Christie lamented that she wasn’t able to meet with Agatha’s mother for longer, but her ladylove had told her once they were on the move that Esmeralda might be a new member of the Valasela household. That made Christie happy twofold: for one half Miss Diorite would now have a decreased load, and for the other half she would be able to talk with the brass seamstress for the entirety of the next summer break.
Their journey back to Crocheta’s capital felt shorter this time around. Not only because Christie had restocked on books – Miss Diorite had offered new novels from her personal collection – but also because there was no longer tension between her and her ladylove. It had been a tenuous and almost imperceptible strain between the two as they had been locked in the same moving box for half a month, but now that they didn’t hide their relationship, that tension eased up. It was no longer a string in tension, but a lace that tied them together. Closer.
No longer had to hide themselves whenever they wanted to show affection to one another, but now they could do so openly. Well, not that they did. That was too embarrassing and indecorous, but at least they didn’t hesitate to hold hands, hug, and kiss, though when Adrien was driving and not looking.
Before they even noticed, they were back at Knight’s Landing, ready to take on their second year of instruction at the Skyscraper Academy. It has been a little over two months since we left, but it certainly feels like way longer. Too many things have happened for it to have been this short of a span, Christie found herself thinking as she had her head out of the window.
They had arrived at Knight’s Landing during the sunset, which Christie was inclined to say was her favorite time. Not only because the palette of twilight was gorgeous, nor because it was the time of the day her ladylove had originally kissed her for the first time – which influenced her decision a lot, truth be told – but because of the way the crown in the heavens hit the metropolis. As most edifications were made out of stone, the perpendicular light hit those mineral imperfections on the stones in a beautiful manner. Almost making the city appear to be constructed out of gemstones rather than plain stones.
Christie covertly yet haughtily grabbed Agatha’s hand, interlocking her long and lithe fingers with the petite girl’s surprisingly robust hand. Her ladylove smiled at her so radiantly that the redhead had to look outside, for the sun blinded her less than the shining blonde.
The warm breeze of summer, the delicious light of the sunset, the soft rocking of the carriage; they all culminated in that warm, delicious, and soft hand. Christie found herself smiling as they traversed across the capital at a leisurely pace. Adrien hadn’t been commanded to do so, but no one corrected his decision.
Yet as they finally reached the walls of the Skyscraper Academy and ascended into the heavens with the massive lift, Christie’s humor soured ever-so-slightly. Her dearest father’s words flashed in her mind.
“I know how love feels at your age, but I strongly discourage you from making displays of affection visible at the academy,” the vulpine patriarch had told them the day prior to their departure. “You are going to be soldiers, and whilst the state likes for soldiers to have family, that same ‘gratitude’ does not extend to relationships between fellow soldiers. And even if that were not the case, I am afraid that there is a more pressing matter to not do so that you are very aware of.”
They unfortunately were.
Relationships between soldiers were seen poorly. Relationships between the same sex were seen poorly. But relationships between students? Oh, those were outright despised. Technically speaking, there weren’t rules against student relationships, but Christie had yet to see a single student mingle with another one. Whether they were in her grade or older ones.
“In that sense,” Hasel had chuckled, “you are more protected than common relationships. Those are expected, obvious. But you? Well, you are just two very good friends. Nothing wrong there.”
Christie had wanted to criticize her dearest father at that moment, but now that all the pressure of regained secrecy loomed over her, the nouveau riche realized that common sense would now be their biggest ally rather than their biggest enemy.
Wait, nouveau riche? The redhead pondered as the carriage moved through the academy’s gardens. Did dearest father not mention he was going to buy the rights of House Valasela from my uncle? Should that not make me a noble? But I think he would have told me if that was the case… Maybe the deal fell through after mother died? Depths! Why did I not ask him? She knew why. At that moment, she was unstable, tired from revelations and tailors, and drunk in love. Not the best state of mind to think.
And thoughts the redhead had no more as the carriage halted. They had made it to their destination. With a groan, her ladylove stood up and subsequently jumped out of the carriage.
“Not looking forward to unloading all this luggage,” she mumbled. Whether the blonde meant it for Christie or Adrien, she couldn’t tell.
Christie wasn’t looking forward to it either, but at least she wasn’t the noodle-thin girl she was a year ago, so at least she could assist loading her ladylove’s lithic platform. As they managed the luggage, Adrien dealt with Fran?ois as he had to free the stoneshell from the reigns and then bring him to the stables.
The coachman dedicated a tip of his beret to the girls as he walked away with Fran?ois. Adrien wasn’t much of a farewell man, nor did he need to. This wasn’t a goodbye, after all. Just a ‘see you later’.
By the time they were done with the luggage, both girls had broken into a sweat. Christie could see it in Agatha’s sapphire eyes, that glint of mischievousness. The redhead faked having tripped and stopped her fall by latching into her ladylove.
“Not here, mock sapphire,” Christie whispered in the blonde’s ear, engaging herself before Agatha had the chance to escalate it any further. “We are in the academy already.” But that didn’t stop her from landing a peck on her ladylove’s cheek.
