Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Reluctant First Day
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"Young Lady, it's time to get up."
"...I don't wanna go to school."
"If you're late on the very first day, Madam will scold you plenty."
"...Yeah, she probably would."
...It was a morning when the weather had fully warmed up, and flowers were starting to bloom little by little.
I just couldn't get out of bed.
"...Which class was I in again?"
"You're in Class 3."
"...Right, yeah. Hmm... I don't feel like going."
"Young Lady."
Truth be told, after the entrance ceremony, I'd been lounging around comfortably with Lize, hanging out, and occasionally meeting up with Ella and Karen to pass the time.
Because of that, the fact that today was the academy's opening day—and that I had to go to my first classes—felt utterly awful.
I really didn't want to go...
"Lize, wake me up."
"......"
"You can do that much, right? Or can you not?"
"Understood. But you really have to get up now."
"I'll do that."
Of course, skipping academy altogether just because I didn't feel like it would cause its own problems.
So I decided to get up as Lize asked.
Sure, she had to physically pull me up with her hands, but I did get up the way she wanted, didn't I?
That should be enough.
"Hwaaa... What a hassle..."
"How would you like your breakfast?"
"Eating sounds like a hassle. I could probably skip it..."
"But you have academy classes to attend, so skipping entirely..."
"Hmm... You're right?"
Honestly, I didn't think I needed to pay close attention or work hard in every single academy class.
After all, everything from the entrance exam onward was stuff I already knew.
"Hmm... Ah, whatever. Let's eat."
"Uh... Understood?"
"Well, I'll just sleep through class anyway. You won't be sleeping, Lize—you'll be doing stuff the whole time."
So I decided to have breakfast on purpose.
If I said I wasn't eating, Lize would definitely skip it with me. Better to eat a little.
...Not that it mattered for me, since I'd be sleeping through classes anyway and could've skipped it.
"Anyway, let's get ready to head out. Can't go like this."
"I'll prepare the bath."
"Yeah, thanks."
My hair was a mess from sleeping, and I personally hated going out without washing up.
So I decided to bathe before heading to breakfast.
Since Lize helped with the bath, it wasn't difficult or a hassle at all.
I could just go into the bathroom, relax, and let her wash me.
*
"Hoo..."
The weather was ridiculously nice.
That was my first thought as soon as Lize and I stepped out of the dormitory. It was really... perfect weather for going out, but that didn't make me want to any less.
"Lize."
"Yes, Young Lady."
"So, starting today, I have to wake up like this every day for three years?"
"Excluding breaks, yes."
"...Hmm."
I want to die.
Even back at the mansion, I didn't live on such a regular schedule.
No, quite the opposite—I lived as irregularly as possible.
With the businesses I oversaw, I'd start when I felt like it, keep going until I was done, sleep when I wanted, wake when I wanted... that kind of life.
"...Ha."
It was a morning full of sighs. Why on earth did academy classes have to start at 9 a.m.?
Wouldn't it be cleaner and more convenient to just do 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., four hours? That'd be plenty.
"...Let's go."
"Yes, Young Lady."
I put on the uniform I'd bought earlier, neatly pressed, and with Lize prettily dressed in her maid outfit behind me, we started walking toward the academy's main building.
On the way from the dormitory to the main building, there were lots of other new students besides us.
They were all smiling and chatting, looking forward to their first day at the academy.
"Hmm..."
It was definitely pretty different from me, which was kind of funny.
Definitely... quite the different scene and vibe from what I'd been thinking about even before the entrance ceremony.
As Ella said, this was a place for 13-year-old kids, so even if they were nobles, it apparently wasn't a totally political hotspot.
Of course, that didn't mean there was zero politics.
"The flowers blooming really make the scenery so much nicer."
"Indeed."
"When we first got here, it was winter—no leaves on the trees, and so cold."
Since we'd left a bit early anyway, we had plenty of time and strolled slowly, taking in the academy.
It really... was pretty.
Sitting by the academy windows, ignoring class and just watching the outside—it seemed like that could be fun.
