Chapter 25: The Game Begins, Part 2
“I know it’s you, sister,” Camille continued. “Your bright-green ringlets! Your cold, clear eyes! My uncle told me you would always come by the store, and judging from your mannerisms, he pegged you as an aristocrat.”
“Perhaps you’ve mistaken me for someone else,” Iris shrugged, turning away dismissively. Apparently, her “disguise” wasn’t much of a disguise after all. How embarrassing…
“And lots of people came to the store after you, claiming a Holy Maiden with green ringlets told them that our camellia oil worked on soilpox scars. You helped them, didn’t you?”
“That merely speaks to the efficacy of Camille’s Camellia. It has nothing to do with me.” Haughtily, Iris turned her face away, refusing to make eye contact…but that didn’t stop Camille’s sparkly protagonist aura from affecting her, of course. I’m so dizzy!
Then, with a forlorn frown, Camille pulled out a handkerchief—the same one Iris had given her to wipe her tears that day at the church. She’d forgotten all about it.
“Is it impertinent of a commoner to speak to you? You see, I just wanted to return this handkerchief. That’s why I came to this academy. I knew it was above my station, but I really hoped to see you again.”
Nigel examined the handkerchief. It was made of white fabric with a pale purple lace hem and irises embroidered along the edges. “This is Iris’s, all right.” Then he looked at Iris. She had no choice but to admit it, so she nodded reluctantly.
“Your name is Lady Iris?” Camille asked.
Defeated, Iris nodded again. This girl had zero tact, didn’t listen, and didn’t read body language—a classic otome protagonist.
“At long last, I finally know your name!” she exclaimed, gazing at Iris happily.
This irked Nigel. “Have you no manners?” he demanded brusquely. Honestly, if anyone here lacked manners, it was probably Iris for twisting her arm, but he seemed to ignore this.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m not well-versed in proper etiquette…” Camille backed away from Iris and curtsied politely, giving her just enough time to compose herself.
“I am Iris du Chevalier, and this is my brother Nigel. I apologize for reacting on reflex just now.”
Camille struggled to think of the proper response. “I, er…I just became Camille du Pont.”
Iris let out a sigh. You don’t have to give me that much information! Granted, everyone was already gossiping that she was adopted, but the rumors would fade eventually if she just kept her mouth shut. Admitting it outright, however, was like handing them a loaded gun.
“Lady Camille, I would advise that you keep such details to yourself when possible.”
“But it’s not a secret to you, dear sister.”
“Now listen here—you’re going to defeat the entire purpose of me going to your store in disguise. Don’t give people more information than they need, Lady Camille,” Iris scolded her.
“But why would I hide it from you when you already know? And…you don’t have to address me so formally…”
She looked at Iris with teary eyes. They had only met once before, and to be blunt, they were total strangers, but Iris was utterly weak to Camille’s charm.
“I see you’re already fast friends with Miss Camille here,” Reseda commented, scrutinizing Camille.
“Miss Camille, I must warn you to be mindful of how you conduct yourself,” Cytisus reprimanded her.
Under the critical stares of three different men, Camille shrank into herself. It was almost as if they were my villain posse, bullying the innocent heroine. Wait a minute… This isn’t right!
“Stop this, all of you. It was I who originally acted out of turn. Besides, Lady Camille deserves some time to get acclimated to her new environment.”
Honestly, what am I thinking? What sort of villainess would advocate for her own rival?
“Sister…!”
“And stop calling me that. You know my name now.”
“…Lady Iris?”
Iris nodded.
“In that case, I’d like it very much if you would call me Camille.”
“I believe I already did, Lady Camille.”
“No, just Camille!”
She fixed Iris with those puppy-dog eyes again, and Iris faltered. Camille was nearly as pushy as Reseda.
“Miss Camille, then. At any rate, you needn’t return the handkerchief. For that matter, you still need to get settled in, correct? Run along to the reception hall.”
“Right! Thank you very much!”
Camille gave Iris another curtsy, then set off…only to come to a stop a few steps later. Puzzled, she glanced around, then looked over her shoulder at Iris.
Gah! I forgot she’s terrible with directions!
“The reception hall is that way, my dear!” Iris called, pointing.
With a big smile, she waved goodbye, then headed in the direction Iris indicated. Just then, a girl with brown pigtail buns walked up to Camille. At this, Iris felt a rush of relief…but a beat later, she did a double-take.
Those tight buns! The big, round glasses! The freckles! It was Mégane, the side character from HanaKoro! I never knew she was a student here… This was a shocking revelation. Well, at least now Camille’s got a side character to help her out, Iris reassured herself.
“So, care to explain yourself, Iris?” Reseda demanded, smiling darkly. Iris felt a cold sweat trickle down her back. But really, she couldn’t risk having this conversation in public.
“Yes, of course, Your Highness. But perhaps somewhere more private.”
“I’m not Your Highness.”
“We are at school right now, Your Highness.”
“I’m not Your Highness.”
“…Prince Reseda.”
Like Camille, Reseda was very particular about how he wanted to be addressed. And in the end, Iris caved.
“Then I shall arrange a meeting place,” said Cytisus offhandedly. “After the opening ceremony is over and the day is done, come by the common room.”
Iris looked at him reproachfully; he ignored it and smiled back at her. Ugh, this has turned into such an ordeal… She let out a sigh. Then Nigel cheerfully took her by the arm.
“Shall we be off, dear sister?”
And so began their first day of school.