Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume8 Chapter3 (section)

===Part 4===

Ten years ago when Rinslet accompanied her father on a visit to the Elstein territory. A time when Rinslet was still six years old.

Rinslet's father, Margrave Laurenfrost, was planning to get the opinion of the Duke Elstein household's head which produced successive generations of Fire Queens on the ritual that would be devoted to the Fire Elemental Lord.

The margrave was bringing along his daughter so she could meet her future schoolmate of the same age, Claire Elstein.

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"The Elstein house is prominent even within the empire. Get along with Lady Claire."

"Whether we get along or not depends on her."

Margrave Laurenfrost sighed at his daughter's composed six-year old face.

Her domineering personality was a secret worry of the earl's.

---The one who came to greet the two that had traveled a long distance by coach was the head of the Elstein house, Wolfram Elstein himself.

"Well, well, thank you for coming from so far away."

He was a great man with the presence of a high noble. His wife was still working at the imperial court in the capital so she wasn't present.

"I am the Laurenfrost's eldest daughter, Rinslet Laurenfrost. I will be in your care this time."

Rinslet held the hem of her dress and curtsied elegantly.

Even if she was six, she already conducted herself like a model noble.

"Ohh, as expected of the Laurenfrost house's daughter. She's got her act together. I wouldn't think she was the same age as my daughter."

"No, no, your daughter is also quite lovely---"

"......"

Rinslet paid no mind to the socially controlled interactions of the adults.

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Her emerald green eyes were staring to the spot directly behind Duke Elstein.

Twintails like animal tails were bobbing.

The girl in a white dress seemed to be cowering behind the duke.

(......What's with her?)

Rinslet sharpened her gaze and the girl shrunk back even more.

......She's like a small rabbit.

(......She's nothing like what one would expect of the daughter of a high noble household.)

Rinslet appraised her as such on their first meeting.

"Claire, greet Margrave Laurenfrost and Lady Rinslet."

"......~F-Father!?"

The girl widened her ruby eyes and panicked.

"U-Umm, that, I......"

"Claire, calm down."

"Y-Yes......"

Claire took a deep breath and,

"I am the second daughter of the E-Elstein house, Claire Elstein."

She gripped the edges of her skirt and lowered her head.

"Haha, what a sweet daughter."

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"No, it's quite embarrassing that she has such a deathly fear of strangers."

Duke Elstein shook his head with a wry smile.

"......"

Rinslet mercilessly surveyed the girl before her.

Red twintails tied at each end of her head. Ruby eyes peeking out.

The white dress suited her slender build quite well.

She was outstandingly good-looking......there was no denying it.

However, beyond that---

(She's not very interesting......)

That was Rinslet's honest thought.

(I was expecting a little because she was a family member of the famous Fire Queen.)

Rinslet had already lost interest in Claire.

"Come to think of it, where is your other daughter?"

And Margrave Laurenfrost voiced his question.

"My apologies. She collapsed from offering a ritual to the earth spirits. After a large ritual, she always sleeps for three days."

"Your daughter is already being entrusted with the earth spirit rituals?"

Margrave Laurenfrost spoke with surprise and Rinslet also widened her emerald eyes.

There should only be three years' difference in age between her and the Elstein household's eldest daughter, Rubia Elstein. As expected, it was a shock that the earth spirit ritual was being left to someone of only nine years of age.

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"It seems my elder daughter has potential as a Queen. I plan to enter her into the Divine Ritual Institute next year."

"Ohh, the Divine Ritual Institute. That's quite major."

The Elstein house had a history of producing numerous Fire Queens.

The eldest daughter might become a Queen candidate in the future.

(......Rubia-sama is amazing. Completely different from her younger sister.)

That younger sister had a slight smile on, perhaps because she was happy that her sister was praised.

"Well then, Margrave Laurenfrost, let us discuss this time's ritual in the upper guest room."

"Yes. Rinslet, you play with Lady Claire."

"......Eh? F-Father!?"

Rinslet showed a rare flustered condition.

(......I have to play together with her? This isn't a joke!)

"U-Umm......"

Claire also seemed bewildered.

"Rinslet, you're a noble with honor, so you cannot shirk your responsibilities. Now, let's go, Duke Elstein."

"N-No way! Father---"

As if cutting off Rinslet's appeals, the door shut ruthlessly.