Her gaze was lost in the immense sky before her. The window overlooking the gigantic sea of stars could only be described with one word: "Beautiful."
So distant yet dazzling at the same time.
As she tried to count each star, the girl lost track near the twentieth, recalling the words of her loving father:
—Dad was right... Watching the stars is so much fun!
Standing in the middle of the hallways with her brown eyes fixed on the grand window, the young quarter-elf sighed, satisfied with the sight she had just witnessed.
She considered it a good idea to sneak out of her room in the middle of the night to admire the infinite sky her father had boasted about knowing so well.
If her mother or etiquette teacher were to find out about her sudden escape, she would surely face an appropriate punishment for her actions.
—Although I'd rather have Mom find out about this than Petra-san or Frederica-san.
Her mother was a kindhearted and lovely person with unparalleled beauty. Her long white hair, which she had inherited, along with her peculiar ears, attested to her elven heritage.
Her brown eyes and human blood came from her father, the person who always cared for her as though she were a delicate flower.
Natsuki Subaru—that was his name.
Snapping out of her thoughts, she moved away from the grand window, walking slowly through the hallways without alerting anyone. She needed to return to her room as soon as possible.
Her firm steps covered much of the way to her room with great stealth—or so she thought.
She suddenly felt something pressing against her head. Turning to see the strange shadow that had caught her, she couldn't see anything, only darkness.
This was quite obvious given that the hallways were barely lit. The magical lamps emitted a deep, dark blue light that didn't help much either.
Her body couldn't react in time when her legs left the ground.
Completely paralyzed by the sudden act, she instinctively swung her elbow toward her captor. She wasn't aware of what she had done, nor had she measured her strength.
One of the most distinctive traits of elves was their abnormal strength; a small elf like her had enough strength to move a desk without any problem.
—Ugh!—Chocorina's body fell to the ground as the man groaned, utterly bewildered, clutching his stomach.
The white-haired girl turned to face the strange intruder. Her vision gradually cleared, and she was able to recognize the man holding his abdomen.
—Dad!—Rushing to her father, who was lying on the floor, she exclaimed with great concern—Are you okay!?
—Haha...—He laughed with some difficulty. —Yes... I'm fine, Chocorina.
Seeing the worried and sad expression on his daughter's face, Subaru felt uneasy. He disliked seeing her like that and would never allow himself—or anyone else—to cause such an expression on her face.
Chocorina quickly realized what had really happened. Her father had tried to scare her by attempting to pick her up without warning.
—Don't make that face!—He tried to cheer her up. —It's my fault for trying to do that!
After saying that, Subaru got up from the floor, looking at his daughter, who still felt guilty.
—What were you doing in the hallway at this hour?—Wanting to lighten the mood, Subaru asked a question that had been on his mind since seeing her. —Are you having trouble sleeping? Want me to help? A story, maybe?
—Dad is being silly again...
She puffed out her cheeks, momentarily forgetting the earlier incident. Her father worried excessively about her. Chocorina didn't dislike it at all; in fact, she somewhat enjoyed being the center of his attention.
Though her mother could be just as intense. In short, Chocorina Natsuki was a rather lucky girl.
—I remembered what you said about the stars at lunch, so I wanted to see them for myself!
—I completely approve of your interest in stars!—He praised her, gently placing a hand on her head. —But it's too late for that, Chocorina.
—Uhhh... I know...—She felt a bit guilty about it. She knew she had done something wrong, but her curiosity had gotten the better of her.
Father and daughter held hands as they walked toward the young girl's room. They traversed the long hallways in a pleasant silence.
Being with her father made her feel very protected—most importantly, loved. His eyes, which many considered threatening and dangerous, appeared to her and her mother as fragile orbs filled with care and affection for his loved ones.
Someone willing to do anything to help and protect those in need.
Someone who never gave up, even when the obstacles seemed insurmountable.
The King of the Kingdom of Lugnica.
The coolest person she had ever known.
—Dad...—Subaru turned to look at her while still holding her delicate hand.
—What's wrong?—It was rare to hear his daughter speak that way. Had something happened?
—Thank you for being my dad...
For Subaru, hearing those words from his daughter wasn't unusual, but today, in particular, her voice sounded softer and more affectionate than usual.
He hadn't realized his eyes were starting to tremble, threatening to shed a few tears in front of her.
—Chocorina...
—Could you not tell anyone I was in the hallway? Please, Dad!—She pleaded.
—What? Was this all a trap!?—Subaru exclaimed, surprised to discover a new side to his daughter.
Apparently, her intentions were different from what he had thought. Feeling completely overwhelmed by the revelation, he made a tragic face, causing Chocorina to laugh at his exaggerated reaction.
Soon, they reached the door to the princess's room. Chocorina let go of her father's hand and turned the doorknob.
—If you want me to stay with you longer, I can, you know?—Subaru was still a bit worried about her, thinking she might have trouble sleeping.
—Uh... No, it's okay. Dad must be very tired too, right?
—Well, yes, but...
