The Little Duchess' Home Tutor (Novel) - Valentine's Special 3

Valentine’s Special 3 – One Sweet Day (part 3)

Translator: Mab

Editor: Kiriyume

Author note: Attention! These chapters are unrelated to the main storyline. They are nothing more than special chapters (haha).

I parted with them at the cafe.

Apparently, they were heading to the training grounds after this. It was admirable how enthusiastic they were.

Well, for the next destination—I checked my memo pad, rubbed my eyes, then checked it again. No, is this for real?
W-, well, it’s a dream after all. Am I… actually still thinking about His Majesty’s offer, I wonder…

The place written in the memo pad was the Royal Palace. Not to mention, it was a certain private room of a certain Royalty.

※※※

“Allen-sensei!”

The one who greeted me was Ellie… right? I remember the maid uniform she wears, although its design has seen some changes.

Still… this sure was a surprise.

Perhaps she was the most surprising amongst every girl I had met so far.

After all—

“Allen-sensei? What’s the matter? Ah… D-, don’t tell me, a-, am I dressed weird?? Oh gosh, I was so sure I had checked myself.”

“Aah…forgive me. I was just taken aback.”
“?”
“It’s because you’re so beautiful, Ellie. I couldn’t help myself.”

“Hyau… Erm, that’s, umm, t-, thank you very much… Allen-sensei too, you’re always the coolest person…!”

Ah, even if she has grown awfully mature, gotten taller, and became so beautiful that she invited a second look from anyone, Ellie is still Ellie… This made me a little bit happy.

This dream is really pleasant. After all, my lips keep breaking into a smile.

As I was thinking of such things, Ellie went and clasped my hand. How assertive. It made me even happier. Ah but, if I were to choose, I’d prefer a more reserved girl!

“This way please. I’m sure everyone is already waiting for you. Especially—”

“That selfish young lady, isn’t it? Haah… I’m sure she’s the only one who hasn’t changed.”
“?”

“Aah, I’m just talking to myself.”

Good grief. Even in a dream, the one person who harasses me the most must be that girl alone.

The real question is, I don’t know how many years into the future I am imagining the world is, but at this point, just how far has that frenemy of mine gotten stronger?

Hmm… I’m not sure I can oppose her attacks…

※※※

“So?”

“What is it?”
“…Why are you holding hands with Ellie, hm?”
“I’m not really familiar with the Royal Palace, you see.”
“Heeh… So you are not familiar with the place you’ve visited tens of times already, huh. I see.”
“L-, Lidya-sama, i-, it was me who wanted to hold his hand! Please stop bullying Allen-sense—”

“It’s alright, Ellie. Lidya.”
“…What?”

Asked my Frenemy—Lidya as she was sitting on a chair in front of me.

She was wearing a military uniform, the same one Tina and Linne wore. A scarlet line ran along her armband, perhaps indicating that she was the captain of their corps.

Did she transfer there from her Royal Court Magician position?

That being said… While she became even prettier than ever as I expected, I couldn’t understand why she didn’t grow at all on the inside. Goodness gracious.

I held out my hand to her. Seeing that, this beautiful woman in front of me showed some dismay.

“I-, it’s not like I want to hold your hand.”

“Sure, sure.”

“…Just once is enough. Geez. Why can’t you listen to your master’s wishes a little bit.”

“If Lidya-sama doesn’t want to hold it, then I will.”

“!”

A hand reached out from the side. Hm?

I was also surprised by Ellie, but this girl gave me quite the shock as well…

“What’s the matter, Allen-sama.”

“No, I’m just thinking, you sure have grown.”

“Polite speech is prohibited, okay? Fufu. But still, thank you very much. It’s all thanks to you, Allen-sama. I love you.”
“—Stella.”

“Yes, what is it?”

The tea cup Lidya was holding had been pulverized to sand by her fingers.

A colossal amount of mana began to swirl in her vicinity as a pair of pure white wings made of fire emerged from her back.

…Haah, she really doesn’t change. Although, the quality of her fire has elevated by leaps and bounds.

What did change was that now Stella-sama confronted her gaze upfront without breaking. Her face was full of confidence, coupled with elegance and her glimmering beauty.

“Quite the nerve you have there, flirting around right in front of me…”

“Oh, is that so? We do this all the time, you know. And we’re even more personal when we’re alone. Isn’t that right, Allen-sama?”
“Hmm~ I wonder?”

“Geez! Allen-sama, you’re as mean as Tina said you were.”
“…I understand. For the time being, I’ll have the two of you die.”

