Chapter 17: I’ll Live with You!
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Following the guidance, I made my way into the school building, where I first had to complete the dormitory registration in the hallway. On the bulletin board inside, there was a notice regarding room assignments.
…I see, the rooms are divided by status.
There are two dormitory buildings, each separated by gender. Commoners are assigned to four-person rooms, while nobles from viscount and baron families get two-person rooms. Only those from count families and above are given single rooms.
So, that means I’ll be in a two-person room. It seems I can choose my roommate if I have a preference, but…
Glancing sideways, I locked eyes with Rouge, who was looking up at me. Could it be that we were thinking the same thing?
“Um, by the way, Rouge, your family is noble, right…? Sorry, being from a rural backwater, I’m not familiar with the noble ranks around here. Could you tell me?”
“Sure! The Vect family is a viscount family, but we don’t own any territory.”
“A viscount family without territory?”
“Instead of land, we receive a plot within the Royal Capital from the royal family and live there. My father works as a bureaucrat in the Royal Castle, you know?”
“I see, so there are nobles like that.”
“Which means… we can share a room together.”
Rouge said this shyly, her cheeks faintly flushed as she looked up at me.
…Ugh. She’s just too cute.
Can I really keep my sanity living in the same room with her…!?
“Ah, if it’s not okay, that’s fine! If you’d prefer to share with someone else… But I thought I’d feel more at ease if I were with you…”
“Rouge, let’s live together!”
“Hyah!?”
I knelt down on the spot and took her hand, enveloping it in mine. Rouge looked bewildered by my sudden action, her mouth opening and closing in confusion.
“I-I’m not worthy, but I look forward to it!”
She stumbled over her words at the end. Tears welled in the corners of Rouge’s eyes, and her face was so red it seemed like steam might come out. She’s really adorable.
“What are you two doing…?”
Suddenly, a voice interrupted, and I turned to see a girl with flaxen hair tied in two pigtails looking down at me with an exasperated expression.
Behind her stood a girl with soft, light blue hair, looking on with a curious expression.
“Lily, Lecty, you both passed too. Congratulations.”
“Yes! Congratulations to you too, Hugh-san!”
“Passing was a given, right? More importantly, what’s with this little play?”
“I was just deciding on the room assignments for the dormitory.”
“It looked more like a proposal to me.”
Lily sighed, placing a hand on her forehead. Well, I had intentionally acted that way to make it look like that. This should reduce the number of guys trying to get close to Rouge.
“Let me introduce you, this is my best friend, Rouge.”
“B-Best friend!? Um, nice to meet you! I’m Rouge Vect!”
“Rouge Vect…?”
Upon hearing Rouge’s name, Lily placed her fist to her mouth as if deep in thought, then stepped closer to Rouge, staring at her intently.
“Uh, um…?”
Rouge took a few steps back, looking flustered as she averted her gaze from Lily. Though she had said it was their first meeting, could it be that it wasn’t…?
“I’m sorry, you just reminded me of someone I know, so I couldn’t help but stare. Just a case of mistaken identity, I suppose.”
“I-I think that’s probably it…? I don’t have much interaction with the Puridi family.”
“Oh? I haven’t even introduced myself as a member of the Puridi family yet, have I?”
“Ah…”
Rouge covered her mouth with her hand, realizing her mistake.
Watching Rouge today, I’ve come to think that she’s quite the scatterbrain.
“Well, for someone as exceptional as I am, it wouldn’t be surprising to reach the Puridi family just by the name Lily.”
“Wow, you’re really confident.”
“That’s just the truth. In fact, I’m well-connected in high society, you know? But I suppose that’s something a backwater noble wouldn’t understand.”
“With that said, I can’t really argue against anything except the backwater part.”
High society is a world far removed from my own.
Even my parents can’t afford to travel to the Royal Capital for every event, taking a month just to get there. They’re even exempt from having to send a letter for New Year’s greetings to His Majesty due to the distance.
“Then let me introduce myself properly. I’m Lily Puridi.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, the daughter of the illustrious Marquis Puridi family, for the first time…”
“Hehe, let’s just leave it at that. And this is Lecty.”
“I-I’m Lecty. Nice to meet you, Lord Rouge.”
“Uh, um, could you not call me ‘Lord’…?”
“Then… how about ‘Rouge-chan’?”
“Ugh.”
Lecty called Rouge with a suffix, and Rouge staggered back, clutching her chest in shock.
“Ah… Lecty, if possible, could you call her ‘Rouge-kun’ instead?”
“Huh? But she’s a girl, right…?”
“Guah!”
“Lecty, sometimes the truth can hurt people, you know?”
“Gaah!”
“Don’t pile on the pressure!”
Rouge was crouched down, trembling all over, looking utterly defeated. Poor thing…
Still, it seems like Lily is toying with Rouge, having seen through her true identity. I wonder if Rouge is actually from a higher noble class than a viscount family.
…I’d prefer to avoid getting involved, but if Rouge keeps acting like this, I have a feeling I’ll get caught up in something soon.
Well, I’ll deal with that when the time comes.
I can think that way because I’ve gotten a bit more relaxed after being able to use the Brainwashing Skill to some extent.