“Good day, Miss Claire!”
I was studying in the lecture hall before class when that commoner called out to me as though we were friends. Loretta saw my annoyed grimace and stepped in to block the commoner’s way for me.
“Would you stop addressing us like we’re friends? We live in a different world than you do. Isn’t that right, Miss Claire?” Loretta said with a sneer. She wasn’t one to pick on others, but she was certainly as much of a stickler for status and social rules as I.
“Ah… I don’t have anything to say to you, minions. I’m speaking to Miss Claire. Good day, Miss Claire.”
“Wha—you ingrate! Who do you think I am?” Loretta said. “I am of House Kugret, which has served the François family for generations!”
“So…Claire’s minion, am I right?”
“M-Miss Claire…” Loretta, teary-eyed, turned to me for help. This rude commoner was perhaps too much for a sheltered noble lady such as herself to handle.
“Ugh, commoner…” I sighed. “Get over yourself. I have nothing to say to you. And don’t you know ‘good day’ is used as a parting term?” Language usage within the kingdom had grown improper of late, even among aristocrats. The crass phrases the lower class used were becoming more and more commonplace, much to my dismay. Normally one such as myself wouldn’t have deigned to correct the words of someone so inconsequential, but if I left this be, there was no telling what effect it might have on the academy as a whole. Hence, I had a duty to teach this commoner the proper way to speak in Bauer.
“So you say, but you still responded to me, and you even politely corrected my language. I just love that about you,” she said.
There she went again with that “love” nonsense! “E-enough!” I exclaimed. “Are you trying to taunt me?”
“Yes!”
“You’re not even going to deny it?!” She really was just making fun of me!
“Control yourself, Rae. And good morning, Miss Claire.” Misha appeared then, grabbing the commoner’s collar with the firmness of a cat picking up its kitten. I was relieved to see her. As sensible as she was, she would doubtless be able to rein in her roommate.
“Mishaaa, let go of me. I’m toying with Miss Claire right now.”
“How can you be so shameless about it?!” I exclaimed. What was with her?!
“That’s enough.” Misha smacked the commoner on the head.
Give her a few more smacks for me, Misha, I thought. I then demanded, “Misha…control your kitten, would you?”
“Miss Claire, Rae is not my pet.”
“But I would love to be your pet, Miss Claire.”
“Oh, you be quiet!”
Goodness, we just kept going in circles whenever this girl was involved. How could she afford to be so silly all the time, and before a high-standing noble like myself at that?
“Miss Claire, you don’t seem well. You should get some rest,” the commoner said.
“And whose fault is that?! Just get out of here!” I snapped and shooed her away. She didn’t seem to take the slightest bit of offense, however. How aggravating.
“A bit early to be so deep into your comedy routine, isn’t it?” said a soft tenor voice.
“Master Yu…”
“Good morning, Claire. I haven’t seen you fall apart like this in a long time.” Yu chuckled.
This was Yu Bauer, the third prince of the kingdom. He had soft, curly blond hair and a gentle, cheerful smile—the quintessential image of a prince. He didn’t let his good looks go to his head, however, and he was friendly with everyone, which perhaps factored into his popularity with the fairer sex.
I was a bit ashamed that he had seen me acting so disgracefully. I would have to clear up this misunderstanding. “Master Yu, this isn’t what it looks like! I was just admonishing this commo—ahem, Rae here for acting with such disrespect.”
“Is that so?” Yu turned his gaze to the commoner.
“I wasn’t being disrespectful. Everything I said, I said out of love,” she replied.
“What in the world are you talking about?!” I exclaimed.
“Aha ha ha!” Yu laughed.
The commoner was going so far as to prattle away in front of Yu. How dare she! A commoner talking to royalty in such a way was simply unthinkable.
I thought Yu might take offense, but he looked even more amused. “Rae Taylor, right? You were at the top of the incoming class if I recall correctly. I assumed you would be a bookworm, but you’re actually pretty interesting.” He flashed a gracious smile, which was wasted on the likes of her.
“Is that so? Thanks.” Yet this commoner was wholly unaffected by that legendary smile, which had led many a lady to swoon. She even seemed to take issue.
“Rae, don’t be rude now,” Misha lightly scolded her. “Good morning, Master Yu.”
“Oh, Misha. Good morning,” Yu greeted her in turn. He was kind to everyone regardless of status, but he was particularly sweet to Misha, as the two were childhood friends. They had been close before her family fell to ruin, and it seemed that Misha had even nursed feelings for him when she was younger—not that she had a chance with him anymore.
“I apologize for Rae. I will make certain to chastise her later,” Misha said to Yu.
“Don’t worry about it. If anything, you could stand to speak to me less formally. We’re all equals here at the academy, you know?”
“I will consider it…”
Their strange conversation seemed to hint that something lingered between them. That was when the commoner came over and whispered, “Miss Claire, what do you think? Have they rekindled their love?”
“Why is every thought that goes through your head so vulgar?” I sighed. Was Misha not her friend? How could this commoner be so unfazed seeing Misha long for such a hopelessly unrequitable love?
“What’s up, everyone?” A lively, handsome, black-haired boy wandered over to greet us.
“Good morning, Master Rod,” I said.
“Good morning, Brother,” Yu echoed.
This boy was Rod Bauer, crown prince of the kingdom and Yu’s older brother. He was first in line for the throne and the de facto next king.
“What’re you guys talking about? Something interesting? Let me get in on this!” He let out a hearty laugh as he joined the conversation.
“There is absolutely nothing of interest here,” I said. “Just one person trying to undermine the academy’s morals!”
“Does that mean what I think it means?” the commoner said. “You want to undermine the academy’s morals with me? Yes, please, let’s do immoral things together, Miss Claire!”
“I will do no such thing!” I vehemently declared, not wanting to be misunderstood as being remotely associated with her. What nonsense was this commoner spewing before the king-to-be, anyway?
“The heck?” Taken aback, Rod looked at the commoner as if she were a rare animal.
“This is Rae Taylor,” Yu said, chuckling. “She was at the top of the class of incoming students. She’s pretty amusing.”