A strange visitor

Time ground to a halt. My brain, already liquefied by the summer heat, suffered a complete blue screen of death.

My little sister, Chiaki, stood right on the threshold, clutching her green frog plushie to her chest like a shield of absolute justice.

 Her wide eyes darted back and forth between me—standing there drenched in sweat—and Erisvelle, who was majestically perched on my mattress, a staff tucked into her hair and her dress covered in dust.

— W-Wait, Chiaki! It's not what you think!" I stammered, throwing my hands up in surrender. "She just... fell from the sky! No, wait, she came through the—"

— An intruder! Erisvelle cut me off, snapping upright and pointing an outraged finger at my sister.

 — Human, is this another creature of your kind? Why does she look upon me with such insolence?

I slapped a hand over my face. Shut up, please, just shut up.

Chiaki took a slow step back, a devilish smirk stretching across her chubby cheeks.

— Mom! Dad! Tetsu has a weird girl in his—”

In a desperate bid for pure survival, I lunged forward. I clamped one hand over her mouth while simultaneously snatching her plushie, taking it hostage.

— Chiaki, let's negotiate, okay? I whispered, my voice trembling with raw panic. 

— What do you want? Manga? The strawberry ice cream bars in the freezer? I'll give you my entire trading card collection, just please shut up!

Chiaki brushed my hand away with a dignified gesture, crossed her little arms, and locked eyes with me like a ruthless corporate negotiator.

— I want you to do my dishes for a week. And I want that big box of donuts from downtown.

— Three days of dishes and half a box, I countered through gritted teeth.

— Five days, the whole box, and she has to lend me her pink dress so I can play princess this weekend.

Beside us, Erisvelle let out a gasp of royal indignation.

 — What?! Lend the finery of the Celestial Palace to an unrefined runt? Never! I would rather be erased from this reality ! 

— It’s just a short pink dress, I don't see what's so special about it, Chiaki muttered, shooting her a dark glare while I kept my eyes glued to my sister.

— Five days of dishes, it’s a deal! I barked, completely ignoring Erisvelle’s divine protests.

— But forget about the dress, Chiaki. Look at her, she clearly lost a fight against a bush. It’s covered in dirt. You'll catch a rash.

Chiaki cast a suspicious glance at Erisvelle’s tangled hair and the smudge of dust on her cheek, then let out a tiny, disappointed sigh.

— Yeah, I guess you're right. She looks more like a ruined princess anyway. Fine, I'll take the donuts. But you'd better buy them tomorrow morning, or I'm spilling everything at breakfast

She snatched her frog plushie back, flashed me one last victorious smirk, and skipped back down the stairs. My wallet was going to bleed, but my life was saved. For now.

I locked my bedroom door twice and turned toward the royal parasite currently squatting on my bed. 

Erisvelle was blatantly pouting, arms crossed, deliberately avoiding my gaze.

— You. Don't move an inch from here,I ordered in a tone that brooked no argument. 

— My parents are waiting for me downstairs. If you make a single sound, I'm calling the cops and you'll get three years in the slammer, got it?

— Hmph. A sovereign does not take orders from a commoner, she retorted, turning her head away.

But her stomach betrayed her yet again, letting out a monumental growl that echoed through the entire room.

"Tsk... My vessel should not normally react this way. This is becoming quite vexing," she muttered, clutching her stomach.

Suddenly, she sprang from the bed with a predatory grin, placing her hands on her hips as her eyes locked onto mine.

— Human, I have just conceived an idea~

I let out an irritated sigh. It was getting seriously exhausting that she only ever called me 'human', as if I didn't have an actual name.

— My name is Tetsuya…

Without a word, she headed straight for my window once again.

— See you later, human~!

She threw herself into the bushes below a second time, followed immediately by a faint, muffled "Ouch!" escaping from the leaves.

I stood frozen in front of the open window, arms dangling, staring into the empty night. The faint rustling of the leaves had just died down after her choked cry.

— You've got to be kidding me... She really did it again, I muttered, exasperated.

What was she thinking? Did she expect to find a royal banquet just sitting on the street corner?

For a split second, the urge to jump down after her crossed my mind. 

But the rumbling of my own stomach dragged me back to reality.

Whatever. She wanted to act all proud and refuse my help? Let her deal with the neighborhood stray cats.

I slammed the window shut, ran a weary hand through my hair, and headed for the door. I had a family dinner to face, and the monster masquerading as my little sister was waiting for me with a blackmail contract in hand.

I walked downstairs, my steps heavy as I approached the dining room. The comforting aroma of home-cooked food wafted through the air, a stark contrast to the absolute chaos reigning inside my head.

Stepping inside, I saw everyone was already seated. Steaming dishes sat at the center of the table. 

I quietly slid into my chair, trying to keep my face as neutral as possible without saying a word.

But the moment my butt hit the seat, I felt a sharp, pointed jab against the tip of my foot.

I looked up. Chiaki was staring at me with a diabolical grin, tapping her foot against mine under the table to get my attention.

 While shooting me a warning look, she discreetly pointed at her own dessert, then at mine.

