Although Bronie also cares about traditional Shenzou festivals, compared to the older generation, she is not so particular about the details. For example, she doesn't insist on taking a bath before the New Year or cutting hair at a specific time.
What is important to her is the atmosphere.
Cutting paper window decorations together, or making dumplings for the New Year's Eve dinner, is more significant.
Mei, who Kiana brought back, doesn't seem to have learned the skill of cooking yet. It's indeed too difficult for a young lady who has never touched water to cook well right away.
So Kiana has been cooking all the time. Judging by the frequent lack of ingredients and strange additions to the pot, Kiana definitely has no talent for making dishes!
Miss Mei seems pitiful. If she doesn't learn to cook well, it won't be long before she starts feeling hungry.
Although Raiden Ryoma wanted to bring his daughter back, Bronie sternly pointed out that Siegfried had shown Kiana the truth about the Honkai of this world, while Raiden Ryoma had concealed it under the pretense of doing good for Mei.
This was the root cause of the rift between father and daughter.
Mei didn't know what Raiden Ryoma was doing, and Raiden Ryoma never told her, which made Mei feel unqualified as the princess of the Raiden family. She even felt abandoned.
Ater Bronie pointed this out, Raiden Ryoma was upset, but what could he do?
Raiden Ryoma didn't want Mei exposed to the dangers of Honkai. During the awakening of the stigmata, Raiden Ryoma almost emptied his family's funds to save Mei at all costs. Mei wanted to share her worries with him. If she encounters Honkai again, Raiden Ryoma can't even bear to think about the danger his good daughter will face.
Raiden Ryoma dared not gamble, and although Bronie knew that Mei would become a Herrscher eventually, she couldn't say it directly.
What to do? Keep it a secret?
In Mei's eyes, Raiden Ryoma is just a capitalist busy with his own affairs, unrelated to saving the world. Even if he told Mei he was saving the world, she probably wouldn't believe it.
Finally, Bronie could only think of the last resort: delay.
After Mei becomes a Herrscher, everything will be clear, and things will be easier in the future. However, becoming a Herrscher is almost synonymous with death in Raiden Ryoma's mind. He couldn't gamble with his daughter's life.
Fortunately, the cheerful atmosphere of the New Year covered up the sadness. Kiana's pretended optimism soon infected Mei, and she quickly integrated into the Golden Courtyard. Everyone there treated her very well, unlike the students in Senba Academy.
"Hey! Mei, try this! Bronie's specialty is sweet and sour pork ribs. I think you'll like it!"
Today is New Year's Eve. According to Bronie, everyone eats and drinks together and plays until after midnight to celebrate the New Year. Mei had lived in the Golden Courtyard for a while. Kiana was too greasy, so she decided to ask Bronie for a new room.
Bronie promptly vacated Elysia's room, and during this time, Bronie and Ellie slept together.
During this time together, there was no need to consider the family motto of the Raiden family or worry about becoming a shame for the family. The children in the Golden Courtyard were all orphans, but because of the special living environment or Bronie's protection, they had no evil thoughts like those students in Senba Academy.
These days made Mei feel more relaxed than ever.
As for the money issue?
Mei felt she would never be richer than Bronie.
Comparing with Bronya, she found she had the least money among the responsible people around her.
Kiana's card could buy a lot of arms, which was her confidence in fighting against Honkai. Although Mei didn't know why there was so much money in Kiana's card, it didn't concern her.
So Mei's life in the Golden Courtyard was mainly about relaxation. It was good to be happy here without missing the way back. Looking at the small piece of sweet and sour pork ribs in the bowl, Mei remained silent for a long time.
"Uh... don't you like sweet and sour?"
"No, I like it very much..."
Everything was so beautiful. But why couldn't she help but shed tears?
"Sorry, I ruined everyone's mood. I just... I just didn't expect to experience such a life..."
"Wow, I can't even imagine your daily life, Mei. Is the life of rich people always so troublesome!?"
"Stupid Rosalia, this is not about money. Bronie must spend as much money on us as Mei!"
"Eh!? So we are also rich people!?"
"Eh hey hey? If you're happy, you should laugh, right!"
Kiana was obviously more at a loss, not quite understanding why Mei was crying. Ellie looked at Mei with heartache.
"This child... she has a lot of pressure in her heart, and no one can listen to her talk. I will come to your room tonight to chat with you~ whether it's a secret topic between girls or some little secrets of Bronie!"
"Hey, hey, hey, why are you suddenly talking about me!?"
Bronie didn't care about Mei's crying. She was surprised at what kind of high-pressure life Mei led to force this child to be like this. After the New Year, Bronie decided to confront Raiden Ryoma.
"Yes, I should laugh... but can I come here again in the future?"
The beauty in front of her was just fleeting. Returning to Senba Academy, everything would revert to the way it was.
"So, are you Mei Raiden, or just the princess of the Raiden family that others expect?"
"Eh? But I am Mei Raiden..."
"A person who truly has their own self will have their own ideas and will not become what others expect. There are not so many 'you shoulds' in the world, but more 'I want's. Others think you should be the proud daughter of Ryoma Raiden, and you want Ryoma Raiden to be proud of you. There is a very essential difference between these two points. Have you figured this out?"
