Bonus Stories

A Lonely Father

From the day she was born, I knew that my daughter was different from other girls.

When she was born and I held her in my arms for the first time and she looked up at me, I knew; there was something behind those eyes already.

She had only just been brought into the world, but she was observing the everything around her, taking it all in, processing it.

It was a little scary to see Raena like that, but my wife simply laughed off my worries and said I had an overactive imagination.

Perhaps I did, or perhaps or I could already see her ambitions at that age.

…Maybe I am overexaggerating, but Raena’s development was not like how I imagined.

By the age of three, she was already clearly speaking and even using some sophisticated language.

By the age of five, she was already learning foreign tongues and naturally switching between them.

By the age of seven, her intelligence was apparent for all to see.

She was completing mathematic equations teenagers would struggle with.

She was writing elegantly like a master calligrapher.

She had already learnt all the manners and etiquette befitting a lady of the court.

Due to my busy work schedule and dealing with several minor squabbles across the duchy, I didn’t spend much of my time with Raena. When I was home, I played with her, ate meals with her, read to her as she fell asleep or helped her with her studies, but there was always something about her attitude that made me suspect that she didn’t actually enjoy spending time with her father.

Raena was above ‘childish’ things like that.

My wife saw my own fears and tried to investigate herself, but she and Raena had always been quite close.

Maybe she was more of a mother’s girl than a father’s.

Still, I loved her, no matter how I might have felt about her talents.

It was something I took great pride in, as any father would.

One day, a letter came to me, telling me a good friend of mine had tragically passed away and that their young daughter, Yui, was about to be left all alone.

I left at great haste, took her under my wing and assured her that Raena would love and treasure her.

Growing up, I had heard stories of noble daughters bullying their adopted siblings or those who they didn’t share full blood relations too, but I didn’t believe my Raena would be like that.

In my worst fears, she might just be indifferent or not care about her, unable to deal with someone who was far below her in terms of innate ability.

Yet.

All those fears evaporated in an instant.

There was something behind my daughter’s eyes, something I rarely saw but my wife saw all the time - love.

Raena adored her little sister; they were rarely apart from one another.

Yui, as I’d hoped, grew to love her new sister and sweetly called her Onee-sama.

Even better, Yui wanted to become like Raena and Raena was happy to tutor and nurture her to become her knight.

I was a little sad that Yui didn’t want to spread her wings any further than that, but if that was what made my daughters happy, then who was I to judge?

Admittedly, there were times when I did think them closer than normal sisters, but I shrugged it off, although I do remember my wife used to giggle whenever I said how close they were.

In time, I learnt that Raena could see and speak to a little fairy called Yuri.

A small, near non-existent part of my mind wondered if my daughter had gone insane, but then I finally met her.

She didn’t look like how Raena had described, but I thought she was a fine-looking young woman. I also thanked her for staying by Raena’s side and said that I would stand by and support her, Raena and Yui, no matter what.

…

I said this right before Raena’s birthday party.

I had been prepared for Raena to struggle to find a man to take as her husband.

I didn’t expect her to like women.

And three of them at that.

Lady Victoria Highland, daughter of a powerful vassal, was infatuated with Raena.

So was Lady Yuri who my daughter kissed on the lips, in a crowded venue, on her birthday party, all while Prince Cain and other high-ranking nobles were present.

And then Yui told me she liked Raena that way too.

As a father, this was a complicated feeling.

On one hand, I was happy she was loved by such wonderful people.

On the other…on the other…

Three lovers…

If she were a man, I’d…I don’t know?

Would I be proud of her?

Disgusted?

Try to teach her the honour of having just one special person?

I personally had never felt anything for any woman other than my lovely wife, but Raena she truly, from the bottom of her heart, seemed to love and treasure all three of them.

“…How should I feel about this?”

“Are you still worrying about her?”

“But Gloria-!”

“No buts, Evan.” My wife giggled and put a finger to my lips. “You can’t spend your whole life worrying about your daughter’s future.”

“A parent will always worry about their children.”

“…Well, I can understand that feeling, but I have faith.”

“In Raena?”

She nodded. “Our daughter is a wonderful, confident, strong young woman. Even if we’re not watching over her, I know she’ll be just fine.”

“…I wish I could feel the same.”

“I’m sure you do, Evan. You just keep worrying nonetheless.”

“That’s a father’s privilege.”

She laughed and got out of bed to get a glass of wine. “How are things within the duchy?”

“Calm and peaceful, and fiercely loyal,” I proudly reported. “Every man and woman I speak to, and everyone I have under careful watch, is dedicated wholeheartedly to the Arminas. Not just to us, but to Raena too. Of course, there are a few wondering who will inherit the duchy after Raena.”

