I Need an Adjustment Period (1)
I jolted awake to the familiar chime of my alarm. Ding-ding-ding—ding-ding-ding—bam-ba-bam, bam-bam, bam-ba-bam, bam-bam-bam—
“Huk.”
Still half-asleep, I fumbled for my phone and turned off the alarm. For a moment I just stared blankly at the ceiling, trying to make sense of things. Oh, right. Today’s the first day of school… I have to go to the academy…
Wait—oh no. I never told my roommate I’d set an alarm. She’s not going to snap at me for making noise without asking, is she?
I whipped my head toward her bed in a panic, but she was already gone. The sheets were rumpled, so it looked like she’d slept here… but I couldn’t hear the shower running. Had she left already? More importantly, how had I slept through someone coming in and out? Maybe I really am pretty oblivious.
“Ugh, up we go.”
It was seven o’clock. The entrance ceremony started at eight, so I washed up quickly and stood in front of the mirror to put on my uniform. White dress shirt, gray vest, light brown skirt, and navy blazer. On the left breast of the blazer was the academy’s emblem—a white flower embroidered in thread. I think they’d said it was modeled after the founder’s ability… but I couldn’t remember the details.
Overall, the uniform was pleasantly unremarkable. The name stitched beneath the white flower was also white, though I’d heard the color changed with each grade level. At least that meant I wouldn’t accidentally offend an upperclassman by failing to recognize them. Small mercies.
Once I was fully dressed, I looked at myself in the mirror. A short, plain-looking girl wearing clothes that somehow didn’t quite suit her stared back.
The feeling of putting on a brand-new uniform and checking yourself in the mirror on the first day of school… I remembered being excited about it in middle school. Now, though, anxiety outweighed anticipation. Probably because I’d never imagined going back to school at all.
Still, Baekhwa Academy was an all-girls school. That alone would spare me a lot of uncomfortable situations. Thank goodness for that, at least.
“Huu…”
I took a deep breath, staring at my reflection, and quietly cheered myself on.
Just get through to graduation. Somehow.
When I stepped outside, the weather was pleasantly cool. Not too cold, not too hot—just the kind of spring day that felt good no matter what. The path from the dormitory to the enormous campus was lined on both sides with massive trees, their fresh green leaves forming a cool canopy overhead. In the distance I could see a wide grassy field and a parking lot big enough to hold several hundred cars.
It was called an academy, but it wasn’t just a school. There were all sorts of research facilities and buildings for other purposes, so it was impossible to tell what everything was at a glance. Not that it mattered to me. I only needed to worry about the school buildings.
“Ah, there it is.”
Countless other students in uniform were gathering in one direction. Some looked excited, some bored, some chatted with friends beside them—each carrying their own feelings as they moved together. I slipped into the vague crowd so I wouldn’t lose my way.
After walking for a short while, an absolutely massive building that could only be described as a stadium appeared before me. The sign above the entrance that read Dongbaek Hall confirmed this was the right place, but I was still taken aback by the sheer scale.
Wow. The academy really does have money.
I followed the signs inside and finally reached a space that resembled the auditorium I’d imagined. It seemed the stadium-like exterior was used for something else, while events took place in this front section.
Inside, students were bustling around trying to find their assigned spots.
“Third-years, over here!”
“First-years, this way please!”
I followed the loud voices echoing from the front of the hall and eventually spotted four distinct groups gathered in the innermost area. Since there were four classes per grade—A through D—I figured I just needed to head over and find Class A.
“Class A is right here—! Hurry up and line up. Quickly, quickly.”
When I moved to the left, I saw someone herding Class A students together in front of a group that seemed unusually tense. That was when I finally understood the source of the strange atmosphere.
Huk.
Her messy black hair that looked like it had been left to its own devices and her fierce expression gave off a “don’t mess with me” vibe. But the scar running across her entire face, the eyepatch over one eye, and… the steel prosthetic in place of her left hand left me completely speechless. If there was ever a person who perfectly embodied the term “battle-hardened veteran,” it was her.
She must be our homeroom teacher…?
I swallowed hard and quietly took my place at the back of the two-line formation. When the teacher was standing at the front looking that intimidating, it was impossible to chatter casually.
“Two lines—two lines!”
After standing there for a little while, I heard hurried panting as a girl came rushing up beside me.
“I-is this… Class A…?”
She paused to catch her breath for a few seconds, then finally calmed down enough to look at me and ask. I nodded and studied her face.
She was shorter than me, with messy curly hair and an overall cute appearance. But the slightly bloodshot eyes and dark circles beneath them gave her a somewhat exhausted look. When my gaze dropped to her chest, I saw the name “Yu Na-rae” stitched on her blazer. How convenient to know someone’s name without having to ask.
“Th-thank goodness…”
I heard her mutter quietly to herself as she hunched her shoulders. Hmm. She really does look more like a rabbit than I do… Oh, I don’t mean that in a bad way. I mean she’s cute. I have no idea what that person was thinking when they said that, but…
Anyway, since she’d ended up standing next to me, I thought I should say something to build rapport. But a sudden thought stopped me in my tracks.
Come to think of it, I’d spoken to my roommate entirely in formal speech yesterday. Of course, I was the one who started it, but… if she knew we were the same age, shouldn’t she have said something like “Why are you being so formal? Just speak casually”?
What was a timid person like me supposed to do in a situation like this?
But if I spoke casually to this girl now, and someone later saw me using formal speech with my roommate…
“What? She uses polite speech with scary-looking people but casual with easy targets?”
