Chapter 324
Chapter 324
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Knight Cheers for the Youths (3)
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"In a debutante, I mean, for a lady on the cusp of entering high society—what do you think is important?"
A gentle question from a beautifully dressed woman.
The woman was a teacher in the academy's elementary division, instructing the youngest cadets.
She mainly taught etiquette, linguistics, and the kingdom's social customs. The young cadets seemed to love their kind and elegant teacher, raising their hands eagerly with bright smiles.
"A pretty dress!"
"Our house dog!"
"Uh, um, so... a handkerchief?"
The children each gave the best answer they could think of, and the teacher smiled at their responses.
They were innocently pure, untainted answers.
"Yes, you're not entirely wrong. Dresses are important. A dog would definitely make you cuter. And embroidery on a handkerchief is one of a lady's accomplishments, so that's important too."
The children giggled happily at the teacher's affirming words, and she continued with her gentle smile.
"But there's something even more important before worrying about dresses, dogs, or handkerchiefs."
"?"
"It's a chaperone."
"??"
"In simple terms, it means 'guardian.'"
"Ah."
The reaction was lukewarm.
As if they didn't quite grasp why that mattered.
"It's really important. A chaperone is essentially someone who vouches for your credibility. It's a way of implicitly assuring everyone of a lady's purity."
"...?"
"Hehe, it's hard to understand now, right? You'll get it when you're older. You'll learn the chaperone's role and why it matters. And who knows? Maybe someday I'll be a chaperone for one of you."
"M-Me! Do mine, teacher! I like you!"
"Me too!"
"Me...!!"
"Ohoho."
The woman hoped their innocence would last forever.
Even after their debutante.
"-A chaperone is basically a matchmaker. A matchmaker. Like a watchdog your parents assign to snag a decent guy."
"I-Is that what it is?"
"Yeah, it's not a very positive institution. It's not even legally mandated, but you know how it is? It's like an unspoken custom that's hardened into place. A bad habit, really."
"That bad?"
"Of course. The noble ladies who serve as chaperones are mostly elitist snobs who discriminate based on status. And they're so nitpicky—criticizing eye color or hair length, the angle of how you hold your teacup, how you smile, even how you eat."
"Heh..."
"And they say a lady should never exercise. It lacks dignity or whatever."
"What an utterly absurd bad habit."
"Right?!"
The knight nodded vigorously after the eye-level explanation, and the girl—long past her innocent childhood—grinned mischievously.
Such was the fleeting nature of time.
'Hmm, to sum it up, it's like a control device to rein in youthful vigor.'
Lee Han might have seemed to just agree with his disciple, but he'd heard what mattered and filtered out the rest.
So he knew a chaperone wasn't purely a bad habit, as Chick No. 12 claimed.
'Kids that age are full of youthful energy anyway.'
An age ruled by hormones, not the brain.
An age where they could easily get into trouble—runaways or elopements weren't uncommon in that stormy period of overflowing vigor.
Just exaggeration?
'I overheard at the last faculty meeting: last year alone, there were 50 pairs of cadets who got into accidents and jumped the gun.'
Skipping studies to "strengthen the nation" instead.
Well, they were rich nobles marrying after catching each other's eye, so no real worry there.
The problem was they called it love, but most split after two or three years.
Like a blazing fire of love—it flares up fiercely and suddenly dies out.
Reportedly, 80% of young noble couples divorced nationwide each year. Lee Han's prejudice against nobles wasn't unfounded.
'So many of them mess around recklessly with their bodies.'
Scenes overflowing with flesh at every party, like in those movies based on medieval European nobility—believable?
The height of debauchery.
The movies' licentiousness was tame by comparison; nobles had beastly sides aplenty.
That's why kingdom lawyers were always swamped.
Not just divorces, but "paternity confirmations" from affairs kept them busy.
So chaperones couldn't be dismissed as mere bad habits.
With young folks causing so much havoc—wasting family fortunes on divorces and scandals—which parent could stand by?
They had to assign a watchdog, whatever it took.
...But.
"Why ask me for it?"
Lee Han couldn't fathom why his disciple was requesting this of him.
Especially after understanding the chaperone's role.
It had to be another woman vouching for her; a man like him as guarantor would be pointless.
It was a natural question for Lee Han.
