to get acquainted with the other princesses. And fortunately, the introduction went smoothly thanks to Aline who started the conversation.
And the temptations here and there were thrown from the princesses who knew the princess Osforia through rumors between royal princesses.
If seen from the distance Gavin was standing, he could see the good progress of his friend. He also smiled proudly while looking at the condition of the master 'It seems that one mission has been accomplished even though I didn't help her'
"Ahem, looks like you're enjoying this gathering too."
Suddenly Gavin turned in the direction of the voice and he found a young man who had the same position as him but he had lemon-yellow hair with dark gray eyes that seemed to sparkle in the light of the room lights.
"Oh my apologies, if I remember correctly, you are princess Aline's butler?"
The two butlers faced each other and shook hands.
"It's an honor to meet a butler who has become the subject of conversation among butlers. I still can't believe that you are younger than me, I heard Mr. Ardolph himself educated you"
Hearing the compliments given to him, Gavin chuckled and recalled the flaws he still had. "Thank you but there are still many things I need to learn from the seniors including you sir-?"
"Oh just call me Ehren, and please don't be too formal with me just because I'm 3 years older than you," said Ehren.
Their conversation suddenly stopped there, neither of them knew what to talk about after that.
'Think Gavin, what a proper and polite conversation when the other person is older than you. Just a minute-' Gavin thought. He felt one or two drops of cold sweat running down his forehead.
'It seems that this is also the first time he has stepped out of his comfortable nest, or is he afraid to start a conversation with someone older than him?' thought Ehren who continued to observe his junior.
A small chuckle was heard, but neither of them made the sound. Curious, Gavin saw a young butler standing behind Ehren. His looks were worthy of praise and if that young man were with Ehren, perhaps they could be mistaken for a prince instead of a butler.
"Come on, why do I feel a strange aura here," The young man put his arm around Ehren's shoulder casually "See what you did to him Ehren, you made him less confident to talk to you" he continued.
Ehren with an irritated face and muscles showing on his forehead grumbled "Keep your bearings in front of juniors"
"Ahahaha, I'm sorry. Ehren is just a young man who has just grown up so he gives you a strange aura" said the waiter.
"I told you to stop this behavior" Ehren immediately flicked the young man's ear, then looked at Gavin who was dumbfounded to see his two seniors "You're Gavin right? I hope you don't imitate the behavior you just saw" Ehren said firmly.
"Oh-em...of course," Gavin couldn't help but smile awkwardly at Ehren's statement.
The young man who had been acting arbitrarily then stood in front of Gavin and smiled at him "Harben, greetings little star" he said.
'Little Star?' Gavin thought "You mean me?" he asked innocently.
Hearing Gavin's question made Harben laugh, of course, he was the only one laughing out among the three.
"This is why I like junior," he quickly brought his face closer to Gavin's who didn't have time to react "plain, innocent, and easy to manipulate" he continued.
Ehren, who had been silent for a while, suddenly hit his best friend's head with a paper and then glanced at Gavin "Don't listen to anything he says, he's a snake".
*gasp* "W-cruel, how can you call me a snake".
With the background of the sound of the two friends arguing, Gavin thought for a while then he remembered his friend's request.
"S-sorry for interrupting you, but there's something I want to ask you"
Gavin's words managed to stop the bickering between the two young men, and now he was the center of attention of his seniors.
"Hoo~ What can a senior like me help you, my cute junior?" teased Harben who was slowly approaching Gavin.
"Is there a recommendation for a cotton candy place around here?"
The two butlers just blinked, then Ehren started to think while Harben sighed as if he was disappointed with the question asked by his junior.
"Of all the questions, why are you even more interested in cotton candy little star?"
"Eh? Ah, it was a request from princess Miona. So..."
Harben replied with 'Oohh' then he turned to Ehren who had been silent for a while "If you need a recommendation for a place in this country, Ehren is the right person. Starting from cafes, bars, boutiques, even mouse alleys he remembers well" said Harben who patted his best friend on the shoulder proudly.
"He's one of the seniors you can rely on memory and strategies, so if you need help, just call him," said Harben.
Ehren who seemed to have found a place recommendation immediately informed Gavin and ignored his friend's chatter.
Gavin listened carefully to his senior's directions, and he even received a piece of paper with a map on it that led to the place in question.
"If you're still having trouble finding the place, try asking the locals. Ask where the Zuckerwatte shop is, they'll know where it is because the shop is quite famous among the people here," explained Ehren.
Gavin smiled happily "Thank you very much, I will follow your directions"
"Gavin, right?"
"Right, that's my name" Gavin replied.
Harben slowly approached Gavin for the second time, then held his cheek "Hmm~ Little star, it's a shame if we only met when there was an event like this. I wanted to meet you longer" he then rubbed his cheeks then pinched "If only we were neighbor, I will always visit you. When you come home from here, don't forget to write me a letter. Oh yeah, greetings to Princess Osforia".
"Sure, I'll tell her. Please let go of my cheek" asked Gavin, sounding indistinct due to his cheek being played by Harben, his cheerful senior.
"Oh, your mailing address will be 'To my honorable and handsome senior, Older Brother Radmond Harben'. Do you remember or maybe you could note it on a paper?"
Feeling fed up with his best friend's behavior, Ehren immediately dragged Harben "We're sorry for disturbing you, but we have a lot of things to finish"
"Thank you and nice to meet you, senior," said Gavin to the two young men who were now far from him.
Harben seems to be waving his hand from afar, and his mouth seems to be saying something but can't be heard due to the loud music.
After making sure that his senior left him, Gavin smiled with satisfaction and checked the condition of princess Miona. When he turned around, he could see the figure of a princess who looked exhausted and was lying on a chair with her head resting on the table.
'Ahaha, looks like she's at her limit'.
Curious when he could meet his friend who was already K.O., Gavin took out a piece of paper that read the sequence of events from today's meeting.
"Let's see, what is the next agenda?".
He read line after line of sentences until finally, he found a schedule that match the time "Oh, performance? I didn't think a meeting like this needed a performance".
Before he could put the rundown paper into his pocket, he remembered one important thing 'What will the princess going to perform?!'
⊱ To be continued ⊰