The night passed smoothly from there, with me donning the white nightgown Clara provided with only minimal complaint, before laying down to sleep on a mattress much too large for me. It was rather soft, though, and the blanket was warm, and I was slumbering through the night before I knew it.

I don’t remember what I dreamed that night. I rarely do. It was probably a nightmare, though, seeing as how I woke up drenched in sweat… but whatever terrors I might have seen in the night were nothing more than hazy recollections by morning, forgotten entirely by the time I’d cleaned myself up.

“I’ve prepared an appropriate outfit for you, my Lady,” Clara told me, once I’d exited the bath.

“I don’t suppose there’s any chance that outfit contains pants?” I asked, my tone a little wistful.

Predictably, Clara shook her head. “Pants would ill suit you, my Lady, but fret not - the outfit I’ve chosen is designed to strike fear into the heart of lesser beings.”

“I’m not sure I like the sound of that,” I confessed. “I mean, scaring people is rather the opposite of what I want, isn’t it? If I want to keep my head, it’s important people know that I’ve changed.”

“And yet it’s because you’ve changed that you’re in danger, my Lady. The nobility at the school will most definitely look down upon you, and as for the commoners… Well, let’s just say that Amelia made enemies low and high. Many may see you as a viable target for their anger, regardless of whether you’re the real thing or not.”

“So your advice is… what? To go in with a flashy outfit and convince everyone that I’m still capable of kicking their asses if it comes down to it?”

“I wouldn’t phrase it that way, but… Yes, my lady. That is essentially my plan.”

I opened my mouth to protest again, only to seal my lips into a thin line a moment after. As much as I wanted to argue, Clara did seem to have a better grasp of the sociopolitical factors at play. Besides, it wasn’t like this was going to be my first time in a dress - I’d been wearing Amelia’s clothes from the very beginning, after all. The same clothes, in fact, from the moment I woke up, through the trial, right up until Clara gave me that nightgown to change into.

“…Fine,” I acquiesced, in the end. “But you’re going to have to help me with the clothing. I could barely even figure out how to take that other dress off.”

“Of course, my Lady,” Clara replied, immediately taking hold of my nightgown. “Arms up if you please?”

“I can handle this part by myself, at least!” I protested. Nevertheless, I raised my arms and allowed her to remove it.

“It’s faster this way,” Clara explained. “At least when you don’t complain.” From there, it was a flurry of activity I could hardly track. One second she had me holding up my arms so that she could slip the base of the new outfit over my head, then she was busy fiddling with clasps and buttons and ribbons and telling me to hold my breath while she tightened the corset a little and lift my feet to step into the strappy flats she provided. “No heels, this time. Not until we have some time for you to practice walking in them.”

“Fine by me,” I confirmed, not particularly wanting to be forced into heels. As if the dress and corset weren’t bad enough.

“Makeup, on the other hand…”

“No way!” I shouted. “Not happening.”

“Why not?” Clara asked, pursing her lips. “Because it’s too feminine? Do you think men don’t wear makeup, at least on occasion?”

“Well… I guess, but this doesn’t seem like any sort of occasion to me!” I protested.

“It’s your first day at the royal academy, my Lady. Your one and only chance to make a first impression upon the riffraff.”

“…You almost had me until that last part,” I admitted, “but no. I’m not going to be treating anyone like ‘riffraff.’ If anything, I’m pretty sure I’m at the bottom of the social hierarchy myself right now.”

“All the more reason to make an impression,” Clara pressed. “If you don’t show them you’re a force to be feared-”

“Then hopefully they won’t fear me,” I interrupted, firmly. “I’m trying to convince everyone I’m not Amelia, remember? Playing the part of a lady is one thing, but there’s no need for me to go scaring everyone by dressing up in the feminine equivalent of battle armor.”

“I think Miss Bridgette would object to the idea of battle armor not already being feminine,” Clara remarked. “I shall concede for the time being, however. It seems some lessons need to be learned the hard way…”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.

