Chapter 2 : Arya Enters the Grand View Garden
Stepping through the grand gates of St. Freya Women’s Academy, which seemed capable of swallowing the sky, Ailiya felt like an ant wandering into a giant’s kingdom.
She dragged her small suitcase, its wheels clattering with a “gurgle gurgle” sound on the mirror-smooth marble floor, painfully out of place in this overlyReadability analysis: quiet and opulent environment.
Ailiya looked around curiously, the sights before her overwhelming the soul of a girl from a small-town bakery.
The corridor’s domed ceiling was absurdly high, adorned with a magical mural of swirling stars that emitted a soft glow.
Students in exquisite uniforms passed by in small groups, one or two thick magic books floating beside them, pages turning automatically.
A girl snapped her fingers, conjuring a gentle orb of water that turned to steam in her hand, smoothing out her slightly wrinkled sleeve.
Another girl whispered something to a floor-length mirror on the wall, and it displayed today’s class schedule.
Everything here was extravagantly luxurious; magic wasn’t some mysterious force to be handled with care—it was as natural as air or water, an integral part of life.
Is this what a noble magic academy is like? Do they use magic instead of their hands?
Wait… does that mean even for the bathroom…? Stop it, Ailiya, your thoughts are too dangerous!
Lost in this surreal spectacle, she didn’t notice the many strange glances openly cast her way.
Her faded gray skirt and dusty old cloth shoes stood out in this academy more than a talking dodo bird would.
“Look at that girl—what is she wearing? Sackcloth?”
“Goodness, her suitcase has mud stains… Did she walk all the way to the capital?”
“Is she some new noble from a remote countryside? Her taste is just awful.”
Whispers buzzed around Ailiya’s ears like mosquitoes, but her attention was wholly captured by a floating unicorn statue made of pure light, so she didn’t register their words.
Liliane had told her to report to a place called the “Academic Office” upon arrival.
The problem was… where was the Academic Office?
Like a headless fly, Ailiya craned her neck for any signboards while dragging her suitcase forward.
In a moment of distraction, “bang!”—she crashed solidly into a soft “wall.”
“Ouch!”
A sharp female voice rang out.
Snapping back to reality, Ailiya realized she’d knocked over a girl with gorgeous golden curls.
The girl’s skirt was dusted with dirt, and two other girls immediately rushed to her side, looking panicked.
“Isabella, are you okay?”
“Oh no, your skirt! It’s the latest ‘Stardust Veil’ design!”
Ailiya hurriedly apologized: “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to!”
The girl called Isabella stood up, looking down at Ailiya with a furrowed brow.
A black-haired girl beside her—Charlotte—covered her mouth with a fan and spoke with disdain:
“Oh, look who we have here? A lost little mouse scurrying into the swans’ castle.”
Ailiya blinked.
Little mouse? Hmm… is she saying I’m small and cute? This lady talks in such a fun way.
Another girl with chestnut hair—Beatrice—dramatically pinched her nose:
“Charlotte, don’t say that. Look at her clothes—so… simple and unadorned, full of nature’s charm. I bet it’s some kind of rustic fashion we just don’t understand.”
Ailiya’s eyes lit up.
Fashion! They actually think my clothes are fashionable! And full of nature’s charm!
The noble ladies in the capital are so nice—they have such great taste!
She flashed a sincere smile: “Thank you for the compliments! My mom made this herself—it’s really sturdy and practical!”
The three noble girls’ expressions froze instantly.
They exchanged incredulous glances.
Isabella finally lost it, pointing at Ailiya’s nose and snapping angrily:
“You… you idiot! Can’t you tell we were mocking you?!”
Ailiya’s smile stiffened.
Mocking? Weren’t they just praising me?
She belatedly processed their words… little mouse, rustic charm… oh, that’s what they meant.
As the atmosphere hit an awkward freezing point, a clear, cold voice cut through like the purest ice crystal in winter.
“What are you doing?”
The crowd parted automatically, making way.
Liliane von Winter approached slowly, still in her sharp riding outfit, her violet eyes coolly sweeping over Isabella and her companions.
The three noble girls, so haughty moments ago, paled in unison at the sight of Liliane.
The crests on their chests, symbols of family honor, seemed to dim under her icy gaze.
“Miss… Miss Winter…” Isabella stammered.
Liliane ignored her, her eyes landing on Ailiya, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.
Then she turned back to the three girls, her tone flat but carrying an undeniable authority:
“My servant, no matter how unsightly, isn’t yours to discipline.”
“Servant?” The three girls gasped in unison.
Liliane said no more, turning to the still-dazed Ailiya: “Let’s go, idiot.”
With that, she strode off down the corridor.
Ailiya snapped out of it, hurriedly dragging her suitcase to catch up.
Idiot? Calling me an idiot again! You’re the idiot—your whole family’s idiots!
Ailiya grumbled fiercely in her mind but didn’t dare slow her steps.
Still… she stole a glance at Liliane’s upright figure. The way she’d appeared just now was… kind of cool.
Ailiya suddenly remembered long ago, when she was a child, cornered by bullies in her town.
Back then, no one had stood up for her; she’d had to endure it alone.
Maybe… following this prickly noble lady wasn’t so bad?
The thought flickered in Ailiya’s mind for just a second.
Liliane led her to an ornate carved wooden door and pushed it open.
The sight before Ailiya made her jaw drop again.
This wasn’t just a room—it was practically a luxurious apartment.
Soft carpets, enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, a sitting area with delicate tea sets, a grand bed draped in velvet curtains, and even a separate study filled with magic books and instruments.
…Is this a noble’s dorm? It’s bigger than my family’s entire bakery! This is practically a presidential suite!
As Ailiya marveled at her surroundings, a soft “click” sounded behind her.
She turned to see Liliane had closed the door—and locked it.
“Well,” Liliane turned, leaning against the door with her arms crossed, her deep violet eyes fixed on Ailiya as she spoke slowly, “now, take off your clothes.”
Ailiya’s mind went blank, as if struck by lightning.
She stared at Liliane dumbly, instinctively clutching her arms to protect her one simple skirt, her voice trembling:
“A-all of them?”
Liliane’s lips curved into a playful, dangerous arc, and she repeated, word by word:
“All. Of. Them.”
Ailiya froze, cold sweat soaking her back.
She wanted to take back her earlier thought.
Following this prickly noble lady might just be… a very, very bad idea.