There was a time when Jheane Lorens, along with Lars' mother Mariana Hamilton von Laniere, would dress adorable little Lars—whom they affectionately called 'Larisa-chan'—in as many pretty and elegant dresses as the Barony of Hamilton could afford, laughing and playing happily as if they were a family of three, a mother and her daughters spending time together.
At that time, Jheane was a girl of only 8 years old, and Larisa (Lars) was a brat of 5 (Yes, the Headmistress, Amelia Dumbardonnia, put Lars in the Academy at fifteen, crazy). A boy who, one could say, out of selfishness of his mother who had wanted a girl, was raised almost as such, taking advantage of his androgynous appearance... although Jheane was sure that she looked like a normal girl and had even thought that she was precisely that at first.
Anyway, putting aside her bewilderment at discovering that her adorable friend was actually a boy, Jheane had a great time playing with Larisa and her mother at the Hamilton residence as if they were blood sisters in that happy time.
Whether it was playing with dolls and toy houses, dressing up as adult noblewomen for their mini-tea parties, styling their hair in different styles, or simply having Mariana read children's stories to the girls before bed...they did many things together.
Larisa even used female pronouns to refer to herself as a girl when she was cross-dressing, and seemed to wholeheartedly enjoy the idea of being a girl back then. “She” also didn’t like wearing pants at all and preferred skirts. Jheane was particularly pleased when she called her “Onee-chan” in her adorable baby voice.
Even the Baron, who loved to tend his fields and believed in the power of men, couldn't help but have his heart melt whenever the cute Larisa-chan smiled and said she would marry him, shouting "Oh, my little princess!" while quickly forgetting her actual gender.
But the good times didn't last long, Jheane had her extraordinary encounter with a mythical old man at the age of 12 and had to go away for a while, feeling hurt to see the beautiful Larisa crying sadly at her departure.
So off she went, intending to complete her training in alchemical sorcery and return someday to see her loved ones again. A lot happened and Jheane had to admit that her mind was a little depraved due to her former master's careless upbringing, but she was finally able to return with his blessing to the place she called home after 6 long years...
…Only to be met by a gorgeous red-headed (?) teenager surrounded on either side by two attractive adults he knew very well.
Blinking in bewilderment at the unfamiliar yet familiar boy, Jheane Lorens was greeted with warmth and joy by him. “It’s good to see you again after such a long time, Jheane-nee!”
—....Larisa-chan? Is that you? - The uncertainty could be felt in the alchemist's weak voice as she asked this disconcerting question to the young man, who froze in place in response, before on impulse exclaiming in absolute denial, —Impossible!
-.....! D-don't call me Larisa-chan, please!
With his eyes wide open and his face red with embarrassment, young Lars shouted towards the friend he considered an older sister.
Completely baffled, Jheane looked at the two people she also considered her family with eyes that said “What happened?” Mariana, Lars’ mother, shrugged with a kind smile, though somewhat sad inside. “Puberty, perhaps,” such a message was transmitted to her mind with her telepathy.
—....Ah
Jheane only felt a strong blow to her chest when she realized that she would never see that beautiful little sister she loved so much again, her body trembled with sadness.
It was a dark day, very dark... although the intense sun and the gentle breeze proved otherwise. Although he knew it shouldn't be that way, he couldn't help but feel that he had lost something very important with her departure.
The young alchemist felt lost.
♦♦♦♦
Suppressing those sad emotions at the memories of the past that invaded her from time to time, Jheane immediately closed the door of her room, looked at the incredibly elegant hallways with many beautiful decorations that still made her grimace at their splendor, and walked quietly through the second floor with the intention of silently heading towards the guest room of the female dormitory to meet Larisa... No, Lars!
Having made sure once again that there were no animal parts left in her body after deactivating her bloodline, the young alchemist walked with a leisurely pace, her considerably plump breasts bouncing with each step, full of charm, as she moved those seductive legs covered in black stockings almost up to her thighs, and very soon she arrived near some rather luxurious looking stairs with beautiful armrests made of fine wood.