To that.
"Oh, that's fine. Britannia and the Empire enforce those customs strictly, but Pendragon isn't so rigid."
"Really?"
"Sure, female chaperones are the norm, but male ones exist too. Famous honorable knights, retired knights, or even distant cousins from the family."
"...Not to toot my own horn, but doesn't it prove purity? A man doing that seems off."
"It could be, but in a way, it's not."
"Huh?"
"You might hate this, Instructor, but 'noble speech' isn't direct. It's not just words—actions, possessions, decorations all convey meaning. Bringing a man as your guardian signals: 'I'm so pure, I can choose a man as my protector.'"
"...That works?"
"It does. If someone calls your bluff, no problem. Challenge them to a duel."
"?"
"That's why male chaperones are often knights. So they can duel on the spot if insulted."
"S-Suddenly so violent?"
Proof sounded nice, but wasn't it just forcing submission through strength?
Noble speech, huh? It sure felt closer to thug lingo. Lee Han confirmed noble society favored fists over law.
"It fits your style, though, right?"
"...Can't deny it."
If someone badmouthed his kid, no need to waste breath—just fists. Intuitive and appealing.
"But it's not just because you're strong, Instructor. You only ask someone you fully trust. And you're the most trustworthy adult I know."
"...Flattery from a chick who can't even grow proper fuzz."
"Then why give me jerky?"
"'Cause the pretty words were true."
"Ahaha!"
Ririna laughed merrily, and Lee Han rubbed his nose.
In his thirties. A time when emotions ran rich. He felt genuine pride in earning his disciple's—no...
'Those little ones are suddenly sprouting feathers.'
...disciples' trust.
"Ririna, you're cutting in line!"
"No manners at all."
"No, without even asking us...!"
"Hmph, first come, first served."
"!!?"
Suddenly, the other chicks interrupted.
Having overheard late and gotten indignant.
Meaning they all wanted Lee Han as their chaperone too.
He felt a touch of warmth knowing he'd become a reliable adult for them.
But a lingering doubt too.
"Wait, debutante now?"
Didn't they do it last year? Lee Han tilted his head.
It was second semester—not long ago...
"That was like a rehearsal for entering society, Master."
"...Didn't say a word."
"Your face did. Hehe."
"Ahem."
Levi—practically one of the One Hundred Eight Nahans' flowers—saw through his expression and smiled as she approached.
She gave a succinct summary of noble culture to the clueless Lee Han.
"Debutante culture marks young noble ladies and lords' entry into society. It might seem odd to you, Instructor, but it requires countless procedures. Last year's ball was prep for the real thing."
"So this year?"
"The actual debutante is coming. Because His Highness the Crown Heir's first birthday is soon."
"...?"
"In detail: nobles from across the land will flock to the capital."
"More precisely."
"To catch fish, go to rivers or seas. For snow-covered plains, head north. To debut in society, come to the royal capital. It's inevitably the center."
"For connections?"
"Exactly. You get it right away."
True to her explanatory talent, Lee Han grasped it easily.
"Additionally, traditionally, debutantes happen around royal birthdays or princesses' coming-of-age. But lately, Pendragon's royals..."
"Got wiped out."
"M-Master..."
"It's fine. No one's listening."
Lee Han suddenly realized why the chicks were so excited.
Right—after that sister was confirmed heir, all other blood relatives were killed or imprisoned.
Even the kids were exiled far away.
In this situation...
'A full-scale event in the capital after years.'
No wonder the chicks were thrilled.
Not just them—all the young ones.
Every youth over 19 must be buzzing with anticipation.
"...The capital's gonna swarm."
"Yeah, massively. It'll be huge after the lull. Local lords of course, but some great nobles too? With the sole Crown Heir appearing officially... Wonder what he's like?"
Levi rarely showed curiosity about others.
Especially since he was born between Britannia's prince and Pendragon's princess.
A bridge between nations—his extraordinariness must be...
"Kinda small. Seems he doesn't eat well; skinnier than other babies. Name's ominous too—Arthur? Arthur..."
"...Pardon?"
"Still cute, though. Genetics can't be ignored. Looks just like his mom."
"?"
"Hmm, probably grown some by now?"
"???"
Why talk like you've seen him in person?
...Not sounding like a joke.