AN: Hope you guys enjoy Alterisa growing her harem again~~







Right after we arrived, we were welcomed by the Silium household's servants and were led inside to the backyard where the tea party will be held.

I walked hand in hand with mom, and soon, we could start hearing music coming from the backyard.

Ah... It's one of the background songs in "Lovely Happening".

I looked around as we walked through the hallway.

There were paintings hung on the walls, large decorative vases with beautiful flowers in them, and beautiful multi-colored chandeliers hanging down from the tall ceiling. Hm... their tastes are truly very similar.

Honestly... Even the atmosphere is very similar to our mansion.

Soon, we arrived before an enormous glass door. We can see many noble ladies dressed in beautiful dresses of various colors and styles and their daughters, pleasantly talking with each other.

Ah, I almost forgot about this. Though they're all saying "Ara-ara~", "Ufufufu~", or various praises, this atmosphere... It's far from being relaxing.It's so stiff and formal. I can even feel it from behind this glass door.

Well, it can't be helped... They're the few who have been invited to Duchess Silium's tea party. There's no way they could relax and risk making a fool of themselves in this kind of setting. I rarely thought of it since it's so natural seeing mom act like this, but there's only very few charismatic noble ladies who could act perfectly while still exuding a comfortable and relaxing aura.

Mom never exudes an aura that would make people feel uncomfortable, but, her bearings are still very dignified, elegant, and graceful. She's someone who elicits awe and respect from all; the epitome of a noble lady.

Umu, I still have much to learn. I need to improve my etiquette and become the perfect noble lady like mom. I've been using the "prince" persona all this time, but I won't be able to use it when I grow up. I need to start improving my "perfect noble lady" persona from now.

"Are you ready, dear~?"

"Yes, mom."

Mom smiled at me, her hand still holding onto mine. Ah~ I feel less nervous now.

Then, when she looked forward, her expression and the air around her immediately changed.

There it was. This was the air of a perfect noble lady. She immediately turned from a loving mother into a graceful, elegant, and dignified woman of high nobility.

Even the servants who have been following us noticed her change and straightened themselves even more.

With a single graceful wave of her hand, the servants opened the glass door, allowing us entry to the backyard.

The moment we stepped onto the grassy lawn, all eyes immediately fell onto us.

All of them looked at us with widened eyes, and then started whispering and shrieking with a look of amazement.

W-What? W-Why are they like this? Do I look weird?

"Ufufufu~ Don't worry, Risa-chan. They're just shocked from how cute you are~"

"I-Is that so...?"

No no no, rather than me, they should be reacting like this because of mom, right? After all, mom rarely goes to tea parties. In fact, this would be the first one she had ever participated in years!

Mm, that makes sense. The beautiful Duchess Lorya's first tea party in years. No wonder there's this much commotion.

Sasuga Mama~!!!

(Sasuga = As expected. Can't help it XD!)

Alright! I'm not that nervous anymore!

Since all their attention is focused on mom, I'll just act like I always do in a formal setting!

We walked forward, all eyes still focused on us.

Mom smiled gracefully and met eyes with the ladies she knew. I also smiled and slightly bowed my head towards them as well as their daughters.

Ara~ So many cute little girls~

Oh, there's a timid cute girl! Ah, there's an elegant cute girl and a quiet cute girl there!

Ohoho~! A twin-tailed blonde "ojou-sama" type cute girl as well! Guhehehe~ Now now~ There's no need to scowl~ Ah, but she looks so cute with that scowl too~

Ufufufu~ Could she be... a tsundere~?

Guhehe... Guhehehe... Guhehehehehe~~!!

A secret garden where no man has touched and only beautiful noble ladies and young, innocent, cute little ladies gather.

Aaaaahhh~!!! Is this paradise~? This is paradise, right~?

Ah! T-That was bad... I almost smiled like a fool there. That's bad, I need to keep up my calmness, elegance, and composure.

I want to be known as "Onee-sama" by these cute girls!!!

For that, smiling is important! But not any normal smile! You need the "onee-sama" smile!

Fortunately, I have a slightly more mature countenance for my age. Mom and dad's genes really mixed well. So, I just need to smile softly, look at everyone in their eyes kindly, and puff out my still non-existent chest!

I shall be the gentle and reliable onee-sama to these cute little princesses!

"Now then. Are you ready to meet Maria and Evelyn, dear~?"

Maria von Silium, Evelyn's mom and wife of Duke Silium. I've never seen her before, but considering how Evelyn would look in the future, would she also be an "Ara-ara~" mother?

Ufufufu~ I'm so excited~

"Yes!"

"Then, let's head to that crowd over there. I'm sure that's where Maria is."

Ah, now that mom mentioned it, there is a gathering a few distance away from us. There's a lot of noble ladies greeting someone along with their daughters.

"Should we wait, mom? They seemed to still be greeting Maria-sama."

"Ufufufu~ They're just doing pleasantries now, dear. They've long since finished their greetings. I'm sure they won't mind if we enter."

Is that so? Well, no one would say anything if mom, who's a duchess as well as Maria-sama's close friend, were to come and greet her. But these kinds of things are very delicate and sensitive, especially with the noble ladies.

