CH 23

“Bianca, you’ll become fat if you eat too much.”

Natalia said towards Bianca, who was stuffing her mouth with sweets.

“…*Sip* …You’re so mean, Natalia Onee-sama! …*Sip* …Saying something like, ‘You’ll become fat’… *Sip*… . ”

Bianca turned reflexively towards Natalia, pouting, but she was still sipping on her tea.

And as she breathed in the scent of the tea, Bianca calmed down a bit.

“This tea has such a good scent. It’s worth buying this tea. I wonder if Leonora will like it as much as I do.”

“Ohh, does Leonora like this kind of tea too?”

These tea leaves were gifted to the student council by a new company named, “La Belle.” But with so little of these tea leaves circulating through the empire, the student council could be considered lucky by receiving a package of it for free.

And as Natalia was waiting for a reply, another person who was quietly sipping the tea until now, said–

“–This tea seems to be a gift sent by Oscar’s acquaintance.”

He is the crown prince of the Weiz Empire, Prince Albert. Even his figure drinking tea looked handsome.

These three were at ease in Natalia’s room, talking about student council work and other things.

“…I see, so that’s how you got it, Bianca.”

Natalia seemed to be interested on how Bianca got her hands on this legendary tea.

But Bianca looked down and said–

“–I… don’t want to talk about that.”

“She invited Leonora to go to a new cafe that opened near the academy. But Leonora refused, so she went there by herself and met Oscar. And because the owner was a friend of Oscar, he gave her a free package.”

“Onii-sama!?”

Bianca stood up from the couch, looking in disbelief at her dear brother.

Bianca didn’t want the two of them to know about what happened.

“Oh dear… . ”

Natalia put her right hand on her forehead and sighed.

“You need to be more mindful about those kinds of things, Bianca. Maybe she had other plans that day, what if she really went there with you? You know how she is, right? She would have prioritized going there with you–”

And as Natalia went on and on, Bianca became more and more sad and disgusted with herself.

(I know that… you don’t have to tell me again… I know that I have been too dependent on her lately)

Leonora was the first Real friend Bianca ever had.

Some, used her just to become acquaintances with Natalia and Albert.

Bianca suffered many betrayals, of girls and boys alike, that didn’t really want to befriends with her.

But with Leonora it was different.

Leonora, at that time, didn’t really care about the royal family or noble houses. She just wanted to be left alone.

Bianca on the other hand, thought Leonora was just another woman trying to get Albert’s attention.

But Leonora wasn’t that kind of girl.

A lot of things happened and they became close friends. Some would say best friends, because they were always together.

They would drink tea together, eat sweets, read books… and many other things that friends would do.

And because of that, sometimes she would forget that Leonora wasn’t a normal girl.

“…I’m always causing problems… sometimes I wonder if there’s really something I’m good at.”

“Bianca…?”

“Onii-sama has a huge amount of magic power, is kind, very intelligent and is the crown prince. Leonora seems to be taking good care of your gold coin too. I don’t have anything to give her… and she wouldn’t want to be friends with such an useless person.”

People wold always compare her with Albert, saying things like: “Albert-sama is so kind, he takes care of such an useless little sister.”, “Is she really royalty?” And “She’s in the student council just because she’s royalty.” They were always saying mean things behind her back.

But Bianca noticed some of her own faults too. Albert and Natalia were more intelligent and had more magic power than her. She was walking in their shadows for as long as she remembered, so a inferiority complex appeared because of this.

“Bianca, listen here. She only rejected your invitation once, she didn’t stop being your–”

“–That day, she went to the second dining hall with Oscar-senpai!!!”

That day, Bianca saw Leonora going to the second dining hall with Oscar.

“She was very happy! The other people were happy too! I even made the Baum-Kuchen that she wanted to eat and was planing to go and give it to her, but Rolf-senpai had already given one to her!!” ( Tl/n: Click HERE to know more about Baum-Kuchen)

Leo refused the invitation because he had promised to go eat lunch with Oscar that day, not because he didn’t care about Bianca.

“Please Bianca, calm down. Leonora isn’t like this and you know it.”

Natalia said, trying to calm down Bianca.

But Albert looked at his sister while smiling and said–

“–I know how you feel, Bianca… I too, feel jealous all the time because of her.”

“…Onii-sama too…?”

