Stella’s Bracelet

Returning to the classroom, the topic once again centered on Lady Stella. To have one’s family as the focus of conversation was a feeling both proud and slightly shy. At that moment, the teacher entered, escorting Lady Stella.

Lady Stella stood with no trace of nervousness, smiling gently.

Not a ladylike smile, but a simple, natural one.

“Though I introduced her earlier, allow me to formally present her to you all once more. Miss Stella of the House of Emmental. She is a classmate of yours, but will attend several courses—etiquette, general knowledge, and the like—separately from your year, except for embroidery and dance. Though you will not spend much time together, I ask that you each strive to be a good example to her. Today’s first lecture will be an orientation, dedicated to getting to know Miss Stella. Please enjoy your time together.”

Then it was Lady Stella who stepped forward.

"Good day, everyone. I am Stella von Emmental. I wish to become friends with each of you as soon as possible—do not hesitate to ask me anything."

At first, the classmates seemed uncertain, but curiosity soon overcame their hesitation, and one by one, questions began to follow.

"May I ask—did you truly live such a life, as shown in the play?"

"The play does take liberties with the truth, but generally, it was much as portrayed. In truth, it was even worse—though I can only speak of that now, with the blessings I have. Back then, I did not perceive it as so dire."

"Did you not feel sorrow when your hair was cut?"

"Everyone asks me this, but in the village where I was raised, it was commonplace. If one were to starve, selling one’s hair was no different than selling bread. In fact, I was more surprised to learn that noblefolk hold such sentiment toward long hair."

"Do you have a favorite tea?"

I’ve only recently begun the habit of drinking tea since arriving here, so I’m still very much a student. I’m sorry I can’t answer properly… but I do like the tea I received from Her Majesty. It was delicious.

When Her Majesty’s name is mentioned, everyone naturally becomes eager to hear about the tea gathering from earlier this week.

The questioning continued afterward, and I came to learn of an older sister I had not known before. A small sense of closeness, however faint, began to form.

Though only for a brief time, the weight of all those overlapping circumstances—this and that—had left me, unexpectedly, with a certain discomfort toward my elder sister. I now deeply regret my lack of effort in trying to understand her.

“Yes, it’s time to conclude. There are still many things we’d like to ask, I’m sure, but from here on, please deepen your friendships on your own. Do not be late for the next lecture. The first session is now over.”

Prompted by the instructor, the question-and-answer period came to a close.

After the instructor left, my elder sister hurried over to my seat.

"Hey, Spica! Was I… not myself? Was I all right?"

My elder sister, her confidence and vigor from earlier now dimmed, looked slightly anxious.

To dispel her unease, I smiled gently and spoke to her.

"Yes, you handled your greeting and the questioning with great dignity. As expected of my elder sister."

She furrowed her brow slightly, her eyebrows drooping downward into a sorrowful expression.

"Truly? You’re not scolding me as usual?"

To my surprise, she asked this, her voice tinged with a hint of fear...

"Eldest Sister? I do not understand what you mean… I would never scold you…"

"It’s all right! I’m fine! There are things we can’t say at school… I’ll hear your reprimands properly at home… Anyway, where’s my bag? I want to take out my textbooks…"

My explanation was cut short, and the subject changed abruptly…

I presented the card-shaped key before my Elder Sister.

“This is your locker’s key. Your sacred power has been registered under temporary authorization through my own. Please unlock it first, then confirm your own sacred power to complete the official registration.”

Saying this, I lifted myself slightly and turned toward the doorway. My Elder Sister examined the card-shaped key with curiosity, turning it over in her hand, tapping it lightly as she played with it.

In truth, this key was Elder Brother’s invention, introduced last year for experimental use within the academy. It registers the user’s sacred power, allowing only the rightful owner to open it—thus, it is highly praised for its security. Yet Elder Brother himself had said the data was still insufficient for general use. I proposed its implementation within the academy, and so it was adopted. For emergencies, the headmaster may also unlock it, even if not the owner.

It is a pioneering magical artifact capable of either temporary use through provisional registration or permanent use through full registration.

The built-in lockers are located in a changing room without a door, just beyond the classroom exit.

Now that recess has begun, I feel the distant glances of those who concern themselves with my elder sister.

Among those glances, I approach the locker, explain its use to her, receive a key slightly warm from her touch, unlock it, retrieve the bag, and hand it to her. Then, I cancel the provisional registration.

"Madam, pour your sacred power into the card and this section of the locker. The registration will then be complete. From this moment onward, unless the registration is revoked, only you—and the headmaster—may open it."

"Tell me, how exactly do you channel sacred power?"

