To be honest, the way through their ‘garden’ then to their house of glass was a bit difficult and a little tedious while wearing this extravagant dress. But at least we got there with no accident. With us were the servants, several of them, and there would be more coming in a moment when the guests arrived. Good thing I didn’t slip or trip, that would have been embarrassing. I would hide myself from everyone if that happens.

The moment Mizia and I arrived at the house of glass, the servants placed a glass of water on the table for each of us. Just in case we get thirsty, as we would be waiting for the visitors. They should start arriving in a few minutes.

I acted a little fidgety, showing nervousness. My sweet cousin of course noticed it, and she placed a hand on mine. She gave me a comforting smile. I forced a smile back. Of course, I was not that nervous. They were just some people, anyway. Not going to be my true friends.

They were just some people that I was just going to meet for some experience and some chill time. Although, the socializing part was causing me to feel a little unnerved. Just a little though! Just a teeny tiny bit. T-These were nothing like jumping into a gunfight.

But, I never got to experience something like this. You know what they say, we tend to be nervous when it’s the first time. Although, there were a couple of occasions that were nearly similar to this kind of event. Back when meeting with other assassins. Although, my fellow assassins were not commonly kind and too friendly with others not part of their team. Not to mingle or anything.

But there were a few I remembered that were trying to get close to me. But those guys have ulterior motives, some for pleasure, or for some other reasons. There were just some people in the organization like that, despite the rough training. Perhaps they were the ones that didn’t get as hard training as my batch. Or they were just trying to cope with the terrible experience through pleasure.

Anyways, I didn’t get too friendly with any of them. They were my kin, but not best friends. We could nurture friendships, but we had little time for it. Still, I would rather trust them than any outsiders. They experienced more or less what we all experienced in the facilities.

Just then, the first guest arrived.

“Announcing the arrival of Lady Arenza Senna Natarel.”

My eyes perked up at the mention of that familiar surname, Mizia and I immediately rose from our seats.

That surname was from someone I respected! Namely, it was the same surname as my esteemed music instructor!

She was as beautiful as her mother, inheriting her peach hair. She was fair skinned, her eyes in the color of light blue, different from her mother’s. Her movement as she took her steps was gentle. Her smile was even as charming as the first time I met Lanivia. She was a year younger than me.

The moment our eyes met, I smiled as kindly as I could. Kinder than I have done in a while. Arenza, on the other hand, paused as her widened eyes were stuck on me. She stopped breathing. Was she alright? Even the attendant she had with her was looking all confused.

As if she had gathered her thoughts, she continued onward until we were face to face.

Her smile stiffened for a moment as her breath trembled before she managed to utter a greeting. “G-Greetings, esteemed Princess, and Lady Mizia. May our hallowed lord and lady bless the moment of our delightful meeting.”

As the one highest in rank, I replied. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Arenza. May we receive the resplendent blessing from our illustrious lord and lady.”

She awkwardly giggled. “Mother told me many things about you. I just… I just never believed her. For her highness to be this… this beautiful indeed. I am unworthy to even be in your presence.”

“O-Oh no. You are very welcome in my presence. I respect Madame Lanivia greatly, so I am glad to finally meet you.”

“Me too, I-I am glad to finally meet you. I hear little about her highness.”

She was sooo adorable. I wanna squeeze her face!

I ignored Mizia’s smug look from beside me.

“I see…”

I acted shyly, as if I could think of nothing to say. Good thing I had my cousin with me to come and save the day.

“Lady Arenza, please come and sit down. The others should arrive shortly.” She presented her a seat. As Arenza sat down, Mizia offered her something. “Would you like a refreshment? Tea perhaps?”

“... Water will be fine. I’ll have tea when everyone else arrives.”

“Understood.”

Just when a servant brought her a glass of water, the announcer announced again.

“Announcing the arrival of Lady Shena Moira Yveno, and Lady Villeta Chere Jezuri.”

Two arrived at the same time. I was not very familiar with the latter, but the former, I knew of her. That last name alone triggered some cringe and some annoying memories in my mind. Also some struggles mixed with those memories. But this was the first time I met Madame Eleanore’s daughter. Yeah, she was my etiquette instructor’s daughter.

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Shena was a year older than me. Her elegance, and even the way she dressed and styled, was so pretty. Eleanore must have hammered down the lessons of etiquette into her brain. Her face was almost eerily similar to hers, reminding me of the time when that instructor of mine scolded me. I just hope this Shena was way kinder than her mother. But I already saw some strictness in her eyes, just from how she scrutinized the place.

Oh boy, like mother, like daughter.

The other girl, on the other hand, yeah I have no idea about her family. No idea meant that I have never met her family directly. I think her father was at the festival meeting, but that was it. Although she was a couple of years older than me. She carried herself with utter confidence, eyes unfaltering and looking straight at me. Unlike Shena, whose eye twitched when she got closer. Guess I was too beautiful for her.

The two of them approached and gave their noble greeting, which afterward my cousin and I said our piece.

“Finally we have met, your highness. As a student of my Mother, I was very excited to see you after being told about you.” Shena’s manner of speaking almost reminded me of her mother, so soft spoken, but there was some sort of sting within them. “My brother is particularly enthusiastic every time you are mentioned.”

The sting from her mother often came during scolding times when yours truly gets naughty. But also there was some sort of bitterness from Shena. Oh goodness, her family might have mentioned me way too much in her presence. I need to be the true Pure Princess here and now, as I dislike conflict so much.