“Yes, I do. But, isn’t this the first time you truly cared about other people? Aside from me and Natalia, of course.”

“…I… didn’t notice… . ”

Bianca was blinking her eyes, surprised, because of the emotions that Albert helped her understand. And because of Albert’s sudden confession.

“When I’m with her, I feel anxious. Sometimes I even catch myself thinking, ‘I don’t deserve to be her friend’.”

“…Me too, sometimes… . ”

Albert was trying to make Bianca feel more confident.

He then said, returning the tea cup to the table–

“–Her light is too bright and her kindness is on another level. I feel so insignificant when I’m with her.”

“…Un… she is very kind… . ”

Her big brother, the perfect student council president, wasn’t actually that perfect.

And bit by bit, those dark emotions were being washed away.

“That girl… even though I was invited to her social debut, I know that she’ll give to that orphanage any gift that she receives.”

“Yeah… . ”

“The other day, one of my classmates even said, “I don’t mind paying a thousand gold coins to see Leonora’s smile.” Every one laughed at him, saying that he was delusional. But you know what happened after that? Leonora was walking through the corridor at that time, so she peeked inside of  the classroom with a big smile.”

Leonora was just like that, always giving hope to people, even when they least expected.

“…Even those ministers, that are so concerned about gold, don’t bother me anymore. Instead, I’ve been thinking about on how to make this Empire a better place for the common peop–”

“…*Cough*…Albert, we need to go, student council work.”

Bianca was a bit startled, Natalia had interrupted the two siblings in the middle of an important conversation.

Albert looked at Natalia with a questioning look on his face, but soon understood what she wanted to convey to him.

“Well, we have some student council work to do. There is some government affairs to be taken care of, it’s about the upcoming spirit festival.”

“Onii-sama…?”

Bianca kept staring at Albert’s back as he walked in the direction of the door.

Natalia had even told her that today would be a day off for the student council.

“But… Natalia Onee-sama even invited Leonora.”

Yes, Leo was invited by Natalia, they would spend the whole afternoon eating sweets, drinking tea and chatting.

“Sorry, we really don’t have that much time. Instead, why don’t You spend the day off with Leonora.”

“I’ll lend you my room, so you two can spend the afternoon here. Ohh, and don’t forget show that painting to Leonora, Bernard painted that one especially for her. See you later, Bianca.”

Said Natalia, pointing at a small canvas wrapped in cloth.

Bianca became puzzled by the sudden development, but soon understood the intentions of the two.

–If you want to tell her something, do it directly.

“Onii-sama, Natalia Onee-sama… . ”

And a feel minutes after Albert and Natalia left.

*Knock* *Knock*

Leonora had arrived.

You can read the original translation at: lastfenix.wordpress.com

You can read the original translation at: lastfenix.wordpress.com

“What do you think of this tea, Leonora?”

Asked Bianca, seeing that Leo was enjoying the taste.

“…It’s good, I like it.”

Leo was surprised when Natalia invited him to spend the afternoon in her room, but only Bianca was there when he arrived.

“I’m glad that you like it.”

Bianca even forgot to drink the tea and kept staring at the young girl.

But it didn’t matter how much she stared at Leonora, Bianca couldn’t see any evil intentions coming from the girl.

You could say that this “Friendship” thing was still new to Bianca. She couldn’t comprehend why a girl so kind and pure, would want to spend her time with such a “Dirty” person like herself.

Bianca did a lot of mean things in the past, she even harassed countless girls who tried to get Albert’s attention. And she did the same thing to Leonora.

But even though Leonora had forgiven her, the things that she did were still haunting her, to the point were she thought that Leonora deserved a better friend. So this was the only thing that she could do at the moment–

“–Leonora, I… can’t give you a shiny gold coin like Onii-sama did, neither can I give you knowledge like Natalia Onee-sama. I’m just a normal girl that happens to be a princess… and I’m not that smart either… . I know that you don’t care about it, but I did a lot of mean things to other people too in the past… like I did to you… . ”

Her left hand was trembling.

But in that hand, Bianca was holding tightly the sachet that Leonora gave her.

“To say the truth… as a friend, I’m kind of useless…. I can’t give you anything, I’m not smart and I did mean things to you in the past…… I think that you deserve a better friend… . ”

Bianca hung down her head, expecting the worst possible outcome of her sudden confession.

She was worried that Leonora would leave her behind, like all the others did, if she knew the truth about her.