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There she was greeted by the sight of the large, sprawling first-floor hall, filled with aristocratic beauty and the splendor of wealth, bringing to mind the image of a nobleman’s magnificent mansion, clad in marble in varying shades of black and white and with walls lined with grey paneling. A sight that had left her quite stunned when she first arrived and still leaves her speechless. After all, she had just moved in that very day.
Compared to this place, the luxurious headquarters of the Alchemist Guild that he once visited was rather simple. Of course, just in design… the materials used in this place were obviously as valuable as those used to build the entire academy, if not more so. But even so, its beauty was undeniable.
As expected of the Nigrum Aurum District, the Imperial Academy did not hesitate to give its most talented students a large, luxurious mansion like this as a mere dormitory… though the SS Class students are too few to fill it completely, even when divided by school year.
And that's not to mention that this dorm/mansion wasn't meant to have many students, as SS Class geniuses are very rare in the first place. Despite her goal, Jheane couldn't help but stare at the place again as she took in with shining eyes the unabashed luxury this all entailed.
Hmm... no need to rush, let's make Lars wait a bit...
Since she still hadn't decided to forgive Lars for his stupidity half an hour ago in challenging "that man" so recklessly in public despite having already given him a good beating herself, Jheane figured that making him impatient would also serve as punishment, as her gaze wandered around the place again.
Hanging from the high ceiling of the hall, distant and bright, one could see several chandeliers emitting the magical light of mana particles that gave a warm and gentle feeling to those who were sensitive to it. The floor was illuminated thanks to the efficient work of the maids in the wide pentagonal hallway and reflected the light from the chandeliers above, shining brightly like a mosaic of twinkling stars.
Beautiful and elegant maids could be found inside this room, cleaning various expensive accessories with practical and efficient skill. All of them were dressed in lovely maid uniforms that would make some perverts have some exciting fantasies when looking at them.
And if this did not attract the attention of the guests at all, then the luxurious furniture and decorations in the interior of the room would easily steal the attention of many men who come to visit their fiancées.
Here, in this place where students would only have to walk to their rooms or go directly to their respective classrooms with the help of trams, the marked luxury of detail and excessive luxuries made it clear that this place was designed to house young people of noble birth.
At least that's what Jheane felt.
It would be fun to have sex on these stairs and dye this room with splendor with the juices of passion... Yes, together with him I will fill this place with the smell of sex that even someone with a blocked nose would smell it... Hehehehe ♥
The Demi-Beast girl walked down the beautiful stairs that seemed to shine like silver as her hips moved naturally in a seductive manner without realizing it, harboring some naughty thoughts in her mind. Her impure conscience, filled with hidden sexual desires, easily evoked a most erotic fantasy in this very scenario where she was next to the one who had become the man of her dreams just three days ago.
She felt like she was going to get wet again with her love juices just thinking about it, but when she suddenly heard the lively voice of a cute little girl, Jheane was brought back to reality.
—Oh! Jheane, how good to meet you!
—....¿Hmm?
Bewildered by that slightly familiar voice, Jheane turned her gaze back and saw a beautiful and lively girl with hair as green as spring leaves decorated with white flowers, along with eyes as precious as dark-hued lapis lazuli, heading in her direction with quick steps while happily waving at her.
She was, in short, so pretty that when people looked at her, it easily made them feel as if a fairy had appeared before them just from her appearance. In fact, it wasn't for nothing that she was known as a Fairy throughout the empire, she was simply too charming, almost like a dream…
Even when wearing such a luxurious uniform made from magical fabrics valuable enough to be worth a three-story building; making her look like the young miss of a noble family, the girl evoked a feeling of incorruptible purity and innocence that no one at her age would have in the eyes of onlookers.
Her silky hair fell down her well-defined back like an undulating waterfall, and her adorable face that seemed completely flawless at first glance, as white as the most expensive porcelain, made her look so fragile that, added to her sincere and tender smile, would make countless men want to do nothing more than protect her from all the evils she could find in this world.
She was truly one of the most beautiful girls he had ever seen, comparable to Jheane herself in beauty and with a charm unique enough not to be overshadowed by anyone in her generation.
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... Wow, it's Arietta....I didn't expect to meet her on the road
The girl who called out to him in a friendly manner as if they were friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time was none other than the genius Spiritualist, Arietta Noden, an extremely talented girl in all things spirit-related... and a girl he had met just three days ago when she had tested her alchemical and academic skills before the examiners of the Imperial Academy.
