Chapter 37 - Maya Rosenwald P3

Chapter 37 - Maya Rosenwald P3

~37.3~

*****

The rest of the evening went by uneventfully. Our little group of now eight friends decided to either join or form a club so that we could all have at least one period in common during school hours. We would have to meet during lunch or after hours until we all decided where to join. I was rolling around in bed thinking about it.

I told everyone that I came here alone, but in truth there were a pair of twins from the branch family that came with me. One or the other was in every class with me. They had their own dorms, but I could sense them nearby. I got up from bed and walked over to the door to the balcony.

I opened it and said, "Serah, Stella, come in." Immediately, they appeared in my room kneeling in front of me. Like most of my family, they were also blonde with blue eyes. I was the only with silver eyes.

"Princess, what do you require?" Serah asked.

I sighed. "I wish you'd stop acting like this. You don't have to shadow me."

"Grandfather ordered it. We must," Stella said. The grandfather they mentioned is my grandfather, though everyone in the family and branch family called him that. In truth, my grandfather's sister is their grandmother.

"What if I ordered you not to?"

"We can't follow an order that conflicts with an order from grandfather."

I sighed. "I want you to meet my friends. I want you to hang around with me like any other friends would. Like we used to as kids."

"We're your shadows, Princess. We have to fulfill our duty," Serah said.

I narrowed my eyes at them. "When we were kids, you said you'd follow me and me alone. Now you're following grandfather instead." I reached down, grabbed one of each of their hands, and pulled them to their feet. "Forget grandfather's orders. If I have to, I'll teleport home and beat him in a duel right now to claim you. You know very well I can do that."

The two exchanged glances, unsure what to say.

"So. Do I have to go through that formality, or will you be more open with me without that?"

Both at once and without hesitation said, ""Please claim us.""

I chuckled. "You're jumping on the chance to switch official masters, eh? I don't like the idea of anyone being your master, but if I must fill that role to give you your freedom then so be it. Let's go."

"We'll prepare-"

It was too late. I teleported the three of us directly to grandfather's study. He was there working late as usual.

"Elise? What are you three doing here? You're supposed to be-"

"Never mind that. Grandfather, Serah and Stella are mine now. Forfeit them."

He paused for a second, then stood up and stepped around his desk. "You're serious."

"I am. I'm willing to duel you for them, so go ahead and forfeit. You know I'll win."

He walked up to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "Elise, not once have you ever used your power to get what you want. You want them that badly that you're willing to forgo every other method and skip straight to a duel?"

I nodded. "That's right. I want them as friends, not shadows. We played together as kids, but at some point they became my servants. Give them to me."

"Very well. You look like you're going to bore a hole through my skull with the look in your eyes." I couldn't see myself in a mirror, and I wasn't quite sure what expression I had on my face. I was speaking out of emotion. "If you're willing to go that far for them, then I won't argue."

"You mean it?"

He nodded and stepped back around to his chair. "Serah, Stella, you don't take orders from anyone but her now."

""Thank you, grandfather.""

"Now you three get back to Aristide before somebody figures out you're gone." He waved his hand as if shooing away a pest.

I teleported us back to my dorm and said, "That's that. I'll have you know that I don't intend to give you orders. I want you to choose for yourself. Do what you want. I'd love it if you would come out in the open with me. I think you'd like my friends."

"Yes, Princess... but," Serah said, her eyes wondered. "Your dorm is filthy."

I shrugged. "I don't mind a little dust. I'll clean it like once a month or something. I can't be bothered to do it every day."

Without another word, Serah disappeared. Two minutes later, she reappeared in a maid outfit and began cleaning.

Stella silently nodded and did the same.

I raised an eyebrow. "Well then."

I'm going to surprise them. If they're going to insist on this, then I'm going to put all three of us in one dorm. I originally opted for a single person dorm room, but since things are different now... I'll handle that in the morning.

*****

"I didn't know you read my mind that evening," Luma said. She didn't look at me, but everyone knew she was talking to me. "You felt compelled from the very start to help each of us with our problems. You didn't know that we were us. In your mind, you meant to help mortals you had just met."

She was facing away, but I could see a faint smile. "You, Maya, Rhia, and Aira were the only ones I felt compelled to help from the start. I didn't think about helping Lanti, Cel, or Chris that soon, and I had grown up with Serah and Stella." I snickered at the thought of Serah and Stella. "And as you can see, my twin cousins never grew out of their tendency to clean." I glanced at Lily and Ally, who were standing behind my table next to the wall. "Even now, they insist on being my attendants."

"Wh-" Mom started to say, but she was too slow.

"I was wondering what happened to them," Mabel said. "So they followed you here. Makes sense, though. They were always stuck to you like glue."

"Lily, Ally, go ahead."

They curtsied in their maid outfits and said, "I am Liliana Venturi in this life and Serah Aindrea in the living world."

"I am Aliana Venturi in this life and Stella Aindrea in the living world."

Hmm.

*****

Revision: 2025-2-12