14 — Chapter 14

At last, the unloading for the royalty and the high-ranking noble hangers-on finished, and it was our turn. It seemed carriages were only allowed as far as the front of the school building. From there, we had to go on foot.

George got the wardrobe trunk down for me, and Mary carried the boxes containing my books and study supplies into the dormitory. Apparently, the dorm’s housemaids take care of moving the trunks. There are separate dorms for boys and girls, and the rules strictly state that boys are not allowed in the girls’ dorm and vice versa. I had been so heartbroken about parting with my brothers that I had only skimmed the dormitory regulations.

So, even heavy trunks are carried by the housemaids. That must mean the boys’ dorm has manservants. Well, they have dollies and the housemaids look quite sturdy, so I’m sure they’ll be fine.

The first floor is the dining hall. It seems this area is co-ed.

There are two staircases in the dining hall: the right side leads to the boys’ dorm, and the left side to the girls’ dorm. The right side is closer to the Royal Palace—meaning it’s closer to my brothers—and yet…

“My Lady, it appears this is the room.”

Using the key provided at the reception, Mary opened the door to Room 205. I felt a strange sense of irony since I was twenty-five in my past life.

“Such a cramped room… Oh, my poor Lady,” Mary lamented, but to me, it was more than enough. True, it was only half the size of Patience’s room at home, but it was larger than the apartment I lived in alone in my previous life. And best of all, a fire was crackling away in the hearth.

“It’s so warm.” Since being reincarnated, this was the first time I felt warm to my very core. Small spaces are wonderful, aren’t they?

While I was marveling at the fireplace and relaxing in a chair, Mary was a whirlwind of activity—taking clothes out of the trunk to put in the wardrobe, spreading the bedspread over the provided bedding, and setting out my study tools from the boxes.

Wait, am I not going to help? Mary finally looked like a proper lady’s maid again, performing her duties with such vigor—would I really snatch that away from her? I’m not that cruel. Since my body had warmed up, I decided to check out the room.

In Japanese terms, it was about a ten-mat studio, fully furnished. It came with a bed, a wardrobe, a study desk and chair, and a simple parlor set in front of the fireplace.

Remembering those massive piles of luggage earlier, I realized some people must have brought their own parlor sets and beds. What a lot of work.

“Um, My Lady… I’m sorry, but could you help me move the desk?”

Even I had brought something extra: a tattered mini-rug I found in the attic and restored. Yes, laying this down makes the room feel even cozier.

To my surprise, the room even had its own toilet and bath! Truly impressive, Royal Academy! They even provide the magic stones. How generous.

“Oh, this is a magic lamp!”

“Wow, incredible.”

The Granger manor does have magic lamps in the dining hall and parlor, but as you might guess, they don’t work because the magic stones are dead. I can use Household Magic for light, but it’s exhausting to keep it active for long periods.

To be blunt, the dorm is much more comfortable than the Granger house. The only downside is that my brothers aren’t here.

“That’s right… Nasius will enter the Royal Academy in two years, and Henry in four.”

I hope we can afford a horse by then. The dorm is comfortable, but I miss my morning and bedtime kisses.

Mary seemed reluctant to leave me all alone, but she had plenty of work waiting back at the manor, so she eventually headed home.

“I wonder what time lunch starts?”

I hadn’t brought much, and Mary had tidied everything up quickly. Now that I had some free time, I read the dorm rules. Meal times are important, after all.

“The noon bell? It hasn’t rung yet.”

Wealthy nobles might have brought their own watches, but I don’t have one. Poor nobles probably don’t either. I suppose that’s why they ring a bell.

“Wake up, breakfast, first bell, 1st period, 2nd period, lunch, 3rd period, 4th period, dinner, bedtime… that’s quite a lot of bells.”

It rings twice—once before class starts and once when it ends. I sighed at the thought of living my life chased by a bell.

Clang! Clang!

Oh, it’s lunch time! I tried to rush out of the room, but the “Patience-check” kicked in. It hadn’t triggered much lately, and I’d been feeling a mix of loneliness and relief thinking it might disappear, but I guess the Academy will be full of triggers.

A lady should not rush to the dining hall.

Well, I suppose I would look greedy. I washed my hands in the washroom and then descended the stairs slowly.

“I’m starving.” A delicious aroma wafted from the dining hall, and my stomach growled halfway down the stairs. I picked up my pace just a little and headed for lunch.