As we face the coming days

It has been a week since I got into the academy. I´m already known by most of the school and there have been moments where I was forced to engage in duels with other nobles.

I beat every single one of them with the help of Isabella, and now we are famous as a duo of unbeaten irregulars. Jasmine has been getting madder at me for not being more cautious about how I spend my time with Isabella, but I´m sure that there´s nothing to worry about. I already told her how much she matters to me as a friend. And I´ve been arranging times for her to be alone with Nicholas to improve their relationship.

So far they seem to be getting closer, but I feel like there´s still a wall between them. Something is not allowing them to reach each other´s hearts, but I can´t get to know what it is...

"Maybe I should put them both in a locked room..."

"Put what in a room?"

"Ah! No, it´s nothing. Just mumbling..."

"Haha. Somehow, you are always with your head on the clouds"

"Maybe your recent disappearances have something to do with that"

"..."

"T-That and this are different things"

We were walking to the next class. As always, Jasmine and Isabella were on my side. Recently, I´ve been scaping between classes to meet with Véronica. I can´t deny that I´ve been feeling happier, and maybe a bit more distracted, but I can´t help it. She just keeps appearing in my mind. And I´m oddly okay with that.

At some point, I was already far ahead of both girls, so I had to stop for a moment and wait for them.

They look serious... I wonder if everything is okay...

"Hey, if you´re that strong why don´t you challenge the irregular duo?"

"W-Well, I don´t want to ruin their good luck streak you know? It feels wrong at this point"

"Haha! Aren´t you just scared?"

"Then why don´t you fight them?!"

"No thanks, I don´t want to be quicked from my family"

"Right?!"

"...."

Due to our constant victories, people are getting more and more nervous when it comes to fights. There have been already a couple of cases where our challengers have vanished from their households for losing against irregulars. And the ones that are still among us have to live as laughing material for the rest of the academy.

I can´t say I´m not satisfied. Those people got what they deserved, but I´m afraid that no one is going to accept our challenges in the future. If I can´t fight against those that are on the top, I won´t be able to gain more achievements.

Hopefully losing to us will become something to be proud of once we become part of the disciplinary committee.

As I was thinking that, the conversation behind me was becoming more and more unpleasant.

*

"He is already out of your reach, why do you keep trying?"

"That´s my problem. It has nothing to do with you"

"It has everything to do with me because I am her first and most loyal servant. I have to make sure that my master is not being bothered by pesky matters"

"So I´m pesky huh? I honestly expected you to say something more irritating"

"Oh don´t play that game with me, girl, you won´t like what comes next"

"I´m not liking you already"

As the daggers were thrown by their tongues, the women kept a slow foot while the man in front of them was busy discussing with his mind.

Isabella let go of a long irritated sigh before she talked again.

"Is it true? The rumor?"

"... It is... I was there when it happened. You should have seen his face, it got brighter than a tomato"

"..."

The rumor Isabella was referring to was one about Dominique secretly seeing someone from the student council in secret. People have been speculating about who could it be. There were only 2 girls in the council, so the chances were even, however, since he has been seen keeping a close relationship with the prince and the treasurer, the rumor says that he could be seducing one of them into a forbidden love.

Girls tend to give them weird looks when they are together because of that, but none of them are aware of it.

Isabella knew who the person of the rumor truly was. Dominique never told her directly, but she could easily guess who it was thanks to the way he looked at her. He gave her the most gentle and caring eyes that she could have ever seen from him. And that combined with the sudden truth damaged her heart most mercilessly.

Tears began to gather in the edges of her eyes, but she quickly wiped them off.

"... You can´t say you didn´t see that coming"

"No... I can´t... Doesn´t make it any better though..."

"... Haaah ..."

In an unexpected turn of events, Jasmine grabbed the head of Isabella and pushed her onto her chest. The girl was shocked at first, but when she felt the arms of the woman caress her back with surprisingly great care, she answered the hug.

"We can´t be his number one, you have to accept it..."

"I know... It´s just... Kind of unfair..."

After a solid minute, Jasmine let go of the girl.

"I know what you mean. That´s why I think it´s fine if we are a bit selfish"

The decayed expression of Isabella got brighter after heating that.

"How so?"

Jasmine smiled with a confident air around her figure.

"Even if I can´t be his lover, I can still get a place in his heart for myself. It´s not the same, but is still nice enough to get me satisfied"

"Get a place in his heart..."

As to realize something, she repeated her words.

"Yeah. I can become an irreplaceable presence by helping him when he needs it. I can be that person he turns to when in doubt. I can be much more than a simple friend or maid. I can be something precious to him"

"... Won´t you feel betrayed if he finds someone else to consider precious?"

"I won´t. Because his happiness makes me happy too. I love him that much"

Isabella was taken aback by the wide grin that the maid was showing her. She is usually a carefree and annoying presence; so full of herself that she doesn´t miss a chance to mess with her using her age and experience as pestering tools. 

That same person was right now proving that behind all that playfulness there was a confident woman who knew how and when to act. The difference between her maturity was another painful blow to her self-esteem. Regardless of that feeling, a faint sense of admiration started to bloom inside her chest.

"You are quite amazing when you get serious..."

"Not really, it´s just that you´re still a brat"

Isabella giggled. Somehow, those words were now filled with a whole different feeling.

"Yhea... Maybe I am..."

"... Hmph. It´s not funny if you´re like this"

"Heheh!"

Jasmine wanted her companion to see the truth in front of her. She was mean and pesky, but deep down she knew she cared about Isabella. Maybe because she was also an irregular, or maybe because they shared the same feelings towards the same man. In any case, she developed an interest that slowly turned into a sort of sisterhood between the both of them. She couldn´t have done the same with Verónica due to those same feelings. If she ever needed her help, she would give her assistance, not because she was fond of her, but because Dominique would be pleased and thankful for her actions.

In the end, she was no different from Isabella. But there´s still a long time for her to voice those thoughts.

"Let´s not keep my master waiting. He has many things to do"

"Yup! Let´s go!"

Once they noticed how Dominique was patiently waiting for both of them their peace increased its speed.

"I´m going to confess. And I´ll make it so memorable that he won´t be able to forget that day"

As they were getting closer, Isabella whispered that with a serious face. Jasmine was a little shocked at first, but she quickly regained her serenity when she saw the girl´s eyes.

"... If that´s what you need... Then I wish you luck... Just try to not wail too loud"

"Haha! I´m not sure about that"

Isabella was determined. She was able to predict the result of her plans, but even with that sad omen, she made up her mind.

Only through that pain, she would be able to move forward.