As always Giliath demands your power stones!
*****
Renne smiled seeing the violet-haired woman before her, doing the same thing she wanted to do. It's just this woman was enjoying a book to pass the time as she took in the sun.
"So this is where you were at, Angie. Out enjoying the sun I see. Sure you didn't want to join the rest to battle some monsters?", Renne asked, entering the woman's view. She was Angelica Rogner of course, one of Naoto's present lovers.
"Nah. I'm enjoying some vacation time of my own. We have an entire month, give or take. It's not like we constantly need to battle monsters. There's no enjoyment in that.", Angelica replied. She even had some shades on. Moving them down a bit with one of her hands, she saw Renne in her periphery. She also saw a newspaper in Renne's hands. "Is something up?", Angelica asked, gaining interest.
"There sure is. Seems we got a date now. Read 'em and reap.", Renne said, tossing the paper into Angelica's lap. Angelica paused her reading, and placed her book on a small table stand placed on top of the sand right next to her, which by the way, also had a half-empty non alcoholic fruity-looking cocktail on it as well.
Cracking open the paper, Angelica let it fold out in front of her. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the headline of a violet-haired boy shaking hands with Erebonia's Emperor. Her eyes raised once she finished reading the headlines.
"Sheesh, that boy moves quickly. But it's nice to have a date now for when all of this is going to go down. An engagement party, eh? I could potentially use this to my advantage and debut into high society. That deadbeat dad of mine won't know what's coming. He's under the impression that I'm a sorry excuse for a daughter that often rebels against him~", Angelica responded, letting out a laugh.
"I was along the same line of thinking. You and Big Brother currently have a plan in motion regarding those Great Houses yeah?", Renne asked.
"We do. And this would be a good first step to do so. There are plans in motion right now, but the first step has yet to be taken. I need to assume the head of the Rogner House, effectively putting my father out of the picture. While everyone is focused on Naoto, I can slide into the shadows and do this. I may require some assistance, cause I'm pretty sure I'll be met with some resistance.", Angelica answered.
"So that's what you're intending to do. I will agree it's a good time to do that. If you do assume the seat of a Marquis and become Bracer while you're at it, you might be the very first person to have those two titles together~", Renne replied with a playful smile.
"It's going to be weird for sure. I want the freedom Bracers have, but I'll manage responsibilities a Marquis has over their household. It'll be the first step to consolidate the Great Houses. You think Musse has caught a whiff of it?", Angelica questioned.
"I'm sure she has. Musse might be hiding her background as a member of the Cayenne House, but one day, it might fall upon her to assume that position, much like your current intention to do so. But with the direction this is heading, she might not have to worry about assuming that identity. That just means more weight will be placed on your shoulders.", Renne explained.
"No doubt it will. But this weight is hardly a matter to take into consideration to the weight he has to hold onto. I can't even imagine running a whole country.", Angelica said, shaking her head.
"That's also very true. Big Brother definitely has his work cut out for him. At least he won't be alone. I'm surprised that the emperor gave his approval to hold this engagement party. That was the biggest hurdle, in my opinion.", Renne responded.
"I know, right? Her Highness quite enjoyed the time she spent with Naoto when she was in Liberl with him. I could see it clearly. If there was one surprising factor out of all of this, it was the Chancellor who suggested it in the first place.", Angelica mused, recalling everything that had happened to lead to this point. "But your guess is as good as mine as to where this will head. All for the sake of that unification plan of his, I guess.", Angelica continued. She concluded reading the newspaper, and placed it at her side.
"Got to start somewhere, right? Trying to play games with the largest empire out of the entire continent might have not necessarily been the best starting point, but it's developed in a way that it just makes sense to start there. Really makes you wonder what goes on inside that Chancellor's head.", Renne also mused.
"All the more to enjoy having some fun now, and kick back and relax. To which you're joining me, right? Yesterday we might have gotten a little ahead of ourselves, hehehe~", Angelica responded with a playful smile.
