—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Heehee…”
The sun was high in the sky; it was well past the start of the day. For most, it was almost lunchtime.
“Mmm~”
But for this elf, it was still time for sweet dreams.
In a grand mansion in the city, a short distance from the academy, a place of unimaginable wealth and power, Melina was still sound asleep, completely forgetting today’s important event.
Knock, knock, knock –
Three knocks, concise and measured. After receiving no response, someone opened the door to Melina’s room and quietly entered.
“Princess Melina…”
It was Adela, her attendant. She was an elf with sharp eyes and a dignified, elegant aura.
“It’s time to wake up.”
Adela whispered softly into Melina’s ear, informing her that she had overslept, but—
“Mmm~”
—Melina simply turned over, seemingly refusing to wake up. She was sleeping so soundly that drool trickled from the corner of her mouth.
She looked so innocently childish that it was hard to believe she was a princess.
“Princess Melina…”
Adela carefully pulled back the tangled blankets and whispered her name again. But Melina remained motionless, sprawled out on the bed.
“Princess Melina! Wake up!!”
Finally, the attendant sighed deeply and raised her voice.
Adela’s voice finally seemed to reach Melina’s subconscious, and her eyelids fluttered open.
“Yawn~ Adela…? Good morning~”
Melina stretched languidly and finally sat up. But Adela, with a mixture of worry and exasperation, pinched the bridge of her nose.
“It’s almost noon… It’s time to wake up.”
She continued, looking at the still drowsy Melina,
“Didn’t you say you had an important guest coming today?”
She asked, a hint of concern in her voice. But Melina just mumbled incoherently,
“That’s right~”
“Please wake up! It’s almost time for your appointment.”
Adela, unable to hold back any longer, raised her voice again.
It wasn’t so much annoyance as exasperation from years of dealing with her sleeping habits.
“Hic…, what? Appointment…?”
But then, Melina’s eyes widened at the word “appointment,” and—
—she was suddenly wide awake.
“What?! My appointment, already?!!!”
Finally realizing the situation, a look of panic spread across her face.
“W-What time is it?!”
Melina looked at the clock in her room. It was around 10:55 AM.
“Oh no! I’m in trouble!!”
In the blink of an eye, she jumped out of bed like a bolt from a crossbow.
“Oh no! What should I do?! Arnold said he would be here a little after eleven?!”
The peaceful room was instantly thrown into chaos. Melina frantically searched for clothes and fussed with her hair in front of the mirror.
“You should hurry and wash up. Didn’t you say you wanted to look your best?”
But Adela was calmly tidying up the messy bed. Melina glared at her, resentful of her calmness.
“Why didn’t you wake me up sooner?!”
“I’ve been waking you up every fifteen minutes since eight o’clock. Perhaps you could count how many times I tried to wake you.”
Melina was speechless at her attendant’s reply. She knew she was a heavy sleeper and notoriously difficult to wake up in the mornings.
“Oh no~! I’m in trouble! I’m not even ready. What if Arnold arrives?! Oh, whatever -!”
Melina paced back and forth and then ran towards the bathroom.
Adela sighed deeply, watching the princess.
“Haa, I wonder when she’ll grow up. She said it was a very important day herself…”
But there was no malice in her sigh. She had been serving Melina since childhood and was deeply devoted to her.
Her voice was filled with concern rather than annoyance.
◇ ◇ ◇
“How do I look, Adela? Am I presentable?”
Melina sat stiffly in the drawing-room, her shoulders tense with nervousness.
“You look beautiful. However, your nervousness might detract from your charm. It would be best to relax.”
Melina fussed with her hair in front of the mirror, caught up in a pleasant mix of nerves and excitement. The light green dress complemented her blonde hair, enhancing her ethereal beauty.
“I hope he sees me as more than just a princess today, as a woman…”
Despite the late start, she had managed to get ready just in time. She had been staring at her reflection in the mirror for several minutes.
Having someone she liked visit her home was both exciting and nerve-wracking, especially since this was a hard-won opportunity.
Knock, knock, knock –
“Eek…!”
As she waited, a knock finally echoed through the drawing-room.
“C-Come in!”
Melina hurriedly adjusted her posture and granted permission to enter, her voice trembling slightly.
Creak –
The man she had been waiting for appeared in the doorway.
…………
…………
Today was the day he would fulfill Melina’s request. She had invited him to the mansion she was staying at in the royal capital.
“C-Come in!”
As he entered the room, Melina, dressed in a beautiful gown, greeted him. Her attire, both demure and bold, struck him as rather cute.
“I’m here, Melina.”
The atmosphere in the drawing-room was warm and cozy.
A gentle fire crackled in the fireplace, and candles and rare flowers from the elven forest adorned the room, creating a mystical and enchanting atmosphere.
“S-Sit here! I’ve been waiting.”
He carefully sat down on the sofa, taking in the carefully arranged decorations that highlighted the special nature of this occasion.
“First, could you try this?”
Melina turned to her attendant, who placed something on the table.
“I made it for you yesterday, thinking of you!”
It was a plate of chocolates, neatly arranged on a silver platter. Her face was filled with anticipation and a hint of nervousness.
“I made them all by myself, of course. Please try them.”
She pushed the plate towards him with a playful smile.
Each chocolate was intricately decorated, some with floral patterns, others shaped like stars or moons.
“They’re all so pretty. You’re very skilled.”
He offered his honest compliment. Each piece looked professionally made, as expected of someone who enjoyed making chocolates as a hobby in the game.
“Heehee, really…?”
Melina giggled, slightly embarrassed by his praise.
“The taste is more important. Try it.”
He picked up the nearest one, a small, leaf-shaped chocolate, and carefully put it in his mouth.
“Mmm~”
The chocolate melted smoothly before he could even bite into it. The rich aroma of bitter cocoa filled his mouth, followed by a sweet aftertaste. The smooth texture and the perfect balance of sweetness were a testament to Melina’s skill.
“Delicious…”
He muttered, his voice filled with genuine admiration.
“Really?”
Melina clasped her hands together, unable to hide her delight.
“Heehee, actually, I’ve loved making chocolates since I was very young. There are so many wonderful ingredients in our elven forest. So, you could say this is a creation borne by both nature and myself!”
She spoke with pride. Then, she suddenly picked up a chocolate and approached him playfully.
“This time, I’ll feed you myself. Close your eyes.”
He was momentarily flustered.
“What?”
He hesitated. Melina’s playful yet earnest demeanor was somewhat unsettling.
“Isn’t that a bit embarrassing?”
“No! You might not be able to fully appreciate it if you eat it yourself. I have a special way. Just trust me!”
But her playful yet serious tone convinced him to close his eyes.
“Alright… If you insist.”
Darkness enveloped him. With his vision obscured, his other senses became heightened.
“Mmm -”
He felt something soft against his lips.
But something was wrong.
It wasn’t the texture of chocolate. It was much smoother.
“……?”
He opened his eyes, puzzled by the strange sensation, and—
Kiss -♡
—gasped at the sight before him. Melina’s face was… incredibly close.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Hi Lord Fourth here!
I’m new to translating so if you find some mistakes or inconsistencies let me know about it on the dedicated channel on discord.
