Dear Seraphina Lazarius, we are happy to inform you that your application to Golden Vow Academy has been accepted due to your outstanding performance on the entrance exam. We are happy to congratulate you on reaching second place and we are looking forward to your attendance starting with the entrance ceremony on the…
After rereading the same paragraph of the letter for the umpteenth time, I toss the elegantly penned letter to the side.
"Tch, it must have been that last Mathematics question. I still can't believe I got it wrong. Haah."
I let out a deep sigh. This isn't how I imagined things going so it's really frustrating, but I have to accept it nonetheless. However I won't take this lying down. Just wait until the first tests happen and I swear I'll take first place back!
I honestly tried to not let it affect me much, but a few days before the ceremony I was approached by one of the teachers.
"...Sorry, could you repeat that?"
I ask, having a hard time processing what I just heard.
"I said Miss Lucy Castille, who got first place on the entrance exam, turned down her role as the grade representative for the entrance ceremony. As you know it's a role traditionally given to the one who achieves first place, but due to circumstances she has withdrawn. So in the name of Golden Vow Academy, we would like to offer you this opportunity."
"..."
Lucy Castille… Lucy Castille. I think I've heard of her. The only child of the Northern Duke, Cedric Castille. Although I don't know much about her since she never attended any social events. But there are numerous rumors and speculations floating around about her. From her being half commoner to her being so unsightly that even her father doesn't deal with her. Likely most, if not all just made up lies, I never paid much attention to them.
But to think she has not only snatched first place from me, but even refused the privilege that comes with it… Is she even taking this seriously? Does she think I'll be happy to take a position I didn't even earn? Representing all the first year students is a tremendous honor, not only for her but her family as well. The exact position I so wanted to receive. But just handing it to me like this…
Makes me furious! Just who does she think I am? I'm here to earn my achievements and not to just take someone else's leftover merit.
"Haah."
I sigh as I decide to let go of my rising anger. I shouldn't judge her actions based on speculation alone. I should at least try to ask her about it first.
"Um, Lady Lazarius…?"
It seems like my prolonged silence has made the teacher uncomfortable. So I forcefully calm myself down and make my response.
"Thank you for your generous offer, but I'm afraid I'll have to decline as well. Now, if you'll excuse me."
"Huh? But-"
I quickly turned and left before he could respond.
***
"Golden hair and blue eyes. Golden hair and blue eyes."
I mutter to myself as I scan all the students present at the entrance ceremony. I tried to find out as much about Lucy Castille as I could, but there was very little reliable information amidst all the gossip. Since Lucy Castille hasn't been seen at any social events, those two appearance traits were the only ones I managed to find.
Other than that, I only found a bit about her family circumstances. It seems like there was also very little known about her mother and she passed away soon after Lucy was born, which sparked all the rumors about her identity.
And since she never appeared alongside her father afterwards, their relationship was believed to be strained. But I still just found the root of the speculations, reality could still be different.
"Ah, there she is."
My eyes finally catch a glimpse of radiant yellow.
"..."
Hm, seems like the rumors about her looks were indeed baseless. Complete falsifications. There is no world where she'd be looked at with unfavourable eyes regarding her natural beauty.
Though she isn't doing much favors for herself with that hunched posture and improperly kept hair. Both of which cause her to have an aura that is easily overlooked in a crowd even though she could easily stand out and capture everyone's attention.
If I wasn't carefully examining every student I might have also not noticed her presence. But if this is the case, then it's quite unusual for her to have not attended any social events before.
Well, either way it's not important for now. I'll just need to wait for an opportunity to approach her.
As I keep observing her I suddenly notice the ceremony drawing to a close.
"Lady Lazarius, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"It's been a long time Lady Lazarius, how have you been?"
"Lady Lazarius-"
However before I could make any movements myself, a number of other nobles approach me and I get swept up by the crowd.
"Ah excuse me, I think I forgot something in the auditorium. You should all go on ahead."
With that excuse I finally manage to slip away from my suddenly formed entourage and make my way back to the building.
"Haah. Sometimes dealing with noble etiquette can be really draining. But I can't afford to make a bad impression right on the first day. Let's hope she's still around."
And it seems luck is on my side as I quickly spot a flash of yellow on one of the sidepaths near the auditorium. Her posture seems even more hunched now, like she's on guard.
"Ahem. Hey, you there. I need to talk to you."
"Ah."
I call out to her, but for some reason she looks really startled and a bit scared when she turns around to look at me. Ah, maybe my words were too cold?
But she doesn't have any connections to high society so I thought suddenly getting called out by name by another noble, who she hasn't met before would have scared her more.
"My name is Seraphina Lazarius, it's a pleasure to meet you."
I introduce myself with a standard curtsy, trying to smooth out the awkwardness of the encounter.
"Huh? Ah… Um. Li- um…Lucy… Lucy Castille… is my name…"
She finally manages to stammer out after a long time.
