I've been under house arrest for three days, and with all honestly I am going mad. Partly from being indoors constantly, and mainly from my new personal maid, Ameline. You see, Ameline is actively scolding me the moment I decide to do something unladylike by this world's standards, such as working on a spell to make Lumere summon an ice katana.

At first she had been assuming I was painting weird symbols or fairy runes, but I'd taken a while to ask Lumere to make a sample sword she had barged in while I was test swinging it. Granted, I am merely eight so perhaps testing out a sword twice my size may have been seen as quite dangerous.

Even so...'Swords are not for ladies!'

As of the moment Ameline said that the first time, I decided to ignore the non-noble chattering at me. What kind of samurai would listen to a heimin, a civilian, saying they were not allowed to wield a sword?

I am perfectly aware that women here do not wield swords, but rather fans, pens and tea cups... so I take great care in never asking for an actual sword. In fact, I only use my magic for it. I should be praised for my adaptability.

Another problem is that Ameline is annoyingly socially perceptive. She actually went pallid just at our eyes meeting. Of course... I'd just sent a floodwave through our house of a strength that is apparently to be done by a child. It seemed Ameline actually understood her place just then, but since I am not to act that way here I went through a good deal of trouble to seem as friendly as possible, and for the first time tried giving a brilliant smile at her. She actually had the guts to faint... She has been like this ever since she woke up too.

'A lady should not do push-ups!'

A lady was nearly assassinated a couple of weeks ago, so a lady will defend herself.

If not for my seemingly never-ending composure I would have sent her out the room with another tsunami.

Hopefully, if I ignore her heeds to quit practicing self-defense then maybe she'll give up in the end.

---*---

"Ojou-sama really has such beautiful hair." Ameline brushes my hair back gently as she tries to put my hair up, and though she is good at it, she still irritates me. Once she's done, she really does try her best at putting cute accessories in my hair, and bring out any semblance of femininity in me. I'm wearing slacks, a shirt and vest though, so there is absolutely no need for these futile actions.

I cross my legs in irritation. Sitting on chairs just doesn't feel the same as sitting in seiza...

"Ojou-sama, a lady shouldn't cross her legs or cross her arms so seriously," a certain voice sounds from behind me.

"A lady is in her private quarters," I reply back while furrowing my brows. Of course she presses her lips into a pout at me.

"You cannot think like that Ojou-sama, or you will mess up in public."

I stare at her through the mirror and press my lips into a thin smile.

"Who was it that passed out in public, Ameline?"

She purses her lips again.

"How could I not. To see the young Lady of the Celeste family dressed as a boy and catching ladies in her arms. If I do not stop it now you could end up cross dressing."

I already am. Had this been home I would've had her fired, but right now I cannot afford to make more problems for my family. I'll have to endure it.

At my visible irritation with her, Lumere swims closer and gently brushed up against my cheek. A discreet effort to cheer me up... Even Lumere is urging me to be patient with her. I held in my sigh and gave a half smile to Lumere.

Well, since he seems to insist. Lumere was spoiling me too much, it was so gentle too. Such a soothing god can't help but to melt your heart.

---*---

I arrived in the dinner room about the same time as my brother. I'd been getting food in my room for the last three days, so this was the first time he'd seen me in his clothes, so of course he gave a splendidly awkward expression.

You could just see it painted on his face, the utter confusion and discomfort at the sight.

Father entered next, looking as though he hadn't slept for four days...

...Again, I am repenting.

He has probably been trying to deal with the mess I made. On top of wrecking the house I even made a request for him to ask the teacher not to speak of the incident. No matter how you look at it, I've been pushing things too far.

"Lady Adela will be joining you shortly," a soft voice declares.

It's the heroine's mother that speaks up. The reason I'm trying to get the katana spell to work.

You see, in a month she's going to the city because I am whining about a dress, and she ends up being killed by the bandits ravaging the area. Ordinarily just doing nothing would be enough, but the heroine is in the city as well. If the mother finds out her daughter is in town she will run down there. I need to be prepared for any way the story could end the same way.

The door opens while I'm still thinking of the best way to deal with the Heroine's mother. Quite frankly I am impressed that Adela is actually on time today, but I have a feeling it's because she has plans for me.

With a small internal sigh I prepare for what is coming. There is no way mother would let me off easily after the insult I threw at her.

...