“Ah, I discussed that with Yuri. She told me of something fascinating where two women might be able to have babies. What was the word she used? Fu-?”

“I really don’t want to hear about that!”

Gloria sighed and passed me an empty cup before pouring me some wine. “Honestly, there’s no need to react so strongly.”

I quickly downed the glass which Gloria happily refilled for me. “The duchy is secure, but the Wessex family seem…divided.”

“Yes, I’ve noticed that too. Lord Michael does seem to want Lady Victoria back as his bride, but he also seems happy to keep his friendship with Raena too. Perhaps the two will grow much closer and become the most powerful friends in the kingdom.” She sat on my lap. “According to the ladies at my tea parties, there are factions being created at the academy that could broadly be divided into two types.”

“Those who support us and those who support the Royals.”

Gloria nodded. “It’s difficult to say how many people are on either side, but what’s muddied the waters more is that Prince Ah-Rahm and Princess Claudia seem to be close to Raena.”

I nodded. “Well, I don’t think anyone was expecting that. One day, out of nowhere, Raena and Yui were both invited for tea and cakes at Princess Claudia’s invitation, and now they have more plans to meet more often.”

“Once a week, Raena said.”

I sighed and kissed Gloria. “Our daughter is definitely causing us lots of headaches.”

“True, but I don’t think either of us hate that,” she said, kissing me back. “What else do you think we could do to help her?”

“Oh, don’t worry, Gloria. I have plenty of plans already underway.”

In my youth, I’d never have considered standing against the royal family. Even now, I don’t believe it’s in the interest or desires of the Arminas nor Raena personally.

Instead, we are preparing.

Preparing for the inevitable war that Prince Cain might bring upon us.

In order to prevent that, our power had to grow, but it couldn’t grow too much.

We needed power, but not so much the royal family feared treason and rebellion.

It was a delicate balance, a careful game, and one I had been taught my entire life.

All that was left was to see how well it would go.

Still.

I sighed and buried my face in my wife’s embrace.

“It’s lonely being a father.”

Social Hierarchy

“Lady Victoria.”

“Lady Yui.”

“Thank you for coming on such short notice.”

“I must admit, I didn’t expect you to invite me to such a luxurious, private café room. I can only assume this means that you’re here to talk about something important.”

“That’s correct.”

“And, if I know anything about you, you damn sis-con, then it’s probably about Raena."

"You didn’t mutter that bit under your breath properly, you damn masochist.”

“Oh, how rude of you, Lady sis-con. To speak so-”

“If only they allowed me to bring my sword with me, I would gladly give you a beating you so desire, Lady masochist.”

Teles, the maid who had been forced to accompany Lady Yui, was once again asking herself at what age she should start considering retirement.

The Armina duchy paid incredibly well, and she loved Lady Yui and Lady Raena, however their day to day lives were not good for her mental health.

If anything, if made Teles feel as if she had aged forty years in less than ten.

“So?” Lady Victoria folded her arms. “What did you want to talk about?”

“The right order of things.”

“Oh? What do you mean specifically?”

“You and I both know that Raena loves all three of us, but she treasures Yuri just a little bit more than either of us.”

“Ah~ Lady Raena is just not being honest with herself.”

“Don’t sound happy about that!” Yui sighed. “What I mean is we need to properly confirm the proper standing for Onee-sama’s lovers. Naturally, Yuri is her number one, the legal wife.”

“Sadly, yes.”

“The next thing is that I am-”

“Over my dead body.”

“I haven’t finished speaking, but that can easily be arranged.”

“Lady Yui, you might not know this, but you are Lady Raena’s little sister.”

“I was never fully adopted, so we’re not family or related by blood!”

“…Regardless,” Victoria continued. “The truth of the matter is that it would sully Lady Raena’s reputation for you to be considered the second wife or the mistress. If anything, your position should remain as a little sister and not-”

“Over my dead body.”

“I can kill you socially or with poison. Which would you prefer?”

“Should I cut your throat in your sleep or hack you into six pieces?”

…I don’t need that much money in my life, Teles contemplated.

The two women stared each other down before sitting back down.

“Lady Raena wouldn’t appreciate us coming to blows like this all the time.”

Yui nodded. “Onee-sama would be upset if we actually started fighting or fell out with one another.”

“Well, outside of our little arguments here, I don’t actually hate you, Yui.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Victoria shrugged. “Believe what you want, but it’s the truth. Sure, you are a little annoying, demanding, brash, two-faced and a hopeless sis-con, but I consider you a friend and someone important to me. Well, that part comes from the fact that you’re so important to Lady Raena.”

“…I helped Onee-sama investigate you and Lord Michael all those years ago,” Yui said. “I helped bring you two together and there are still times where I sincerely hate that I did that. However, I can’t deny that you are quite a useful woman.”

