Volume 2, Chapter 10: Heading out For Tea, Part 2

Since we were late to the tea party, the cute Shelly had a teary face. Apologize, Rick.

Yurushia-sama, I am the second daughter of Marquis Manchi, Beatrice, um, I hope to get along with you.

Beatrice-chan, age eight. A girl with beautiful black hair and azure eyes. Though her ladylike elements ended there

Yeah, good to meet you, Betty-sama.

Did you shorten my name? Im older than you, you know then may I call you Yuru-sama?

Its alright with me, Betty.

Good.

Yup, as I though, shes a cute if airheaded child. Were becoming fast friends.

Wow Yuru has a flower in each hand.

Yup.

Shelly is similar to Betty in that its also her first tea party here; Im currently hamstrung between the embraces of the two people. Im so firmly stuck that I cant even drink my tea, which amused Grandmother and Elea-sama as I tried to bring tea or sweets to my mouth.

What kind of harem is this?

Hey you three, have you been to any other tea parties?

Elea-sama asked in a carefree tone. My loose speaking manner is definitely from the influence of the presence of Mother and Elea-sama.

Ive been to Aunt-samas tea party, yup!

Youre hopelessly lively, Betty.

I-Ive gone with Aunt-sama, to Yuru-samas mothers tea party.

Mmm, mm, yeah, I was invited to Shellys mothers tea party.

Although the first tea party was compulsory, participation in others was a matter of choice.

After that, Shelly and I had tea together.

Yeah, together with Yuru-sama.

!? Yuru, Shelly, how sneaky! Invite me, invite me!

Yup, alright.

Y-yes, Ill be in your care, Betty-sama.

Hopelessly lively indeed Betty.

So, anyways do you know about the [Moonlit Tea Party]?

While Shelly inclined her neck in confusion, Betty who was a second year at the academy, thought of it.

That thing, My Elder sisters friend spoke about it, its a secret tea party that cant be talked about until after its done.

Yeah, yeah, that thing. Do you know of anyone who has been to it and come back?

A friend of a friend of mine has participated, it seems to have been wonderful, so I heard.

When she mentioned the story from her sister, Betty had a dreamy expression filled with yearning on her face.

Elea-sama knitted her eyebrows ever-so-slightly.

If you ask me, Id rather have none of you three participate

! ?

Really?

I didnt think anything of it since Shelly and I had no longing to go, but Betty, who desired deeply to join in, looked aghast.

Why is it bad, Eleanor-sama.

I dont mean that its necessarily bad or anything But you cant even tell if the letter of invitation is really from the Oberu household. Has anyone ever actually seen the guests with the invitation? Since the invitations dont remain after you participate, what happens cant be verified at all.

Thats certainly true. Even if there are no problems with the [Moonlight Tea Party], some perverse copycat trickster might use it to kidnap people.

Have there been any people missing recently?

When I remember the remarks of Rick, Elea-sama shows a surprised face, and patted my head with a complacent smile.

It certainly seems shady

I understand, Elea-sama. Allow me to give you something good.

What is it?

I struggle to bring out my arm that was squashed, and take something out of my pocket.

Just an invitation to the [Moonlit Tea Party].

At my words, everyones eyes went wide. Well, Shelly is still eating cake.

Is that real?

Wh-wh-wh-wh-what are you doing, Yuru, it cant be shown to anyone else!

Its nothing much this one is the third one to arrive since this morning.

THE THIRD!?

When it was one per day, I sent them back. After a week, two a day started coming. Those went into the trash without me reading them. Now its already been three since this morning.

As expected of Yuru. Will you be participating?

I dont know what Elea-sama expected, she seems amazed.

Of course not. If I didnt give this to Elea-sama, it would have been burned.

B-burned!?

Its fine if you stop being so surprised, Betty. Also, Shelly, even if you understand and are not interested, please stop with your fourth slice of cake.

Ahaha, Yuru is so interesting. May I have this? Id like to have a look.

Sure, go ahead.

