Bonus Short Stories

Three Sisters

~A bit before Chelsea became a Research Fellow~

“Lady Chelsea, we’ve received your pay from the Royal Research Institute,” Gina said.

My jaw dropped. Now that I think about it, Lord Tris told me I’d be getting paid when I first came here...

“Would you like to go shopping?”

“Um... I’ve never gone shopping before.”

Back at the Eucharis manor, I’d never been allowed to step off of the grounds, much less go shopping. Hearing my response, both Gina and Martha looked upset.

“Well then, let’s go shopping soon. We’ll teach you all we can about how to use money and how things are priced.”

With that, it was decided that all three of us would go on my next day off. Since it was my first time, I asked Lord Glen during one of our mana pool tea parties for advice on if there was anything I had to look out for.

“You’ll probably have some knights going with you as guards, but...maybe you should wear a disguise.”

“A disguise? Why?”

“If you went out as a noble lady with maids and knights, it’d be easier for you to get caught up in some crime,” he explained, forcing a smile. “You should have your maids disguise themselves, too.”

I was shocked since I’d never considered that. With a nod, I replied, “Alright. Thank you.”

When I told Gina and Martha about Lord Glen’s advice, we ended up discussing possible disguises.

“Let’s come up with a story, first,” said Gina excitedly, far from her usual serious demeanor.

“Lady Chelsea could be the daughter of a merchant, with us as her maids...”

“That’s too close to reality. It wouldn’t be much of a disguise, then.” Gina immediately struck down Martha’s idea. “We’ve been told to dress up as well, so let’s think of another story.”

After a bit more back and forth, Martha suddenly had a flash of inspiration, “How about we go as three sisters?”

“...With me as the eldest, you as the middle, Marth, and Lady Chelsea as the far younger sister?”

“We could be the daughters of some merchant, showing our little sister how to shop!”

Both of them looked at each other and nodded in agreement. If they were my older sisters...

“I’ll call you Sister Gina and Sister Martha while we shop, then.” The moment I said that, they each held their hands together, touched. Did I say something strange?

After that, we acted the part of sisters and safely finished our first shopping trip. I was able to learn a fair bit about how to use money and the prices of things.

Once we returned to the lodging house, I changed into my usual dress while Gina and Martha put their maid uniforms back on. Up until that moment we’d been sisters, but now they were my maids again... A wave of loneliness came over me.

“I wish you two really were my older sisters...” I said, mumbling something I’d never usually say out loud.

They both gave me big smiles.

“I’m happy you think that way!”

“So am I...!”

Neither of them got cross or exasperated. Maybe they had fun becoming sisters, too?

“If we go shopping together again, could you be my sisters again?” I asked, thinking that, and they looked even happier, replying in unison. I wasn’t sure if I’d be allowed to go another time, but if, just if, I could go...

“Of course!” they replied in unison.

Thank You for Taking Care of Me

“Gina and Martha have been taking care of me ever since I came to the Royal Research Institute. I want to thank them. What do you think I should do?” I asked Lord Glen on the way back to my room from the Institute.

After pausing for a moment, he gave me his usual gentle smile. “I think they’d be happy if you just said thank you, but you want to show your appreciation in a way you can see, don’t you?”

“Yes!”

“Then why don’t you give them some kind of present?” he suggested, giving me an impish smile before taking me into town.

Our destination was a general store in the capital’s noble’s quarter. I’d come here with Gina and Martha before. It sold lots of things like accessories, cases, music boxes, stationery, and embroidery supplies.

“Because of their jobs, maids don’t usually wear accessories.”

Now that I thought of it, neither of them ever wore necklaces, bracelets, or even rings. Maybe it was because they’d get in the way of their duties.

“I see. Then what should I give them...?”

Lord Glen smiled his gentle smile as I wondered. “They might like something like these, that won’t get in the way, and that they can use,” he said, pointing. The things he pointed out were all different: some with patterns, others in the shape of flowers, or with glass or stones in the middle.

“You’re right. These shouldn’t get in their way!”

I picked out a couple that had some precious stones that were nearly the color of my hair.

“I hope they like them...” I worried as they were being wrapped for me, and Lord Glen patted me on the head.

We returned to the lodging house afterwards with the gifts.

“I’m back.”

When I stepped in, Martha and Gina greeted me worriedly.

“We were getting worried because you were late,” said Martha, looking to Lord Glen, who was standing diagonally behind me.

Oh no, are they suspecting him of something...?! I quickly held out the wrapped presents, explaining, “I actually had Lord Glen take me out shopping. I wanted to thank you both for all you do... Please, take them.”

Though they were confused, they took the packages and opened them.

“These are...decorative buttons?”

“And the stones are the same color as your hair, Lady Chelsea!”

They seemed much more surprised than happy as they stared at them, unmoving. When I started to get worried, Lord Glenn patted me on the head.

“Giving your personal maids or attendants things that are the same color as your hair is a sign of trust.”

I’d given them without knowing that, but they did have my trust. I didn’t make a mistake in my item choices, but they might not have liked them... Just as I was starting to get sad, both of the maids gave me brilliant smiles.

