Chapter 54
On the way down the corridor to the room we had been assigned, Elia kept chattering away just like before.
“Really, I’m just so glad I ended up sharing a room with someone I know. I came all the way down from the north, and I don’t know a single person here. Plus, I’m not exactly the sociable type. And Laila, you’re so kind! I feel like I started things off on the right foot.”
Contrary to her words, all I could think was that I had buttoned the very first button wrong—and not just wrong, but terribly wrong.
“…Right.”
Listening to her was giving me a headache. I simply nodded along.
“Did you bring a lot of clothes—kyaaah!”
With a crash, Elia tripped and fell flat on the perfectly flat floor.
The sound was so loud it was a wonder she hadn’t gone tumbling down the stairs instead.
“…A-are you okay?”
How do you even manage to fall on nothing but level ground? I reached out in alarm, and she just giggled sheepishly.
“I’m fine! I’m sturdier than I look. And besides, I’m a little clumsy, so I trip a lot even when there’s nothing there. Silly, right?”
She dusted herself off and bounced back up as if nothing had happened. Judging by the look of her, she hadn’t been exaggerating when she claimed to be sturdy.
I couldn’t help but accept it.
So this is what they call…
…the classic clumsy-type heroine?
Somehow, I felt my insides twist uneasily.
If Elia’s the clumsy type, then what type am I…? The cold-blooded type?
Considering I’d inherited the blood of my father—the infamous “Cold-Blooded Duke”—that seemed about right.
When we reached our room and opened the door, warm sunlight from the south-facing window poured in.
On either side of the living area, plaques were hung: the left door read “Laila,” the right “Elia.”
“Kyaa! It’s so lovely!”
Elia squealed again.
I first checked whether my belongings had arrived safely. Everything had been transported neatly, not a speck of dust out of place, valuables intact. Relieved, I returned to the living area.
“Huh?”
Elia tilted her head curiously.
“You’ve already unpacked everything?”
She must have glimpsed inside my room.
Even if we were roommates, showing someone my private quarters wasn’t exactly comfortable. I shook my head.
“…My attendant must have done it.”
“Ah, oh! I see!”
She finally looked convinced.
Earlier, when my things had spilled in the mud, I’d asked the attendant helping me move to handle it all. Thanks to that, nothing had been lost.
Meanwhile, Elia seemed to be unpacking everything herself. From the looks of it, she had no attendant—or perhaps she was the sort who insisted on doing everything herself.
Either way, it didn’t matter to me.
I went into my room and shut the door with a click.
Compared to my room back at the estate, this one was pitifully small, but the clean furnishings suited my taste well enough. Whether I liked it or not, I’d be living here for quite a while, so I’d best get used to it.
Sharing quarters with Elia had been unexpected, but… once I adjusted, her presence would be negligible. Not a real problem.
With that thought, I changed into my nightclothes.
The truth was, there was a reason I acted coldly toward Elia.
Every time I saw her, I was unsettled.
Leaving aside the fact that, in the original story, she was my rival—the one who brought about my downfall… this was her world, The Story of Elia.
Being near her constantly reminded me that she was the heroine here.
Even though my life was undoubtedly mine, her presence made it feel like I was nothing but a side character in someone else’s tale.
Maybe others didn’t feel it that way, but to someone who knew the original story, it was a painful awareness.
Even if fate had tied us together as roommates, I still wanted to keep my distance.
The next morning, I rose with the sunlight and prepared for class. I double-checked the textbooks, notes, and writing supplies I had set aside the night before, then changed into the school uniform.
The girls’ uniform at Rebekam was a simple beige dress that flared out in an A-line shape. Having always worn garments embroidered with gold and silk, this plain attire felt oddly refreshing. More importantly, it was practical—comfortable, warm, and functional. The sleeves had extra fabric to make writing easier, and there were even pockets despite it being a dress. All in all, I liked it.
I brushed down my silver hair in front of the mirror. At home, attendants would have done it for me, but here at Rebekam, where attendants weren’t allowed, I had to handle everything myself.
