Chapter 105
Chapter 105: The Girls of 1504
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"Yes, granny."
"The Empire, huh... It's been a long time since I've been there... I'm the dorm manager of Ceylon Lakeside. Girl, what's your name?"
"Peylo."
"Peylo?" The fat granny showed a thoughtful expression upon hearing this, and after a moment asked again, "Duke Scalliger... what is he to you?"
Hmm?
This caught me somewhat by surprise.
I originally thought Peylo was just a shut-in nobody. Those bullies earlier didn't even know the Duke had a daughter, they only knew Lafayette. I didn't expect this old woman to make the connection just from the name. Is she someone who knows Father?
Seeing how afraid those people were of her... she might be quite an important person.
So I obediently answered, "He is my father."
The fat granny's expression didn't change at all, as if she had expected this. She raised her eyebrows slightly, "Oh? So you're little Peipei from Shanter Castle?"
"Granny, you know my father?"
"Know him... I wouldn't say that. I just went to Shanter Castle once many years ago. At that time, I saw you from afar... It was a long time ago. You were just a tiny little thing then, and now you've grown this big."
She didn't say what she went to Shanter Castle for back then, and of course I wouldn't press the matter. Just looking at her made me feel somewhat closer to her.
At least there's someone who isn't completely unfamiliar.
"How is your father these days?"
"He's doing well."
"I heard... during the Valen Disaster two years ago, he lost an arm?"
"...Yes."
"Is he alright otherwise?"
"He's fine."
"As long as he's alright... Really. Those little bastards, they even dare to mess with Duke Scalliger's daughter..." The fat granny shook her head on her own. "I'll have a talk with them later. But girl, you still need to be careful. Those stupid dogs usually rely on their families backing them up and have become completely lawless. When they do things, they really might not care about consequences. For the next few days... don't leave the academy grounds. If you need anything, come find me. My room is on the first floor, to the left of the staircase."
"Alright, thank you, granny."
But I still won't trouble you. They're just a few rich punks, that's all.
"No need to be polite, girl... just don't laugh at me in your heart. The Order City has been peaceful for far too long, so long that some people have forgotten their roots... The younger generation has become rather ridiculous, nothing compared to the character of you people from Wintermoon. However, the city is still very beautiful. I hope you won't develop prejudices because of this."
...Is she worried that I'll go back and tell Father bad things?
After all, the Central Workshop has trade relations with most countries in the Western Continent, and the Order City is no exception... There are probably weapons and armor forged by the workshop here too, right?
I'm actually not clear on these matters...
"I won't, granny. I really like it here."
But what does this have to do with her anyway... this fat granny is definitely not just a simple "dorm manager," is she?
"That's good. Hurry back now, get some rest early tonight." She said with a smile, "Welcome to the Order City."
I bowed to her respectfully.
By this time, the onlooking students had long dispersed, though I could still sense some gazes secretly watching me. But due to the fat granny's imposing presence, they were hiding somewhere, not even daring to show their heads... It seemed like all the students at Ceylon Lakeside were quite afraid of her.
If she weren't this kind of person, she probably couldn't manage the Royal Academy dormitories well either.
After the fat granny left, I continued up the stairs to the 15th floor, arriving at the wooden door marked "1504." I could hear the faint sound of girls laughing and playing around inside. I hesitated for a moment.
Taking a deep breath, I gently knocked on the wooden door.
"I'm coming in..."
The door wasn't locked. With a "creak," I pushed it open. In the brightly lit room, three young girls were sitting in a circle, seemingly discussing something. Hearing the sound, their gazes all turned toward me in unison.
"Um, good evening..."
"Wow—"
"She's here, she's here!"
"So pretty!"
"Oh, black hair! She's an Empire noble!"
"She really is younger than all of us."
"Hehe, I win!"
"Hey, you two. She's greeting us. At least respond, have some manners..."
"We're all going to sleep together anyway, why so many pointless rules!"
The three girls chattered as they surrounded me. One of them, a baby-faced girl with short brown hair, grabbed my hand and pulled me into the room, kicking the door shut with her foot. With an excited expression on her face, she stared at me and said, "Little sister, how old are you?"
"...16 years old."
"See! I told you I was right! Hahaha, the remaining top bunk is mine!"
"I never liked sleeping on top anyway. So what if you won?" The blonde girl with an oval face pouted, looking unhappy in a way that was obvious at first glance, clearly saying one thing but meaning another.
"I mean... shouldn't we introduce ourselves first..." Another girl said with furrowed brows, speaking in a soft, quiet voice, like she had a somewhat shy personality.
"Oh oh, sorry sorry! We were a bit rude there." The short-haired baby-faced girl stuck her tongue out at me. "My name is Sarah, Sarah Cecil, I'm 19 years old... but I'll be 20 soon! I grew up in the Order City, and I'm in the Flame Order. My talent is just average... My father is a knight, and my mother..."
"Enough, enough! Are you being interrogated by the Arbitration Office? Don't just blurt out all your family's secrets!" The blonde oval-faced girl impatiently interrupted her, her pretty blue eyes looking toward me. "Little sister, this one's personality is a bit flighty, just ignore her."
Then she lifted the hem of her skirt and performed a very standard noble curtsy to me.
"I am Sophia Jaslyn, 22 years old, fourth in line to inherit the Jaslyn family of the Order City."
I hurriedly returned the courtesy, "Miss Sophia, may the moonlight be with you..."
This girl is also a noble...
The Jaslyn family, is it one of the major families in the Order City?
"Miss, are you from the Empire?" Sophia asked.
"Yes, my home is in Winter City."
"Winter City, ah, a good place... just a bit cold. A few years ago I went there with my father. The wind and snow were so heavy that even wrapped in two layers of fur, I was shivering from the cold."
"Once you're used to it, it's nothing."
"Your surname is Wintermoon, right?"
Hearing her ask this, I suddenly remembered I hadn't given my name yet.
So I nodded.
"Yes, Peylo Guinevere Wintermoon."
Sophia's gaze toward me held some amazement.
"Wow, you really are a Wintermoon... Then your father—"
She was cut off mid-sentence by the short-haired girl named Sarah.
"Hey Sophia, can you drop your noble act... You just said I was like being questioned by the Arbitration Office, so why are you asking her so many questions now? Daisy hasn't even introduced herself yet."
Sophia looked at Sarah with displeasure, while Sarah glared back at her just as defiantly. Seeing this, the seemingly shy girl hurriedly waved her hands, "Um... I'm fine, you two continue chatting..."
"Daisy, if you're like this, Sophia will bully you." Sarah said.
"I don't bully people, I just forgot!" Sophia glared at Sarah again, then turned to me with a smile once more. "Sorry, let me introduce her."
She pointed at the shy girl, "Her name is Daisy Shelley, 18 years old, from the Emerald Capital of Sylgaria. I really love the fruits there."
"Why are you bringing it back to yourself again... And Daisy, introduce yourself properly. Why let someone else do it for you..."
"Daisy didn't say anything, yet you're the one talking the most!"
"Hahaha..." Daisy could only scratch her face and laugh awkwardly.
They didn't look like they were really angry. I don't really understand friendships between girls, but they probably haven't known each other that long either. To avoid them actually getting into an argument, I thought it best to change the topic.
"By the way, these." I opened the small bag at my waist and took out the three still-warm waffles. "I passed by and saw these. They looked good, so I bought a few extra. You all should try them."