Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Yelena, the Etiquette Instructor
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A week had passed since wrapping up matters with the Engineering Research Institute.
Nothing particularly noteworthy happened in that time.
As Nailus had predicted, the Mage Association dispatched 6th Grade Mages, allowing the ice production to wrap up without a hitch.
True to their rank, the quality was noticeably superior to what the 1st and 4th Grade Mages had managed.
The Engineering Research Institute sent weekly progress reports, but honestly, I couldn't fully grasp them.
Still, I could tell things were progressing smoothly, so I left some encouraging words.
And finally, the monster subjugation.
The operation at Arpal Mountain—one of the three major peaks alongside Arseta and Argon Mountains—concluded without incident as well.
No one was hurt, and there were no surprises like the Giant Black Bear from Argon Mountain.
The only disappointment was the lack of any bear-like monsters among the subjugated beasts, leaving me no chance to boost Yelena's favorability.
Perhaps because of that missed opportunity, I caught sight of her eyebrows furrowing as she realized there was nothing behind me.
'No way she was actually expecting something... ...No way?'
Could it be Yelena didn't care whether it was bear hide or just any monster pelt?
I should toss one her way later.
In any case, life as Cassius was sailing along smoothly.
"Master, Count Kreuz has requested an audience."
...Up until that other northern noble came calling.
The Northern Grand Duke.
This character archetype has appeared across numerous stories.
As such, it's depicted in a wide variety of ways, with depictions especially varying based on the power afforded by the grand duke rank.
It's often portrayed as a duke ruling the north outright or a margrave-like figure on the frontier.
On the flip side, some works treat it as another king under the emperor, lording over the vast northern territories.
Until the Ice Flower Melts leans toward the latter.
After all, the territory under the Winterguard Family was absurdly massive.
'The whole domain basically abuts nearly every mountain in the Anantasasha Mountains.'
Those three mountains Cassius had personally handled earlier?
They were all part of the Winterguard Family's direct territories.
Everything I'd dealt with so far had been within those direct holdings.
And Count Kreuz ruled a portion of the grand duchy—think of him that way.
'After the previous grand duke and duchess passed, it basically splintered into semi-independent fiefdoms.'
Maddened by frenzy, Cassius couldn't cover the vast grand duchy.
So after a series of events, the rest of the grand duchy—formerly managed by vassal families under Winterguard—naturally fell under their own control.
And among those vassals, Count Kreuz wielded particularly strong influence.
He could be called the grand duchy's number two without exaggeration.
As a count with major sway over the duchy’s current military strength, he effectively represented the vassal houses.
'In a typical fantasy tale... the already-frenzied Cassius would’ve been dead or deposed by now.'
But the reason that hadn't happened was simple.
Setting all else aside, Cassius himself was simply too powerful.
Even thousands or tens of thousands of soldiers would scatter like leaves in the wind before him—pointless deaths.
'That aside, they say he's the most loyal house...'
His control over the military stemmed from loyalty to the previous grand duke, or so the stories went.
And now, that very man wanted to see me.
'...Probably because of the incidents I've stirred up.'
The affair with the Mage Association was bound to spread, whether I liked it or not.
It was a choice the frenzy-maddened Cassius never would have made, so he was surely coming to gauge the truth.
"Alf, what's Count Kreuz's disposition like?"
"He has sworn eternal loyalty to the Winterguard Family and places great importance on rational judgment and etiquette."
'Loyalty to the Winterguard Family? More like eternal loyalty to Cassius's father.'
Anyway, that detail hardly mattered.
Rational judgment? Not a huge issue. It might feel awkward at times, but the decisions themselves weren't that tough.
The real problem...
...was etiquette.
'...I'm screwed.'
Regrettably, I knew next to nothing about noble etiquette.
Even rummaging through Cassius's memories only turned up faint traces of lessons from long ago.
Years of frenzy had wiped them clean.
"...Put off the meeting with Count Kreuz for a week."