“Lidya. It’s time for you to be more honest, or there will be consequences.”

So rang a familiar, calm voice.

When I looked at Lidya, she looked as though she chewed a bitter bug. Well, you and her have that love-hate relationship with each other, after all.

Stella-sama and Ellie stood up straight then gave a bow. As for me, I raised my cup to greet her.

Implying ‘We are friends, aren’t we? Then, at least in private, let’s make do with this much formality.’

When she saw my greeting, she smiled joyfully. Right off the bat, she made a beeline towards me.

“Move aside, Lidya.”

“I refuse.”
“Still a bundle of possessiveness as usual, I see.”

“You have it wrong. That thing is mine. Always has been.”
“Heeh~ For that part, I can’t help but notice that there are lots of cute girls in Allen’s vicinity.”

Well, even if you glare at me, what can I do… Look, behind you, they’re laughing at you, you know?
I knew that she liked Lidya since a long time ago, but she could get a bit over the line with it…

“Your Highness, please leave it at it.”
“Muu~ Allen.”
“Yes.”
“Your address! There’s nobody here who’ll make a fuss with such a thing.”

“But that doesn’t mean I can be blasphemous. You are the princess of this kingdom, while I am but a simple commoner.”

“Allen? You’re still saying things like that… Lidya, you girls sure have it hard with him.”
“…We’re used to it. Well, whatever social status he has, this guy is still Allen inside out.”
“Allen-sensei hasn’t changed at all.”
“Allen-sama, isn’t it time to have any self-consciousness about your position at all? But still, I love your humility, Allen-sama.”

Wings made of white fire swoop down from Lidya’s back.

However, Stella’s face was calm.

She developed a thin ice wall in front of her and stopped the offense.

“Tch. Hey, help me out here.”
“You’re noisy! Allen-sama, please save this unskilled me from her.”

“Fufu. Come on, Allen. Who will you go to? Ah, or perhaps you will go and protect little old me instead?”

“Errm…”

I passed my eyes through the three of them then made my decision.

I went to Ellie, her face looked troubled, then smiled.

“Well, Ellie. Why did you call me today?”
“Heh? Ah… e-, err, you see. I-, I wanted to give this to you. Umm, this is, you see, umm, a token of gratitude.”
“Let me see. Well, doesn’t it look delicious. Thank you. Can I eat it now?”

“Y-, yesh!”

I put a piece of chocolate into my mouth. How sweet.

But, it also had a gentle taste to it.

Should I get another bite—White flame, ice bullets, light arrows then came flying at me.

Taking the small box with me, I evacuated. Good response, Ellie.

“…Heey. Aren’t you a little bit too cold to me today?”

“…Allen-sama, Ellie, your jokes have gone too far.”

“…Allen, it’s time to choose me already. Look, with things going right now, I can forcefully make you marry me, you see.”

Light had gone from the eyes of the three of them. Well, isn’t this bad?
For the time being, I put Ellie behind my back while I kept my head rotating. But still—there was nothing I could do.

Lidya developed ‘Flame Bird,’ its color was pure white, shining bright. Four of the spells were born at the same time, lording over the surroundings.

Stella, too, unleashed a never-before-seen Ice Attribute Culmination Magic as an Ice Hawk dancing around in the room.

While Her Highness deployed a barrier made of light as though she was blocking off my escape route.

…Hmm, now is a good time to wake up.

The ‘current’ me couldn’t possibly rival any of these girls.

Without me knowing, my lips curved into a smile. This is delightful. I really am happy that these girls have grown so much. I’m sure the other girls have grown to be just as great.

I must do my best too… Ah, at the very least, I must protect the small boxes they gave me to death.

—Still having that thought, a flood of magic came flying towards me—

※※※

“Sensei! Wake up, please!”

A voice that still retained its childish tone called to wake me.

As I hesitantly opened my eyes, it was the usual Tina who was standing in front of me.

I was surrounded by the familiar room inside the Duke’s manor.

This was relieving, from the very depth of my heart. I finally woke up, it seemed.

“Are you alright? Sensei? If you’re tired, we should cancel today’s lecture so you may get some rest.”
“Ah, I’m fine. Thank you. Have the other girls come?”
“Yes. They are all ready.”

“I see now. Thank you for waking me up—Tina? What is this?”

What she presented to me was a small box.

I wasn’t sure why, but I had a feeling I had seen this before.

“This is, you see. There’s a custom in an eastern country where a girl gives a present to someone she likes—”