The Rebirth of Evelyn Knox

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"Are you sure you don't want to come, Eula?"

The green-haired girl shook her head with a smile. "Nah, you girls go play. I just remembered I had something to take care of."

It had already been months since their last exchange, and now that Eula finally had an excuse to write a letter, how could she not get to it immediately?

Of course, the sooner she got the message to her princess, the earlier she could receive a reply. 

Evelyn was a little confused by her response, since she had been heading to 'Arohma' with Amber just before, and they had only talked about discount coupons, which couldn't really be considered as something to be done urgently, after all.

But it was also possible that Eula really remembered something urgent, so the pink-haired girl could only shrug and accept her excuse as the two of them bid farewell to the older girl before heading to Evelyn's room.

Of course, in stark contrast to Eula, Amber had happily accepted Evelyn's invitation. Though the pink-haired girl wondered whether her enthusiasm stemmed from getting to escape Eula or if it was really just to accompany her to play with her friends.

Watching the young redhead hum happily as she trotted along while grasping her hand, Evelyn couldn't help but smile curiously. "Are you scared of Eula, Amber?"

The redhead immediately tripped over her own feet, and almost planted her face on the ground if not for her friend holding her up. She hurriedly stood upright with her face burning in embarrassment. "N-Not really. S-She's just a little taller than me. What's there to be scared of?"

Evelyn chuckled. "Well, if she bullies you, you can just come to me to complain. Don't be afraid."

Of course, the pink-haired girl didn't think Eula was the type to bully people needlessly, and now that she even knew Amber was her friend, and the two of them got along well, it was even more unlikely for such a thing to happen.

That being said, there was always a possibility of misunderstandings, so Evelyn would rather give Amber a way out just in case she ever felt the need, and from that point she could easily resolve any misunderstanding, if possible.

Given that the two of them didn't really know each other that well, and Eula's position in their 'clan' was supposedly much higher than Amber's, she thought that it wasn't that strange, after all.

But thinking of how the redhead had still approached Eula on her own just to inquire about Evelyn when she went missing, the pink-haired girl couldn't help but think this little redhead was a little endearing.

Although the gap in their strength was now far wider than it had been before, Evelyn couldn't help but be glad she had made this friend. 

The pink-haired girl nodded to herself. 'I wanted to wait a little longer before taking her along, since her skills might make it a little dangerous, but I've grown a lot… it should be fine.'

Amber tugged her hand while looking away, though the pink-haired girl could still see her ears turning red. "I-If she bullies you, come to me too."

"Ah… Sure…" Evelyn just shook her head in amusement as she turned the topic to their classes for the rest of the way.

Unfortunately, there wasn't much of interest there aside from the fact that one of their professors had been replaced, since Harlan had been promoted to the headmaster position.

It didn't take them long to get to the White Lily Mansion, and Evelyn could faintly feel Amber getting an extra bounce in her step as they got closer to her room.

Tapping her purple coin badge on the door, it opened with a click.

Of course, as soon as she stepped in, she had to quickly let go of Amber's palm to catch her little fox and puppy, and she barely managed to lift them up in time to avoid getting squished by Vivian's tackle.

"Where's my milk?!"

The pink-haired girl chuckled. "I was bringing it back, but felt a little thirsty, so~"

Vivian's eyes turned red as she pouted. "Meanie!"

Evelyn smiled as she stepped aside. "But look, I brought you something else."

Vivian finally noticed Amber, and her pout immediately disappeared on discovering someone even she could bully in 'kingdom'. "Amber!"

Seeing the two of them hug, Evelyn sneaked past them while ignoring Amber's helpless look.

Of course, past the mini-boss Vivian were the boss monsters, Amara and Cecilia.

The ash blonde smirked. "You went out to get milk, huh?"

When Cecilia had first told her to just keep the metal card that allowed her temporary access to her room and also served as her identity and admission proof until she got her badge, Evelyn had just thought it was a minor thing.

Usually, the only way to get in and out of one of the academy's accommodations was to use a student badge with the relevant authority for access. Thus, the only way to enter a student's room was generally to follow them in, or borrow their badge.

With a spare 'key' in the form of that card, however, things became much more convenient for a certain freeloader.

Not that Evelyn could complain, since in her absence, it had been Cecilia and her spare key that prevented the Gilmore sisters from being locked up completely alone.

Seeing her friend fail to respond, the ash blonde grinned wider. "If you can't share some, you better be ready for the consequences."

Vivian also dragged Amber in while complaining. "I can't eat Amber! I still want something, Eve! Gimme a candy?"

Amara could only shake her head helplessly, thinking it was quite fortunate that the Knox parents had been doting enough to give Evelyn plenty of candies, most of which she had ended up stashing away.

Evelyn just smirked as she moved both of her 'pets' into one hand, squishing them together much to the dismay of the ever-prideful Ruru, but the pink-haired girl ignored her indignant yipping as she moved to the stone table in front of the sofa and tapped it while mobilizing her inventory.

"Tada!"

Instantly, an array of parfaits and cakes appeared on the table under Vivian's sparkling eyes, along with two big bags of assorted candies and eight bottles of milk.

Of course, Evelyn kept a few bags of candies in her inventory, since taking it all out would just cause Vivian to puff up uselessly as she lay there, bloated with candies while Amara scolded her. After all, even if they could dissolve perfectly, it still took some time.

While Vivian looked at the great offerings with delight as she jumped up and down, Cecilia pointed at Evelyn in shock. "Y-You actually, really went out to get some milk?"

Evelyn huffed. "Hmph, of course! Didn't I say so in the note?" 

The two older girls looked at each other before staring back at her with a deadpan expression. "To be honest… we just assumed you went out to bully— um, I mean, ask Aurora something."

The pink-haired girl coughed. "H-How can you think of me this way?"

Amara blushed. "Sorry."

Cecilia rolled her eyes. "Wifey, be honest, did you really only go out for this?"

Evelyn coughed. "Well, it's true that I met Aurora too—"

The ash blonde gave her an 'I knew it' look. "Hah!"

The pink-haired girl glared at the older girl's smug face. "But I did get the milk like I said, didn't I?"

Cecilia was just about to say something else when she realized that Vivian had already devoured three of the timbleberry shortcakes, leaving only five for the seven of them to share — and she had already sunk her fork into another one!

"You glutton! That one's mine!"

Evelyn could only shake her head in amusement as she denied Amara and Amber giving up their share. With Bree rushing into her room and back after changing into her 'human' form, the war for food only intensified, with only Ruru and Evelyn staying out.

The pink-haired girl smiled. 'It's good that I got so much extra, or we might really have been short.'

Of course, although the situation looked dire now, Vivian would bloat soon, and become unable to chomp everything in sight.

Evelyn ruffled the youngest redhead's hair as she squealed while gulping down a huge chunk of shortcake before stabbing a spoon into Amara's parfait. 

The pink-haired girl couldn't help but shake her head with a smile. "Is it good?"

"Delhishiiioush!"

Evelyn chuckled. 'I guess it was more than worth a few dozen spirit crystals.'

Of course, given that Vivian had even chomped down the indestructible stone cookies from Cecilia, her judgment could be considered 'questionable' at best.

"Why aren't you taking a bite, Eve?"

"Here, this one's the best—"

Evelyn hesitated a little as she stared at the shortcake in Amara's spoon. Seeing how the others seemed to be happy too, she decided it wouldn't hurt to try.

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