### Chapter 14: Acknowledging Identity
In the picture, there’s a girl with black hair and black eyes, standing triumphantly on top of a frighteningly odd monster. Her exquisite features bear at least a striking resemblance to my own—especially those slightly drooping eyes. It’s uncanny!
Clearly, whoever painted this had help from someone who knows me. I’m betting it was Angel… or maybe Margaret? Angel seems more likely… because how else could it look this accurate? If anyone familiar compared it to me, they’d probably guess it’s me with an eight out of ten chance. Especially Sarah—she’s been suspicious for a while. The moment this painting lands in front of her, she probably already knows everything.
Thinking about it, my feelings got a wee bit complicated.
Just then, the two people behind me seem to have had enough fun and footsteps approach.
“Ah, venison pastries!”
It’s Sarah!
She rushes over to my side, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the ten warm venison pastries I have opened up in the parchment on the table. Without missing a beat, she snatches one up and takes a big mouthful, chews for a moment, and squints her eyes in glee.
“Mmm, so good… but not quite as good as the last batch I brought.”
As she munches, she casually picks up the bulletin and glances at it, then, as if it’s no big deal, asks, “By the way, Peilo… have you seen the new bulletin?”
“Uh… not really…”
Was she trying to bait me?
I can’t quite bring myself to meet Sarah’s eyes, so I cover up by grabbing two pastries—one in my mouth and the other in hand—then I turn to find Daisy, who’s frowning and tidying up the bed.
“Hey, you didn’t see it…” Sarah’s voice comes from behind, pretending to be casual, “The new bulletin talks about Pope Knight Silvya. She did something amazing in the Royal City this time… Want me to read it to you?”
“Mmm, mmm…”
Panic fills my heart as I shake my head like a bobblehead.
No way I can listen to that!
It’s too embarrassing! I couldn’t even bear to look at it earlier…
I hurriedly approach Daisy, lightly tapping her shoulder and handing her one of the pastries. After she gives me a cheerful “thank you,” it suddenly hits me.
Sarah is doing this on purpose…
She’s testing me.
Realizing this, I involuntarily turn around and end up locking eyes with a look of mixed feelings from the girl.
“…Peilo.”
She stands next to the table, holding the half-eaten pastry, and calls my name softly, then puts the bulletin back down, contemplating for a moment before flipping it over to hide my picture. Then she smiles, “You don’t seem to care much about hero stuff, do you?”
“Yeah… while you were gone, everyone in the academy was buzzing about Miss Silvya… especially the boys—one after another getting all riled up.” Daisy jumps in, sounding like she’s munching on the pastry while speaking, her words a bit muffled, “And then… all sorts of rumors started circulating. Some say she… looks a lot like you… and I think so too… you should check it out.”
What’s there to check out…?
I stand frozen in place.
“So, you didn’t leave the Royal City recently, right?” Sarah probes again.
“Uh… I did leave for a bit and came back.” I respond honestly.
“Did you… get hurt at all? Given everything that happened…”
Not hurt…
For some reason, I can’t seem to spit out that lie, and my heart races. Suddenly, I just want to escape this place.
“I’ll, uh, go wash up.”
I say that and shove the remaining pastries into my mouth to block any further questions from them. Lowering my head, I hastily jog past Sarah and into the washroom, promptly shutting the door behind me.
“…Burp!”
I ate too quickly, and now I’m a bit choked up…
I lightly thump my chest a few times and walk over to the sink, staring blankly at my reflection in the mirror.
What should I do?
Daisy is fine, but Sarah clearly has figured something out…
What if she bluntly asks me? Should I admit it or come up with a flimsy excuse? But if I keep lying to Sarah, would she hold it against me? Definitely!
But…
Saying it out loud feels…
Like everything might change…
Can we go back to how things were?
I don’t know…
So frustrating.
My thoughts are a chaotic mess.
I splash some water on my face, fix my hair in the mirror, take a few deep breaths, and out of the corner of my eye, I suddenly see the washroom door open again. There’s Sarah, leaning against the door frame, looking at me with a very complicated expression.
Ah…
When did she come in? I didn’t even notice…
What am I thinking…?
“Why are you looking at me like that…”
I can’t even get the words out…
“I need to ask you something.”
She peeks outside as if checking Daisy’s position, then gently closes the door, sauntering over to my side. With her hands behind her back, her eyes are fixed on the ground, her toes tapping nervously. Taking a deep breath, she raises her head to look straight at me.
“What is it…” I ask, pretending not to know.
“Well…” Sarah hesitates for a moment, as if finally deciding on something, “Peilo, why did you have to call yourself Silvya?”
Ah…
That’s what she’s asking about…
In that moment, my heart feels as if a giant hand suddenly grabbed it, cutting off my breath as I stare blankly at the anxious expression on the girl’s face, completely at a loss.
“Uh, that’s because…”
I can’t hide it any longer, can I…
Then I just might as well…
Tell her.
After a few seconds of panic, suddenly I feel like a weight that’s been on my chest for ages has been lifted, and my entire body feels inexplicably light.
“Phew—”
I let out a big sigh.
Honestly…
It’s not that big of a deal, right?
“Sarah, I didn’t mean to deceive you…”
She’ll understand.
No matter what, I’m still part of 1504. We’re friends, and that won’t change…
I flash a reassuring smile at Sarah, watching her cover her mouth with her hand as her eyes widen in disbelief, sparkling with shock and an unexpected sense of relief.
“Peilo, you…”
Her voice quivers.
It seems she’s trying hard to suppress the urge to shout, doing her best to keep her tone from getting too high-pitched, not wanting Daisy outside to catch any whiff of the drama.
“Is this for real? I… you… no wonder you’ve been gone so long… I thought it was weird… it was just so strange… every time you suddenly left, right after… something unbelievable would happen… then Silvya appeared… I saw it last time… she looks just like you… I should have known!”
She seems at a loss for words, the shock has left her all jumbled up, her limbs turning to jelly as she leans against the sink, her gaze growing unfocused.
“I should have known… but you were with that monster… you’re only sixteen… unbelievable… Peilo, you really surprised me… I can’t believe I’m sharing a dorm with you… I…”
“Sarah… are you okay…?”
I’m starting to worry about her state.
“I’m fine… I’m sorry, I’m just too shocked… Peilo, we… we’re still friends, right… oh no, what am I rambling about…”
“We’re absolutely friends.”
I gently wrap my arms around Sarah’s waist, feeling her warm skin and the tension of her muscles shaking from the emotional rollercoaster.
“Oh my god… I’m friends with the Pope Knight… if my dad finds out… ah, you don’t want anyone to know, right? That’s why you’re calling yourself Silvya…”
“Yeah…”
I nod.
But really, it’s just a coincidence…
“During the ceremony, that was the name… it wasn’t intentional, I didn’t mean to hide it from you… I’m just… scared…”
“I get it, Peilo… I… really get it…”
Her whisper dances with a gentle sigh against my ear.
It’s quite ticklish.