Once ready, I slung my bag over my shoulder and stepped outside.
“…”
The room to my right was unnervingly quiet for morning. So quiet, in fact, that I wondered whether she was even awake.
Should I go wake her?
But barging into the bedroom of someone I had only just met yesterday felt… inappropriate.
And besides, I owed her no such obligation.
Though uneasy, I shook the thought off.
I decided to keep my distance. She’s the very one who destroys me, remember!
Resolving myself, I left the dormitory.
She’ll manage on her own.
And if she didn’t—well, it wasn’t my responsibility to look after her.
Savoring my first morning at Rebekam, I walked to the student dining hall. By the time I’d collected breakfast and sat down, there was still no sign of Elia.
…Should I have woken her after all?
Guilt prickled at me, and I found myself promising:
Tomorrow, I’ll go fetch her…
Just then, I spotted Luceran and Laon entering the hall. Instantly, everyone’s eyes turned toward them.
The Diude family was one of the most prestigious knightly households, and Laon was reputedly a top-ranking student. As for Luceran—the only son of House Peregrine—his presence alone drew attention.
Hungry eyes watched them hesitate at the entrance, and I raised a hand in greeting. Their faces flickered with relief.
…Who’s that? The silver-haired girl sitting with Lord Luceran?
Idiot, don’t you know?
Who is she, then?
I heard the whispers carried across the room, but ignored them, calmly spooning up my soup.
That’s Lady Rosahill!
I thought to myself, So, I really am not that famous in society after all.
Which made sense. I hadn’t even been attending social events for a full year yet, so expecting everyone to recognize me was unrealistic. Truthfully, it was more convenient this way.
After finishing our meal, the three of us strolled through the academy grounds. There was still time before class.
In the dew-kissed garden, buds and early-blooming flowers mingled together.
“So,” Laon asked curiously, “how is it with your roommate?”
He was just making conversation, but since that was exactly what I’d been worrying about, I shook my head.
“Honestly? Awful. I don’t want to get close to her at all.”
“You don’t want to get close to her?” Laon blinked wide-eyed.
“What kind of person are you sharing a room with? Someone who talks in her sleep? Turns her room into a garbage heap?”
“…Luceran, are you like that?”
“Baseless conjecture,” Luceran replied calmly.
I let out a small sigh, picturing Elia.
“No, it’s just… I’ve only seen her yesterday and today, but we’re completely incompatible. You both saw her, right? The girl with the purple hair…”
Luceran tilted his head.
“She didn’t seem that bad to me.”
“No. You don’t understand. She makes me uncomfortable. I absolutely don’t want to be friends with her.”
And right then—
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of that very same purple-haired girl walking past us.
“…Ah?”
The word slipped out before I snapped my mouth shut.
How much had she heard?
Her hair was tied up high with a white ribbon, and she carried her bag neatly in one hand.
But there was one glaring problem.
“…Why?”
She was wearing light-blue civilian clothes.
Not the school uniform.
I stared after her, stunned.
Failing to wear the designated uniform meant disciplinary marks. That in turn meant no going home for the weekend, mandatory study, and a black mark on one’s academic record. Even if she didn’t know that, surely she realized how conspicuous she looked standing out alone like that.
So why hadn’t she worn it?
I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
…Don’t tell me she was so clumsy she forgot to put it on.
It sounded absurd for anyone else—but with Elia, it was strangely plausible.
What a headache. Tonight, I would have to ask her about her uniform.
Later, we gathered again in the great hall for orientation. Luceran, Laon, and I sat near the back. I had no desire to sit up front or in the middle where everyone’s eyes would be on me.
In the first semester of first year, general studies took priority over specialized classes.
Subjects like philosophy, literature, religion, mathematics—these pure academic fields formed the foundation. The best professors personally guided the new students.
Rebekam’s reputation as a renowned academy came from its deep grounding in such pure scholarship.
Resting my chin in my hand, I waited for the professor to arrive.
From this seat at the back, I could see the crowns of countless heads.
Including, right in the middle—
—that of a certain purple-haired girl.
