BRAND NEW WORLD

"W-What did you just say?!"

"Yes. Miss Rima left a message earlier. She said that several delegations from various kingdoms will be coming today to congratulate My Lady on your awakening and recovery. Miss Rima also apologised for not telling you yesterday. She did not wish to interrupt the time you were spending with everyone else," Lusserina explained.

Ugh, that little sister of mine.

Of all the things she could forget to tell me, it had to be something this important.

She really reminded me of someone.

I glanced at Ringga.

He returned my gaze with a puzzled expression.

"Mom, what’s wrong?" Daisy asked.

"It’s nothing, sweetheart. It’s just that several nobles will be coming here later."

"Nobles?"

"Yes. So, after breakfast, we’re going to take a bath and put on some pretty clothes."

"Yay!"

Well, at least one person was happy to hear the news.

Once breakfast was over, I asked Lusserina to bathe Daisy and get her ready. Meanwhile, I headed towards the rear terrace to deal with the other problem that still hadn’t moved from where I’d left it.

Players were still sprawled all over the backyard as though last night’s party had never ended.

"What am I supposed to do with all of this?" I muttered, letting out a long sigh.

"Oh! I’ve got an idea!"

Ringga suddenly appeared beside me.

"I’ll have everything sorted out before lunch."

"An idea?" I turned towards him.

"Seriously, I swear!"

The smile on his face only made me more suspicious.

I stared at him for a moment before looking back at the yard.

Fine.

It wasn’t as though I had a better idea myself.

"I’ll leave it to you."

I turned to head inside, only to stop at the doorway.

"Oh, right. Don’t take too long. You still need to clean yourself up and change your clothes."

Ringga raised a thumb, still wearing that same smile.

For some reason, that did absolutely nothing to reassure me.

After bathing, I surrendered the matter of my appearance entirely to Lusserina.

Even while busy arranging my hair, she somehow found the time to send Ishtar and Aul to the capital to purchase ingredients for the meal.

Rima returned carrying the clothes we would wear to receive our guests. Daisy and I went first while my little sister waited for Lusserina to finish the final touches.

When I finally stood before the mirror, I almost failed to recognise myself.

The ivory-white formal attire Rima had chosen fell gracefully to just above my ankles. Its high collar framed my neck, while the outer layer opened at the front and followed the lines of my body. Delicate golden embroidery spread from the collar across my shoulders and sleeves before trailing along the edges of the fabric like curling vines.

An ornate golden belt circled my waist, drawing all the layers neatly together without making the outfit feel overly extravagant.

Part of my silver hair had been gathered elegantly at the back and adorned with small golden ornaments, while several loose strands were left to frame my face.

Surrounded by ivory and gold, my sky-blue eyes somehow looked brighter than usual.

"Wow... Mom, you’re so pretty!"

I turned towards Daisy.

And then I was the one who fell silent.

She was wearing a simpler version of my outfit.

Golden embroidery decorated the collar, sleeves, and front of her ivory-white dress—just enough to make her look elegant without overwhelming her small frame. Her skirt stopped short of the floor, allowing her to move around freely.

Her brown hair had been carefully arranged and decorated with tiny white flowers and delicate golden ornaments.

I looked at our reflections standing side by side in the mirror.

Dressed like this, we truly looked like mother and daughter.

A smile came to my lips.

I gently stroked her head, careful not to ruin her hair.

"Daisy looks very pretty too."

"Hehehe..."

She made a small turn, trying to look at her own skirt. The hem fluttered out with the movement.

While Lusserina helped Rima get ready, I took the opportunity to check on the backyard.

Ringga was discussing something with Azrail, Bartasz, and several people who appeared to be craftsmen.

The players who had been lying all over the place earlier were nowhere to be seen.

Apparently, Ringga really had managed to convince them to move.

Seeing that everything outside seemed to be under control, I returned indoors.

When Rima finally emerged from the dressing room, however, my steps came to an involuntary halt.

Her clothes were almost identical to mine: ivory white, with a high collar, long sleeves, and intricate golden embroidery. Layers of fabric flowed softly at either side of her body whenever she moved.

Yet somehow, whether because of the way she carried herself or the details Lusserina had chosen for her, the overall impression was completely different.

I still felt as though I were learning how to wear a noblewoman’s clothes.

Rima looked as though she had always belonged in them.

Golden ornaments glimmered among her elegantly arranged silver hair.

Her emerald-green eyes met mine, and one of her eyebrows rose slightly.

