Chapter 61: First Friend
“Erika——!”
Just as Erika lay on the bed dazing off, she vaguely heard a familiar voice coming from outside the window.
Getting up and walking to the window, Erika looked through it and saw a silver-haired girl standing at the door of the house.
“It’s her…”
Seeing Isana at the door, Erika pouted. She had no idea how Isana found her address.
But on second thought, she was the duke’s daughter—investigating something like this was probably easy for her.
Isana wasn’t dressed very nobly today; instead, she wore a simple floral dress. With her height roughly the same as Erika’s, she gave off a lively youthful aura.
But Erika’s lower abdomen was still a bit uncomfortable today. She didn’t want to mess around with Isana, especially since Isana had never had good intentions from the start.
“Mm—better just ignore her.”
After hesitating for a moment, Erika decided to pretend she wasn’t home. She didn’t respond and instead flopped back onto the bed in a sprawled-out position.
“Erika——!”
The voice from outside the window continued calling.
Helpless, Erika quickly pulled the quilt over her head.
Ignore her! Go to sleep!
She hadn’t slept well last night, and now Erika didn’t want to do anything at all.
……
When she opened her eyes again,
It was already noon.
“Ha~”
Stretching out her slender arms, Erika stretched her body. Her petite frame had a pinkish-white hue, looking somewhat unique.
Isana’s voice had already disappeared outside. She looked around and saw that Gladys still hadn’t returned.
She was feeling a little hungry…
After a simple wash-up, she changed into a plain white dress with lace and prepared to go out and buy something to eat.
Gladys gave her some pocket money every day. Though not much, it was enough for a meal.
Before leaving, Erika couldn’t help but glance out the window.
And that glance stunned her.
That silver-haired girl was still at the door!
Only this time, she was squatting at the doorstep, holding her chin in her hands, her gaze fixed on the street outside.
Isana hadn’t left!?
Somewhat perplexed, Erika opened the window.
“Click.”
Isana seemed quite sensitive. Upon hearing the sound, she immediately turned her head.
When she saw Erika’s cute and familiar little face, she sprang up like she’d been injected with adrenaline.
“Erika! Over here!”
“It’s I-Isana, ah… hehe, you’re here.”
Feeling a bit awkward, Erika had no choice but to go out and open the door for Isana.
Just how long had she been waiting…
After inviting Isana into the house, the latter immediately acted like a curious baby, glancing around with wide eyes and muttering to herself.
“So this is where Erika lives, it looks so nice.”
Saying that, without waiting for Erika to speak, Isana darted into the bedroom.
Erika had no choice but to follow helplessly.
“Did you come here for something?” Erika asked while following her in.
“Aren’t we friends? Can’t I come over to hang out even if there’s nothing special?”
With a smile, Isana turned around and—as always—grabbed Erika’s arm. “I heard you got hurt during riding class, so I came to check on you.”
“Hurt?”
Tilting her head, Erika didn’t understand. “I didn’t get hurt, who told you that?”
“Those new students in our grade.
They said you ran off riding a Golden Horned Beast, and there were bloodstains on the ground, so they figured you got injured by it.”
Upon hearing that, Erika’s face instantly flushed red like it was engorged with blood.
“Eh? Erika, why is your face so red?”
“N-No reason! I wasn’t hurt!”
Erika immediately clarified, feeling extremely embarrassed inside. Of course she knew what those bloodstains were.
Thankfully, the Golden Horned Beast had kicked up dust at the time. Otherwise, if others found out those bloodstains were from her period, she’d have wanted to die from the shame.
“Hehe, I know you weren’t hurt—you just got your period.”
“???”
At Isana’s words, Erika, who had just relaxed a bit, tensed up all over again.
“H-How do you know!?”
“I guessed. But it looks like I guessed right.”
Isana smiled and pointed at the half-finished sugar water on the table, and the scattered pajamas and long socks in the bedroom…
“Hmph, you little brat, I was calling for you all morning outside, and you clearly were home but ignored me!”
Isana suddenly pouted, looking a bit unhappy. “Was it because of your period, or because you hate me?”
“N-No, I just fell asleep.”
“Liar.”
Without hesitation, she exposed Erika’s lie. She pointed at the sugar water, “That sugar water was prepared this morning, right? You were sitting by the window drinking it, of course you heard my voice.”
“Ah… I… didn’t…”
For a moment, Erika was tongue-tied by Isana’s words.
Shaking her head, Erika had no choice but to lower her head and apologize.
“Isana, I’m sorry…”
“Eh, don’t apologize Erika, I didn’t mean to scold you.”
Pursing her red lips, Isana suddenly gently placed both hands on Erika’s shoulders.
“Erika… is it because… I used a hypnosis spell on you that day, so you’re ignoring me?”
“No, I already said I don’t mind.”
“Then why…”
Suddenly, Isana’s face dimmed. “If there’s anything I did wrong, Erika, just tell me, I’ll change.
Please don’t… ignore me…”
“No, Isana, I’m just not feeling well today…”
Erika hurriedly explained. Seeing Isana’s current expression made her flustered too. Maybe she really had gone a bit too far this morning.
Looking at Erika, Isana’s eyes flickered. “Erika, I just arrived at the Imperial Capital too. If you think about it, you’re my first friend here. So… I’m scared… scared that you’ll ignore me.”
“Really no, Isana, I swear!”
Raising her little hand, Erika blinked. “I never hated you. I just really didn’t feel well today. And you’re also my first friend in the Imperial Capital—I won’t ignore you.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Hearing Erika’s reply, Isana nodded, a smile blooming on her face.
Then, she took out two big meat buns from her arms.
“I bought these this morning.”
“For me?”
Looking at the meat buns, Erika couldn’t help licking her lips. Her favorite food in the Imperial Capital was still the buns from the commercial street.
“But they’re already cold.”
“It’s fine, still edible!”
Without a second thought, Erika grabbed the bun and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing with little “munch munch” sounds. That familiar flavor made her face radiate pure bliss.
So… so cute!
Seeing the other’s adorable expression, Isana couldn’t hold back. She once again wrapped her arms around Erika’s, their skin brushing together.
“Isana… you’re clinging too close.”
“Are you still hungry, Erika? Want to go out and play together today?”
Swallowing the bun in her mouth, Erika sucked her fingers. “Aren’t you going to the academy?”
“You’re not going, so why should I?”
Tilting her head, Isana giggled. “I’ll take you to eat something delicious. I know a snack shop with amazing food.”
“Is… is it meat?”
“They have everything.”
“Then let’s go!”