And so, as the class ended and everyone began to bustle about, Patricia mustered her courage and decided to speak up.
Not even when she declared her engagement broken off had she felt this tense.
No, rather, at that time, her heart had been filled with a refreshing sense of freedom.
That’s exactly why she hadn’t felt any nerves then.
But now, her heart pounded so fiercely.
“…………”
“………………”
“……………………Ah, um…”
When she called out, the student beside her jolted in surprise.
Feeling sorry for startling her, but determined not to lose momentum, Patricia continued speaking, “A-about what we were discussing earlier…”
“Y-yes…”
“If it’s alright with you, could we talk for a bit?”
“……………………Is that okay?”
Her words, offered up with so much courage, weren’t immediately answered.
Patricia started to regret it, wondering if she’d made a mistake, but then the reply came.
Overjoyed, she nodded several times, and the girl seemed to relax, tension melting from her shoulders.
“…I’m glad. I thought you might have come here just to chase after the boys.”
“Chase after the boys?”
“His Highness Clive and His Highness Heine. You all looked so close… I thought maybe I’d butted in where I shouldn’t.”
“Oh. Clive-sama is someone I’ve known for a long time… and Heine-sama is a friend of his.”
“…If you know His Highness Clive, then—who exactly are you?”
It seemed that was the real question.
In that case, Patricia decided to start with a self-introduction.
“I’m from the Duke of Frentia’s Household.”
“Duke…? What are you doing here?”
“Well…”
It felt too heavy a story to tell someone she’d just met, so she decided to keep it brief for now.
“I actually broke off an engagement… So, since I had the chance, I wanted to attend the Academy I’d always wanted to.”
“…I see.”
But the words “broke off an engagement” themselves were heavy, Patricia realized, watching the girl’s face.
For a young lady, marriage was a matter that shaped her life.
To call it off must have been quite the event, even to an outsider.
If she went further and said her fiancé was the Crown Prince, and that she’d stepped down from being the Crown Princess… she was curious how the girl would react, but decided that would wait until they knew each other better.
“By the way, I haven’t heard your name yet.”
“Ah… that’s right. I’m Shelly Rox. …A commoner.”
“Once again, I am Patricia van Frentier. …May I call you Shelly-san?”
“……………………Just Shelly is fine. I…”
“People close to me call me Patricia, or Patti.”
“………………Then, Patti.”
Her cheeks tinted ever so slightly pink, and the awkward way she said it was simply adorable.
Patricia felt a little flutter in her heart, but Shelly suddenly turned toward her with determination.
“So, about that dance you mentioned earlier—I’d like to hear about it.”
“Oh, of course. What exactly would you like to know?”
“The types of dances and what they mean. I didn’t know dances could have meaning—I was really surprised by your explanation. Learning about things I never knew is such a joy.”
“I completely agree! It’s wonderful to discover new worlds you never knew about, isn’t it?”
Patricia nodded enthusiastically, and Shelly nodded back just the same.
As she went on to talk about the history of dance, its forms, the meanings behind choreography and song, Clive and Heine approached them and asked, “Patti. It’s lunchtime—are you coming?”
“Ah, yes. I’m ready.” She stood up, ready to head out for lunch, but Shelly averted her eyes from Patricia and the others.
“Shelly? Won’t you come with us?”
“…………Is that okay?”
Shelly looked momentarily stunned by the invitation, then smiled softly, only to cast her eyes down at Clive and Heine.
“…No, it’s alright. I’ll go by myself.”
“But—”
Shelly had clearly seemed pleased when Patricia invited her, so why this change?
Just as Patricia was puzzled, Heine answered for her, “Lady Shelly. We don’t mind at all, so if you’re alright with it, please come with us.”
“…But—”
“As far as Clive is concerned, as long as Frentia’s young lady is here, he’s content—so there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Let’s go already. Patti, what do you want to eat?”
Caught off guard by Clive’s abrupt change in attitude, Shelly awkwardly got up and joined them.
Patricia realized that for Shelly, Clive and Heine were people she didn’t normally interact with.
Having a meal with such people must be exhausting; Patricia regretted having invited her so casually.
At the same time, she was once again struck by how remarkable Heine was.
It was rare to find someone who so naturally noticed others’ feelings and accommodated them.
‘Avalon Kingdom’s future was surely in safe hands’, Patricia thought as she watched the one who would someday be king.
“…Truly, Heine-sama is amazing.”
“What’s that about all of a sudden?”
“It’s nothing. I just thought so.”
“…I’ll take that as a compliment, shall I?”
“Of course.” After saying just that, Patricia turned to Shelly and asked, “Shelly, what do you like to eat?”
“Food? Hmm… I like things you can eat easily. Sandwiches and such.”
“I understand. It’s nice to eat something you can read with. I used to snack on cookies while reading and got scolded by my mother for the crumbs.”
“Even a noble young lady does things like that?” Shelly laughed softly, and Patricia joined in.
Just earlier, Shelly had looked so tense; Patricia was glad if she had helped her relax, even a little.
“Only you, Patti, would do something like that.”
“I never did it when we had guests, you know.”
“But even when you played with me, you’d eat cake while reading and get scolded.”
“T-that was when I was a child!”
When she was little, Patricia had sometimes played with Clive and Alex.
Usually, both their mothers had forbidden it, so Patricia rarely saw Clive.
But whenever she went to see the Empress, Clive would always be there, and they’d often have tea together.
“So even Lady Frentia had that side to her.”
“Surprising. I always thought you were so proper, even as a child.”
“She’d get so caught up in her books she wouldn’t even eat, so the adults would worry and try to get her to eat anything. That’s how she started snacking while reading…”
“Yes… When I saw the servants getting scolded by my mother, I stopped.”
“That’s admirable.”
“I never quit. Even now, I eat sandwiches while reading.”
“I guess it’s fine as long as you don’t spill.”
“…So even royalty does it.”
“Royals are only human, too~”
“You’re the only idiot here.”
Shelly laughed at their cheerful exchange.
It seemed that, in this short time, she’d already grown more comfortable, and Patricia breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
She wanted to get to know Shelly better, to be friends if possible.
That’s why she hoped Shelly could speak openly with both of them, without fear.
Since Clive wasn’t the type to adjust to others, it was no doubt thanks to Heine.
‘He really is an amazing person.’
Meeting him would surely become something irreplaceable in her life.
That’s what Patricia felt.