AN: I wish you all Happy Chinese New Year for all who celebrate and happy valentines~!! Though we may be in these unfortunate circumstances, I hope you all have a great holiday and weekend!!!!









[Alterisa's POV]

After I finally finished greeting most of the guests, I went off to explore what father has prepared for me at this party. Of course, I told Lu-nii in advance about it and told him to prepare for the plan.

Hm? Did he give me permission?

I-I left right after I excused myself so... Tehe~

Fufufu~ I can't wait to see the look on dad, mom, the capture targets, and the villainess's expressions!

I'm not the Alterisa you once knew!!! Muahahahahaha!!

Wait... I guess they didn't know what the game's Alterisa is like...

...

F-Forget about that please!

O-Oh look, there's a large table full of pastries and desserts!

I walked there briskly and completely forgot my promise with Alex.

Well, there'd be more chances for us to hang out once we got engaged so it's fine~ He's going to be with Lu-nii after all~

Anyway, these pastries are really delicious!

The croissants are very flaky and soft on the inside with the perfect amount of saltiness and sweetness! While this chocolate cake just melts in your mouth!

Ahh~~ Please don't remind me of the calories in these things! I can just have Lu-nii accompany me with my physical and magical training regiment longer~~

Let me savor this moment! Ah~ Complete bliss~~

"It is nice to meet you, Alterisa von Lorya-sama. My name is Keith von Varion, son of Duke Charles and Duchess Liana. It is a pleasure to meet such angelic and sweet maiden such as yourself."

...

Who dares interrupt my feast?

Oh, it's just Keith. Meh...

...

Wait, it's Keith! It's one of the capture targets! W-Why is he here?! Wasn't he supposed to be flirting with other girls and the villainess of his route?!

Why's he here with me now?!

...Wait, the reason he didn't flirt with Alterisa was because of the nefarious, but still true, rumors that the young lady of the Lorya household is a spoiled unbearable child. There's no such rumor now, so is that the reason why he went to flirt with me?

Hah... This is kind of a pain... And is this the best you can do? You're just recycling the lines you said to other girls. You're not even trying and thinking to make it special. Bowing and winking while saying those lines might work for other ladies, but I'm not that easy you know?

It seems I need to teach this kid a lesson in how to make a maiden's heart flutter as the "Prince" of the drama club just as I planned! Ufufufu~

I curtsied and smiled at him with my best smile.

"Ara, thank you very much for the kind compliment, Keith-sama. I am flattered to have the renowned son of Duke Charles approach me."

"You are too humble, Alterisa-sama. I have heard about your achievements in creating revolutionary formats of administration. However, in my opinion, those achievements still pale in comparison to your beauty. Even the rumors did not do you justice."

Hah... Now he's just showering me with compliments and obviously trying to get somewhere. That's not how it's done!

Well, I guess the noble ladies who lived their lives secluded in the mansion and unfamiliar with romance would get a nosebleed at this point.

"Thank you very much. I'm very flattered, Sir Keith. Oh, have you tried this chocolate cake? It was an idea I suggested to our house's chefs and I would like your opinion on it."

"A-Alterisa-sama, you are the one who created this dessert?"

"Oh yes. Was it too much of a surprise?"

Lu-nii and I have been suggesting one thing after another to our house's chefs. They'd get so excited whenever we'd go to the kitchen since all our suggestions ended up becoming the favorite of every single person in the mansion. Even Alex, not to mention Lily, loved it very much.

Well, we started it because we missed the foods in our previous world, but who knew it'd turn out so delicious? Our house's chefs are very skilled as expected~

The kid looked at the Chocolate cake nervously and took a bite out of it from his fork.

"Ummm!!"

Ah, his eyes started sparkling and a blissful smile appeared on his face! Ufufufu~ Chocolate cake is delicious isn't it!

"A-Alterisa-sama, this is so delicious! Chocolate cake... It's the best thing I've ever eaten! It's sweet yet the slight bitterness balanced it so delightfully!"

"Ufufufu~ I'm glad. Although I agree that the chocolate cake is very sweet, it is still not as sweet as your genuine smile right now. Compared to the first smile you showed me, I prefer this smile of yours far more."

Boom! Get served!

Pfft! See! Look at him! He's so red! He became as red as his hair!!!

