Chapter 81 - Unwelcomed Visitors

"Hurry up! Wake her up!"

"Your mother said for you to wake her up."

"Y-yes and I am! Just... With your help. Just wake her up already."

"Why don't you?"

"Because I don't want to die!"

".... Then why are you making me."

"Because I'm sure she won't kill you. You're stronger, aren't you?"

"Are you afraid of a girl?"

"N-No! I'm just a bit afraid of Seri."

I opened my eyes, awakened to the sound of two annoying boys arguing loudly at my bedside.

In my direct line of sight, I saw two golden eyes staring down at me.

Dante tilted his head, "... Oh."

William poked out from behind Dante, "Hey. She woke up on her own."

I stared at them blankly for a moment. Then I flopped back over on my stomach. I snuggled into the blankets, "I must be having a dream if I woke up to Dante's cold face... Or would that be a nightmare? Ah. Who knows. It's a shame it's the kid version."

Dante frowned, "Kid version?"

William stepped forward, "Oi! Get up already! We have visitors coming today!" He went to shake me, "Would you just- OW! SHE BIT ME! Is she some rabid dog?!"

"... She did?"

Dante reached out to shake me and I bit him ferociously.

He held his hands, "Ah..."

I snuggled further into the covers and under the many pillows, "I'm going back to sleep. Good night."

William looked towards Bertram, "Bertram! Wake her up!"

He looked away, "Please don't involve me."

"I command you! It's an order from your Prince!"

Bertram rubbed his ears, "How strange... I can't hear at all today."

William growled, "You..."

Lona chuckled from the doorway, "Having difficulty?"

William blushed, "N-No! Dante! Just yank her out!"

Dante grabbed my feet and started pulling. I held on to the bedframe as if my life depended on it.

"Noo! Let me sleep!"

Dante pulled harder and a strange straining noise came from the bed frame.

*CRACK*

The bedframe broke as Dante pulled. I was tossed out of the bed, still holding onto the broken bed frame.

Everyone stared at the broken bed in silence.

William muttered, "I think you pulled too hard."

Dante shrugged, "She wouldn't let go."

William looked back at the bed, "We won't get in trouble for this... Right?"

A collective silence spread throughout the room as they looked at the broken bed.

Lona sighed and walked over to me, "Drop it."

I dropped the broken frame as commanded and she picked me up into her arms. I yawned and closed my eyes.

"I tried to warn you. I'm sure you're proud to see how far she's come."

Under the serious glare of Lona, Dante turned his head away. He would be lying if he were to say he wasn't proud.

The boys left the room as Lona began to prepare me for the day.

She smiled at me, "We need to make sure you look extra nice. There's going to be some important visitors today."

I yawned, "Who?"

"I believe they are related to the Prince somehow."

She finished preparing my hair and began to fit me into a dress.

"Huuuu. Lona! Stop making it so tight!"

"Stop complaining."

Once I was forced into my dress, Lona put me in front of mirror. The dress was a dark purple that sparkled in the light. The lower part had layers of ribbons and frills.

"Do you like it? Queen Luna picked it out."

"Ah. Well, Queen Luna's choices are better than my father's... But this type of dress... Isn't it what a villainesses wear?"

She raised an eyebrow, "I'm sorry?"

I shook my head, "Nevermind. Let's go."

We met up with Bertram and the boys. We walked down the hall.

William clicked his tongue in irritation, "I can't believe you've made us late. They have already arrived and are waiting."

I yawned, "Why do I have to greet them? I'm a guest."

"Because it's customary."

"LITTLE WILLY!"

We all froze under that fluffy annoying voice. We turned to scowl at Joel who was skipping down the hall at us without a care in the world. I could almost see the flowery background behind him.

Ack! It's the pervert!

"Bertram!"

"Yes."

Bertram struck down the pervert and began stomping him on the ground.

Joel smiled up at Bertram between kicks, "Ah~ Bertram! I've missed this beautiful foot of yours."

Bertram frowned in disgust. He looked at me, "Please stop asking me to touch this man."

I nodded, "Okay. You can stop."

Bertram quickly moved over to me. Joel stood up with a hop and brushed off his clothes, completely undisturbed. He fixed his glasses.

"I always enjoy the greetings from you Miss Seri."

I frowned, "Don't say my name with that disgusting mouth of yours."

Joel smiled at my harsh tone and turned to Lona. "Oh my. Who is this beautiful lady?"

Lona stared at him with a frown, "Beautiful?"

He grabbed her hand and gently kissed it. He smiled up at her handsomely, "To have met such an angel, I must be in heaven."

Lona blushed slightly, "Wh-What?"

I jumped over and smacked his hand angrily, "Get your rotten hands off of Lona! She's mine!"

He pulled his hands back, "Ow~ Okay. Lona, you say? A fitting name for such a gorgeous lady."

"Oh my." Lona didn't know what face to make.

I looked at her, "Lona! Don't listen to this pervert. He's a twisted masochist!"

"Really?"

Joel chuckled, "Ahh~ Masochist is such a strong word. Although that consistent serious glare of hers is delicious~"

I shouted, "Stop looking at Lona you pervert!!!"

William sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "What are you doing here Joel?"