“You’ll see,” she replied, cryptically. “Now come downstairs, so I can serve you breakfast.”

I grumbled a little, not quite willing to let the conversation go, but in the end she succeeded in shooing me downstairs and seating me at the table, where Bridgette was already sitting with a glass of water and a plate of eggs.

“Hope you don’t mind, but I made myself breakfast already. You two were taking your time.”

“I do mind, actually,” Clara said, before I could reply. “We have limited supplies of food, and no way of getting more. If we aren’t careful, my Lady may soon be forced to start eating the free meals served in the cafeteria.”

“Those meals are good though!” Bridgette protested.

“Perhaps compared to what you’re used to, but my Lady has a more refined palette.”

“Like hell I do,” I interjected, frowning at Clara. “I’ll have you know I ate nothing but junk food back home. Besides, ‘free’ is a heady spice of its own, don’t you think? If I can eat without losing us any resources, I should go for it…”

“And be seen eating commoner food amidst commoners?” Clara asked. “Do you have any idea what that will do to your reputation?”

“I don’t,” I admitted, “but I hardly think it can get worse. You keep talking like I’m going to ruin Lady Amelia’s reputation, but you don’t seem to get that I don’t want anyone to think that I’m her.”

“You don’t have to be her,” Clara said, “but you underestimate the amount of scrutiny you’ll be under - and what it means for you. People won’t just be watching to see if you’re Amelia or not. They’ll be sorting you, in their minds, trying to figure out where you fit in the hierarchy. I simply don’t want you to be put at the bottom of it.”

“I am at the bottom, though,” I replied, firmly. “I have no money, no friends, no resources, and no people on my side except for you and Bridgette.”

“Hey, don’t you think putting me on your side is a bit presumptuous?” Bridgette complained. “I mean, sure, I don’t want to see you killed, but it’s not like we’re best buds or anything…”

“Then you’re against us?” Clara asked, her gaze darkening.

“Why can’t I just be a neutral party?” she asked. “Here to keep an eye on Amy, and make sure she doesn’t do anything too dumb.”

“Like going to class without makeup?” Clara suggested. “Or attending the cafeteria without even a single thought as to who might see her there, or what conclusions they might reach?”

“I was thinking more like stupid mistakes that might get her killed,” Bridgette replied. “But uh… no makeup? Wow. You really are kinda gorgeous, aren’t you?”

“M-me?” I squeaked out. “Gorgeous? I mean, I’m just… it’s Amelia who’s beautiful. I’m just… in her body.”

“Yeah, and that body is gorgeous,” Bridgette declared, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Clara was now glaring daggers at her.

“Can we please-” I began, only to be cut off by a sharp knock against the door.

“I’ll get it,” Clara declared. “Please, my Lady, sit down and appreciate your breakfast. It wouldn’t do for you to be seen opening a door while you still have a servant.”

“Very well,” I murmured, sighing. Not that my response actually mattered much, considering the fact that Clara was already heading towards the door…

People often underestimate the amount of work that goes into being a Lady’s maid. Everything I did had to be carefully considered, for everything I did reflected upon my Lady. The way I talked, the way I walked, and of course the way I served tea - all of it was important to the snobs who’d take any opportunity to look down upon my Lady and me.

That was why I worked so hard to perfect myself - to make myself the perfect servant for Lady Amelia. For her sake, I learned to walk with poise, talk with care, and serve tea perfectly. All for her.

She was gone, though. The Lady who I served, with all my heart and soul, had seemingly left this world - and me - behind. In her place was a buffoon, who wore her skin like it was their own. Wore it so well, in fact, that one could almost be excused for believing her to be the same person. She looked exactly like my Lady, after all. She walked like her, talked like her, even acted like her upon occasion - and yet they had nothing in common. Where Lady Amelia was calm and cold as ice, this person, this ‘Amy’ was like a chaotic flame, flickering and shifting, moving in every direction without ever actually getting anywhere. It would be a miracle if she didn’t burn herself out, and take my Lady’s body with her.

