The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

As expected in a game like this, young girls and boys are typically drawn to look adorable.

Yes, that includes the boys. After all, there aren’t many ways to make a child look "cool." No matter how impressively they’re designed, to an adult, they’re still just kids. Even if an elementary schooler says, "I’ll protect you!" it just comes across as cute.

...Elementary school.

Thinking about it, I'm currently fifteen years old. Excluding the age of the soul within this body, and counting from when this body was created, I was fifteen in this world’s years.

In Korea, that would place me in the equivalent of ninth grade. Outwardly, though, I didn’t look much different from a high schooler. Maybe the game’s modeling carried over here somehow; I’m not sure.

It’s strange to think about how absurd it is to dress kids like this in bunny costumes...

I often forgot that the characters here, given the growth dynamics different from Earth, were just kids according to the game’s standards.

If we hadn’t worn masks, people at the casino would have probably recognized right away that we were too young.

Although someone might have realized Alice was a princess before that.

And naturally, the boy standing in front of me, a few years younger than I, looked very much like an upper elementary or early middle schooler. This world didn’t have a clear middle school concept, but that’s how he appeared.

With green hair, dressed in an outfit that looked like a child’s butler uniform, and a face that was neat and cute enough to have been a regular character in the original game... but this was an unfamiliar face.

That’s to be expected; if I hadn’t saved him, he would have likely been sold. And if he didn’t have that pretty face, he might not have even been at the orphanage.

The boy looked up at me with emerald-green eyes, his expression slightly surprised.

I wasn’t as skilled as Alice at reading people’s expressions, so I wasn’t sure if he was surprised to see my face or if he recognized me as the "Sylvia Black."

"They’re esteemed guests who will be staying here for several days," the butler informed him.

"Oh, yes."

The boy’s voice responded promptly, and the butler's brows furrowed slightly. It seemed he wasn’t pleased with the boy’s momentary lapse in attention.

But it appeared he wasn’t the type to scold a child in front of guests, nor did he seem the kind to raise his voice. The young apprentice butler didn’t seem intimidated by him either. Had he been mistreated, he wouldn’t have stood so confidently.

The boy placed one hand over his heart, clasped his other hand behind his back, and gave a slight bow. The graceful movements revealed the extent of his training.

"I’m Daniel, a butler-in-training. I look forward to serving you during your stay."

Though he likely wouldn’t be guiding us himself... ah.

Daniel.

Hearing his name triggered a memory from deep within. There had been a quiet, composed child with striking green hair, one who had a similar demeanor to Claire. Younger than her, but with the same calm aura.

We had all been young back then. Claire and I were only five years old, and there were even younger children—orphans whom that old woman at the orphanage had "acquired" from somewhere.

They were "goods" she held onto and later resold for a high price.

Had Daniel been particularly attached to me?

I wasn’t sure. Back then, most of my attention was focused on Claire. I had been kind to the other children, sharing my food and telling awkwardly made-up stories, but that was about it. There had been too many to take care of individually. I was just one person.

Still, the fact that none of them caused me any particular trouble suggested Daniel had likely been an obedient child as well.

"Daniel!"

Claire, as if seeing him after a long time, instinctively stepped forward, only to pause and look back at her mother.

The baroness regarded Claire with a slightly stern expression.

I glanced at Claire.

She had her hands slightly raised, as if she had intended to run over and hug Daniel.

But it wouldn’t be appropriate for a fifteen-year-old girl in this world to do that.

While teenage marriages weren’t unheard of here, children who attended academies weren’t treated as mere kids anymore.

The line between "adult" and "child" was incredibly blurry in this world. Stories of seventeen-year-olds who lied about their age to join the military and became celebrated heroes were common, but at the same time, those under twenty were often reminded by "real adults" that certain responsibilities weren’t for children.

There was no charter of human rights yet. Who knows if there ever would be.

"Oh, it’s been a while?" Claire hastily lowered her hands and waved them enthusiastically as if that had been her intention all along.

"Haha..." Daniel chuckled awkwardly, lowering his head slightly as he replied, "It’s been a while, Miss Claire."

Claire’s expression turned slightly discontent at his response.

There was no hint of a romantic undertone between them. It would have been difficult for there to be one, anyway. One looked young yet seemed mature, while the other was still closer to childhood.

More than that—

I slowly looked around the room.

It was a very tidy space. Not empty, but neatly arranged, with various items organized in a way that made it feel comfortable.

There were two bunk beds in the room, indicating it was meant for multiple occupants.

"The other children are all attending to different tasks. Currently, Daniel is the only one residing here," the butler explained, noticing my gaze. The baroness nodded in agreement.

Perhaps Claire had once stayed in a similar room with Daniel. They likely separated rooms by gender, but they must have lived as siblings before Claire was adopted by the Grace family.

Had they hugged freely back then? Knowing Claire, it seemed likely.

My gaze, which had been wandering around the room, gradually focused on Daniel’s face.

I studied his expression carefully.

Were there any signs of injury? Did he look unhappy or sad? I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to check, but it seemed necessary.

And, to my relief, I found nothing concerning.

Satisfied, I finally spoke.

"I trust you’ve been well."

Though it might have been impolite to ask such a question without a proper introduction.

But Daniel replied as if he’d already been informed about me.

"Yes, I’ve been well and have lacked for nothing."

"I see."

I chose my next words carefully. How should I continue?

"I heard there are others from the same orphanage..."

"They’re all under the Grace family’s protection. They’re currently finding various ways to repay the family’s kindness."

"I see."

I took that to mean they were all doing well.

"..."

I almost asked if he remembered my face but held back.

Somehow, I felt I already knew the answer.

At first, I thought he was simply surprised by the unexpected visit. News of two princesses visiting the mansion would have already spread among the household staff.

But... there was a look of understanding on his face that seemed different from mere surprise.

"It’s late today," I said slowly, carefully choosing my words for the next part.

"But if you’re free tomorrow..."

I hesitated, briefly questioning if it was appropriate to ask this way.

"Could you introduce me to your friends?"

In the brief silence that followed, there was no tension, only a moment of stillness.

"I’d be happy to," Daniel replied, bowing his head to me.