Floating City of Atlas, where the rich and privileged resides.
In one of the many manors in Atlas, a party is being held.
"It is a pleasure to meet such a distinguished guest like yourself, Lady Edelfelt. You're as beautiful as the rumors say."
"Likewise. And it appears that time has treated you well Mr Schnee."
Currently, Luviagelita Edelfelt was in a luxurious hall with a bunch of men and women dressed elegantly.
And at the corner, Luvia was shaking hands with a middle aged man with white hair and white mustache, wearing a white suit.
"I have heard that your …'association' has recently discovered a Dust mine, estimated to contain at least 210 Million ounces of raw Dusts." Said the man.
"Indeed we have Mr Schnee," smiled Luvia, "We have just recently started mining it, and I must say it might contain even more than the estimated amount."
Mr Schnee smiled in return, "How lucky of you. Even for us, the SDC, we haven't had a mine with such a large amount."
Mr Schnee, or Jacques Schnee, CEO of Schnee Dust Company(SDC), one of the largest supplier of refined Dust in Remnant.
And he is currently the initiator of this party.
Schnee Family, or the SDC, held a party annually to increase ties and form partnerships with other companies.
Luvia smirked, "Why thank you. It is because of our 'luck' that we managed to find large number of Dust deposits and became the number one supplier of Dusts."
In this world, Dust is Earth's equivalent of oil.
Dusts are either crystal or powder in form, they contain elements such as Fire, Water, and Electricity. They are the world's most important source of energy since it has been discovered.
Its products underpin modern society, mainly supplying energy to power industry, heat homes and provide fuel for vehicles and aeroplanes to carry goods and people all over the world.
Luvia, having seen how 'magical' Dusts was, decided to start collecting them …when she found out its importance she decided to make some cash out of it.
And currently, the "Edelfelt Dust Company" she established as subsidiary of Grand Order has become the world's leading supplier of Dust, owning about 23% of Remnant's Dust Reserves.
"I heard you came with a young lady, but I see that you are all alone." Said Jacques.
Luvia looked around, "Well, she probably wanders off somewhere. Don't worry though, she'll return if she feel like it."
"You don't look that worried about your companion."
'Yeah, well, only Shirou would worry about a magus closest to being a Sorcerer.'
—————
Illyasviel von Einzbern wasn't interested in the party. So why did she go with Luvia to the party you asked? Because she was forced to.
Apparently, she has been holed up in her room for far too long Shirou is starting to worry that she'd become a no-good-NEET.
She wouldn't. Shirou is just being a worrywart.
True she stockpiled a bunch of chips and cola in her room and play computer games all day, but there's no way that does make her a NEET.
She writes(plagiarized) novels and mangas to earn her own money. This is another world anyway, so copyright can go f itself.
She earns money through writing, that counts as a job right? A NEET wouldn't have a job and would just leech off with someone.
I'm looking at you Demon General Lucifer who became a fallen angel because of laziness.
Also, Shirou said she wasn't allowed to say bad words …really, she's not a kid you know.
"Hm?" Illya halted her steps as she saw a beautiful white haired woman wearing a white dress, sitting under the shade of a kiosk and drinking alone.
For a moment, Illya saw the image of her mother in that woman before it quickly vanished.
Irisviel, her mother, exudes this youthful and vibrant aura, while this woman exudes a depressive and tired aura as if she was done with this world.
Hesitating for a moment, Illya decided to approach the woman.
"The party's over there you know." Said Illya.
Startled, the woman turned around, and saw Illya standing behind her.
Her pair of blue eyes widened seeing a kid with similar features as herself save for the red eyes.
And for a moment she couldn't help but think if maybe this girl was a relative. Her father was a playboy when he was young, he has spread the seed of Schnees all over Remnant.
Yes, she is a Schnee. Willow Schnee, wife of Jacques Schnee.
She dismissed the thought …or rather, just put it at the back of her mind and focused on Illya.
"Hello little one," Willow smiled, softly, "and no, I'm not going to the party. I'm just here to …relax, and get some fresh air."
"Hmm, Hmm," Illya nodded her head as she took a few steps towards the woman, "so you're depressed and wanted to drink to numb your feelings."
Willow blinked, appearing startled. She was about to deny it when Illya raised a hand, stopping her.
"Don't bother denying, some people I know do that from time to time."
Like Medea, Artoria, and Medusa, the three were drinking bodies and they would go drink and talk about their tragic past, looking all depressed and gloomy.
Servants couldn't get drunk. So Medea casted some spell on the alcohol they were drinking just so it could have some effects on them.
The next morning though, the three would go back to their normal self as if they weren't talking about depressive stuffs all night.
This woman in front of her though, was different. Just from one look, Illya could tell how bad her health is. And it's safe to assume that this woman has been a drunkard for decades at the very least.
Einzbern's have deep knowledge about biology; they were making homunculus, so that's given. And Illya was naturally well versed about the human body.
"Is that so?" Willow smiled wryly, before observing Illya with critical eye.
Illya knew curiosity and doubt in the eyes of the woman, but she decided to have a little fun, "Don't bother thinking of ways to kidnap me. My onii-chan will hunt you down till the ends of the world."
"…" though cute, Willow couldn't help but think that this little girl is a bit naughty. "I am the mistress of this house, not a kidnapper."
"That's exactly what a kidnapper would say." Illya shrugs, "Besides, appearance can be deceiving. I knew someone who acts all prim and proper, like a noble, but a masochist who enjoyed pain during se—"
"Stop!" Willow exclaimed, staring at the little girl in shock, "Where did you learn those words?! You shouldn't even know that, you're like 13!"
At the same time she also feels a little embarrassed. At the age of 13 she was still dreaming about a prince charming and romantic tales.
But now, this little girl actually knows about that stuff? Is the younger generation so extreme nowadays?
Oh she hoped to god that Winter and Weiss, her two daughters, remained chaste until marriage.
She was quite the traditional woman after all.
"And you're in your forties, you shouldn't be embarrassed about me saying those words. With how you act, I can't help but mistake you for a teenage girl."
Willow was …starting to get annoyed with this girl.
She was hitting her sore spot!
It's not her fault her husband is asexual! She can count the number of times they had shared a bed and lay!
Most of her knowledge about that stuff came from books!—she doesn't have interest in using her Scroll or Computer for research. Like she said before, she's a traditional woman.
"By the way, apologies for the late introduction, but I am Illyasviel von Einzbern," she pinched the hem of her skirt and did a noble lady-like bow. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Willow's eyes widened. This little acts like a refined lady—despite her poisonous tongue—, and her name and surname also sounds like she's from a prominent family.
But Willow has never heard of Einzbern family before.
…Oh well. It's not like she's paying much attention to the affairs of other families.
"I'm Willow Schnee," introduced Willow as she smiles, "nice to meet you, little one."
"Schnee?" Illya tilted her head, "So you're not just a kidnapper, but a black hearted racist as well."
"…"
Yeah, this little girl is annoying.