In the meantime I could talk to her, there is certainly no hurry.
—What's wrong Arietta-chan? Do you need me for something?
Jheane responded with a slight smile to her classmate, as she found her to be quite nice. Who wouldn't be happy to befriend a beauty like this?
—Nothing! I was just glad to meet an acquaintance in the corridors of this uncomfortable place, you know.
So responded the genius Spiritualist in her charming blowing voice as she began to walk beside him with her arms outstretched, her skirt billowing merrily with each step she took, almost to the point of giving the illusion that one could see the secrets hidden beneath it if they only bent down a little.
Being close to her, one couldn't help but notice a strange sensation in her aura, like a scent reminiscent of green, untouched forests in the middle of spring; the source no doubt being the blessing of the fairies and spirits she commanded, infiltrating her essence.
Acquaintances... well, that's certainly what we are to a certain extent... Feeling this pleasant feeling, Jheane pondered the other party's words for a bit and smiled.
—Do you feel uncomfortable within the walls of the bedroom? Perhaps it is true that the rooms are excessively luxurious, extending into the corridors, but one will have to get used to it...
—Ah, no, that is also awkward, no doubt, but the most awkward thing for me is the possibility of meeting Lady Dominguez right now. I think you already have an idea of what her personality is like...
—Ohh...of course. I understand what you mean.
—It's a bit heavy, isn't it?
—Quite a bit, yes.
A bitter smile blossomed on Jheane's beautiful face along with Arietta's slight childish pout as the two spoke of this topic, the image of the young unmarried girl from a respectable family blossoming in their minds simultaneously as they both walked through the elegant velvet-carpeted marble halls.
Aria Dominguez von Cerodian, the princess of the Dominguez Clan.
As far as Jheane was concerned, Aria was a really annoying noble girl to deal with ever since she met her.
However, that wasn't because Aria was a commoner and had looked down on her in the few interactions they'd had, nothing to do with that... after all, Aria seemed rather excited to talk to Jheane, as she seems to value one's talent over social status. The same thing happened with Arietta, who was also overwhelmed by Aria's attitude, even with her carefree and kind personality. She didn't seem like a bad girl just because of that.
It's just that if Jheane had to point out one issue she personally had against Aria—aside from the natural arrogance that was still there even if she addressed you politely and with respect for your abilities—it's her explicit desire for you to become part of her faction within the academy.
Something that was actually naturally inevitable; Jheane was a prodigy alchemist who was recognized by the Alchemist Guild Master himself, one of the three most powerful masters of the sorcery tower, who treated her as if she were his granddaughter. On the other hand, we have Arietta Noden, whose talent with handling Spirits and Fairies made her superior even to many elven races who naturally deal with elementals and other spiritual beings, and even showing unexpected talent in arithmetic during the academic tests.
Not to mention her ability to summon the mythical steeds, the Unicorns and Pegasuses, as mounts, making her even more valuable.
With their capabilities being so remarkable, it was obvious that Aria wanted both of them to join the faction that she definitely had to create within the Bomenslik Imperial Academy in order to become the next student council president in the future, and not just a simple District Representative.
Not only because of their superior talents, but because they are both SS-class students like her, they naturally wield enormous influence among the students… and even the teachers, without exaggeration. Although being the Council President would require widespread popularity, it wouldn’t hurt to have the support of people who are destined to be the greatest in their respective fields.
Hell, Jheane Lorens was also known for creating potions that help the aesthetics of women and even men to an excellent degree. Not only that, she also developed a new alchemical formula that allowed bald people to grow back their hair. It doesn't sound like much and was absurdly expensive to make, but considering that there are a surprising amount of bald people in certain countries...her popularity became quite high even without her being the great beauty that she was.
However, neither Jheane nor Arietta wanted to get involved in such complicated matters. Although they barely knew each other, they could easily sense each other's lack of interest in participating in such political games, which was nice.
Still, if Jheane had one thing to admit, it was that Aria was not only a beautiful girl, but extremely sexy. Her exotic appearance due to her mother's heritage from the Yamato Empire makes her even more attractive and if Jheane were to be honest, if she would stop asking her to be her follower, she would be very happy to treat her as her Onee-sama.
