"Lillian, do you want to go shopping this weekend?"
With only two days left until the chess competition, Lana proposed an outing to Lillian during their lunch break. Apparently, she wanted to buy some things for the school festival.
Lillian shook her head as she nibbled on her bread. "I'm sorry. I can't do this weekend."
"...The chess competition," muttered Claudia, causing Lillian to nod.
Lana looked at her with a wide-eyed stare. "The student council is busy even on the day of the chess competition?"
"Well, yes. But I'm..."
Claudia spoke again from the seat next to her. "One of the players. In our first spot."
Lillian looked at Claudia, wondering where she gets so much information from despite being so unsociable. Serendia Academy's winning streak would depend on their year's chess competition, and the students were all watching it very closely.
Lana, however, was either preoccupied with the school festival or simply didn't have much interest in chess. It seemed she hadn't even heard about Lillian being chosen for the tea. Lillian hadn't said anything about it, either.
"Wait, Lillian, they picked you for the team!?"
"...yes..."
Lillian found it very difficult to talk to people about being selected as a representative like this. "You'd be better off living in a mountain cabin somewhere far away from everyone else." Heartless words from a distant memory whirled around in her head. She remembered the cold eyes of someone she had once considered her friend.
But Lana stood up with a clatter, leaned forward, and exclaimed, "That's amazing!"
Lillian looked at her, agape. Excited, Lana spoke in a rush. "Oh, Lillian, why do you always keep things like this to yourself!? I can come cheer for you, right?"
"Even though you don't know the rules of chess?" pointed out Claudia.
Lana glowered at her. "I know the rules...like the names of the pieces."
"And you think you understand the game just because of that? I almost can't believe you're serious."
"Oh, who cares anyway!"
Her cheeks reddening in embarrassment, Lana looked at Lillian, whose mouth was popping open and closed, unable to form a reply. Despite finding out about Lillian's selection, Lana hadn't looked at her coldly. Neither had Felix nor Cyril. Lillian pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her pounding heart.
"Yes. I'd love that," she said.
"... Be careful what you say. The fool is liable to start yelling cheers at you from the stands without even knowing the rules," remarked Claudia.
"I wouldn't do that!" Lana yelled back before suddenly remembering something and turning to the gloomy young woman. "Wait, didn't you take part in the competition last year?"
"I'm surprised you remembered," Claudia groaned, her beautiful face warping into an expression of bitterness, like someone had just pointed out a past mistake.
"Lady Claudia, you took part in the chess competition?" Lillian asked.
"I did," replied Claudia. "And I regret putting so much effort into it. Neil wanted us both to do our best, so I did... What a mistake that was."
"Is it because everyone congratulated you on your victory?"
"Huh? Why would she be upset because of that?"
"Lady Claudia doesn't like it when someone other than Lord Maywood or Lord Cyril relies on her or thanks her." Lillian said as if stating facts.
Claudia Ashley possessed an extremely capable mind, but she absolutely hated when those around her relied on her for anything. Because of that, she emanated an aura of negativity to keep others away, not bothering to hide her scathing attitude from anyone but Neil. She'd probably only played in the previous year's contest because Neil had been there.
"I wonder what kind of chess Lady Claudia plays," mused Lillian. I doubt she'd agree to a game if I asked, but... Elliott had mentioned that Serendia Academy won by a huge margin the year before, so Claudia must have been a force to be reckoned with. I should ask Lord Benjamin about her.
Lana, seemingly remembering something else, said, "Hey, are we playing the same schools as last time?"
"Most likely," answered Claudia. "The three big elites...the event itself is supposed to be a friendly exchange with the university and Minerva's, after all."
Lillian felt the blood drain from her body. How stupid she'd been! Until this very moment, she'd never even given a thought to the schools they'd be facing in the chess competition. She should have realized right away when she'd heard it was supposed to be a battle between elite institutions.
The three prestigious schools of the Castina Empire were Minerva's, which Lillian had previously attended; the University, a law school governed by the Temple; and Serendia Academy, which was attended by the offspring of nobles.
"Lillian?" Lana called.
"...Yes..."
Flustered, she responded, but her voice came out a bit shaky. Lillian had skipped a few years and graduated Minerva's once she'd become a Sage, but many of her classmates would still be enrolled. It's okay... I'm sure that none of them even remembers me.
After learning enchanted magecraft, she'd been holed up in a research lab, rarely taking part in any conferences or research presentations. She doubted more than one or two people still remembered her face. But despite her repeated insistence, her body wouldn't stop shaking. The scornful eyes of the boy she'd believed to be her friend came back to her.
"You're not my friend."
She felt that coming to Serendia Academy might have allowed her to look towards the future, if only a little. But those memories still haunted her.
"Lillian!?"
Lana, noticing something was wrong, got out of her seat and knelt beside her friend.
"I can't bother her with this," thinking so, Lillian worked her paling lips.
"I am fine. I...it's nothing."
"It's clearly not nothing!" scolded Lana, frowning.
Claudia murmured, "Do you know someone from the university or Minerva's?"
"..."
"By the looks of things, you do," she noted. "And it's someone you don't like, too, hm?"
Claudia found that fact to be very strange. From what she had observed, Lillian is a very private person. She doesn't ask others for any favors, nor does she bother others, yet she still reaches out when she sees someone in need. She's like someone who already knows everything yet has no questions or wishes.
She's like a quiet lake, even in front of the storm, Claudia observed. Lillian possessed dignity and calmness to the extent that it is impossible to think that she is the same age as her. But there is someone even she doesn't like...just what kind of person could they possibly be?
"Lillian," said Lana firmly, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder. Lillian looked up at her, and Lana's face turned to one of resolve. "The morning of the chess competition, could I come to your room?"
"Huh...sure."
"Good. You should look forward to it."