> Lara PoV <

“Hummm hmmm, hum-ha-ha-haummm. Hah-haaammm haah aaaah.” (Ariel)

Haah… Ariel’s quiet singing is relaxing as usual. Just listening to it is making me drift off to sleep…

“Hatcho!” (Sophie)

“Ack!” (Lara)

Sophie’s cute sneeze suddenly snapped me out of it! Ah, that was close! Sleeping outside on a bench like this is no-good during winter! Especially when there’s snow falling! Admittedly it’s not a lot of snow, but you can never trust that white stuff!

“Sophie? Are you feeling well?” (Ariel)

“I’m fine, Ariel. The snow just tickled my nose.” (Sophie)

“Are you sure?! You used to give me that excuse all the time before!” (Lara)

“I’m serious!” (Sophie)

“Hmm…” (Lara)

I stare at her with a dubious expression. She’s not averting my gaze and her eyes seem lively. I guess it’s not just her bad habit from before. Well, we actually have warm clothes and a roof over our heads this time...

‘You’re actually sick aren’t you!? Tell me these things sooner! Come on let’s go find a priest! Hopefully he doesn’t charge us too much…’ (Past Lara)

‘I’m sorry big sis… Hatcho! I’m sorry for being a burden…’ (Past Sophie)

…

I remembered something unpleasant again.

“Okay. Good. But! Promise to tell us right away if you feel sick, okay?!” (Lara)

“Yeah…” (Sophie)

Ah, her expression darkened. I think she remembered it as well.

The winter year we spent on the street was especially harsh on us. Almost all the money we scraped together had to be given to the priests to heal us because we got sick a lot. Sometimes they’d take pity on us and let us spend the night in a warm room or give us a hot meal, but none of them cared enough to actually help us beyond that. Orphanages were always full, not to mention they’d end up wanting to send us back anyway. To that house that was colder than any winter night.

It’s like we were a hinderance no matter where we went…

No good! I lightly slap my cheeks with both hands to snap myself out of it! It’s not like that anymore, Lara! You have a real family this time! You’re the big sister so you can’t set such a lame example! Come on~! Focus~! Go to your happy place~!

I imagine being together with Sophie and both our moms while sailing on a boat made of bacon across a sea of gravy! Wait, that last part turned a bit weird! How does bacon float in the first place!? Can you have bacon strips that big? No, wouldn’t the sea of gravy be super weird in and of itself?! I wonder if such a place actually exists...

“Big sis. You’re making that face again.” (Sophie)

“Huh? What face?” (Lara)

“The face you make when you’re thinking about meat…” (Sophie)

“*Slurp* Was it that obvious?” (Lara)

She nods.

“It’s not a bad thing though! You looked really happy!” (Sophie)

“Are you hungry, Lara?” (Ariel)

“... A little. Are Mom and Mom still busy with the King?” (Lara)

“Master Nano? … It seems they will be a while longer. Then shall we resume our walk and get some meat skewers?” (Ariel)

“Yeah!” (Lara)

“Can I get some sweets, Ariel?” (Sophie)

“Of course Sophie. Anything you want.” (Ariel)

She smiles so sweetly at us that I think I feel my teeth ache! Ariel may be a bit weird, but she’s really kind after all!

We get up from the bench we were resting on and start walking down the busy street. The capital sure is something else. Even with the snow falling there’s quite a lot of people running around. Hopefully it doesn’t pile up though, it gets really hard to walk otherwise.

“Miss Ariel, aren’t you cold like that?” (Sophie)

“Whatever do you mean, Sophie?” (Ariel)

“Well… your back is naked…” (Sophie)

There’s not much Ariel can do about that though. I mean those wings of hers are in the way and her arms are covered in soft feathers, so she can’t wear jackets like we do. Just watching her exposed skin makes me feel cold, though!

“This one is humbled by your concern, but this one is not a human. The avian people live in the mountain tops and fly above the clouds, so we are used to the cold.” (Ariel)

Oh right! Didn’t she wear the same outfit before? Like, when we were in that really cold place up north? It was so cold I think I had icicles forming from my nostrils seconds after poking my head outside! And she was still fine in that sort of place! Compared to that, a little snow like this must be no different from a light breeze!

