Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Sword Training and a Hidden Refuge
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I launched myself into the seat right next to Dietrich before anyone could even open their mouth to protest.
The reason was simple. I wanted to put even a little more distance between me and Dad.
"Huh? Why are you sitting here? Your spot's over there."
"B'cause..."
I met Dad's eyes—he was grinning brazenly, clearly expecting an answer—and squeezed my own shut tight.
I really didn't want to say this out loud, but there was no helping it.
Sitting next to Dad to eat would probably make me choke.
"Ditwi good. Wanna eat meals with Ditwi."
"Hey, baby Ella, you actually like me that mu—!"
Don't get all touched.
I shot a cold, deadpan stare at Dietrich, who was clamping a hand over his mouth, then casually turned away and grabbed my spoon.
'Still hasn't quite shed all that baby fat, has he, Dietrich.'
Well, yeah. He'd spent all his time pretty much glued to a chair or bed, following the doctor's orders to the letter.
"Starting tomorrow, Ditwi, exercise with me again."
"Sounds good to me. I was getting so stiff from not moving around."
He'd had plenty of time to recover, but I'd still need to ease back in with lower intensity, starting from square one.
That's just how exercise works.
If you're not consistent, your performance drops off a cliff, which is why people who love it are always on guard against potential injuries.
Get hurt, and you can't train—which means your skills slip again.
Dad, who'd been listening to our chat, tilted his head toward Dietrich with evident interest.
"Exercise?"
"Yes, Father! I can do twenty laps around the riding track in a day!"
Dad set down his aperitif glass and asked,
"Looks like your basic stamina's solid. How about trying some swordsmanship training?"
Dietrich and I exchanged glances at Dad's sudden suggestion.
And in unison, our heads cocked to the left.
'Swordsmanship training?'
Dad gave a faint smile at the sight of us tilting our heads in perfect sync and added an explanation.
"Seven years old is about the right age to start training to become a knight."
Dietrich's eyes began sparkling like crazy.
Knight training!
In a fantasy world like this, you've gotta try knight training at least once.
I wonder what kind of exercises it includes?
Dad mentioned swordsmanship first, so that's a given—but is it more like fencing or kendo?
Probably way more practical than those sport versions.
"Mariella too...!"
"You need to learn your letters first."
I'd instinctively shot my hand up, but now I lowered it with a pout.
"...Letters later, though."
"Sword training later, too."
I shot Dad a sideways glare as he perfectly mimicked my tone right back at me.
That petty little act of defiance was pretty much the most I could manage.
And even that much probably wouldn't have crossed my mind if Dad had been openly playing it cool like yesterday or pulling that scary face.
'Is Dad trying to get closer to me in his own way?'
He was still scary, sure—but not the full-body-freeze-like-a-frog-in-front-of-a-snake level from yesterday.
"Once you can write a simple letter, then we'll start."
He must've gotten my picture letter.
But... no reply? This is it for a reaction?
Feeling a bit awkward and embarrassed, I just nodded vaguely and poked at the mashed potatoes on my plate with my fork for no reason.
Dad let out a soft chuckle, then grabbed one of the kitchen servants who had come to serve the next course.
"A moment here."
"Yes, Master?"
"Prepare one more portion of the same menu as Mariella's. I'll handle..."
With my head down, their conversation came through even clearer.
One more portion of my menu?
Curiosity piqued, I strained to listen—but Dad's voice trailed off smaller and smaller until I couldn't hear anymore.
* * *
The sun was shining, the breeze was perfect.
After last night's downpour, the sky sparkled like spotless glass, crystal clear.
I gazed up at the gloriously sunny sky and let out a frustrated wail, clutching my head.
On a day this perfect and clear, Dietrich was out getting sword training with his brand-new child-sized wooden sword—while I was stuck inside learning letters!
'In my past life, I learned Hangul at six and the alphabet when I started elementary school—why am I doing this again!'
"Miss, what's wrong? Is the homework too hard?"
"Betty, this is too much. Have to write one, two, three, four sheets."
Who gives a three-year-old kid homework to fill four whole sheets?
Especially at an age when my fine motor skills aren't even developed enough to grip a pen properly.
Thinking of the Nurse's stern face, I whined and buried myself in Betty's arms.
Betty had returned three days ago.
The moment Dad came back and started overseeing the household, she'd been the first one ordered to report for duty.
Betty beamed, stroking my hair—she'd even gotten a raise for defending Mother's honor in the fight.
"But our miss is so smart, she'll pick it up in no time."
Damn it!
Betty's useless as ever.
If it were Laura—who's endlessly indulgent with me and Dietrich—she'd have suggested cutting back the homework to the Nurse.
Finding zero help from Betty, I wriggled out of her arms.
"This is a secret, but I heard the Nurse is going to ask the Master if, since you're already learning the imperial tongue, maybe learn Ancient Holy Kingdom script too?"
"Ancient Holy Kingdom script?"
"Yes. All the temple scriptures are written in the script from the ancient Holy Kingdom."
Thud.
Her words made me drop my pen right there.
"Our miss is a genius, so she'll definitely manage."
"I'm not a genius!"
"No way. You're the smartest three-year-old I've ever seen."
That's just 'cause there's an adult stuck inside!
I can't stay illiterate, so fine, imperial common tongue.
But I'm not training to be a priest—why do I have to learn Ancient Holy Kingdom script at this age?
The Nurse and everyone here seem to think I'm a genius, but I'm just a talking potato.
A potato should act like a potato.
"Betty, juice pwease."
Betty—the Nurse's lackey—is officially sidelined.
I waited patiently until Betty left the room and rounded the corner down the hall, then bolted up and slipped out.
If the Nurse is coming at me like this, I'll fight back my way.
Studies on indefinite hold until they agree not to shove Ancient Holy Kingdom script at me until I'm ten. [Hate Holy Kingdom script.] I even left a perfect note with my demand.
Glancing both ways to make sure the coast was clear, I left the hall and headed for the stairs—only to spot a few servants chatting and change course.
'Was gonna go watch Dietrich's sword training.'
Path downstairs blocked? Oh well.
Abandon viewing Dietrich's training and pivot to safe hiding spot.
What's the safest place on the third floor?
Left hall leads to Dad's bedroom and study, but that's the hottest spot in the house right now with all the traffic.
So, right hall to the end!
'The room right above mine...'
Best view in the house, but never once had a master—my big brother Erich's room.
Nobody comes here except the occasional cleaning staff.
Perfect for hiding.
Worried it might be locked, I gingerly turned the knob—and the door opened smoothly without a sound.
'Score!'
The thrill hit me like I was playing hide-and-seek as I stepped inside—only to tilt my head at the boy standing by the window.
Did I see that wrong?
I squeezed my eyes shut, rubbed them a couple times, and opened them again. Still, there was a kid by the window.
Shiny silver hair and transparently red eyes.
Cheeks so sunken he looked starved, but still beautiful enough to blur the lines of gender—like a fairy child.
Age-wise, somewhere between me and Dietrich.
"......"
"......"
"......You a fawwy?"
The kid, eyeing me warily, furrowed his brow just a touch.
Hm.
Guess not.
Ah, easy mix-up!
In a world with monsters, fairies could totally exist.