Tied Up in Knots
The next morning after returning.
As usual, sunlight slipped through the gap in the curtains, tickling my eyelids.
The moment I opened my eyes, the now-familiar ceiling came into view.
"Mm… slept well."
I stretched and swung my legs over the side of the bed.
Right on cue, I sensed a presence.
"You're awake, my lady?"
It was Aria.
She was already perfectly dressed in her uniform, sitting in a chair and watching me.
She stepped closer, expecting me to spread my arms.
"Shall I help you again today?"
Her voice brimmed with confidence.
After the past few days, this had become our natural morning routine.
"Yeah, thanks…"
I started to casually spread my arms, but stopped midway.
Yesterday's events flashed through my mind.
-Come to me instead.
-Should I come to your dorm every morning?
That teasing yet sincere voice.
If I kept relying on Aria, Lilliana would find out eventually.
Secrets don't stay secret forever.
And if that happened, she might actually show up at my dorm door every morning.
Just imagining it was horrifying.
"…Nah."
I slowly lowered my arms.
"Pardon?"
As my arms dropped, Aria's hands, reaching for me, hovered uncertainly in the air.
She stared at me with wide eyes, her face full of confusion.
"My lady?"
"I'm good today. I'll do it myself."
"Huh? B-but…"
Aria's gaze flicked between my shirt and my hands.
"You looked so exhausted yesterday. It'll take forever on your own… I can do it way faster and easier for you."
She took another step forward.
But I shook my head.
"No. It's fine."
At my firm refusal, Aria's expression visibly darkened.
She bit her lip, then asked cautiously,
"D-did I… maybe mess up something yesterday?"
The corners of her eyes drooped pitifully.
She'd hesitated when I first asked her to help, but now that I was saying no, she seemed flustered—or more like disappointed.
"It's not that you messed up. I just can't keep relying on you forever. I need to learn to dress myself eventually."
"I get that, but… still…"
She pouted, fidgeting with her fingers.
She must have really enjoyed those brief moments helping me.
The subtle pride from fixing my uniform each morning, or maybe something more—intimacy, perhaps.
Being turned down seemed to hurt her feelings.
I got out of bed and picked up my uniform.
"I can handle it. I'm not a kid."
I did my best to button up the shirt.
Aria watched my hands in silence.
Her eyes mixed anxiety and regret, like she was watching a child by the water's edge.
One, two, three.
Buttoning was manageable enough.
It took three times longer than when she did it, and I had to unbutton and redo a couple that went wrong, but I succeeded.
The real problem came next.
The ribbon's a nightmare.
Standing in front of the mirror with the ribbon tie in hand, my mind went blank.
I'd watched her do it every day, but trying it myself, my fingers twisted awkwardly.
Right over left? No, left first? Loop it around, pull…
Every knot attempt unraveled; every shape crumpled.
She made it look effortless—a quick flick and done.
After ages staring into the mirror, the result was…
"Ugh."
Pathetic.
Not a ribbon—more like earbuds tangled in a pocket for a week.
No balance, no proper knot; it looked ready to fall apart any second.
"Haa…"
A deep sigh escaped me.
It had taken me forever to master a necktie in my past life; no way this intricate ribbon would be a one-shot success.
Fingers tangled, fabric bunched, and now my nerves were too.
How the hell am I supposed to do this alone?
I glared at my reflection.
If I showed up to meet Adrian like this, she'd mock me endlessly.
But I couldn't go out like this either.
I tried untying and redoing it, but it only got worse—now the ribbon was wrinkled and crumpled.
Then, I felt a prickling gaze from behind.
Glancing in the mirror, Aria was huddled on the bed, staring intently.
Knees hugged to her chest, lips pursed in a pout.
Her eyes screamed, See? You can't do it alone.
I ignored it and tried again.
I can do this. Just loop, tuck, pull…
I tugged the knot tight.
Slip.
It unraveled limply.
No knot at all this time.
The mangled ribbon dangled sadly from my chest.
Total defeat.
No helping it.
I admitted defeat and turned slowly.
"Aria?"
"Yes?"
She replied instantly, like she'd been waiting.
But she didn't stand right away.
Her attitude was a touch smug now, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.
"Why'd you call me, my lady?"
"Well…"
I fiddled with the crumpled ribbon ends.
"This is… kinda tricky."
"Tricky? But you said you could do it yourself."
She tilted her head.
"You're not a kid—you said you could handle it alone."
"No, that's not…"
My own words boomeranged back.
Aria huffed and turned away.
"I believe in you, my lady. You'll nail it. Fighting!"
Soul-less cheer.
She's pissed.
Definitely sulking.
She'd offered help first thing, got shot down flat—fair to be miffed.
And watching me struggle must feel pretty satisfying now.
"Aria, come on."
I approached the bed where she sat.
"Just this once?"
"Nope."
She refused flatly.
"I'm busy too. Got studying, and prep to do."
She grabbed a book from the desk and pretended to read.
Upside down, but I won't point that out.
"Really? You won't help at all?"
"Yes. You said you could do it. I'll do my own thing."
Not real anger—just petulant whining.
I casually perched on the bed's edge beside her. It dipped, tilting her toward me.
"Aria."
"…"
"Hey, Aria?"
"Can't hear you. Reading."
Full sulk mode.
I scooted closer.
Shoulders almost touching.
My hair brushed her shoulder.
"…"
Her eyes wavered.
Pretending to read, but all her focus was on me.
"You really won't help? For real?"
"…"
I pointed to the dangling ribbon mess on my chest.
Her eyes flicked to it, then back to the book.
Conflicted.
Torn between wanting to help and her hurt feelings.
I tugged her sleeve lightly.
"If I can't tie this, I'll be stuck like this all day."
"…"
"Yours always looks the prettiest."
She snapped the book shut.
Laughter sparkled in her eyes.
"Hmph, can't be helped!"
She set the book down with satisfaction and hopped up.
"You really can't do anything without me, my lady."
"Tell me about it. I'd be lost without you."
I played along, and her smile deepened.
She slipped between my legs as I sat on the bed.
"Chin up a bit."
Her hands went to my nape.
Warm fingers undid the tangled ribbon, smoothed the wrinkled collar.
Crinkle, crinkle.
Familiar, pleasant sounds.
"All done."
She spoke without letting go, holding my collar.
"Thanks. You're the best."
"Hehe…"
Finally beaming, she stepped back from the bed.
"Okay, let's go. We're gonna be late."
"Yeah. Coming."
Aria excitedly packed her bag.
Watching her back, I thought,
Got to keep this secret from Lilliana.
Absolutely.