"Hee hee."
"...?"
Of course, I didn't say any of that to Lize. Why invite her nagging for no reason?
Besides, she couldn't stop me from sleeping or goofing off during class without nagging.
No real problem there.
"But what will you do during classes, Lize? You could go back to the dorm room or wait at the academy cafe... Hmm..."
"I'm not sure. For today, I was thinking of wandering the academy to see if there's anything helpful for you."
"Hmm..."
"Or maybe chat with the other maids and gather info that could help you... something like that."
It was unavoidable, really.
Lize had come to the academy as my maid, but she was still a maid at the end of the day.
Servants like Lize couldn't just attend classes freely like students... yeah.
"No helping it. But come find me before lunch."
"Understood."
"I'm meeting Ella and Older Sister Karen for lunch anyway, so we can eat together then."
Of course, eating without Lize wasn't even an option.
I fully intended to eat with her, and Karen and Ella had never minded much anyway.
We'd even gone on trips together before, and I'd gotten their okay in advance, so no issues.
Anyway, after chatting with Lize like that, we arrived at the main building, first-year Class 3.
We parted ways roughly in front of the classroom, and I went inside.
"...?"
The classroom I entered—I sat at the very back by the window, but... there were fewer people than expected.
Sure, there was still plenty of time before classes started, but compared to the other classrooms I'd passed, it definitely felt sparse...?
"Hmm..."
Whatever.
I wasn't the sociable type anyway, and I didn't care much about others.
I could just stare out the window and wait; they'd file in eventually.
"I wonder when Ella will show up..."
I hadn't exactly studied diligently for academy classes, but luckily, Ella ended up in the same Class 3 as me.
I didn't know who else was in first-year Class 3, but it was nice to be in the same class as the one familiar face among the new students.
Sure, I'd hang out with her a lot anyway, but being in the same class was different.
-Clack. Clack...
"...?"
While I was resting my chin on my hand, gazing out at the scenery alone, someone entered the classroom.
Not loafers or Mary Janes, but higher heels—definitely not the standard academy shoes most students wore, so I turned my head without thinking.
"......."
"......."
And there she was... a girl with a slightly intimidating vibe.
This was only the second time I'd seen her in person, and the first time face-to-face this close, so I was a bit surprised.
"...Hello?"
The student who'd entered was Ivana Nordal.
Her signature silver hair, crimson eyes, and cool yet beautiful features made it obvious who she was, even without a name tag on her uniform.
Nordal in first-year Class 3, huh. Kinda surprising.
I'd gotten high scores on the exam, but I hadn't expected to end up in the same class as the Saintess or the Nordal Duke's Heiress.
"Why are you staring like that?"
I'd greeted Ivana Nordal first, but she just stood there silently, not responding.
Why was she staring at me like that?
It was our first time meeting, so no shared stories or reasons. Why keep staring... it was a little worrying.
"Is something wrong?"
"Ah, no. I didn't expect anyone to be here already."
"...?"
What?
It was only 30 minutes before classes started—did she really not expect early birds...?
...No idea, but I let it slide.
Getting tangled up with someone that high up... didn't seem great.
"Uh... okay...?"
"Yes."
"...?"
...What the heck is her deal?
With that, the conversation ended, and Nordal sat in one of the empty seats.
The frontmost desk in my row.
It was my first talk with Ivana Nordal... but I could tell right away she wasn't quite normal. For real.
"Hmm..."
Nordal came from such an impressive family that I felt a twinge of worry.
I hadn't done anything wrong, but her behavior just now was concerning.
Nothing bad would suddenly happen to me because of her, right...?
"You! Why are you out here so early?!"
"Ah, Ella."
As I was fretting a bit over Ivana Nordal, Ella burst into the classroom.
Well... I hadn't actually done anything wrong anyway?
I decided not to worry needlessly.
But with Ella sitting next to me, zoning out on other thoughts would be rude too...?
Of course... even so, Nordal's actions didn't make much sense, so they kept nagging at me.