Bianca did all of those mean things to protect her brother and she didn’t regret doing so.

But after meeting Leonora, Bianca tried to become a better person… she tried… but even so… she didn’t want to hide the truth from her (Best) friend.

“You are wrong, Bianca-sama–!”

Bianca was surprised, she had never seen Leonora get angry like this before. Usually, Leonora would smile and say: “It’s alright, I don’t mind.” But those amethyst eyes were serious.

“I received, a lot of, presents! Flowers, tea, sweets! Even cloth, needles, and perfume!”

“You got it all wrong, Leonora! Those things were–!”

Bianca gripped the sachet even more tightly.

Those things were supposed be seen as harassment, but Leonora perceived them as presents.

“–Bianca-sama, is the one, that doesn’t, understand–!”

Bianca was trying to deny the path towards redemption that Leo showed her.

It didn’t matter if the original intent was harassment, Leo didn’t perceived it that way.

‘Love everyone equally, accept the good things, forgive the bad things, and feel grateful for the things that other people give you.’ – This is one of the things that Leo learned in the Orphanage.

And Leo had already forgiven Bianca.

“–I love to, spend time, with you! It’s not, a waste, of time!”

Bianca is very popular with the boys. Leo even heard one of the boys say, “I would gladly pay a thousand gold coins if I could go on a date with Bianca-sama!”

Leo was always more interested in gold than in girls, so he couldn’t sympathize with the boy. But one thing was clear to him, it was worth spending time with Bianca. And from then on, Leo started to enjoy the time he spent with her.

“Leonora…… . ”

Bianca was moved to tears, she never thought that Leonora cared so much about her.

She was really happy.

But Leo wasn’t over–

“–Bianca-sama also, smells good… I like it.”

“I do…?”

Recently, in order to enjoy the smell of the sachet, Bianca stopped using strong perfumes.

And as Bianca leaned forward still a little bit shy, Leo said–

“–Un… you smell, like Kar-sama… it’s a good, smell… . ”

Recently, Leo had developed a sixth sense, he could feel the sweet smell of gold coins drifting in the air.

First Princess Bianca, her dress and accessories had a pleasant fragrance.

“I also like, Bianca-sama’s hair… it’s pretty.”

Her blond hair looked like gold.

Sometimes, Leo “Soul Sisters” would ask him if he had a type of girl he liked, and he would always answer: “A beautiful woman with blond hair.”

He usually avoided saying it, since the girls at the orphanage would always start to cry when he mentioned that. But Bianca had blond hair, so he could say it without making her sad.

And if he had to guess, her smile was worth no less than a gold coin……… but he wouldn’t say it.

If his “Soul Sisters” knew that he praised Bianca because of her hair, it would become a witch hunt, and they wouldn’t stop until her head was completely shaved.

“…… . ”

But this time, Bianca didn’t say a thing.

She just kept staring at Leonora and her usual smile, that for some reason, looked really sad and lonely.

(…*Sob*…Why such a kind girl…*Sob*…has to suffer like this…*Sob*…)

Bianca was still crying.

Not from happiness like earlier, but from sadness.

What she could do for this kind girl, that was suffering beneath her composed smile.

The answer was obvious.

(After all, Leonora is younger than me…)

Bianca had decided.

“Leonora–”

She stood up, went around the table and hugged the young girl.

“Hiyah!”

And because Leo was suddenly hugged, he let out a cute scream.

“–I can’t be your Kaa-sama, but I can be your Nee-sama! I’ll forever be by your side and protect you from any harm!”

“Neh-sama…?”

YES , Bianca will become Leo’s “Needlehelm Silver Coin-sama.” In short, she wanted to be Leo’s Neh-sama!

(Instead of being my Kar-sama, Bianca-sama wants to be my Neh-sama?)

It was natural for Leo to think like that, because he always gives a name/nickname to his coins.

(Maybe she wants to give me some money?)

But Leo still had his pride as a man, he wouldn’t accept a younger girl saying that she wanted to be his wallet.

“Bianca-sama, that is, a bit… . ”

“It’s not Bianca-sama, it’s Nee-sama from now on!”

Bianca hugged Leo even more tightly in her arms.

“Ugh…!”

‘Maybe she is a bully like her brother… . ‘ – Leo thought.

“…Yes, Neh-sama… . ”

On this day, Leo got an older sister.