Catherine and her yet-to-be-named companion easily found a pair of empty seats and patiently waited for the entrance ceremony to begin. Catherine wasn't exactly looking forward to it.
The actual game didn't even bother to have it play out in full. She could only imagine how riveting the ceremony would be uncut and in person. It might just give the Blackwood's collection of literature a run for its money in terms of interest.
Judging by the amount of people still streaming into the hall, there was still a fair amount of time they would have to wait.
"Oh goody", thought Catherine. "The only thing I like more than boring speeches is waiting for boring speeches."
Even the construction of the room wasn't of particular interest. Not that Catherine held the study of architecture in high regard, but some sort of stimuli would have been nice!
This was a school for nobles after all, you'd think the assembly hall would be a sight to behold. But beyond the chairs being much nicer, and the whole room being constructed from wood, it was about as drab as the modern-day counterpart from her college life Claire.
Of course, Catherine had the option of talking to her companion, but she was far too nervous to strike up the conversation. She had butterflies in her stomach just being next to the girl, the thought of trying to talk to her was too much of a scary prospect.
Catherine was starting to become extremely cross with herself. She'd thought she left her pitifulness behind when she was reincarnated as Catherine. But here she was stewing in weak indecisiveness, unable to speak up.
I'm not going back to that. What am I so worried about anyway? I'm already sitting next to her for Christ's sake! What's talking to her going to hurt?
Catherine cleared her throat and looked at the girl.
"So what's your name Miss…?" Catherine asked.
"Oh of course! How silly of me not to introduce myself."
The girl perked up at the question, but then a look of discomfort came over her face. It was as if giving her name carried with it some grave connotation.
"Uh- It's Moore…Alice Moore."
Alright time to feign surprise, Catherine thought.
"Oh…you're the genius that passed the entrance exam!"
Alice was taken aback at this. Catharine's surprise was a facsimile, Alice's was the real article.
It had felt natural to ask her benefactor to sit with her, especially with how kind she'd been. However, when the noblewoman asked for Alice's name, it made her realize that she would effectively be giving away her status as a commoner.
Alice could tell by the woman's dress that her family must be extremely wealthy. Even if the person in question was kind, it would only be natural that they would immediately dissociate with a commoner.
Alice had braced herself for disappointment, but the white-haired girl didn't distance herself. She didn't even comment on the fact that Alice was a commoner, rather she expressed praise for her intellect.
"Wh- Why thank you," Alice stammered. "But I think 'genius' might be too high of praise."
"Oh you're far too modest," Catherine replied curtly. "Most nobles can't even pass that test, and they're prepared from birth for these sorts of things."
Catherine pointed at Alice.
"And you managed to do it with only yourself to rely on. I think that's quite impressive no matter how you look at it."
Alice looked down at her lap, blushing slightly.
"Well thank you…I know enough not to reject a complaint twice," She looked up at Catherine. "Well then, I'm sure you already know all about me from the papers."
Well I do know all about you, but not from the papers, thought Catherine.
Alice continued, "But now I would like to know your name."
"Ah yes, it's Catherine Blackwood."
Catherine waited for some sort of reaction, but Alice just continued to gaze at her with a pleasant look.
"I take it you don't know who I am?" Catherine asked.
"Oh…I must admit I don't." Alice said apologetically. "I can't say I'm well versed in the affairs of nobles."
Alice's face became grave, realizing that what she said might've come across as offensive.
"So uh- don't take any offense to it, please. I'm sure you're very well known among-," Alice fidgeted in her seat. "And- and I wasn't trying to imply that noble affairs weren't worth keeping up with-"
Catherine laughed, cutting off Alice's ramble.
"Oh please, take it from me that the acts of the nobility are far from something that one should concern themselves with."
Catherine looked Alice in the eye, "I take no offense to it, I was just a little surprised is all."
In truth it only worked out in Catherine's favor if someone was unaware of her reputation, it made first impressions much easier. Plus if she disliked the person she could always just let them know.
Hearing Catherine's reassurances Alice relaxed again. Regaining the pleasant look on her face, however, her eyes betrayed a sense of sadness.
"You know it's a bit ironic. All my friends dreamt of somehow being connected to the noble life," Alice looked down at her lap. "They seemed to know everything about the topic, but I never paid any attention to it."
She gripped her skirt, bundling the fabric in her hands.
"Despite that, I'm the one who ended up here," Alice said. "I focused so much on passing that exam that I didn't consider what comes after. It hit me hard today that I don't have any concrete plans."
