Elaxi Dice

Arianna blankly stares at the now clear sky. Last night was truly complex.

 

“You little shit!”

 

Arianna finches and swiftly sidesteps and avoids an incoming fist. Her roommate, Anna stood there fuming, her eyes red.

 

“You! You didn’t tell me what exactly happened and went out with Sir Marcos! How could you?! And… and… You slut!”

 

Tears starts welling up in her eyes and smacks Arianna left and right on her arms.

 

Arianna positions her arms so the pain wouldn’t be high. She didn't feel much guilty but understood her reaction.

 

Apparently, she has a massive crush on Marcos, and seeing her own roommate easily met up with him alone from evening ‘till midnight will cause her to misunderstand.

 

‘I can't say that my heart is already taken by someone else, that might make the misunderstanding even worse...’

 

And it will also ruin Aria’s character once she returns to her body. She helplessly sighs as she carefully pushes Anna’s fists after feeling her arms unable to hold on much longer.

 

“A-Anna! I’m sorry… and it was Master’s orders! I-I couldn’t do anything but accept!”

 

Anna tearfully glares at her refusing to listen but in the end brings her hands down. Arianna sighs in relief, she truly doesn’t know how to calm down a teen who is in love. According to her memories, other than herself, Michael, and Sophia, the others didn’t think much of romance and don't plan to look for a partner.

 

Well, she had to admit she was the same back when she was younger…

 

“Hah…”

 

Arianna rubs her temple in exhaustion. She goes back to her bed and tidy it up. Looks like her small break is over if Anna came in storming like this.

 

Anna can’t help but feel annoyed whenever she lays her eyes on her quiet roommate. She wouldn’t even want to talk to her but is so easily spoken to the Duke and his knights.

 

“Uhm, so where are we scheduled today?”

 

Staring at Arianna, Anna huffs, placing her hands on her hips, and stares at her arrogantly.

 

“Well? Isn’t it obvious? The Duke and his guests are gathering today and doing their fall hunting.”

 

Arianna stares at her wonder and nods along making Anna feel quite smug.

 

“And we are honored to be appointed to set up and serve the ladies who will be staying behind and help the gentlemen clear up once they are back!”

 

Arianna's eyes narrowed. She isn’t buying it; humans are strange creatures. Why would they hold a hunting ground when they have one at the end of this month like every year? Why so early this year?

 

“Well, aren’t you honored?”

 

Anna repeated herself as she pats Arianna’s shoulder proudly. She glances at her bright expression and gives a gentle smile. She will just see what’s this gathering is about and just maybe this event will give her a clue depending how smoothly it will go. She inwardly grin.

 

'There's always has been a competition between men when it comes to prizing a lady, right?'

 

Anna chatters, oblivious to her thought, as she pulls her out of the room.

 

‘Hm. Perhaps the woman he is fond of will appear and then there might at least some process in this mission…’

 

She couldn’t help but grin even wider.

 

“Anna… Don’t you think you will be even more displeased by the others if you continue to be this close?”

 

“Hmph! Don't you know who I am? They won’t dare touch me, after all I'm a noble unlike most girls!”

 

She grins and gives out an OK signal. Arianna was helplessly against her confidence. Though she couldn’t help but frown.

 

‘Honestly, I’m not sure if what she told Aria in the past was the truth, but wouldn’t she have been neglected by her family as the untalented middle child?’

 

She’s seen with those cases with her younger siblings. And now this girl had her even more worried for her.

 

It’s her vulgar language as well! No lady would ever learn such vicious words like ‘slut’ or ‘shit!’ They need to protect their dignity and keep their facade as pure if they ever want to marry a man of high status!

 

She also shouldn’t have to share her room. It might sound unfair but that is how the hierarchy between nobles and commoners is. Luckily, she only needed to share with one person rather than three other people in the same room.

 

Maybe, just maybe, the work methods under the duke are systematically different from the other noble houses due to him taking in a slave and set her free to make her own decisions. That's unusual from her point of view.

 

“We’re here!”

 

Anna jumps in excitement. She can’t believe she would have the chance to interact with nobles of high status! With this opportunity, she can’t let it slip from her hands.

 

She glanced at Arianna who wasn’t smiling anymore. She wasn’t looking at the scenery where the workers of the Ducal were busy setting things to place but rather looking… at her.

 

“E-eh?! Why are you looking at me like that?!”

 

Arianna blinks her eyes before looking at their hands that were still linked. Noticing this, her face became crimson red. She quickly let go of her hand and steps back in embarrassment.

 

“U-uh…”

 

Seeing the stammering Anna, she couldn't help but find her adorable.

 

“So, you hadn't informed me of our duties before the guests arrives.”

 

“I-uh… ummm… R-right! W-we are just told to help with fixing up the inner tents and setting up the tableware inside! Yes! That’s what it is!”

 

Anna frankly moves her hands as she points at the tents that were being lifted with the help of the male workers. The maids quickly shuffle in and out, putting all kinds of stuff aside so they could easily set things up once the tents were ready and safe.

 

“Hmmm…”

 

Arianna hums in thought and nods. She turns to follow the other maids in helping with whatever she could and not be an annoyance to them.

 

Anna stood there dumbly before snapping out of her daze and quickly following suit.

 

“Damn it… And I’m supposed to be the quick-witted one…”

 

She grumbles, finally reaching her station.