On the way back, Kirasaka Sayaka was unusually quiet—she didn't say a single word.
She wanted to crawl into a hole. Now that La Folia knew about the spanking, how was she supposed to show her face again?
Only when they were nearly back to Itogami did Sayaka plead with La Folia: "Your Highness, please—I'm begging you. Don't tell anyone that Shichen spanked me. Especially not Yukina."
"Yukina is…?"
"She's my handler—the one the Lion King Agency assigned," Shichen explained.
"Is she cute?"
"She is. And she's my student."
"Freshman? The Lion King Agency is something else… By the way, you're sure you're not a lolicon?" La Folia couldn't resist asking again.
"…Sounds like you want to find out what a spanking feels like," Shichen replied.
"Well~ I am a bit curious. I've never experienced that kind of 'punishment' before," La Folia said, playfully blinking.
"You'll have your chance…"
Back on Itogami, Shichen settled the girl who'd been turned into a synthetic angel, then took La Folia and Sayaka to Saikai University. It was lunchtime, so he led them to the student cafeteria.
La Folia didn't mind campus food; she looked around with interest. The cafeteria was already pretty full, and the moment La Folia and Sayaka walked in, they drew every eye. Two top-tier beauties—and La Folia's silver hair stood out, her ceremonial outfit like a dress uniform, so reminiscent of the "saint" at school.
"That girl—why does she look so much like the Saint?"
"Could she be the Saint's sister?"
"S-so pretty…"
"Why is it always Shichen-sensei…"
"Shichen, you're popular with your students," La Folia said, smiling as she looped her arm through his.
"Is that what you think?" he said, glancing at her hand. She'd gotten awfully familiar awfully fast.
"Your Highness… maybe that's not appropriate," Sayaka said, eyes fixed on La Folia's hand.
"Why? Jealous, Sayaka?"
"N-no I'm not!"
"Hehe~ It's fine. You can do what I'm doing. We can both."
"Who wants to do that with you!"
"Why are you so touchy? Is it that time of the month?"
"She's always like this," Shichen said, shaking his head.
"You two…" Sayaka ground her teeth. With their back-and-forth, she felt like the outsider—even though she'd been there first.
"By the way, do I really look that much like my au—Kanase Kanon?" La Folia had heard the whispers about being Kanon's sister.
"Listen to yourself. You're practically identical—just a bit older than her."
"Identical, huh… I see. I've never actually met her," La Folia said.
"Got a photo?"
"No. I came the moment I got the message. Royalty, Shichen—you understand."
"That I do… Who sent the message?"
"Vatler."
"That guy… feels like he's always scheming," Shichen said wearily.
"I heard he's interested in you?" La Folia teased.
"He just wants to devour me… I'm guessing he lured you over. How else did you get attacked the minute you arrived?"
"When you put it that way…" La Folia thought—and realized it made sense.
"What's his goal?"
"To force my hand—stir up trouble so I'll act."
"Synthetic angels… that bastard Kanase Kensei," La Folia muttered.
"You know him too?"
"He's Kanon's foster father—and used to be our court magitech engineer."
"You want to settle with him? Too late. I already did."
"For Kanon? Figures. Whether you do it or I do, it's the same—we're aligned," La Folia said with a small smile.
"Mm."
"Earlier you said I'm a bit 'bigger' than Kanon—bigger where?" La Folia asked, hugging his arm a little tighter, pressing in.
"Knock it off—people are watching."
"When there's no one around…"
"Your Highness, could you be serious for once?" Sayaka groaned.
"Alright, alright…"
"Sensei!"
A voice cut in. Its owner hurried over, staring hard at La Folia until she got a good look at her face.
"Eh? Kanon? No—who are you?" Himeragi Yukina asked, puzzled.
"And you are?"
"Yukina~" Sayaka squealed and leapt at her, hugging her.
"Sayaka… You too?"
"You didn't see me before? All eyes for Shichen, huh?" Sayaka pouted.
"N-no…" Yukina said, embarrassed.
"So you're Himeragi Yukina—Shichen's monitor?" La Folia sized her up and nodded. "Definitely loli. Very cute."
"I feel like you're implying something," Shichen said, mouth twitching.
"Sensei, who is she?" Yukina asked.
"I'll explain after lunch. Where's Kanon?"
"Over there."
Yukina pointed behind her—La Folia snapped a look and immediately spotted Kanase Kanon. The moment she saw her, she understood why everyone was so sure they were sisters. It was like looking in a mirror—just a bit fresher, shorter hair.
"Eh? Kanon, is that your sister?" Akatsuki Nagisa, next to Kanon, had also noticed La Folia and gasped.
"I don't know," Kanon said, smiling as she looked at La Folia. "It does look that way."
"Onii-chan," she said, coming up to Shichen first.
"Mm." He reached out and ruffled her hair. Kanon squinted and smiled, sweet and content.
"Me too!" Avrora shoved her head in.
"Alright~" He patted her hair as well, indulgent.
"Eat first. I'll explain after class."
"Okay."
"Sensei, I have another question," Yukina said coolly.
"What is it?"
"Why is she hugging you?"
"Oh~ Jealous?" La Folia piped up.
"J-jealous?!" Yukina blurted, mortified. "N-no!"
"In that case, it's fine if I keep holding Shichen, right?" La Folia shot back, tone openly provocative.
"Who are you?" Yukina frowned, eyes hard.
"Ah—I forgot introductions. I'm La Folia Rihavein, First Princess of the Kingdom of Aldegia," La Folia said, poised and composed.
"P-princess?!"
—
After school at Shichen's place, everyone sat in a serious circle. Akatsuki Nagisa was there too, curious about Kanon and La Folia.
Every gaze landed on the two of them. They looked too alike; with the age difference as the only real tell, no one would believe they weren't related.
"Kanon, steel yourself," Shichen said gently.
"It's okay, Onii-chan," Kanon smiled back.
"In that case—"
"Shichen, let me say it," La Folia cut in, looking at him earnestly.
"Alright."
"Thank you…"
La Folia took a breath, turned to Kanon with a soft smile, and said, "Hello… Auntie."
"Au—Auntie?!" Everyone blurted at once.
"Are you… sure you're not mistaken?" Kanon was stunned.
"I'm not mistaken," La Folia shook her head. "Your real father is my grandfather."
"Your grandfather—His Highness the King?" Yukina asked.
"Yes. And you don't have to be so formal with me; you're one of Shichen's women too."
"O-one of Sensei's women?!" Yukina turned crimson.
"Just call me by my name."
"I—I'm not Sensei's woman…" Yukina denied in a tiny voice.
"Really? Why are you as shy as Sayaka, then?"
"Y-Your Highness! What are you saying!" Sayaka sputtered, terrified she'd say too much.
"Sayaka?" Yukina looked at her, suspicious. Shy like me?
And why was Sayaka with Sensei again?
"Yukina, she's joking. I'm assigned as her bodyguard this time."
"Bodyguard? I see. Then why were you with Sensei?"
"We were attacked and stranded on a 'deserted' island. I asked Shichen to rescue us."
"I get it. So you came to Itogami to…?"
"That's right—I came to find my aunt," La Folia nodded. "Fifteen years ago, my grandfather had a child with a Japanese woman living in Aldegia. That child… is Aunt Kanon."
~~~
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