What did they call her in the Yamato Empire? Yes... Yamato Nadeshiko, from what I saw in the sacred illustrations jealously guarded by the Elder, Aria definitely fits that description. A sexy Onee-sama who embodies the ideal beauty of the ancient Yamato lands... How cool would it be to have a threesome with her and my man ♥?
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
She felt her insides burn at the thought, but a feeling of regret washed over her shortly after.
It's a shame that she is too interested in boring politics and even her family doesn't get along with hers, it's really a shame...
—Lady Dominguez is an accomplished noble and seems very fond of power games and intrigues, but at least she doesn't treat us badly for not being nobles ourselves. I can't say she's a good or bad person without knowing her thoroughly, but she's not trying to force us into anything and is simply trying to convince us diplomatically, so we shouldn't avoid her like the plague either.
Hiding her dirty thoughts and meaningless regrets, Jheane responded with a joke at the end.
—What?! I didn't want to see her as a nuisance!
—I know, I know, it was a joke.
“You looked so serious while saying that!” Arietta playfully hit her shoulder with her small hands as she complained, and the young alchemist just laughed as she told her to stop.
They certainly didn't act like mere acquaintances while chatting calmly like that.
—By the way, where are we going?
Jheane raised an eyebrow, puzzled, at those words. "Did you say let's go?"
—Ah, I'm sorry, I just said it without thinking... Where are you going? — Arietta quickly corrected herself without blinking and without shame while blinking tenderly.
Look at this sweetness...
—My little sister... I mean, my friend asked me to go talk to him through the maids, so I'll meet him in the visiting room. — Jheane paused as she answered him with a smile.
“Hey, you said little sister right? Why did you correct yourself?” the green-haired girl asked in bewilderment, her big, beautiful blue eyes filled with doubt as she looked at her. Then, without waiting for an answer, they widened more than before as she exclaimed in shock, “It can’t be that your little sister enrolled in this academy disguised as a boy, right?! That’s unbelievable! How did she do it!? It’s almost like the plot of the romance novel ‘My Love for You Transcends the Sword’, only that story takes place in an all-male knight academy in Camelot…!”
Arietta threw her supposed innocence out the window as she talked about a questionable romance novel with passion and sparkling eyes, leaving the alchemist baffled.
—What? That... No, wait a minute...
—Ah, but something similar to this would be 'I'll Be Whatever You Want If You Give Me the Title of Count', a novel that tells the beautiful story of a strong daughter of a count who, in order to succeed her father, pretends to be a man in a fictional Bomenslik, meeting the crown prince and several powerful men... and starting a torrid romance that calls into question the sexuality of the male characters...! Kyaaa..!
—Hey —Jheane wanted to say something to stop her new friend's ramblings, but a scene worthy of a fantasy stopped her.
——As if sensing the pure excitement of their contractor, adorable and mystical wind and water elementals appeared around Arietta as they flew through the air dancing. The Undines; who were shaped like small water mermaids, clapped their hands enthusiastically as if they shared the girl’s spirit, while the Sylphs; resembling mythical fairies, spun around and around with relaxed expressions around her.
Each of them seems to be between the material plane and the elemental planes, entering and leaving this world thanks to the unintentional Reiryoku that Arietta unwittingly gave them. It was wonderful to watch and not only Jheane, but also some maids were distracted by this scene, fascinated as Arietta also danced to a tune that only she could hear.
More than that, the young alchemist was surprised by how easy it was for Arietta to summon these spirits so freely even without intention. Although they were all low-rank spirits, she had never heard that one could summon so many at once or even have contracts with so many of them at once…
Of course, it was a mistake for him to be distracted, as it allowed Arietta to continue her wild rampage.
—What kind of story is there behind your sister enrolling in the Imperial Academy as a man instead of a woman? Could it be that she heard about an ancient family heirloom that only men can have, or could it be that some evildoers want to kidnap her and she’s trying to hide her identity by acting as the opposite sex? Whatever it is, I’m dying to see their romance story firsthand as we study together at the academy!
