Pendleton Revolution - Chapter 3.4

Dear Daddy-Long-Legs,

Have you been well?

This is your Andie writing.

Thanks to you, I am making memories of a great and worthwhile student life today as well.

The dormitory for commoners consists of 8 persons per room, but it seems that I will be able to get along well with my aristocratic friend that I wrote to you about earlier. As for the friend in the same living room in the bedroom next door, we get along so well it’s almost crazy.

The others from Special Departments have finally arrived. Just within our room, there are four of them. With their addition to the dormitory, which only four of us had been using, the room has gotten a lot more noisy and lively. Perhaps it’s because I grew up as an orphan, but I like this type of atmosphere very much.

Those guys from the Military Department who looked down on me have also started to respect me for who I am after a few conversations between bodies. Still, it’s a relief that this was put to an end before a hundred people were put down.

Even amongst the people I’ve met thus far, there’s a particular guy that I would like to tell you about. On the first day we shared a class with the aristocratic class after catching up on the foundation and basic theories that lagged behind the aristocrats, I met a rather cool guy there.

They say he’s the oldest son from a famous House of Knights. His name is Giovanni. Partially as a plausible excuse for why my letters had been scarce the past two weeks, I will tell you about Giovanni and my roommate…….

***

“Andie. If you’re going to go to the laundry, let’s go together.”

Just as she easily lifted the heavy laundry basket after finishing her studies, Alice, who had been reading her book while lying on her bed, stood up.

“Oh, nice. Sure.”

At Andie Julinas’ agreement, Alice hurriedly straightened herself and picked up a small laundry basket from next to her bed. Because she sweated every day, it was impossible to leave her everyday clothes, training clothes, and underclothes for long. Even among her roommates, Andrea was the one who left most often for her laundry, and Alice, who seemed to dislike going to the washroom alone, tended to match her laundry schedule to Andrea’s.

Alice Carmaiden was the opposite extreme of Andrea Julinas. She disliked going to the washroom, which was shared between both genders, she had been taught to avoid showing the slightest skin to a man from the outside at all costs, and she tended to speak carefully and sweetly. It appeared that aristocratic houses taught their progeny in such a manner.

As such, Andrea Julinas, who spoke loudly, acted boldly, was afraid she would make Alice Carmaiden uncomfortable, but unexpectedly, Alice took to Andrea very well. It could be that the two were attracted to each other because their personalities were so different. In truth, Andrea Julinas liked Alice Carmaiden quite a bit.

She, who always maintained a respectful and careful attitude, gave off the soft, weak feeling of a small animal, and to help her with what she felt uncomfortable with felt similarly to protecting Maria. After their arrival onto campus, they had grown rather close within the first fortnight.

It could be that it was her tendency to take care of another. Now that it was mentioned, hadn’t she always liked protecting the children who were weaker than herself?

‘My wish to become an officer was also a collective result of such thoughts as well.’

Andie picked up her laundry basket while thinking such thoughts alone, before opening the door and pointed at Alice with her chin.

“Put yours on top of mine.”

The laundry basket given to all students in the dormitory was made by hollowing the inside of a large piece of wood, and as such was considerably heavy. Though it was a burdensome weight to Alice Carmaiden, it wasn’t such to Andrea Julinas. Andrea’s heart became concerned whenever she watched Alice, who was the smallest of her roommates, struggle with her laundry basket.

“Ah, no, I’m fine. I can carry it by myself.”

“Since I finished my training early today, I suppose I’ll just consider it additional training. I am, after all, a prospective officer. Though, of course, in comparison to our training this basket is too light.”

As Andrea Julinas smiled, shaking her basket up and down and saying “Here, hurry.”, Alice Carmaiden placed her basket on top after hesitation. Instead she took hold of the bag that contained soap, towels, and a few hair ties.

“After all, you sew my clothes for me in return. Just think of it as an exchange for your services.”

“Thank you every time. Let me know if there’s a handkerchief or other embroidered necessities you want.”

“Are you off to the laundry?”

Just as they were conversing cheerfully, Elena, in a gown, popped out of the room next door and naturally joined their conversation.

“Yup.”