Muahahaha! It seems that the biggest flirt of "Lovely Happenings" isn't a match for the drama club's "Prince"!

Well then, I've achieved my purpose. Fare thee well Sir Keith~ Ohohohohoho~~~!!

I excused myself to him and walked away. I don't think he heard me since he's still blushing and didn't react but oh well~

He's going to be fine~ It's just a sweet little jab to his heart from little ol' me to let him know how to say those kinds of lines properly. Take this as a lesson, boy.

Still rejoicing in my victory, I failed to notice a blue haired fairy just tripped and was about to fall backwards when she was coming towards my direction.

Immediately, I caught her in my arms before she fell to the ground and met her cerulean eyes.

"Are you okay, miss fairy?"

I asked worriedly.

Ah, she became red. Ufufufu~ How cute~

...Wait, now that I look at her better. S-She's Evelyn right?! The villainess from Keith's route!

Well, fortunately she was the one I bumped into. Out of the four villainesses in the game, she was one of the calmer ones who didn't bully the heroine. She'd only send occasional glares, speak coldly towards her, or raise her voice when the heroine is flirting with her fiance, rightfully so.

Although not as much as completely dodging the bullet, I'm glad I met her. She's such a cute, kind, and mature girl. Even in the game, she's the best "calm and motherly Onee-sama" type character judged by the community!

Ah even right now, I can already see how the calm and motherly onee-sama came to be~

Oh no, I've been staring at her for too long!

She seemed to be fidgeting and trying to avert her gaze from me.

I-Is she hurt?!

"Do you feel pain anywhere? It wouldn't be good to have a lovely lady such as yourself to suffer from an injury."

It wouldn't do for a lady, especially the "beautiful onee-sama" type, to get hurt! As a self-proclaimed president of the "Ara-ara Onee-san and Okaa-san Faction", I shan't let it happen!

Eh? Is it just my imagination or did a puff of smoke just blow up from her head? Her face became even redder too!

Oh, I get it! It must be embarrassing to still be laying in my arms! We are still in a princess carry position after all.

I lift her up to her feet then curtsy.

"Forgive me for my actions. Although I was just trying to help you, it ended up being prolonged because I was captivated by your beauty."

Oops, I forgot to turn off my "Prince" persona.

"A-Ah no no! It is fine! Thank you very much for saving me! In fact, I would like to be held by you longer..."

Hm? What was that? I couldn't hear her since she mumbled half way through her sentence.

Ah, but her blushing face is so cute~ I want to be her friend no matter what!

"My name is Alterisa von Lorya. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"I-I am Evelyn von Silium, it is my pleasure to meet you as well!"

"Hehehe~"

She's so cute~

"I-Is something the matter, Alterisa-sama?"

"Oh it is nothing. And please call me Risa, Evelyn-sama."

"C-Can I really?! T-Then please call me Eve as well, R-Risa-sama! T-That's what my parents call me... I-If you are okay with it..."

"Yes!"

Ah~ calling my name while stuttering with a blushing face is foul play Eve~~~

"R-Risa-sama, I'd like to thank you once more for preventing my fall. I-Is there something I can do to repay you?"

"Repay me?"

I just helped her a little though. Hm... And her eyes tell me she wouldn't back down from this any time soon...

Aha!

"Then, will you be my friend?"

"...E-Eh?!"

"Although it is a bit embarrassing, it seems other ladies are avoiding me so I don't have any friends my age."

It's true you know? Alexus is a year above me, and Lily is about one or two years younger so I don't have any same age friends. And for some reason, other girls would only stare at me from afar.

They don't seem mad but... are they shy because I'm the daughter of a duke?

"So, will you please be my friend?"

Tears started flowing down her eyes as she covered her mouth elegantly with both hands.

E-Eh?! W-W-Why is she crying?! Noooo! She didn't want to be my friend that badly?!

"A-Ah, I'm sorry for asking for such thi-"

"Yes."

Eh?

She wiped her eyes with her lithe fingers and looked at me with a happy smile.

"I-If you are okay with me. I-I would like to be your friend as well!"

YEEEEEESSSSS!!!! FUTURE "Ara-ara~" ONEE-SAN GEEEEEEET!

Ah~ I'm so happy!!

