Not-So an Extra



"Young Lady, it's done."

The Nanny announced, stepping back along with several maids, allowing Leticia to admire her reflection in the grand mirror. 

A satisfied smile graced her lips as she beheld her transformed appearance, now resembling that of a merchant's daughter rather than a Duke's daughter.

Two days ago, a letter from Adrian had arrived, informing her of their planned rendezvous in the plaza. 

The day had finally arrived, and Leticia's excitement had kept her from getting any sleep. 

Her heart raced with anticipation, the thrill of the upcoming meeting coursing through her veins.

As a sudden realization struck her, Leticia retrieved a red velvet box from her Magical Sphere and handed it to her Nanny.

"Nanny, could you assist me in putting this on?" 

Leticia asked, her voice filled with eagerness.

"With pleasure, Young Lady."

The old lady replied, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

She carefully opened the box, revealing a breathtaking necklace adorned with gems that imitated the delicate wings of a butterfly.

"This necklace is truly exquisite, Young Lady."

Leticia's face lit up with gratitude. 

"Thank you, Nanny. It was a gift from someone very dear to me."

With the preparations complete, they wasted no time and made their way to the entrance of the Academy—the designated meeting spot. 

The plan was, that the maid and her Nanny would follow them from behind while they were exploring the Plaza.

The plan was that her Nanny and maid would follow closely behind while Leticia and Adrian explored the bustling Plaza.

However, as they arrived at the rendezvous point, Leticia's heart sank. 

There was no sign of Adrian anywhere.

Glancing at her pocket watch, she noted that there were still five minutes remaining until the designated time.

Confusion and disappointment flickered across her face, but she quickly composed herself. 

"You're here?"

As a familiar voice pricked her ears, Leticia turned around, her brows furrowed in confusion.

Before she stood two individuals, one a young blonde man and the other an older gentleman who promptly bowed in her presence.

However, it was the cold cerulean eyes of the young man that instantly sparked recognition within her.

"Ian?" 

She uttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes?"

It was Adrian, disguised with dyed hair to avoid drawing unwanted attention.

Despite his less regal attire, his princely aura remained, and his handsome face was as captivating as ever.

Leticia's initial confusion melted away, replaced by a warm smile that spread across her face.

"You… look different."

Unbothered to answer, Adrian gestured for her to follow.

"Let's go."

"Yes!"

Leticia responded eagerly, falling into step beside Adrian. 

Behind them, Fredinand, the Nanny, and the maids followed suit, maintaining a respectful distance.

As they walked, a comfortable silence settled between them. 

Leticia, however, was not one to shy away from the conversation and sought to break the silence.

"So… how are you feeling today?"

"Pretty good."

Adrian answered without taking his eyes off his Telesphere.

"I see."

As usual, Adrian would only give her a brief answer, but Leticia had grown accustomed to it somehow.

Nevertheless, she didn't give up and was determined to try even harder this time.

Just as Leticia was about to speak again, Adrian beat her to it.

"This way."

"Uh, okay."

As they continued walking, the once quiet street transformed into a bustling thoroughfare, teeming with people. 

Leticia's eyes glimmered with excitement as she took in the sight of numerous stalls lining up neatly along the street.

There were enticing displays of food, colorful souvenirs, and a myriad of other enticing wares.

The air was filled with a distinctive clatter and the mouthwatering aroma of delicious food.

Leticia's senses were overwhelmed with the sights, sounds, and smells of the bustling plaza. 

She couldn't contain her excitement, her heart racing with the anticipation of trying all the delectable treats that surrounded her.

With a childlike enthusiasm, Leticia turned to Adrian, her eyes shining, however—

"Ian! Over here!"

Upon hearing it, Leticia swiftly darted toward the source of the sound.

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she tried to make sense of the situation.

There, she caught sight of Adrian's classmate in the distance.

"Let's go."

Adrian urged her forward.

However, just as he was about to take a step forward, Leticia's hand shot out and grabbed his suit, causing him to turn towards her.

"Wait, Ian. Why are your classmates here? Weren't we supposed to be together alone?"

Adrian let out a sigh, gently removing Leticia's hand from his clothes before responding.

"First of all, you never specifically mentioned that it had to be just the two of us."

"But—"

"Secondly, I have plans with my friends. You should be grateful they allowed you to join us when I asked them."

