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Old Friend
“I need your help,” aggressively demanded Liu Yue.
Vera narrowed her eyes and placed her teacup down. She replied, “Oh? You never came in autumn or early winter. Then, you ask for my help on your first day here? What is it? What do you need my help with?”
Liu Yue sat down to the side. She voiced, “What’s your academic level? Before you reply, bear in mind that you didn’t come welcome me when I arrived. Needless to say, that is my complaint. As you three didn’t welcome your cute sister, you are obligated to help me. Before that, however, I need to know how good you are at academics.”
Vera immediately understood what her sister was after. Lost for words in the spur of the moment, she laughed before answering, “We’re educated as per the imperial family’s standard. How could we be underachievers? What’s the matter? You’re not going to ask us to do your homework for you, are you?! Our younger sister we’re most proud of is going to ask someone to do her homework for her? Aren’t you our straight-A’s sister we’re most proud of? If you’re so good, why do you need us to help you do your homework? Do you have that much homework?”
“Firstly, I’ve never been a straight-A’s student, okay? I don’t need to be one, either. I’ll be staying here for a long time during this winter break. How am I going to have time for homework when I’m with Dad? Therefore, I need to complete all of my homework in the first week. You don’t have any homework, anyway, so help me with mine. Here, this is maths. This is natural sciences. This is literature. This is elven literature. I’m sure Vera and Nona are both experts at elven literature. Mm, I’ll complete the practical exercise myself.”
“What’s your practical exercise?” inquired Nona
Nona cheerfully leaned over to Liu Yue. She watched Liu Yue take out a notebook from her bag. The book was thin, so Nona surmised it was specifically for reporting her practical exercise.
“Mm, observe an animal’s life for one month. I’ll do it. I just need to observe something every day. What animals are there in the Imperial Palace?”
“Ah, there is an animal in the Imperial Palace. A fox.”
“I don’t count. Our teacher told me so. She said Mom and I don’t count as animals, which is why I can’t monitor myself.”
“I take it dragons are a no, as well?”
“How do you expect me to report on Grandmother Sylvanas? Every day, she wakes up, has breakfast and tea, then goes for a stroll in the flower garden, then has Dad wipe her scales at night. She flies to Troy City twice per week for a dip in the hot spring. Is that what you expect me to write? Despite it being true, my teacher wouldn’t believe me. I need another suggestion. Also, transformations don’t count. Don’t we have any animals that don’t transform?”
Daisy contemplated the question then replied, “Does the White Deer King count? She is a deer, after all, and she doesn’t transform.”
“Mm, but the White Deer King hasn’t appeared in a long time. Speaking of the White Deer King, Dad has another maid named Bai Lu with him recently. She hasn’t been here for long. She’s very shy and extremely thin. Oh, right, Bai Lu is here.”
Daisy called out to Bai Lu. A young maid dressed in the some clothing as Luna approached from behind Liu Yue. She poured Daisy another cup of tea. She nervously looked at Liu Yue and, unfortunately, stuttered when she tried to speak. Liu Yue gave her a smile then turned back to her homework. She didn’t seem interested in the maid.
“The White Deer King, huh? That would work. If the White Deer King isn’t around, then I’ll be in quite the pinch
”
“She is around!” The maid suddenly called out, startling the sisters.
The four sisters turned to Bai Lu. Bai Lu took a small step back then waved her hands in a panicked manner. She quickly bowed and then left. She left surprisingly fast for someone so thin and frail. Liu Yue watched Bai Lu feeling puzzled. She suddenly had a realisation. She asked, “She’s wearing the same clothes as Luna. Is she Dad’s personal servant? Doesn’t Dad only have one personal servant?”
“Ah, Miss Luna is on vacation. She might be enjoying the beautiful scenery in the elven lands right this moment. Miss Bai Lu only works when Miss Luna is away. That said, the White Deer King should be coming back. You just need to wait a while.”
Vera flipped through Liu Yue’s homework then pondered to herself for a while. She asserted, “Mm, let me see your homework. Ah, how annoying. Why is it so thick?! Are all schools out there holiday terrorists? Do you all have this much homework on holidays? Let’s make use of the nerd at the science department. We have an engineering department, a gold metallurgy department, an agricultural department and all sorts of other departments. Let’s go ask for their help. I’m sure they’ll help you do your homework if we use our status as Princesses.”
Liu Yue nodded: “That works, too. No complaints here. Let’s hurry and start, then. Wait. Before that, I have a question. Where’s Dad? Are you the only ones I can play with? I heard Dad left.”
“Ah, did you forget? There’s the routine conference at Troy City. We’ll be heading there, as well. Dad won’t be coming back. In saying that, there’s one more thing. I heard there’s a guest at Troy City.  We’ll get to see them when we get there. Dad has arranged for us to enjoy the hot springs and go skiing at Troy City. Once we get back, you can pick up your homework.”
“Kids, I heard your plans the moment I came. If Miss Ling Yue finds out, I can’t say what will happen.”
Startled, Liu Yue turned around to see Freya. She took in a deep breath and implored, “Miss Freya, please do not tell Mom about this; otherwise, my entire holiday will be doomed
 Look, I have so much homework. How can I waste time on homework when I am with Dad? I only get to see Dad twice a year
”
“Hehe,” Freya laughed while keeping her eyes on Liu Yue. Freya caressed Liu Yue’s head: “I understand now. In that case, I shall keep a lid on it. This holiday might be a little special to you since, not only will your father be part of your holiday, but so will your old friend. Princesses, dinner is ready. Please come have a dinner with me, though your father is not present for now.”