I smiled naively and shyly, and responded in the softest tone. “Oh, we had a pleasant time during practice. In truth, I am starting to miss our lessons.”

“My family has been wondering about the stop. Perhaps you can give an answer to that?”

“It’s… complicated. Unfortunate it may be, we just have to pause everything temporarily. But I am excited when we get to resume our lessons.”

“... I will convey your words to my Mother.”

“Ah, you don’t have to… It’s embarrassing.” I blushed adorably.

The muscles around her cheeks flinched for a moment before her smile grew. “I’m sure Mother will be glad to hear it, so there is no need to feel embarrassed.”

I chuckled quietly. “Alright, if you say so.”

“Yes. If you’ll excuse me, your highness. I’ll give you and Lady Villeta a moment to speak.”

“Of course.”

She left and approached to greet the Arenza.

Villeta extended her hand. “If I may shake your hand, your highness.”

“Oh, certainly.”

And I shook her hand.

“Goodness, this is the softest and smoothest hand I have ever touched. You truly are the peak of a lady, princess.”

“Um, surely not.”

“And humble too,” she smiled. “I have been wanting to meet you. I could have gotten a chance during the festival, but I couldn’t when lower ranked nobles were on the first of the lists. And, it was hard to have the opportunity to see you. You just disappear without me realizing.”

Ah, I may have already left or resting, and I may be sort of busy at that time. And yes, the nobles in the capital were not particularly given top priority in greeting the royals. The lower ranked were given that as they could not always get the chance to meet with us. And, thinking about it, I don’t think I have seen these ladies during the festival, or I just failed to notice, or they were busy greeting other people too. Considering that they are high-ranking nobles as well.

I met Jalen though, I don't know how he got to where I was at that time.

That being said, this woman was the slightest bit familiar, maybe she was there around the festival. Hiding in the background.

“Then, it’s good that we have finally met Lady Villeta.”

“It is of the greatest pleasure to meet the mysterious princess of the kingdom. I have plenty of stories to tell, specifically about what the nation thinks about you before you were revealed. Are you perhaps interested in hearing?”

“You know what they think?”

“I gossip good, your highness.” She chuckled. “In seriousness, I hear many things, and ask a lot.”

I smiled. She seemed like an outright person. Nice. “Alright, I am quite curious myself about what people say about me. I hope nothing terrible…”

“There is nothing even too terrible to say about you when people have never seen you.”

“I see. That is a relief. I look forward to our talk later.”

“Likewise, princess.”

She excused herself and went on to sit on a chair, which was right next to mine. Huh, was she perhaps a big fan? Pfft, no way that was the case. She might be a sly one.

“Wow that’s nice, you’re making friends already, Estelia.”

My dear cousin said to me with a proud smile.

“Y-You think so…?”

“Yes.”

“I suppose that is good.”

“Good? It’s great. Much better than what I imagined.”

Hey, how did you even imagine it in the first place? Better not be something crazy or rude! They’re all the same, thinking the worst scenario with me, her, Rogan, even Vernon! Definitely Vernon. Did I never look that reliable? Hmph!

Then the last guest arrived. “Announcing the arrival of Lady Lyndsey Constance Veinhel.”

I have known that one of the guests was quite the small special case. But I was still quite surprised at how small it was. Um, no, she was not that small, just short, and young, very young. The new arrival, Lyndsey, was the youngest here, thirteen years of age. She walked with blatant nervousness, a maid close by her side.

Could this perhaps be her first time going to an occasion like this? Don’t worry kid, it’s my first time too, so be nervous! What? Thought I was gonna say don’t be nervous or something? Nah.

The girl did her best to give a wide and lady-like smile, but I could see tiny signs of her mouth shaking a little. I could certainly imagine her heart beating loudly. At least she had her head and chest up and trying her best to look like a proper noble lady, that deserves a round of applause!

Her dark green hair was around shoulder length, eyes in the shade of light blue, and her skin was in a very fair complexion. Her dress was elaborate but not too heavy or long to hinder her movement, unlike most of us who were accustomed to such attire.

Her eyes widened when she saw me, and I saw the muscles around her mouth and neck twitch. Oh, sorry, did I just make you more nervous? But there’s no need to fear me. Surely you have heard of me as the kind and pure princess.

At the appropriate distance, she stopped and curtsied. “Greetings, Princess E-Estelia, and Lady Mizia. It is the g-greatest honor to make your acquaintance. M-May our hallowed lord and lady bless the moment of our delightful meeting.”

Mizia and I looked at each other and smiled, almost as if indirectly communicating to be tender with the child.

I spoke first. “Hello, Lady Lyndsey. It is nice to meet you. May we receive the resplendent blessing from our illustrious lord and lady.”

“I deeply apologize for my tardiness… Completely my fault for dressing too long.” She was trying to keep herself composed.

“Oh no, it’s alright,” I said. “Besides, you’re just right on schedule. There is nothing to apologize for. There’s nothing to be concerned about.”

“T-Truly?”

“Of course.” I extended my hand with a soft smile. “Again, it’s nice to meet you, Lady Lyndsey.”

She looked at my hand with widened eyes for a moment before she took and shook it. “You too, your highness… You truly are kind.” She blushed, shy.

“I… I am not really. There is just no reason to act otherwise.” I acted blatantly embarrassed.

I heard my cousin giggle from beside me. “Alright, now that everyone has arrived, let us all sit down and let us have a pleasant time and make friends.”