Arietta seemed to almost sing with excitement as she spoke, raising her arms in the air as her spirit celebrated, causing Jheane to snap out of her daze quickly and raise her hand as she opened her trembling mouth. “M-mm… Arietta-chan, this…”
—Oh...but what would happen if your sister met Arthur-sama and he fell madly in love with her because of her heroine charms!?
—What...? - Jheane blurted out, dumbfounded, not at all expecting the Duke of all Draco Silva to suddenly be mentioned in this strange conversation between them. Much less, that she would claim that 'Larisa' fell in love with him as if they were in some cliché and predictable romantic fantasy novel, not after that incident...
—You know that Arthur-sama is extremely handsome right? Just like those male protagonists in romance novels that I love so much♥... I just can't help but imagine someone in your little sister's situation ending up in a unique relationship with someone like him, especially being an Archduke at his age... It's like one of my favorite stories is happening in the real world!
So exclaimed Arietta in a dreamy and somewhat saccharine voice as she continued her dance, her hands on her flushed cheeks as her spirits shrieked in their excitement while her mistress almost seemed to sing a story that could well begin to be written for a decent novel.
—I didn’t have to see him more than once to know that his face is truly captivating, a perfection so seductive that it could make any woman fall under its spell with just one look. The sharp angles of his features exude a kind of magnetic charm, refined by an unwavering will and the kind of regal wisdom that could make even the staunchest of hearts waver. Every detail of his face, from his strong jaw to his high cheekbones, is so meticulously sculpted, so perfect, that it seemed like it would remain untouched by time or hardship. His midnight hair contrasting with his flawless skin…his expression, possessing a regal tone and the elegance of a stalking beast that made him look dangerous and untouchable…it’s simply magnificent. And there’s a confident, almost predatory charisma to the way his features catch the sunlight, inevitably drawing all eyes to him like moths to a flame…
Become a professional novelist or something... The alchemist thought in a daze as she listened to all this. She didn't expect this girl to also have talent in the art of storytelling... At least, when it came to dramatically expressing a handsome man's excellent appearance, Arietta Noden was very talented.
Not caring about the shocked expressions of both Jheane and the maids around who blushed at the thought of a certain person and some even nodded like chickens eating grains at her words, the green-haired girl just continued chattering happily as if she was thinking about her personal Prince Charming, her eyes seemed to have hearts in them.
—He’s absolutely perfect~ So beautiful~ How can such a beautiful human exist? It’s as if the gods have personally shaped his appearance ♥! Furthermore, not only is he the most handsome, he’s also the richest man in the entire empire! He’s the ideal male lead no matter how you look at it♪!
—I absolutely agree with everything you say about the appearance and wealth of Archduke Draco Silva, but, I must say that it is not exactly a good idea to speak so openly about a distant romance with the fiancé of an imperial princess, you know — Jheane gently warned the green-haired girl with a drop of cold sweat running down her face, — Also, I must mention that you are having a very funny misunderstanding right now, Arietta-chan.....
—Ara... Lady Noden, Lady Lorens, how lucky I am to find you both here~
Just as Jheane wanted to clear up Arietta's absurd misunderstanding, another woman's dignified yet melodious voice interrupted her, causing both her and Arietta to freeze together as they turned to stare slowly and stiffly at the speaker; with the occasional maiden gasping in surprise or even admiration in the background.
Walking down the same stairs they had both used with one hand on the armrest….was a woman whom countless men would call without a second's hesitation a goddess of beauty with just one look, descending gracefully with a beautiful red fan of foreign design held in her hand, which was held close to her face.
In it, a smile could be seen gracing her tender red lips as she displayed gestures filled with elegance and a certain superiority with each step she took, exuding an extremely refined charisma and an extraordinarily seductive charm; showing that her charm parameter was truly through the roof.
Her elegant hair, which was as black as the darkest nights and as silky as the most luxurious fabrics, easily reached past her sensual back; reaching her respectable round and firm rear that was enveloped by her skirt — making even Jheane have to admit defeat — while the light of mana began to shine delicately on each of her well-kept locks.
Her proud breasts were pressed tightly by the arm holding the fan, highlighting them; being absolutely superior to those of the alchemist in size, which would easily attract the gaze of countless knights in seconds on them, filling them with an almost uncontrollable carnal desire at the sight of those considerable nipples weakly protruding through her uniform without being able to be hidden.
