Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Let Your Guard Down, and Others Will Find an Opening (2)

Margaret sat in the dormitory living room, staring at Pulcheria with the full bearing of a wicked mother-in-law.

Pulcheria, however, did not care about that. After wandering around the room once and familiarizing herself with the environment, she went straight into the bedroom on the other side and began tinkering around inside.

A moment later, she finally came out and smiled brightly at the two people sitting on the sofa. “Then, during the days ahead, I’m sure we’ll get along very pleasantly, won’t we?”

“Why don’t you first explain how you were able to enter the work-study student dormitory?” Margaret’s gaze swept her up and down several times. Whether it was the pajamas she wore, which looked extremely comfortable at a glance, or the necklace revealed at her neck, Theresia might not understand, but there was no doubt that all those accessories were quite valuable.

“Because I temporarily found myself an idle post at the school, so I became qualified to live in this dormitory—don’t glare at me like that. I know that isn’t the answer you want to hear.” Pulcheria sat down on the sofa on the other side and met Margaret’s gaze. “The reason I moved in here is very simple. It is quiet here, and suitable for studying.”

“How long have you been planning this? When did you start the procedures?”

“About two hours ago. Since those instructors were unwilling to work overtime, I had no choice but to make an arcane communication call and give them a little motivation to work overtime.” Pulcheria smiled. “So you can rest assured. I won’t cause you any trouble.”

That calm air of “my family has power and influence” made Margaret feel a faint urge to retreat.

Theresia, however, did not think there was anything strange about it. “Senior, I know you’re very rich... but doesn’t the academy have high-grade dormitories for nobles?”

“Those wastrels spend all day with nothing in their heads except delicious food, fun things, and which kind of magic staff looks the prettiest.” Pulcheria sighed as she spoke. “At least before the final exams, I don’t want to be disturbed by them again.”

Margaret said, “You used your power and influence in the middle of the night to change dormitories just for that reason?”

“What else? Did you think I came for Theresia?” Pulcheria shrugged. “I merely happen to know only you two on this side of the dormitories, so I applied to come here.”

Margaret stared at Pulcheria suspiciously. After she failed to find any sign of lying on the other girl’s face, she finally lowered her guard. “If that is the reason, then I welcome you very much, Senior.”

“I welcome you too,” Theresia hurriedly added.

***

In the few days after Pulcheria moved in, the three of them got along peacefully enough.

Because they were in different years and classes, aside from Theresia and Margaret waking up together early in the morning and going to work, the three of them were only together in the dormitory at night. Their schedules were basically completely staggered. After discovering that Pulcheria had no intention of deliberately getting close to Theresia, Margaret gradually lowered her guard as well.

—Although even she herself was not sure what exactly she had been guarding against.

“Theresia, get up.” Margaret straightened her clothing while folding the gloves and apron she needed for work and placing them into her bag. “If you don’t get up now, you’re going to be late.”

“You always wake me up so early every time. There’s obviously still an hour left...” Theresia let out a lazy little whine, then rolled over and turned her back. “It only takes ten-something minutes to get there, so why do I have to get up so early...”

This lazy behavior naturally made Margaret quite unhappy. “You were the one who asked me to wake you up early, yet every time, you’re the one who refuses to get out of bed. This time, I’m only calling you once. If you can’t get up, I absolutely won’t care.”

Theresia mumbled something indistinctly.

Margaret finished tidying her clothes, then opened her satchel and stuffed the spellcasting materials and books she needed into the solidified space inside it. Yet even after she had completed all her preparations for the school day, Theresia showed not the slightest intention of getting up.

If this had been any other day, Margaret would definitely have sighed, then continued driving Theresia out of bed until Theresia sat up in a daze before leaving. But for some reason today, the sight of Theresia’s lazy appearance made Margaret feel a burst of displeasure in her heart.

And so, she followed her feelings, abandoned Theresia, and walked out the door.

Half an hour later, the morning sun finally crawled little by little onto Theresia’s bed, and the temperature beneath the blankets immediately rose quite a bit. This finally forced Theresia to leave her blankets, only to see a time that made her whole body tremble.

She hurriedly tumbled out of bed, frantically took off her pajamas, then changed into her underwear, uniform, and tights. “It’s over, it’s over, it’s over, it’s over. Why didn’t Margaret wake me up...”

“Oh, Margaret did wake me up, but I was half-asleep at the time...”

Theresia could not help blaming herself in her heart, then sped up her dressing even more. In the end, she simply combed through her hair once before rushing out of the bedroom in a panic.

Pulcheria looked at Theresia in some surprise as she rushed out. “Morning. Why did you get up so late today?”

“I overslept! Now I won’t make it to the library in time!” Theresia gave a hurried explanation, rushed toward the entrance, and shoved her feet into her shoes. “I can’t talk to you. I have to hurry and run there right now, but even if I run, I still might not make it...”

Pulcheria took a sip of tea. “It’s only a few minutes from here to the library, isn’t it?”

“About twenty minutes! But right now, even if I run, I still might not make it...” Theresia tried to put on her shoes quickly by stepping into them, but the more anxious she became, the harder it was to smoothly slide her heels in.

“Then I’ll give you a ride.” Pulcheria tucked the document case beside her under her arm, then put both the teacup and teapot into the space pouch she carried with her. “The price is that your time as a maid will be extended by three more days.”

Theresia turned around as though she had seized a life-saving straw, her eyes sparkling as she stared at Pulcheria. “Senior! Can you get me to the library within five minutes?”

“There is a common spell combination used for travel that combines wind-element magic and the fire element—haven’t you seen those apprentices or teachers floating along the school roads before?” Pulcheria took out two pieces of saltpeter and some Volta dandelion grass, showing them to Theresia. “Lightness Spell and Explosive Flame—of course, Explosive Flame has to use a gentler branch of the spell. You should know what this kind of compound magic is called, shouldn’t you?”

“Uh... Pressurized Thermal Propulsion?”

“Correct.” Pulcheria winked. “Have you ever heard what it sounds like to leave the wind behind you?”