That was fine, though. It was Lady Amelia’s own decision to leave this world behind, after all, and I had to believe that whatever she planned it was going alright. That she was safe, and whole, and surviving. Perhaps one day she would call for me to join her - or else maybe she’d return to her original form. In either case, I had to be prepared. I had to be ready. I had to keep her vessel safe.

That’s what I told myself, at least, as I walked towards the door, and the person on its other side. They were still knocking, as if I hadn’t heard them already. I could tell them I was coming, but to raise my voice so early in the morning might be seen as improper… as could maintaining my silence, actually. In truth, if it was a noble, they’d probably find some reason to look down upon me simply for being a commoner.

A commoner who dared to get close to the shining star that was Lady Amelia… a miracle, in their eyes, no doubt. They could never understand what she saw in me. Why she was kind to me. Why she was always there for me. They never understood, for they looked at her and saw only the wealth and connections she represented. So they envied me for my connection to her, even as they strove to avoid her cruel attention. Because all they ever saw of Lady Amelia was her harshest side. Her cruellest actions.

All they ever saw was exactly what she wanted them to see.

I opened the door with a smile on my lips. One that refused to budge, even when I saw who was waiting for me on the other side: a brunette whose visage I had reason to know. She was, after all, on the student council. Not to mention the fact that she was technically the prince’s little sister, even if she was illegitimate.

“Lady Firanna,” I said, giving her a courtesy. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

“Oh, who knows? Perhaps I’m simply here to see what’s become of my dear brother’s fiancee.”

“I’m afraid his ex-fiancee is currently eating breakfast. May I take a message?”

“A message?” Firanna asked, tapping her chin. “Yes, I suppose I could leave it at that… but then I wouldn’t be able to see the despair upon that despicable woman’s face.”

“If it is my Lady Amelia you refer to, then I hope you know-”

“That her body is under new management?” Firanna interrupted. “Yes, I heard. Not that I believe a word. It is a rather clever plan, though, I admit… but nothing the ‘original’ Amelia couldn’t pull off.”

“As you say, Lady Firanna,” I replied, forcing myself to smile at her. She wasn’t wrong - my Lady Amelia could likely pull off such trickery. Except I’d know if she had. Nobody knew her like me, after all. “All the same, I must ask that you leave my Lady to her breakfast and pass a message onto me.”

“Oh, must I?” Firanna asked, before letting out a sigh. “Very well. I’m here first and foremost as a member of the student council, after all, rather than the royal family…”

“As you say, Lady Firanna,” I replied, keeping my voice neutral.

“Your Lady is to vacate the premises of this villa within one week. She’s being moved to a dorm more… fitting of her current station.”

“I see,” I replied, forcing my voice to remain neutral. “I will endeavour to get our-”

“Not our,” Firanna interrupted. “Her’s. Commoner dorms don’t include room for maids.”

I froze, unable - unwilling - to comprehend what I’d been told. I was to be separated from my Lady? How would I keep an eye on her? How would I ensure her safety? How would I make sure that her vessel remained in perfect condition?

“If her room’s too small, you two can always stay with me,” Bridgette declared. I hadn’t even heard her walking up.

“…Miss Bridgette,” Firanna said, her own smile turning sickly sweet. “I wasn’t aware you were here.”

“I was ordered to keep an eye on Amy,” Bridgette replied, shrugging. “Mostly just to keep her from getting herself killed again before her trial concludes. Still, I’d like to keep her close - like, super close. Which I guess means putting her and her maid up in my room, from the sounds of it…”

“Y-your room?” Feranna replied, her eyes flickering between Bridgette and another figure, behind her. ‘Amy,’ I realized, as I forced myself to calm down and analyze the situation I was in. She’d apparently ignored my directions in order to come to the door. Something to deal with later.