Before he could finish, he felt small arms wrap around his waist. Seeing his daughter trying to hug him, Subaru knelt to her height.
—After all... Dad is the best dad in the world!
This time, her words had no ulterior motives. On the contrary, they came straight from her heart.
Father and daughter shared a long hug as the night grew even deeper than before.
—Are you okay, Otto-san?—Chocorina pinched the man sprawled across his desk, wearing the expression of someone lifeless.
She noticed a strange smell, which she immediately associated with alcohol. Her father had once told her that the person in charge of negotiations and administrative duties was somewhat of a heavy drinker.
There was even a time when he had forbidden her from seeing him, considering him a bad influence.
To her, however, Otto felt almost like family. She often saw him meeting with the king, her father, to discuss economic problems and projects to improve the kingdom's quality of life. As the princess of the Kingdom of Lugunica, it was part of her training to learn about these matters.
—Otto-san...—She tried to wake him by gently shaking his still shoulder.
At this point, Chocorina began to think Otto might have passed away due to alcohol excess and had already moved on to the next life.
Before she could draw a definite conclusion, the drunk man's head rose from his desk, revealing his tired eyes and disheveled face.
—Where am I?—His eyes darted around until they landed on the small girl by his side. —Emilia-sama? Huh? Why is she so small?
Shocked by the sight before him, Otto started doubting whether he was still in his senses or if this was part of an alcohol-induced hallucination.
—I'm not Mom, Otto-san!—Chocorina puffed her cheeks in mild offense. She knew the resemblance to her mother was inevitable, but she still wished to be recognized as herself.
—Ah! Chocorina-sama!—Otto exclaimed, startled as he realized his mistake.
—You know I don't like it when you use "sama"!
—Well... Then... Chocorina-chan?
—That one I like!
The casual conversation between a royal official and the princess of the kingdom might have seemed odd to an outsider. But for them, this was a nearly habitual routine they had developed over time.
—I'm getting sidetracked here—Chocorina said, reminding herself of the reason for her visit to Otto's office. —My da... The king told me you had some suuuper important papers!
Before she could say the word "Dad," she remembered she was on royal duty, and thus, she had to refer to her father as the king. Even though she didn't like it much.
—Oh... Yes, the trade agreement from yesterday...—Otto began rummaging through the papers on his desk, trying to find the documents she had mentioned.
As the seconds passed, Otto froze, his expression turning blank.
—Chocorina-chan...
—Huh?
—My life ends today—he muttered, burying his face in his hands as if reflecting on some deep regret.
Chocorina thought it prudent to remain silent for a moment while the man before her cursed himself.
—Uh... I... I'll go see Mo... the queen—she quietly exited the office after failing the task her father had assigned her. It seemed Otto would handle it soon enough.
She walked through the halls wearing a rather particular dress. Needless to say, it was beautiful—something only a princess like her would wear.
On her way, she passed by numerous maids bustling about the castle. Chocorina didn't know exactly how many maids they had, but that didn't stop her from greeting each of them with a smile. Though they showed her immense respect due to her status, she noticed the distance they kept, which slightly saddened her.
—Chocorina, good morning, I suppose—A blonde girl appeared before her, her large "drill-like" pigtails, as her father had called them, dominating Chocorina's view.
—Beako!—Her lips curled into a smile at the sight of Beatrice. The spirit often kept her company during her free time so she wouldn't feel lonely.
—Be grateful for Betty's kind heart for forgiving you for using "Beako"!—It wasn't that she disliked Chocorina's words, but Beatrice felt she lost a bit of respect and dignity as a spirit when someone other than her contractor called her that.
Even if that someone was his own daughter.
—Is Mom in her office?
—Uhm... Why would I know that? I haven't seen her all day, I suppose—Beatrice shook her head, denying having seen the half-elf Chocorina called Mom.
She had no idea where her mother could be... Maybe in her room?
—If you're free, you should help me—Beatrice offered, extending her hand toward her.
—Help you? Are you having trouble with something?
—Chocorina is the ideal person, indeed—Beatrice smiled, encouraging the girl to offer her help.
Chocorina wasn't entirely sure. On one hand, she wanted to set aside her royal duties for a moment and have fun with Beatrice. On the other, an inner voice told her she should focus on her studies and training.
—I really want to go with you! But...
—You also turned down my last invitation a few days ago. Don't you enjoy being with Betty anymore?
—Eh?! No! No, that's not it!—Alarm bells rang in her mind. She didn't want to offend or hurt Beatrice's feelings in any way.
Since she could remember, Beatrice had always been there for her. Over time, she saw the spirit as an older sister she could always rely on for help or fun.
—Fine! I'll go with you!—she finally said. —Mom can wait; it's not that urgent anyway.
—You're definitely her daughter—Beatrice smiled, looking directly at the girl before her.
Many said her outward appearance was a spitting image of her mother. However, Beatrice knew that Chocorina had inherited far more from Subaru than from Emilia.
—They've both been so busy lately... Do you know anything, Beako?