As I tried to shuffle forward in my dress, my awkward position finally kicked in and the letter fell off the table, Betty jumped at it like a puppy.

Princess Yuru-sama, about those kids

Y-yeah lets talk.

Even though she said so in a calm tone, Vio had a serious face and her forehead was twitching, I urged her to go ahead.

Its been more than half a year since Ive talked with the four children.

I dont take them with me. I dont want them to take care of me. But, their salary keeps being paid and theyre shopping using my name, the cases of entering the mansions important facilities are also not down, its the same thing as a parasite.

Those four people dont do anything. Really, they do nothing. In the present situation, they should be impatient to improve, seeking work on their own, or at least have resigned from serving the duke and returned home or something

Wh-what did they do?

Every day every single day, they laze about and havent done any work in the mansion for months. Not just that,

Theres more?

Vio keeps going on, it wont ever end.

To others, people who do not work, do not eat, but these are the personal servants of Princess Yuru-sama. Giving meals is part of my authority, but theyve gone over my head and tried to negotiate with the dinner staff within the first year. And as soon as they were told its unacceptable, they started going out to eat daily.

Oh Oh.

Theyre amazing. Since theyre paid so well, theyre eating out all the time, but I didnt stop them

Every day?

Yes, every day. And at a high class restaurant at that Princess Yuru-sama, have you seen this?

Eh

Vio brought out a box with several things in it. A one-handed sword that was tinged with magic which looked familiar. A pocket watch made of gold and silver. Several of Fathers treasured books from the library. Several of my accessories from the parties

These are

These were found by a contact of mine, this is what we managed to repurchase after those four people sold them off.

Theyve really done it, these guys.

The twins are for sure guilty. The book was what Christina was reading. But, Fontaine is not fully confirmed as guilty.

Princess Yuru-sama this is something I found in the depths of the storeroom Fontaine has been using as her playground

What?

Looking at the unusually pained expression that Vio has, I timidly peered into the offered box.

!

My shoes were torn to tatters. My dress was muddy and frayed. The picture book was torn from reading, and ruined with crayon to the extent where no words could be read.

It wasnt done in hatred. All of them were destroyed through play.

And

The silver comb that I received as a third birthday present from Mother had missing and bent teeth

The stuffed animal I received from Father on the same day, that I hugged to sleep every night, had been torn and thrown in the back of the shed, the rabbit ears torn and its limbs mangled

I lifted them with trembling hands, embracing them tightly to my chest.

why

I dont understand. I cant understand. As I muttered, tears began to overflow from my eyes, spilling onto the broken stuffed animal.

Why am I crying even though Im a Demon

The moment my tears showed, Vios cup of water bubbled and overflowed due to her magic.

Wait Please wait a moment, Yuru-sama Ill settle them soon.

Hiii!?

Even though she had a calm face, Vios eyes look like theyre about to leave her head, I hurriedly grabbed the maid to hold her back.

D-dont.

Why, may I ask? They have

Vio should not do that.

Hearing my voice that wasnt childlike, Vio stopped and pat my head and hugged me until the tears stopped.

I am Ria-samas junior she helped me so much.

Vio was talking in short bursts while hugging me.

Though I was a commoner, she cherished me, when my parents store was about to fall, rather than rely on another house, I had to work as a salesgirl despite never having done it before. Ria-sama tutored me as I began to fall behind on my studies as I was helping out at home.

When I graduated, Ria-sama was already pregnant with Princess Yuru-sama, and I became a maid in order to return the favor to Ria-sama. Ria-sama is my treasure. And Princess Yuru-sama is also my treasure; no the treasure of everyone who lived in Ria-samas that house. Me and Fer and Min as well, we loved you as her daughter and as a sister. The Master brought us out, and now this is the house we love with Yuru-sama. Please never forget that

Yeah.

Okay All done crying.

Now that my heart is full of [Human Feelings], its time for my daring personality swap.

From the human mindset, I switch to the [Demon Me].

