Observation

“You two, have you calmed down a little?”

“Mm…”

Now the two who had been quarreling only moments ago sat stiffly before me, necks bent, looking for all the world like scolded children who knew they’d done wrong.

I had intended to persuade them gently at first…
But they just wouldn’t listen.
In the end, I had no choice but to resort to a more forceful approach.

“So, what exactly were you two arguing about?”

“We were discussing which young lady is the most adorable in the world.”

“I said it’s my lady, but she refused to agree…”

“What do you mean, refused? Obviously, my lady is the cuter one!”

“Hah? Are you blind? It’s definitely my lady!”

“Ah? What did you just say?”

“Stop, stop, stop!”

I hurriedly cut them off.
The moment that topic came up again, sparks were flying.
Honestly, it was like stepping on a landmine.

Though… if I had to say, I still think my lady is the cuter one.

Yes, my lady truly is number one in the world.

“Anyway… let’s start with some introductions. Since we’ll be sharing a dormitory, it’s best to get acquainted.”

To set an example, I introduced myself first—though it was also to help Elizabeth, who couldn’t speak.

“I’m Ailena, the Duke’s daughter’s maid and attendant. This is Elizabeth. Due to some physical reasons, she cannot hear or speak, so I hope you’ll be kind and understanding toward her.”

After a moment’s thought, I decided it was best to keep her family name a secret.
One never knew who might take advantage of a careless word.

Elizabeth lifted a small writing board that read: “Pleased to meet you.”

I could see the two girls sitting before us were quite curious about her appearance, but at least they didn’t stare for too long.

The first of them, a maid with short, deep-blue hair that draped over her shoulders, retracted her gaze and took the lead in introducing herself.

“I’m Nino, maid to Lady Rebecca Miller, the second daughter of Viscount Miller.”

After Nino’s introduction, the maid with flowing crimson hair quickly followed.

“I’m Monica, maid to Lady Noelle Ethan, daughter of Viscount Ethan.”

So they served two different viscount families?
Under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t have much contact—so why did they seem so familiar with each other? Familiar enough to quarrel, even?

Perhaps seeing my confusion, they continued.

“The Millers and the Ethans are old family friends. Their young ladies have known each other since childhood, and we’ve spent much time together because of them.”

“Hmph. Well, I never wanted to see your ugly face anyway. As long as my lady is in my sight, that’s enough for me.”

“You want to fight, is that it? You really want to fight me again?”

“Ahem. Stop, stop.”

I quickly stepped in before they could start another round.

“Since we’re going to be roommates from now on, let’s try to get along. Smile, now—what was that saying? A smile makes all worries fade.”

“Hah? Get along with her?”

They both blurted the same line almost simultaneously.

“Why are you copying what I said?”

They pointed at each other at the exact same time, their voices overlapping perfectly.

“Hmph!”

Realizing they’d moved identically again, both crossed their arms, turned away, and pouted in unison.
Their synchronization was precise enough to put a trained unit of soldiers to shame.

“Are you two on good terms or not?”

I couldn’t help but laugh wryly.
It was only the first day, and yet I already felt the coming days would not be peaceful.

(Katarina’s Perspective)

“…and in summary, our academy’s founding principles are—”

“Haah…”

The principal’s speech droned on endlessly, void of any real substance.
It was so dull I couldn’t help but yawn.

“Phew…”

Beside me, Margaret had already fallen asleep.
Her flamboyant outfit drew every bit of attention in the hall, leaving me fidgeting under the stray glances her presence attracted.

But because of that, I noticed a few… unusual figures in the audience.

The first was the girl with hair as pink as a summer bloom, sitting diagonally ahead of me.
She was craning her neck, scanning the crowd restlessly—clearly paying no attention to the principal’s rambling.

The instant I saw her, memories of this morning resurfaced.
That overly cheerful way she’d greeted me as if meeting for the first time—it had been unbearably awkward.
Was she still sulking over what happened earlier?

I did apologize sincerely…
Yet now she resorts to these petty little theatrics?
How utterly two-faced.

As I thought when we first met, I really can’t get along with someone like her.
I honestly don’t understand why Ailena seems to enjoy spending time with her so much.

The thought left a bitter shadow on my heart.
I decided to shift my gaze elsewhere before my mood worsened further.

——It landed on a striking pair: one dressed in shades of purple, the other green.

The green-haired girl radiated innocence itself.
Twin tails swayed behind her as she smiled, listening intently to the principal’s hopelessly boring monologue.

The purple-haired one beside her, however, was a contrast—expressionless, but her gaze never left the green-haired girl.

Something about them felt… familiar.

If memory served, they were both daughters of viscount families.
I’d seen them at previous social gatherings—Noelle Ethan and Rebecca Miller.
Even then, they’d been inseparable.

Looking at them now, I couldn’t help but think their bond ran deeper than friendship.

“…And now, please welcome the top student of the first-year class to deliver the representative’s address.”

Finally, the principal’s endless speech concluded.
The next to step onto the stage—Claude Arnest.

That’s right.
My elder brother, who had ranked first in this year’s entrance exams.
Not just this one, either—he’s topped every single exam before it.

Despite juggling the affairs of the ducal household, his grades had never once faltered.
Sometimes, I truly wondered if he was even human.

“It is an honor to be given this opportunity.”

As the golden-haired man approached the podium, the previously lifeless hall erupted with energy.

“It’s Lord Claude! He’s so dignified!”

“He’s so beautiful…”

“Look at me! Please look at me, Lord Claude!”

…Was my brother always this popular?

Wait—some of those voices didn’t sound like girls.

“To see him with my own eyes… my life is complete.”

Amid the commotion, one voice pulled my attention instantly.
Not because it was loud—because it was familiar.

The pink-haired girl was staring fixedly at the man on stage, eyes brimming with emotions I couldn’t decipher.

Longing. Admiration. Desire.

A chill ran down my spine.

She hadn’t been like this before… had she?

Even if we didn’t get along, I’d always thought she was, at her core, a decent person.

So why did she look like an entirely different person now?

Confusion clouded my head so completely that I didn’t hear a single word of my brother’s speech.