Who are you?

I was heading for the kitchen when a girl came straight at me, her greeting like a bell in a quiet corridor.

Well then, I’m the princess of the Eastern Moon Empire—Eastern Moon Aixue! Her voice unfurled like a silk banner in the morning breeze.

After she introduced herself, her phoenix eyes started appraising me, cool and bright like twin blades.

Mm, you’re really cute—prettier than most beauties! Your gaze is clear like spring water, and you carry a scent like fresh jasmine. Her murmur flowed like a brook through green shade.

Uh, what are you doing?! My heart jumped like a startled sparrow as I took a few steps back.

Am I being teased here?! The thought flashed hot, like embers under ash.

Hey, hey, no need to be like that. I’m not a bad person. She planted her hands on her hips like a proud crane.

But… Doubt swelled like fog in my chest before the words drifted out.

You look suspicious no matter how I look at you. My tone came out thin, like a reed in wind.

Sigh… fine. I didn’t come to find you—she did. Her sigh slid through the air like wind through bamboo leaves.

Eastern Moon Aixue pulled the girl from behind her forward, tugging her like a ribbon brought into sunlight.

Huh? Isn’t that Faya? Why are you here? The sight hit me like sunlight on rippling water.

B-because Aixue and I are childhood friends, so I often come to Proud Moon Palace. Faya lowered her head, cheeks flushed like cherry petals.

Hey! Faya, what are you getting shy for? Pull yourself together! Aixue shook her shoulders, brisk as a rattle on a festival drum.

B-but… Faya kept her head down, a wilted flower refusing to lift.

You two talk first. I’ve got things to do. If I don’t finish breakfast fast, Xinuo will be upset. The urgency throbbed like a drum under my ribs.

I didn’t linger; I turned toward the kitchen, feet quick like a breeze slipping through a courtyard.

Don’t go so fast—wait up. Her hand caught mine, light as a silk thread yet firm.

What do you want to say? I need to make breakfast. A dull ache pulsed in my forehead like a coming storm.

Eh! You can cook?! Her eyes lit up like stars punching holes in dusk.

Yeah. So let me go. If breakfast isn’t done fast, Xiao Nuo will be unhappy. My patience frayed like an overused rope.

Xiao Nuo? Fine then—let’s talk while we walk. She yielded, her mood smoothing like a lake at dawn.

Suit yourselves. I gave in, the words dropping like pebbles into water.

On the way to the kitchen, the hallway stretched like a pale river under the roof beams.

By the way, I still don’t know your name. What do they call you? Her question drifted like a kite tugging its string.

I’m Yumigawa Sumeragi. I answered weakly, energy leaking like air from a punctured bellows.

If Xinuo gets unhappy, it’ll be a disaster. The worry hovered like thunder behind clouds.

Yumigawa Sumeragi… Yumigawa? I feel like I’ve heard that surname. Her brows drew together like a crescent moon closing.

Aixue, Yumigawa is the one from the Central Continent. Faya’s voice came small, like a mosquito in summer heat.

Oh! Right. In this world, the only Yumigawa is the Mizumi Clan on the Central Continent. Her realization snapped into place like a sliding door.

… …

They both froze, then turned their heads slowly like rusted automata, shock sparking like lightning in their eyes.

Are you from the Mizumi Clan on the Central Continent?! Their voices struck together like twin gongs.

Yeah. What’s so strange about that? My confusion hung like mist after rain.

Seriously, why does everyone act weird after hearing my name? Eastern Moon Aotian was like this, and now Aixue and Faya too. The pattern looped like a wind-chime repeating its song.

Ah—n-no! We’ve got something to do—we’ll go first, ahaha… Aixue laughed dryly, then dragged Faya away like leaves caught in sudden wind.

What’s going on? I tilted my head, baffled like a cat hearing distant thunder.

Whatever. Better get breakfast done. I headed into the kitchen, knives gleaming like slivers of moonlight.

In a classical pavilion, carved beams breathing old fragrance like pine after rain—

Huff, huff, I’m exhausted. Aixue slumped over the table like a spent runner.

Same. Faya folded beside her, breath fluttering like a moth’s wings.

Didn’t expect that boy to be from the Mizumi Clan. Quite the background. Awe rippled through her words like waves against stone.

Yeah, it really scared me. Faya nodded fast, like a sparrow pecking grain.

But this works. If you marry Yumigawa-kun, you’ll tie to the Mizumi Clan. Then on the Eastern Moon Continent, your Tifa Family will stand alone. So work hard! Aixue’s palm thumped her back, bright as a drumbeat at dawn.

Pfft! Aixue, what are you saying! Water sprayed from Faya’s lips like a sudden fountain.

Hey, hey, no need to be that dramatic. Aixue dabbed herself with a handkerchief, movements neat as a folding fan.

It’s your fault for blurting weird things. Faya pouted, a cloud shading noon light.

Back in the manor—

Breakfast’s ready. I set the dishes on the table, steam curling like morning mist.

Ooh ooh! Breakfast time! Hill rushed over and sat, eager as a puppy at the door.

Okay. Xinuo put down her novel, pages whispering like reeds, and took her seat.

Then let’s eat. My chopsticks lifted like sparrows.

Let’s eat! Hill chimed, eyes bright as lanterns.

Mm. Xinuo’s agreement was soft, like velvet on wood.

We started breakfast, rhythms warm as a hearth fire.

Midway through, Xinuo seemed to remember something, her voice ringing like a chime toward the door. Eastern Moon Aotian, get over here.

Xinuo Miss, what can I do for you? He appeared the instant her words fell, like a shadow stepping from a wall.

So fast! The exclamation popped out of me like a cork.

Yeah—how did he even show up? Hill frowned, curiosity buzzing like a bee.

Nothing much. We’re going to Egisia Academy to try campus life. Handle our enrollment—remember, the three of us. Xinuo pointed at me and Hill, her gesture clean as a sword line.

Uh, that’s fine, but Egisia Academy is a girls’ school, and Yumigawa-kun is a boy… Eastern Moon Aotian glanced at me, awkward as a crane on ice.

You don’t need to worry. Think about it—Servant is this cute. If he wears girls’ clothes, who would think he’s a boy? Xinuo sipped milk, calm as snow on pines.

Oh! That’s true—Yumigawa-kun will be fine! Leave it to me. I’ll get the paperwork done today. Aotian thumped his chest, promise firm as a sealed letter.

Hey, hey, how is that a “no problem” thing?! My protest cracked the air like a thrown plate.

…