Reiko stepped into the same spot where Neon had just performed.
"I am Reiko. I hope my performance may offer some small diversion for you all."
With those words, she performed a graceful curtsy and began to dance.
"...This is...!"
"Wait...!"
The dance Reiko performed was identical to Neon’s, perfect down to the smallest detail.
However, her tempo was slightly faster, and her movements were markedly more fluid.
Then, while dancing, Reiko began to sing. The melody was exactly what Neon had sung moments before.
"The spring shifts away in a fleeting moment, Summer departs without leaving a trace, Autumn passes by in quietude, Winter arrives with a hurried pace."
Furthermore, the lyrics now possessed a deeper meaning.
"The earth remains, watching the lives of men; Water but shifts and flows away; Fire rises—lighting, warming, and burning; The Breeze passes through all of creation."
The audience watched Reiko in rapt silence, not so much as a cough breaking the quiet.
Then, both song and dance came to a synchronized end.
"I hope that was acceptable."
Reiko bowed with another curtsy.
She then quietly returned to Jin’s side. The room remained speechless.
"Father, how was I?"
Hearing her voice, Jin finally snapped back to his senses.
"Ah, it was magnificent, Reiko. Truly well done."
When he reached out to pat her head, Reiko gave a happy, radiant smile.
"That... that was incredible!"
Berche’s exclamation finally broke the spell over the room.
"Reiko-chan, that was brilliant!" cried Reinhard.
"No, I’m truly impressed!" added Mattheus. Even the hotel’s waitstaff joined in, offering a generous round of applause.
"Reiko-chan, you were amazing! When on earth did you learn that?" Berche asked, her voice vibrating with excitement.
"Neon-san was kind enough to show me the example," Reiko answered nonchalantly.
"What?"
"...You learned it in one go?"
Everyone was astonished, but Reiko was a machine capable of memorizing even advanced magic after seeing it just once.
"See, I told you, Berche. Reiko-chan is an incredible automata!" Reinhard boasted, looking as proud as if he were the one being praised.
"Thank you. But everything I am is thanks to my Father, who created me."
Reiko bowed as she spoke. Berche was further moved.
"She is wonderful! She’s just like a human—no, she is a young girl through and through! Jin-sama, please remain friends with Reinhard-sama for a long, long time."
"Yes, of course."
Jin laughed as he replied.
Once the lively banquet concluded, everyone retired to their respective rooms. Jin had wondered if Reinhard and Berche would be sharing a suite.
"Are you two together tonight?" he had asked earlier.
"S-S-S-S-Such an immodest thing is out of the question!"
He recalled how Berche had denied it, her face turning bright red.
"Well then, we’ll head to the village tomorrow. I'm going to sleep for tonight."
"Yes, Father."
Jin patted the head of the responding Reiko.
"You were a star tonight, Reiko. You made me proud."
He praised her once more, and a look of pure happiness floated across Reiko’s face.
＊ ＊ ＊
Berche sat on the bed in her room, gazing at Neon.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
When she answered, Neon walked over and opened it.
"Pardon me for the late hour."
It was Reinhard who entered.
"Reinhard-sama, what is the matter? Until the ceremony is held... well, you mustn't, you know?"
Berche told him with her cheeks slightly flushed, but Reinhard steered the conversation elsewhere.
"No, it's not that. I was just a little worried about you, Bell."
"It’s a bit hurtful for you to say 'it’s not that.'"
"Ah, s-sorry. No, you see..."
Reinhard grew flustered under Berche's mock glare. Seeing him like that, Berche let out a little chuckle.
"I am joking. Reinhard-sama, you say you are worried about me... regarding what?"
Berche wore a puzzled expression, as nothing came to mind that warranted concern.
"Well, it's... it's about Neon."
"About Neon?"
"Yeah. I told you, didn't I? That Jin is a unique magi craftman. Personally, I think he's the best in the world. I don't believe there's another magi craftman who can match him."
Reinhard spoke with heat in his voice. Berche gave a wry smile.
"Goodness, you get so defensive when it comes to Jin-sama. If I didn't trust you so much, I might misunderstand your passion."
"Eh? What?"
Reinhard was momentarily flustered, remembering how Mattheus had misunderstood his admiration for Jin before. However, seeing the mischievous glint in Berche's eyes, he realized she was teasing him.
"Don't make fun of me. At any rate, knowing how much you treasure Neon, I was... well, concerned."
"Concerned?"
"Yeah. I was afraid that after seeing Jin’s Reiko-chan, you might lose interest in Neon."
Hearing that, Berche opened her eyes wide in surprise for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Ufufu, Reinhard-sama, were you really thinking such a thing?"
She laughed for a good while longer.
"...I’m sorry for laughing. But is that really how you see me? If so, I am a little disappointed."
She wore a mock-sorrowful expression.
"There is no way I would tire of Neon. Not after you gave her to me."
Neon was an automata that Reinhard had commissioned Gebalt Ackermann—the senior fellow disciple of his own master—to create before he left the country on diplomatic business.
Berche continued.
"Neon and that Reiko-chan were different somehow. I was just thinking about what that difference was."
With that, she beckoned Neon over, had her sit beside her, and put her arm around her shoulder. They looked just like twin sisters.
"I see. Then it's fine. I'm sorry for doubting you, even for a moment... Neon, you're lucky to have such a good mistress."
"Yesth, Reinhard-sama. My masthter is the bestht in the world."
Neon smiled as she answered in her slightly tongue-tied way. Then, she added:
"That Reiko-san person is wonderful. I want to be friendths with her."
Reinhard smiled at those words as well.
"I see. I plan to guide them to our territory, so I'll mention it to Jin then."
He patted Neon's head as he spoke.
Sitting beside her, Berche puffed out her cheeks slightly at the sight. Reinhard, correctly reading her expression, smiled.
"Well then, I'll stop bothering you."
He leaned in and placed a kiss on Berche's forehead.
"Ah, n-no, Reinhard-sama."
Though it was only on the forehead, Berche turned bright red at the sudden kiss. She stood up in a hurry and walked Reinhard to the door.
"Goodnight, Bell."
"Goodnight to you as well."
The door quietly closed.
That night, Berche surely had a very pleasant dream.