“I told you to wait!”
“I will not wait. The dorm’s cafeteria isn’t open all night. If I miss dinner on account of your business with me, will you take responsibility?”
“I beg your pardon?”
The dorm had fairly strict rules, particularly when it came to schedules. There were set times for breakfast and dinner, and if you didn’t show up, you would be shut out. I wasn’t thrilled at the idea of missing dinner for some random student I didn’t know.
“Listen, you!”
“Quiet in the dorm. Don’t blame me if you anger the dorm manager.”
“Urgh.”
Interestingly, all this noise was coming from one person, even though there were three other fourth-years. I couldn’t tell if they were better behaved or if they simply didn’t feel like opening their mouths.
Meanwhile, Lanmia and Luchirs were showing polar opposite reactions. Lanmia appeared absolutely fascinated by this exchange, while Luchirs seemed quite concerned about my back talking. She didn’t need to worry; resisting an older student’s unreasonable demands wasn’t the sort of thing that could get you expelled. Also, the small camera in my brooch was running, so I could verify everything.
Completely oblivious, the crowd of six followed us into the cafeteria, and the girl at the head wasn’t getting any quieter.
“More importantly, you’re the one bullying these two during class!”
“Bullying? Oh, table for three, please.”
The host approached us, so I asked for a table. It seemed like they pieced together the situation, because they went off to prepare our seats without question.
“Don’t play dumb! Did you not make these two as well as the Yasets boy run until they could barely move?!”
“What of it?”
“Wha?!”
Again, she recoiled as if she didn’t expect me to talk back. Like, of course, I’m not going to sit quietly and take it. What status did she think she had because she had been born two years before me? Adding in the years from my previous life, I was far her senior, but since I couldn’t just say that, I had to make a more conventional argument.
“The instructor entrusted me with the task of guiding those three, so that’s what I did,” I explained. “Furthermore, I had permission to teach in whatever manner I felt was appropriate. If they have any complaints, they should change electives or speak with the instructor.” Just as I finished saying my piece, our table was ready. “Now then, if you’ll excuse me.”
“H-Hold it!”
“What a racket.”
Oh? I recognize that voice. Ohh, in comes Besheallina, fiancée of the second prince.
She had entered the cafeteria with three girls in tow. I didn’t know if they were her friends or lackeys, but they and Besheallina all shared the same disdainful glare.
“I heard a voice loud enough to reach beyond the cafeteria. That’s hardly something you should hear from a lady. I hope you understand Miss Shenoa will be none too happy.”
“B-Besheallina! I’m—”
“I need no excuses.”
Ooh, I knew she wouldn’t play around.
The sextet, particularly the one barking girl, were all giving me some nasty looks of their own before they scattered. I just hoped nothing would come of it later.
The next day, I had lunch with Colny and Loks, on account of Lanmia and Luchirs both being occupied with private repasts—some end of year tradition. My two friends’ houses were “factionless,” as they referred to it. According to them, they couldn’t get into any factions because their houses weren’t major political players. However, there were still relatives and children from allied families at the academy, so they found themselves invited to private repasts. A parent’s social life could change a lot about their child’s.
That was when something occurred to Colny, making her interrupt my bustling train of thought.
“Oh, that’s right,” she said, “we’ve been invited to a private repast the day after tomorrow.”
“Hm? Including me?”
“Naturally. It’s a meal for the royal faction, and it’s being hosted by Shenavaroa.”
That was the crown prince’s fiancée. After observing last year’s Lineka Hogultar kerfuffle, Ville had snagged me and put me in a room with Shenavaroa. Ever since, we would exchange greetings when passing each other in the academy and the dorm.
The girls that followed her around, I might add, were potential candidates to be future ladies-in-waiting at the royal palace. They were all exceedingly courteous to me, though interactions with them felt somewhat impersonal.
I hadn’t known this, but apparently, royal palace ladies-in-waiting didn’t do the sort of work maids did, but were more like aides to people such as the crown prince and the queen consort—secretaries of a sort. Therefore, academic achievements were a part of the selection process. This explained why Shenavaroa was always surrounded by smart girls.
That reminds me, Besheallina came to my rescue just yesterday.
But more importantly, why was Shenavaroa inviting me to a repast? Colny had just told me that the royal faction didn’t hold these sorts of things.
Colny noticed my visible confusion. “This is a special occasion,” she said like she couldn’t believe she had to. “Here, my brother and I are both going to be representing our house. Since she’ll enter the royal palace upon graduating, I believe Shenavaroa wants to take this time to strengthen our bonds.”
Well, that made sense. But we didn’t do this last year. Was that because Colny’s social debut was closing in?
“But if my house is on a steady decline, why is she inviting me?” I asked.
Colny gave me a slightly troubled smile. “That’s exactly why. While you’re not an adult yet, academy students are treated as quasi members of society.”
I think she was tacitly implying I would inherit my house once I became an adult. It was a possibility at least.
“Will other children from the royal faction be there?” I asked.
“I haven’t been informed either way.”
“I’m betting not,” Loks said, joining the conversation.
“What makes you say that, brother?”
“The room they’ve reserved is one of the smaller ones. It can’t be easy inviting everyone in the faction, so I think they’re narrowing it down to us, since we’re from a major house.”
“Yet Lera’s also been invited?”
“Lera’s an exception.”
There it is, I’m an exception.
The day of the repast was upon us. Loks was right; we were shown to a room empty but for the three of us. Except the table struck me as awfully large, and there were more than four chairs.
“Do you think Besheallina will also be here?” I suggested.
“That still wouldn’t account for so many chairs,” Colny answered.
True enough.
Shenavaroa, Besheallina, Loks, Colny, and I made five. Yet there were eight chairs. Who could the last three be for?
“Could it be—”
Before Loks could finish his sentence, someone entered.
Hm?
“Ville?”
Entering was Loks and Colny’s older brother, Ville.
“It’s been what? Three months?” he said. “Are you all doing well?”
“You’ll be joining us?” Colny asked.
“You almost sound like you don’t want me here,” he said, grinning sardonically for some reason. “His Highness brought me along. Since you three don’t leave the academy much, I haven’t seen any of you since the hunting festival.”
He wasn’t wrong. On weekends, some students would return to residences in the royal capital, but going back and forth like that was a pain, and we spent our days off lounging around our rooms instead. Besides, even if Loks and Colny did go home, they still wouldn’t see their older brother very much. He was preparing to inherit House Aspozat on top of serving as an aide to the crown prince, which kept him more than a little busy.