One month had passed since Jein had been arrested for embezzlement and blackmail. One day, as Ristia was practically waltzing on the floor, waiting on customers, Charlotte paid the cafeteria a visit.
“Welcome back home, Big... Oh, I mean, good afternoon to you, Ms. Charlotte.” Ristia greeted the customer in her usual little sister mode, but once she realized that it was Charlotte in a similar dress to last time, she corrected herself.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Ristia. I planned on telling you the details of the incident, along with everything I wasn’t allowed to talk about prior to today. Would you mind sparing some time?” Ristia checked around the eatery to make sure that she could.
“Hmm... That would be fine. We’ll take this discussion to the back, if you don’t mind,” she said, leading Charlotte to the waiting room. She suggested that she sit at the head of the table, but Charlotte took the seat directly across from her. However, she didn’t sit down, and instead opted to look Ristia right in the eyes.
“First, allow me to apologize for the incident with Jein. Had I made one false move, that would have been an unbelievable inconvenience to you, Ms. Ristia. For that, I truly must apologize,” Charlotte said, taking a deep bow in regret.
“Erm... why are you apologizing, Ms. Charlotte?”
“Because it was us of the House of Count Warren that appointed Jein as mayor of this town. And Jein’s misconduct reflects onto me.”
“Aah, I see.” Ristia was the princess of the True Bloods, so she understood the concept of higher-ups taking responsibility for their subordinates’ misconduct. However...
“I wasn’t holding any of that against you, Ms. Charlotte. Of course, if you’re saying that apologizing will help clear your mind, I will gladly accept your apology.”
“Thank you very much, Ms. Ristia.”
“Think nothing of it. On that note, please go ahead and take a seat.” Suggesting that Charlotte take a seat, Ristia also sat herself down directly across from her. Stealing a small glance at Charlotte’s face, she saw her take a small sigh of relief and smile. It seemed as though one of the issues troubling her had already been alleviated. Her smile was so adorable that Ristia wondered if Charlotte would willingly become her little sister if she asked.
“Anyway, Jein is in the midst of being interrogated, but he seems to have done quite the sizable amount behind closed doors, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he does get sentenced to death.”
“Oh, I see. Hearing that puts my mind at ease.” Jein was the person responsible for hurting Maria and the others. Punishing him wouldn’t help wipe Maria’s past from existence, but it would at least guarantee that no further casualties would take place, at the very least, so Ristia was a tad bit relieved.
“And as for the children that were sold, we plan on tracking them down and taking them into custody as much as possible. Which is why it would be helpful if you could provide us with some information, but I know that...”
“I understand. I’ll do some investigating myself.” The children, sans Maria, weren’t aware of what happened to the children that “graduated” from the orphanage, which is why Ristia thought that asking Maria about it might be the best idea.
“As for what I truly wanted to talk about... Well, before that, I would like to ask you again: Was it the truth when you said that you do not hold anything against me for what happened?”
“No, of course not. Quite the contrary. I find you to be quite the kind and pleasant girl.” And if all goes well, I want to make you my little sister! Ristia tacked on in her head. Charlotte started to shiver all over as a result of Ristia’s words.
“I-I think that you are a kind and cute woman yourself, Ms. Ristia.”
“Ehehe, I appreciate that.”
“I-It’s nothing, really. I’m just speaking the truth. There is nothing in particular to thank me for!” Charlotte said, getting a tad bit bashful, which was also incredibly cute.
Little sister! Please be my little sister! Ristia screamed inside of her head.
“Ahem! Getting back on topic. I was actually considering the next mayor to govern this town... and figured that I would step up to the plate.”
“...You are, Ms. Charlotte? But you’re the only daughter of the House of Count Warren, right? Do they get to run one town?”
“The territory of Count Warren doesn’t include many towns, and it isn’t very rare for a relative to run them.”
“But hasn’t the ordeal with Mr. Jein caused some distrust to form with the territory owners?”
“Yes. Very much so, in fact. And this is just a hunch of mine, but I think that this town might have to dissolve from the Warren Territory.”
