3. Friend

3. Friend

I made a friend.

It’s always nice to have someone to talk to. My sister will surely be happy when she hears that I’ve made a friend. Maybe I’ll write her a letter later.

Of course, there was the unfortunate incident where my friend wet herself… in front of all the students, but isn’t it natural for friends to create such embarrassing moments? That’s how you get closer.

I’m satisfied.

“Pee… Pee…”

Priscilla was walking, muttering something with her head down. I couldn’t hear her clearly because her voice was so quiet.

It seemed like we were heading to the dormitory, so I followed her. It’s good to have a friend.

By the way.

“Why did you challenge me to a fight?”

“Hiik…”

“Huh?”

I approached Priscilla, leaned close to her ear, and asked. Priscilla shivered violently, then turned around abruptly and replied.

“Because you!”

“Me?”

“You’re an evil woman who constantly dismisses servants and retainers and abuses your power! As a member of the House of Judgment, which judges evil, how could I possibly leave you alone! You even brought a sword to the entrance ceremony and threatened the students, so there was plenty of evidence!”

“Hmm.”

What is she talking about?

The House of Judgment. That would be the Louer Marquisate, if I recall correctly.

Although my knowledge is superficial, I understood it to be a family that primarily produced individuals similar to judges in modern times. I’m not sure exactly how trials are conducted in this world.

In any case, the target has been set on me…

First of all, I have never dismissed servants and retainers. In that cold North, if I were to simply dismiss them, wouldn’t they just freeze to death? Rather, thanks to the collectivist nature of the North, we often turned a blind eye to even severe mistakes.

Naturally, I have never abused my power. In the first place, I was only beaten by my father all day, so I didn’t have time to use any power.

Hmm.

My sister often chased retainers out of the room, so perhaps that’s how the rumor got distorted. That’s how word of mouth works.

And the entrance ceremony…

I’m not sure either. I didn’t exactly threaten anyone?

… Was it not allowed to bring a sword?

I lowered my head and stroked my sword. The sword my father gave me when I was young, a sword that was like an extension of myself. I carried it every day, so I naturally brought it to the entrance ceremony…

Lost in thought, I found myself staring intently at Priscilla. When I removed my hand from my sword, Priscilla let out a “Hiik!” and flinched, then quickly muttered something.

“As one who belongs to the House of Judgment, I swear not to kneel before evil, nor to yield, and to walk the path of good without compromise until my last breath… Hiiik! Spare me!”

“…”

Priscilla closed her eyes tightly and knelt down.

Oh… She’s a very cute friend.

It reminded me of the hamster I raised in my past life, so I gently stroked her head. Since family members touch each other more, this much should be natural between friends, right?

While I was at it, I massaged her ears too.

“Ugh, ooo…”

Priscilla uttered a string of meaningless sounds.

——

“Why, why are you following me…!”

“Dormitory.”

Uuububub. Priscilla uttered meaningless words again. If I had to find a meaning, it might be something like holding something back tightly. Soon, Priscilla looked back at me and shouted.

“I, I will not surrender to you…! I will judge your sins someday…!”

No, I don’t have any sins in the first place.

It seemed like Priscilla’s misunderstanding would only grow if I left her alone, so I opened my mouth to clear up the misunderstanding.

No, I was about to open my mouth.

“Priscilla. You were here.”

“Eh…”

Someone with a noble aura and a soft voice, fittingly with elegant rolled-up hair, blocked Priscilla’s path and spoke.

A woman who resembled Priscilla but exuded a much more mature aura.

Unlike Priscilla’s childish rolled-up hair, her red rolled-up hair exuded a deep and delicate nobility.

“Oh, big sis.”

“I heard there was an unfortunate incident today.”

“Th-that’s…”

Priscilla, who had met her older sister, suddenly seemed frightened and lowered her head. Priscilla’s sister, who walked with a click-clack sound, paid no attention as if such behavior was natural.

“Priscilla.”

“Y-yes.”

“I’ve always told you, haven’t I? Not to tarnish the family’s honor.”

“S-sorry.”

“Tell me why you did it.”

