Chapter 48
As I walk from the school building to the girls' dormitory, the scenery changes midway into a grassland-like view with seasonal flowers blooming wildly. It looks like untouched nature, but in reality, it's a garden managed by human hands, and a gardener from the main estate once told that maintaining its balance is quite a challenge.
As I proceed along the garden path while admiring the flowers, a small red-brick dormitory cos into view.
Glancing at a table and chairs placed in a corner of the garden, I loosen a smile at the small flowerbed by the open entrance before stepping inside the dormitory.
My luggage should have been brought to the dormitory during the entrance ceremony, but it's not in the spacious entrance hall, so I check the number on my room key and head up the stairs at the back.
Since this is the girls' dormitory, one would expect to hear at least a few lively voices, but the inside is deserted, and the creaking of the floor is so faint that you wouldn't notice it unless you paid attention.
The boys' dormitory is probably much livelier than here.
I visually confirm the number carved into the corner of the room's door, take a deep breath, and insert the key.
It's my first ti living in a dormitory, and since I'll be sharing a room, I know it'll be one of the three girls I t yesterday, but I'm still nervous.
Well, that's not the only reason, though......
Upon entering the room, there's a large window, with beds, desks, and bookshelves placed on either side.
Smiling at the room that's exactly as I had imagined, I notice a single person's worth of luggage placed in the corner of the room......
"......"
Female soldiers are rare to begin with, and most of them co from Taurus.
Every few years, a handful enroll like this year, but that's quite uncommon......
Unlike the boys' dormitory, which has a steady number of occupants each year, I heard from Reatta during the dormitory registration that the girls' dormitory always has empty rooms.
The reason the dormitory is so quiet is that there's no one here besides the four of us who enrolled this year.
The fact that there's only one person's worth of luggage instead of the expected two is probably Reatta's consideration, allowing to use a double room spacious and alone.
"......"
Unable to give up, I scan every corner of the room before collapsing onto the floor as if giving in.
Knock, knock, knock......
After parting with the cold floor, I was reluctantly organizing my luggage when soone knocked on the room's door.
Thinking it must be Ellie, Lilin, or Luna, I respond, and the door slowly opens as Lilin peeks her face in.
"......Um, Reatta said to have lunch in the garden."
Her dark brown hair is tied into a single ponytail on the side, adorned with a cute ribbon. Perhaps due to her quiet personality, she was also standing a step back and smiling yesterday.
"Celes......?"
"Ah, sorry. I thought it would be Ellie coming to call ."
"That was the plan, but it seems her luggage unpacking is nowhere near done. So I ca instead."
"I see."
With a wry smile, I beckon Lilin, who remains peeking from the door, with a gesture of "co in," urging her to enter.
Since my dream of sharing a room has vanished, I at least want to beco close enough to visit each other's rooms.
"Excuse ...... The layout of the room is the sa, huh."
"I haven't seen the other rooms yet, so I can't say for sure, but would it be okay if I visit your room later, Lilin?"
"......Eh!?"
"Hm......?"
"Please do......"
After patting the head of Lilin, who turns bright red and looks down, with a gentle tap, I arrange books on the shelf, place a small container on the desk, and put away the bag that held my luggage.
"......Alright, sorry for the wait. Shall we head to lunch?"
"You have surprisingly few belongings, huh."
Hanging in the closet are just a few outfits besides the uniforms, and there are only about three pairs of shoes below. Since it's dormitory life, there's no need for dresses or accessories, so the only things I brought are small items like a comb and a hand mirror, but in exchange, I've brought a huge number of books.
"Is it that surprising......?"
Muttering while locking my room door, Lilin nods repeatedly beside .
"I an, Celes, you're a noble young lady, aren't you?"
"I think my bookshelf is quite fitting for a noble, though?"
"Hmm, that's true. But in your closet, there were only spare uniforms, a jacket, and so shirts, right? Even your shoes were the sa as the ones you're wearing now."
"Since I'll just be going back and forth between the school and the dormitory, a few spare uniforms and shirts are enough. The shoes will probably wear out quickly anyway."
"Geez, at this rate, Ellie probably has more clothes and accessories in her room than you do."
"I don't think I'd have a chance to use them even if I brought them...... Wait, is that why her unpacking isn't done yet?"
"Yeah."
Twitching my lips at the thought of how much she must have brought, I decide not to go near Ellie's room for a while.
"......It slls good."
"They're grilling at in the garden."
"Outdoor cooking, huh...... Lilin."
As we step out of the entrance, the sll of grilling at wafts over, and by the chairs and table set up in the garden, Reatta is smiling while grilling at and vegetables.
Beside her is Luna, placing vegetables on the grill with a serious expression, and......
"Why is Ellie here before us......?"
"Uh, I wonder why......"
Holding a fork and a plate, Ellie is there, cheeks puffed out as she chews.
She probably couldn't resist the sll of the at.
Approaching Ellie, who looks blissful, I peek at her face as she stabs the next piece of at with her fork and beams with a full smile.
"Is your unpacking done?"
"......Hwah!? Uh, unpacking...... Lilin!?"
"Ellie, you value at more than a prince, huh."
"No!? That's not it! This is, um......"
"It's not different, is it? You're eating at faster than anyone else."
"......Tch, Luna!?"
Gently grabbing Ellie's arm as she waves her fork trying to explain, I stop her movent.
......I'm scared that the precious at might fall to the ground.
"Ce, Celes......?"
Hesitating over what to do with the piece of at trembling at the tip of Ellie's hand, I react to Luna's voice saying "Hurry up and eat it," and bite into the at dangling sebelum my nose.
Perhaps because it was just grilled, the at is still warm, soft, and tastes even better than the at at the fortress.
"......"
"Ellie......? Are you alive?"
"Lilin, if you don't eat now, Ellie will finish it all. Hey, Celes, eat so vegetables too!"
"There's still plenty, so it's fine."
Told by Luna that help isn't needed, I obediently hold my plate and wait.
Perhaps because I was staring intently at the grill while eating vegetables, Reatta added more at for .
"......Tch, ugh!"
"Ellie, Ellie!? For now, just breathe......!"
"Just leave her be. She'll co to her senses eventually."
Lively voices echo through the once-quiet dormitory.
Seeing Reatta squinting her eyes and smiling, I feel happy too.
The dormitory life I had been looking forward to.
"......Hey, Celes! That at isn't cooked yet, hey, don't put it in your mouth! Spit it out! It's still raw!?"
On this first day, as I hurriedly swallow the at I had put in my mouth, I think it's a passing grade.
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