If we just butt in, they won't say anything, but they'd most likely think that we interrupted and ruined their chance to talk with a duchess. I wouldn't want to make enemies out of them since most of the noble ladies invited to this private tea party are all allies and close subordinates to the Silium households. Not only would it cause trouble to us, it might also strain mom's relationship with her best friend and dad's relationship with duke Silium.

"But..."

As expected, I'm worried.

"Ufufufu~ Then shall we wait here for a while? If we stay in her line of sight, she might notice us and come to us instead."

Oh, that might be a good idea! Even though Maria-sama, the host of the party, would be the one to come to us, we can just say we didn't want to interrupt her conversation with the ladies and waited. This way, they won't think that we're arrogantly abusing our status and relationship with Maria-sama. Instead, we will seem considerate and they'd wish to be in a good relationship with the duchess of Lorya as well.

They'd also realize how close Mom and Maria-sama's relationship were if they saw Maria-sama coming to us herself, further strengthening the bonds of the two houses.

Umu. That might be the best course of action in this situation.

"Nn. I think that is better, mom."

"Okay~ Then let's stay here for a while."

We stayed near the crowds, but still a considerable distance away, enough so that the ladies who had all their attention on Maria-sama and Evelyn wouldn't notice.

Unfortunately, I couldn't see both of their figures. I'm not tall enough to look over the shoulders of the ladies surrounding them.

"Ufufufu~ I'm so proud of you, Risa-chan."

"Eh? Why all of a sudden, mom?"

"You realized that it would be rude towards the other noble ladies if we just go there, right? Even though they wouldn't say anything, they would definitely be unhappy with us for interrupting their conversation with Maria. It's a very rare chance to be able to speak with a duchess, after all."

Ah, so that's what she meant.

No, if you realize it, then why did you suggest it in the first place!

"Ufufufu~ I wanted to see how you would act in this situation, Risa-chan. And I was very happy that you didn't agree to what I said immediately~ You properly considered the impact of our action, analyzed its social implications, and properly chose to not rush in and meet your friend. It's very amazing~!"

O-Oh... I guess it would be for a child like me to think like that, huh? Girls my age would probably just be too excited to wait and rush in to meet their friends, ignoring everything around them.

The shy ones wouldn't, but that wouldn't be because they considered the social implications, but because they didn't want to rush into crowds.

"I didn't want to trouble you, mom. And I know if I rush in there, it would be bad for mommy, Maria-sama, and Evelyn."

"Ah~ I really do have a brilliant daughter~!!! Ufufufu~ I can't wait to show you off to all those ladies there and Maria~! I'm sure they'll be shocked~!!!"

"M-Mommy..."

As usual, she buried my entire face into her massive chest whenever she got excited. Many would kill to be in my position. But not now please! W-We're in a public space!

L-Look! Everyone's looking at us now!!!

"Ara~ Lisa-chan~ You came~!"

We both turned towards the melodic "Ara-ara" voice coming from the previous crowd.

"Maria~ It has been a while~! Thank you for inviting us today~"

"I'm so happy you came~! Thank you for coming~!"

Mom and Maria-sama hugged.

Ah... The two pairs of enormous heavenly pillows clashed against each other. I want to be in between that...

No wait! I can't leer at mom's friend no matter how beautiful she is!

Kuh... Her long, flowy sky-blue hair looks so silky! Her downturned eyes also seemed so docile, gentle, yet sexy, especially with that little beauty mole under her left eye! Her body's also very sexy!

Compared to mom who has this charismatic, peerless beauty aura, Maria-sama has a very soft and gentle aura that makes me feel at farm and fuzzy just by looking at her.

Ufufufu~ Will Evelyn grow up just like her as well~? I've only seen her appearance when she was in high school, but perhaps she will resemble her mother more and more a few years after!

I can't wait to be pampered by her~

Speaking of which...

"Alterisa-sama~ Thank you very much for coming~!"

"Evelyn~ Thank you for coming to my debutante and inviting me for this occasion~"

Evelyn hugged me and smiled brightly. Her bright, sky-blue hair shone brilliantly under the sunlight.

"Ufufufu~ I came simply out of obligation at first, but it turned out to be the best decision of my life! Otherwise, I wouldn't have met you, Alterisa-sama~"

"Hehe~ I'm very happy that you came as well~"

I look at Evelyn from top to bottom. She was dressed in a beautiful, sky-blue one-piece dress with frills, giving her a youthful yet also beautiful appearance, just like a fairy. Her hair was let loosed, gracefully flowing down to her waist.

"You look very beautiful today as well, Evelyn."

Umu. She looks absolutely adorable.

Ah, she becomes so red! Hehehehe~ How cute~

"Y-Y-You look absolutely beautiful as well, A-Alterisa-sama..."

Mm? Why are you becoming shy now~? Ufufufu~ There's no need to be shy now, Eve~

Ah, but I also love your shyness~! What a dilemma~

"Risa-chan~ Come and greet mom's best friend, Maria."

"Ara-ara, ufufufu~ What a cute little lady~ My name is Maria von Silium. It is nice to meet you~"

Ah... There it is... The legendary "Ara-ara, ufufufu~"...



AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please comment your thoughts~!