— Don't forget our deal from upstairs. The large portion is mine,she said in a sweet, innocent voice.

I let out a long, helpless sigh. My wallet was going to be empty before the month of August even started.

Breaking the heavy silence, my father set down his chopsticks and offered me a warm smile.

 — So, Tetsuya, how was your day while we were out? Not too brutal with the heat?

— Ah... no, just a typical day of classes, Dad, I replied automatically, picking up my chopsticks.

 "Nothing special. How about you three? How was your afternoon at the mall?"

My mother let out a tired chuckle as she scooped out the portions.

 — Oh, don't get me started! It was quite an ordeal. The lines were monstrous just to get the fresh ingredients for tonight's dinner. But it was worth it!

Suddenly, my mother's face lit up with an excited, almost childlike smile. She set down the ladle and looked at Chiaki and me, while my father wore a subtle smirk, clearly in on the secret.

— In fact! Your father and I have a huge surprise for you two!

Chiaki instantly stopped torturing my foot and perked up her ears, her eyes sparkling. 

My mother took a deep breath, preparing to drop the bombshell, but at the exact moment she opened her mouth to announce it—

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone knocked firmly on the front door.

I pushed my chair back, feeling a wave of relief at having an excuse to escape the tension under the table.

— I'll get it, I said, heading into the hallway.

Who could possibly be knocking at this hour? A delivery person? A neighbor? Reaching the front door, I placed my hand on the handle, took a breath, and yanked it open.

My jaw hit the floor.

Standing in front of me was definitely not the dirt-covered girl who had been occupying my bed ten minutes ago. 

Erisvelle was sporting a sleek, sleeveless black dress, dark tights, and fingerless lace gloves that gave her an incredibly elegant air. 

A small beret sat atop her light hair, and she held a handbag as if she had just stepped out of a luxury boutique.

She flashed me a victorious, mischievous smile.

— You certainly took your time opening the door, human~" she drawled.

— What on earth are you doing here?!" I hissed under my breath.

"I told you I had a plan, human."

"No."

"Yes."

A frustrated grunt escaped my lips while she maintained her smug smile. She had told me she had a plan, sure, but I never expected this to be it!

— Tetsuya? Who's at the door?

My mother's voice echoed from the hallway. Panic surged through me, and a cold sweat broke out on the back of my neck. 

Before I could manufacture a lie, my mother appeared behind me. The moment her eyes fell upon Erisvelle, she froze, clasping her hands to her cheeks.

— Oh my... What are you doing outside at this hour, young lady?

In a flash, Erisvelle's provocative smirk vanished, replaced by an expression of angelic sweetness. She bowed low, executing a flawless, graceful curtsy.

— A pleasure to meet you, Madame. Please forgive this late intrusion. My name is Erisvelle Seralune, and I am Tetsuya's foreign exchange correspondent.

My mother let out a tiny squeal of admiration, completely won over by her charm. She whipped around to me, eyes sparkling, and whispered fiercely in my ear, 

— Tetsu! You never told me you had such a cute... and distinguished correspondent! And since when do you even talk to foreigners?

— Hey!

Chiaki popped up from behind Mom, pointing an accusing finger at Erisvelle. 

— She's the weird girl from earlier!

My heart stopped.

— Ah, Tetsuya's little sister. We did indeed cross paths earlier. Erisvelle smiled gracefully.

 — Your brother was a immense help to me when I found myself hopelessly lost.

I just nodded along, forcing a stiff smile.

— What?! But she was literally in your—” 

Chiaki choked on her words as I smoothly slipped a lollipop into her hand under the radar.

— Yeah, i saw her when I was... checking out the neighborhood. Outside the shopping center ,Chiaki amended.her voice muffled by the candy.

Our mother nodded slowly, her smile never fading as she continued to look Erisvelle over. 

— Yes, but that still doesn't explain what you're doing here so late.

— Please forgive my lack of explanation,Erisvelle replied seamlessly.

 "It is simply that I could not find a hotel in time, so I thought it best to come directly to you."

— Well, come on in and make yourself at home, Erisvelle!" 

my mother, Emiko, chimed in, warmly ushering her toward the dining room. “You arrived just in time, dinner is served!”

My father was eating his ramen as if a mysterious foreign princess appearing in our living room was just another mundane part of his daily routine.

And Chiaki... Chiaki was shooting me murderous glares between every single bite.

Meanwhile, Erisvelle was staring down her chopsticks with intense concentration, as if her life depended on it. She attempted her first pinch. The chopsticks slipped, clattering onto the table. 

She tried again, but once more, they ended up flat on the table. Her brow furrowed as her frustration visibly mounted.

It was honestly pretty amusing to watch a self-proclaimed princess get utterly defeated by something as simple as chopsticks.

— Do you want me to help you? Chiaki asked, her smile a little too sweet to be genuine.

— Help me? Erisvelle repeated, narrowing her eyes.

— Yes. You hold them like this. Chiaki leaned over and properly adjusted the sticks between Erisvelle's fingers. 

"No, like this. Keep them between your fingers."

