In the end, I did at least manage to get Fina to discuss our trip with me. We couldn’t settle on a good solution though, so we decided that I should go and ask Noa directly, while she should return home and inquire with her family.
「Yuna-san, welcome.」
When I arrived at Noa’s mansion, Lala-san came out to greet me.
「Are Cliff and Noa in? I have a letter for Cliff, from Eleanora-san. Can I meet him now?」
「Noa-sama is in her room at the moment, so that should be fine. Cliff-sama is currently working, however, so I’m not sure if he is ready to meet you. I will confirm with him, so please wait inside.」
Lala-san brought me to a room, and as I waited, Noa barged in.
「Yuna-san?!」
She rushed up to me with a smile.
Looking at her closely, I could see her resemblance to Shia. When she grew up, would she look like Eleanora-san? I hope her personality wouldn’t end up being similar, though.
I really hoped she wouldn’t change, and stay the way she was.
「Yuna-san, why are you looking at me like that?」
Noa returned my stare with a troubled expression.
「It’s nothing. I just thought about how cute you are.」
「I think you are cuter than me!」
「Why, thank you.」
I patted Noa on the head as she sat down next to me.
「I heard from Lala that Mother gave you a letter to bring to us, is that true?」
「It was addressed to Cliff, though. Actually, it is about getting permission for me to take you to the capital, upon Shia’s request.」
「To the Capital?!」
「Shia wants you to come and see their school festival, and she asked me to bring you over.」
「Onee-sama did…」
Noa looked rather happy.
Noa and Shia really did get along just like Fina and Shuri. It filled my heart with joy simply seeing how pure their relationship was.
「So, do you want to go?」
「Of-of course I wanna go!」
She blurted out immediately to no surprise.
「Okay, now we just need to get permission from Cliff.」
「Don’t worry, I will convince Father myself.」
She strongly declared.
Well, we had Eleanora-san’s letter, and I also planned on asking him myself. If I remembered correctly, Cliff still owed me a favor. Even though I had caused a lot of trouble for him and it might feel like I had already been repaid, I was sure there was still a bit left.
「This means I can travel with Swaying Bear-chan and Hugging Bear-chan again.」
She smiled and looked at me.
Would it be better to let Noa travel with Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, after all?
「Do you really enjoy going out with Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear?」
「Of course. Just hearing about the trip is getting me excited. I get Swaying Bear-chan and Hugging Bear-chan all to myself.」
She couldn’t hog them, though. Even if Fina and Shuri somehow weren’t allowed to come, I still had to ride one of them myself.
「Actually, Fina and Shuri are both coming this time, so you can’t monopolize both Bears.」
「Fina and Shuri are coming too?!」
「Eleanora-san invited them. Would you be okay with sharing the Bears with them?」
「Of course. I’m a little disappointed I can’t have the bears all to myself, but if we can all go together, it will be really fun.」
「What will be fun?」
Cliff interjected as he entered the room.
「Sorry for keeping you wait, Yuna.」
「Don’t worry about it. I was chatting with Noa.」
Cliff sat down in front of me, looking awfully tired.
Was he working too much? His work as a feudal lord must be quite tiring.
「So, I hear that you brought me a letter from Eleanora.」
At his prompt, I took out the letter from Eleanora-san and handed it over to him.
Cliff opened it and skimmed through the contents. Did he look surprised at some point or was it just me?
「The school festival, huh? Is it that time already?」