NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20 - Confession
Confession
The first proper weekend at Lachesis Academy.
Perhaps other classes are neither in exam period nor practical training week, so most cadets are probably resting.
But me?
It’s just the schedule Arein made for me.
Even on weekends, I’m thoroughly tied down, so today too I struggle to earn my remaining credits.
“Are obedience and submission the same in terms of ‘following orders’?”
What I’m attending now is a major subject exclusive to the quarter class. Though there aren’t many students due to it being weekend, the lecture was more passionate than anywhere else.
Professor Chetty, who boasts 32 years of combined experience – 20 years as a maid and 12 years as head maid – is explaining to us the concept of obedience.
“However, in the case of obedience, the focus is on submitting to instructions from an entity with authority. On the other hand, submission…”
-Proper Understanding of Obedience and Submission
While this seems like such a class discriminatory lesson, the quarter class cadets, except for me, are burning with academic enthusiasm, their eyes sparkling even today.
While this is the first time servants from the Magic Department have been admitted, it is said that upon graduating from the academy, they are guaranteed a future promotion to the position of head butler or head maid.
In the Empire, the relationship between master and servant is relatively horizontal, comparable to that of a CEO and secretary in the previous world, so such arrangements were possible.
‘Isn’t there a curriculum for becoming stronger?’
Honestly, these lectures don’t help with game progression. Unless you’re content with living as an obedient slave.
If there’s one advantage to the quarter-class lectures, it’s that there’s barely any homework.
The answer is always correct as long as you write with the nuance of voluntarily pledging loyalty to your master.
At that moment, Professor Chetty’s voice began to rise.
“To help with your understanding, we’ll be conducting practical exercises in groups with students taking the ‘Proper Orders and Instructions Between Master and Servant’ lecture.”
What?
Following the professor’s signal, students from other classes began to enter.
– Are we starting the practical exercise now?
– They’re probably just forming groups…
This is annoying. How many women have gotten tangled up in just eleven days? I’m completely sick of getting involved with anyone else now.
At that moment, a woman with a familiar hair color entered the lecture hall.
Pink-tinted hair, and an elegant appearance that stood out even among the students.
‘Flo…ria?’
Well, she is a noble after all. But to think she would have signed up for that class.
She was looking around the entire lecture hall, searching for something.
Somehow feeling like she was looking for me, I had no choice but to slightly lower my head.
“Now, we’ll be forming pairs.”
As soon as Chetty finished speaking, the students assigned as masters carefully approached.
‘Kind master!’
‘Please, female mistress!’
The Quarter Class students seemed slightly expectant about who would become their one-day master.
‘Hey hey, I call dibs on that huge chest on the far left.’
The pervert Harold definitely has no filter in his brain. I wonder if his master knows about this.
I’m too tired to even react anymore.
‘Ladies! Masters! Attention! Over here!’
He was actively pursuing with an even louder voice.
‘What the??’
Because of that, attention was drawn to our direction…
‘Hey. Get lost…’
Too late. Floria had already looked this way.
‘Haah……’
.
Eventually, I was paired with Floria.
After all, with my reputation in ruins due to various rumors, and being a demon’s servant, there wasn’t a single person who would willingly offer to pair with me.
Though I’m trying my best to avoid her gaze, she casually spoke to me.
‘Lady Ha-yu. I make you uncomfortable, don’t I?’
Yes.
…You don’t want to be in the same group as me, right?
Yes.
I don’t understand why she’s asking to hear hurtful words.
It’s not like I don’t feel hurt too.
Perhaps… do you, do you dislike me?
…No.
…Then, then that’s fine. Hehe.
Only then does Floria show a faint smile.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
With Floria, there’s the past, but Arein is the biggest problem.
No matter how I look at it, Arein doesn’t seem to view Floria favorably.
That’s why I wanted to avoid this until the duel day.
‘Is it finished?’
The assignments seemed to be complete with us being the last. Professor Chetty spoke with a satisfied expression.
‘Now! The assigned groups will act out master-servant relationships for a day in Atlas, the city near the academy. You know it, right? Since there’s a festival going on, it should be less awkward.’
– Ooh! Festival!
– I was planning to go on the weekend.
Life breathes into the classroom. There’s an atmosphere of ‘If it’s Atlas, that’s acceptable.’
‘For one day, servants must write a report about which orders they could obey and had to comply with, and masters must report which orders were refined and which were unreasonable. Ah, don’t forget to stamp each other’s family seals before submission!’
Since I don’t have a family, I’ll have to ask Arein for the seal.
Since it’s a lecture she personally arranged, she probably won’t get angry about this.
Floria clasped her hands together in anticipation.
‘Lady Ha-yu, please take good ca-are of me today?’
‘Ah, yes.’
When my response wasn’t enthusiastic, disappointment showed on Floria’s face.
What can I do? My master told me not to get too close.
Floria’s expression darkened dramatically. And through that, a very low voice was heard.
‘…Today is mine, isn’t it? Lee Ha-yu.’
‘…Pardon?’
What did this woman just say?
‘Heheh, let’s hurry!’
.
.
.
‘This feels really suspicious.’
We boarded the train heading to Atlas from the Academy platform.
The distance from the Academy to Atlas is closer than from Arein’s mansion to Norris village, so the restriction on retainers shouldn’t be an issue.
Of course, I considered submitting a written report to Arein before departure, but she generally doesn’t like to be disturbed on weekends.
Also, since it was already sunset, I decided it would be better to finish this quickly today.
‘Isn’t that girl who just got on pretty?’
“She’s quite famous these days. Floria Endelson.”
“But why does she hang out with demons?”
“Even at the restaurant the other day…”
People’s tendency to gossip is the same everywhere…
Since the chatter of the students behind us showed no signs of ending, we maintained our silence.