“Ugh…”

Priscilla glanced at me for a moment, then reluctantly began to speak. Priscilla’s sister listened intently with her eyes closed and then quietly admonished Priscilla.

“Judgment.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Priscilla. Haven’t I told you time and again what the word ‘judgment’ means?”

“Yes…”

“Yet, without proper evidence, relying on rumors, you invoke judgment and try to lay hands on the young lady of the Lyra family?”

“…”

“I know you’re engrossed in your ‘playing justice’ act, but actions always have consequences. Are you prepared to bear those consequences?”

Priscilla closed her eyes tightly. The sound of clicking heels echoed, and Priscilla’s sister stopped in front of her.

Seeing Priscilla trembling and whimpering, I moved before I even thought about it.

“Stop.”

“… Greetings to the young lady of the Lyra family. What is the matter?”

Even if I lacked common sense, I could tell that the relationship between Priscilla and her sister was not normal.

If they were sisters, wouldn’t they greet each other warmly, cling to each other, and touch each other as a basic courtesy? But how could she be so terrified of her sister?

As a friend, I couldn’t just stand by and watch her suffer. I drew my sword and stood in front of Priscilla, as if to protect her.

“I don’t care about any of that, so go back.”

“… Even if you yourself do not care, the responsibility for defiling the family’s honor must be addressed. For wrongdoing, there is always…”

“Go back.”

“Responsibility…”

“Go back.”

“…”

“Go back.”

Priscilla’s sister, whose lips twitched at my firm refusal, finally sighed and turned away. Leaving a final message for Priscilla.

“Priscilla. Later, we’ll meet.”

“…”

Click… Click…

The sound of heels gradually faded. I turned to look at Priscilla behind me. Priscilla was still hiding, huddled behind my back.

“Are you okay?”

“… Why.”

“Huh?”

Priscilla asked in a voice still tinged with a slight tremor.

“Why did you block my sister?”

I looked at Priscilla. I could see Priscilla’s red eyes, still glistening with tears. Even with such eyes, there was only one answer I could give when she asked why.

“Because you’re my friend.”

“…!!”

Priscilla’s face flushed bright red.

… Her face looks very red. Is there a problem?

I approached Priscilla and tried to massage her cheek. The intense heat was clearly transmitted through my palm, and Priscilla was startled by my sudden approach.

“…!!”

“What’s wrong?”

Priscilla, trembling, suddenly started running wildly in a certain direction.

“Priscilla?”

“Hiiik!”

Of course, since she was a mage, it wasn’t difficult for me to catch up with my physical abilities. As I caught up, Priscilla blushed even more and increased her speed.

Of course, I was faster.

——

Priscilla, who had been running endlessly, headed for the dormitory.

Even in the same building, the same room as me.

When I realized that she and I had been assigned to the same room, her expression was as if the world had ended. She was a person with such a diverse range of expressions.

I also have a variety of expressions. Is this what they call ‘birds of a feather flock together’?

Hehe, I can’t help but smile.

Meanwhile, Priscilla, who had been flailing her arms, finally seemed to resign herself and went inside to take out underwear from her luggage. I approached her and asked.

“Why underwear?”

“D-don’t look!”

“What’s wrong with looking at underwear?”

Since sisters see each other naked, looking at underwear is nothing. Priscilla trembled, then quickly took only her underwear and put herself into the bathroom.

“Are you going to wash?”

“Of c-course, I have to wash! Because of someone, I soiled my clothes…!”

“Then let’s wash together.”

“Are, are you crazy?!”

Even through the tightly locked bathroom door, I could clearly feel Priscilla’s panic. I continued speaking, not understanding why.

“Isn’t it common sense for girls to wash together?”

“Not at all! It’s not common sense!!! Not!!!”

Priscilla expressed her refusal so vehemently that I was surprised. I tilted my head for a moment and pondered.

It’s not common sense?

Hmm.

How could that be? It wasn’t from anyone else, but from my precious sister, who taught me directly. Common sense.

That kind sister wouldn’t lie about something like this, so it must be that Priscilla is just very shy. There’s nothing she could gain from lying about this.

If we get closer, she’ll accept it. There’s no need to rush.

I quietly swayed my tail and waited for her to come out.