"Ah?"
No one had ever told Mei about this. And Bronie looked at Kiana helplessly.
"Kiana, you've been playing games with Mei recently. You didn't play only yuri galgame with Mei, did you?"
"That... eh... eh hey?"
Really, Kiana! If the galgame story is done well, it can be somewhat inspiring.
"Persona, Undertale, Gurren Lagann, recommend them to Mei. They are all my works, Bronya. Why don't you recommend any of them?"
"If you make something similar..."
"Okay! You want something similar, right? Then prepare some tissues for me. Don't cry until you can't find the tissues and accidentally fall down!"
After Bronie announced her plan to make a galgame, she looked at Mei again.
"You are still young and may not quite understand what you really want in your heart, but it doesn't matter. The Golden Courtyard is still open to you. Although Ellie can be a bit annoying, you will know how cute and honest she can be after getting along for a while. So, don't be too confused. Just enjoy the present moment!"
As she said that, Bronie picked up a piece of squirrel fish and put it in Mei's bowl. "I heard you like sweet food, so we made the New Year's Eve dinner less spicy and more sweet."
"After all, beautiful girls are made up of desserts and all beautiful things, right? So isn't it natural to like desserts? And Bronie, when have I ever been annoying?"
Ellie obviously protested Bronie's evaluation. Bronie smiled.
"When you're not thinking about me, you're thinking about other girls too much, so much that it's a bit annoying."
"Then I have to make it up to you~"
Suddenly, the air was filled with a sweet smell, and Mei looked at everything in front of her in amazement. Although Kiana's behavior somewhat increased Mei's psychological acceptance, it was incredible for her to see a scene like this.
It felt like Kiana had this special hobby because of these influences!
For a while, Mei couldn't shed tears, and she was stunned on the spot, not knowing how to react. But Kiana was still considerate and took a piece of paper to wipe Mei's tears.
"Now, you should smile! Mei who loves to smile is always so charming!"
"Hmm..."
Mei lowered her head shyly and began to taste the New Year's Eve dinner made by Bronie. If it was a normal New Year, the atmosphere wouldn't be as warm. There are countless so-called friends of Raiden Ryoma, the little princesses and sons of various chaebols. As the daughter of the Raiden family, she couldn't lose the face of Raiden Ryoma.
In short, there were all kinds of rules and troubles, and countless tutoring classes. The only happiness was the time she learned the Hokushin Ittō-ryu with the mysterious teacher Homu. Happiness is all about comparison.
Now Mei is very glad to have left the Raiden family and come here with Kiana. She also witnessed the way Kiana's family got along with her.
Usually, Kiana looks a bit dumb and too clingly or cold, and Mei thought the other party had ulterior motives.
But now it seems that is not entirely true. The aloof look was just for strangers to see, but why would Kiana like her? It's really strange.
Money? Kiana doesn't lack it at all. Want to get close to Raiden Ryoma?
What can you get if you get close? Mei never figured this out and still had some thoughts about Kiana. But after seeing Bronie and Elysia, Mei finally understood a little.
Is the relationship about her body? But Mei thought she was definitely not a casual woman, so she was still cautious. At least so far, she never agreed to Kiana's invitation to sleep in the same bed.
After the New Year's Eve dinner, there were fireworks. Bronie prepared various fireworks for everyone, never considering the possibility of causing a fire. Bronie said the land around the Golden Courtyard is private territory, and it doesn't matter what you want to do.
Mei had no concrete idea of Bronie's wealth. The Far East is a place where every inch of land is worth a lot of money. It is unimaginable how much money Bronie has to rent such a large area. As Bronie's family, Kiana is also a little princess.
Back in the room prepared by Bronie, this New Year was unforgettable for Mei. It would be better if there were more days like this. It's a pity that the new semester is coming, and she has to return to Senba Academy, dealing with those incomprehensible messages and gossips.
Although Senba Academy has a nice scenery, the students there are really terrible. Mei doesn't want to criticize everyone, but the environment in her class just happened to become like that. But she still has to face reality, right?
Fortunately, there is still a long time before the start of school, and she can enjoy this quiet time. When she returns to Senba Academy, she will have Kiana by her side...
Wait, what am I thinking about!
Mei shook her head again on the bed, trying to shake out all the strange ideas in her mind, but she couldn't calm down for a long time.
The next day, Bronie had just finished washing up when she saw black smoke coming out of the kitchen. The back of the purple-haired girl looked very scary in the black smoke.
Wait, isn't this Ei, the Thunder Archon from the next door's Genshin Impact!?
"Sister Bronie, are you awake? I got up a little early today, so I wanted to try to make some breakfast to repay everyone... But now it seems a little less than ideal..."
Indistinctly, Bronie could see that Mei was trying to make fried eggs.
"The fire is too big, and don't put sugar in fried eggs. If you leave it alone, one side will be burnt. If you want to learn how to cook next time, Elysia and I can teach you. Just tell everyone..."
Okay, the Herrscher of Rice will be cultivated from now on. It's quite fun to get involved.