Chapter 1: The Owl's Notification (Platinum's Tsundere Girl!)
The gauze curtains on the beige birchwood windowsill were lifted, allowing golden rays of light to stream into the pristine white room, where elegant floral reliefs adorned the walls with gradient hues.
It also warmed the bedposts, and the pretty face, wrapped in a sheet, lay on its side, fast asleep.
A warm breeze gently blew, causing the light and shadows to shift and dance, and her tightly closed eyelashes trembled slightly.
With each ray of sunlight, the sleeping girl's brows furrowed as if disturbed.
It brought an incongruous sorrow to an innocent age.
The door creaked open, and a witch with long platinum hair, dressed in her morning clothes, entered with a warm smile and quietly sat on the edge of the bed.
The witch lovingly reached out and combed her beloved daughter's soft hair, which was just like her own.
She bent down and kissed the still-childish, yet undeniably beautiful sleeping face.
"Time to get up, Draco."
"Hmm? Ugh..."
The girl, still in bed, let out a soft, coquettish moan and buried her face deep in the pillow.
Narcissa Malfoy couldn't help but smile as she watched her daughter, who only acted this way before getting out of bed.
Only on such occasions was a daughter allowed to show a side that was not entirely ladylike.
"It's okay if you don't get up. Pansy and Daphne are waiting for you downstairs."
"Their owls have arrived."
As Narcissa spoke, she rose from the bed, saying words that would surely make her beloved daughter turn over and get up.
Sure enough, the figure that had just been hiding under the covers suddenly sat up.
In an instant, her pale gray eyes changed from sleepy to urgent.
Narcissa smiled and snapped her fingers lightly with her right hand.
With a snap, a small figure suddenly appeared out of nowhere in the room.
"Dobby is at the lady's beck and call. Good morning, Madam and young Miss."
The little elf bowed deeply, his high-pitched voice ringing out at the same time.
"Yeah, Dobby."
The girl sitting on the bed greeted the little elf listlessly, still feeling sleepy.
"Miss Malfoy is getting ready to get up. I'll go downstairs first. Thank you, Dobby."
After Narcissa finished speaking, she left the room and closed the door behind her.
The little elf flicked his finger, and a morning robe floated out of the wardrobe, gently draping over Draco's shoulders.
Draco reached out and pulled her robe closer, covering the silk shirt adorned with lace underneath.
"What would the young Miss like to wear today?" Dobby asked, blinking his large, round eyes.
"The birthday dress!" Draco said, suppressing a yawn.
As soon as Draco finished speaking, Dobby waved his hand.
He pulled a light green linen dress out of the wardrobe.
The dress was elegantly designed with slightly flared lantern sleeves that reached the elbows, a high waist, and a delicate willow-leaf corset.
Then, with a flick of his finger, he opened the small door in the corner of the room that led to the bathroom, hung the dress and its hanger on the hook behind the door, waiting for his young Miss to come in and change.
Draco beamed as she looked at the hanging gift — her eleventh birthday dress.
"Is Dad home?"
She asked softly, and Dobby answered with equal care.
"The Master has gone to work at the Ministry of Magic."
"Only the Lady, Miss Parkinson, and Miss Greengrass are at home."
Before Dobby could finish speaking, Draco suddenly jumped off the bed and clapped her hands. A flash of light streaked across the room, and Dobby was suddenly lifted into the air.
The little elf let out a startled yelp, followed by a quick snap of his fingers.
A shimmer flashed behind Draco, and Dobby landed gently on her shoulder from mid-air.
"Miss Malfoy is very talented! But she still needs practice!"
Hearing Dobby's bold words, Draco turned around and made a face at him.
"You can't use Phantom Teleport to cheat next time!"
This was an occasional playful exchange between the young Malfoy heiress and the elf who had been her companion since childhood.
Of course, the two only dared to play like this when Lucius Malfoy was not at home.
Narcissa Malfoy was well aware of it, but did not interfere.
A daughter of a pure-blooded noble family should always know how to keep her secrets.