Her small, oval face contained exotic features that you would only see in people from the ancient lands of the Yamato Empire, easily attracting people's attention not only because of its rarity in this Western nation, but because of its unique beauty that captivates viewers of all genders with its unparalleled splendor.
Her smooth, delicate, flawless skin, which was the only thing she seemed to have inherited from her Loveritian father, looked as beautiful as Arietta's and Jheane's, and her bright obsidian-black eyes were slightly narrowed with the gaze of a cunning fox, fixed in his direction and slightly covered by the 'Hime' cut bangs that he remembered, the old pervert that was his Master liked so much, with a very beautiful floral decoration on the side of her head in a lovely violet color.
For all her elegance and glamour, no one could deny that the academy uniform also highlighted the erotic nature of her curvy body, with her narrow waist and wide hips clearly outlined for anyone to see.
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Even Jheane felt a little envious of her body and some desire at the same time, thinking that it would be great to be able to play with a woman like her, with those impressive breasts and those nipples the size of a large button... although, unfortunately, she would have to keep her distance to try to have a quieter life.
That same woman who filled her with complex feelings looked at them calmly, gracefully ignoring their obvious discomfort as she opened her erotic lips. "I'd like to talk to you two for a moment...if it's not too much trouble."
With a voice that would make virgins shudder with emotion because of how sweet and slightly seductive it sounded, this girl… no, this noble and seductive woman of extraordinary beauty deigned to speak to them. Her tone, although slightly kind and humble as she spoke to them, had an unmistakable dignity that also radiated throughout her body.
…Lady Dominguez.
Jheane held back the involuntary moan that was about to escape her lips as she looked at the woman she perceived to be the one called Yamato Nadeshiko, Aria Dominguez von Cerodian.
And before Jheane could quickly try to refuse using her meeting with Lars as an excuse, the beautiful lady told them even faster: “I intend to invite you both to a tea party with the rest of the students of Class SS.”
—A tea party?
The two beautiful girls looked at her in bewilderment at those casual words.
♦♦♦♦
Tea party.
This was widely known as a rather traditional social event among noblewomen of Loveritia that was celebrated even in the days of the Old Romanian Empire, which in turn had adopted these customs from the Great Yamato Empire.
Ladies here would sometimes send out invitations a week in advance to young ladies with whom they wanted to develop personal connections through a tea party; be they other nobles or even bourgeois, having to plan every arrangement, every detail, with absolute perfection so as not to cause displeasure among their guests and to ensure that they would make a good impression on their potential allies.
There, the noble hostesses did not flaunt their wealth, although they had a certain amount of it, but instead tried to demonstrate their organizational skills, their deep knowledge of tea (if they had any) and their ability to satisfy their guests with their ideas.
Furthermore, in noble society, tea parties are crucial for face-to-face interactions, information exchange, and establishing power dynamics. As such, noblewomen who do not attend them are often considered non-existent in imperial high society.
Therefore, many women make an effort to attend and organize these meetings in order to maintain their position and not bring shame to their families.
That was, in part, what Jheane knew about tea parties from basic teachings from her master, who had to teach her various knowledge about how the aristocracy worked, considering that one day she might be invited to such an event.
Naturally, Jheane was not interested in such things and her own master understood this as he himself did not like such things at all, so he only taught her a few things in case she found herself in a situation where she simply could not refuse such an invitation when she came to live in my dormitories at the Bomenslik Imperial Academy.
And somehow, Jheane felt like she was in precisely that problematic situation, right now.
—What do you mean by inviting us all to a tea party, Lady Dominguez? And I didn't know that invitations to tea parties were normally made this way...
With a relatively polite tone, Jheane asked with confusion evident in her voice, the insinuation behind her words not at all escaping the shrewd lady of a duchy as she let out a soft giggle that caused the two girls in front of her to subtly glance at each other.
Placing a hand near her cleavage in a way that radiated an almost irresistible charm and charisma as she smiled, Aria answered him, somewhat amused in her tone, “It’s true that we nobles usually send out invitations to tea parties through servants, but you know… Aren’t we all living in the same school dormitories right now? It would be too disrespectful, at least for me, to not give you my invitation personally as your hostess when we technically share the same space where we could socialize a lot in the future, and not just in the classrooms assigned by the academy.”
