Chapter 1

“What are you doing here?”

“Sniff…Papa…where?”

“Oh my, you’re lost too.”

“Too?”

“Yes, that’s right. Well, unlike you I chose to get lost. Budge up-let me sit too.”

“Who…who are you?”

“I’m impressed you cannot tell just from gazing upon my regal presence. I am Sophie Estreath, the only daughter of the great war hero, Lord Byron Estreath. You may express-!”

“Who?”

“Ha?”

“Sophie?”

“T-that’s Lady Sophie Estr-”

“Lady Sophie?”

“W-well, that will suffice. What’s your name?”

“Lyssa.”

“Lyssa whom? Surely, you must have a last name.”

“I have one, but papa said I don’t need to use full names when speaking to friends.”

“Ha? Friends?”

“…Are we not?”

“Oh God, don’t cry-Don’t worry, Lyssa, we’re friends, okay?! Here - hand!”

“L-like this? Ah!”

“Handshake! A handshake of friendship!”

“Mama says friends hug each other.”

“Does she? Well, just this once, I’ll allow-Wait until I’ve finished speaking!”

“Friendship hug!”

“L-Lady Lyssa, I think that’s enough.”

“No!”

“Don’t scream into my ear! Why?!”

“Because…you’ll run away.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Everyone…always runs…they don’t…sniff…want to be my friends.”

“Then, that is their loss.”

“…eh?”

“If they decided to lose out on such a cute young girl like yourself as a friend, then they are incredibly foolish. Ah, honestly, those sorts of people are the worst.”

“But Sophie…sniff…you said it was-”

“Listen, Lyssa. Friendships take time to ripen and mature, like a fruit. It isn’t just enough to say we are friends - we must act the part too.”

“How?”

“First, we start by introducing ourselves properly. Then, we can talk about the things we like and dislike, our hobbies and-”

“I like papa!”

“Not that sort of like.”

“Huh?”

“For example, I like tea parties and reading novels.”

“Lyssa too! I love reading!”

“Oh, how wonderful. Then, Lady Lyssa-?”

“Just Lyssa is fine!”

“Then, Lyssa, what is your favourite book?”

“The Rider in the Night.”

“Ah, a classic fairy tale. A beautiful story of love, freedom of expression and the beauty of the natural world.”

“It’s such a great story.”

“Indeed. What was your favourite moment?”

“When the Rider first meets Lady Cassette under the full moon.”

“It was as if time itself stood still as the moonlight illuminated them. There, in that secluded woodland, the two were lost in one another’s eyes and they forgot the whole world. All that matter to them was that they were together and that loved each other. W-what’s with that-?”

“Beautiful!”

“Ah, yes, well all I did was recall the-”

“Not that, Lady Sophie’s voice - it was really pretty!”

“R-really?”

“Yeah, yeah!”

“T-thank you, Lyssa. Wow, my face has gotten rather flushed suddenly.”

“Lady Sophie’s so cute.”

“S-stop that.”

“Ehehehe.”

“Say, Lyssa, how old are you?”

“Seven!”

“Ah, we’re the same age then. I must confess, it’s a rather adorable thing to call your parents mama and papa still.”

“Is it a bad thing?”

“It’s not a bad thing, but my father drilled it into my head at a young age that I needed to address him as father regardless of the situation.”

“Why?”

“Hmm, well, I imagine it is to show politeness and respect at all times, but I can also imagine that it is to help my own personal image too.”

“How?”

“If I always conduct myself as a proper noble lady, those who witness that will acknowledge me as the pinnacle of what it means to be a noble lady and their admiration for me will only increase. If that happens, my standing within the social world would improve and I would find myself as an influential person.”

“Is that right? That sounds like a lot of work.”

“Fufu, perhaps, but it’s what’s expected as the daughter of a duke. Speaking of, Lyssa, what is your last name?”

“Wurlan.”

“Ah, the daughter of Marquis Wurlan? A pleasure to finally meet you - my father has always spoken fondly of your father.”

“Papa’s the coolest in the world!”

“Well, I don’t know about that.”

“He is!”

“I feel like my father the war hero might be cooler.”

“He isn’t!”

“Heh~is that so?”

“W-what?”

“Lyssa’s such a daddy’s girl~”

“A-am not!”

“Don’t hide your face from me. Come here, little daddy’s girl.”

“Hahaha-D-don’t tickle me! Hahahahaha.”

“I’ll stop when you admit it!”

“Hahaha-N-never!”

“Then, I won’t stop!”

“No!”

***

“Oh my, the sun’s started to set and neither of our fathers are here.”

“I was having so much fun I didn’t realise.”

“I’m the same, Lyssa. Hey, if it’s okay with you, can we meet from time to time after today?”

“Of course!”

“Wonderful. Well, it doesn’t have to be at either of our houses, but what if whenever we’re at the palace we come back to this bench and meet?”

“Like a secret base?”

“Yes, just like that.”

“That sounds cool! I like it!”

“Perfect.”

“Ah, before you go, here!”

“Hmm? A book? What’s-?”

“Read it!”

“Twenty-two tales? It’s a novel I’ve never heard of before.”

“It’s Lyssa’s favourite book and most precious treasure, and I want you to have it!”

“A-are you sure? That’s quite a lot of pressure.”

“It’s okay! Lady Sophie’s my friend and I want you to read this too!”

“Are you really okay with lending me something so precious?”

“It’s okay because it’s Lady Sophie!”

“W-well, then, I’ll gladly take it. The next time we meet, I’ll return this treasure to you.”

“Yes!”

“Then, until next time, Lyssa.”

“See you soon, Lady Sophie!”

[Hello everone, it has been WAY too long since I could last post something on Honeyfeed! For those of you who are unaware, I recently started living and working in Japan (and managed to both fall ill and get food poisoning back to back), so I haven't been able to post much of anything on Honeyfeed for quite some time.

[It's delightful to be back, and I hope you guys will really enjoy watching over Sophie and Lyssa as their story unfolds!]