"What is it, Big Sis?"

"...Nothing."

I was just a little annoyed by how ridiculously well my little sister suited clothes like these.

"My Lady, could you please remind Lord Ringga that he needs to bathe soon?" Lusserina asked.

I nodded and headed back towards the rear terrace.

Daisy followed beside me.

This time, however, I stopped the moment I stepped through the door.

A large gazebo now stood in my backyard.

The wood had been painted white, with elaborate carvings decorating the pillars and edges of the roof. Beneath it stood twenty chairs surrounding a long table.

Flowering plants had even been arranged around the structure, making it look as though the entire thing had been planned from the beginning.

Except...

It hadn’t existed this morning.

"Ga."

"What do you think? Nice, right?" Ringga asked with a grin.

Was this the idea he had been talking about?

I opened my mouth.

Then closed it again.

The yard was clean.

We now had somewhere suitable to receive our guests.

It was difficult to complain about the result when everything I needed was already sitting right in front of me.

Still...

A whole gazebo?

"Yes, it’s very nice," I finally admitted. "Especially the flowers around it. I like them."

Ringga’s grin widened.

Bartasz and the artisans also looked pleased with themselves.

"Now hurry up and take a bath. Then get changed."

"Ah! Right. I’ve still got enough time, don’t I?"

"If you go now."

He immediately hurried inside.

I remained there for a moment, staring at the gazebo, while Daisy had already wandered inside to explore it.

"What do you think, Ma? Not too embarrassing, right?" Bartasz asked.

"No. I like it. Good work, Bartasz."

Before I could even think about what I was doing, my hand reached out and stroked his head.

Bartasz’s face immediately turned red.

"Ma! I told you not to pat my head in public! It’s embarrassing!"

I bit the inside of my cheek, desperately trying not to laugh.

The artisans behind him made no such effort.

Bartasz turned towards them.

Their laughter only grew louder.

Since their work was finished, Bartasz asked me to teleport him and his men back to the capital.

Once they disappeared, the yard became considerably quieter.

I called Daisy over and took her back inside.

Ringga appeared while I was still in the house.

For a moment, I thought someone else was coming down the stairs.

He wore a long ivory-white formal robe whose cut reminded me of a hanfu. Its neatly layered fabric was decorated with elaborate golden embroidery along the shoulders, sleeves, edges, and lower hem.

A broad belt embellished with golden metal ornaments wrapped around his waist. Long cords and tassels swayed gently with every step he took.

Even his blond hair, which he usually allowed to fall rather freely, had been properly arranged. Part of it was tied back, while the rest flowed past his shoulders.

I blinked.

"...Ga?"

"Hmm?"

He looked down at his clothes.

"What? Does it look strange?"

"No."

That was precisely the problem.

Dressed like this, he looked far more suited to attending a royal gathering than I cared to admit.

Ringga noticed that I was still staring.

The smile on his face slowly transformed into that familiar grin.

"Handsome, aren’t I?"

"...I take back my compliment."

"Huh?! You haven’t even complimented me yet!"

Daisy burst out laughing beside me.

As noon approached, Rima left to collect the representatives of the other kingdoms.

Ringga, the others, and I finished decorating the gazebo while Lusserina directed the servants as they prepared the food.

We had only just finished arranging the final decorations when a procession of carriages approached from the direction of the capital.

Three ordinary carriages accompanied a luxurious one adorned with golden carvings.

I took Ringga and Daisy with me to welcome our guests.

King Siegfried stepped out of the carriage and smiled at us.

"Good afternoon, Miss Luna! Lord Ringga!"

"Good afternoon, King Siegfried!" Ringga and I replied together.

The king’s gaze then lowered towards Daisy.

"And good afternoon to you, little miss!"

"Mm!" Daisy nodded. "Good afternoon, Uncle!"

She immediately peered towards the carriage behind him.

"Uncle! Uncle! Where’s Theo?"

"Theo? Unfortunately, Theo didn’t come with me today."

Daisy’s shoulders drooped.

Seeing her excitement disappear so quickly, King Siegfried crouched down in front of her.

"I’m sorry. Today is for grown-up matters. How about tomorrow or the day after? Uncle will bring Theo here to see you."

"Really?"

King Siegfried nodded.

"Then promise?"

Daisy held out her little finger.

King Siegfried stared at it in confusion before looking towards me.

I smiled and nodded.

Only then did he hook his little finger around Daisy’s.

My daughter’s smile immediately returned.