“I’m so happy I can barely speak. Thank you so much for this wonderful button, Lady Chelsea!”

“I’m shocked that you would show that you trust us so definitely! I’m thrilled! Thank you very much!”

Both Gina and Martha are so happy! I’m glad I gave them presents!

Blueberry

At the same time I became a Research Fellow, I was given my own garden in the citadel. It was near the royal residences, within the barrier that kept anyone but royalty and those with permission from entering. Gardeners would take care of the plants every day, but I would have to decide what to grow there. They told me I could pick whatever plants I wanted, but since I got the garden because of my Skill to make any seed, I’d prefer to plant something I created.

What should I plant? When in doubt, ask Lord Glen for advice!

And so, I asked during one of our mana pool-growing tea parties.

“His Majesty suddenly decided to give you your own garden, so he probably wants to see some plants he wouldn’t usually come across,” he said, putting a hand to his chin as he thought. “Since we’re already used to seeing beautiful flowers, why not go with fruit? You could add some traits like making them bigger or sweeter than normal when you make the seeds.”

“That’s a good idea. We could eat them as is, or make them into jam.”

Using what Lord Glen and I had thought of and discussing things with the gardeners, I decided on growing blueberries.

“I’ll make seeds for blueberries that are sweeter and one or two times bigger than normal berries — [Seed Creation],” I cast in front of the gardeners before tossing the seeds over the tilled garden. A moment later, buds started sprouting up. Their eyes were wide with shock.

“The seeds that Lady Chelsea creates are quite amazing...” one of them commented.

Another muttered, “I didn’t expect for them to go to bud immediately...”

“Thank you for taking care of them until they produce fruit,” I said. Since it would be the gardeners’ job to care for the plants, I left it to them and headed back to the lodging house.

A month later, the blueberries had grown, so I went to the garden with Lord Glen to see.

The gardener explained nervously, “It takes one to two years to get any fruit from a bush normally, and not many either, but...”

Lord Glen and I were just entranced by the berries before our eyes.

“They’re all pretty big...”

“...And there are a lot of them.”

The blueberries themselves were as large as the circle you’d make with your index finger and thumb and grew in clusters.

“Let’s try eating some.”

“Alright.”

We took one blueberry each and popped them into our mouths. The distinct blueberry flavor, sweetness with a bit of sourness, spread through our mouths. They’re much yummier than I imagined they’d be!

“This is amazing... I didn’t think they’d be this good,” said Lord Glen, a look of surprise on his face.

“If they’re this good, I want everyone to try them.”

“You’re right... Let’s do that,” he agreed, giving me his usual gentle smile.

And at my suggestion, we had everyone eat the big blueberries, His and Her Majesty included. I was shocked to later receive a personal message from the Queen telling me that she thought they were delicious and wanted to eat them again.

If they make people this happy, I want to grow more delicious fruit sometime...

Tris’s Smile

~A while after Chelsea became a Research Fellow~

Marx, the second son of Margrave Sargent, and Deputy Commander of the Second Order of Knights, had gone to speak to Tris.

“Lord Tris... I have something I’d like to ask you,” said Marx, giving the other man his trademark knightly grin.

Since he couldn’t recall doing anything wrong, Tris looked at him blankly. “Yes?”

“How do you feel about my little sister Chelsea?”

Tris blinked in confusion. “Are you investigating something, or...?”

“No. I just thought I should check, as her older brother.”

“I think of Miss Chelsea like a little sister,” replied Tris, scratching his face.

Marx’s face darkened. If Chelsea had another brother-like acquaintance, would that mean she wouldn’t rely on him...?

Tris didn’t notice this change at all, instead continuing to explain as he looked off into the distance, “When Miss Chelsea first came to the Institute, her hair was cut to all sorts of different lengths, and she was skin and bones. I thought she might break if she was touched.”

Marx scowled. “Hair is part of her body. It’s unforgivable for them to cut her hair like that...”

Tris smiled at Marx’s muttering. “That’s why I decided to smile.”

Not understanding what the researcher was getting at, Marx tilted his head, confused.

“Miss Chelsea was always terrified that someone would be cross with her. I figured that she must’ve always been surrounded by angry people. I thought that if I smiled and told her through my actions that I was different from them, she might stop being so scared.”

“I see.”

“I dunno if my smiling made any difference, but she did stop being so scared all the time. She even started smiling a bit!” Tris clenched his fists as he spoke. “I was so moved when I first saw her smile! I was just as happy as I had been when my niece first walked!”

Marx looked confused again. “And that’s why you think of her like a sister?”

“Yep. She’s gonna end up trying a lot of things. She might fail at some, but she’ll also have some successes! And I’ll be moved every single time...!” Tris shook his fists, smiling happily.

That’s when Marx thought, Isn’t that more like a daughter than a sister? But he didn’t say it. Whichever it was, it wouldn’t change the fact that he treasured her.

“I see. I understand your feelings completely. I hope you’ll continue to be her friend and fellow researcher.”

“Of course!”

Both of the men smiled, shaking hands.