*Clack clack*
At that moment, as the train turned right, the previously hidden city came into view.
“Look over there! It’s Atlas!”
‘It looks similar to the Academy.’
Atlas is the city closest to Peros, and its design concept emphasizes infrastructure tailored to the Academy.
On the platform that came briefly into view, numerous people were passing by.
Being a weekend at the start of the semester, with neither exam period nor practical training week, most students were taking their rest here along with the citizens.
Then Floria, who was sitting next to me, asked.
“By the way, I heard you applied for an inter-grade duel?”
“Ah, yes.”
“And against someone from the Royal Class. Lady Isabella, they say.”
“That’s right.”
“What were you thinking, doing something like that? Especially when you’re not fully recovered.”
“It’s a long story. And not an interesting one.”
I responded with short answers like a romance-challenged person.
“What should we do when we get there?”
“Assignment. We should do it, right?”
“Really!”
But Floria continued to talk to me as if she couldn’t give up.
Honestly, it’s comfortable.
Floria is one of the few people in this world I can actually communicate with.
She doesn’t discriminate based on social status either. She really makes me feel like I’m attending university, even if just a little.
-Screech.
And so the train arrived at Atlas.
This place, made up of complex structures from the entrance, was dyed even more beautifully in the sunset light.
* * *
‘Hmm.’
According to the assignment plan, I need to carry out at least three commands.
Since it’s not a real master-servant relationship, I can refuse unreasonable commands.
However, I have no idea what kind of commands Floria might give.
“It’s a festival.”
As Floria said, the city center was truly in a festive mood.
-Bustling
Even just standing still, one could be swept away by the crowd.
Like a busy university district, there are quite a few young men and women who appear to be Academy students.
The endless rows of stalls created a festive atmosphere, with distinctively dressed sales staff busily moving about.
Behind them, festival flags of various colors completed the scene like a painting.
If a young couple were to walk around in a place like this, it would certainly look like a date.
I asked Floria.
“Don’t tell me you signed up for weekend lectures because of this?”
“Hehe. That’s being too self-conscious. It’s not like that at all.”
She smiled slightly and took my hand, leading the way.
At that moment, I felt déjà vu.
Floria leading me by the hand?
– Look at this! It’s a huge bear!
– Ha-yu! Are you good at this game? I want that doll!
– Looks like there’s a circus over there! Shall we go watch it in a bit?
– Aren’t you hungry…? How inconsiderate of you to make a lady speak first.
– That’s right. Ha-yu needs to eat vegetarian. How about some fried vegetables?
The gloomy Floria from the other day didn’t exist in this festival.
Only Floria from the Full Moon Festival three years ago remained.
But at the same time, my memories with her were slowly coming back.
…
At last, it became completely dark.
It is said that Atlas has large and small waterways built in all directions from the center, as trade is conducted through canals.
*Chirp chirp*
A slight sound of insects and cool breeze.
A spot slightly away from the lights and people’s laughter spreading in the distant plaza.
Floria led me to a small bridge built over a waterway where the moonlight shone well.
‘That was quite fun.’
Though I couldn’t eat or drink at the ordinary festival, I could enjoy the atmosphere.
‘I wonder if they’ll have fireworks at this time, like they usually do in other places.’
All sorts of thoughts came to mind.
In the demon territory, the only human scenery I saw was the farmers working far from Norris village.
After such a long time, I seemed to forget many things, separate from my clan, and see various people.
‘Over here! Lady Ha-yu.’
She came holding something in both hands.
‘Ah… could it be.’
Purple liquid, with a somehow mature scent. This is definitely…
Right. Since I can’t drink it anyway, I might as well smell it.
‘How did you manage to bring this again?’
‘Hehe.’
Looking at Floria who was grinning mischievously, I asked.
‘Lady Floria. Please give me the command soon. We need to complete the task, don’t we?’
Ah, that’s right.
Floria, whom I met wearing a mask at the Full Moon Festival three years ago.
Walking through the festival with her today, some memories started coming back.
“I think my memories are gradually returning.”
Just one piece from her, borrowing it would be enough to piece things together.
“…Is that so? That’s good.”
Floria responded as if it didn’t matter.
“So, please tell me everything today.”
She took a sip of the purple liquid and continued.
“Before that, I’ll give you an order.”
“Order… please do.”
“…Call me by my nickname.”
“……Yes, Lady Ria.”
“Heh. You really have recovered your memories.”
-Bang!
At that moment, the magic fireworks show began in the sky.
‘…How cliché.’
For a moment, her beautifully smiling face was illuminated by the bright light.
Even without looking up at the sky, this deep waterway was reflecting everything.
“Lady Ha-yu, do you know? There’s no rule prohibiting romance at the Academy.”
……
“There’s no mention of status either.”
……
Indeed, this pattern is that one.
A confession.
Floria spoke quite clearly.
“Would you like to date me?”
……
-Bang
To receive a confession just 10 days after coming to the academy. If you’d call it unexpected, it certainly was.
Instead, I asked back.
“…Is that an order?”
In my hazy memories, the feeling she harbors for me isn’t love. It’s love-hate.
“Yes. It’s an order.”
Floria was resolute.
At this point, she must be trying to sabotage the assignment.
“…I’ll have to write in the report that this is an unreasonable order…”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Laughter bursts out.
We looked at each other and smiled for a while.
….
In the promised silence, Floria opens her mouth very slowly.
…Then, Lady Ha-yu.
?
Would you die for me?
-Bang.
……
[Seven Lines for ‘Floria Endelson’: Temperance increases by 1]
Her face reflected in the water wore a sad expression, as if sunk in the abyss of these waters.