Part 44: This is sorta nostalgic, in a 'that was an awesome adventure' kind of way.

On second thought, meeting Olivier might be an education for the little tyke.



-Royal Castle-





Seems a bit more lively this time, though.
The villa is usually open to the general public. Many people use it as a place to relax.
Such a refined setting! It speaks to my taste.
Perhaps I should wield my lute in the service of further rest and healing for everyone here.
Yeah, you'll send them into comas, maybe...
I see the point about a vacation spot, though. There's a lot of families here!
I'd bet our lost kid was with a family like that.
So let's go find this Raymond guy.
Right, let's go.



Guardsman: Please, feel free to enter.
oh well if you insist
Other Guardsman: I'd kind of like to ask, but...Just a bit ago an old man rushed in saying he heard a monster howling. Did you find anything odd by the entrance around here?
Ah, you mean that big monster, I bet.
We took care of it, so there shouldn't be any problems now.
Other Guardsman: Oh, is that right?...Now that you mention it, you seem to be bracers. That's great, I was just thinking we'd have to investigate and slay it. Thank you for your assistance. Enjoy your time at the villa.



Capital Citizen: If it'd been a monster, I would've dragged it out kicking and screaming...Then I would've slammed it into the ground with my judo throw, but...Ultimately it was too scared of me and never showed itself. Would you like me to teach you my secret judo throw? You grab their collar with all your might, and then...Ow ow owww, m-my hip!



Estelle would cheerfully cast a line into the lava flows outside the Ouroboros Grandmaster's secret lair.








Chamberlain Raymond: The bracers will be here any minute! Where could she have gone...?
Hellooooo!
Chamberlain Raymond: Ah! Yes, yes, may I ask what you--



Haha! Hello! I guess you remember us!
Chamberlain Raymond: Hah! How could I forget! We all owe you greatly for what you did at the villa. And, wait, that's--
Is something...wrong, sir?
Chamberlain Raymond: Er, no, haha...No, I'm mistaken. You just look like someone I know, miss.
Oh, do I remind you of your girlfriend, perhaps?
Chamberlain Raymond: Aaaah! Um, not at all! Er, so, I take it you are the team Elnan said would be coming?
Yeah, that's right. Is everything okay, though? You seem kinda...troubled.
Chamberlain Raymond: It's...about that lost child, actually. She's, um, how to put this...'lost again.' She told me, 'Let's play hide and seek' and just vanished. I've been looking for her ever since!
Oh, um...crap.
Chamberlain Raymond: I'll find her soon, I swear! Please, wait in the lounge. You know where that is, right?
Well, yeah, I do, but...You look like you're having some trouble. You're sure you don't want a hand?
Chamberlain Raymond: Are you sure? I wouldn't want to impose...
Hey, we're already on the case, right? Tell us her name and what she looks like and we'll get lookin'.
Chamberlain Raymond: Thank you! She's a pre-teen girl wearing a white, frilly dress and a black hair ribbon. She never gave me her name, though.
You didn't find out her name? Seriously?
Chamberlain Raymond: She wouldn't tell me! Every time I asked she just said, 'It's a seeee-cret!' I think she came in with her family, but I couldn't find her parents or anyone who knew her...My only option was to call you, in the end.
I, uh, I see!
Hide and seek, huh? Energetic little girl you got there!
Chamberlain Raymond: Hm. Not sure I'd say 'energetic.' Precocious and whimsical is more like it. I got the distinct impression she was enjoying toying with the adults around her.
Ohoooo. A prank-loving kitten, then?
Chamberlain Raymond: Yes, exactly! Agh! Where could she have gotten off to? I'm fairly sure she hasn't left the building, but...
In other words, we must search the entire building, including the courtyard.
Heh! A perfect place for a game of kitten-and-mouse.
Chamberlain Raymond: I will wait in the lounge, then. When you find her, please bring her there.
Will do!



So, white dress, black hair ribbon.
Haha! I can't imagine she'll be hard to find in an outfit like that. I'm eager to see what kind of girl she is.
Let's get searchin'.







Hey, maybe she's IN the planter!
Oh, c'mon, she's not a damn cat.
Yeah, I guess not...



The fountain was completely fished out, 0/5 stars



Librarian Pietro: ...A girl? No, I haven't seen her.



This is sort of an actual kid-sized pot, so maybe she's in here.
Are you kidding me?
For one thing, how the hell would she squeeze through the opening?
Oh, haha, good point.





Haha...Yeah, didn't think so.
*ahem* Putting that aside...Bending over in your current outfit may not be wise, Estelle.
Huh?
How to put this delicately...Your unmentionables are now quite mentionable.