"No! Not like a weapon!"

"Fine, I believe I grasp the concept! Like this, correct?" Erisvelle said, finally holding them the right way.

Chiaki nodded, a tiny smirk of pride on her face.

My father, Kenji, adjusted his glasses as he observed our unexpected guest.

— Erisvelle Seralune, was it? he repeated. 

"A very charming name. What country are you from, young lady?"

— I am originally from France, sir, she answered without blinking, her confidence absolute.

My father looked intrigued by her sudden response for a moment, but my mother immediately leaned in close, whispering something in his ear with a subtle smile.

 Judging by how quickly my father relaxed, replacing his curiosity with a knowing grin, my mother must have made up some ridiculous excuse.

More importantly, are they seriously not going to question how she speaks such flawless, accentless Japanese?!

Once the formal introductions were out of the way, my mother clapped her hands cheerfully to draw everyone's attention back to her.

— Right! Now that everyone is settled, I can finally announce the surprise! As you know, you're both on school break for the next two weeks. Your father and I managed to get time off work... We're all going to the beach next week!

— Yeah!!! The beach!! Chiaki squealed, practically leaping out of her chair, instantly forgetting all about her anger and her failed blackmail attempt.

Despite the surrounding chaos, a wave of immense relief washed over me. The beach... Finally! I was going to be able to breathe, enjoy the summer, and completely forget about high school stress.

— Ah, Erisvelle, we are truly sorry for this unexpected timing.

my father spoke up apologetically. "You've only just arrived, and we had already planned this trip..."

— Please, do not apologize, Mr. Kenji,

she replied, locking her mysterious gaze dead onto mine.

The meal ended in a surprisingly warm atmosphere, punctuated by Chiaki's joyful shouting as she already planned out her sandcastles, and my mother babbling about sunscreen.

 Once the bowls were cleared, everyone headed to their respective rooms, finally allowing Erisvelle and me to go upstairs alone.

The second my bedroom door was shut and locked twice, I whipped around to face her, arms crossed and brows furrowed.

— Alright. Now, you're going to explain, I demanded in a voice that left no room for arguments.

Erisvelle delicately removed her black beret, letting her light hair cascade over her shoulders, and shot me a look of almost insulting innocence.

— Explain what, human ? My entrance was most distinguished, was it not? Your progenitors are entirely charmed.

— Don't play dumb with me! Where on earth did you get those clothes?! You didn't have a single cent on you when you crash-landed in my bushes!

She let out a faint, mischievous chuckle, lightly swinging her small handbag from the tips of her lace-gloved fingers.

"Oh, it was quite simple. While walking down an alleyway, I spotted a peculiar individual. Their face possessed a rather bright... artificial glow, truth be told. They were wearing this attire. As it suited me beautifully, I politely borrowed it. They did not even protest."

I slapped a hand over my face, letting out a massive sigh of sheer discouragement. Borrowed? 

Knowing her royal temperament, she had probably mugged them with an aura so overwhelmingly terrifying that the poor victim hadn't dared to utter a word.

But that detail about the "artificial glow" left me with a strange, uneasy feeling. Who could possibly be wandering around the neighborhood looking like that?

Too exhausted to try and untangle the mysteries of the world tonight, I shook my head. 

— Whatever... We'll figure it out tomorrow. Right now, we sleep.

I grabbed a long, rectangular body pillow from my shelf and tossed it squarely down the middle of my mattress, slicing the space in half.

— Here's the line, I declared firmly. 

"You do not cross over to this side of the bed, got it? If you cross the border, I'm throwing you out."

Erisvelle inspected the pillow, then looked up at me with a faint, enigmatic, almost mocking smile. She didn't even protest. Instead, she laid down gracefully on her side of the bed, smoothing out her black dress.

— Very well, Tetsuya. I shall abide by your rules... for tonight.

I laid down on my side, turning my back to her. Despite my exhaustion, my eyes stayed open for a while, staring at the wall. I thought back to the beach trip next week. Finally, I’d get to enjoy a bit of summer.

With my heart feeling 

a little lighter, I finally closed my eyes and drifted off.

But my sleep was soon interrupted by a nagging doubt. 

It was strange how easily she had followed my orders. And besides... we had just met today. Should I really be trusting a being who literally crawled out of a strange book…?

A.N: ============================================================

📢 WELCOME TO THE DECISION ZONE ! 📢

And that is how Chapter 2 ends! With a little bit of doubt.

You have again exactly 48 HOURS from the publication of this chapter 

to cast your vote in the comments below! ⏱️🔥

Here are your options for Chapter 3:

👉 [CHOICE A]: The Doubt Route 🌙

Tetsuya decides to stay awake and pretend to be asleep.

If Erisvelle is hiding something…

Tonight, he’ll find out.

But sometimes, the truth is far worse than suspicion.

👉 [CHOICE B]: The Trust Route ✨

Instead of staying suspicious, Tetsuya decides to trust Erisvelle.

Before sleeping, he asks her one honest question.

An question that you, reader's will choose. 

See you soon .

Geez. I am so tired T-T