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“R-Ripple?! I thought you were returning tomorrow—” Eris exclaimed in surprise.
“Well, things wrapped up quicker than expected~~ Turns out there wasn’t as much damage as anticipated—and when I heard everyone was here, I couldn’t resist… Ohhh?! What’s this, Eris?! You’re wearing a dress!” Ripple’s eyes widened with excitement.
“W-Well, they suggested it, so… I… um…” Eris stuttered, feeling a little self-conscious.
“Ooh~! It looks great on you, Eris! Very nice!” Ripple grinned and approached Eris, inspecting her dress and giving her playful pokes.
“It’s a special occasion, after all. It’s the first time we can properly celebrate defeating a Prisma… It’s just surprising that you’re the one stepping out of your comfort zone first instead of me, you know~? Normally, you’d be furious about it and say, ‘This is not the time!’ or something,” Ripple teased.
“E-Enough…! It’s special this time—really special…” Eris responded.
“Well, you’re right. But since I’m such a serious gal, I’ll stick to my uniform. Ah~ I wish I could dress up and have fun at the party too,” Ripple sighed.
As Ripple spoke, Eris smirked.
“You said it… Girls, let’s make her wish come true!” Eris declared.
“Roger that!” Rafinha agreed, flashing a mischievous smile as she caught Ripple’s hand.
“Alright, Miss Ripple! Just come over here… I’ll help you change your clothes!” Rafinha chimed in.
“W-What are you doing, Rafinha?!” Ripple protested.
“We actually prepared a dress for you, just in case you arrived early!” Rafinha added.
“Just leave it to Rani, okay? Dressing up is fun, you know,” Inglis explained.
“And maybe we can decorate your tail with a ribbon too! It’ll look so cute…!” Rafinha suggested.
“Eh…? You’re tickling me, Rafinha…!” Ripple giggled.
“It’s all part of the fashion experience! Fashion requires patience!” Rafinha giggled back.
And then…
“Wow♪ You look absolutely adorable, Miss Ripple♪” Rafinha exclaimed as Ripple emerged in a pale orange dress, complete with pretty ribbons that cascaded down to her ears and tail.
While Eris exuded a mature and attractive charm, Ripple’s outfit showcased her vibrant and lively personality. Both girls had their own unique charm.
“A-Are you sure…? Do I look strange somewhere? I don’t dress up like this often, so it makes me a bit nervous,” Ripple voiced her concerns.
“Don’t worry, you look fantastic,” Inglis reassured her.
“I agree with Inglis!” Leone chimed in.
“Me too!” Liselotte added her support.
“Y-You really think so…?” Ripple’s face brightened.
“I genuinely believe it suits you, Ripple. Well, since we’re all dressed up now, let’s make up our minds and enjoy the day, okay?” Eris proposed.
“Hahaha. Who would’ve thought you’d say that, Eris?” Ripple laughed.
At that moment, Ripple smiled warmly and squeezed Inglis’ arm.
“Thank you, Inglis. Thanks to you, I feel like it’s okay for us to enjoy the day!” Ripple expressed her gratitude.
“Just as Ripple says, I never imagined a time like this would come. Thank you… Now, shall we head to the banquet?” Eris suggested.
“Yes—let’s go! Let’s eat together, have fun, and enjoy ourselves!” Inglis’ eyes sparkled with excitement.
“No, we can’t eat that much!” Eris protested.
“Y-You and Rafinha can do that on your own, I suppose,” Ripple added, giggling.
With Eris and Ripple by her side, Inglis led the way out of the dressing room, ready to make the most of the evening’s festivities.
◆◇◆
Then, after a month had passed, Inglis and Rafinha found themselves aboard the Star Princess unit, soaring through the clear blue sky above the grassy plains. The view of the fortified town of Ymir and its bustling townscape came into sight.
“Wow~! Look, Glis, we can see it now! Feels like ages since we’ve been here~♪” Rafinha exclaimed with excitement.
“You’re right, Rani. But seeing Ymir from the sky like this for the first time feels refreshing,” Inglis replied.
“Yeah, it does! Ahh~! Even though it’s only been a few months, it feels like years have gone by!” Rafinha sighed.
“So many things have happened. We even battled against the Prisma. It was quite an experience, wasn’t it?” Inglis reflected.
“No, I don’t even want to think about that… But somehow, just coming back to Ymir makes everything feel alright! You know, that ‘home sweet home’ feeling!” Rafinha expressed.
“Hahaha. We are home, and it’s nice to take things slowly once in a while. We’ve been really busy lately,” Inglis agreed.
Inglis and Rafinha had returned to Ymir because the Knight Academy was on holiday, making it a true homecoming for them. However, even before their return, there had been a lot of commotion surrounding them.
Both Inglis and Rafinha played pivotal roles in the historic victory against the Prisma, making them celebrities in the capital. Their fame was likely to spread throughout the entire country. While it was an unavoidable outcome, and Inglis wanted to preserve Raphael’s honor and that of the Holy Knight Order, she now began to worry about what the future held.
Although she had insisted on only taking up the role of Commander of the Imperial Guard Order part-time and wished to remain a student of the Knight Academy without being pulled into the political or military stage, she could only maintain this position because King Charleas and Commander Redas understood Inglis’ character. She couldn’t predict how things would unfold from here on out.
“You’re right. Let’s make it quick so we can relax soon! Accel mode!” Rafinha declared.
“Yes, yes. Here we go!” Inglis replied eagerly.
The Star Princess unit accelerated, swiftly arriving at Marquess Wilford’s castle. As they entered the garden, Inglis and Rafinha were greeted by the presence of their mother, Selena and Irina, who had been eagerly awaiting their arrival.
“Glis!”
“Rafinha!”
“Mother!”
“Mother!”
As they reunited, their faces lit up with joy, thrilled to see each other after such a long time. However, something caught the attention of both Inglis and Rafinha simultaneously.
“Mother…”
“Mother…”
Their curiosity was piqued, and they couldn’t help but inquire.
“What do you have there?”
“What’s that?”
Selena and Irina held a stack of booklets in their hands, and it immediately captured the interest of Inglis and Rafinha.
“Oh…”
“These…”
Their grins widened, and in perfect synchronization, they revealed the surprising contents.
“They’re all matchmaking requests for you! So many of them!”
“Huh…?!”
“Wow— Who are they?!”
Inglis’s expression darkened, filled with dismay, while Rafinha’s face lit up with excitement. Their reactions couldn’t have been more opposite.
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