Best Friend — Side: Belle
After arriving in the Lampail territory, I had a conversation with Joan’s father about her.
… It was shocking. I’d always thought that Joan’s way of thinking was different from that of a typical noble Miss, but… to think she retained memories from a past life… But when I think about it that way, everything starts to make sense.
She has memories from a past life, a [Null] attribute, and more skills than usual… Of course only her family and the royal family would know that.
Joan’s father told me and my brother Eric about all this, even knowing it might be too much for us to handle. He said it was because he trusts us. In that case, I want to always be by Joan’s side. She’s the one who changed me.
When I managed to tell her that, Joan scrunched up her face and cried. Come on, I was trying not to cry too! Now I can’t stop my own tears either. Once we finally calmed down, Brother Eric also said he wouldn’t betray Joan or the Lampail family.
But then, another surprise—Joan’s familiars, Fenrir and Carbuncle, can talk. On top of that, she’s contracted with pegasi as well. Do legendary beasts just naturally gather around her?
Ah, but the Giga Treant also spoke, and that one isn’t legendary… Joan… I feel like I’ve already used up a lifetime’s worth of surprise. I might not be able to react properly to anything from now on.
The pegasus, Snowy, looks just like a beautiful white horse at first glance—no sign of large wings. Joan said she doesn’t know how the wings are stored either.
When I got to ride the pegasus, I didn’t expect flying to be this fun. The sky was a stunning gradient from orange sunset to deep navy. I thought I’d be scared, but that beautiful sight blew all my fear away instantly.
“Thank you, Miss Belle.”
A voice from behind reminded me I wasn’t flying alone. Because of weight distribution, Brother Eric was with Joan, and I was riding with Young Master Gene.
“Uh… what for?”
I was finally able to speak normally with Young Master Gene after seeing him several times and realizing he, like Joan, didn’t look down on me.
“For being on Joan’s side. I’m really glad.”
“I just did what anyone should. Joan was the first to become my friend, and I want to be with her from now on. There’s no way I could ever betray her.”
“Haha, I see. Still, I knew Father was going to explain things, but I was a little nervous… I was ready to lose a friend if it meant protecting Joan.”
“Brother Eric wouldn’t betray you, Young Master Gene. He may not look it, but he’s a very serious person.”
“Pfft, yeah, he sure doesn’t look it. But yeah, I’m glad it worked out.”
“Brother Eric said it too, but… there aren’t any more surprises, right?”
“Who knows? Even we still get surprised sometimes.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Right, Snowy?”
(That’s right~ But, well, it’s Joan, so what can you do?)
“Haha, exactly. It’s Joan, after all. You never get bored around her.”
“Hehehe, that’s true. She’s never boring.”
“Like just now. Pfft…”
“Huh? What?”
“Joan’s face turned bright red, right? That’s ‘cause she was flustered around Eric.”
“Flustered? Joan?”
“She’s usually fine, but because of her past life memories, she gets embarrassed around men who aren’t family. She got flustered around Vee before too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, definitely. Haha!”
Would Joan really get flustered around Brother Eric?
Wait… did he do something to her?
If so, I’ll have to say something.
When our aerial walk ended, I looked for Joan and found her playing with the grown-up Pearl and Brother Eric. So that’s what a Fenrir’s true form looks like—it’s huge. But even at that size, it’s still fluffy. I want to cuddle it and sleep like that…
Back inside the mansion, Zoey and Young Master Noel were nowhere to be found.
Joan asked one of the maids and found out they were at the training grounds for a spar. I want to see! I haven’t seen Zoey fight in a while, and I’ve never seen the student council president and magic elite Noel in action!
Joan must’ve felt the same, because she suddenly held out her hand and told me to grab it—we were going to teleport.
I thought teleportation was something you could only do alone? Joan said, “If it’s me, it’s fine”… Ahh, it’s Joan. That actually makes sense somehow.
I took her hand, and the next thing I knew, we were in an unfamiliar place.
My first teleport was over so fast I barely noticed it.
Zoey was as dignified as ever in battle. I’ve never seen anyone use a rapier as skillfully as she does. She was calmly facing off with Young Master Vee.
But what overwhelmed me was the bout between Young Master Noel and Sarah. Young Master Noel’s magic power and fast chanting were impressive… but what was that movement from Sarah?! Is she really just a maid for a noble daughter? When she removed her wrist and ankle weights, she got even faster… For Young Master Noel to be pushed back—are all of the Lampail servants like this?
Sarah kept closing the distance and, finding an opening, placed her dual swords at Young Master Noel’s neck… Amazing. I want to spar with them too.
Then, at dinner, another surprise.
I’m used to eating with servants and the guard corps in my own territory, so that didn’t faze me—but the food… was incredible. Just grilled meat with something called “tare” sauce, and it was delicious.
But more than that—the rice… Livestock feed, yet so good. Joan said it’s delicious when prepared properly, and she’s right. If my territory could accept this, it could really ease our people’s lives. We struggle with wheat, and many go hungry… But if we had this rice…
Ahh, Joan.
You really are the best friend I could ever ask for.
What do you think about this chapter?
