Episode 31: Unexpected Reunion

“Arcs… is there anything wrong?”

Eleanore asks with a worried expression.

Since earlier, she’s been checking whether her appearance is in order so persistently it could be called excessive.

Even she must be nervous after all.

“Yes, there’s absolutely no problem. It suits you very well, you know?”

“Wha…! …Again, saying such things…”

She withdrew muttering while her ears turned red.

After being a butler for five years, flattery comes naturally.

Well, but this isn’t flattery or anything, it’s my true feelings though.

The gorgeous uniform based on white magnificently makes her presence stand out, and the academy emblem embroidered in gold serves as a nice accent.

It’s as if it was designed just for her.

…Well, that’s not entirely wrong though.

The production staff put their hearts into the design so that the characters of ‘Celestia Kingdom’ would look good.

So, seeing her in this uniform somehow makes me feel nostalgic.

She’s in this uniform throughout the game after all.

…Though the person called Eleanore at that time has fallen to darkness, which makes it a little scary.

“A-Arcs also… suits you… well?”

While such thoughts crossed my mind, Eleanore said that with her voice rising.

She’s trying to act strong, but her inner feelings are completely obvious from her expression.

“I am deeply grateful for your kind words.”

“Ah, ~~~!”

When I smiled at her, she again moved her mouth wordlessly while lowering her gaze and pretended to read the paper in her hands.

I can tell just by watching that her eyes are completely sliding off the page.

…I might have made her needlessly nervous.

“…You two, what are you doing when you’re about to appear in public?”

While we were having such an exchange, such a voice suddenly came from behind.

It’s a hoarse man’s voice.

I feel it’s a bit out of place for an academy where eggs of knights and nobles attend, but I know that the owner of this voice is actually a veteran with great skill.

“Sensei. …But isn’t it better than being completely stiff?”

“If you’re fooling around for that reason, it’s hopeless…”

How rude.

This is important communication between butler and master!

I’ll refrain from saying that since it seems it would heat things up again.

“Geez, are you two really of different statuses…”

“Doesn’t this academy disregard social status?”

“Ah, that’s right, damn it!”

The man spits out irritably.

I wonder what’s wrong, maybe he’s lacking calcium.

I want to say that, but I also feel nostalgic thinking this is how he was.

This person is clumsy.

“Ah, well then we should get going soon.”

“Yeah, go go.”

I look away from him making shooing gestures like driving away insects, and turn to my side.

“It seems so, Eleanore-sama. Shall we go?”

“Y…yes.”

Her ending is weak.

Right before it starts, did her nervousness come back?

“It’s okay, it’s surprisingly not that big a deal.”

While saying this encouragingly, I take her hand.

Then, we exit the wings and stand before the masses.

Why?

Well, because it’s currently the middle of the entrance ceremony,

and we were the top students of the noble and knight courses respectively.

***

I successfully passed the entrance exam for Royal Lytisia Academy.

Passing in this case means I can attend the academy, which means passing through the special student system.

Of course I did my best, but still, what’s uncertain is uncertain.

When I learned I was a special student, I was really, truly filled with a sigh of relief.

…And, as an aside… or rather, incidentally.

I not only passed as a special student but also as valedictorian.

Well, being a special student itself is proof of scoring highly.

It’s not strange to be number one among examinees.

It’s just not strange, but I was still a bit surprised.

Scores aren’t disclosed so I don’t know how many points I got, but it seems I scored better than I thought.

And by what twist of fate… though saying that might dismiss both our efforts.

Eleanore was also valedictorian.

She had an anxious face until right before the exam, so it was a bit surprising she achieved such results. No, quite a bit.

“I won’t give the spot next to Arcs to anyone else,” she said smiling when notified of being valedictorian… could it be she was expecting me to be valedictorian as well…?

I think she still overestimates me in some ways.

Well, I guess it’s good that it became reality…

…Now, being valedictorian means having to give a speech as the new student representative.

I must speak saying things like, I express gratitude on behalf of the new students for holding such a grand entrance ceremony… and so on.

Making the composition itself is fine… but speaking in front of people, especially right in front of nobles, I had some resistance to that.

If I get marked in various ways it would be troublesome… and if I’m pressured to come to their house, Eleanore might scold me again… Personally, I didn’t want to stand out much.

…Well, the person herself said “It’s a chance” and was strangely fired up though.

I didn’t really understand the meaning, but she helped me think of the text together, which was quite helpful.

And when I actually gave the speech, as expected… it was.

But it wasn’t as bad as I thought.

‘That’s the valedictorian…’

‘As expected, the caliber is different.’

‘But isn’t he a commoner?’

‘So it seems, but there’s a rumor he’s already serving a noble.’

Well, I could hear voices trying to figure out what kind of person I am, but I didn’t hear voices oddly sizing me up.

Maybe they just didn’t voice it, but I didn’t feel many of those unpleasant gazes peculiar to such times.

Maybe because they’re young after all, they don’t have the habits of greasy nobles.

Though I think it’s cruel to think they’ll be dyed in that from now on.

There was someone who tried to say ‘A mere commoner can’t be much!’ but they trembled and closed their mouth, perhaps scolded by a teacher or something, and the academy staff don’t claim to disregard status for nothing.

So the speech ended without incident, and the entrance ceremony also came to a close.

***

“Did I… speak well…?”

“You were very admirable, you know?”

While exiting the auditorium, I follow up on her anxious expression.

Though she was nervous, her bearing and voice projection had much more dignity than mine.

I should say as expected of a noble. In such areas I might not be able to match up after all.

“Is that so… But since I achieved my initial goal, maybe it’s good.”

She says with a smile.

I wonder if she had her own goal.

I don’t know what it was, but if she achieved it, that’s probably good.

“…Now, after this there’s class assignment announcements and such, so we’ll part ways here for now.”

“Ugh, that’s right… Not being able to learn in the same space… is very regrettable.”

She drops her shoulders exaggeratedly.

Well, if we want to meet we can meet anytime.

Just being able to attend the same academy should be good enough.

…Even trying to encourage her, I don’t see much effect.

Maybe it’s a reaction to being stuck together until now…

“Then, once everything is done… shall we meet at that fountain?”

“Ah!! …That’s right. Yes, let’s do that.”

Eleanore becomes energetic in an instant. She acts nonchalant but it’s still obvious.

I think she should become independent or separate from her parent soon… but well, this kind of thing is gradual. Let’s take the long view.

“Well then… It’s a promise, okay?”

Reminding me thus, she heads toward where the noble course classrooms are.

I saw her off until she turned the corner and disappeared from view.

“Now then.”

I should go too… I stretch.

I wonder who I’ll be in the same class with.

I’d prefer members who won’t cause troublesome things…

While thinking such things, at that moment.

“Huh, Arcs-kun?”

Suddenly, there was a voice calling my name.

…I recognized it.

That lively and cheerful voice.

I slowly turn around.

“Ah, I knew it!”

“…Emma-san.”

I call the name of her who’s making her eyes sparkle and frolicking.

At the same time, a slight cold sweat broke out in my heart.

————————————

I partially changed the settings related to special students.

There is no hindrance to the story.