Im a half-baked Demon and a half-baked Human.

Thats why I am both a [Demon] and an [Princess], and thats my [True Self].

Vio.

Yes!

When I rose and called her name, Vio knelt down not to [Rias Daughter] nor the [Dukes Daughter], but the individual [Yurushia] for the first time.

Is there anything else you know regarding those people and the things they perpetrated?

No, I did the investigation alone. Please forgive me as I had limited time.

It doesnt matter. Then, keep this matter an absolute secret.

However other people know of the debauchery of these people, and the amount of money spent redeeming the items they sold was more than could be reasonably concealed.

If its money, I have some private assets with the Firm in the Royal Capital. Since there is a branch in the city, use my name, and work freely.

Understood.

Now, you can leave it to me. Its Spartan, but its worth less than your heart, you cant come back here anymore. Tell all the others so.

Understood.

So as to not worry Mother, go to her quietly.

Yes sir, Yurushia-sama.

Since a six-year-old said such things, I thought the mood would be ruined, but Vio obediently listened to me.

Now if only your overprotectiveness would slightly subside.

Now then, what should I do to them? In fact, Id already decided a little while ago.

Out of my bed, I take out a small box that I wasnt sure what to do with.

Though it was a jewelry box and had some jewels in it, there was a concealed letter within it.

I wonder if this will help.

Fufufufu, Ive finally done it.

The girl stared at the jewelry box in front of her eyes, unable to suppress her joy.

Inside was one copy of an invitation. It was the event the noble girls of the Holy Kingdom longed for, and invitation to the [Moonlight Tea Party], it had finally reached her.

With glossy silver hair like moonlight, skin so white that it looked like it shunned the light of day, purple eyes that resembled jewels in the night sky.

Around fifteen years old, the girl had a voluptuous smile and was blessed with frighteningly good looks, almost to the point of being inhuman.

Silver Princess or so she was called by those who knew her.

Four things like letters were on a plate the size of a jewelry box, they were surrounded by ash.

The [Lilac Invitation] is sent to the girls together with a [Light Blue Invitation], when one is touched by the eyes of a non-sender, the magic would quietly burn the other.

Until four were sent each day, they became ash on the day of delivery.

Surprised at the sight, Millaine ground her teeth.

Originally, only one letter of invitation was sent. The reason why people who do not follow the pledge are not invited to the [Moonlit Tea Party] was that it would be dangerous.

Carefully

These redundant measures are necessary; it was the minimum precaution so as to not make a blunder.

But that [Girl] is a different case.

Connected to the blood of the Royal Family, the [Princess of the Holy Kingdom], with virtue high enough to be referred to as a [Saint], and hearing rumors of the [Beautiful Golden Princess], she seemed like a special presence.

With all of her effort resulting in the party becoming highly sought, Millaine did not think a girl who would refuse the invitation to the [Moonlit Tea Party] existed.

Half of the time, she was obstinate, sending her back the invitation, but finally with the help of Count Oberu and the Countess, a small box was sent.

It was filled with large jewelry that was usually not given to children.

If she was uncomfortable coming alone, she could bring 4~5 attendants along with her.

Count Oberu told her to give up if this was not accepted.

The Countess had said there would be no problem by just increasing their people slowly over time.

Theyre a cautious group.

This was the wisdom of people who had lived for a long time. But, the factions [Forces] were [Equal].

Who are they? Those that knew the old days of Earl Oberu who was holed up for many years would look at the person and say.

Who are you?

But, this bet is my win.

Millaine laughed fearlessly.

The invitation that was in the small box, not only was it shown to be open, but still only [One Person] had seen it, it seemed that the Golden Princess had finally decided to accept the invitation of the Silver Princess.

Im looking forward to tomorrow night

If they could have the Holy [Princess] that had the royal blood follow them, then the [Force] of Millaine would surpass the other two, and they could destroy the [Armed Nation Taterudo]. They may even destroy the next country.

Quietly quietly, the Holy Kingdom was approaching a disaster.