Joel turned to him and smiled, "What? No big brother? Little Willy~ How cruel..."

William frowned in disgust, "Just answer me."

He straightened up and fixed his tie, "Queen Luna specifically asked for me. It would appear that Miss Seri is in need of Queen etiquette training."

Huh. Yeah. F*ck that.

I'm just gunna slip away while they're all preoccupied.

William frowned, "So why did you come?"

He pouted, "Little Willy~ I know my job is mostly administrative at the Academy, but I do other things too. I'm the best etiquette instructor around. I'm so excited to hear Seri will be training to be Queen. You must be so excited. Now, the training is a bit difficult but please-"

"She's gone." Dante interrupted coldly.

Everyone turned to the empty space that used to be occupied by Seri.

Joel was stumped, "Huh... Where did she go?"

Dante motioned at an open window, "She slipped out of the window."

Joel blinked rapidly, "T-The window? Aren't we on the second story? What if she got hurt?"

Dante and William recalled the scene where she jumped down from the bookcase and the tree.

William shook his head, "That's unlikely. She does things like this frequently."

His face grew serious, "Now I know why Queen Luna called for me."

Lona sighed, "Well. Since she's hiding, you won't be able to find her until she's hungry. I must apologize for the Young Misses behavior."

Joel chuckled, "She's hiding? It shouldn't be THAT hard to find her."

He was met by serious faces from the rest of them.

_____

While they were preoccupied, I opened the window quietly and jumped out. When I landed on the ground, I rolled to ensure I wouldn't break an ankle. I snuck into the bushes and used it to cover my body.

I crawled through the bushes chuckling to myself.

There's no way in hell I will do etiquette training. And it's not just any ordinary etiquette training, but Queen etiquette training.

Like hell I will become Queen! That's too much work. I'm aiming for a more leisurely life.

As I crawled through the garden I considered where I should hide. The grounds of the estate covered many miles so it would be very easy.

But I also don't like going far. What if I miss the lunch bell?

Ah. Which reminds me. I'm starving. I never even got breakfast this morning. I wonder if I should sneak into the kitchen.

*Thud*

I crashed into something soft.

Hm? What's this?

I looked up to see a small girl staring at me with dark blue eyes. Her long eyelashes complimented her soft features. She had long straight silky hair that shined in the sunlight, begging for it to be touched.

She was frowning at me while hugging a small bunny plush to her chest. My eyes sparkled at her cuteness.

Ahh~ So adorable! I want to put her in my pocket.

She spoke with a domineering high pitched tone, "You girl! How dare you crash into me! Don't you know who I am!?"

"Sooooo cuuuute~"

Her face froze, "Wha- Cute?! Who are you calling cute?!"

I reached out and ran my fingers through her hair.

She looked startled, "I-Idiot girl! What are you touching?!"

I pulled her into an embrace and nudged my cheek against her head. "Ahh~ So soft. So adorable."

The small girl struggled in my arms, "U-Unhand me this instant! You-You filthy disgusting girl!!!"

I giggled, "I can't. You're just so adorable."

The small girl turned bright red. I smiled larger at this innocent reaction.

Oh yeah. I'm definitely taking her home.

She looked to the side timidly and stopped struggling. I let her out of my embrace to see her blushing face.

"You're strange. What's your name?"

"I'm Seri. What's your name?"

She blushed more, "I'm Ebbie."

Ahh~ She even has a cute name.

I touched her hair in a petting motion, "How old are you?"

She stared at me full of pride, "I'm 5!"

"Hehe. So cute."

She opened and closed her mouth several times. She hid her face behind her bunny, "Do you want to have tea with me?"

I clasped my hands together, "I would be delighted to."

Yesss. Snacks with an adorable girl? Sign me up.

She nodded arrogantly, "Of course you would be."

She held my hand and led me over to a table that was already set up. We sat down at the table. She put her bunny on it's own chair.

She blushed as she handed me a teacup, "You must be honored to have tea with me. I'm usually really strict on who I have tea with."

I munched on a cookie, "I'm beyond honored."

I looked at her more closely. She wore a white button up shirt with blue ribbons and blue pants to match.

I smiled, "You're allowed to wear pants? No fair."

She looked puzzled by this, "Why wouldn't I be able to wear pants?"

"Don't they force you to wear dresses? They do for me. Although, I think you would look adorable in a dress."

Like, for example, the Loli dresses in my closet at home.

She shrugged, "I've never worn a dress before."

I smiled, "We will have to play dress up sometime."

She nodded, "I don't mind gracing you with my presence again."

I munched dreamily on my cookie as I stared at her adorable reactions.

"So this is where you are." William looked at us and frowned out of jealousy.

I looked over to see the group I left behind. I stood up and smiled, "Yes. I was having a tea party with this adorable little girl."

William blinked in confusion, "Girl?"

Ebbie stood up and hugged me, "You can't talk to Seri! She's mine!" She smiled smugly, "I've decided I'm going to marry her."

I stroked her soft hair dreamily, "Awww. That's so cute. She wants to marry me."

William frowned, "She?"

"Yes. She. Also known as Ebbie."

William looked at the ground awkwardly, "That's... Not a girl... That's my... Little brother."

I stared at him blankly.

"Wut."