Leticia fell silent, realizing her mistake. 

She had assumed that their outing would be exclusive to just the two of them, but she had failed to communicate her expectations clearly.

Seeing the disappointment on Leticia's face, Adrian couldn't help but voice his mind. 

"If you're not comfortable with this, you can go back to your dormitory, and we can cancel our agreement."

Without waiting for her response, Adrian turned around and began walking towards his classmates.

However, he couldn't help but notice that Leticia was still lingering behind him, causing him to slow his pace.

As they resumed walking side by side, Leticia couldn't suppress a chuckle.

Despite his sharp tongue, Adrian always showed that he cared, even about the smallest things.

Finally reaching their destination, Leticia immediately curtsied and introduced herself with grace.

"My name is Leticia Florance. It is my utmost pleasure to meet Your Highnesses."

Sylvina and Rhea approached Leticia with warm smiles, immediately helping her straighten herself. 

"Lady Leticia, there's no need to be so formal with us." 

Sylvina reassured her and Rhea chimed in.

"That's right! Adrian's friend is our friend too!"

Though still slightly confused, Leticia returned their gestures with gratitude. 

"Thank you."

Péréz, unable to contain himself, interjected with a teasing remark. 

"When you asked if you could bring your girlfriend, I thought it was just a lie."

Rolling his eyes in boredom, Adrian clarified.

"She's not my girlfriend."

Péréz, seizing the opportunity for mischief, couldn't help but continue.

"Then, can I court her—argh!"

Before Péréz could finish his sentence, Rhea swiftly kicked his shin, effectively silencing him. 

"What was that for?"

Péréz protested.

"Ahem!"

A loud clearing of the throat drew everyone's attention to a black-haired young man.

Soon, Ralph stepped forward and slightly bowed. 

"Lady Leticia, you can call me Ralph. It's a pleasure to meet you."

The others followed suit, introducing themselves with warmth and friendliness.

"My name is Sylvina, you can call me Vivi. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I'm called Rhea. Nice to meet you."

Péréz, recovering from the kick, introduced himself as well.

"My Lady, my name is Péréz. I hail from Aiden Knightdom. Please remember me, because I—argh!"

Another groan escaped from Péréz's mouth as Rhea's patience wore thin.

Unable to contain her amusement any longer, Leticia let out a soft chuckle. 

"Pfft."

She hadn't expected Adrian's classmates to be so lively and chaotic.

Suppressing her laughter, Leticia reintroduced herself with a warm smile. 

"Hello, my name is Leticia, but you can call me Tia."

"Tia? That's a beautiful—"

Péréz, about to compliment her name, quickly shut his mouth as Rhea shot him a death glare.

The group fell into an awkward silence, but Ralph, ever the peacemaker, cleared his throat and tried to steer the conversation back on track.

"Ahem! So, where shall we go first?"

However, it became apparent that none of them were familiar with the plaza and its attractions. 

Sensing Leticia's gaze on him, Adrian nodded, silently giving her permission to join the conversation.

Taking a step forward, Leticia hesitated for a moment before making a suggestion.

"Umm... if I may, I know of a great place where we can play various games and enjoy delicious food."

In truth, Leticia often sneaked out of the Academy and explored the Capital, so she was familiar with a fantastic place for children like them to hang out.

The group nodded in agreement, intrigued by Leticia's suggestion. 

They decided to follow her lead and set off towards the designated location without wasting any time.

Their first destination was a place called 'The Playground House,' a grand mansion that housed an expansive playground. 

It was reminiscent of a modern-day arcade, with a theater, circus performances, various ball games, archery, wrestling, and much more.

What set it apart from modern arcades was the absence of carousels, roller coasters, and other mechanically engineered attractions. 

Instead, it focused on traditional games and activities that allowed the children to engage their creativity and physical skills.

Eager to make the most of their time, they wasted no time and tried every game and activity available in the house. 

Laughter filled the air as they raced each other, challenged one another to friendly competitions, and simply enjoyed the pure joy of being carefree children.

After hours of exhilarating fun, their stomachs began to rumble, reminding them that it was time for a well-deserved break. 

They ventured out of the Playground House and indulged in delicious street food, savoring the flavors of the Capital.

As the day drew to a close, they made sure to purchase various souvenirs as mementos of their adventure.