"I saw no reason to run at a speed that would leave you breathless." Marionette leaned against the wall of the academy, gazing at Lillian, who bent over, hands on her thighs, breathing heavily.
"I'd rather not appear incompetent in arriving on time..." She gasped, earning her a raised brow.
"But you're already late. Not only that but aren't you aware that the exam will be held back a bit?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know... almost everyone knows... maybe not Millis, but everyone." Usually, every year, the entrance exam for the academy would start exactly at 8 am, but due to an ongoing... war... it would be held back just a little, just enough time for a certain person to arrive.
Of course, this is something Lillian had just remembered halfway through their run. Since this event happened so early in the beginning and was just a cutscene, she didn't really remember it all too much - especially since she didn't remember it being all too flashy and memorable.
"And yet..."
"Look! It's not a bad habit to be always on time!"
Even though her sleep schedule in her past life was totally messed up, probably even beyond repair, she still showed up to work early every single morning like most hard-working individuals who needed to make ends meet.
"... Not wrong... but something that isn't going to kill you shouldn't get you so worked up, Ms Lillian."
Lillian looked up at her to see Marionette staring at her hand, specifically the one she held onto. That was when it hit her: Marionette wasn't the type to like being touchy, especially when it came to skinship.
And the fact she held onto her hand for such a period beyond a second was probably enough to set her off. Some players had speculated it was because Marionette was a germaphobe, but some said otherwise due to a unique cutscene.
'If only I remembered the reason why...'
She may or may not be the type of player to skip most cutscenes because she is impatient.
"Ehm... are you okay, Ms Roselle?"
"Hm...? Yes, I am... why do you ask?"
"Well... you've been staring at your hand for a bit."
'Please don't kill me!' She internally crossed her fingers, hoping the woman in front of her didn't turn psycho and kill her because she held her hand. The game depicted her as unfeeling when it came to killing.
Of course, such a thing is expected of a family that puts its young through life-and-death missions.
"... Have you caught your breath now, Ms Arius? I believe we should head inside."
"You didn't have to wait for me, y'know..." Lillian couldn't help but smile at her consideration to wait for her.
"Is this not common courtesy?"
"It is! It's just that... ahhh... never mind..." She shook her head and stood upright, gesturing to Marionette with a nod that she was ready. She nodded back and pushed herself off the wall.
Lillian looked around and noticed all the stands from the older students were packed away, the bustling horde of students entering and exiting the massive building that looked just like its dummy counterpart.
Grey-bricked walls, four tall towers, with roofs being its own colours: Red, Blue, Brown, and Yellow.
Another wall surrounds the castle, acting as another ring of defence.
It was truly a magnificent and glorious sight to behold.
They entered through the archway entrance of the ring and, after that, the actual entrance into the academy. The gateway was so large it could be used for giants spanning several tens of meters in height.
"Does your family have information on the insides of this building?" Marionette asked Lillian, who confidently led her through the corridors and into a crowded room filled with individuals dressed like them.
"My family has a library of a lot of things."
Lillian created an excuse that couldn't be considered a lie since her family did indeed have a library. But she wasn't sure if they had a book about the layout of the academy.
This body of hers didn't seem to be quite the "lover of books".
Lillian looked around the grand hall. White marbled pillars connected the ground to the ceilings, black and white checkered marbled floors, and a massive elevated platform at the front of the hall, mainly used for announcements.
"This place sure loves marble, huh?"
"Yeah! Tell meh about it! It's so polished that my eyes could go blind!" Millis suddenly appeared beside Lillian, causing her to jump and step away from her. (3)
Millis laughed at the frightened expression on Lillian's face, which annoyed her a bit, but instead of saying anything about it, she just sighed.
"Hello to you too, Millis..."
"Why so glum, Chum? You looked so happy when it was just you and red-eyes over there." She pointed with her thumb towards Marionette, who had gotten herself an empty corner. With her headphones over her ears and her phone out, she blocked out everything that wasn't related to the exam.
Lillian looked back to Millis and raised a brow, "Did I?" (2)
Millis just chuckled at Lillian's question, "Look, buddy, I, too, get giddy when I'm next to beauty. I'm feeling quite giddy now, ya know!" She playfully nudged Lillian with her elbow.
Lillian rolled her eyes before smiling softly, "That so?"
"Oh, definitely! Nothin' better than having someone as beautiful as you standing next to me and not avoiding me because I am a commoner. Oh! I did mention I'm a commoner, right?" Millis ranted on about her origins.
Lillian's eyes couldn't help but twitch at her chattiness.
"So! Do you see me any differently now that ya know I am a commoner?"
"Hm? I couldn't care much if you were a noble." Lillian shrugged, "You're still you anyway." Why should she care about a minor status like "Commoner" when said person is going to be the future "Harem Hero"?
After saying that, Millis suddenly got down on one knee and stared up at her, her hands clutched together like she was praying and her eyes sparkling.
"Please marry me!" Millis shouted, garnering a lot of stares from everyone in their vicinity.
"..."
'Woooow... Millis is way more fit for the Theatrical system than I am...' Lillian stared in bewilderment at the girl proposing to her with seriousness in her eyes.