Chapter 222 - The Original Seri Pt. 2

[Author's note: To avoid confusion once more, during the duration of this 6-parter, Seri/Leia will be referred to as just Leia. The original Seri who has already died will be referred to as the original Seri, while the original Seri from the memory will be referred to Seri.]

Seri walked into her dorm room with two suitcases in hand. She wore a worn out pale pink dress, white gloves, and a bonnet with a veil that covered majority of her face. There was no family to drop her off unlike the other students. Her mother despised her and her father thought that she hated him. Thus, she was all alone.

However, Seri didn't mind. She took solace in the fact that there was also no one there to judge her. She wasn't thrilled about having a roommate, but at least she would have a private room to herself. When she first walked into the room, she noticed that her roommate had already arrived.

The shared area was decorated with pink frilly decorations and there were several dolls everywhere. Everything was clearly handmade, but it was still really well done. There were even some potted plants that Seri admired for a moment before turning to the two doors attached to the room. One door already had decorations on it made from repurposed paper, but the other had nothing. Seri went towards the room that wasn't taken.

The roommate heard her enter and jumped out of her room causing Seri to flinch. The girl grinned with sparkling purple eyes and long pink hair. Her voice was upbeat and cheerful, "Hello! My name is Mary. I'm your roommate."

Seri blinked at her in surprise....

...Then quickly ran into her room and slammed the door behind her. Mary was left behind with a shocked expression.

I silently turned to look at the original Seri standing next to me. She shrugged, "I was shy."

"How did it go from this to what I saw in the flower garden?"

She tugged at her bonnet nervously, "It's a long story..."

Time fast forwarded to the first day of class. Seri walked through the hall alone towards her classroom. She froze when she saw Mary looking around with a panicked expression. The Academy was hard place to navigate especially for commoners. Nobles usually visited the Academy several times so they were a lot more familiar with how to get to class. However, commoners never had this opportunity.

Seri shifted uncomfortably as she considered whether or not to pretend she didn't see her. However, she hesitated for too long as Mary immediately spotted her and ran over, "Roommate!"

Seri flinched and stepped away from Mary as she got even closer. Mary wasn't offended and reached out to grab her arm. Seri felt a hand touch her upper arm. She let out a shriek as she slapped Mary's hand off abruptly.

Seri froze in fear as her eyes jolted to look at Mary's reaction. Her breath caught in her throat as she became panicked. She thought Mary would be like all the others and immediately dislike her. She didn't mean to slap her, but she couldn't stop herself. As she braced herself for Mary's anger, she was surprised that Mary didn't insult her nor had on an offended expression.

Mary blinked in surprise, "Oh. I'm sorry. Do you not like being touched?"

"..."

"I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry." Mary giggled, "Sometimes I just get so excited and I want to hug people. My father tells me all the time that it's not proper."

Seri looked down at her feet and held her books closer to her.

Mary noticed the books, "Wow. That's a lot of botany books. Do you like flowers and herbs?"

Seri gave a slight nod.

Mary smiled, "How lovely. By the way, I never learned your name."

"S-Seri..." She managed to choke out.

Mary remained gentle since she could sense that the girl seemed a little fragile, "Do you think you could show me to class? I am a bit lost..."

Seri gave another nod and started shuffling away nervously. Mary followed after her with a skip on her step. She continued to chat about nonsense while Seri listened.

I looked behind them and narrowed my eyes, "Millie's still following you?"

"You really are good at spotting her."

I sighed, "Tons of practice."

The original Millie clenched the wall with her fingers as she watched Mary and Seri walk to class. While in class, Mary seemed to have forgotten about Seri as she soon captured Artie's attention. She treated Artie as a little brother just like in the novel.

Everything was like how the novel described. Except one key element was overlooked.

Seri sat in front of Mary trying to be as small as possible. If one didn't know any better, they would think she was trying to escape into herself. Millie watched Seri from a few seats over with a gentle smile. However, I knew what that smile was hiding.

It certainly didn't bode well for Seri.

It's not surprising that Seri never noticed Millie's strange behavior. Her head was always down and hidden underneath her bonnet. I carefully watched as she skillfully scurried around the Academy never once running into a single person. This was surprising since she would only ever look at the ground and made herself as small as possible. She tended to stick to the walls and only ventured out when it was required.

She truly did act like a mouse.

I turned to the original Seri next to me, "Did your neck ever hurt?"

"You get used to it."

