Festival
Festival
"...You're asking me to be your lover?"
"Exactly! Holding hands while we walk, sharing meals together—the full experience. You know, I've always wanted to try the Lichten Academy cafeteria. The way they show it in plays, the food always looks incredible."
"...Right."
"And after that, we'd go to a café. Two cups of fragrant coffee, and just one dessert between us. Our spoons accidentally touch as we split it—such a classic cliché. And what you're supposed to do then is gaze at me with a soft smile and gently wipe the cream from the corner of my lips."
"...Ah. I see."
"Then, a light dinner to follow, paired with a decent cocktail. Just a little tipsy, strolling under the soft glow of the streetlamps. And if I've taken a liking to you by that point, I'd say something along the lines of..."
"......"
"'Shall we go somewhere and rest for a bit?'"
Ian stared blankly at the Imperial Princess.
Just what kind of third-rate drama had burned itself that deeply into her brain?
And why on earth had that interest fixed itself upon Ian, of all people?
In any case, she posed the question once more.
"So? Will you be my lover?"
Her eyelashes curved seductively.
The corners of her mouth twitched with mischief.
Following that line downward, Asteria's long fingers slipped into the cleft of her own breasts, pulling the fabric taut.
Just barely enough to keep things concealed.
"Well?"
At a glance, she seemed like an easy woman.
In stark contrast to that lascivious body, she looked as though she might be dim-witted and dull.
She looked as though she might be obsessed with sex—as if all it would take was reaching out a hand and she'd surrender that soft body without resistance.
So he turned her name over in his mind once more.
'Asteria Estrid.'
The Estrid Imperial House—absolute rulers of the Britannia Empire.
Estrid.
A bloodline of perfect conquerors: ruthless, tyrannical, domineering, cunning, and intelligent to boot.
'That bloodline' would never permit such a thing.
Her being the one suppressed?
'What a joke.'
Asteria Estrid took more pride in that lineage than anyone. She was someone utterly incapable of restraining the urge for conquest that surged up from her very instincts.
To begin with, compared to the Empress Dowager or the senior princes and princesses, her political foundations were overwhelmingly weak.
Play through Fanta X Aca ten times, and in seven of those runs, you'd witness her meeting a miserable end.
The reason was defeat in the succession struggle for the throne. Or a failed rebellion.
Whether by execution, assassination, or some other ignoble death, she died.
And yet, Asteria was a character who never once regretted the path she walked.
"Hey, Ian? I'm waiting."
He needed her interest.
But not like this.
It had to be acknowledgment earned through skill.
It had to be "Work with me," not "Will you be my lover?"
The Rebellious Princess Asteria.
If it wasn't for that, he had no business with this woman and her ample chest alone.
"Or, I don't really mind starting with a situationship either."
"No."
The moment Ian answered—
— Rustle.
The bushes behind them shook.
Both their gazes snapped backward, and then...
— Mew.
"Seems it was a cat."
"Yeah... wait, never mind that. Why?"
Their heads turned back to face each other, eyes meeting. Asteria wore a somewhat pouty expression.
"You can't just run into a face and body and status like mine just anywhere, you know."
"I apologize."
"...Don't tell me."
Asteria's face went dead serious in an instant.
An uncharacteristically blank expression.
She blinked her long lashes a few times before speaking.
"Are you gay?"
"...No."
Ian answered immediately.
"You looked at me and didn't feel anything stir? Don't tell me you prefer little girls? Because if so, I'll have no choice but to call the guards."
"......."
"It's the festival tomorrow. You'd look pretty impressive walking around with a princess on your arm, you know. Wouldn't the rumors work in your favor?"
Asteria subtly angled her chest toward Ian.
— Rustle.
This time, they both ignored the sound from the bushes.
Ian spoke.
"I'm sorry. I already have a prior engagement to attend the festival with someone."
That excuse ought to suffice.
— Meow.
Once again, the sound of a cat.
◆
The bench where Ian had been sitting.
Left alone, Asteria quietly finished the rest of her sandwich.
"That's good."
— Slurp.
Having cleaned every last trace of sauce from her fingers, she sank into quiet contemplation.
"Ian Blackangus. He really is an interesting kid."
Asteria knew full well that her body was a weapon.
Whenever she approached someone with utility, she always put her body forward first.
In truth, there was no more efficient method of approach.
Because anyone who laid hands on her, she could simply use and then coldly discard.
"...I hadn't actually intended to apply that measure to you, though."
Flick, flick.
Asteria playfully swung her feet in the air.
Star-shaped droplets of water bloomed and vanished with each kick.
The truth was... her interest in Ian was entirely genuine.
On her very first day at the academy, she had observed the 'Rank Evaluation Ceremony.'
The way he utilized magic was entertaining.
When he mimicked 'Midair Anchoring' by exploiting metallic interactions, it was amusing—like watching a clever joke play out.