"I’m very glad to see you healthy again," Prime Minister Allan said.

"Prime Minister Allan! I’m glad to see you too."

He glanced briefly towards the house.

"By the way, I don’t see Miss Rima. Has she gone somewhere?"

"Yes. She said she was going to collect the representatives from the other kingdoms."

"Anastasia has been very eager to see you, Miss Luna," King Siegfried added as he stood.

"Really? In that case, please give her my regards. Perhaps we can arrange a time to meet later."

"Of course."

His attention shifted towards the backyard.

"Is that where we’ll be meeting?"

"Right this way," Ringga said, gesturing for them to follow him towards the gazebo.

The guests from Nuzantra took their seats.

I joined them, and light conversation flowed as we waited for the other delegations to arrive.

"By the way, Miss Luna, have you seen Knight Commander Deva?" Allan asked.

"Deva?"

I looked towards Ringga.

His thumb, which had been idly brushing the edge of his sleeve, suddenly stopped.

When he raised his head, however, he looked directly at Allan.

"I don’t know where he is either."

"He said yesterday that he would be coming here. But when we visited his house earlier, he wasn’t there," Allan explained.

"He was definitely here last night. I saw him this morning too," I replied. "But by late morning, I didn’t see him anywhere."

"I see..."

I glanced at Ringga once more.

Before I could think too much about it, however, the glow of a teleportation circle in the yard caught my attention.

Four figures emerged from within it.

I immediately recognised Shanaerah and Shanyrria—the former queen and current queen of Nyrranthea.

Prime Minister Brudack accompanied them, along with Yzzat, the kingdom’s Knight Commander.

I rose to welcome them.

Daisy hopped down from her seat and followed behind me.

"Big Sis Luna!"

Shana approached and wrapped her arms around me.

As I returned her embrace, Shany crouched down in front of Daisy.

"Good afternoon, Daisy!"

"Good afternoon, Big Sis Shany!"

"Aww! You’re so adorable! Come here, let Big Sis carry you!"

Shany had already spread her arms wide.

Brudack and Yzzat were just about to move when Daisy straightened her back and carefully corrected her posture.

"Big Sis, I’m already a big girl. So I have to learn how to behave like a proper princess."

Shany’s arms froze in mid-air.

Brudack and Yzzat burst out laughing.

The moment Shany turned towards them with an irritated expression, both men hurriedly covered their mouths.

"What?!"

"Ahem!"

Brudack cleared his throat.

"It appears Her Majesty Shany could learn a thing or two from Princess Daisy."

The end of his sentence dissolved into another chuckle.

I held back a smile while Daisy continued doing her very best to maintain her dignified posture.

After exchanging greetings and catching up briefly, I invited them to join Ringga and the Nuzantra delegation.

The gazebo steadily grew livelier.

The chairs that had seemed excessive earlier began filling one by one.

In the middle of our conversation, another teleportation circle lit up in the yard.

Mbah Dukun appeared with the delegation from Moesram.

I recognised Prince Hasby and Princess Zeba at his side.

Three others accompanied them: the commander of Moesram’s forces and two men who, if I remembered correctly, served as advisers to the Sultan.

Ringga rose to welcome them.

I followed him to the edge of the gazebo.

"Welcome."

"It is good to see you recovered, Miss Luna," Prince Hasby said.

"Thank you. Please, join us."

Princess Zeba smiled at me before slowing her steps as she passed the flowers surrounding the gazebo.

"What a beautiful place."

"Thank you," I replied. "I only saw it for the first time today as well."

She looked at me as though she couldn’t quite decide whether I was joking.

Beside her, Ringga smiled proudly.

Of course he did.

"Come. There’s still room over here," Ringga said, leading them towards the table.

I returned to my seat once I had made sure everyone from Moesram had been accommodated.

Greetings overlapped around me, accompanied by the scraping of chairs being moved into place.

Looking at all the guests now gathered beneath a roof that hadn’t even existed this morning, I was forced to admit that Ringga’s idea had indeed been useful.

Then—

Once again, the light of teleportation swept across the yard.

Rima stepped out first.

Three unfamiliar men followed behind her, all dressed in hanfu.

Their appearances reminded me of martial-arts film stars from the old days.

I was just about to rise when the final figure emerged.

My body froze the moment I recognised her.

So this group must be the representatives from Kalimantra.

Among everyone who had just arrived, her eyes immediately found mine.

I didn’t even have the chance to greet her before her voice rang out.

"Grandma!"

"Raisya!"