Beatrice only shook her head, giving a negative response. She would be lying if she said she knew nothing, but her contractor had explicitly told her not to reveal anything about it to Chocorina.
It was something she didn't need to worry about just yet.
—Both parents are far too cautious with their daughter, indeed—she whispered while Chocorina was still lost in thought.
—Did you say something?
—If we can head to the library now...
—Oh... The library? Come to think of it, you haven't told me what you need my help with!
Beatrice ignored her complaints, and the two headed to the grand room where thousands of books resided.
—A-Am I doing this right?—Her hand trembled as she carefully tried to keep the water inside the cup—Beako, my arm hurts...
Her extended hand firmly held a small cup of water, while on her head she balanced a kind of glass cup that threatened to fall to the ground with the slightest movement.
—Subaru from Betty said that body balance is crucial for concentration—Beatrice said this while looking at the little elf with curiosity—As a result... your ability to concentrate when using magic should increase, I suppose.
—T-That makes sense...—Chocorina agreed with that, mostly because it had been her father's words—Beako... you just wanted me to spend time with you, right?
Chocorina still wasn't completely convinced by this unreasonable training, her limbs already hurt, and she just wanted to lie down and rest.
If Beatrice wanted her company, she would have gladly accepted. Even if the responsibilities of being a princess held her back.
—Chocorina, Betty wants to tell you something very important.
—Huh? Is something wrong?—Suddenly, Beatrice's tone had changed a bit. She didn't know the reason for this, but she could assume it was something very important for Beatrice.
The great spirit fixed her gaze on Chocorina while still holding the balance of the two cups at her request.
—You know that you, Subaru and Betty are in a spiritual contract, right?
—Yes! Dad told me they made a contract many years ago!
Chocorina spoke enthusiastically. To her, the existence of spirits had always been something fascinating. She knew her father was a user of spiritual arts just like her mother.
—Subaru from Betty proposed to Betty to form a spiritual contract with Chocorina, in fact.
Crack
Both cups fell to the floor.
Chocorina couldn't be more surprised. To her, her father and Beatrice were like an inseparable pair. Her mother had explained to her that the relationship between a spirit and their contractor could be as strong as that of a father and daughter.
It was a contract that lasted for eternity where the contractor and spirit supported each other, driven by trust and emotional attachment.
They had a special relationship that Chocorina had always believed to be unbreakable.
But now...
—Why?—Chocorina questioned—Why would Dad say that? You and he are...
—Betty has also thought about it, even argued with Subaru about it, I suppose...—She relaxed her voice while trying to find the right words—Betty knows that her contractor won't live forever, humans live at most 100 years, and after that, Betty will...
—Don't say that, Beako!—Overwhelmed by Beatrice's sad and painful words, Chocorina interrupted—Mom and I will still be by your side! We won't leave you alone! That will never happen!
—Chocorina...
It had been a long time since Beatrice had heard such words full of affection and sincerity. In her mind, she remembered the moment that changed her life forever, when Subaru entered the burning library and extended his hand to her.
—If Dad is forcing you... I...
—If I were to form a contract with someone, I would prefer it to be with you, Chocorina—The little elf fell silent at her words—Only Subaru from Betty's children deserve to have a great spirit protecting them.
—I understand, but... I'll only accept if you feel comfortable with it, Beako. I don't want you to feel forced to do this just because you're his daughter...
—Fuhm! Frankly, Betty's contractor has no hope, leaving the charming Betty in someone else's hands.
Inside, she knew perfectly well that breaking her contract with Subaru didn't mean the end of their relationship. They would still live together, have fun when they could, pull pranks, and she would be rewarded with head pats.
The only difference would be that her contractor would now be her daughter. What better choice than her? She wasn't opposed to being Chocorina's spirit. But, the way her contractor suggested it was a little upsetting, Subaru really lacked a bit of tact.
But aside from that... there was another reason Subaru asked Beatrice to form a pact with Chocorina.
To keep her safe.
This was the point that convinced Beatrice when she learned of the current situation of the Kingdom of Lugunica.
Something Chocorina would find out sooner or later.
—Do you think we should do it now, Chocorina...?
—What? Right now!? Isn't that too rushed? I thought...
—We have no reason to delay this any longer, I suppose—Beatrice extended the palm of her hand while trying to reach the little elf's hand.
Chocorina responded by doing the same, raising her right hand.
Beatrice closed her eyes, feeling the formation of a new connection within her. Subtly, she opened one of her eyes and saw Chocorina completely focused on forming the contract.
The little elf wasn't unfamiliar with magic or the concept of spirits, but this was the first time she would have such a deep connection with none other than a great spirit.
Both opened their eyes when they felt the new bond between them complete. Before Beatrice could say a word, her new contractor jumped on top of her as if she were a stuffed animal to hug.
—Beako, I love you so much! Thank you!
—Ah! W-Wait!
Beatrice's body was placed on the ground as she was happily hugged by the silver-haired girl
Between laughter and complaints from Beatrice, the afternoon in the Kingdom of Lugunica passed in the blink of an eye.