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“EMMA!”
Several days later, Emma was walking to the school building from her dormitory when a sickly-sweet voice stopped her.
“Oh… Hello, Annette.”
Rashida had left earlier because she’d been itching to consult with their teacher on something, so Emma was on her own. Now she cursed her own inability to wake up early like a normal person. She could have avoided running into Annette.
It was the first time she’d encountered the other girl since her arrival in this second life. Memories of the last time she’d seen Annette, sobbing hysterically after having just awakened to her time affinity at the royal function, flooded back. Emma’s blood boiled all over again, so she forced herself to breathe in and out deeply to calm herself. Along with Bernard, Annette was also now someone she didn’t want to reveal her true self to.
“I’m so happy to finally see you! Honestly, Emma, you’re so cruel. I waited forever for you on move-in day, but you never showed up!”
“I’m sorry. I overslept and barely made it in time as it was.”
Annette puffed her cheeks in a deliberate pout, her usual method of inducing guilt in others. Emma apologized sincerely, realizing she might have forgotten their promise.
“Water under the bridge. What do you say we have lunch today? Lord Bernard graciously invited me, so I was thinking the childhood trio could reunite! After all, it’s been some time since the three of us were together.”
“Ah, unfortunately, I can’t. I promised Ian to spend every moment with him during our time at the Academy.”
Emma lied easily, not feeling a twinge of guilt. There was no rule this strict between her and Ian. She just didn’t want to give Bernard the opportunity to declare her his fiancée if she dined with him in the cafeteria. Accordingly, she tried her best to feign regret while shaking her head as sadly as she could.
“You must be joking! Lord Bernard has been inviting me to spend time with him often lately, but…it’s different now that we’re older. I have no idea what to say to him when it’s just the two of us. Which is why I really wanted you to join us, Emma!”
“Heh heh. You should be yourself, Annette. After all, you two have always been incredibly close, haven’t you?”
Sure enough, Emma realized Bernard had already begun subtly wooing Annette. Yet she felt not an ounce of anger welling up. The more she talked to Annette, the more she wanted to counsel the other girl because her friend couldn’t help being a people pleaser. Clearly, Annette doesn’t realize what Bernard is up to, but she doesn’t seem particularly displeased by his invitations, either, so I won’t interfere.
“Hm. I’ll have to think about that. Well, I should get going now. My classroom is really far since I’m in the lowest class. I’ll see you again soon, Emma!”
Annette waved cheerfully and rushed off. Emma watched her go in silence.
“Any issues?”
“None at all.”
Ian stepped out of his hiding spot nearby and spoke to Emma. He’d kept an eye on them the whole time.
“You know… I still find it unbelievable that those two will hurt you in the future, Emma.”
She had kept her promise to him several days earlier and told him everything. That four years from now, when she went to bed the night her time magic disappeared, she woke up the next day having returned to the spring of her fifteenth year. That she didn’t think this time leap was of her own making because she had verified the number zero on her sigil on top of receiving the medal of merit from the king himself for her services to the nation. Though Ian had been astounded by her tale, he had accepted it as within the realm of possibility. Except for one thing.
“Do you truly intend to become a lady’s maid now?” he asked. “All because Bernard broke off your engagement?”
Despite several days having passed, he remained dubious about her dream of becoming a maid.
“Yes, absolutely! I said it before, and I’ll say it again. I want to become a lady’s maid like my idol. You can’t imagine my despair four years from now after our engagement was called off. I finally gained the freedom to live how I wanted, but it was too late to become the maid I’d aspired to be as a child. The fact that I can attend the Academy again is like a dream come true,” she gushed.
“In that case, I have no choice but to support you, hm? Don’t make me regret this, though, Emma.” Ian sighed, smiling in exasperation.
Emma was boundlessly grateful to have such a heartening soul by her side. She couldn’t have asked for a better friend or protector.