The distant sound of bells woke Patricia in the morning.
Normally, Emma would come to open the curtains for her, but from today, there is no one like that.
She leisurely sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
Maybe it was because she was tired yesterday, but sleep had claimed her quickly, and in her rush, she called out to the Manager downstairs and was allowed to take a bath.
It was Patricia’s first time in such a large bathhouse, but perhaps since it was still during class hours, she had the place to herself, and she gratefully washed away the fatigue of her journey.
Then, just like that, she collapsed into bed and fell asleep until now.
Clive is supposed to come pick her up in the morning, so she has to get ready quickly.
Standing up without delay, she first untangled her hair in front of the mirror.
As Patricia was fixing her bedhead, tilting her head in thought about where she might wash her face, the door was suddenly knocked.
“Good morning! From tomorrow on, I’ll just leave the water here without saying anything. When you’re done, leave it here again on your way to school, okay?”
“Good morning. Thank you very much.”
Just like the servants would do back home, the Manager brought Patricia a vessel filled with water.
Patricia thanked her, closed the door, and washed her face.
As she wiped her face, she thought, perhaps this too was what Clive meant by ‘special treatment.’
She had fully intended to fetch water herself, and even to clean her own room.
‘Well, maybe it’s alright to rely on others a bit until I get used to things’, she thought, as Patricia changed into her uniform and began packing what she would need for class when the door was knocked once again.
“Good morning, Patti. The uniform really suits you. You can pull off anything, you know. So cute.”
“Good morning, Lady Frentia. That uniform suits you more than anyone else in the Academy. You look beautiful.”
“G-good morning, Clive-sama, Heine-sama. Thank you very much.”
Patricia felt like she’d just heard far too many embarrassing compliments, but she decided not to touch on it.
“How’s your prep? Want some help?”
“I’m still packing my bag, so could you wait just a little longer?”
“Sure.”
As Patricia hurried back into the room to finish packing, she overheard the two of them chatting behind her.
“Trying to go into a young lady’s room, Clive-kun, you pervert.”
“Looks like you want to get punched first thing in the morning.”
“Even if it’s not morning, no thanks. And you, stop trying to solve everything with your fists. You’re too wild.”
“Don’t worry. The only one I’d punch is you.”
“So I’m special, is that it?”
“You… Please, stop exhausting me from the crack of dawn.”
“Come on, don’t lose your energy, my man. You can do it.”
“…………”
Their lighthearted banter reached Patricia’s , and she laughed as she picked up her bag and left the room.
“You two really are close, aren’t you?”
“Right?”
“We’re not… He’s just messing with me.”
Still, having someone you can interact with so easily is enviable.
‘Perhaps it’s because these two have similar circumstances, but I think their friendship is wonderful.’
If only Patricia could have a friend she could talk to about anything…
Led by the two of them, Patricia descended the stairs, and unlike yesterday, the place was now bustling with students.
Once we reached the bottom, it was even more crowded, as if everyone was waiting to meet up.
Clive and Heine, who walked with her through the throng, drew plenty of looks from the female students.
“By the way, from tomorrow, let’s meet here. The right side is the Ladies’ Dormitory, the left is the Men’s Dormitory, and the only place you can pass between them is this first-floor hallway. Basically, going into the opposite gender’s dorm is forbidden.”
“Well, we are boys and girls of a certain age.”
“I see. But right now…”
“That’s special. But only this morning.”
‘So, coming to my room was a special exception, just for today.’
Nodding her understanding, the three of them left the dormitory.
That was when it happened.
“—Who’s that girl?”
At the sound, Patricia’s gaze flicked over, and her eyes met those of the woman who must have spoken.
Her gaze did not avert awkwardly; instead, it fixed on Patricia with eyes full of rejection.
“……”
At that moment, Patricia remembered what Sir Cecil had said.
That most of the women at this Academy were commoners, and that they wished to form connections with the male students.
Certainly, for such people, Clive and Heine would be extraordinary catches.
No matter which one you became close to, your future as a concubine would shine bright.
To such girls, a stranger drawing near these two would naturally seem like an enemy.
Though Patricia would prefer to avoid matters of love and romance for a while, she doubted that she’ll be left alone.
That was precisely why Patricia had acted as she did yesterday, and now, the approach she needed to take formed instantly in her mind.
“Clive-sama. Is there a set menu for meals?”
“There are three different main options every day, and you pick whichever you want. Side dishes are up to you. There’s dessert too.”
“Desserts, you say? That’s delightful.”
“Oh my, Lady Frentia, do you have a sweet tooth?”
“Yes. I’m fond of rose tea, so I often enjoy sweets that go well with it.”
“Oh, that sounds nice. I enjoy tea too—how about next time, we have some rose tea together? I have some imported from the Avalon Kingdom.”
“Would that be all right?”
“Of course. Tea with a beauty like you would be exquisite indeed.”
“You’ll invite me too, right?”
“You’d show up even if you weren’t invited.”
Their banter is amusing as ever, but when Patricia glanced over again, the hostile glares from before had only grown stronger.
In response, Patricia smiled cheerfully back at them and greeted, “Good day, everyone.”
“—,”
“I’m looking forward to breakfast. Shall we, gentlemen?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m starving.”
Come if you dare—that was the message Patricia put into her greeting.
Whether it got through to them or not, she would only find out in the days to come—.