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I’ve been thinking this for a while now, but isn’t Ariel really amazing? She can fly, sing and do magic! All at once! Also she treats us really well! It’s just that… I can’t really see her as anything else than a friend of my moms. She’s got a different feel from the Aunty-like Kelly and the older-sister-like Big Lara.

So she’s not any of those things, but she’s still part of the household. Yet not part of the family… Oh! Come to think of it, she’s like a maid, isn’t she?! Therefore- No, calling her something like ‘maid’ or ‘servant’ feels wrong… Let’s just stick with Ariel for now!

*Sniff sniff*

Huhu… that’s a good smell. I’d know it anywhere! The smell of pork being grilled is wafting through the open air!

“Ariel! Ariel! Can you buy me one of those?!” (Lara)

I point excitedly at the street stall selling skewers! She nods and leads us to the bundled up old man at the stall. She buys two skewers and sniffs both of them before handing one of them to me and one to Sophie. I wonder why she does that every time we buy food. Maybe she just likes smelling things? Well, I can’t blame her, just the aroma is almost good enough to fill you up!

“But I wanted sweets...” (Sophie)

“Silly Sophie! We can have those after the meat! Big Lara said us girls have a second tummy for sweet stuff, remember?!” (Lara)

“Oh yeah!” (Sophie)

She gleefully takes the skewer from Ariel’s hand and takes a tiny bite out of it. I follow suit!

*Nom*

Sooo gooooood! As expected, freshly grilled pork is super yummy! And juicy! The tenderness and seasoning are also superb! That skewer guy knows his stuff! Judging from Sophie’s slackening expression she thinks so too!

We keep walking while I quickly finish off my food. Sophie has only eaten half of hers though. Doesn’t she know it will get cold like that?

* * *

“I can’t believe our moms work here!” (Lara)

I gaze around the grand halls as we walk along. This is supposed to be the main office of the Ministry of Progress. Mom had some more work to do after visiting the king so we’re meeting her here.

“It’s huge! It’s bigger than that house we stayed in last year!” (Sophie)

It really is! It’s only got three floors but they’re so wide and luxurious that it’s almost like we’re back in the castle! There’s a whole bunch of other buildings around, too! And then a really tall wall surrounding everything! There’s even some guards walking around and keeping suspicious people out!

“This whole estate used to belong to that worthless scum of a Court Wizard. The King has refurbished it to serve the Mistress’s needs.” (Ariel)

I really wish Ariel wouldn’t talk about others that way... Ah, but wasn’t that the guy responsible for trying to take Sophie and me away back then? I take it back! So the King took away his house as punishment, huh? Serves him right for trying to hurt my little sister! I’ll never forgive that guy! Even though I’ve never seen him!

“Huh? What’s that shiny thing outside, Ariel?” (Sophie)

Sophie looks out of the big window on the wall, pointing at something.

“Shiny thing? Where?! Ohh!” (Lara)

I thought the other stuff outside was just warehouses and junk like that, but there’s three whole shiny buildings out there! They glisten like tiny suns against the snow-covered yard! Hmm?

“Is that glass?” (Lara)

“That’s right, Lara. Master Nano calls them greenhouses.” (Ariel)

“Hehe! That’s a funny name!” (Sophie)

“Yeah. They’re not green and they’re definitely not houses.” (Lara)

I guess the shape is kind of house-like, but it would be weird living in them…

“This one also does not understand. Although they are quite spectacular structures. The warmth of the sun seems to linger inside and keep it warm without using a single drop of magic. Master Nano is using them to grow special trees that normally can’t survive the winter.” (Ariel)

Hmm… I don’t really understand, but if Nano made them then it must be something amazing. I kind of want to visit later!

“Ah, here we are. This is Mistress’s study.” (Ariel)

We arrive at a wooden door with a metal plate hanging on it. The word ‘Director’ is spelled out in fancy lettering, with Mom’s name directly under it - ‘Kiressara mil Quasse.’