He's not wrong, Estelle. You ain't wearin' shorts anymore, so be careful, yeah?
Ummm...R-Right.



Simone: I'm not letting her get away with it! I'm sure that girl's somewhere in the villa. Pleeease find her!
Chamberlain Raymond: N-Now, now. All we can do is calm down and search carefully. That girl might have some reasons of her own for hiding.



Ricarda: The people are kind, and no matter where I go, the view is breathtaking!



IT'S WALTER! FULL ASSAULT--oh wait
Senator Walter: I've come a bit early in order to inspect the site and prepare for the signing ceremony. And what a remarkable villa this is! Indeed, it is more than sufficient for hosting the ceremony.



Curse you, Phillip! How much time does it take just to purchase a magazine and some donuts?!



Hey!
Oh...!
Y-Y-Y...
YOUUUUU!!!
Uh, what's up with this dude?
Duke Dunan...Oh, joy of joys.
Um...Hello, Uncle. Have you been well?
ARGH! Have you no SHAME, Klaudia?! And YOU, brigand! Because of you...All because of YOU...
I have been forced into this life of shame! House arrest, of all things!
Okay, I don't think it's really fair to say it's 'our' fault. You're the one who bought into Colonel Richard's plan, you know.
You should be grateful you live in a kingdom as merciful and forgiving as Liberl.
Were this Erebonia, your 'nobility' would only serve to speed you to the gallows.
Ergh...
I confess that imprisoning Her Majesty was out of line, perhaps. Richard may have suggested it, but I should have gainsaid him.
So you can actually admit you were wrong about that whole deal? That's pretty humble, coming from you!
Do not misunderstand me. I love and respect Her Majesty. As both a ruler and an aunt, she is utterly above reproach.
But you, Klaudia! But to consider naming a little girl like you as her successor is simply madness! Unacceptable insanity!
Now just a second! Kloe's smart, studious, kind, merciful...She's got all kinds of virtues that attract people to her! Where do you get off in calling her a 'little girl,' huh?
Estelle, that's enough.
I've always admitted that I'm not ready to take the throne. I suppose it's only natural my uncle finds that unpleasant.
But, Kloe...!
You always did have SOME sense, at the very least. But you, Klaudia, have always seemed 'allergic' to attending public ceremonies. I am far better known among the citizenry, while you remain a veritable ghost. You have not once publicly demonstrated that you are ready to stand above others.
...
Why, from what I understand, you hide your true identity while living as a student. And as if that weren't enough, you even waste your time at some backwater orphanage?
She should be presiding OVER the common rabble at ceremonies, not wallowing in the mud with them!
THAT is the purpose of nobility! To stand above all other men in lordship!
It's as you say, Uncle...
...
I'll admit, I don't really know much about the 'purpose' of nobility, so...You might have a point.
Wa-ha-ha! Of course I do!
But I can say this: Kloe is trying her very hardest to figure out what she wants to be, and is helping US out in the middle of her own problems.
And she sure as hell is doing a LOT more than some duke who sits around doing nothing because he's under 'house arrest'!
WHAT?! YOU DARE--?!
Estelle!
...Uncle Dunan? I am trying, as hard as I can, to find my own path as I help Estelle.
I think, by the end of it all...We will know if I have the right to become the next queen or not.
So...please. Hold your judgment until then.
What? Tch!
Rrrgh, this is absurd!
I will deal with this no further! Begone!
Trust me, I don't wanna stick around!
Though, come to think of it, I need to. I gotta ask one thing.
Has a girl in a white dress come by here?
What are you talking--
No, no little girls have come by! BEGONE!
Yeah, sure. Enjoy your donuts or whatever.
Pardon us...



He's all acting like he's the most innocent person in the world while insulting Kloe at the same time!
No, his criticism was fairly reasonable, I think. His concept of 'nobility' is perhaps outdated, but he is correct about the qualities one must possess to lead.
But, wait...
I'm not sure I agree with fame being a prerequisite for rightful inheritance.
Countless rulers in days past were unknown upon their ascent, and still they performed great works during their respective reigns. Erebonia had one such man. After the deaths of all potential heirs due to civil war, one unsung hero took the throne in their stead. That man is now hailed as the emperor who returned Erebonia to its former glory.
That was Emperor Dreichels, correct?
The very same.
My point is thus: you have nothing to worry about, Princess.
Haha. Maybe.
He still has a point about my readiness, however...
...
To tell you the truth, I'm glad we met him here. I think I've gained a new sense of what I'm lacking.
Well, I'm glad you got something positive out of it.
Anyway! Shall we find us a lost girl?
Yes, let's!