The pleasant look on Alice's face had disappeared, replaced with one of worry and exasperation.
"This is a huge opportunity, and I don't- I can't squander it. How could I face my family or any of my friends if I did that, But I-." Alice began tearing up. "Oh, I'm pathetic…I've been handed an opportunity on a silver platter and I'm crying over it"
Alice was desperately trying to stifle her tears. The embarrassment of sobbing in front of someone she'd just met, not to mention the rest of the students around her, was too much to bear.
Suddenly Alice's face was being dabbed by a handkerchief. She turned and looked at Catherine who was busy whipping away her tears.
"Oh Catherine I'm sorry, this is so embarrassing-."
"Shhh," Catherine responded. "It's ok, I understand."
Catherine removed the handkerchief, took Alice's hands in hers, and looked her dead in the eyes.
"Don't feel like it's somehow unnatural to feel overwhelmed. You've had a radical shift in your life just by being here today. It makes sense that it's going to take a little while for you to accumulate.
Catherine wasn't guessing, she'd felt a similar way in her life as Claire. She'd be the first to admit that the circumstances surrounding Alice were quite different, but she could surmise her feelings well enough to comfort her.
"Now all your worries are welling up to the top, but you needn't worry," Catherine smiled.
"Even if you majored in something completely useless the fact that you went here would be merit enough, and I'd imagine you could find work quite easily."
Catherine removed her hands bringing the handkerchief back to wipe a few newly formed tears from Alice's face.
"But I do have a feeling once you can weigh all your options properly you'll make a good choice, and I'm sure it will be one that suits you."
Catherine finished dabbing the rest of Alice's tears.
"There isn't that better?"
In the next moment, Catherine was caught completely off guard when Alice embraced her in a hug.
Catherine went bright red in the face, not knowing what to do with her arms they remained limp at her sides.
Close, way too close! Screamed Catherine internally.
On some level though she had to admit there was enjoyment in this. But once that idea was acknowledged it only served to embarrass her more, petrifying her further.
The hug lasted less than a minute, but if you told Catherine that fact she wouldn't have believed you.
Alice finally relented on the embrace. Catherine immediately pulled herself together to try and save face. How could the bold Catherine Blackwood freak out over something as simple as a hug?
Thankfully, Alice didn't notice anything off with Cathreine's demeanor.
"Sorry about that," Alice said, sniffling slightly as she did so. "I know we just met, but- well…I don't know how to put it exactly."
Alice thought for a moment, looking for the words.
"Well, it just feels very natural to talk to you," she looked slightly embarrassed. "Still that was probably a bit much. I hope It didn't bother you."
"Oh of course not! Think nothing of it." Catherine responded.
Her reply lacked some of the excessive confidence she usually exhibited, but it wasn't enough for Alice to notice. She just smiled brightly at the response.
"I'm so glad we met! Alice beamed. "You've made me feel a lot less worried about the whole thing."
Before either of them could say anything else they heard the distinct sound of someone clearing their throat emanating from the direction of the stage. They both turned their attention to where the sound was coming from, they saw that the dean was finally here to begin his speech.
Catherine's heart sank when she saw the man. He looked ancient, and old age did not typically lend itself well to "exciting" speeches.
Well, maybe he's young at heart. Catherine thought hopefully.
Any thoughts along those lines were dashed when he opened his mouth to speak.
"Welcome…to…our…prestigious…academy."
It was as if saying words actually hurt the man! Not to mention you had to strain your ears to hear him whatsoever.
This is going to be quite long, isn't it? Thought Catherine mournfully.
***
After two hours the entrance speech had finally wrapped, and the occupants of the hall were finally allowed to leave.
Catherine was very glad the speech was over. In this case death from boredom would have been a mercy.
She was also glad to be away from Alice for the time being. It would be easier to work out her feelings when there was some distance from the thing that was causing them.
As the pair were exiting the hall Alice began to speak as they walked.
"Too bad we can't stay with each other longer," She thought for a moment. "You know what, maybe we can. What's your first lesson?"
"Hmmm…Chemistry I believe." Catherine replied thoughtlessly.
Alice stopped walking as her face lit up.
"No way! That's where I'm headed to as well!"
Catherine's eyes went wide as she remembered a key detail she'd forgotten.
Oh my god, I forgot most of my classes are with her!
"Alright let's go!" Alice said, moving with purpose towards the class.
A defeated Catherine sighed and begrudgingly followed suit.