Would you like to move into a larger room for now?

　Not only Ra-chan, but also Alecia came over to play, so I suggested that we move to a larger room for now.

　Even my room isn't small, but it would still feel too small for a duchess to spend time in.
You know. And it's mentally more peaceful for both of us.

No, this is good.

　It was such a thoughtful suggestion, but for some reason it was rejected by Alecia.

''There's no need to worry about it. If we're all going to play together, it would be easier to spend time in a larger room.

'I don't care about that, okay?　And I don't care how big it is.

'No, but the idea of a woman visiting a man's room at night...'

'I don't mind, and I'll try not to bother Al. If anyone starts a vile rumor, I'll crush it.

　Alecia speaks a not-so-gentle line with a beautiful smile on her face.

　The Leengrande family has no mercy on their attacking enemies. Because I heard that from Father Nord, I know that his words were not a joke.

　Why do they insist on going into my room?

　Could it be that Alecia is actually a hassle to deal with, just like Erna's mother?

''I like it here too!　Because Al's room is so much fun with all kinds of stuff in it!

Well, if you two like it, here you are.

　It's not only Alecia, but also Lim, the maid properly behind her, is following behind her like a shadow, and Loretta is also there. With this many people and watchful eyes, it would count as something like a tea party.

''Well then, I'm going to interrupt you.

　I open the door and invite them in, and Alecia and Lim come in.

　Then Alecia enters the room and moves towards the tables and shelves lined with toys.

'There's really a lot of stuff on there. This one is a reversi, this one is a chess game, and this one is a panel that was recently released at the Lazares Trading Company. They were all Al's idea, right?

Yeah, well,

　The popular perception is that the Sowlettes invented it, but Alecia spoke as if she knew that I invented it.

　Well, maybe that's because I invented Reversi when I was four years old, and my dad was proud of it," he said. And I've told a few people close to me about it.

　It's not that I'm not hiding it thoroughly, so it's only natural.

　As for the Lazares Trading Company, it's Mother Erna's family home, so it's easy to find out the connection if you look into it.

''Yeah!　That's right!　Al, wow!

I thought it was Master Silvio's or Master Nord's idea.

　Sure enough, Lah and Loretta didn't know about it.

　The Slowletts invented Reversi. Come to think of it, they'll misinterpret it on their own as having been created by Father Nord and Brother Silvio.

'Oh?　What do I see over here that I'm not familiar with?　There's a piece of thread extending out of the handle, and it's got a ball on it.

Oh, that's a kendama.

　I don't sell them because if I sell them in bulk to the Chamber of Commerce, it would increase my dad's workload and make it easier for me to help, but I do make toys for myself to play with.

　The kendama is one of them.

Kendama?　How do you play this?

　I was looking for something we could all play with, but I can't stop myself from explaining it here.

'To put it simply, it's a game where you fit a ball into a projection or onto a plate. Like this.

　Then I borrowed the kendama from Alecia. I swung the dangling ball like a pendulum and set it on the tip of the kendashi. Thank God it only took one shot.

"What?　How can you fit in such a small hole?

　Alecia is surprised to see a ball that has been settled on the tip of her ken, and her expression is not the usual affectionate smile, but a look of innocence and purity.

　The expression on her face is not the usual affectionate smile, but an innocent expression with some purity.

''Would you like to try it for a moment?''

Yes, despite what it looks like, I'm pretty sure I'm good at this kind of play.

　As I handed it to her, Alecia smiled confidently and swung the kendama, just as I did.

　The red ball, which swung like a pendulum, drew a graceful curve in the air and hooked into the tip of the kendama--it didn't, but hit the handle and bounced off.

　I don't know how to speak to him, as he had seemed so confident earlier.

''.........Oh, my?　It's harder than it seems.

The hole is small and the tip of the gun is thin. It's quite difficult to get it right. I've learned to do it consistently after practicing many times.

I know. But that's why it's funny. Again!

