My Stepmom is Too Pretty, and It’s Troubling Me – Chapter 110

“Young Lady, it’s time to wake up.”

“…I don’t want to go to school.”

“If you’re late on your first day, the Lady will be very upset with you.”

“…I guess so.”

It was a morning when the weather had completely warmed up and flowers were starting to bloom. I was unable to get out of bed.

“…What was my class again?”

“You were in Class 3.”

“…Right, that’s it. Ugh… I really don’t feel like going.”

“Young Lady.”

Since the entrance ceremony, I had been relaxing and playing with Rize, occasionally spending time with Ella and Karen. Because of that, today, being the start of the Academy, felt particularly dreadful.

I really couldn’t be bothered to go…

“Rize, could you help me get up?”

“…….”

“You can do that much, right? Or not?”

“Understood. But this time, you really have to get up.”

“Fine, I’ll do it.”

Of course, just refusing to go to the Academy wouldn’t solve anything, so I decided to follow Rize’s words and get up.

While Rize did help me up, I did get up the way she wanted, right?

That should be enough, right?

“Ugh… so annoying…”

“What would you like for breakfast?”

“I’m too bothered to eat. I think I can skip it…”

“But you have to attend classes at the Academy, not eating at all might…”

“Hmm… Is that so?”

Honestly, I didn’t think it was necessary to focus hard on every single class at the Academy. I mean, I already knew all of this since the entrance exam.

“Hmm… Oh right, let’s eat.”

“Um… understood?”

“Well, I’ll be sleeping during class, but Rize, you won’t be sleeping and will be doing something all the time.”

So, I decided to deliberately have breakfast. If I said I wasn’t going to eat, Rize would probably skip breakfast too. Eating a little bit would surely be better.

…Not that it would matter since I wasn’t gonna pay attention in class and would be sleeping anyway.

“I guess I should get ready to go out. I can’t just leave like this.”

“I’ll prepare water in the bathroom.”

“Okay, thanks.”

I personally hate going out without washing my hair when it’s messy from sleeping, so I decided to wash up before heading out.

Since Rize was there to help me with my bath, it wouldn’t be difficult or bothersome at all. I could just walk into the bathroom and let her help me.

*

“Ahh…”

The weather was disgustingly nice. The moment I stepped outside the dormitory with Rize, I felt it. It was truly a splendid day for going out, but my reluctance was undeniable.

“Rize.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

“So, starting today, I have to wake up at this time every day for the next three years, right?”

“Except for vacations, yes.”

“…Hmm.”

I felt like dying. Even when I lived at the mansion, I didn’t maintain that kind of routine. In fact, I was living as far away from routine as possible.

I tended to start and finish whatever business I had whenever I felt like it, sleeping whenever I wanted, living life by my own rules… that kind of lifestyle.

“…Ha.”

It was a morning full of sighs. I really didn’t understand why the Academy’s start time was set for 9 o’clock. It would have been better at a neat and comfortable time from 1 PM to 5 PM—four hours would be sufficient, right?

“…Let’s go.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

After putting on my previously purchased school uniform and walking alongside Rize, who was dressed beautifully in her maid outfit, we started heading toward the Academy’s main building.

While walking from the dormitory to the main building, there were many other new students besides Rize and me. Everyone was laughing and chatting, excited for their first day at the Academy.

“Hmmm…”

It was a sight quite different from mine, and I found it a little amusing. It was certainly… much different from what I had imagined and thought up until the entrance ceremony.

As Ella had said, this was a place for 13-year-olds, so even though they were nobles, it didn’t seem like a completely political environment.

Of course, that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be any politics at all, but…

“The flowers definitely make the scenery much nicer.”

“Yes, they do.”

“When I first came here, it was winter, and there were no leaves on the trees. It was really cold.”

Since we left a bit early, we had plenty of time, so we strolled while admiring the Academy. It was certainly… beautiful.

Sitting by the Academy window during class, not listening, and just watching outside felt like it would be quite enjoyable.

“Hehe.”

“…?”

Of course, I didn’t tell Rize my thoughts. I didn’t want to hear her nagging if I said anything unnecessary.