“That’s not a compliment, Yui.”

“…You’re smart and cunning, and you love Onee-sama. That’s all I need to know.”

Victoria looked dumbfounded for a minute, then burst out into uncontrollable laughter.

“W-what?”

“Nothing, it’s just.” Victoria giggled again and wiped away a tear. “That’s such a Yui answer I couldn’t help myself.”

Yui, a little upset, pouted and averted her gaze. “Sorry, but that’s just how I feel.”

“…That’s enough, for now.”

“For now? You-! You’re not planning to do something to me are you?!”

“Not at all. I just want to know if you’d be interested in spending some time together once or twice a week, just us two.”

“No Onee-sama or Yuri?”

Victoria shook her head. “No. This would just be between us two.”

“For what purpose?”

“So, we can become friends?”

“Why is that a question?”

“Because I don’t know if it’ll work out. You and I know this will be a long, uphill battle, but it’s one we both want to fight. If we get along and become friends, then that will make Raena happy. If we try and it fails, she’d be happy we made the effort.”

“But then that means leaving Onee-sama and Yuri alone together a lot more.”

“Yui, sweetie, they are alone together quite a lot as is,” Victoria reminded her. “Even today, the reason we were able to meet up like this was because Lady Raena wanted to have a date with Yuri. Out of curiosity, what are they up to today?”

“They went shopping for new clothes and then they’re planning to pick up some jewellery for Yuri.”

“Does the duchy not have enough?”

“We have plenty, but Onee-sama wanted to get Yuri something just for her,” Yui said. “Has Onee-sama ever bought you something like that before?”

Victoria nodded with a strong blush. “She did, but it’s something for us two to use when we’re alone.”

“…I don’t want to know.”

“Oh, it was a co-”

“I said I didn’t want to know, you damn masochist!”

Should I try finding a husband? Maybe I should elope with him after my next paycheck?

Teles’s gaze lingered on the window as she heard the argument start up again, and the sounds of plates crashing here and there.

Will they charge us a lot of money to replace anything broken or damaged?

Yuri’s Diary

Mum, dad, how are you?

It’s been a long time, but it’s your one and only daughter, Yuri Nakamura.

I know what you’re thinking - “Didn’t you die, sweetie?” or “Since when was your hair green?” or my personal favourite “You’re gay? Huh.”

Well, it’s probably something along those lines.

But yes, a lot has changed since we last met each other.

I died, I got reborn and now I’m in a noble woman’s harem.

…Life really doesn’t go the way you think it will.

It’s definitely not what I expected to happen to me, but I can hardly complain.

Well, I could have back then, when I first came to this world.

Raena was particular mean back then!

One time, she threw me out into the snow just because I told her the truth!

Honestly, she was a handful, but…

She was my best friend and now…n-now…

N-n-n-now! NOW!

She’s my girlfriend!

…There are so many thoughts and things that I never thought I’d think or say.

Still, I wanted to write you this little letter because…because…

I hesitated.

The pen was right above the page, yet I couldn’t bring it to keep on writing.

I wanted to talk to them again, but…I knew, deep down, that writing these letters was pointless.

They’d never read them.

They’d never know I ever wrote them.

This was just for my own self-satisfaction, to feel a little bit better about myself.

It was…pathetic, wasn’t it?

“Writer’s block?”

“Similar.” I leant back in my chair and Raena, who was standing behind me, began petting my long green hair.

I closed my eyes and enjoyed the soft, gentle touch of her hand as it ran through my hair.

Ah, this is bliss~

“Then, are you struggling to find the right words to express yourself?”

I shook my head a little. “It’s more…I guess…well…”

Raena laughed a little and hugged me. “I know.”

“Ha?! How could you-?!”

“They’ll read them. I know they will.”

I felt a little sad as I tensed in her embrace. “…No, they won’t.”

“I know they will.”

“…You don’t need to lie to me.”

“Oh my, whoever said I was?” Raena pecked my cheek and then released me. “I personally believe that there are things beyond our understanding that connect us to those we love. Of course, as long as we’re alive, no one in our memories will ever truly die. However, I also know that just as much as you long for them to read these letters, they too long to read them.

“One day, whether it is in this life or another, they will see those letters, they will read them, and they will be so proud of you.”

“…Really?”

Raena nodded. “Really. Don’t you think that’s quite a nice future to imagine?”

I smiled a little and nodded, and continued as I had been for weeks now, writing letters to my parents.

Raena never read them nor asked to read them.

She knew how precious these moments were for me and that this was something not even she was allowed to see without my permission.

…W-well, maybe one day, when I’m feeling much braver, I’ll let her read them.

My diary and all the precious letters carried within.

…If that day comes, I sincerely hope-

That she will not get angry for some of the things I’ve written in there!

Continue?

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