After all, as someone sharing the same grand duchy, he was a top-priority figure I'd have to deal with going forward.
I needed to make a good first impression somehow.
'Ah, but it's already ruined.'
They'd seen the frenzied Cassius for years, after all.
But that was exactly why this was the moment to change that perception.
And for that, preparations were in order.
Delaying for a week was precisely to cram as much etiquette as possible in the interim.
"Alf."
"Yes, Master."
I decided to just come clean.
"......It's been so long since I learned noble etiquette that I've forgotten it all."
"Ah......"
Alf let out a small sigh, his eyes widening.
Then he smiled and said exactly what I wanted to hear.
"I'll summon a teacher."
"Thanks. And since we'll be hosting a guest, we should spruce up the mansion too..."
The current Winterguard estate felt too gloomy and barren.
With more such visits likely ahead, this was a chance to infuse it with a lived-in warmth.
Alf nodded once more at my words.
"I'll find the right person for that as well."
"Good. I'm counting on you."
"Etiquette lessons can start tomorrow right away."
"Perfect."
Seemed Alf already had a teacher in mind.
Having served as butler at Winterguard for decades, he naturally had those connections.
'Hope it's not some strict old granny.'
In some stories, an elderly noblewoman played the etiquette tutor role.
I just hoped she wasn't too harsh.
And the next day, I headed to the room Alf had mentioned.
The teacher was already waiting, so I wrapped up my tasks quickly to get there.
Creeeak.
I pushed open the door—and froze.
"......Yelena?"
For some reason, Yelena stood there, flashing an awkward smile.
Yelena Astria still couldn't quite believe it.
"Ah, you can't use that fork there. For dessert, use this one."
"Hmm......"
Cassius diligently picking up the dessert fork just as she'd instructed—obedient and earnest!
If this were back when she'd heard rumors of his frenzy while staying with her family, she'd never have believed her eyes.
'He's still so awkward at it......'
The lesson had been going for an hour already.
Yelena still couldn't quite meet Cassius's eyes directly.
She just hovered ambiguously behind or beside him, pointing out questions or mistakes.
'......Maybe I should've turned down Head Butler Alf's request yesterday.'
The night before, she'd met Alf through Lucia.
In a quiet room, he'd made his plea.
[Could you perhaps teach our master etiquette?]
[E-Etiquette...?]
It was an utterly out-of-the-blue and bewildering proposal.
Alf then explained the situation.
[Count Kreuz will visit the estate soon. He places great stock in etiquette, and it seems our master is concerned about it.]
There was a deeper reason, it turned out.
Most likely, he was a vassal close to the family.
In other words, Cassius wanted to show his changed self to someone loyal to his house.
'......That Cassius.'
Truth be told, she'd largely shed the notion that he was still gripped by frenzy.
So his desire to display his transformation felt perfectly natural.
Thus, Yelena accepted the request.
Though her ties to high society had frayed, she'd taught etiquette to heirs of other houses a few times for pocket money—no big deal.
'......I only took it so I wouldn't owe him a debt.'
Of course, it was mostly to avoid incurring a future obligation.
So Yelena taught him everything she knew.
"You need to change your walk too. Right now, it looks like you're heading into battle."
"Isn't politics just another kind of fight?"
"Does that make them the same?"
"But changing my gait might make it awkward in actual combat..."
"Your Grace should be able to handle that much."
"Hmm......"
Cassius fumbling for responses to her words... was oddly charming.
Like the black wolf that tamed the northern tundra, now bowing its head and whining at her?
'......Heehee.'
A smile crept onto Yelena's face unbidden.
"Why are you laughing?"
"H-Huh?"
"Don't tell me this is some unnecessary etiquette you're making me suffer through..."
"Hey! It's not like that! Try lifting the teacup this time."
"Can't I just skip tea at meetings...?"
"Don't say such nonsense."
And so, the first lesson—far more enjoyable than expected—drew to a close.