When he demonstrated a movement technique so baffling its nature was impossible to guess, it was shocking and admirable.
And then, watching a kid like that receive a verdict before the disciplinary committee—it was impossible not to be curious.
So she had thought:
While she was at the academy, perhaps making one acquaintance—just an ordinary, truly ordinary acquaintance—wouldn't be so bad.
"Well... I suppose this is just my greed getting the better of me."
Seducing anyone who looked useful was an efficient instinct.
Perhaps it was because she glimpsed in Ian a potential rivaling even her own talent.
Asteria gave a bitter smile.
Then she rose lightly from the bench.
In the quiet outskirts of the academy.
"More importantly, I have absolutely no idea where I am."
In more ways than one, he really was a cold guy.
◆
Late afternoon on the day of the St. Gregory Lantern Festival.
Waking from her nap, Danya buried her face deep into her pillow for a moment.
Then she kicked her small feet against the blanket.
"...'I already have a prior engagement!' Hehe."
She swayed her tail gently like that for a while.
She washed up and dried her hair and tail.
She patiently combed through her fur with subtly fragrant floral oil.
Then she donned a neat white dress and braided her hair tidily down.
A light touch of makeup only added a dash of vitality to her already flawless skin, and simple earrings made her jewel-like eyes sparkle even more brilliantly.
For the finishing touch, sandals that openly revealed her soft, bare feet.
"Mmm."
Standing before the full-length mirror, Danya studied her reflection for a moment.
"It's nice... but is it a little too short?"
She tugged the innocent hem of her dress down a little over her clearly exposed thighs, then shook her head back and forth.
"But I'm all grown up now!"
Twirling around, Danya stepped out of her home in satisfaction.
◆
Early evening, as the sun was setting.
Normally by this hour, the sky would have begun to darken, but today it was exceptionally bright.
By the time Danya arrived at the street where the festival was being held, the area was already bustling with crowds of people.
A vibrant festival street.
The street, filled with amber lanterns, exuded a soft and mellow atmosphere unlike its usual self.
Danya rose onto her tiptoes and scanned the meeting spot.
"Danya."
Ian was standing there.
Come to think of it, Ian had often been the one to spot Danya first.
The thought of why that was flickered through her mind for only a second before the corners of Danya's mouth lifted into a little smile.
"Ian!"
"Yeah. You made it."
Somehow, Ian looked different from usual.
Only then did Danya notice the bouquet in his hand.
Oddly, her heart began to pound.
"I-is that—did you bring that for me?"
"Huh? Ah... yeah."
Ian's reply came with a slight delay.
If it were the usual Danya, this would have been the moment for a prim little remark, but oddly, nothing but a silly grin came out.
"Thank you."
Danya stretched out her hand.
But Ian didn't hand over the bouquet.
"Carrying it around might get in your way, so I'll hold onto it."
Honestly, full marks for thoughtfulness.
Was it the festival atmosphere?
Danya felt slightly melted.
'...What should I do?'
All this time, she'd thought of him as just a really close colleague, but now this kept...
"Gulp."
Danya swallowed dryly.
"Shall we go get something to drink?"
"Uh, yeah!"
They walked down the street.
The stalls lining both sides were packed with mouth-watering food.
— Stamina potions, cheap cheap! Bless your child with St. Gregory's own luck!
"......"
Occasionally, some rather embarrassing types of stalls caught her eye.
"Cherry-flavored carbonated stamina potion? Want to give it a try?"
"Yeah!"
They sampled various curious drinks.
They nibbled on all sorts of snacks, like sugar-dusted fruit.
The festival's highlight was surely still a ways off, so why did this moment feel so deeply wonderful to Danya?
"......."
Danya looked up at Ian, walking just a pace ahead of her.
She had definitely thought of him as a precious colleague.
'I want to hold his hand.'
That thought surfaced without warning.
Compared to Danya's little hands, his were much larger, and lately, rough veins had begun to stand out, looking quite masculine.
Right on cue—
— Thump.
Ian, who was walking ahead, bumped into someone and stumbled back a bit.
The back of her hand brushed against Ian's.
Danya felt that spot heat up as if it were on fire.
"It's getting more crowded. Danya?"
"Huh? Yeah?"
"What are you spacing out for? Does your hand hurt? Stick close and follow me."
"Okay!"
Danya carefully grabbed the edge of his shirt sleeve.
'I'll be satisfied with this for today.'
An unfamiliar emotion. Danya took a step back from it.
No, she tried to.
— Snatch.
"!"
Until Ian suddenly grabbed Danya's hand.
Boom boom! Her heart pounded wildly.
Just as Danya was about to look up at Ian—
— Yank!
Her body was suddenly pulled forward.
"Run, Danya!"
"Eep!"
The moment when the warm heat around her hand almost made Danya lose her focus—
— KABOOOOM!
A massive explosion filled the festival.