(In case it isn't clear, this is a prequel to the first chapter of the original series)
(Comicalization Commemorative Extra Edition)
I have a secret.
A secret that no one can ever know.
―――― Especially him.
That night we were told not to leave our room in the girls' dormitory.
7 o'clock was our curfew.
My room is a corner room on the third floor, so if the teacher started her rounds from the room closest to the stairs, she would arrive here in about five minutes.
The tips of my hands and feet are cold and I can't feel them.
I had to get up and sit up from the bed again and again.
The book by my favorite author that I had checked out from the library for this day didn't even enter my mind.
It's no wonder.
My heart was beating fast. Sweat beaded on my palms.
There's no way I can stay calm.
However, it can’t be helped.
But who the hell is my partner? ......... Oh no, I thought about it again.
I need to let my mind go blank. Don't think about anything.
For the past twelve years, I've never forgotten this moment at any time.
I knew that one day, this day would come. And yet, when I was faced with it, I couldn't believe how upset I was.
The core of my body was shaking. I took a deep breath.
I can't. There's no way I can avoid thinking about it.
There was a knock at the door, and I stood up, bouncing out of bed.
At that moment, very clearly in my mindーーa single shadow of a person emerged, impatiently and painfully.
Dark blond hair. Cool hazel eyes.
Oh, God, if there is a God.
Eighteen years old. It was my last semester at the Imperial Academy, which I had attended for twelve years.
Today we are to receive a document prepared by the Imperial High Command.
Our "coming of age ceremony" partner. A document with the name of each " partner " written on it.
＊
"Tiana!"
I wondered how much time had passed.
The door to my room popped open and my classmate, Ella, came running in with a bright red face.
"Oh, Tiana, what should I do? My pair is Dennis!"
She pressed the papers in her hands against her chest and let out a cry.
Her face was bright red and slightly teary-eyed, and her hands were trembling faintly.
"Ella, calm down. It's going to be okay."
I got up from the bed and gently hugged Ella, stroking her hair.
"You don't like him? Dennis is someone you know well."
"I don't know, I don't ... understand. I don't know. We've been together since we were kids ... He's like a brother to me. I was taller than you until I went to middle school, remember?"
I sat Ella down in a chair and patted her back gently.
"But that's not what's worrying most."
"I was worried that it would be an Imperial student … Yes, that's right, thank God. I was worried about what would happen if it was an imperial student … but then again, I didn't want to suddenly have a baby with Dennis …”
Rubbing her eyes, Ella breathed heavily with her shoulders.
Then she looked up at me as if in a huff.
"What about you, Tiana? Who’s your pair?"
"I …"
I don't really know what's going on either.
I looked at the document, but after that, I could hardly think straight.
I let my gaze wander.
When Ella sees the papers on the bed, she stands up and rushes to the bed without listening to my attempts to stop her.
Her eyes ran through the paper before turning wide.
"Tiana, what do I do? I, my partner, it’s Elmer-"
"Tiana …… what are you going to do, your partner can't be Adele Berger!!!"
Leni had just jumped in from the hallway and opened the door wide, so Ella's scream echoed throughout the corridors of the girls' dormitory.
＊
Twelve years ago, the Principality of Arita was placed under the control of the mighty Empire of Skinia.
The final step in the education system managed by the empire is the "Coming-of-Age Ceremony" held in the spring of the student’s 18th year.
You have to mate with the person the empire has chosen and have children with them.
That is the gate that we, the children of fallen aristocrats, must pass through.
The next day, before the morning lecture started.
In the classrooms of the regular school building of the Imperial Academy, students were gathered here and there, talking in hushed voices.
At the center of our group of the former Principality girls is Cornelia.
She was the last princess of the Principality of Arita, and she was our hope.
"So, Tia's partner is Adele."
"Yes, Cornelia-sama. We don't know what to say …”
Ella and Irina hug me from both sides.
"Tia, are you okay?"
Irina looked into my face and I hastily remembered what I usually looked like.
"Yeah, I thought it was a nightmare."
That's what it felt like.
