奇跡の令嬢の入学
お母様からの手紙はやはり私の状況を、理解していらっしゃらないのだと判りました。
しかしながら自分で蒔いた種の一面もあります。
言わせてもらえるのであれば侍女の件はお母様の管轄なので、任命の記憶はないのでしょうか？
勿論あるはず無いのですが…
いえ、家族なのですから使用人伝に伝えずとも直接ご連絡をくださればよかったのに…
終わった事にいつまでも腹を立てていても仕方ありませんが怒り以上に悲しさが残ります。
ですが、指導詳細が添付されているのは助かります。
何より励みになり助けになったのはアリッサからの手紙でしょう。ステラお姉様の性格や興味、趣味趣向が細かく書かれていましたので大変参考になります。
手紙の内容から推測するとお姉様は人の機微に聡いけれど慮る事は得意としない御仁の様です。そして環境ゆえか選民意識が高く、向上心はおありですが同時に劣等感を抱えている一面が垣間見えます。
ただ、高位の方であっても臆せず懐に飛び込める胆力はアリッサも一目置いている様子です。そしてそういった高位の方からも大抵好意的に接して頂けているようです。
懸念事項としては未だに言葉遣いや振る舞いが貴族的ではなくなる時があるのと、ややフランクにどなたにでもお話になる点、そして異性との距離感が私達とは異なるようだと書かれていました。そして、文字の読み書きは教会で基礎は教わっていたそうですがまだ書き取りは苦手とするようで、手紙の代筆はアリッサが任されているとの事です。
そして、驚いたのは私達の祖母であるフランチェスカ様のご指導も頂き、皇室の昼のお茶会までの教育は終了しているとの事でした。
フランチェスカ様直々のご指導だったそうで、ご指導期間中はステラお姉様の荒れようが酷かったので八つ当たりにあったアリッサは大変だったようです。
お祖母様が帝都にいらっしゃっていたのならばご連絡頂ければ家にも帰りましたのに…と少し寂しくも思いましたがどうやら元々お友達とのご予定でいらっしゃったのをお母様がお願いして指導をして頂いていたようです。
なんにせよこれで準備と心構えが出来ます。
私はお母様とアリッサの手紙から要点を書き出し、寮の自室を出ました。
向かう先は、教員棟の会議室です。
2人の先生方とは早々に連絡が付き、私の準備が整い次第打ち合わせをする事になっています。直近で急ぎのお仕事はお姉様の件なので時間的な都合はつけて下さるそうです。
来訪を告げれば先生方は直ぐに対応してくださいました。
事前に先生方がお持ちでした資料に補足を加える程度ではありましたがアリッサやお母様からの情報は助けになりました。
先生方とは大変有意義な会議が出来たと思います。
方針としてはあまり厳しくしない。しっかりと出来た時には褒めるといった極々普通の内容でしたが、お姉様の伝え聞く性格上厳しいだけよりは良いでしょう。学習内容も図解の入ったとても明瞭なものをご用意して頂いているようです。
私が求められているのは学習面の補助と補足、生活面での友人関係の構築の橋渡しとマナー指導といったところでしょうか…
カリキュラム的にも卒業までの期間が短いため放課後に特別授業で補填していくとの事でその際には私も同席する事になりそうです
ネフェル先生はその際にはお妃教育の補講もして下さるとお約束くださいましたので私にもメリットが出来ました。
アーサー殿下からのお返事は…期待していた事は何も書かれておらず少し残念ではありました。しかし、お忙しい公務の合間にお時間を作って下さる御心に温かなものを感じます。時期的に忙しくはありますが楽しみがひとつ増えたと思うと心も弾むものです。
そうしてあっという間にお姉様の入学日となりました。
時期はずれの新入生。それも高位貴族で話題の劇のモデルともなった奇跡の令嬢となれば学園のみならず貴族の注目の的。一眼で良いから見ようと子弟を送迎するふりをした貴族達の馬車が朝から学園の門を行き来しいつも以上にその日は混んでいたそうです。
そんな事とはつゆ知らず私は正門の前でお姉様の到着を待っていました。
見覚えのある御者と馬車が近づくと馬車は徐々にスピードを緩め、私の前で停車しました。
御者が馬車の扉を開けば中から真新しい制服に身を包んだお姉様が降りて来られます。
髪は家に来た当初よりも伸びて肩口までの長さで艶を帯び、頭のてっぺんに赤いリボンを括っています。制服にはシワひとつなく、スカートの裾は膝丈と…少し短くはしたなく思われないかが心配になります…がお姉様は気にされていません。この制服の丈も家で一悶着あったのですが、「長いスカートは動きづらいし、可愛く無いわ！これからはこういう平民的なもの取り入れていくべきだと思うの」と譲られなかったのです。
確かに明るく闊達なお姉様には長いスカートよりもお似合いではございますが、受け入れられるのか私は気が気でございません。
「ようこそ学園へ、ステラお姉様。ご入学おめでとうございます。」
私はカーテシーでお出迎えの挨拶をすれば、お姉様は馬車のステップから「よっ」と掛け声をあげて子供のように飛び降りられました。
「出迎えありがとう。これからどこに行けばいいの？」
A momentary surprise crosses her face.
We shall proceed directly to the faculty building. After speaking with the headmaster, I have been informed that we will then move to the grand hall for the introduction of my elder sister.