"Thank you very much for being my friend, Eve!"

"Yes! Thank you very much for being my friend too, Risa-sama!"

We then went back to the dessert section since I want to show off my creations to her.

Of course she was very surprised when she found out that the ideas came from me. Ehehehe~ I feel a bit embarrassed when she compliments me so much. Though it feels good.

What? Of course it feels good. Especially if I get complimented by such a cute girl~

Though someone interrupted my fun girls' time with my new best friend. And yes, she's already my best friend now even though I just met her a few minutes ago. Got a problem~?

"Ah, there you are, Alterisa."

"Ara, Lu-niisama? Is there something you need from me? Ah but first, please let me introduce you to my new friend. This is Evelyn von Sillium-sama, the daughter of Duke Sillium."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lucas-sama. I am very honored to have been allowed to be friends with such a wonderful lady like Alterisa-sama."

No~ If you say that with that cute smile and blush, I'll love you even more~ Or is that what you're aiming for? Oh, you little cutie~

"Ah, another one... And with Keith, that's four..."

Hm? Did Lu-nii just mumble something? I think I heard the name "Keith"... Did Lu-nii meet him already?

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Evelyn-sama. I'm very happy that you have taken a liking to my little sister. Although she's a bit... unique, I hope the two of you will get along."

Hey, what did you mean by unique!

"Ufufufu~ It would be my pleasure, Lucas-sama."

Eh?! Eve?!

"So Lu-niisama? Is there something you need from me?"

"What do you mean? You suddenly ran off by yourself! Hah... Anyway, father is calling you to the drinks corner. He wants to introduce you to the Royal Guard Commander and his children."

I-I-It's here! !

NOIR HAS APPEEEEEEEEARED! Oh, and Luke. But mainly NOOOOIIIIRRRRR!!!

"I understand, Lu-niisama."

"Ah, and one more. Prince Alexus is looking for you."

"Oh my, his highness? I believe it will be fine, Lu-niisama~ We'll meet eventually so I would like to enjoy the party our parents have prepared so grandly my own way. Also, if his highness is always by my side, who knows how many envious glares I will receive from the many noble ladies here. I also won't be able to make friends like what I'm doing now right?"

Seriously though. I've already been avoided enough. If Alex is with me, forget about making friends, I'll be making enemies instead!

Especially since there's a lot of girls surrounding him! He's the first prince who hasn't gotten engaged. In addition to his looks, character, and brains, of course he'll attract girls like moths to fire.

I don't want to make more enemies, so good luck Alex~

"Well if what you mean by making friends is making them fall in love with you and increasing his rivals then yes, he'll chase everyone away..."

...Lu-nii seems to be mumbling so much recently. It's not a good habit to mumble and sigh you know? People will think you're weird.

Ah, but Eve seemed to hear it. But why did she become red?!

"Hah, just come meet father. Don't be too long okay? Well then Evelyn-sama, I shall excuse myself."

"Yes, Lu-niisama."

"A-Ah, yes. Good evening, Lucas-sama."

We both curtsied to him and I turned to Evelyn.

"I'm sorry, Eve. It seems that I must go."

"It's fine, Risa-sama."

Ah... Now she looks sad... I'm sad too...

Oh wait!

"I still wish to talk to you so... Would it be fine if I ask you to visit my mansion or be invited to yours?"

"E-Eh?! Truly?! O-Of course! I would love to visit you!"

Yay!!!

"Really? Thank you very much! Then please come at your convenience! No matter what lesson I have, I'll complete it quickly so we can spend time together!"

"I-Is that really okay?! Thank you very much, Risa-sama!"

Yes! For that smile, I'll do anything! For the sake of the future "Ara-ara onee-sama's" smile, I'll finish those lessons in a jiffy! It's not like they're hard anyways~

And maybe... Maybe I will get the chance to hear the legendary "Ara-ara~" from Evelyn herself!!!

"Then I shall go now. See you, Evelyn!"

"Yes! Farewell, Risa-sama!"

I waved to Evelyn and started walking towards where my father was.

Ufufufu~ I've made such an awesome friend.

Oh and don't you worry Noir, I'll make a friend out of you as well~ Just you wait! I'll have you call me "Nee-sama" or "Risa-neechan" just like Kiara in no time!!!