“That’s what I heard—apparently, there was an accident yesterday.”
“Oh my, what a shock. Shouldn’t we file a complaint with the Academy?”
“Who knows? I suppose they’ll apologize, won’t they? After all, it’s that family. It’s a duke’s family, so the apology letter might have already arrived.”
“Oh, does that mean we’ll see the Headmaster Professor again?”
“Hoho. That old fellow sure has a hard time moving around.”
I thought I’d gotten ready early, but there were still many people in the hallways. We all wore the same uniform, but each of us looked a bit different.
“I have a feeling everyone’s going to be talking about me today.”
Maybe they’d seen me, because their voices grew quieter. Still, I could feel the stares on my face, making my cheeks sting a little.
“I’m glad I followed your advice and wore makeup today.”
“You look so pretty! It really suits you~”
Cecilia beamed at me.
“Hmm. That’s Cecilia Manchester, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I heard she was there during the commotion yesterday, right?”
“But how did Lady Credere end up in the accident?”
“Do you think she jumped in herself?”
“Oh, come on, no way!”
“Or maybe… her best friend pushed her….”
“Don’t say such scary things! Let’s hurry up.”
“Why? I’m just saying! Honestly, isn’t the whole incident suspicious?”
The red-haired girl being dragged away kept staring at us until the end, still watching for any reaction.
“Cecilia.”
Maybe we shouldn’t have taken the stairs, since the elevator was packed with students. Cecilia ended up hearing everything the gossipers were saying, and she finally burst into tears.
‘Ah! If you’re going to gossip, at least do it where the person can’t hear you, you ill-mannered brats!’
“Don’t listen to them.”
“I—I would never hurt Riana.”
“Of course not. And nobody would think you pushed me. I probably just tripped.”
“Right? There’s no way someone that scary would be in our class, right?”
“Exactly! So try to calm down.”
I gently patted Cecilia’s shoulder.
What a mess first thing in the morning. I really didn’t think this incident would be such a big deal.
Is it just because it’s the start of the term and everyone’s bored? Even so, talking like that right in front of someone is just rude.
‘Redhead, I won’t forget this.’
Heh. I’m not the same pushover I used to be…! I’ll make sure you pay for this later!
“Sniff….”
“It’s okay.”
She’d calm down in ten minutes, right? I checked my watch—still plenty of time.
Hmm, should I take her inside for some tea to help her relax?
Cecilia seemed even more fragile than usual. Or maybe I’d just toughened up.
As I watched Cecilia sniffling, lost in thought, a sharp voice suddenly cut through the heavy hallway air.
“Making a scene so early in the morning.”
“Lady Margareta?”
‘Oh… Margareta’s hair style is…’
“…Did you bring a maid? Looks nice.”
Margareta tossed out a backhanded compliment in her usual snappy tone.
‘It’s almost exactly the same as mine.’
I expected her to complain that I’d copied her hairstyle, but surprisingly, she didn’t.
‘No, wait. I promised myself I’d stop being so prejudiced.’
Thinking back to the tea time we’d shared a few days ago, she was just a clumsy girl at heart.
‘But the gap is too much!’
Hands on her hips, glaring with a cocked head—she looked like she was itching for a fight!
Of course, her gaze wasn’t aimed at me, but at Cecilia.
It seemed that Margareta couldn’t help but growl at Cecilia whenever she saw her.
“Well. It does suit you. But what’s this? Are students allowed to bring maids to the Academy?”
Margareta’s innocent voice seemed to poke Cecilia.
“No.”
You know that’s not allowed, right? The one who did my hair was Cecilia!
Margareta’s innocent curiosity must have hit Cecilia right where it hurt. Her face flushed so red I couldn’t even intervene.
‘Cecilia’s too shy to boast about her own handiwork, especially when she’s already feeling small. If I praise her now, it might just make things more awkward.’
I’ve mediated my fair share of fights, but this was a new one. Cecilia was usually tearful or troubled, but I’d never seen her embarrassed like this.
I grabbed Cecilia’s hand and pulled her behind me.
Cecilia, I’ll shield you, so just calm down a bit!
“What’s going on here? Hah!”
“Margareta.”
Margareta’s face twisted, as if she didn’t understand my reaction at all.
If she’d meant any malice by her words just now, she’d probably have laughed by now. But judging by her face, she seemed more baffled than anything. So she really was just curious about the ‘maid’ thing.
“I’m asking what you’re doing!”
“Cecilia’s not feeling well. By the way, your hair looks beautiful today, Lady Margareta.”
‘Calm down! If you meet, you’ll only fight, so it’s better not to look at her!’
It wasn’t an empty compliment to change the subject. Margareta’s hair really was pretty.
It almost looked like we’d had our hair styled by the same person. The style, or rather the theme? The vibe was really similar, even if the details were different.
Her glossy, dark brown hair was braided tight, and a thin, vine-like gold hair ornament wound around the braids like deep green stems. Scattered between the braids were flawless, high-quality pearls.
Behind Margareta stood two quiet-looking girls. They seemed to be whispering, but I couldn’t quite hear what they were saying. I caught a glimpse of bright yellow hair.
‘That seems familiar somehow.’
“Am I supposed to eat you or something?”
Margareta grinned with a sneer.
‘Do you really have to bare your fangs like a hunting lion…!’
“Margareta.”