Stella-sama said, “Hm… then, please show me the way,” and handed me her own bag.
Holding the bag with hesitant hands, I guided my elder sister.
The attention within the academy still centers on my elder sister; I am aware of the gaze directed toward me.
Even near the faculty building, usually quiet in the morning, the unusually high number of students drew notice.
We step into the middle school principal’s office, under such a gaze.
My morning duties concluded, I turned to leave as planned, but the bag handed to me earlier remained in my hands.
Sister, please take your bag.
As if to hand it over
“Would you mind carrying this to the classroom with me? We’re in the same class, after all—couldn’t you do so for me?” she requested.
A faint unease stirred in my chest, but I replied, “Very well. I shall take your bag to the classroom first. Please do your best with the greeting, Sister.”
“Of course I will. So don’t laugh if I make a mistake or stumble over my words,” she said, her usual tone laced with quiet amusement.
Arriving at the classroom, I placed Stella’s bag in the assigned locker and locked it, then took my seat in the upper row.
The academy’s classroom was arranged in a fan shape, the desks curving upward in tiers. Though seats were technically free-for-all, tradition dictated that the student of highest noble lineage in each grade and department sat in the central upper seat.
Until recently, that seat had been mine. Now, however, it belonged to my sister. I settled into a chair that felt unfamiliar, different from the one I had known.
After a short while, our homeroom teacher, Mistress Marianne, entered the room and issued a reminder regarding today’s schedule and conduct.
“Good morning, all. From today onward, we welcome a new student to join us in our studies. After homeroom, please proceed to the grand hall for their introduction. Rumors have already begun to circulate, but I ask that you maintain proper decorum. Some from other classes may visit our vicinity more frequently, but I expect you to remain composed.”
Indeed, I thought, the brazen glances from the morning may continue for some time. Yet, as the saying goes, gossip fades with time—once the novelty wears off, it will naturally subside.
And so, we, the students of the Liberal Arts, moved quietly to the hall, our skirts held still, each of us striving to be a model of ladylike poise.
The hall was already filled with students, buzzing with quiet chatter. Listening closely to the murmurs, one topic emerged again and again: Stella-sama.
“Isn’t it true we’ll be studying alongside the Lady of Miracles? What is she like?”
“I saw her this morning! Just as the rumors said—short hair, exactly.”
“She declined my invitation to the tea gathering, citing her busy schedule.”
“I spoke with her at last week’s party! She’s as unadorned as wildflowers in the field.”
“You mean she’s a country bumpkin? How rude—she’s endured hardship, you know.”
“No, that’s not it. She’s different. There’s something… unique about her.”
They seem to accept her, and her background is clearly known to them.
As the students listened to these murmurs, the final ones entered, and the doors at the back closed behind them.
As the curtain on the dais at the front of the hall slowly parted to the sides, silence fell naturally, and all eyes turned forward.
With their gazes fixed upon the lectern atop the empty dais,
‘Henceforth, a special morning assembly shall be convened. The Headmaster, please enter.’
the voice of the teacher echoed through the hall. At once, the dais flared with light for a single instant, and without sound, a man in a robe appeared.
A presence summoned by translocation magic drew sharp, intense stares from the students of the Magic Department.
"Dear diligent students, I thank you for attending this assembly today. As you all know, we have welcomed a new scholar among us. This student was born of noble blood, yet through the caprice of the goddess of fate, lived as a commoner in a foreign land. By the providence of the true goddess, they have now returned to their family. Having endured a most extraordinary life, they carry values and perspectives unlike your own. I hope this difference will serve as a valuable stimulus for us all. I shall conclude my remarks here, for long speeches are seldom engaging for the young. I ask that you receive her, as you would any other imperial noble, and as a fellow student in this academy, with warmth and kindness."
As the headmaster finished speaking, he snapped his fingers. With a wisp of smoke, he vanished from the platform and, in his place, my elder sister appeared.
When her vision cleared, she stood as if overwhelmed by the sheer number of people before her. Then, gathering herself, she took a single step forward and began her greeting.
"Good afternoon. As the headmaster mentioned, I have joined this academy today. I am Stella von Emmental. As previously explained, I have lived as a commoner. Thus, I am still learning the ways of nobility. I hope to become friends with all of you—do not hesitate to speak if you wish. I look forward to our time together!"
Though her greeting was somewhat more spirited than befitting a noble lady, she was met with applause from the audience.
She descended from the platform, escorted by a teacher, and left the hall.
The hall once again filled with murmurs.
Short hair, speech unbecoming of a noble, and a presence that left little to be said about her uniform—there was no shortage of topics to discuss.
It seems many have received it with goodwill, and I am relieved by that.
Though I have heard, from some, words of stern rebuke—how, after nearly half a year in our care, she still does not know proper manners. I must ask you to understand, however, that our household’s education was not at fault…
A fellow student recently approached me, asking once more to speak of my elder sister. I stepped back, gently urging her instead to speak with my sister directly.
I sighed quietly to myself. Many will surely come seeking her attention for some time yet… Though I know it in my mind, to feel it in my bones, even slightly, brings a small measure of calm.
Yet even as I wished for a day to pass without incident, I returned to the classroom—only to find a problem had arisen immediately.