Chapter 52

The Christmas gift we decided to give Miel was none other than a “video letter.” You might think, isn’t that too common? It might have been common in modern times where shooting videos was easy, but not in Harmiel. There was no such gift as a video letter here. That was because not a single camera with a video recording function existed yet. Even Yul’s camera, which boasted an absurd, crazy price of 30,000 gold, didn’t have a video recording function.

That was why I had forgotten about it, too. But this time, thanks to Yul’s request, the genius mage Ahel had obediently added video recording capabilities to the camera. Did he get caught in some weakness by Yul? Just like earlier, I mean.

Anyway, since the video function was newly added, Yul suggested using it to make a “video letter,” and after thinking about it for a moment, I figured it was a great idea that would make for the ultimate gift and the first of its kind that no one else had ever known.

First, I decided to shoot my individual part delivering what I wanted to say to Miel.

“U-um… H-hello, Miel. It’s me, your friend Armienne. U-um, l-leaving a letter for you through a video like this makes me so ho-honored, happy, and excited… S-so, basically.”

But actually trying to shoot a video letter made me so nervous I thought I might go crazy. Thinking that Miel might keep it and watch it for the rest of her life, I kept tripping over my words as I tried to come up with something a bit nicer to say.

At that sight, Ahel let out a sigh.

“Young Miss. Naturally. Please just do it naturally. Lady Harmiel who watches this video won’t be delighted; she’s going to feel like she’s about to throw up. In that case, she’ll never take this video out to watch again. It’ll probably get buried deep in a warehouse, covered in a blanket of dust, and sleep there for the rest of her life.”

No way!

I quickly stripped away all the flowery language and opened my mouth, packing only my honest feelings into it.

“Hello, Miel. Since this is my first time shooting a video letter, honestly, I’m embarrassed and nervous. The first time we met was probably on July 23rd, 1689, a day that boasted clear weather. I was gracefully drinking tea waiting for you back then.”

At my words, Yul suddenly corrected me.

“I remember you lying in bed all day. You even greeted Lady Harmiel, who had come to visit as a guest, dressed in cute pajamas patterned with white rabbits.”

I quickly shot a glare at Yul before changing what I was saying.

“Well, I suppose that might have happened. It’s such an old memory that it doesn’t come to mind very well. I trust Miel doesn’t remember it well either. Anyway, ever since then, I’ve always liked Miel so much. No, of course I don’t mean it in a weird way, I like you as a fri-friend. I love you. Miel. Merry Christmas.”

My individual part ended right there. Chewing over my words for a moment, Ahel spoke up as if dissatisfied.

“Why on earth do you keep awkwardly emphasizing that you’re friends?”

“Because I was embarrassed!”

That was right. Throughout my entire life, I was a coward who couldn’t even confess to a woman or properly hold her hand. For someone like me to confess “I love you” to a pretty woman like Miel who felt like she stepped right out of this world had already stretched my limits.

Next up was Ahel’s turn. Despite it being his first time shooting a video letter, Ahel didn’t look flustered at all and spoke with relaxed composure. I really didn’t like that look. Someone else had gathered every last shred of nervousness they’d experience in a lifetime just to shoot theirs, yet this person was utterly unbothered.

“Lady Harmiel, Merry Christmas. And…”

“Cut. That’s it. Yul, stop right there. That’s plenty, so stop shooting.”

As I halted the video recording just three seconds after he opened his mouth, Ahel grumbled as if feeling hard done by.

“No, why is my screen time less than a tenth of Lady Armienne’s? I only managed to spit out the word Merry Christmas.”

“You even added an ‘and…’ to it. That’s more than enough, so please step down.”

Three seconds of footage was more than enough for a playboy and detestable fellow like this. Ahel looked resentful at my words but soon stepped aside, and this time it was Yul’s turn.

“It’s the maid, Yul. If there are any photos of Lady Armienne that you desire, anytime, anywhere for cheap….”