Agatha was blushing when Christie stood up and was left agape. It seemed she wanted to say something as she gesticulated with her lips, but no words left her mouth.
“The luggage, Agatha?” The redhead reminded her as she pointed at the static lithic platform with her eyes.
“R-right, right,” the blonde finally snapped out of her bewilderment. Though that didn’t prevent her from giving a side eye to Christie that said something along the lines of ‘How is it that you can kiss me but I cannot?’.
Christie was the first one to make it up the stairs as Agatha lagged behind to check on the rising mountain of suitcases. This time around, instead of most being filled with dresses, they were instead filled with books. Christie hadn’t been able to use her wardrobe much the first year, but the books had quickly run out. And at least this type of luggage could be used by both instead of just her.
They didn’t see any familiar faces as they made their way through the lobby, so they made it directly to the female dormitories.
“Did we arrive too early?” Agatha mused as her head jumped from person to person as they traversed half the academy.
“I guess so, yes,” Christie nodded. “Remember that most students are actual nobles or at the very least sons and daughters of very rich people-“
“Like you,” the blonde interjected.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“Like me,” the redhead snorted amusedly before continuing. “So it is to be expected that they have nearby holiday villas or their main house in Knight’s Ascent proper.”
“Ah, the world of the rich. I do not think I am ever going to get used to it.”
“Well, I think you would not be yourself if you got used to it.”
“How come?”
“You are a mock sapphire, are you not?” Agatha rolled her eyes at Christie’s comment – not even worthy to be called a jest – and didn’t bother to respond.
Agatha and Christie first stopped at the dormitory’s key room, and fortunately for them, it was manned at the moment.
“You have finally arrived?” Said a maid behind a desk.
“Yes, Miss Solventa,” Christie saluted her with a courteous bow.
Whilst the maid in question wasn’t the head maid of the academy, she could be referred to as the head maid of the female dormitories, as most students deferred to her whenever they had an issue.
“I assume you come here to select your new rooms,” the maid said as she stood up.
“You would assume correctly,” the redhead replied.
“You are lucky, then. So many students have passed to the next year, and add to that some others who are overstaying their welcome, so now we have a lack of rooms.”
“But there is still enough for us, right?” Agatha asked with a modicum of panic.
“Of course, of course,” Miss Solventa chuckled. “For the time being, at least. But I feel like at least one pair of students or two in your grade will be asked to either remain in the current bedchamber or share the individual ones, depending on the arrivals. But as I have said, your early arrival has been a boon to you as most rooms are vacant still.”
“Nice,” the petite girl fistpumped.
“Now, now,” Christie put a hand on her ladylove’s arm and smiled in a vulpine manner. “So you were saying that one of our fellow classmates will need to sacrifice their room.”
“It is not yet clear, but yes. But you do not need to care for it.”
“Maybe we do,” the redhead said diplomatically. “I already made a sacrifice with the rooms the first year, so I am willing to do so again.”
“I am afraid this is not the same case, Miss Valasela,” the maid said. “The first-year rooms are meant to be shared, but these ones are individual and meant for the rest of your academic stay. In any case, it should be Miss Malachite’s decision, not your own.”
Both women turned to look at the petite girl, who panicked at the sudden attention. Christie blinked at her and covertly pointed at herself without letting Miss Solventa see. The redhead guessed the blonde got her message as she softly blushed.
“I…” Agatha started, “I should first see what room you are talking about before making a choice.”
Noncommittal, but I guess it is better than outright negation, Christie sighed softly.
“Then let us go,” Miss Solventa picked up two keys from the board on the wall and left the room. The two girlfriends followed behind the maid.
None of the rooms were on the first floor, which made Agatha lag a bit behind as she had to finagle the lithic platform upwards, but the second-year – and beyond – rooms were on the second floor. Oh, even more flights of steps… These would have killed my former self.
Miss Solventa unlocked a room for them and they all stepped inside, though Agatha left their shared mountain of luggage in the corridor.
“Oh, whoa!” Her ladylove was left agape once she saw the bedroom. “This is huge!”
“Yes, second-years and so on are already considered full-fledged students, so their bedchambers are far bigger and more furnished,” Miss Solventa informed them. “Azalgar Castle used to be a diplomatic summit, so it hosted a plethora of massive bedchambers to host from low-class nobles up to royalty, both local and foreign.”
“And to which kind of noble would this room pertain?” Agatha inquired as she leapt from spot to spot.
The room was pretty open and still had place for a sofa, a desk, a table, a sizeable balcony outside with a table and seats of its own, dual drawers – one at each side of the king-sized bed – and a dressing area. That dressing area was interesting as it had a couple of closets, and it felt more like a walk-in dressing room-slash-closet. Only that in the open.
“I would dare to say that it was used by a duke, but I am not one-hundred-percent sure,” the maid said. “But if you are amazed by the bedroom, it is because you have yet to see the adjacent lavatory.”
