Surviving the Mansion (3)
The commotion finally settled down. Apparently, it was only natural for kids to fight and brawl when they were young. Iselina, along with the head of the Gluwin family, seemed genuinely excited. There was even talk of whether Selena might want to formally learn swordsmanship now. On top of that, she had received an invitation from the academy, advice from a renowned knight suggesting she study under them, and even a marriage proposal from a prestigious swordsmanship family… Ahem. As expected, Selena really did live in a completely different world from me. If even one of those offers had come my way, I would have bowed my head in gratitude. Though I might actually consider that last one.
“Lady Selena? Not just anyone receives an invitation from the academy, you know.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you tearing it up…?”
Riiip—
Selena tore the invitation to shreds right in front of Angelica. The academy had only invited her because the Gluwin family had highly recommended her… Selena, who had always shown such a strong desire to learn. Even I felt it was a shame, knowing that side of her.
Meanwhile, Selena glanced at me before speaking as if it were nothing.
“It’s not that. I just don’t think there’s anything worth learning all the way over there. This is enough.”
“Ugh. Are you really dismissing an academy with centuries of tradition?!”
“I’m not dismissing it. I just don’t want to go.”
“Ughhh. Well… even I sometimes don’t feel like going places, but still…”
Come to think of it, Selena had grown quite comfortable with Angelica. And Angelica seemed to like that about her too—her reactions had become much richer. Hmm. Now that things had come to this, I hoped the two of them would get along even better.
“What about you, Sir Ruines?”
“Pardon?”
Had she caught me watching the two of them with a pleased expression? Angelica made the suggestion with a meaningful look in her eyes.
“With our family’s wealth and influence, we could easily send one more invitation. Would you be interested in the academy?”
The academy, huh… Of course I had thought about it. I had always wanted to learn systematically from someone. But if I did that, I would end up owing a debt to Angelica’s family on top of already relying on the Ribein family while going back and forth from the mansion. Besides, Selena—the one I owed the most to—had torn up her own invitation and said she wouldn’t go. Could I really attend the academy alone? Or rather, would I even want to?
“Thank you for the offer, but I must decline.”
“Argh! Do you have any idea how important an academy diploma is?! Everyone regrets it bitterly later?!”
Angelica was practically fuming, which looked so ridiculous that she even lost her usual noble, composed demeanor. Realizing her slip, she quickly straightened her posture and sat back down.
“Ahem. I only said that because I would hate to see you miss out. If you’d like, our family could even sponsor someone of your caliber.”
“Sponsor me?”
“Yes. Of course, I have no personal motives whatsoever. Absolutely none!”
“……”
It looked like she had plenty of them, no matter how you looked at it. When I stared at her pointedly, she cleared her throat.
“Well then, let’s end our discussion here for today. I’ll make sure to visit often in the future.”
“Why?”
“W-why? For our mutual growth, of course?”
“Rui and I are already growing plenty on our own.”
“That’s… true.”
“Argh! I’ll be back next time! Just know that!”
Bang!
…….
Once Angelica left, silence descended. It felt like a storm had passed. It wasn’t exactly noisy or unpleasant—watching her was actually pretty entertaining. It might be nice if she came by often to chat.
“By the way.”
“Hm?”
“Don’t you want to go? To the academy.”
“I do want to go, but…”
I slowly looked around the Ribein family mansion. Then my gaze drifted far off toward the chief’s cabin where Eila lived, and even further to the village itself. Only after taking it all in did I realize once again just how much I loved this place.
“I like it better here after all.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Seli’s here, Eila’s here, Lady Iselina’s here… everyone’s here.”
“Mmm.”
Selena’s cheeks flushed a faint pink. I had grown used to life in the mansion by now, and I didn’t want to worry Eila either. For the time being, I wanted to stay here and learn all sorts of things with Selena. The etiquette classes weren’t all that boring either. I was just starting to settle into this lifestyle.
……Which was probably why.
“Rui? Seli? Starting tomorrow, a new tutor will be coming to the house.”
“……!?”
Y-you’re adding even more?
Of course, I couldn’t say that out loud. Not after receiving endless trust and investment from the Ribein family. Besides, if even Seli wasn’t complaining, I had no right to.
“Hehe. Don’t worry too much. This time it’s a class that Rui will really enjoy.”