I called her name calmly, and she closed her mouth, staring at me with a sulky look.
She looked just like a pouting child. Since her cheeks hadn’t thinned out yet, she actually looked rather gentle when she wasn’t being irritable.
‘Well… sort of.’
I gave Cecilia’s hand a reassuring squeeze behind my back.
Why are they both acting like children all of a sudden!
No, this is my fault for having come back to life—my fault!
I wanted to thump my chest and flop to the ground.
“Thank you for the tea the other day.”
‘You remember our tea time, right?’
“Why are you bringing that up….”
Margareta frowned. She really couldn’t hide her feelings. In a way, I admired her bluntness.
“You said you don’t like discomfort. Should we talk another time?”
Margareta, we talked about image management, remember? And if you yell like that, you look threatening! Didn’t you say you wanted to get along with me?
So just let it go for today! Don’t drag things out and fight.
Yesterday’s incident had already worn me out.
“Hah! Fine.”
“Thank you.”
Margareta let out a huff and clacked her way down the hall.
‘Phew. Thank goodness.’
So this is how you dodge a commotion.
I waited until she’d passed. Even though the corridor was wide, one stray brush of our uniforms could start a fight. I stepped further aside, but Margareta stopped right in front of me.
“Um… I’ll go down ahead.”
“Yes, Lady Torrento!”
“Yes.”
The two girls following her answered immediately in strangely familiar voices, hurrying down the stairs at her command. Their skirts flared out with their quick steps.
Margareta watched to make sure they were halfway down the stairs, then lifted her chin. Her flashing eyes drilled into me, as if to check something or see through me.
“Are you alright?”
“Sorry?”
“I heard you collapsed yesterday.”
“Ah….”
I was so surprised, I was speechless.
I never thought Margareta would be worried about me.
“The rumor’s all over campus. Well, not that I need to tell you that.”
Her cool gaze shifted to Cecilia, who had her head bowed. Without thinking, I held Cecilia protectively, and Margareta’s eyebrows shot up.
“Sorry.”
I apologized, feeling like I’d treated her as the villain.
That was almost a reflex just now—sorry, Margareta!
Luckily, her face softened right away. As much as her emotions swung wildly, they calmed quickly too.
“Thank you for worrying. I’m fine. Rumors are just rumors.”
“Glad you’re not bothered. So, what class do you have today? I’d like to talk for a bit.”
“Talk?”
“Can’t people in the same year even talk?”
Well, yes, but did Margareta really have something to say to me?
We looked at each other for a moment. It felt like she was suppressing some complaint or annoyance. Maybe she was barely holding back her temper.
Seeing her face, I felt I might have been too harsh. Even before my regression, and even now, I didn’t really know her well. I’d just gone along with things, cleaning up after the messes and focusing on the results.
‘That’s right! There’s no reason to be so defensive toward Margareta.’
She hadn’t done anything wrong yet. And from a bit of distance, I could understand her. There was no need to keep her at arm’s length.
To be honest, I found her straightforwardness rather charming!
Looking at Cecilia’s round head, I nodded to myself.
‘I need… to stop being so defensive.’
“Sure. Oh, and you should come back to the room sometimes, too.”
Cecilia’s hand twitched.
“Well, maybe I will.”
Margareta nodded a farewell and turned briskly away. Her cape fluttered as if it would brush against us, then settled back down. The sound of her footsteps faded into the distance. I looked at Cecilia.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
Thankfully, Cecilia’s face had returned to its usual paleness—a pallor like moonlight. Whew. Thank goodness.
I almost had to laugh at myself—thinking it was a relief to see such a pale face.
“Um…”
“What is it, Riana?”
“It’s nothing.”
Was it because Margareta called you a maid that you were upset?
I wanted to ask and comfort her, but somehow, I thought that would only make her feel worse, so I kept quiet.
Actually, being a maid could be a great honor, depending on whom you served. It wasn’t something to look down on. But with Margareta’s tone and status—and the stark difference between my family and Cecilia’s—I worried it might have sounded like an insult.
If Cecilia wasn’t bothered, it should be fine. Even Margareta didn’t seem to mean it that way.
Still, maybe I should have been more considerate.
“Madam Ferolten.”
Madam Ferolten, walking with her ledger, looked up and adjusted her glasses.
“Cecilia.”
The fondness in Madam Ferolten’s voice as she called Cecilia’s name was unmistakable.
Of course, Cecilia. When did she get so close to her?
Cecilia quickly went down the stairs and smiled sweetly before Madam Ferolten, giving a polite—if slightly clumsy—curtsy. But Madam Ferolten just beamed and even gave her a hug.
“Did you sleep well?”
“The dormitory office is really chilly. And lonely! But I managed.”
Madam Ferolten took Cecilia’s hand and led her along, speaking without formality.
“Oh dear. I’ll mention it to the Headmaster!”
“What? Hohoho! No need for that. When should we have tea again?”
‘Wow… Madam Ferolten can smile like that?’
Maybe she didn’t see me coming up behind.
She always prided herself on being strict and sharp. Maybe it was better to go back up and take the elevator down instead.
As I was hesitating, turning back toward the stairs—
“Riana—! Hurry up and come down!”
Cecilia called out loudly.
Please, learn some subtlety!
Madam Ferolten, who always handed out those single-use dormitory front door keys that vanished after one use, froze when she saw me.