*Knock knock*

“Come in.” (Kira)

Ariel knocks on the door and Mom’s reply comes right after. Ariel opens it wide and steps inside with a bow.

“It is your loyal servant, Mistress. I am here with Lara and Sophie.” (Ariel)

“Hey Mom!” (Lara)

“Mommy!” (Sophie)

Mom looks up from some papers on top of the big desk she’s sitting behind and her face turns into that signature smile the instant she sees us.

“Hey you two! Did you have a nice walk?” (Kira)

“Yeah! We ate some grilled meat and then some honey-pickled apples! It was great!” (Lara)

“Big sis, I don’t think that was the question…” (Sophie)

“You weren’t cold, right?” (Ellie)

“Eeek!” (Lara, Sophie, Ariel)

The three of us let out scream a scream in unison! Where did that voice come out from!?

“... Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” (Ellie)

Was Ellie sitting on that sofa the whole time!? She was in plain sight yet I didn’t even notice her until she said something!

“Ah that scared me!” (Lara)

“Wow, Mommy! You’re really good at hiding! How did you do that?!” (Sophie)

“I was just trying to keep quiet for Kira’s sake. I think I went a bit overboard…” (Ellie)

“As expected of Mistress! This one could not detect your presence at all. This one is truly humbled to serve under such a capable and gifted person!” (Ariel)

And there she goes with the rubbing her forehead on the floor again. Weird Ariel came out, huh?

“Stop that this instant you damn bird! You’ll ruin the carpet with your hopeless stupidity! How many times do I have to tell you!? Honestly, I’ve seen dogs that learn faster than you.” (Kira)

“Hnng! Yes, Mistress.” (Ariel)

“Go pretend to be useful and make some tea! It’s the only thing you’re good for these days.” (Kira)

“Haah, haah, at once, Mistress!” (Ariel)

Ariel gracefully steps out of the room and shuts the door behind her. Sophie leans over a bit and whispers to me.

“Mommy is being mean to Ariel again…” (Sophie)

“Yeah, but she looked really happy so maybe it’s okay?” (Lara)

That weird attitude of hers is really confusing. Our moms told us it was part of how she was raised and to do our best to ignore it. I don’t really get it, but since they said it I’m sure there’s a good reason! Therefore, I have to do my part and make sure none of my little sisters become like that!

“Anyway, come here and have a seat, girls. Your mother still has a few things to finish up.” (Ellie)

Mom pats the sofa on either side of her. However, that’s not-

“Can I sit in your lap, Mommy?” (Sophie)

“Of course!” (Ellie)

Ack! Sophie’s already claimed it!

“No fair! I want to sit there too!” (Lara)

“Hehe! Big sis was too slow!” (Sophie)

“Grr! You win this one! I’ll be the faster sister for sure next time!” (Lara)

“We’ll see about that!” (Sophie)

“Why you!” (Lara)

“Kira. If you don’t get back to work we’ll be here until nightfall.” (Ellie)

Hmm? Ellie spoke towards Kira for some reason. I turn my head and see her just staring at us while giggling quietly. Her face quickly becomes a pouting one though.

“Awww… but watching them squabble over their special seat is way more fun than contracts and budgets…” (Kira)

Wait a second! There’s more than one special seat, isn’t there?! I walk up to the big desk and look imploringly at her!

“Then, can I sit on your lap while you work, Mom? I’m kinda curious what you’re working on…” (Lara)

“Sure sweetie! Just don’t move around too much, okay?!” (Kira)

“Yay!” (Lara)

Alright! Since she’s leaning forward with both arms on the desk, it’ll be like she’s giving me a hug the whole time! I bet she’ll even try to teach me stuff! To be honest I don’t really care about some boring old papers, but Mom gets super motivated when she’s teaching us about things! Which means she’ll give me lots of attention!

I flash my little sister a triumphant smile as I make my way around the desk. She definitely looks a bit jealous!

Huhuhu! Sorry Sophie, but I managed to secure the better seat this time!