But then, Rize couldn’t really stop me from sleeping or goofing off during class, could she?

There were no real problems.

“But what will Rize do during class? You could head back to the dormitory or wait at the Academy cafe… Hmm…”

“I’m not sure. For today, I was thinking of looking around the Academy to see if there’s anything that could help you, Young Lady.”

“Hmm…”

“Or maybe saying hello to the other maids and gathering information that could be useful for you… I thought that could work too.”

It was a situation we couldn’t escape, really. Rize had come to the Academy as my maid, but ultimately, she was just a maid.

It would be a bit… awkward if she, along with the servants, just attended classes like the other students.

“It can’t be helped. But come back before lunchtime.”

“Understood.”

“Since I’m going to have lunch with Ella and Karen anyway, let’s eat together then.”

I didn’t even consider not eating with Rize. I was certainly going to eat with her, and besides, according to Karen and Ella, they never really cared about that either.

We had traveled together before, and since I had asked for permission beforehand, there was really no issue.

Anyway, as I chatted with Rize, we arrived at the Academy’s main building, to Class 3 for first-year students.

I parted ways with Rize at the classroom entrance and stepped inside.

“…?”

Upon entering the classroom, I sat down at the back by the window, but… there were fewer students than I expected.

Of course, there was still plenty of time before the start of classes, but compared to other classrooms I had passed, this one felt noticeably emptier…?

“Hmmm…”

Well, it didn’t matter.

After all, I wasn’t exactly the most sociable person and didn’t have much interest in others anyway.

I figured if I just sat and waited while looking outside, everyone would come in eventually.

“I wonder when Ella will come…”

While I wasn’t super interested in attending Academy classes, I was really glad that Ella ended up in the same Class 3 as me.

I didn’t know who else was in my first-year Class 3, but being in the same class as Ella—someone I already knew—was nice.

Of course, we would end up hanging out together, but being in the same class felt different somehow.

-Clack. Clack…

“…?”

As I rested my chin on my hand, zoning out while looking outside, someone walked into the classroom.

The sound of shoes that were higher than regular loafers or Mary Janes, distinctly different from what other Academy students wore, made me turn my head without realizing.

“…….”

“…….”

And facing me was… a girl who looked slightly intimidating.

This was the second time I had seen her in person, and facing her at such a close distance was genuinely surprising.

“…Hello?”

The student who entered the classroom was Ivana Nordal.

Her signature white hair and bright red eyes, along with her cold yet beautiful appearance, made it clear it was her even without a name tag on the school uniform.

By the way, it was kind of surprising that Nordal was also in Class 3.

I hadn’t expected to be in the same class as someone like the Saintess or Princess Nordal because I had done well on the exam.

“Why are you here so early?”

I greeted Ivana Nordal first, but she just stared at me silently without responding.

What was with this girl just staring at me? I had nothing to say to her since it was our first encounter. Why on earth was she staring at me like that? I felt a little worried.

“Is there a problem?”

“Oh, no. I just didn’t think there would be any students here yet.”

“…?”

What does that mean?

It’s not like there’s only 30 minutes until the start of classes… Is she serious about not knowing someone had come early…?

…I didn’t really get it, but I decided to let it go.

Engaging with someone highborn didn’t seem like a good idea after all.

“Um… got it…?”

“Yes.”

“…?”

What kind of person is she, really?

After that exchange, Nordal sat down in one of the empty seats—right at the front of the section I was in.

Though it was my first conversation with Ivana Nordal, I realized right away that this girl wasn’t exactly normal.

Seriously.

“Hmmm…”

I couldn’t help but worry a little because Nordal came from such an impressive family.

I hadn’t done anything, but her earlier behavior was a bit concerning.

Nothing bad should suddenly happen to me, right…?

“You! Why did you come so early?!”

“Oh, Ella.”

While pondering about Ivana Nordal, Ella entered the classroom.

Well… I hadn’t really done anything wrong, had I?

I decided to put aside any unnecessary worries for now.

That said, it wouldn’t be polite to keep thinking about something else while Ella was sitting next to me, right?

Though… even so, I couldn’t easily understand Nordal’s actions, so I found myself getting distracted.