“Wow… total opportunist… weak to the strong, strong to the weak… the worst…”
Hah. I could practically hear imaginary voices whispering behind my back. No, I can’t let that happen…!
In that case, maybe it was safer to just act like the kind of person who used formal speech with everyone?
I cleared my throat and spoke to the quietly standing girl.
“It’s a relief you weren’t late.”
“…? Mm, yeah…”
“M-may I ask your name? I’m Baek Seol.”
“Ah… I’m Na-rae. Yu Na-rae… Um, why are you speaking so formally…?”
Right. Of course. We’re the same age… and people the same age normally speak casually to each other…
I wanted to die of embarrassment. I wasn’t some refined young lady from an anime, yet here I was using formal speech like it was natural. But at this point I couldn’t back down. I had to push through with sheer momentum.
“I-I speak formally to everyone. Ho ho ho…”
“…I see…”
Just kill me now. While thinking about young lady characters, I’d unconsciously added that ridiculous laugh at the end…
I turned my head away from the bewildered-looking girl and secretly wiped away a tear. Still… at least I’d stayed consistent. Maybe this was for the best…
Attention please. We will now begin the 65th Baekhwa Academy Opening and Entrance Ceremony.
No matter what nonsense I was busy with, the entrance ceremony began the moment a resonant voice rang out—apparently all the students had already filed into the auditorium. I tried my best to hide my flushed face and looked straight ahead.
At the front of the hall where the students were gathered, a woman stood on the dais. Her dreamy expression was being broadcast on the massive screen for everyone to see. Her long violet hair hung down her back, and her gaze seemed to be directed not at us, but toward the sky.
I am Yu Jin, acting principal. Originally the headmaster was supposed to give the address, but… as always, she is occupied with many important duties and could not attend. Therefore, we will omit it. I believe that will be better for all of you as well.
“Yeeeees!”
Um… wasn’t this supposed to be a prestigious academy? The event felt strangely laid-back…
While I was still feeling flustered, the upperclassmen responded with an overwhelmingly enthusiastic cheer. Well, if they reacted like that, I suppose there was no problem…?
Now then. Let’s move quickly. We will now have the oath from the freshman representative, Jeong Wol-ha. Representative, please come up to the dais.
“Jeong Wol-ha?”
“Hey, did you hear that? It’s her.”
“Oh… really? Whoa, no way. First time seeing actual royalty.”
The moment she finished speaking, the entire auditorium buzzed with whispers and grew heated. Um… she must be famous. Why hadn’t I known about her?
I glanced sideways at the girl next to me. She was staring straight ahead with sparkling eyes.
I leaned in slightly and whispered to Na-rae.
“Um… is Jeong Wol-ha a well-known person?”
“Huh…? You don’t know who she is…?”
She looked at me with wide eyes, as if I’d asked something strange.
“Ah, no… I mean, it’s possible not to know, but… there was a lot of talk about a princess enrolling here this year… She’s the Fourth Princess…”
“Ah, I-I see…”
So that was it. Of course any freshman who had actually planned to attend Baekhwa Academy would know that. But I hadn’t been in any position to watch the news, and I’d never imagined I would end up here, so…
Still, hearing the explanation made my heart start to race a little. Even though the Kingdom of Daehan wasn’t a place where the king wielded absolute power like in the Great War era, there was still something thrilling about anything connected to the royal family.
While I waited quietly for the princess’s appearance, the murmuring from the front of the line grew louder. Someone stepped out from the middle of the line with confident strides and walked forward.
Wait… was she in our class?
Then I saw the red hair.
I held my breath for a moment and watched her walk toward the dais with an imposing gait.
Her hair burned like living flame—neither too long nor too short, flowing smoothly as if carefully tended by someone’s hand. It was the symbol of the royal family, the trace of the ability passed down only through the bloodline of the great Cheonmu Ancestor who had founded Daehan. A crimson deeper than blood itself, impossible to replicate with dye. The color of authority.
She wasn’t particularly tall, but that only made her confidence stand out more. Every movement from head to toe was free of even the slightest hesitation. An unshakable certainty that her every action was right radiated from her and filled the space around her.
When she finally stepped onto the stage and looked down, I was able to see her face clearly through the screen for the first time.
She’s beautiful…
I’d thought seeing a member of the royal family would inspire some more profound impression, but the first thought that came to mind was surprisingly simple.
Her eyebrows were elegantly arched, and the outer corners of her eyes curved gently upward. A high, refined nose and a delicate yet sharp jawline, all perfectly complemented by dazzling features. An overwhelming expression that declared she was the main character of the world, backed by beauty that justified every action she took.
She was different from the princesses in children’s animations I’d imagined, but… she truly looked like a work of art. If this princess actively engaged in public activities, the royal family’s approval rating might rise quite a bit.
“…?”
While I was staring at her in a daze, her large eyes on the screen suddenly shifted toward Class A. Squeals of “Kyaa—kyaa—” erupted from various places.
For some reason, I had the distinct feeling that she had looked exactly in my direction for a split second.
…Must have been my imagination, right?
“The oath.”
After that brief moment, the princess turned her gaze forward again and spoke in a sharp voice.
Hmm… her voice is nice too. If she weren’t a princess, she could have been an idol… Wait, would saying that out loud be considered lèse-majesté?
“Wow, she’s totally an idol…”
“…”
I looked at Na-rae, who had casually voiced the exact thought I hadn’t dared to say aloud, and felt a quiet sense of relief. At least I wouldn’t die alone.