Not Tired?
When Joan silently stared at her, Catherine grew visibly unsettled and finally worked up the courage to speak.
“Wh-What is it?”
“Young lady Catherine, do you speak formally even with your family?”
“Eh? But of course. Even with family, one must always behave like a proper young lady—”
“Isn’t that… tiring?”
“““Huh?”””
At Joan’s words, Catherine blinked in surprise—she had been diligently holding herself together as a young lady. Samantha and Rebecca were just as stunned.
“I mean, it’s one thing to act proper at the academy or in the dorms, but even at home, you’re always using formal speech, right? It’s like you don’t allow yourself to relax, even around your family. That’s got to be exhausting. Do your parents and the rest of your family talk like that, too?”
“Eh? No, at home my parents aren’t that stiff, and they speak more casually to my brother and me.”
“Right? Even your parents let their guard down at home, but you’re still keeping it up. That’s honestly admirable. But… I think you could afford to cut yourself some slack.”
“Cut myself… slack?”
“I mean, maybe you should try taking things a little easier? Like, after working hard outside, when you get home, you should be able to just flop onto your bed and go, ‘Ugh, I’m tired—’ … Ow!”
“That’s just you, Joan,” Zack said, delivering a sharp chop to her side mid-sentence.
“… You know, here at the academy, rank doesn’t matter. It’s honestly more fun and comfortable if you drop the formal speech and just talk like someone your own age.”
“Is that really so?”
“Young lady Catherine, you’ve been pushing yourself too hard without realizing it. If you keep that up, one day you’re just going to snap and go screeeeech—boom!”
“B-BOOM…? That would be most problematic…”
The mention of “exploding” had all three of them looking a little nervous.
“And… just between us,” Joan said, leaning in to whisper into Catherine’s ear, “even members of the royal family let their guard down around people they’re close to.”
“E-Eh? Is that true?”
“Yep. So I think you should feel free to relax a little more around your family and friends, too. … So, let’s go back to that question from earlier.”
“““““Ehh!?”””””
No one had expected her to make Catherine ask the question all over again, and Bell and the others were clearly shocked.
“Eh? I mean, we’re friends, right, Young lady Catherine?”
“Eh… Y-Yes. Of course we are…”
Just as Catherine was thinking how to respond, Miss Lallanoa arrived, cutting their conversation short for the time being.
＊＊＊＊＊
Knock knock knock.
While I was back in my dorm room playing with Pearl and Rosso, someone came to visit. Sarah went to answer the door.
“Young lady Joan, Young lady Catherine is here to see you.”
“Huh? Young lady Catherine? By herself?”
“Yes, it appears her maid is not accompanying her.”
“Please, show her in.”
“I apologize for dropping by unannounced.”
“Not at all. Please, have a seat.”
As soon as Catherine sat down, Sarah brought Ripple tea and salt butter cookies and quietly stepped into the next room.
“What brings you here?”
“……”
“Well then, let’s have some tea first.”
Nod. “It’s delicious…”
“Ehehe, I’m glad you like it. Oh, please have some cookies too.”
Crunch. “Huh? Salt?”
“Yes, they’re salt butter cookies.”
“I’ve never had these before.”
“I’m not surprised. I made them myself.”
“Eh? You did? … Come to think of it, you did say cooking was your hobby.”
“Yes. Cooking is fun. But more than anything, I love seeing the reactions of the people who eat what I make. If they enjoy it, they smile from ear to ear.”
“But… what about when it doesn’t turn out well?”
“Ah, when it’s not tasty? That happens sometimes. Everyone fails now and then. When I mess up, I just think about how to succeed next time. And if I ask the person what they didn’t like, I can use that to improve.”
“… You’re quite positive, aren’t you?”
“Yep! It’s more fun to think positively.”
“… So, what was it you wanted to talk about?”
“... I’ve been thinking about what you said at the academy.”
“What I said?”
“That… asking if I wasn’t tired of speaking so formally. I’ve always done my best. I thought that’s just how it had to be for someone born into a ducal family. But after hearing what you said… I thought, maybe it’s okay to relax just a little. Especially now that I know even the royal family lets their guard down.”
“Exactly. Anyone would get exhausted if they’re always holding themselves together. It’s perfectly fine to act your age.”
“… You really do sound like someone much older sometimes.”
“Eh? I-I do? Aha, hahahaha…”
Well, I was eighty-two in my previous life and had seen everything life had to offer. Even if my mental age now is in my twenties, the way I think hasn’t changed.
“A-And… um… I… I was wondering…”
“Yes? What is it?”
“I… I’d like to talk to you more casually… like Young lady Bell does…”
As she said that, Catherine blushed and looked down.
She’s usually so composed… but right now she’s so cute! Too cute!!
A blushing beauty—priceless!!
“Then from now on, just drop the ‘Young lady’ and the formal speech, okay?”
“Eh!? Isn’t that… a little too high of a hurdle?”
“You’ll be fine! You’ve got this!!”
“What’s with that completely unfounded confidence of yours…?”
“Come ooon~ just call me Joan~”
“Why are you the one pouting now…”
“Becaaause~ we’re friends, right? And it makes me saaaad when my friends use formal speech with me~”
“… Haaah. Alright then. I’ll try to speak more casually. And… um, J-J…”
Huh? Did she just turn into a villain grunt?
“… Jo… Jo… Jo… Joan?”
“Yes!! Ehehehehe.”
“Wh-What’s with you?”
“Because I’m just really happy you called me Joan.”
I want to become even closer to Young lady Catherine.
What should I do next?
What do you think about this chapter?