“Wait, Yul.”

I stopped the video recording at something strange. What was that. I felt like I had just heard a weird word.

“What did you just say?”

“I was simply trying to offer my congratulatory greetings.”

Is that so? I must have heard wrong. It really felt like I had just witnessed a photo sales advertisement disguised as a video letter.

“Continue.”

“Merry Christmas.”

After saying just that, Yul promptly shut her mouth. What is this?

“End? Doesn’t that sound a bit different from earlier?”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Right.”

If Yul said so, it must be true. Yul soon stepped down having finished her business, and the long-awaited star of the show—whom I honestly hated to admit would be the happiest about shooting a video letter—was standing by with full preparations.

Unlike the others, Ahre had even changed clothes. It was a mini Santa Claus costume custom-made specifically for a little girl. Since it was tailor-made for a little girl, the bottoms were short miniskirts, and seeing Ahre wearing an outfit that harmonized red and white so well was cute enough to make you scream instinctively.

Ahre trotted up onto the platform and blurted out lines from goodness knows where.

“Tee-hee, I’m Santa Ahre, the Christmas fairy~.”

A fairy yet even a Santa, she really was amazing. Since she was a dragon in reality, she was a tremendous existence.

“Flutter-flutter.”

Making sound effects like that didn’t mean she could actually fly or anything. Ahre bit her finger for a moment, having apparently forgotten the lines she meant to say next. That sight was probably the most murderously cute thing ever.

“Uuuun.”

Then, seemingly finding it bothersome shortly after, she spat out just a single phrase.

“Merry Christmas!”

Dash-dash!

Watching Ahre make an actual scuttling sound as she hopped down from the platform and dove straight into my bed, I thought to myself: I really needed to give her a proper education in the new year. If she went out into the world later and got cursed out by other people, all of that abuse would bounce back onto her parents.

I had no desire at all to be sworn at heavily thanks to Ahre and live a long, stressful life.

After that, having everyone in the mansion—from my father and mother to the maids and the chef—say a word or two each, I laid my exhausted body down on the bed and spoke.

“Well, I suppose filming about this much is enough.”

“It is plenty.”

“Ahre had fun!”

You just laid in my bed the whole day after your initial individual part. To think I’d end up shooting a video letter inside a novel, something I’d never even filmed outside. Somehow, the feeling was novel and refreshing.

“Leave the editing to me.”

Yul took the video with confidence, and the next day, I was amazed by Yul’s astonishing editing skills. The crude footage had been transformed beyond recognition, feeling like watching a short film.

“Now all that’s left is to wait for Christmas. Come to think of it, did you invite Lady Harmiel?”

“…I forgot.”

At Ahel’s words, realizing I had forgotten the most important thing, I immediately put through a communication call to Miel.

-Of course you won’t take me back~ Popular and handsome you, only to me~-

Listening to the communication BGM that changed according to my tastes every time, I waited eagerly for Miel to pick up, and soon, with a click! sound, Miel’s voice flowed out.

[Hello, Armienne. What is it?]

[Well, I was wondering if you might have some free time on Christmas.]

[No, I don’t?]

[………….]

At that moment, I felt like the sky was collapsing. Since it had come to this, it seemed I had no choice but to go visit her myself. Wait, wouldn’t me having no time mean that me going over there would also be a nuisance?

[Hmph, I’m just joking, Armienne. I have plenty of time.]

No way! For Miel to play a joke like this on me. Wasn’t this a sign that our relationship had advanced a step further than before? At least, I wanted to believe so.

“Then would you like to have a party at my house?”

[A party? Sounds good. I’ll come.]

At those words, I cheered and ran around inside my room, then collapsed onto my bed while looking forward to a cozy Christmas day with Miel. However, when Christmas day actually arrived, I realized that the picture had turned out very different from what I had imagined.

Just for the record, I had only invited Miel.