Huh, is that so?
Nena: Yes, of course on the day itself there won't just be ambassadors from the Empire and Republic...There'll also be a representative from our Liberl Kingdom present.
I didn't really get a chance to look at this place when I was here during the coup d'etat.
Hmmhmm, it's kind of nostalgic. You saved me when I was held here. It's touching to know the room from that time is being used for the signing ceremony.
Haha, yeah.
Still, though, now that I can just relax and have a good look at it, it really is a very dignified room.
Nena: Absolutely! That's why I always work extra hard when I clean it.
Ahaha, I'm not great at cleaning, but I understand how you feel. Well, good luck with it!
Nena: Yes, thank you!



Oooh. I was so sure this was it.
Haha. I think she's a bit less predictable than that.

Now apparently if you talk to Chamberlain Raymond, or talk to him a certain number of times, you lose BP for this quest? I don't know, but obviously it's far too important to risk. Anyway, let's just double-check that Raymond has half a brain.



Hey!
Chamberlain Raymond: Hm? Something the matter?
Haha. You could say that...
Voice: Mrrrrow...Awwww, I lost...



Hey, aren't you that kid we met at Air-Letten?
Heheh! I thought it might be you, Renne.
Heehee! Hello, miss! I'm happy you remembered me!



Chamberlain Raymond: So your name is Renne, right?
That's right.
Sorry for keeping it a secret, mister.
Chamberlain Raymond: Haha. Don't worry. But, Renne, why did you run off and play hide and seek like that? I was worried!
Because I'd heard Miss Estelle was coming! I wanted to play hide and seek with her, so I worked really hard to find a nice hiding spot.
Haha, well, okay.
It's kind of incredible you knew it was us coming, though.
You said you're bracers, right? I heard some bracers would be coming.
We are, yeah, but...We're not the only bracers in the world, you know. It could've been someone else.
But I believed. I knew you'd be the ones who'd come.
And see? You did!
I...guess I can't argue against that logic.
Well, more to the point...
Where're your mom and dad, kiddo? Why are you playin' around here on your own?
...
What're you lookin' at?
That's enough out of you, mister. You have no idea how to speak to a young lady.
Oh, for...
Well, I, Lady Renne, am feeling generous today, so I'll forgive you.
Anyway, where did Papa and Mama go? I'm not so sure either.
Wait, you don't know?
Not at all. I came here with Papa and Mama to play. But after lunch, Papa gave me a real serious look and said:
'Renne, Papa has something important to do, so he and Mama have to say goodbye for now. But don't worry, once it's done, we'll come and get you. Be a good girl until Papa comes back, all right?'
They just...What the hell?
I'm already eleven, so I said, 'I'll be good, Papa.' And after that, Papa and Mama left.
You have seriously gotta be kidding me...
Chamberlain Raymond: Er...I certainly wasn't expecting something like that. What should we do? This seems to be quite a bit beyond just 'finding' her parents at this point.
Yeah, tell me about it...
Agate, you think we should?
Yeah, that's fine. It's part of the job, and we can't just leave her here.
Don't worry, Raymond. We'll take care of this girl for now.
Chamberlain Raymond: Hm?
Hey, Renne? Do you want to visit the capital's Bracer Guild with us? I bet we'll be able to find your papa and mama, easy-peasy!
Really? But Papa and Mama said they had something important to do and to wait here...
It's okay. We'll definitely find them.
Trust in Miss Estelle, okay?
Mmmmm...
Okay, then, I'll go with you. Thank you, Miss Estelle.
It's okay! Stick close by, though, Renne. I wouldn't want you to get hurt.
Chamberlain Raymond: *phew* Thank you again. Take good care of her!
Leave it to us.
Like Estelle said, back to the guildhouse.
Chamberlain Raymond: Honestly, I wasn't sure what to do. However, knowing that she's in the guild's hands sets me at ease. I leave her to you.



...
What in the name of...? Why is this child staring at me in such a manner?
Hey, Miss Estelle? Why does this odd man have such a funny hairstyle?
O-ODD MAN? FUNNY HAIRSTYLE?!
Oh, calm down, she's just a kid.
By the way, Renne...It's not just his hair that's funny--his clothes and manners are, too!
You really shouldn't use Renne as a weapon, Estelle.
Oh, okay!
WH-WHAT KIND OF LESSON IS THAAAT?!
GET OUT OF MY ROOM, AND TAKE THE BRAT WITH YOU!



Simone: There you ARE!
Heehee, it was fun playing hide and seek with you, miss maid.
I'm gonna go back to the guild. I'm gonna wait for my papa and mama to pick me up there.
Simone: Uh...Oh, is that so?...If you ever want to play hide and seek again, come by again. I'll ask Raymond and spend as much time with you as you want.
Really? Thank you, miss.
Simone: Everyone...please take care of that girl.