Oh that's right, without proper etiquette training making greetings wouldn't flow naturally either. But for some reason she seems more scared than just having trouble communicating. Why? Do I really look that scary?
"Ahem. If it's not too presumptuous of me to ask, would it be alright if I invite you to have a cup of tea with me? I would be delighted to discuss a few matters with you."
"...! Ah! W-well I… Um.. that…"
I shouldn't judge her without hearing her out so I try to be as polite as I can with my offer to talk. But why does she seem even more terrified now?
"Oh! Isn't that your fiancée over there? Hello Miss Fiancée!"
Before Lucy could conjure up her answer, suddenly a loud voice calls out towards us.
Haah, I know who it belongs to even without looking and it's already giving me a headache. But I have no choice but to acknowledge the two people coming here. So even if I'm annoyed internally, I still gracefully turn towards them and extend a greeting.
"Greetings to His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince and Lord Bernard Leonheart. It's a pleasure to meet you both and I hope you've been doing well."
I perform another curtsy while shooting a glance at Lucy. Like I expected she is stunned upon seeing the new arrivals. But she soon notices my gaze and thankfully gets my message as she also recreates my movements, though a bit clumsily.
"Lady Seraphina, it's nice to see you as well."
"Miss Fiancée! What's up?"
Two starkly different greetings come my way. The first one, a very composed and standard option the Crown Prince often uses. But it's followed by a greeting brazenly throwing manners out the window. Unfortunately it is also very fitting for the person saying it.
"...How may I be of assistance to His Highness?"
"Ah, no it's nothing like that. We were just walking when Bernard spotted you. I hope we didn't disturb anything."
"That's right. That's right. And actually we were just talking about you. Oh wait. Who is your little companion? I don't think I've seen her before."
"...!"
While we were talking Lucy's eyes seemed to be darting between the three of us with a wary gaze, but when Bernard shifted the attention to her she got completely startled.
Ugh, I feel kinda bad for dragging her into this so I should help her out a bit.
"This is Lady Lucy Castille, the daughter of Cedric Castille."
"G-greetings. It's nice… a pleasure to meet you- meet H-His Highness."
She manages to say and then briefly flashes me an accusatory glance, like I said something I shouldn't have. I only helped introduce her though?
"Oh, I believe I heard about you before but I never had the pleasure of meeting you in high society."
"...? Is she famous or something?"
Both young men cast a curious glance towards Lucy, who seems startled by all the attention and she suddenly speaks up in her loudest voice yet:
"...! N-no of course not!… A-actually I just remembered I still have something to do, so I'll just stop disturbing you. If you'll excuse me!"
"Ah, wait!"
I try to call out to Lucy, but by then she already made her escape without looking back. Haah. Well whatever, I didn't mean to drag her into a high difficulty social exchange anyway so I should let her go this time.
"Miss Fiancée, you… weren't bullying her were you?"
"..."
I glare at the main culprit of ruining my chance without holding back.
"Excuse me, but Lord Leonhart should be caring about his own matters. I wonder just how stellar of a performance did you accomplish on the entrance exam. As a member of one of the greatest houses in our great country, perhaps it would be best to declare it publicly so all of us less accomplished nobles could revel in your greatness. Actually perhaps I should consult your Elder Sister on this idea. I'm sure she'd be delighted by such a proposal, since Lady Adrielle, as one of the top students of her generation, must be excited to hear news of your academic performance."
"...! Ah, ah that's right! I just remembered that I still had something to do…as well. So it was nice seeing you my Lady and goodbye!"
During my jab at Lord Leonheart, he kept getting paler with each sentence I delivered, which was quite satisfying, though perhaps a bit childish on my part. But it achieved its intended effect as he quickly ran away after hearing my words.
"I'm sorry if we did disturb you, as it seems we have. But Bernard didn't mean any offense with his words. I hope you'll forgive him."
"Haah. It doesn't matter. Your Highness shouldn't trouble himself with trivial matters such as this."
"Hm. Though I am curious about something. Why did you give up your role as the grade representative? The Lady Seraphina I know would gracefully accept her duty that comes with achieving first place."
"...I wasn't the first."
Ugh, does he have an extra sense to always bring up sore topics?
"Huh? Wait what?"
"I said. I placed second."
"Really? I was only told that the top two ranked students gave up on the role. I just assumed you placed first again, but then who managed to beat you?"
He seems genuinely shocked by this outcome which makes me even more irritated. Not only did he butt into my conversation with Lucy but he even rubs my loss in for good measure.
"Hmph. Figure it out for yourself. Now if your Highness will excuse me, I just remembered I have some matters to attend to as well."
"Ah Sera, wait…"
I also turn and leave without looking back. Normally I'd always follow proper etiquette, but now I ended up following the example of the two nobles before me and just stormed off.
Haah, classes haven't even started yet. I hope this isn't representative of my entire time at the academy.