Morning Blushes and the Princess's Return
“I wasn't sulking from the start.”
Her response made me lose it and burst out laughing.
I stood up from my seat and stretched.
As I raised my arms overhead, a dull ache shot from my right shoulder down to my waist.
“Ow.”
A groan slipped out before I could stop it.
It was only natural, after all—two people tangled up on a cramped single bed all night.
“My whole body's killing me.”
I grumbled while rolling my neck side to side. There was a series of satisfying cracks from the knotted muscles.
“Then why'd you sleep in my bed?”
Aria asked as she straightened the sleeve of my uniform. There was a hint of reproach in her voice, but her touch was incredibly gentle—smoothing out the cuff neatly, pressing down the wrinkles with her palm.
“Had to cheer you up, didn't I? You were sulking so much.”
“You didn't have to.”
“Still.”
“...Haa...”
Aria let out a deep sigh but still buttoned my shirt meticulously.
“All done.”
She stepped back and inspected my outfit. As she tilted her head this way and that, a glint of blue flashed between strands of her orange hair.
The hairpin I'd given her.
The blue gem nestled in its silver frame sparkled brilliantly in the morning sunlight. Pinned neatly amid the orange locks, it suited her perfectly.
“You're wearing it.”
Aria flinched at my words. Her hand instinctively drifted toward the pin, then dropped shyly.
“Y-you said it looked good on me, so...”
She mumbled, eyes downcast, twisting the hem of her skirt between her fingers like a nervous kid.
“D-does it look weird...?”
“Nah. It's pretty. Keep wearing it.”
Her cheeks flushed peach-pink at my blunt compliment. She bit her lip, trying to hide the smile creeping out, but her twitching mouth gave her away.
“Let's hurry, sis. We'll be late.”
The nickname slipped out so naturally.
The moment “sis” crossed her lips, a tickle fluttered in my chest again.
Even hearing it last night hadn't prepared me, but in the bright morning light? The impact hit twice as hard.
I've gotta hear this every day from now on?
My ears burned. “Yeah. Let's grab some food.”
I played it cool and headed out of the dorm room with Aria.
The morning cafeteria was much the same as always.
If I had to pick something different, it was Aria's attitude standing beside me.
Unlike before, she stuck close, refusing to drift away. She even brushed her arm against mine as we walked—pretty bold, actually.
“Hey, isn't that Lady Bellaph?”
“Who's the commoner next to her?”
Whispers swirled around us.
Before, Aria would've trembled under those stares and hidden behind me.
But today, she didn't bow her head.
She stepped even closer, almost shoulder-to-shoulder.
With every stride, her uniform sleeve grazed my jacket.
She was definitely sticking to me on purpose.
“Hey, Aria.”
“Yes? What's up, sis?”
I flinched again at the effortless “sis.” It was really sticking now.
“You're walking kinda close today.” I whispered without breaking stride.
“Is that a problem?” Aria turned to look up at me.
“Not a problem, but... people's stares.”
The other students' eyes were blatantly fixed on us.
I was used to the notoriety, so glares didn't faze me.
But Aria had to keep living a normal academy life.
If rumors spread about us being this close, it could mess with her friendships.
Not that I cared much before, but now that we were tight, I couldn't help worrying.
“I don't mind. They're staring weird anyway. Might as well own it.”
As she spoke, she hooked her arm lightly through mine.
A soft warmth seeped through my shirt.
Okay, but this was pushing it.
“Hey, you...”
“It's what friends do.”
She cut me off before I could protest.
Huh... yeah, I guess?
I glanced down at our linked arms.
Girls did this all the time, right? In my past life, I'd see high school girls glued together like this on the streets.
A girl thing. Friendship vibes. Nothing weird...
“Fine. If you're cool with it.”
Even during breakfast, Aria's eyes kept flicking my way.
Our gazes met over side dishes, and she'd beam.
I'd scoop some stew, and she'd mimic me.
What was this, ducklings trailing their mom?
After eating, we paused at the fork in front of the building.
“Have a good class.”
“You too... take care, sis.”
She gave a small wave and trotted off toward the magic department lecture hall.
The blue gem in her hair caught the sunlight one last time.
I left her clingy figure behind and turned toward the main building.
With the day backed up, today was probably office duty with Adrian.
Sure enough, Esilla was waiting at the front steps.
She gave a curt nod as soon as she spotted me.
“Good morning, my lady.”
“Yeah. Tough morning again, huh.”
I stopped in front of her.
The mandatory ritual before entering the office: unlocking the mana-sensing restraint collar around my neck.
I tilted my head naturally, swept my hair aside with one hand, and exposed my pale nape to her.
-Step.
Esilla approached.
I felt the presence of her gloved hand nearing my neck.
But it didn't touch the collar right away.
It hovered near my nape, hesitating.
“Something wrong?”
Esilla cleared her throat softly at my question.
“Nothing, ma'am.”
What's her deal?
Then it hit me—the cafeteria incident yesterday.
Forcing that spoonful into her mouth.
Her red lips. Indirect kiss.
The memories crashed back in.
-Click.
The collar unlocked, and Esilla stepped back.
I bolted away from her too.
“Th-thanks.”
My voice shook a bit—hope it didn't show.
“Please enter.”
Unlike me, Esilla was unflappable, holding the collar as she stepped aside.
Her voice was dry, but she couldn't hide the faint blush creeping up her white neck.
So she noticed it too.
Relief that it wasn't just me mixed with even more awkwardness.
This tension wasn't my style.
“Uh, yeah. See ya.”
I grabbed the doorknob and fled inside.
Esilla didn't look at me until the door shut.
///
-Creeeak.
The office looked exactly the same as last time.
Mountains of paperwork piled on the desk.
And Adrian seated behind it.
But I definitely sorted all that...
Did this academy photocopy work or something?
“You're late.”
She said flatly, eyes still on her papers.
Morning greetings fixed at “late” now, huh.
“I'm right on time.”
I shot back, pulling out the chair opposite and sitting.
I snuck a glance at Adrian.
Still that stuffy getup.
Shirt buttoned to the collar, tie knotted tight.
I could almost see the brutal binding bandages crushing her chest through the fabric.
“What are you staring at?”
Adrian frowned, sensing my gaze. She instinctively clutched her collar, on guard.
“Nah, just... you look better. Get some sleep?”
I averted my eyes and dragged a stack of papers toward me.
“None of your business.”
Gruff, but not as prickly as before.
“Got it. Let's work.”
I grabbed a pen and dove into the documents.
Today's tasks were similar: club budget audits, dorm supply requests, festival prep reports.
Mundane stuff.
We'd been buried in it for a while when Adrian suddenly spoke up.
“By the way.”
“...”
I ignored it, figuring self-talk.
No way she's talking to me.
Wrong.
“I'm talking to you, Bellaph.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
This blockhead was finally attempting chit-chat.
I was about to get emotional and engage—
“What?”
“Leoness's return has been approved.”
—but the topic was anything but casual.