I was bewildered by my elder sister’s question. Noble-born children are taught about sacred power from a young age and trained to channel it. If my memory serves, the documents Mother gave me clearly stated that I received magical training from Cain Elder.

“Did you not learn magic from Elder Brother, Sister? Simply feel the power within your body, as you did then, and let it flow.”

“How cruel! You know full well I cannot yet master sacred power, and yet you speak so carelessly! I am, after all, raised among commoners—unskilled in noble magic, unable to wield it properly… You always mock me like this…”

I could not comprehend my sister’s words as she pressed both hands to her face and wept. My mind went blank for a moment, but I quickly regained composure and spoke back.

“I did not mean it in such a way! Sister, you misunderstand… I only wished to explain how to use the power…”

After a brief pause, her voice breaking once more, she lifted her face.

“I’m sorry… I must have been so tense, my heart racing, and I made it sound worse than it was…”

“Such moments do happen. For now, please, come this way,” she offered, gesturing toward the bench.

Nodding once, Sister sat down, clutching her bag, and pressed a handkerchief to her eyes.

“I’ll show you once,” I said. “You’ll manage it at once, Sister.” She gently extended her index finger toward the card.

After several attempts, the registration was finally complete.

Today, I am to assist Sister with guiding her around the academy and explaining the curriculum. It is fortunate that she has already earned most of the credits, allowing for flexibility in her schedule.

The academy’s break period is twenty minutes long—already past its midpoint, one might say. It has taken longer than anticipated, but there is nothing to be done about it.

And more people than expected have gathered around my elder sister. The exchange earlier seems to have drawn even greater attention than intended.

We ought to move soon, or we shall be obstructing those heading to their next class.

“Sister, we can attend to the textbooks later? I would like to begin showing you around the school grounds…?”

As I speak, my sister frantically searches through her bag… a dreadful premonition stirs within me…

“…I can’t find it… it’s not here! My bracelet is gone!”

The onlookers, who had already begun to move, halt at her cry.

“What is it, sister? What has happened?”

I try to remain calm, but my sister turns on me with, “Where did you put it! How could you! Do you think such a cruel act is acceptable just because I don’t like it? That was a precious bracelet given to me by my elder brother! ‼︎” She collapses before me.

I do not understand what she means. I am already in my countlessth moment of mental stillness…

Someone must have heard the commotion and summoned Mistress Nephel, who now parts the onlookers with quiet authority.

“What is the matter? Miss Stella, Miss Spica. Please explain—either of you will do.”

Her voice is stern. Naturally, given the disturbance. But I cannot respond; I do not understand the situation.

Swallowing a soft sob, my sister raises her voice.

Spica took my precious bracelet! I had kept it in my bag as a talisman, but when I opened the bag—left in Spica’s care—it was gone! I entrusted it to Spica because she said she would carry it after we arrived at the academy… How could she do such a thing…? I see now—she truly does not care for me! How cruel…!

Madame Nephel turns her gaze to me and asks.

“Miss Stella, is this true?”

I reply at once.

“I do not recall. I was unaware, in fact, that my elder sister even possessed such a bracelet. But I did indeed take custody of the bag. Until just moments ago, it remained in that locker over there. I have not opened it nor looked inside.”

The teacher exhales deeply, then turns to my elder sister first.

"Miss Stella, you are aware that permission is required to bring personal adornments into the academy, are you not? I explained this to you only recently—there is no excuse for claiming ignorance."

From a frame that might be called elderly, a voice sharp as a blade issued forth. My elder sister, too, seemed to shrink under that stern tone, her tears now stilled, her head bowed low.

Then the teacher turned her gaze upon me.

"Miss Spica, can you swear before the court that you did not snoop through Miss Stella’s bag, that despicable act?"

"I swear upon the Emperor’s sun and the current Lady of the Maiden’s Grace—such a thing was never done!"

My reply came swiftly…

The suspicion around me seemed to ease slightly, as I had sworn before the Emperor and the nation’s Guardian.

If I were truly guilty of stealing my elder sister’s bracelet, I would have sworn an oath so grave that even execution by beheading would be a mercy.

"Very well. I shall hear the details of your account. Please follow me. The other students should now proceed to their next lesson. Begin moving, each of you. And be sure not to spread word of what you have seen or heard. Is that understood?"

The onlookers, like startled spiders scattering, dispersed at the teacher’s sharp command.

We too left the scene, following behind the teacher.

At that moment, the expression on my elder sister’s face—so darkly smiling, utterly unlike the one she wore just moments ago, when she had been wailing in tears—I felt a chill run through me. I held my breath, hoping I had mistaken what I saw. Yet, as I looked again, she was not her usual self. Her face bore a deeper weariness, her steps quiet as she followed the teacher.

It felt as though what I had seen was not real, but a phantom…