Chương 17: "A Ruff Morning (3)"

Anna led Celestia away from her room and through the dormitory's corridors. As Celestia followed, with her fan held aloft to conceal the lower half of her face, Anna stutteringly gave her a tour to the dormitory. The first place they visited was the shared shower area, to which the young heiress observed with a detached expression. The next area was a large kitchen, which would be used by both students and the dormitory staff alike.

They moved on to the dorm's common area next, where a handful of students relaxed in chairs and sofas. On one wall hung a tapestry depicting the founder's summoned guardian beast, faded from years of sun. A large round table in the center was already littered with playing cards. Beyond the common area was a small plot of garden. There, Anna enthusiastically waved her hand towards the neat rows of vegetables and flowers, almost proudly so. The sunlight shone on Anna's eager face as she introduced each flora.

Celestia patiently listened to her. Finally, they visited the small library that belonged to the dorm. From inside came the hushed whispers of turning pages. Celestia paused at the entrance, but only long enough to see a few students entering. Back in the lobby of the dormitory, Celestia and Anna arrived just as an elderly woman hurried through the doorway. The matronly figure was hunched small with age, though her eyes were kind and bright.

Bowing slightly, she introduced herself as the dormitory supervisor to everyone in the lobby.

"I'll have to say sorry to everyone for my tardiness; I have only just returned from the academy and I have heard some distressing news. The dorm staff who were assigned to help students today—" The old woman continued, "---I learned too late that they recently perished on the tower. It is an unfortunate incident, and I am very sorry you had to wait. Now that I am here, I can help with whatever you'll need when you return from the tour." She gave a smile.

"As for the academy tour, it will begin in thirty minutes. You can follow the path and gather at the Founder's statue in front of the main building." Celestia inclined her head once, acknowledging the old woman's words. Inwardly, though, she felt mild irritation at any perceived waste of her time, but she concealed it well behind the protection of her fan. Anna, meanwhile, offered the supervisor a polite nod of understanding. The supervisor chuckled when students started giving their condolences.

"Oh, posh! There's no need to worry, we'll have new dorm staff soon. I'll be here in the lobby should you need anything." She then turned to sit down on a rocking chair in the lobby. Once the dorm supervisor had finished, Celestia turned towards Anna.

"I believe my room has been prepared by now," she said, glancing past the latter's small, nervous figure toward the flight of stairs. Anna, true to form, managed only a brief, hesitant smile and quick successive nods. Celestia walked up the stairs ahead of Anna's scurrying footsteps. Celestia remembered her room when she had first opened the door; tiny with a single window, just as plain as the door outside.

Where before had stood a small, unremarkable bed, now there was a plush silk canopy, the bed's frame was now changed to an intricately carved wood frame. The single wooden chair and table had been replaced by a slender chaise lounge upholstered in a rich fabric. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves held neat rows of leather-bound volumes Celestia herself had selected, and on the walls hung delicate curtains.

In the corner, a polished walnut drawer-dresser, while beside it a tall mirror that let Celestia admire herself from head to toe. The suffocating room was now a residence filled with elegance. Anna stopped shyly by the door, watching the room and mentally comparing it to hers. Celestia folded her fan closed with a crisp snap. Behind her, Anna flinched.

"This is more like it," Celestia turned to her maid, Martha, who was standing inside. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"I trust your room has been decorated to your satisfaction?" Martha's eyes sparkled with pride. Celestia had a satisfied look.

"I expect no less of you," she said. Her tone held neither gratitude nor flattery, it was a simple acknowledgment that Martha had done well, as any competent servant should have. Martha bowed her head, beaming with pride, apparently content in Celestia's approval. Anna fidgeted outside the doorway, her fingers squeezing her thumbs. She was no longer needed since her tour duties were done.

"C-can I…?" she managed, voice trembling.

"P-please be e-excused?" Celestia's eyes flickered as she turned her piercing gaze on Anna. Silence stretched long enough to make Anna's cheeks flush. The silence in the room felt heavy. Celestia's red eyes looked at Anna's pitiful, quivering form. Anna swallowed as her throat felt dry and her eyes dropped to the floor on instinct.

"I-I'm sorry…," she managed to say with the words barely leaving her mouth. If she turned away now, would that be seen as disrespect? She couldn't help but feel her chest tighten, so she did the only thing that felt safe. Anna kept her gaze lowered and zipped her mouth until Celestia needed her. Celestia took a moment to smoothen her skirt and adjust the gold trimming on her fan before speaking.

"Now that everything here is in order, let us go to the academy." She gave Martha a glance.

"Fetch the carriage." Anna's tiny exhale of relief could almost be heard when Celestia walked past her. Moments later, beneath the courtyard trees, a sleek carriage awaited them. Its glossy doors bore the silver crest of House Reingarde. Celestia paused to let Martha open the door, allowing Celestia to enter the luxurious interior first, seating herself. Celestia took her place gracefully, crossing one long leg over the other.

"Anna," Celestia spoke before the carriage doors closed.

"Join me." With so many regrets passing in her mind, Anna stepped in hesitantly. The inside of the carriage was nothing like the drafty, bumpy, and smelly vehicles commoners like her might ride. It was richly decorated with polished wood panelling and gold-trimmed cushions. Deep red curtains embroidered with the emblem of House Reingarde were tied back to reveal sunlight streaming through the windows. Anna clambered inside with trembling hands and sank into the seat opposite Celestia.

She pressed her hands awkwardly against the seat as if to check if the expensive fabric remained unsullied. Inwardly, she panicked, ' My dress is dusty and coarse, what if it leaves a mark?' She glanced around at the expensive furnishings around her and her stomach sank.

'If I even breathe in here, I'll dirty something.' Martha climbed in after Anna, gently closing the door behind her, and took the seat beside Anna. With a knock from Martha, signalling the driver, the reins whipped and the horses moved forward, the carriage lumbered through the dorm's iron gate. Celestia leaned back, resting a delicate hand against the soft cushion behind her. The carriage rolled down the slope, wheels turning smoothly on the ground, towards the main academy grounds.

On the ride over, the grounds of the school slowly started spreading out beneath them. Celestia read her small notebook while Anna, for her part, remained tense in the passenger seat. Her eyes avoided the other two; instead, she stared fixedly out at the passing scenery as if she were a statue. Soon, the carriage made its way to the main academy grounds and it slowly came to a stop.

"We've arrived." The coachman announced. Martha disembarked first and helped Anna down, followed by Celestia herself. Anna felt her heart skip a beat. All around the academy's entrance courtyard, dozens of other students had paused their conversations at the sight of Celestia's carriage. As Celestia and Anna walked forward, the groups of students parted, as if Moses himself walked through the red sea. Then, a sharp voice sliced through the air.

"Well, well, well! If it isn't Celestia von Reingarde herself!?" sneered a high, sardonic tone. Celestia frowned behind her fan and turned her head to see who dared to greet her like this. A group of students in elegant dresswear blocked the path. Leading them was a young lady with meticulously coiled drill-like curls on her head.

"Celestia," the drill-haired girl continued, hand on her mouth, "I did hear you were attending the academy this year. But from the direction your carriage was coming from... Don't tell me you're going to bunk in that filthy sty of a dormitory there?" She gestured rudely with a flutter of her overly long eyelashes. Her voice was loud enough that everyone around could hear. Two girls behind the drill-haired girl snickered, while another folded her arms and raised an eyebrow.

Celestia's fan snapped shut as she released a sigh.

'Who is this generic bitch?' Her scarlet eyes narrowed slightly at the impertinent girl. Then, with the unflappable poise of a queen, Celestia raised the fan once more to cover her expression.