Published: September 9, 2025
Two chapters updated today. For details, see the activity report!
April 21, 2015 – Typo corrections made.
April 21, 2015 – Partial revision made.
This is Satou. I’ve seen harps in stories and on TV, but I’ve never actually seen one in person. I have the image of a woman dressed in a toga playing it gracefully, but it looks pretty heavy, doesn’t it?
◇
The one who saved me was the harbinger of a visit from Princess Sistina’s younger sister.
We stopped the soundproofing device, put away the spell materials, and arranged the seats to look like a normal tea party.
Feeling somewhat like a cuckold, I fixed my gaze on the small princess who appeared at the entrance of the room.
“Sistina sister!”
The little princess clung to Princess Sistina.
Her name was Doris, the twelfth princess of the Shiga Kingdom, Sistina’s full sister, and she had just turned ten. She was two years younger than Arisa but had the same physique.
After indulging herself with her elder sister, Princess Doris turned to Mia and spoke excitedly.
“Lady Mia! Today I brought a rare dragon harp and a jade just for you!”
The “jade” Doris mentioned was not the gemstone but a beautiful little bird with jade-colored wings.
From the luxurious birdcage came a beautiful song.
—What is this? I felt a sense of déjà vu as if I knew this bird.
“Hey, Lady Mia, try playing it!”
Mia took the harp and plucked the strings with her fingers to check the scale.
The harp was a mysterious item befitting a princess of a great nation.
Its body was like crystal, gem-like, with strings that looked made of gold.
Also, the pillar of the body was decorated with a relief carving of a woman with long hair.
This female figure was not just decoration but seemed to function like a resonance tube, and Mia was seriously trying to understand the instrument’s characteristics through trial and error.
Perhaps getting bored of Mia’s attention, Princess Doris trotted over to me.
“I will allow you to introduce yourself.”
Princess Doris commanded, looking down at me as I sat.
Her attempt to act dignified was endearing.
“Nice to meet you, Your Highness. I am Satou Pendragon Viscount, a retainer of Count Muno.”
I said, giving a slightly stylish bow befitting a noble young man.
Normally, this kind of bow would be for an adult lady, but for a child wanting to act grown-up, this mature greeting would likely be appreciated.
“Oh my! What a lovely greeting, Viscount Pendragon. I am Doris Shiga, the twelfth princess of the Shiga Kingdom. My mother is the same as Sistina sister’s—we are full siblings.”
Princess Doris returned my greeting, stumbling over words and pronunciation.
She looked around at my left and right, then turned her face toward Arisa.
“Arisa, make some room there.”
“No way.”
Despite facing a princess of a nation, Arisa casually refused the order.
Perhaps not expecting refusal, Doris’ gaze wandered nervously.
Mia sat on Arisa’s opposite side.
Unable to tell Mia to move, Doris showed a troubled face for a moment, then smiled as if she had an idea and reached out her hands toward me.
—What does she want me to do?
“Put me on your lap, Satou.”
I see, she wanted to sit on my lap.
“That’s rude, Doris.”
“Princess, please sit beside Princess Sistina.”
Princess Sistina’s attendant chided her, but Doris wouldn’t give up and looked at me with pleading eyes.
“—Is it okay?”
“Very well, Princess Doris.”
I grasped her waist and lifted her onto my lap.
Mia and Arisa looked displeased, but we can allow the cute indulgence of a small child.
◇
After tuning the strings, Mia began to play the harp.
The jade-colored little bird seemed to enjoy Mia’s melody and chirped along.
—Hmm? I feel a magic power wave.
According to the AR display’s detailed info, the crystal wood of the harp possessed the ability to heighten the listener’s emotions sensitively.
Simply put, the harp had an additional effect that made people easily moved.
Everyone here, except me who resisted, was spellbound and enchanted by Mia’s music.