Surviving the Mansion (1)
"I'll be back, Eila sis."
"Okay. Rui, do your best today too?"
I waved at Eila and stepped out of the house. The village chief was dead drunk again today, so I couldn't even greet him properly. But that was nothing new. He was always grabbing me to grumble about the hardships of men, the sorrow of it all, how things used to be different in the old days… and so on. Anyway, I decided to be satisfied with the warm encouragement from Eila. Right now, that kindness alone was enough to help me take one more step forward.
"Rui."
"…Hik!"
I hadn't even gone a few steps before a familiar voice from the side stopped me in my tracks.
"Why are you reacting like that?"
"Ah, no, I was just a little startled."
It was Selena, popping out like some wild animal. If it had been the old me, I would have brushed it off without a second thought. But ever since that night at the mansion, I no longer knew what kind of face to show her.
"Rui, where are we going today? My house? Or the forest?"
"…"
A choice between two options. Only one path to survival. So why did I suddenly feel like running away? Was it the way this girl was staring at me so intently, so very intently?
"House."
"Whose house?"
"Seli's house…."
"Good boy. Well done, Rui."
Pat, pat. Selena stroked my head as if I were a puppy. Our heights weren't even that different…! Though thanks to the blessings, she was just a tiny bit taller—maybe a single span at most.
With my hand firmly clasped in hers, I once again found myself being dragged to the Ribein family mansion.
"Welcome, Rui. I'm always happy to see you."
"I-I'm happy to see you too, Aunt Iselina."
"Hehe. How about calling me Mother from now on?"
"…!"
"Just kidding. Now, do your best today, both of you."
"Yes, Mother."
After surviving that nerve-wracking greeting with the head of the house, Selena and I attended various classes together. Most of them were the private lessons Selena had been taking alone at the mansion. It seemed that after that night, she had personally asked to receive classes with me, and Lady Iselina had gladly agreed. Which was why the current me was now…
"Lord Ruines. Today's etiquette lesson covers singing and dancing. Essential skills for any knight."
"Have you completed your arithmetic assignment?"
"Philosophy may not fill the stomach, yet we must still study it. That is the very nature of philosophy."
"From this afternoon, we shall examine the kingdom's commercial laws."
. . .
"Uwaaaagh!"
"What's wrong?"
"H-how am I supposed to endure this…!"
It happened after roughly four classes. No matter how much praise and coddling the tutors gave me, there was a limit. This wasn't fit for human consumption. I could only feel deep respect for Selena, who had endured this regimen for years without missing a single day.
"Seli, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were this busy. And yet you still came to see me every single day…."
"That's because I like doing it."
"…"
"Of course I like these classes too. They'll help all of us one day."
"Help…?"
Selena gazed at me with calm, steady eyes.
"Knowledge and experience are an individual's greatest assets. Make sure you remember that, Rui."
"W-well, I suppose that's true."
"Yes. That's how the world works."
For someone who had lived through two worlds, it was strange how much more Selena seemed to know. She really was brilliant. And she'd probably received plenty of blessings from the Goddesses as well.
"Still, you followed along surprisingly well. It just shows you can do it when you try, Rui. Your poetry recitation was quite impressive, and your singing voice is naturally beautiful…."
"Seli."
"Yes?"
She kept heaping praise on me. I knew she meant well, but it felt like it would never end. I leaned toward her and whispered secretly.
"The tutor is coming in."
"…"
She pouted. For some reason, Selena's lips pushed out in a tiny sulk.
Surviving the Ribein Mansion. I carved that solemn goal into my heart and threw myself into the lessons with everything I had. Just as Selena said, a knight needed a certain level of cultural refinement. The Ribein family's curriculum was strict, but it was packed with genuinely useful material: basic etiquette, history, commercial law, arithmetic, singing, instruments, dance, poetry recitation, and more.
It felt a little excessive, yet it was an incredible educational environment that ordinary commoners could never dream of experiencing. Sometimes I wondered what possible use any of this would have, but if in my previous life I had only searched for a path on the battlefield, perhaps the current me was trying to find one somewhere slightly different. Honestly, I had no idea what lay at the end of it. For now, I was simply sharpening myself.
"Seli, can you help me with the arithmetic assignment?"
