Confused Feelings of the Sword Princess

Chapter 2

Hearth Mansion.

A luxurious mansion that, besides having several bedrooms and a huge dining room, also had a bathroom that would leave any citizen of Orario's humblest families with wide eyes. Formerly owned by Apollo familia, the mansion now belonged to Hestia, Bell, and the others after they had defeated the Ex famlia at the war game. The destruction of the church in which Bell and Hestia lived previously was one of the main factors of them moving in to the mansion so quickly.

Aiz Wallenstein was now standing in front of such a mansion, her long blond hair swaying in the light mid-afternoon breeze.

''I hope that Bell is there.'' The young warrior murmured.

Bell, just like her, was an adventurer so there was a possibility that he might have gone to the dungeon and still did not come back. Aiz really wished that this was not the case, she wanted answers as soon as possible, not to mention that these strange feelings made her a bit uncomfortable.

''Let's go then...''

The young woman approached the large gate of the mansion and pressed a magic stone that worked as an intercom connected to the wall. Taking a step back, she waited for an answer, and luckily, it did not take too long for that to happen.

''Yes?'' An energetic and clearly feminine voice asked.

''Good afternoon, could you please inform me if Bell is there.'' Aiz said politely.

''Bell-san? He's here! "Aiz let out a sigh, relieved by this news," Etto, can I please know who are you? "The female voice inquired.

''Oh, sorry for not introducing myself, I'm Aiz Wallenstein, I just came to ask some things to Bell.'' The blonde said quietly while at the same time she pushed a lock of hair that was previously hitting her left eye due to the wind, behind her ear.

"T-the sword princess...!" The unknown woman who was speaking through the intercom exclaimed in surprise, "W-Wait a little please, I'll be there in a minute." She said hastily and hung up the intercom. Aiz was a bit confused by the woman's haste but decided to ignore it and just waited for the mysterious girl. Just as she'd been told, after a minute, a female figure stepped out the front door of the mansion. She was using a red yukata with flower petals drawn on it. Her blonde hair, much longer than Aiz's, swayed from side to side as the woman walked, her cat ears twitching lightly. When she reached the gate, the girl took out a large key and opened it, allowing Aiz to enter in the property.

"It-it's an honor to receive you here Aiz Wallenstein-san, my name is Sanjou no Haruhime, pleasure to make your acquaintance." The girl, Haruhime, said cheerfully and, bowing slightly forward, the golden-eyed teenager gave a gentle smile.

''Likewise Haruhime, I know we have just met but I hope we can get along well from now on.'' Aiz held out one hand to Haruhime. The fox girl's vibrant blue eyes widened a little before she took the outstretched hand.

'Yes!''

''Haruhime, can you please take me to where Bell is?'' The sword princess asked as she closed the gate behind her. Haruhime just nodded and asked the young woman to follow her. Guiding her, Haruhime skirted the front yard and went to the back of the mansion, where an even larger yard received them. Aiz had to admit that although the mansion was not as wide and imposing as the Loki familia's base, it was still fairly impressive.

When the two women arrived in the backyard of the mansion, they spotted a certain boy with white hair. The young adventurer stood alone in the middle of the huge backyard, a white tank top and gray shorts being the only pieces of clothing he wore, his right hand held the hestia knife, and on his left was the dagger that Welf made for him with the horn that Bell got after he defeated the minotaur when he was still just a rookie, Ushiwakamaru. At this very moment Bell was doing a simulation of fighting an invisible opponent, swerving, rolling on the ground, giving mortals and pirouettes in the air as he attacked and cut off his imaginary opponent with his weapons.