"Rosaria, bring out the blue dress! Anne, bring me the blue diamond necklace! Maria-chan, bring me the earrings! The rest of you, come help me with her hair!"

""Yes, my mistress!!""

T-T-This is madness!!!! W-Why is my room like a battlefield?!?!?!

The first batch of the dresses my mom ordered for me had just arrived this morning, and now, mom is shouting orders to her personal maid, my personal maids, and all the other available housekeepers to get me change and try out various dresses as well as styling my hair and choosing accessories that would fit the dress.

I understand that this is very important. The Kingdom's Founding Festival is one of the most important events in our kingdom. Yes, I understand it very well...

But I'm seriously still not used to this! I've never done this kind of thing in my past life!!! I just wear a generic t-shirt and pants in my house, and a better looking shirt and long pants when I go out. My hair is never long, and I don't really care for accessories. So this is just plain torture!

THIS IS THE SIXTH DRESS I TRIED OUT TODAY!!! AND IT'S STILL NOT LUNCH YET!!!!

We've been at it since the moment we finished breakfast! I've been dressed up, had my hairstyle changed, and had accessories put on around my neck, wrists, ankles, and ears!

Every set felt like forever. But that's not even the end. After that, I had to pose like how my mom or our maids requested!

How could any girl withstand this?!?!?!

"Kyaaa~ You look even cuter in this~! How is that possible~!!!!!"

"Alterisa-sama~! You're so beautiful~!!"

"My lady... You're a Goddess..."

"Uhn! My lady, please tilt your head 30 degrees to the left!!"

"Good idea, Maria-chan!!! Go on, honey! Let mommy and everyone see how cute you are!!!"

U-Uuughhhh.... H-Help... M-My neck's cramping...

I-I've been doing this for so long, and my mother and everyone who had been helping me change, style my hair, and put on my accessories must be even more tired.

BUT WHY IS EVERYONE SO FULL OF ENERGY!!!! ESPECIALLY MOM! SHE'S SHINING SO BRIGHTLY! SHE BECAME EVEN MORE ENERGETIC AS WE GO!!

I wanted to stop, or at least rest... But, we still had a lot of dresses to go through, and I can't betray those sparkling eyes filled with happiness, joy, anticipation, and excitement!

Kuh... Curse my heart of a prince that couldn't betray the expectations of beautiful ladies...

"Woooooowwww~!!! Nee-cha~!!! You're so pretty~!!!!"

"Kyuuu~!

Ah... T-Thank you, Kiara... You're so sweet... Fubuki as well... You two look so comfortable on the bed...

But, I can't give up now! With my little sister here, I need to set an example of a perfect noble lady. Yes... I shall go through this path of thorns for my beloved family...

I looked at mom who was excitedly discussing which dress I should try next with her maid, Anne, and the others. She was smiling so brightly that I couldn't help but smile as well.

Dad hasn't been able to spend time with her as much since the preparations for the Kingdom's Founding Festival began to ramp up. Sometimes, he'd even had to stay the night in the castle from the sheer amount of things he needed to oversee and manage as the prime minister.

It really reminded me of the way he was in the game, especially after mom passed away. He'd bury himself in so much work to numb the pain in his heart from losing his other half, and just let Alterisa use however much money she wanted to fill the hole in her heart the absence of her parents left.

Now thought, he was suffering from a different kind of pain.

He would miss us so much that the moment he returned home, he would immediately hug mom, Lu-nii, Kiara, and I so tightly and spend the entire night with us until we went to sleep.

Then, he would bring mom back to their room and... try their best to give us another sibling all night.

Even though he must be very tired from the work, he was still able to do that kind of thing because of his enormous amount of mana that is constantly strengthening his body and rejuvenating him. Instead of being exhausted from the little sleep he got that night, he looked extremely refreshed in the morning.

He was even flirting with mom as we all sent him away for work again...

Perhaps because of that meaningful time they spent together, mom was also handling his absence better than expected. That and maybe... because she had been busying herself dressing me and Kiara up every day...

Her enormous amount of mana and passion makes her tireless that even I couldn't help but get swept by her vigor, even though I technically had even more mana than her...

Hah... I feel so exhausted... My body had been so tense from sitting around too long while they styled my hair, t-posing when they dressed me up, and posing for them afterwards...

"Alright~! Let's try this one next~!!!"

"Alterisa-sama~ Please stand up~"

"My lady."

AAHHHH!!! PLEASE LET ME REST!!!!

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

It was now afternoon, just a few hours before dinner.

The fiesta of dressing up has finally ended after I tried out all 10 dresses... and out of those 10 dresses, only 2 were chosen by mom, Anne, and the others as contenders to be the dress I'll wear during the announcement of my engagement.

