**Chapter 57: The Day of the Entrance Ceremony**
At last, the day had come for Rest to enroll in the Royal Academy. He sat in the carriage alongside Viola and Primula, making their way to the academy. Rest occupied one side of the seat, while the sisters sat facing him. All three were dressed in the academy’s designated blazers, presenting a fresh and different appearance from their usual selves.
“It feels like a dream to be attending the same school as Rest starting today!” Viola exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement.
“It’s not that unusual, you know. We live in the same house, after all,” Rest replied with a wry smile.
Despite sharing a mansion and spending nearly every waking moment together, Viola’s enthusiasm seemed a bit misplaced.
“It’s all about the mood, Rest-sama,” Primula chimed in, following her sister’s lead. Though not as overtly excited as Viola, Primula also exuded a certain cheerfulness.
“Is that how it is? I don’t quite get it…” Rest mused.
“Men are like that, which is quite troublesome,” Viola remarked.
“Just as my sister said. By the way, Rest-san, don’t you have something to say to us?” Primula asked, her eyes sparkling.
“Surely you have something to say, Rest?” Viola added, spreading her arms slightly as if to showcase their appearance.
Both girls wore white shirts beneath their blazers, complete with ribbons at their necks. Rest let out a small sigh before uttering the words they sought.
“You both look wonderful. You’re both adorable.”
“Good job!” Viola clapped her hands in delight.
“I’m so happy! Rest-san looks great too!” Primula added with a bright smile.
“Didn’t I already say that when you tried them on? How many times are we going to have this exchange?” Rest questioned, bemused.
It wasn’t the first time he had seen the sisters in their uniforms. They had tried them on several times before, each time seeking his opinion.
“It’s still about the mood. Don’t you want to be praised by someone you like, no matter how many times?” Viola insisted.
“My sister is right. No matter how many times we hear it, we never tire of it!” Primula agreed.
“Is that really how it is…?”
““That’s how it is!”” the sisters declared in unison.
Though Rest had no experience dating girls in his previous life, it seemed to be the case.
Regardless, it was no exaggeration to say that the sight of the two in their uniforms was genuinely charming. The blazers seemed tailored just for them, accentuating their cuteness.
(Girls in uniforms… it wasn’t a rare sight in my previous life, though…)
Perhaps it was due to the long time spent together, or perhaps because they were now officially his fiancées. Their uniformed appearance felt fresh and, to put it dramatically, left a lasting impression on him.
(Compared to that, my own uniform looks…)
Rest chuckled to himself as he glanced down at his own attire. The boys’ uniform featured a tie instead of a ribbon, and trousers instead of a skirt, but the design was quite similar. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the uniform was wearing him rather than the other way around. Perhaps it was because of his humble origins; wearing fine clothes felt oddly out of place.
(I’ve lived as a commoner for so long… I still can’t get used to wearing expensive clothes.)
“What’s wrong, Rest?” Viola asked, noticing his expression.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” he replied quickly.
“Really? By the way… Rest, you’ve grown quite a bit, haven’t you?” Viola remarked, as if recalling something.
Upon hearing her sister, Primula joined in, clasping her hands together.
“Oh, I thought so too! You’ve grown at least ten centimeters since you came to the mansion, haven’t you?”
“Is that so? I hadn’t noticed…” Rest replied, scratching his head.
Now that she mentioned it, he had indeed had to replace several pairs of trousers that no longer fit. Perhaps it was due to the lack of proper meals at the Ebern House; after a year at the House of Marquis Rosemary, Rest had grown significantly. He had gained height and his once slender frame had developed a solid musculature. The height difference between him and the sisters had also increased.
“Maybe you’ll grow even taller. I’m a little envious,” Viola said with a hint of disappointment.
“Rest, it’s just right for a man to be a bit taller than the woman he escorts. It can be troublesome if we’re taller when wearing heels,” Primula added.
“Oh, I see! Now that you mention it, if we end up taller than you in heels, it would be quite embarrassing!” Viola exclaimed.
The sisters were getting quite animated over the topic. It felt a bit awkward for Rest to join in. He subtly turned his gaze out the window.
“……Huh?”
As he looked outside the carriage, a peculiar sight caught his eye. A girl in a uniform, identical to that of the sisters, was sprinting alongside the carriage, being chased by a knight clad in armor. The familiar girl dashed past, leaving the mounted knight behind as she raced through the streets of the Royal Capital.
“…….”
“Is something the matter, Rest-sama?” Primula asked, noticing his silence.
“No… it’s nothing,” he replied, though it seemed that “she” had also passed the entrance exam.
Rest gazed up at the clear sky, a sense of foreboding settling in as he anticipated that his academy life was about to become quite lively.