After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms for the night.
Markara leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling as he let out a quiet breath. His mind wandered back to everything that had happened.
Still, he felt lucky. Meeting someone like Mei, who was so bright and welcoming, made things easier. After such a strange and uncertain start, her friendliness came as a relief. She'd even offered to give him a tour of the school tomorrow—something he hadn't realized how much he needed until she said it.
And on top of that, Elizabeth had somehow managed to prepare not one, but two perfectly tailored Seigetsu uniforms for him. They'd been neatly placed on his bed before he returned to his room.
Feeling the weight of the coming day, Markara sat down and decided to look through the school manual that came with the uniform. He also scrolled through his phone—checking the school map, the class structure, dorm rules, and anything else that could help him get through his first day.
Tomorrow, everything will begin.
==================
The morning sun hadn't risen yet.
It was only 5 a.m., but Markara was already awake.
He pushed open the window, letting the cool spring breeze drift into his room. The air was crisp and fresh, carrying the faint scent of distant blossoms.
Back home, every morning he usually began with a jog through his quiet neighborhood. But here, in an unfamiliar place he decided to do something simpler but intense.
With a deep breath, he dropped to the floor and began his routine.
Push-ups. Sit-ups. Squats. Nothing fancy—just bodyweight exercises to get his blood flowing.
His breath steadied. His muscles warmed.
After finishing his workout, Markara took a refreshing cold shower and slipped into his freshly prepared uniform. The fabric felt strange at first but it fit him perfectly.
Not wanting to be late, he made his way downstairs early, hoping to catch Mei before she left for school. When he reached the ground floor, the old clock in the living room read 6:30 a.m.
The dining area was empty, save for one familiar figure.
Elizabeth stood by the stove, dressed in her usual neat maid uniform. Her movements were graceful and precise as she stirred a pot of something that smelled rich and savory.
Markara stepped closer, smiling as the aroma washed over him.
"Good morning, Elizabeth. It smells amazing here."
Elizabeth turned to him with her usual doll-like grace, her soft blonde hair tied back neatly, eyes calm and polite.
"Good morning, Master. Breakfast will be ready shortly. Please have a seat," she said, her voice gentle and composed. She motioned to the dining table with a smooth hand gesture, the kind that made it hard to tell if she was a maid or a noblewoman in disguise.
Markara nodded and took a seat near the window, where the early sunlight filtered in and warmed the wooden table. The scent of freshly cooked rice, eggs, grilled fish and soup filled the room, making his stomach rumble slightly.
As he waited, his mind drifted back to yesterday.
Iris.
That red-haired girl in the garden with the soft voice and strange aura. The one who disappeared in the blink of an eye.
He had asked Mei about her during dinner last night—just casually, hoping to get some kind of confirmation. But Mei had tilted her head, confused, and said she'd never seen a girl like that before.
And Kanna? She hadn't spoken a word to anyone at the table, barely made eye contact.
That left only Elizabeth.
She had mentioned the girl's name 'Iris' and had casually called her a nymph like it was a perfectly normal thing. Markara couldn't tell if she was joking or not.
Markara still couldn't tell if she had been serious or just messing with him.
As he sat quietly, lost in thought, a slender figure entered the dining room.
Markara immediately noticed her.
It was Anna—the cold, sharp-eyed girl he had met yesterday in the study room.
He stood up slightly and gave her a small wave.
"Ah… good morning, Anna."
She paused, her gaze shifting briefly toward him. Her expression didn't change.
Without a word, she gave him a small nod—barely a greeting—and walked over to the table directly across from his.
She sat down, opened a book she had brought with her, and began reading, completely ignoring him. Her eyes didn't lift once, not even out of politeness.
It was like he wasn't even there.kara blinked, unsure whether to feel insulted or impressed by how effortlessly she could shut him out.
'Cold as ever..' he thought with a wry smile.
Just then, Elizabeth approached with her usual grace, placing breakfast neatly on the table. The dishes were warm and colorful, grilled salmon fish, an omelet with a side of mixed fresh salad, steamed rice, and a bowl of vegetable soup. Everything looked like it belonged in a fancy hotel rather than a school dorm.