　I follow up and Alecia shakes the ball again. But, just like before, it hits the handle and bounces off the handle.
I was able to keep going despite the fact that I didn't fall into the hole.

　Still, I didn't give up and continued on, but I hit the tip of my sword but didn't fall into the hole.

It's quite a challenge.

　It's a bit unexpected. Although I had the image that Aleixia was able to handle everything without a hitch, she struggled with kendama quite a bit. Well, kendama is a difficult category even if you play alone, and it's not something that can be done so quickly.

It's just a feeling. Once you get into it and understand the feeling, you'll be able to do it.

I want to try it too!

　As I was following Alaisia, Ra-chan, who had been gazing at me, raised her hand.

''Yeah, okay. It's pretty hard, you know?''

I'm fine!　I can do it because I saw it!

　When Alecia hands it over with a smiling smile, Ra-chan also says this confidently.

　If you say something like that, you'll be embarrassed when you can't do it! I'll have to think of a follow-up word again.

　As I watched in a daze, Lah-chan dexterously shook her hand and put the ball into the tip of the gun.

'I got it!'

Yeah.

　Ra-chan turned to me happily, and Alecia, who hadn't been able to do it again and again next to me, froze.

'I did it, Al!　Eric!

　Ra-chan comes up to us and shows us the balls that are hooked on the tip of the ken, as if to say praise and praise.

　Maybe it's not a harassment to Alecia, who couldn't do it all the way next to me. I guess he just wants to praise her for being able to do it purely.

　It's not a good idea to worry about it here, so I decide to praise Lah-chan.

It's amazing, Ra-chan. You did it in one shot.

Oh, oh. You're good, Miss Lana.

'Heh, heh, I know. Let's do it again!

Well, as expected, you'll fail next time, won't you?

I won't!　Because I kind of figured it out!

　Could it be that easy to tell after just one successful attempt?

　Well, I thought it would be a childish act of strength, but Rah-chan succeeded in setting him up first again. He continued and shook his balls to give it another go, and succeeded.

'See!　Have you seen Alecia too?

　Alecia's cheeks twitched a little as she showed her success over and over again in front of her eyes.

　But she quickly covered it up and smiled beautifully.

'Yeah, yeah, I saw it. It's amazing. Can you lend it to me again?

Yeah!

　Apparently she doesn't like the fact that Ra-chan, who is younger than her, can do it and she can't do it at all.

　I wonder if Aleixia is quite competitive.

　After receiving the kendama from Rah-chan, Aleixia shook it again with a determined expression.

　But the red ball that soared through the air didn't get stuck in the tip of the ball, but bounced with an empty sound.

''That's.......impossible.

　Alecia gives me a look of disbelief, as if the facts in front of her are hard to accept.

'Try Eric for a moment,'

Huh, huh...

　Eric received a kendama from Aleixia and shook the kendama, puzzled.

　Then, instead of being hooked on the tip of the ball, it hit the handle and bounced off.

　I'm sure you'll be able to see that.

It's true. It's just that Rah-chan, who was able to do it right away, is crazy--

Oh, there it is.

　and so on, Eric succeeded for the second time easily in front of Alecia's eyes.

　Alecia's mouth was half open at this, and she was aghast.

'Wow, Eric did it too!

'Oh, oh. It feels surprisingly good when you get into it tight.

'Yes!'

　I wanted to tell Eric to read the air, but he was surprised that he was able to do it, too.

　Probably no offense. That's why I think it's a bad quality.

'Mo, again. One more time.

　Alecia got it back from Eric and shook the kendama once more.

　The ball, which was swung more powerfully and vigorously than before, drew a wonderful trajectory in the sky - and crashed into Alecia's forehead.

''~~!

　Alecia is in agony, dropping her kendama in pain and shock.

　Me and Eric don't know how to follow this. Should we laugh at her or comfort her?

　In the meantime, Ra-chan approached Alecia and gave her a carefree smile.

''Alecia is so clumsy!