Miss Solventa didn’t have to say it twice as a very excited mock sapphire rushed to it. Truth be told, the bathroom wasn’t anything the girls hadn’t seen before already. Christie’s private bathroom in the Valasela Estate was a bit bigger, but that was the thing, they weren’t in the estate any longer, but in the academy. They would have a private lavatory fully furnished with a tub, toilet, bidet, and washbasin all inside of their room without needing to go to one of the shared bathrooms. This would be massively appreciated, especially during complicated menses, which were far more common than Christie would have liked.
“So, what do you think?” Miss Solventa asked as both girls finished examining the lavatory.
“It is a fine room,” Christie responded.
“It is,” the maid smiled diplomatically, “but I meant it regarding Miss Malachite’s decision to share the room.”
“Oh,” the redhead blushed after having spoken out of turn.
“It is a big room, but,” Agatha fiddled with her fingers, “any space would be shared.”
“I am afraid that would be the case,” Miss Solventa nodded. “We could arrange some furniture like separate beds, but there are no changes we could make to the room itself.”
“Hmm…” The blonde frowned deep in thought.
“Excuse us, Miss Solventa. Could we talk it out in private?” Christie asked.
“Of course,” the maid bowed and walked out of the dormitory.
“I am not sure, Christie…” Agatha said unprompted as a slight redness appeared on her visage. “I do not think I am ready for such… commitment.”
“I know,” Christie grabbed her ladylove’s small hands. “But this is the perfect opportunity. The perfect excuse. If we always go to each other’s rooms, people are bound to ask questions, but if we shared a room…”
“…Then we always could be together,” the seamstress finished the sentence.
“Attagirl,” the nouveau riche smiled.
“I… The bed is very big.”
“That it is, yes,” Christie nodded.
“Enough to sleep as if they were two.”
“That it is, yes,” she reiterated.
“But… what about changing? Here there is no separate bedroom, and I do not want to have you go to the bathroom to get changed.”
“Whilst this connivance is a sacrifice I am well inclined to do so if it means being with you,” her ladylove blushed brighter at her words, “that is not without an easy fix. The dressing area is quite spacious; we could get a screen to separate it and still have plenty of arm room for either of us.”
“H-how have you already thought of all of that?”
“Well, I think fast,” Christie arched forward ever-so-slightly and smiled in a vulpine manner. “And even faster if it is about you.”
The shy squirrel became red as a carnelian, but instead of backing off, she pulled Christie’s hands as they were still clasped together, and gave her a peck on the lips.
“You are not the only one who can attack, hehe,” her ladylove said with a dorky smile.
Christie didn’t know what it was, if the attack itself or that dummy and cute laugh of hers afterward, but nonetheless, what she did know was that Agatha made her go insane. As rich as the nouveau riche was, lucidity was one thing she couldn’t afford currently.
Without allowing her to react, the redhead dived for the petite girl’s lips, practically having to bow to cover the massive difference in height. The sudden movement surprised the blonde and she backstepped in surprise, but Christie was relentless with her pursuit, not allowing their lips to separate. Agatha’s back impacted against the wall of the bathroom, and once she noticed she was a prey without escape, she retaliated like a trapped animal. Though in the squirrel’s case, the attack was none other than a fight tongue against tongue.
It was a sloppy and passionate mess, certainly something worthy of a bathroom, but as all things good, it unfortunately cut short as Agatha pushed Christie away as she gasped for breath.
“S-Solventa is waiting outside,” the ferocious squirrel said sheepishly.
“So, what is your answer then?” Christie inquired calmly, as if she wasn’t lacking breath; her arms were still pressed against the wall, trapping her ladylove between them. The academy’s training regime was definitely not thought out for this, but I cannot deny that stamina training is useful for kisses, the redhead licked her lips as she pondered.
“Uhm… yes,” Agatha turned her face away. Then she fanned herself with her hand. “You can tell Solventa that. I will… wait here to cool down.”
The redhead bit her lip and pressed her legs together, holding herself together, if only by a thread. Agatha was such a magnificent sight that she actively had to fight to win, almost as if she were holding her sea of stone without the Sleep command.
“I will,” Christie said softly, dithering on one very, very light push away from losing herself.
With a deep breath, the nouveau riche walked out of the bathroom and fixed her hair a bit as she made it out of the dormitory.
“Agatha has said that it is fine by her; we are willing to make this small sacrifice for our classmates.” Though I would consider it a reward, Christie kept those words to herself, however. “But my roommate has expressed her concerns over privacy, so she would like to have a screen for whenever we need to change.”
“That could be arranged easily,” Miss Solventa informed. “I am sure your classmates will be thankful for your altruism.”
“Well, you have said it yourself. Altruism,” the redhead grinned from side to side. “We do not expect a reward.” For my ladylove’s sheer presence is reward enough.
The maid smiled reciprocally. “Glad to hear that. Here is the key to the room. I will get you a spare for Miss Malachite and also bring a couple of wooden screens whenever I am available.”
“We will be waiting,” Christie bowed slightly and bid farewell with a sway of her hand.
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