The other batch of dresses will come soon, so we'll be doing all of this all over again in a week.

Then, after we've chosen a few from those, we'll finally choose the dress I'll be wearing...

J-Just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine...

"Hmm Hm Hmm~ Hm Hmm Hmmm~"

I was laying my head down on the table, exhausted. I turned my head to the side and watched Anne pouring a cup of tea with a bright smile on her face as she hummed happily...

She sure is very energetic... I can't understand how she is not tired.

Anne, Mom, and all the housekeepers have been running around bringing various accessories from mom's room to my room back and forth and then helping me wear my dress, put on my accessories, and style my hair. They must've been even more exhausted than I am since they had to keep up with mom who has an enormous amount of mana and stamina.

But, not only were they not tired, they're all still super excited! Why?!

"Anne... How can you not be tired... You've been helping me dress up since morning..."

"Oh my~ Please don't underestimate your maid's stamina, my lady. And seeing you in such beautiful dresses was enough to help me regain my vigor! You were shining so beautifully my lady~ I can't wait for the Kingdom's Founding Festival~"

Ugh! B-Being praised like that so directly makes me a bit embarrassed...

"Uuuuuhh... T-Thank you."

"Hehehe~ My lady has always been very graceful outside, but as expected, seeing you embarrassed is a sight I wouldn't want to share with others. You're just so cute~"

"A-Anne!! T-That's-! D-Don't tease me!! Geez!"

"Hehehe~ Alright~ Here is your tea, my lady~"

U-Uuuuhhh... Recently whenever we're alone, Anne would always tease me like this... I-I feel happy since we're becoming as close as sisters, but she's teasing me so much!

Anne knows all my weaknesses so I can't defend against her at all!!

The only way I can defend against her is if Maria-chan is here! Anne wants to act as my perfect personal maid in front of her to set an example, so she wouldn't tease me while she's here.

But now, she's out grabbing some snacks for me from the kitchen!

I pout my lips as I watch her place the cup of tea near me. And as she was about to move away, I clutched onto her maid's dress and hugged her.

"My lady?"

"...I'm tired. Let me hug you."

I closed my eyes and nuzzled my face to her flat stomach. Her familiar fragrance filled my lungs, and her warmth makes me feel so safe and happy...

Anne... My big sister I love so much...

I felt one of her hands patting my head ever so gently and the other hugging me back, making me melt even more.

"What's wrong, my lady?"

"...You'll always be with me, right? Even when Maria-chan becomes my full-fledged personal maid?"

"Of course. As long as you wish for me to be by your side, I will."

"...Even when I go to the academy?"

"Yes. I've actually made my request to the mistress to accompany you to the academy along with Maria."

"Really?! Thank you, Anne!!! I love you so much~!!!"

"Hehe~ I love you as well, Risa-sama. I will do my best to make sure you won't cause much trouble during your time in the academy."

"G-Geez! If you say it like that, then I'd look like I always cause trouble!"

"Oh my~ It seems my little lady doesn't have that much self awareness~"

"I-I have self awareness!"

"Hehehe~ Then I shall leave it at that~"

"Hmph! Anne, you bully!"

I hugged her tighter and pouted, only making her giggle more and hugged me even tighter in return.

"It is my special privilege as your personal maid, after all."

"I never heard of such a thing..."

"It's special, after all. Only for my lady."

"...I'll allow it. Only because I consider you my beloved big sister."

"Thank you very much."

The both of us stayed like that for a while.

Soon, I sensed Maria-chan coming, but I didn't let her know and didn't let her go either. Then, a knock resounded from my door.

"Alterisa-sama~ I've brought some confectionaries for you~ May I come in~?"

"Ah! M-My lady, please let me go! Maria is here~"

Anne began to panic a bit. But, instead of letting her go, I grinned and tightened my hug.

"R-Risa-sama-! Please-"

"You may come in, Maria-chan~!"

"Wha-"

"Thank you very much. Please excuse me... Wha-?!"

Maria-chan froze in place with her eyes wide opened, looking at me and Anne hugging each other.

"A-A-Alterisa-sama and A-Anne-san are..."

"M-Maria! P-Please don't misunderstand! This is-"

"How unfair! I want to hug Alterisa-sama as well!"

"Wha-?!"

Maria-chan immediately pushed the trolley of confectionaries inside and then immediately ran into both of us with a huge hug.

"M-Maria! How could you run in front of my lady! Also, please let go of me!"

"Eeehh~? But Anne-san is also hugging Alterisa-sama~"

"Hehehe~ Don't be embarrassed, Anne~ I know you love this~"

"G-Geez!!! The two of you, please stop!!!"

Ufufufu~ An embarrassed Anne~ How refreshing~!!!









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