Being in Bridgette’s room would be… unpleasant. She was a knight in training, and her dorms would be with the other martial students. Still, as the adopted daughter of a baron, she was technically a member of the aristocracy. Which meant she’d likely have room for at least a servant in her quarters.

“I… I don’t think it would be appropriate at all to keep her in your room,” Firanna continued, even as I mused over the possibility. “I mean, really, aren’t you… isn’t it rather cramped in there? A-and you need room for your workout supplies, don’t you?”

“I do like working out at home…” Bridgette confirmed. “But as a knight, my duty is to keep an eye on Amy, first and foremost! If she got herself killed, I’d never forgive myself! Not to mention the fact that your father might not forgive me either…”

“R-right… you… Nothing can happen to…to ‘Amy’ you said?”

“Uh-huh,” Bridgette confirmed. “She’s really not the Amelia you know. Trust me. Way less evil - and less smart. Actually, I think she’s sorta something of an idiot sometimes?”

“I’m right here, you know!” my Lady complained, her hands on her hips.

“See what I mean? Totally can’t read a room.”

“R-right!” Lady Firanna laughed. Hard. “Right. Can’t read a room… how funny…”

“Riiiight… So… is that all you wanted?” Bridgette asked.

“No. I mean yes! I mean… Well, there was something I was going to say, but…”

“Is there a reason you can’t say it now?” my Lady asked, frowning. “I’m here to receive any message you want to deliver.”

“Well… yes, it’s just…” Lady Firanna’s eyes flicked back to Bridgette. “I-I think I’ll tell you later. After classes. Just… just make sure you get your stuff together, to-to move into… or maybe…. Maybe I was a bit too hasty? Y-yes. Maybe I can at least extend the duration of your stay here, until it’s time for your trial…”

“Really?” my Lady asked, frowning. “I didn’t hear everything, but it seemed like you were pretty intent on kicking me out a second ago.”

“Yes, well… things change… learn to read the room, hmm?” she said, before turning on her heel and strutting out the door.

“That was… Odd…” my Lady murmured, blinking at Lady Firanna’s back.

“Indeed,” I confirmed. “I’ve never seen Lady Firanna act like that before…”

“Really?” Bridgette asked. “She seemed pretty normal to me…”

“Right…” my Lady said. “Why don’t we feed ourselves, and then get to… classes? Are there classes today?”

“There are, my Lady,” I confirmed. “I’ve already prepped the proper textbooks for today’s lessons.”

“Assuming her lessons haven’t changed,” Bridgette pointed out. “If they’re shifting her dorm, they might be putting her in commoner classes, too…”

“Commoner classes?” my Lady asked. “You mean they segregate those too?”

“It’s not actually as bad as it sounds,” Bridgette replied. “Most commoners - even rich ones - don’t have the same level of education as the average noble. They need remedial classes to catch up…”

“And yet the teachers assigned to commoners are notably subpar,” I remarked, unable to help myself. “As a one-time commoner yourself, miss Bridgette, you of all people should know that the division between commoners and the nobility is hardly so simple.”

“I do need remedial lessons, though,” my Lady pointed out. “At least in some subjects.”

“Well, you’ll probably be getting them in all subjects,” Bridgette replied, “but come on. Let’s head after Lady Faranna and ask. Maybe that was the second thing she wanted to tell you? I swear, she’s always so scatterbrained…”

“Yes,” I murmured, eyeing Bridgette. “It certainly seemed that way, didn’t it?”

~~~
Author's Notes

Hmmm. Not sure how I feel about this one? It... didn't go the way I expected. In that not a lot actually happened. Still, I think it's an important chapter in terms of laying down some groundwork and introducing a new variable to the equation...

Next chapter we'll get to the interesting stuff with Core Carving Class, though, so look forward to it! (Or, if you're impatient, you could always read two chapters ahead on my Patreon for as little as $1~!)

In terms of writing, I'm probably going to be working on my Ranma fanfic next. Followed by more of this (or else Double Trouble, or maybe My Oni Love. We'll see.)