Anyway

"This is the grand terrace-" said the butler.

The third floor.

Mihael was getting a house tour.

He didn't particularly care but Rose seemed to be really into it, so he decided to not spoil her fun.

A good friend must endure- or so he thought.

Frankly, he didn't know what a good friend even was but that wasn't important.

"Look, look, swans!" She chirped excitedly, pointing at an artificial pond just next to the mansion.

"Come on, Dear-" Sarveisa hissed from behind. "Why can't you be a little more elegant, like your brother…"

"I'm always elegant…" Rose smiled, wowing all the soldiers and maids, and butlers in the area.

She was a high angel after all.

"Just what did you promise that man," Mihael said, to no one in particular.

"Nothing." Sarveisa maintained her poker face.

"Really?" Rose stared back, a faint smirk. "Are you sure you're not doing anything immoral… mother?"

"Oh, trust me dear, unlike you, I do have a brain and can use it."

Rose clenched her teeth but-

But-

They all noticed the servants staring in confusion so it was best not to continue this.

"Please lead on-"

And the tour continued.

***

A little rough but this place wasn't so bad.

Big rooms, nice decorations, no apparent cracks.

They had proper toilets and baths. At least according to human standards.

To the angels though… this place wasn't very clean.

Then again, they didn't care as angels never needed to relieve themselves nor defecate…

"So, starting next month, you two shall enroll in Saint High High," The marquis said.

At the dinner table.

On one side, the marquis and his family, on the other, Mihael, Rose, and Sarveisa.

A long wide table with lavish amounts of food; all kinds, from fruits to luxury dishes to just plain old salads.

"Both as first years?" Rose inquired.

Servants were at the ready for any assistance.

A violinist was playing in the background, while the chandelier above jingled with the passing breeze from the Wind Augment near the ceiling…

"You two are of similar age. And though you've studied well for your age, I couldn't bear to separate you on the basis of losing one year of your youth…" Sarveisa said.

'The hell does that mean?' Rose didn't bother voicing her thoughts.

Meanwhile-

Mihael, as usual, didn't speak.

"Quite the mystery, this little boy," said the marchioness…. "Say boy, do you not find our dinner exquisite? Or is it that you're far too delighted to have real food and forget words?" Mild snicker.

Of course, Mihael didn't even look at her.

Not worth his attention.

Which did irritate the marchioness but- with the marquis present, she couldn't say anything beyond that.

Though they were speaking about next month, given how this month was mostly over, sufficed to say, Mihael and Rose only had about half a week before actually enrolling.

Both were slated to be transfer students, midterm.

"Would we stay in dorms?" Rose asked.

"Yes-" Sarveisa answered.

The light was artificial-

Apparently, something called a light augment made from Magistones.

They made the room appear far brighter than any typical augment, at least according to Mihael's memories.

Then again, he always did prefer dark rooms so this was still annoying.

"I-I see…." Rose mumbled. "Would the two of us-"

"No." Sarveisa answered again. "He'll be with me."

"With you? What do you-"

"Oh, I'm also going to be your new teacher so-" So, Sarveisa stared.

Rose stared-

They all stared.

"I'm done." But Mihael finished and walked away.

"Huh?" Rose though-

'Oh, for fuck's sake…' She could not get rid of the high angel's presence, no.

***

The next morning, Rose was visited by two girls.

Both older than her.

The Marquis' daughters.

"Elle Von Zelan,"

"Lina Von Zelan,"

The two introduced themselves, tilting the hems of their skirts.

Elle, 17; Lina- 15.

"Rose Van Sanders." She offered a similar bow, letting the two inside.

Rose had a guestroom all to herself.

Medium room with most of the necessities. Nothing fancy, nothing bad.

The two daughters took seat on the sofa.

Staring-

"So, um-" The younger one, Lina fidgeted. "Are you two engaged?"

"Two? You mean my brother and me?"

"Yes."

"Not really. Why?"

Nobles generally were engaged by twelve. High nobles had a tendency to sometimes only get engaged after turning fifteen.

"No, just wondering. You seem so pretty, and, I thought you'd already be engaged with a prince or something," Lina giggled.

Elle meanwhile, had a faint smile but didn't say anything.

"Bring us some tea-" Until she ordered the maid on duty. Meanwhile- "Is that so. Then I wouldn't mind throwing a party and inviting men from all over the continent. Surely, someone will strike your fancy."

Rose smiled… angelic- "No thanks. I'm not interested in men."

Face slightly crumbling… "I-I see…"

"Do-does that mean… you're into let's say… beautiful women?" Lina managed… face a bit flushed.

She squirmed, squeezing her legs tight a little.

"Hmm… I'm not sure. I don't feel any attraction to other human beings. Maybe I'm just different?"

The tea did arrive but the girls were quick to drink and- "Does your brother share the same sentiment?" Elle asked.

"You'll have to ask him," Rose sipped slowly. "Though I'd advise not getting on his nerves. He's not nice when you irritate him."

"I'll keep that in mind." The two girls left.

Rose understood what was going on.

The two were trying to get rid of her. While trying to get close to Mihael?

And though she kind of wanted to mess with them- it wasn't worth it and she was going to leave for the academy in a day anyway.