I watched as Seri began to pack her bags in her room. "Where are you going now?"

The original Seri answered, "Today is the day of the annual hunt."

"Ahh. I remember this." I made a guilty expression, "I was given a lifetime ban."

"I know."

As Seri grabbed her bags, she left her room to go meet the carriage outside. She paused when she saw Mary laying on the couch sighing repeatedly. She started shifting and fidgeting as she stood there watching. I recognized this response. Seri wanted to ask what was wrong, but she was too scared. I chuckled lightly when I realized this.

The original Seri turned to me, "Why are you laughing?"

"I can't help it. It's cute."

The original Seri flinched, "C-Cute?! What's cute?"

"You obviously want to ask her what's wrong, but you are too scared."

"You are too observant."

"You are too obvious."

Mary must have felt Seri's presence, because she turned to look at her causing Seri to jolt in surprise. Mary sighed, "I'm sad..."

"S-S-Sad?"

Mary propped herself up with a pout, "I want to go to the annual hunt too... Why do only nobles and those with carriages have the opportunity to go? Can't the school offer to give the commoners a ride?"

Seri fidgeted with her hands nervously, "Y-Y-You want t-to go?"

"More than anything. I heard the event is always lively and exciting. I want to see it too." She sighed, "I never get to visit anywhere. In my life, I have only ever seen the Imperial City."

Seri bit her lip under her bonnet. Silence filled the room as Mary didn't know whether or not to say something else. She thought that Seri would walk away by now, but instead Seri kept standing there trembling.

"C-C-C-Come...."

Mary blinked, "Come?"

"W-W-With.."

"With?"

"M-Me...."

Mary jumped up making Seri jump as well. Mary rushed to her with overbearing excitement, "Are you inviting me along with you!?!"

Seri grabbed at her bonnet and tugged on it nervously. She gave a single nod. Mary shrieked in excitement causing Seri to jump once more. Mary threw her arms around Seri in a firm embrace.

"THANK YOU!"

"EEP!" I watched as Seri's brain short-circuited from the sudden embrace.

She let her go and rushed to her room, "Give me a few minutes!!!"

Seri tugged at her bonnet nervously still reeling from the shock of being grabbed so suddenly. I looked over and noticed the original Seri mirroring the same action. My face twitched.

They really are the same person.

On the carriage ride there, Seri sat across from the beaming Mary. Seri was silently regretting her decision to bring her along since she was unable to relax one bit. Mary continued to smile at Seri while Seri attempted to hide from her attention. Mary stood up and moved to sit next to Seri. Seri's body tensed up.

Mary spoke, "Thank you so much for allowing me to come with you."

Seri gave a slight nod.

Mary got closer, "Can I see your hand?"

Seri felt like fainting, "H-Hand?"

"Mhm. I can read your fortune."

"F-Fortune?!"

Mary grabbed her hand gently as Seri watched on nervously. Mary slipped off Seri's glove and gently touched her now visible hand. Seri forced herself to try to relax as Mary looked at her hand closely. However, one could see her visibly shaking. Mary didn't mind this as she calmly traced the lines on her palm.

The original Seri watched the scene with a gentle aura, "I was surprised how nice it felt."

I looked at her in surprise and then turned back to the scene in front of me. Suddenly I feel so dirty watching this.

Seri had now relaxed and wasn't shaking as bad. Even more surprising, she seemed to be leaning closer towards Mary. Mary turned her chin up causing Seri to flinch back.

Mary spoke, "It's good!"

"G-Good?"

She nodded, "Yeah. Your fortune looks really good. See this line? This means that you will be successful in love. This one means that you will live a long fulfilling life."

I glanced at the Original Seri with a wince. Oof.

She sighed, "Don't say it."

Seri pulled her hand away from Mary's, "T-That's..."

Mary giggled and sat back with a smug grin, "Your hands are surprisingly soft."

Seri blushed under her bonnet and looked out the window. Once they arrived, Mary followed Seri to her family's tent. She froze before walking in. Mary looked at her in confusion, "What's wrong?"

Seri bit her lip and shook her head. She walked inside and escorted Mary to the room. Seri stuttered out, "W-W-We have to s-share a room..."

Mary smiled and placed her things on the bed, "That's okay with me. I'm already enjoying this trip. I can tell this is going to be great."

"G-Great?"

"Of course! We actually get to room together. It's like a sleepover!"

Seri gulped nervously, "S-Sleepover?"