As long as this improper behavior didn't leave the room, she would not point it out.
"It was the young Miss who launched the surprise attack first," Dobby retorted, unimpressed.
This little elf had always had an independent and spirited nature, which was why he played and joked with Draco so freely.
Faced with the elf's accusation, Draco could only stick out her tongue guiltily.
She stepped into the bathroom and closed the small door.
Dobby immediately began using his magic to make the bed.
In the blink of an eye, after finishing cleaning the boudoir, the little elf returned to the kitchen.
---
Malfoy Estate was one of the oldest aristocratic estates in England.
Since the Malfoy family's ancestor had set foot on English soil with William the Conqueror and been granted a hereditary noble title for his meritorious service, the Malfoy family had lived for generations at Warwick Manor in Wiltshire, southwest England.
The main house of the estate, after being renovated during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was no longer a heavily fortified fortress, but a Renaissance-style building.
In the main house, apart from the living room used by relatives and friends, two delicate voices echoed through the morning air — unusual for such an early hour.
One was quirky and clever, the other tranquil and elegant.
"What would happen to her if we hid her letter?"
The quirky voice came from a girl with short black hair that reached past her ears.
The girl, wearing a dark-colored cropped top and indigo denim shorts, walked back and forth across the room, the heels of her Oxford shoes tapping lightly on the wooden floor.
"Don't start an argument again..."
In contrast to the lively and energetic young girl, there sat a graceful girl in an armchair by the French windows.
Her snow-white halter dress was delicately sewn with petal details, and her long blonde hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders.
The quiet girl seemed delicate, with a straw hat resting on her knees to shield her from the sun.
*You really look just like your mother.*
"The arguments were all from when we were kids."
"We're only eleven years old. We can't be considered adults yet."
"…"
"I hope Astoria isn't being bossed around like this every day... It's so pitiful..."
"Pansy… that's very impolite of you to say."
"It was just a joke!"
The two talked back and forth, their still-childish voices trying hard to sound mature, echoing like the chimes of wind chimes beneath the high ceiling.
Until the living room door was suddenly pushed open, accompanied by a similarly childish yet undeniably authoritative voice.
"Pansy Parkinson!"
"Your scheming can be heard all along the corridor. You have none of the manners expected of a noble lady."
Draco Malfoy, dressed in her light green linen dress, walked in with elegant poise.
Her smooth platinum blonde hair was combed back along the headband, revealing her slightly arched, fair forehead.
Viewed from the side, it made her already delicate features appear even more striking.
As the young mistress of the manor appeared, the short-haired girl named Pansy paid no attention to Draco's scolding.
She let out a delighted shriek, rushed forward, and hugged the somewhat startled Draco tightly.
"Draco! We got our acceptance letters!"
"Let — let me go! What kind of behavior is this?!"
Pansy's excited shouts mixed with Draco's flustered complaints.
The girl who had been sitting gracefully by the French windows also rose gently, placed her large round straw hat on the chair, and walked over quietly with a soft smile on her face.
"Stop messing with Draco, Pansy."
"But I haven't seen her in so long!"
The young girl tried to reason with her gently, but Pansy remained tightly embracing Draco. Though they were the same age, Daphne seemed more like an older sister.
"We just met last month, on Draco's birthday."
"Yes — yes! Let go of me!"
Pansy finally let go, and Draco's fair face was flushed with embarrassment from the sudden contact.
"Hehehe. You're still so easily embarrassed, Miss Malfoy."
"Pansy…"
Before Draco could react to Pansy's teasing, Daphne stepped in with a quiet word.
Then she walked up to Draco and greeted her softly.
"It's lovely to see you again, Draco."
"I'm happy too, Daphne."
The two smiled at each other, embraced warmly, and exchanged gentle kisses on their cheeks.
"Why don't I get that treatment!"
"Because you don't know how to be polite."
Before Pansy could even finish her complaint, Daphne and Draco both said it at the same time.
Seeing Pansy pout with a slightly indignant expression, Daphne smiled gently and took her hand.
End of this chapter...