"Sure. Let's go to my room."
"Okay."
My relationship with Selena had progressed quite a bit. Or rather, I wasn't sure if progress was the right word. It simply felt like we were being honest with each other. Still, lately Selena seemed to especially enjoy moments when it was just the two of us.
"Rui, what should we do after morning classes?"
"Prepare for the afternoon ones?"
"Then we'll need tea and snacks. Wait just a moment."
"No, I'm really not that hungry…."
"Eat what you're given."
"Yes, ma'am."
Sometimes Selena took care of me to an almost excessive degree. And while I leaned on her just a little and endured the brutal lessons at the Ribein mansion—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Lady Selena, you have visitors."
"Who is it?"
"The head of the Gluwin family and their second daughter."
"Tsk."
Tsk? I watched Selena's expression while sipping my tea. It was extremely rare for her to show her dislike so openly—especially toward someone else's guests. But then again… I had heard that the Gluwin family was practically the top client of their trading company. That was the kind of gossip I picked up while secretly snacking with the mansion's servants.
"Since you have guests, maybe I should head out?"
"No. Mother will handle the actual conversation and business talks. I'll just greet them and come right back. Rui, you stay here."
"O-okay."
I had considered swinging a wooden sword since being alone felt awkward, but Selena's firm tone made me decide to sit quietly and enjoy the tea and snacks.
"I'll be back soon, okay?"
"Got it."
She even glanced back through the crack in the door, looking strangely anxious. I wasn't a child. I sat obediently and sipped my tea.
. . . . .
"Haaam."
No matter how long I waited, Selena didn't return. I wasn't exactly dependent on her, but it was getting boring.
"Up we go."
Wandering around the mansion freely didn't feel right. After all, I was still just a guest. Reading Selena's books without permission also felt wrong. After pacing the room aimlessly for a while, I opened the window to get some fresh air.
Clack!
"Phew. That's better."
A cool breeze rushed in. I brushed my hair back and casually looked outside. The view was of a breathtaking garden and a carriage. Huh. Today, one particularly extravagant carriage stood out.
Is that the guests' carriage?
It was the most ornate one I'd ever seen in my life. The Ribein family carriage that Lady Iselina usually used was impressive, but not this blatantly luxurious. The lavish decorations and gold embroidery practically screamed wealth. I rested my chin on my hand, quietly admiring it.
That was when it happened.
"……"
"……?"
My eyes met those of a blonde girl. She had beautiful golden hair tied in twin tails and held a fancy parasol. If Selena was beautiful like a sculpture, this girl was beautiful like a doll. She seemed to have noticed me first.
Since I didn't even know her name, staring felt awkward. I cleared my throat.
"Ahem."
"……"
Even as I slowly backed away from the window, her gaze never left me. I finally returned to my seat and went back to munching on snacks.
Munch, munch.
How much time had passed? After waiting quite a while, the door finally opened and—
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Angelica de Gluwin."
"…Pardon?"
It wasn't Selena. The girl who suddenly introduced herself was none other than the one who had been looking up at me from outside the window. Up close, her entire being seemed to sparkle. It was almost blinding. No, seriously—the gold embroidery on her clothes made her even more dazzling…!
I sat there in a daze before finally managing a reply.
"Ah, I'm Ruines."
"As expected! Even your name is magnificent, Lord Ruines!"
"Huh?"
The sudden compliment caught me completely off guard—especially delivered in such a bright, cheerful voice. Maybe all noble young ladies were naturally kind like this?
While I was still processing, the girl who had introduced herself as Angelica offered an elegant bow.
"Unfortunately, I can only greet you today before I must leave. I truly hope we meet again so we can talk properly."
"Ah, yes. I'd like that too."
"Then I'll take my leave!"
Step, step. She walked down the hallway with a stride that was both confident and graceful. I stared blankly at Angelica's retreating figure.
What was that about? Did she really come all the way back up from the carriage just to say hello? Of course greetings were important, but she didn't have to go that far….
"Rui."
"Whoa?!"
Selena had somehow snuck right up behind me. I jumped like a startled cat.
"Let's talk inside."
"Why?"
"…"
"Understood."
Unable to resist the silent pressure, I quietly followed Selena back into the room. Click!