"Breakfast is served, Master," Elizabeth said with a soft bow.
She moved gracefully to begin setting the table for Anna and the other girls, placing each dish with quiet precision.
Not wanted to waste any time, Markara dug in. The meal was too good to resist, fluffy rice, perfectly grilled fish, and a side of soup that warmed him to the core.
Before he knew it, he had already cleared two bowls of rice.
Across from him, Anna quietly ate her food with her usual calm demeanor. But every now and then, she glanced up once, twice, with a faintly annoyed look, as if wondering how someone could eat that much and still smile like a child.
She didn't say a word. Just finished her meal with elegance, stood up without a sound, and left the dining room before he could even offer a proper goodbye.
Markara watched her go, rice bowl still in hand.
"…She's really cold," he mumbled with a sheepish grin.
After finishing his meal, Markara stood up and stretched lightly.
"Thanks for the food, Elizabeth. It was amazing as always."
Without waiting, he brought his dishes to the sink and rolled up his sleeves to help wash them. Elizabeth moved to stop him out of habit, but paused when she saw the determined look on his face—and let him.
As he scrubbed the last plate, he glanced at the small wall clock above the kitchen window. 7:00 a.m.
Right on cue, quiet footsteps entered the kitchen.
It was Kanna.
She gave a polite bow, her movements soft and modest.
"Good morning," she said in a voice just above a whisper.
Markara returned the gesture with a smile and a nod, while Elizabeth gave her a warm greeting. Kanna then quietly took her seat and began to eat, just as calmly as she had entered.
She finished her food surprisingly fast, despite her shy and quiet nature, Kanna was efficient. She stood up and gently picked up her plate without a word.
Just as she was about to take it to the sink, Markara stepped forward with a casual smile.
"Oh—hey, I'm on dish duty today. Elizabeth asked me to help out," he said quickly, making up the excuse on the spot.
His tone was light and friendly, but smooth enough to sound believable.
Kanna blinked at him, clearly a bit surprised. Her hands hesitated on the plate. It was obvious she hadn't heard anything about it. She looked like she was about to say something, but stopped. Her eyes studied him for a second longer.
Then, without a word, she handed him the plate.
Markara gave her a reassuring smile. "Thanks."
She gave him a small nod in return and quietly walked out of the kitchen, her footsteps soft and measured, just like everything else about her.
"Where's Mei…?"
Markara muttered to himself as he dried the last dish and placed it carefully on the rack.
The clock above the kitchen doorway read 8:00 AM.
His eyes widened slightly.
"Crap… school starts at 8:30, right?"
Feeling a bit anxious, he stepped out of the kitchen and wandered back into the living room.
He let out a soft sigh and dropped himself onto the sofa, sinking into the cushions.
"Don't tell me she overslept…" he murmured, glancing up at the stairs.
As the thought lingered in his head, Markara noticed Elizabeth quietly moving around the living room, dusting the shelves and wiping down surfaces with graceful precision—like her movements were part of some silent routine.
He watched her for a moment before deciding to speak up.
"Um, Elizabeth," he called gently.
She paused mid-wipe, turning to him with her usual composed smile.
"Yes, Master?"
He leaned forward on the sofa, arms resting on his knees.
"Do you know where Mei is? She said she'd show me around today... but I haven't seen her yet."
Elizabeth gave a small nod, placing the cloth neatly on the table.
Elizabeth gave a small nod, placing the cloth neatly on the table.
"She probably overslept," she said softly, her voice carrying a faint note of amusement.
"She is not a morning person, Master."
Markara chuckled, picturing Mei tangled in her blanket, fast asleep.
"Figures. She did have a lot of energy last night…"
Elizabeth smiled slightly, then added, "If you'd like, I can walk you to the gate. The school is not far from –"
A sudden shout echoed through the dormitory, cutting Elizabeth off mid-sentence.
"OH CRAP, I OVERSLEPT!"
Markara blinked and turned toward the stairs just as the sound of rushed footsteps thundered from above.
Elizabeth placed a hand politely over her mouth to hide a tiny giggle.
"…Seems she's awake now," she said with her usual composed tone.
Markara let out a laugh, shaking his head.
"Yep… that has to be Mei."