"Of all people, Adele. We haven't spoken to each other in years, except to curse each other out, and I can't remember anything but angry faces or nasty sneers."
Yes, yes, you're doing great.
"That's the worst pairing I can think of. If we get within a three-meter radius of each other, we'll start fighting. If we cause a bloodbath, will the coming-of-age ceremony be postponed?"
That's a little too much … isn't it?
I was surprised to see Lady Cornelia raise her beautiful eyebrows and smile in annoyance.
"But don't worry about it, Cornelia-sama?"
She grasped her right hand and raised it.
"As a noblewoman from the Principality of Arita, I will stand up to the rituals fairly and squarely!"
"Oh my God, Tia, this is like a duel."
Irina laughs, and everyone else smiles.
"Tia."
While watching over everyone as they began to chat about their respective matches, Cornelia whispered softly in my ear.
When I looked up, she was looking at me with narrowed eyes.
"My mother gave me a very delicious tea. She said it would make me feel more relaxed if I drank it warm. I'll share some with you if you like.”
Then she gently wrapped her hands around my hand.
Her white, thin fingertips, even the shape of her nails, were beautiful.
"Cornelia-sama …”
As if to wrap everything up, Lady Cornelia looked at me and smiled gently.
＊
After class, I step out into the hallway to move on to the next lecture.
"Cornelia."
Standing leaning against the window was a tall male student wearing the white uniform of the knight course.
His smiling face was as beautiful as a prince out of a painting.
"Julius, what's wrong?"
The expression on Lady Cornelia's face brightens.
"Because we passed each other this morning. It's a little embarrassing, but I thought I'd send my regards."
"Well, Julius. Did you go to the trouble just … for that? Thank you."
The girls standing next to me giggle at their conversation.
No, I think I have the same enraptured look on my face.
Julius …… I heard that the boys were given their papers all at once in the main auditorium after school yesterday.
Of course, boys may have the same thoughts about this ceremony as girls do.
In the midst of all this, he went out of his way to greet his partner, Cornelia, at her house……
I didn't say a word and looked over to Ella and the others.
Ella and the rest must have been thinking the same thing, because they shook their heads in resignation, and we turned our envious gazes to Julius and Cornelia
"Tia, this is the book I was borrowing."
Perhaps noticing our gaze, Julius holds out the book in his hand to me.
"Oh, sorry for bothering you ...!"
"It was interesting. History books written by geographers are very practical, aren't they?"
Julius looked at the end of the corridor.
"Wait a minute, Adele! You're going to the dean's office, aren't you? I'm coming with you."
The name came out unexpectedly and I almost dropped the book I had just received.
I looked up and saw him at the end of the hallway.
A young man with dark blond hair, wearing a jacket, was standing in front of the next classroom.
For a moment, I was sure that his hazel eyes met mine. I swear they did.
"I'm going ahead."
He replies shortly and disappears down the hallway.
"Wait, Adele! Oh, sorry, I'll be going now then."
As I watched Julius walk away with a smile on his face, I clenched that hand that was holding the book.
"Adele, on the other hand, would never even approach to say hello. It really shows his character, doesn't it?
"Ella, don't you think you're exaggerating? Tia, Elmer's not here either."
"No, no, no. If those two come together, we'll end up in a duel before the ceremony."
While returning the light-hearted remark, I felt differently.
It's not me that Adele was looking at, it was Cornelia.
I wonder how he felt when he saw Cornelia talking to Julius.
Maybe it didn't matter to Adele that I was his partner.
One might think, "If it's not Cornelia-sama, then it won't be the same with anyone else."
Regardless of how Adele feels, he and I … will have our "coming-of-age ceremony" in three days.
Something like making a child. Of course, I have never done anything since I was born.
We have to do this together.
No one knows, my secret.
I've been in love with Adele, the person that I fight with like a cat and dog.
It can never be known.
Especially Adele.
I hope the tea that Cornelia gives me will make me forget all the emotions swirling in my heart.
I hugged my book tightly to my chest and started walking down the corridor after everyone else.
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