"Just a little? Try a lot. Musse's gone way over her head because of what you three did.", Renne retorted, before plopping herself onto the empty chair laid out before her. She was quick to begin relaxing.
"Hey, what's happened, has happened. I don't regret sending those photos to him. It's a shame we couldn't do any more~", Angelica teased.
"Uh-huh. Either way, keep me out of that. Just don't let those oversized melons control you too much.", Renne retorted again, shifting her eyes to a particular area on Angelica's body.
"What, you mean these?", Angelica asked, raising her hands to her own body, and started pushing her breasts up and down in a joking manner.
"You didn't need to spell it out literally. Why do I even bother.", Renne retorted, seeing Angelica do this.
"Hehe, I'm just joking around here. We had all that excitement yesterday. Now it's all about relaxing and enjoying some fun. Shall I call one of the waiters to mix you a drink?", Angelica asked.
"Sure, why the hell not. Non-alcoholic of course, like the one you have. I'm still just a kid you know.", Renne responded.
"A very terrifying kid if you ask me. But one nonetheless. A mixed drink it shall be.", Angelica said with a nod.
After some time, another likewise blindfolded individual dressed in a customized apron that had the Auslese insignia on it approached them, handing Renne a very colorful ocean-blue drink. It was as if it came right out of the ocean itself. The waiter then excused himself back into the mansion. If Naoto's harem does end up expanding in the future to where one of his girls was a bartender, this temporary waiter might find himself out of a job.
Swirling her drink around, Renne spoke up again.
"Do you have a certain cheer, Angie?", Renne asked.
"A cheer, huh? We aren't doing a toast or anything, but sure. Let's do one. To the future, I guess.", Angelica said, raising her glass.
"To our future. How bold, hehe.", Renne replied, giggling. Still she raised her own glass, and the two glasses struck. Tink!
Renne and Angelica did a small cheer, hopeful of what was to come. They weren't sure where the future was going to head, but their group of people was a mish-mash of chaos waiting to happen. Only time will truly tell what will come to take place.
And it wasn't just them either. Other spots around the continent were reacting to this piece of news. Even the two countries' neighbor; The Republic of Calvard.
Around the same time...
The capital of the Republic.
Edith.
Home to thirteen districts, each designed with a different focus. They're known as Burroughs. Similar to other spots of western Zemuria, rolling gray clouds struck the entire city. Little bite-sized snowflakes were slowly falling down one after another. The snow was calm with minimal wind flowing, making the snow rather enjoyable. Snow did fall onto Edith on occasion, but it was never heavy. Not like how snow fell back in Rolent of Liberl. Most of the time, it painted a pretty picture.
Regardless, many people were still out and about. And seeing that it was wintertime, many travelers were currently enjoying indoor activities, or having a cold meal out while enjoying the ongoing wintry scenery. Many different kinds of people could be seen due to the influx of immigration Calvard's current president has been dealing with, mostly coming from the Central East and beyond. In return, it created a unique atmosphere that fellow enthusiasts can enjoy regardless of their origin. It was how Tyrell Times came to be, capable of covering many different kinds of news topics other countries didn't bother doing.
And while many people were out and about enjoying their morning, a different scene could be seen taking place in another Burrough. The Auber District. This district is the fifth one of the giant capital city, which welcomed over five hundred thousand people altogether. Its situation was very similar to Heimdallr of Erebonia. This district was home to Edith's most famous academy, likely in all of Calvard, Aramis Academy. It was also home to the second largest Church in Calvard, the Grand Cathedral. It even had Liberl and Elsaim Embassies, much like the Erebonia and Calvard Embassies located in Grancel City of Liberl.
Most of Aramis Academy was shut down for the time being while its students were enjoying winter vacation. Just like any other school, they would be starting up again once the week was over. On the contrary, to the right of the giant school building stood another three-story building, the Aramid Academy Dormitory. Many students reside here, regardless of what year they were placed in.