Adela entered the room and not a single sound disturbed the silence that she caused with her mere presence... her air was... regal... No, wait, wasn't that a different woman entirely?

I furrow my brows for a moment, but no matter how I look that is indeed Adela.

She just not wearing cakes of make up for once.

Her warm fiery hair was neatly up-done in a modest bun, with just a few strands being loose. It was just enough to frame her now much kinder looking face. Her lips were still painted red, but without the other horrid make up I realized she was probably a rather young mother.

She was wearing a much more subdued deep green dress, and behold, it covered her chest properly. It had black lacing along the edges and hems and white frills by the ends of the sleeves, but other than that it was clean and simple. Not gaudy in the least.

Furthermore, she was fidgeting like a nervous maiden.

...

Who is this... What happened to Adela the cruel and gaudy woman pretending to be a mother?

I quickly look to Eric who was as stunned as I was, and then back to Adela as this weird feeling spreads through my gut.

I quickly step around the dinning table to Eric's side and whisper to the dumbstruck boy, "Hurry up and praise her."

"Eh? Why me? Do it yourself," he whisper back with a hint of displeasure at my order.

I narrowed my eyes at him, about to scold him a bit when father stands up from his chair. Wide eyed.

...

No good. Father has solidified in shock.

I turn my attention back to Eric.

"No matter what I say it will sound sarcastic, and father is in shock. You prefer her like this too don't you?" I whisper back with a bit of snap. I don't know what Adela is doing, but if I can make her stick with that style it would be better for all of us, and economically even for our territory.

Eric gives me a troubled look at those words before he resigns to his destiny. His smile was stiff and awkward, and I could almost see his skin crawl at the thought of what he was about to do, but yet he did it.

"You look beautiful mother. It suits you well."

There, good boy. It passes just barely.

Adela on the other hand is sparkling like a young girl getting a compliment and glances to the heroine's mother with what I could only determine to be tiny bits of newfound respect. It's clear the heroine's mother was the one who had helped Adela with this. That in itself brings a sort of relief to mind, since a dress chosen by a commoner shouldn't be too expensive.

Adela's eyes moves back to us... then to father, and right back down to me.

You don't have any expectations from father at all, but you do from me?

What part of this doe eyed woman was a lady right now? Yet... my gut feels tense.

I put on a polite smile. At least it is better than her usual act, so if she wants me to praise it so much then I'll give in... this once.

"It looks decent," I get out dryly. I am not fond of giving compliments, especially not to... people like her.

She looks happy at my words, yet that happiness seems to have a small glint of satisfaction that doesn't match her otherwise sweet act, and makes my crawl in caution.

Father finally unsolidifies.

"Adela..." his voice is soft. Almost... caring.

Adela jolts visibly at hearing her name said in such a voice, and her eyes even widens with what seems like genuine surprise. She probably hasn't heard her name said that way for an eternity... I let my gaze drop in mild discomfort as Father clears his throat and steps up to Adela. He even takes her hand gently and presses it to his lips.

"You look as beautiful as the first time I met you, Adela. Perhaps after dinner we can...talk a while," he said.

...I suppose I should be happy for them, because unlike before Adela shows... genuine untainted happiness. Her skin flushes red and her eyes flicker to the ground as though she's forgotten how to act.

An unexpected side bonus to making me praise you, perhaps?

As for Father's reaction... Why? Was it because he had no feelings for boobs, so now where her boobs were covered he could finally see her face again? Did this mean I would get a younger sibling soon?

On a somewhat more serious note, unexpectedly it seems like Adela actually likes father. It was an unexpected discovery.

"...All is well that ends well?" I whisper quietly as I glance to Eric.

Eric just stares at me quietly in return. It seems he accepted father's judgement, but his eyes narrow at me.

"...Why didn't you do that earlier?" He asks with a somewhat sullen look.

...Hey, don't start blaming me for mother's bad attitude brat.

"There is no way I would think mother would actually listen, besides, it's not as though you said anything about our behavior being bad, so you cannot complain."

After a momentary pause at my words Eric's stare sharpens as if he just found a weakness to pierce.

"You should make up with Alstair."

"I decline."

It's not like I'll listen just because you say it out loud, I'm not mother. He clicks his tongue at promt refusal.

Eric retorts with one of the few things I absolutely didn't want to hear though.

"We have been invited to a tea party by Lady Salender, it would be a good opportunity. Hopefully you'll be in a dress by then."

...

This lady does not want to go.