“...Oh, I see.”
Ristia didn’t realize that the reason why this town was important was because of her herself, but she did take notice of and acknowledge Charlotte’s earnest concern about the situation.
That was why Ristia kept things to herself. It would probably be a bad idea to interject.
“...You wouldn’t happen to be concerned over me, would you?”
“I am. It is a matter of concern, after all.”
All pure-hearted younger girls were little sister candidates, so it was only natural that it would weigh on Ristia’s mind. Ristia then took out a magic stone, some platinum, and other materials from her Item Box and created a flower-shaped brooch that she thought would look nice on Charlotte. It was enchanted with abilities that nullified all bodily ailments and caused regeneration.
“Huh...? Ms. Ristia, what was that you just did?” Charlotte asked, her eyes wide in surprise.
Ristia simply put her index finger to her lips and replied, “It’s a secret.” She proceeded to walk around the table and to Charlotte’s side, pinning the brooch to her chest.
“Um, excuse me, but... what is this?”
“A present from me to you. It’s a good luck charm!”
“A good luck charm? It is very pretty. Is it truly alright for me to accept this?”
“Mm-hmm, of course. I don’t want you to go out and get hurt, after all.”
“...Ms. Ristia...” Charlotte spoke, her cheeks becoming flushed as though she were overwhelmed with emotions. This reaction was just from her being given what she assumed was a normal brooch. If she knew that the gift was an enchanted item and that it included the ailment nullifying and regeneration effects exhibited at the auction, then things would have taken a drastic turn. Granted, Ristia had read the mood of the room and kept that part a secret, but she was oblivious to the fact that she had merely postponed the uproar Charlotte was likely to raise once she found out the truth. Regardless of that, Charlotte reached out and gave Ristia a hug. It was a considerably tight hug, but due to the fact that the two girls were roughly the same height and had extremely ample breasts, the level of contact was surprisingly scant outside of that one area. If any girls with less-endowed chests were to have witnessed this sight, they would probably have been gripped with despair over the unjust society of cup sizes.
“Thank you so much! This is the first time that a girl so close in age has given me such a present; this is such a joyous occasion, indeed!“
“Ehehe, if I managed to bring you some joy, then I’m happy as well. Extremely so!” Ristia returned Charlotte’s hug, but deep down inside, she was screaming, You can fawn over me and call me ‘Big Sis’ if you’d really like, too!
“This is truly a joyous event. I would appreciate it if you would let me thank you in turn.” Before long, Charlotte regained her composure and let go of Ristia.
“No need to worry about returning the thanks. I simply gave you that present because I wanted to; that’s all.”
“That simply will not do. Is there nothing that you desire?”
“Hmm, something I desire? Nothing in particular comes to mind.”
“Oh, I see... Ah, in that case, I do have a suggestion.”
“...A suggestion, you say?” What could it be? Omigosh, I sure do hope she says, “I want to be your little sister!” Ristia thought, fantasizing.
“I am the only daughter of my family, and I have never had someone close in age to talk to up until now. Maybe that is the reason why. I am not sure if I hold you special, but I do hold a strong affinity for you...”
“R-Right...” Oh! Is this build up going where I think it is? Is she going to say she wants to be my little sister? Am I actually going to get a little sister?! Ristia anticipated eagerly as she desperately tried to keep herself looking calm.
“So, what I am asking is, well.. would you mind if we were to agree to be sisters?”
I did iiiiiiiiiit!! Yes, I did it! My first of hopefully many little sisters! Yay! My little sister! And what an adorable and beautiful little sister she is!
“Um... of course, it would only be in title alone, but... would you mind that?”
“Me? Mind? Not at all! In fact, it pleases me to no end myself!”
“That is great news! Then, from now on, please consider me...”
“Uh-huh?!”
—My new little sister!
“—your new big sister to love and adore!”
The exclamation in Ristia’s mind overlapped with a set of words that weren’t quite what she was expecting. Once Ristia realized what that meant... her whole body flopped over the table.