"I suppose..." the Alchemist replied hesitantly, a little surprised by the young noblewoman's strange display of consideration towards the matter.
Is she trying to curry favor with her fellow students by being the one to personally ask them to be a part of her tea party? I'm sure she's trying hard to build a good network, I'll admit. Still, I really don't want to be a part of this...
That was what not only Jheane felt, but also Arietta, who had a difficult expression beside her; the elementals she had unintentionally summoned long ago had returned to the elemental plane they belonged to. However, the young alchemist somehow felt that if she ignored this and did not go, with the vast majority of the few SS Class girls agreeing, there was a high possibility of becoming an outcast in the place she would call home for the past 4 years, which could become troublesome.
...Should I go then? Anyway, it's just a social gathering and most of the students here aren't all nobles, so I might be able to make friends with some of them... though it would be annoying to have to deal with the disdain of some noble ladies too proud of their bloodlines to acknowledge our capabilities...
As Jheane was thinking about such complicated things, she felt the exotic black-haired beauty approaching her with soft steps and handed her a card with her family heraldry, which she took out from somewhere, with a serene smile. “On these cards, you can find the information you need to know where to go and what kind of dress code you should follow. You don’t need to answer me right now. Think about it carefully, and if you want to join us that day, I’ll be waiting for you with pleasure.”
She finished saying that as she passed an awfully similar card to Arietta as well, who let out a weak "Ah... Thank you, Lady Dominguez..." to which the princess of one of the four most important duchies of the Loveritia Empire only responded with a soft smile.
—Well, I won't bother you any further. If you'll excuse me, I have something to do. See you later.
-Alright...
-Of course
“Oh!” Aria exclaimed, walking past them in a friendly manner, as if she had just remembered something. “And please, both of you call me Aria, even if it’s in a way that’s more comfortable for you. As you know, I want to be friends with both of you, so I’d like us to be less rigid next time.”
Jheane hesitated as she scratched her cheek with an awkward smile while Arietta clasped her hands together with the card between them on her belly with a worried face as both of them, curious, answered at the maximum time with an uncertain tone, "W-we'll try."
Not seeming embarrassed, insulted, or even hurt by their obvious discomfort at the idea of associating with her, Aria gave them a gentle smile before gracefully turning towards the exit, demurely nodding to the maids who bowed respectfully as she passed. As she walked away from the two, it seemed like Arietta was breathing normally again as she placed a hand near her modest chest in relief, even sighing.
—That was really awkward… at least he didn’t try to indirectly convince me to join his faction or anything like before…
— Right? But... a tea party... What do you think, Arietta-chan?
-Don't know....
“Maybe we should go, huh? We might as well risk being ostracized by our peers if we ignore the invitation… that is, if most of them decide to go, that is.” Jheane eyed the invitation card in her hand warily as she spoke.
—Huh? Don't tell me that's what she was planning! Wow... so she was like a novel villain after all!
—What? No, nothing like that!
—...¿No?
—Of course not —she sighed, somewhat frustrated by that friend of hers who seemed easily prone to misunderstandings, her mind easily confusing reality with one of her romance novels, surely without much value beyond exciting young girls with unrealistic romances. —What I mean is that, if the majority of the SS Class students decide to join Lady Dominguez's faction after the tea party, it's quite possible that all of them will decide not to socialize in any way with the one who ignored their leader, either to avoid unnecessarily offending her or for any other reason they can think of... and if it's possible that I'm just overthinking it and nothing of the sort happens, maybe we shouldn't risk it. After all, if I'm going to live here for 4 years, I'd like to be on good terms with all of my classmates.
Arietta blinked, slightly surprised by all the analysis Jheane was doing, and then said with what seemed like some respect and admiration in her voice, “You sure put a lot of thought into this, didn’t you?”
The alchemist just snorted with a slightly arrogant smile, “As high-level «Aspirants», we have minds that function at high speed and process information better than normal humans. So when is the best time to use them to their fullest?
That's what Jheane believed.