“One that I’ll enjoy?”
“Yes. And Seli will be taking it with you, of course. You have to take responsibility for what you said.”
“……”
Iselina’s meaningful words. Selena’s expression remained languid yet serious as always.
And the next day.
“I am Melissa, and I will be teaching you both swordsmanship.”
“……!”
The new tutor was in charge of swordsmanship. At a glance, her solid build and dignified impression were striking. Despite being a woman, her toned, muscular body gave off the aura of a trained soldier. No—if her body was this flawlessly honed, she was beyond even a regular soldier…
“In the past, I served in the Royal Knight Order.”
“Y-yes?!”
“Rui.”
Selena’s calm voice urged me to settle down. But I couldn’t calm myself so easily. The words “Royal Knight” had completely stolen my mind. I was going to learn the sword from a real knight. From an actual knight?
My hands and feet were trembling, and I felt like I might cry. There were so many things I wanted to ask right then and there.
But I held it in. This was exactly when I needed to stay composed. Especially since I wasn’t the only one learning—Selena would be with me. I quickly gathered my scattered excitement and sat up straight with perfect posture.
Melissa looked back and forth between us before slowly opening her firmly closed lips.
“Then, Lady Selena and Young Master Ruines. I will see you both in the garden after you change into appropriate attire.”
“Yes ma’am!”
“Understood.”
I moved with the sharpness of someone who had seized the opportunity of a lifetime. Probably even more briskly than during my recruit days in my previous life?
“Rui. Do you like her that much?”
Selena suddenly asked. Her expression and eyes were the same as usual, so she was probably asking out of pure curiosity. Of course someone like me, who dreamed of becoming a knight, couldn’t help but admire Melissa.
“Yeah. She’s a knight, after all. How could I not like her?”
“Hmm. I see. So to you, Melissa is like a knight on a white horse.”
“……Huh?”
…….
I wasn’t sure what she meant. The atmosphere somehow felt dangerous. I carefully looked at Selena and asked,
“Why are you bringing up a knight on a white horse?”
“Because it seems like something you might unconsciously think.”
“I-is that so?”
“Yes. So be careful. We only know that Melissa used to be a knight. No matter how much Mother invited her, we should stay cautious.”
“If Lady Iselina called her, doesn’t that mean she’s already been vetted?”
“Rui. Mother is the one person whose true intentions are hardest to read. Always keep that in mind.”
Selena gave me a sharp warning. Just as the two of us had spent ten years learning about each other, Selena must have seen sides of her mother Iselina that I didn’t know about.
“Okay. I understand.”
“I was just worried about you.”
Squeeze.
We held hands warmly and reaffirmed our friendship. When our hands touched, Selena’s face seemed to turn slightly red—then again, maybe not. A little while later, after changing into light clothes and putting on a few protective pads, I tried to head to the garden while tightly holding Selena’s hand.
“R-Rui. We’re about to start training, so it might not be good to keep holding hands like this.”
“Holding what?”
“……Hands.”
“Ah, sorry.”
Now that she mentioned it, my palm was even sweaty. Was it because Selena’s hand felt warmer than it looked? Or was I nervous about the upcoming lesson?
“……”
Selena let out a small sigh and clutched a handkerchief tightly. Her pretty face was flushed, as if she was nervous too. After all, this would be her first time formally learning the sword as well.
“You’ve arrived, both of you.”
““Yes.””
When we stepped into the garden, we saw Melissa standing tall with dignity. She truly embodied the image of a knight. And the confident voice that flowed from her lips made her seem even more knightly.
“Since we’re already running late, we’ll move straight into the lesson. I trust you’ve both studied the virtues, etiquette, and mindset required of a knight. Even if you haven’t, those are lifelong tasks for anyone who aims to embody true knighthood. The Goddesses will surely bless your paths ahead. Then, at the request of the family head, I will now provide you both with what little guidance I can—primarily through practical training.”
““……””
……W-was this what a real knight was like? Even after hearing it, it didn’t feel real. Just listening made the path of knighthood shimmer before my eyes. Not just me—Selena was also listening to Melissa’s words as if entranced.
And then.
“Now then, both of you.”
““Yes?””
Melissa looked down at us with her characteristically upright gaze.
“Enough talk. Come at me.”
““??””
For a moment, I wondered if I had heard correctly.