Chapter 99 – Welcome to My New Room!

When Letaria stepped up to the brand-new electronic lock, a soft tone sounded and the biometric scan completed automatically, the door sliding open in a single smooth motion.

"Oh my...! So this is my new home!"

The exclamation escaped her before she could stop it.

The space that opened before her was incomparably larger than the bunker of a room she had lived in before. A hallway leading straight in from the entrance. At the end of it, a spacious living area with a full kitchen. Off to the left of the corridor, a second room; to the right, a private bathroom and toilet.

"Standard layout for a single occupant -- nothing extravagant, but the security and facilities are solid."

While Milea gave her summary, Letaria set off on an immediate tour of the space, the autonomous Bot trailing behind her with her belongings, her expression one of undisguised delight.

"It is so large! This must be roughly half the size of the room I had in our estate back home!"

Milea stopped where she stood.

"Half...?"

(Half the size of her room at home -- and she means this place...?)

The residential block was a genuinely decent standard -- used by senior Bureau officials, no less. And yet, measured against the everyday sense of scale of a duke's daughter from another world, it barely registered. Milea found herself quietly astonished -- though she also knew perfectly well that there was not a trace of boasting or condescension in Letaria's words. She let it pass without comment.

Having done a full circuit of the rooms, Letaria paused and looked around the generous space with a contemplative eye.

"Though... how to put this. Having so much room somehow makes it a little difficult to settle."

"Hehe. Your body has gone and gotten used to that cramped little room of yours."

Milea laughed, and genuinely meant it.

"Well then -- let's get the things put away first."

Letaria had so little to her name that between her own hands and the Bot's instructions, everything was in place in almost no time at all. When it was done, she sank into the deep, well-padded sofa with a long exhale.

Milea moved to the kitchen with practiced ease, drew hot water from the built-in server unit, and came back to the living area with two cups of herbal tea.

"If you find you need any new furniture or everyday items as you settle in, just say so. I'll help you find something practical."

She set one of the cups gently in front of Letaria as she spoke.

"My, you intend to look after me that thoroughly? -- Hehe. Thank you so very much, 'Sister.'"

Accepting the cup, Letaria looked up at Milea with a small, mischievous smile. The word "family" that Milea had used earlier -- she was returning it now, gift-wrapped and aimed directly.

Being called "Sister" to her face turned Milea's cheeks red to the tips of her ears in an instant.

"--...! For the record -- whatever new furniture you buy, the money comes out of your pocket."

She looked away with a transparency that was thoroughly un-Milea-like. Letaria watched the uncharacteristically flustered expression cross her face and laughed with genuine delight.

"I know perfectly well!"

Then, as if a good idea had just occurred to her, Letaria snapped her fingers softly and began tapping something into the terminal on her bracelet.

◆

Some time later, the two of them were settled on the sofa with their tea when the front door intercom sounded its crisp, neat tone.

"Ah -- they're here!"

Letaria rose from her seat with visible pleasure, crossed to the entrance with a light, bouncing step, and pulled the door open.

Standing there was Steshia -- her short golden hair framing a bright face -- and behind her, her colleague Herta, long light-brown hair falling over her shoulders. They were roughly the same age as Letaria and Milea, though Herta carried herself with a quality that read as slightly more composed, a shade more settled.

"We're here, Letaria-san! That message came completely out of nowhere!"

"Congratulations on the new place. We brought something to celebrate."

"Hehe -- please, come in!"

Letaria drew herself up with proprietary pride and welcomed the two of them into her new home with open arms.