As a Sorcerer Class Aspirant who specializes in alchemy, she had to deal with many magic formulas and alchemical recipes throughout her training, and came to think that it was only natural to make use of her superior brain capacity to quickly absorb the problems that faced her. That naturally did not only apply to sorcery, but also to life in general.
Mainly creating very realistic mental simulations of wild sex, and I can already think of many scenarios you could engage in with Arietta, hehe~
She kept that thought to herself with a mischievous smile as she continued to explain her point of view to the Spiritualist.
“As you already know, Lady Domin… eh…” He hesitated a bit, he had to admit. “Lady Aria… you already know that she’s trying to consolidate her position in the Bomenslik Imperial Academy through us, so she won’t treat us badly if we join her. The others might very well see that and decide to go over to her side in order to gain certain benefits… In that sense, it’s not crazy for the majority of our class to join her faction, so there’s a chance we’ll get hurt if we just ignore her. We don’t need to commit to being a part of her faction, just attending could prevent them from being antagonistic towards the two of us, so we might as well go.”
As a woman who was raised to be the next Guild Master of the Alchemist Guild (a position she did not want), Jheane was carefully guided by her master so that she could discern the nobility's intentions for herself, thus avoiding falling into their well-woven wordplays like poisonous spiderweb traps.
As far as she was concerned, Aria's plan was obvious.
By personally inviting many of the extremely talented elite students who are only slightly below them in intelligence and influence, she was showing them her sincerity and how much she valued them, as well as sending them the hidden message that she was willing to treat them very well if they agreed to stand by her side. At the same time, she conveyed the idea to those who were seriously hesitant to even stand in front of her person that they feared social isolation in their own home, as people who were intelligent enough would realize that they would be at a disadvantage if a large portion of their class made up Aria’s faction.
Anxiety, at least, would compel them to go so as not to insult Aria's honor and earn the hostility of her faction. That is precisely what she desires, since just by going to the tea party they would be forming a kind of connection with her that they could not easily deny if the first steps of their ambition prove successful.
For noblewomen, tea parties were a status symbol. Successfully inviting a prestigious guest was a statement of the host's influence. In that sense, it would be natural for Aria to strive to win bright-future geniuses like them over to her side with subtle manipulation tactics.
Very clever, Lady Aria, very clever.
Not in vain was he one of the best geniuses that appeared in the Dominguez Noble Clan, bringing pride to his lineage not only with his amazing magical talents, but also with his scheming mind capable of devising a plan like that that can be implemented with such simple and seemingly insignificant actions.
It was either that, or Jheane was just overthinking it; a smart person's curse at its finest.
Haha...no way
Jheane quickly began to deny the possibility in thought when Arietta finally responded to her relatively straightforward analysis of the situation.
—I see... if what you say is true, then I don't see why I shouldn't go. But he didn't say when it would be...
—That's what the invitation is for. I'm sure she wrote it the day the tea party starts there.
"Why not just say it outright?" Arietta tilted her head and a smile seemed to appear on Jheane's lips.
“Because it’s quite possible that she wanted to surprise us with the location of the tea party when we read it on the card, or maybe something else. Either way, we’ll know when we open them, right?” She waved the card with a wink and Arietta laughed, letting out a soft silvery voice.
—Okay, that makes sense... I still feel uncomfortable around Lady Dominguez, but I guess I'll think about it after reading the invitation.
—Yes, yes, me too.
—Oh! But shouldn't you go with your little sister?
The spiritualist genie blinked her lapis lazuli eyes tenderly as she asked with a finger on her pink lips, and Jheane froze in that very instant, completely bewildered.
Oh shit! I forgot about Larisa!
—Arietta-chan, I'm sorry for being abrupt, but I have to go! See you later!
—Ah!
Arietta raised a hand, but the Demi-Bestian who had used her canine nature to run at high speed through the splendorous halls was already entering through the luxurious twin doors that led to the Visiting Room.
—I hope you have a nice reunion between sisters....- Arietta smiled softly as she whispered with her hands behind her back, turning to return to her room with the nicely decorated card in her hand in a good mood.
Unbeknownst to Jheane, she completely forgot to clear up this adorable little girl's misunderstanding about her "little sister"...