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Bernadetta wasn’t expecting that being kidnapped and shoved into a sack would end up being one of the best things that could have happened to her.
Oh, she had screamed and fought for her life when it happened. It had been past midnight, and Bernadetta woke up to her pink-haired maid holding a cloth over her face and her 2 etiquette instructors holding down her limbs. Her screams were muffled by the cloth, and honestly, she wasn’t expecting to be murdered that day. Adrenaline had surged through her twiggy (and probably underfed) body, and she managed to free one of her legs and kick Alexandre square in the jaw. But try as she might, the chemicals on the cloth did its job, and Bernadetta could slowly feel the fight leave her body. The last thing Bernadetta had felt was Elizah lifting her deadweight body into one of those bags pink-haired Malissa used to carry dirty laundry outside to be cleaned.
She wasn’t expecting to wake up in an unfamiliar room on the most luxurious, comfortable bed she had ever slept on in her life. The blankets were mindblowingly soft, and the pillow underneath her head was a cloud. Well, if this was the afterlife, Bernadetta sure didn’t have any complaints. She went back to sleep.
…. Only to be awoken by insistent knocking hours later and a sing-song voice calling her name from outside her unfamiliar room. So she wasn’t dead after all.
“Hello, Bernadetta Von Varley? I was told you would be arriving today! You need to have your annual checkup before your classes at Garreg Mach begin!”
……..
Her what.
Upon hearing this woman’s voice, Bernadetta let out a loud, startled squeak. Shit. There was no way she could pretend she wasn’t here now. This wasn’t one of her maids. She didn’t know who this was.
“Hello? Ms. Varley? If you’d prefer, we could perform your check up in your room? Students have the option to either visit the medical bay before the end of the week when classes will begin, or I can perform the checkup right now? I always provide that option in case-”
“NO!!”
“..... No?”
Bernadetta was shaking. No. She did not want this woman to come in. She didn’t want her to come in. No. No. No.
“No!… I-I, I don’t want you to come in!
A long, silent pause. Bernadetta was frozen in her bed.
“... Well, alright, dear! I will not come in. You are free to come to the medical bay anytime between 10am to 5pm, and I can perform your medical evaluation then. If you need any help or have any questions, you are free to ask me or any of the other professors at Garreg Mach.”
Bernadetta listened as the mystery woman walked away from her door. She was gone. She. Wow. She didn’t come in. Bernadetta said no, and she didn’t come in.
Bernadetta sucked in a huge breath of air, her body shaking. She laughed. Her breathing sounded funny, but that didn’t matter, she was alone. Wherever she ended up, apparently, she had the power to turn away people who arrived at her door. Usually nobody would ask, and she’d get dragged away to whatever session her dad had planned for her. Where was she, anyways?
Wait. The lady at the door said this was Garreg Mach, right?
Bernadetta began to calm herself, taking deep breaths, and finally let herself evaluate the room around her. It was small. The walls were made of stone and a red, wine colored rug covered the wooden floor. A well-crafted desk and chair were in the corner, along with a wax candle and an inkwell and pen. She turned her head, and there was an empty shelf with a couple books. She picked one up. ‘Battle tactics and classes’. ‘The differences between Faith and Reason’. A generic textbook about algebra. These seemed like class textbooks. And the lady outside her door said that she would have classes starting next week.
Was she at a school?
Bernadetta had never been to a school before. Her dad told her schools were for the common folk. She had always been taught by private tutors or her maids. Her mind flashed to Malissa. She was one of the kinder maids in the estate, and had joined the staff about a year ago. She never raised her voice when Bernadetta struggled to understand dense text, and Malissa had snuck her cookies on her birthday, which Bernadetta had to eat immediately to prevent being caught. Her dad never liked it when she ate sweets. Bernie never would have expected Malissa to knock her out and shove her in a laundry bag.
On the top of the bookshelf, she noticed a letter. It wasn’t signed. It must be for her, right?
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Bernadetta,
I have been silent for too long.
I have decided to send you to Garreg mach. I have made arrangements with Rhea, and with her approval, there is no way you can be forcefully brought back home. Refusing the archbishop would leave a permanent mark against your father that he would not be willing to risk. Your father will try to contact you. Do not respond. Do not write back to me, either. As long as you are inside the monastery and maintain your grades, you are safe.
Become strong. Remember that your life is your own, and to never let anyone take that away from you.
Mom
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bernadetta read the note. Read it again. Read it a third time.
Her mom had sent her here.
Bernadetta never really got to know her mom. Despite living in the same household, she rarely ever left her room, let alone speak to Bernadetta.
………
Does... Does that mean she can eat sweets whenever she wants now?
Bernadetta couldn’t help it. She laughed again, and before she realized it, large, fat tears were coming out of her eyes and rolling down her face.
She could do whatever she wanted now! She was free!! She could eat whatever she wanted, at any time of the day! She wouldn’t have to take etiquette training anymore! She could tell people to leave!! She… She was suddenly feeling very tired. Guess waking up from a chemically induced state does that to you... Now that she thought about it, how long did it take for her to get transferred here? How far away was Garreg Mach from Adrestia?... Guess that isn't too important right now.
Bernie looked at the door. It didn’t have a lock. The woman from earlier, Manuella, said she wouldn’t come in unless Bernadetta allowed her to. But still… That didn’t stop anybody else.
Gingerly lifting herself off the bed, she walked over to the desk, grabbed the wooden chair, and placed the door underneath the doorknob. There! It wouldn’t hold for very long, but at least Bernadetta would know if somebody tried to get in. Now, where was she….
Bernadetta jumped, landing full-bodied onto the comfiest bed she had ever had the joy of lying in. It was pure bliss. She burrowed into the blankets, wrapping herself in the comfiest cocoon and smiled. Her father never allowed her to sleep in. Well, he sure wasn’t here now! Her life was her own now. She doubted she could become as strong as her mother told her too. Nope!! Bravery wasn’t for Bernie!! But she could start with telling people no when they inevitably arrive at her door again. She had that freedom now. Nobody but Bernie would be allowed in!!
This room will become her oasis.