Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Northern Grand Duchess's Secret Friend (3)
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"This is the main building. My father and mother use it, there's a meeting room, we eat meals here, and, and, ugh... Ah, anyway, there's a lot..."
Elena stuck out her lips in a pout. She seemed frustrated that the things she'd memorized so diligently weren't coming to mind.
How could I not understand that feeling? I'm the one who got the very first question wrong on the college entrance exam math section. Back then, I really thought the world was crumbling.
I wanted to cheer her on with a 'It's okay! It's okay!', but I couldn't bring myself to do it. After all, I was right in the heart of enemy territory—the Frozenheart Ducal Family.
"I understand, Your Ladyship."
"Good. Then let's head that way."
As if eager to make up for her earlier slip, Elena quickened her steps.
I followed behind her, accompanied by one of the servants.
"This is the dining hall. The knights and servants use it for meals."
"Then I suppose I'll be using it too?"
"Uh...?"
Elena's eyes began to shake violently.
'That wasn't my intention...'
I'd asked an easy question on purpose, hoping to give her a bit of confidence.
I hadn't even dreamed it would put her in a tough spot.
I needed to smooth this over somehow...
That was when Elena's gaze shifted to my side—to the servant, to be precise. She was boldly attempting to cheat off her notes.
In a college entrance exam room, she'd be ejected immediately, but this was the Frozenheart Ducal Castle.
She had the home-field advantage, letting her cheat without limits.
Wow, our lady is impressive.
"R-right! You use it here too!"
"I see. Thank you for answering my question."
I bowed with 90% apology and 10% gratitude.
I felt a slightly prickly stare from the side, but I ignored it.
I really hadn't expected things to turn out like this.
"Then let's move on."
"Yes, Your Ladyship."
After that, Elena and I toured the castle grounds. The armory full of all sorts of cold weapons, the stables for the horses, and more. The estate was vast, so there were plenty of facilities.
We even climbed the watchtower, but darkness had already fallen over the world, so we couldn't see a thing.
"This is the last stop."
With those words from Elena, we arrived at the training grounds. Wooden dummies stood here and there, and well-worn wooden swords were neatly stacked in one corner.
'I wonder if I can keep learning the sword here...'
A proper servant needs to handle a sword proficiently.
That's what my father had drilled into me endlessly—enough to bore holes through my ears.
I had learned some swordsmanship before being conscripted by Elena, but only for about a month—a very short time.
I wasn't sure what counted as 'proficient,' but I definitely wasn't there yet.
Well, it's still too early anyway. I'm busy enough just adapting here.
"Alright. Time to head back."
Elena strode forward. The corners of her mouth were slightly upturned; she seemed pleased to have finished her prepared tour without a hitch.
Soon enough, we returned to where we'd started—to the mansion where Elena lived.
"See you both tomorrow."
With that, Elena entered her room. It was quite late, so she was probably heading straight to bed.
That left just me and the servant who'd been with us all day.
I raised my head and glanced to the side, meeting her eyes.
"Your name was...?"
"Luke. Luke Nineheart."
"Then I'll call you Luke. Have you eaten, Luke?"
"The last meal was lunch in the carriage..."
Was I too tense? Even though I'd skipped dinner, I didn't feel hungry.
But you have to eat even if you're not hungry during your growth spurt. I was committing a grave sin against my own body—a true criminal of adolescence.
"Then let's go to the dining hall together. I can at least offer some bread and simple soup."
"I'd appreciate that."
I'd thought she was stiff, but maybe not entirely.
Perhaps she was wearing a mask only in front of Elena, just like me.
Come to think of it, most servants probably did the same. You can't show your true face in front of your master.
We left the mansion together, and soon arrived at the servants' dining hall.
It was late evening, so the building was quite dark inside. Without the lamp she'd brought, we wouldn't have seen a thing.
"Please wait here a moment."
She set the lamp on the table and headed somewhere.
'Is it okay in the dark...?'
As I pondered that and took a seat, a loud clatter came from the direction she'd gone—like metal pots colliding while empty. Something had happened.
Relying on the lamp's light, I hurried toward the noise and found her there.
She'd collapsed on the floor amid scattered dishes, clutching a loaf of bread like it was precious.
"...Are you alright?"
"The bread's safe."
"Why didn't you take the lamp?"
"Aren't you scared of the dark...? I thought you would be."
Of course, a normal nine-year-old would be. But I'm an amazing nine-year-old who isn't afraid of the dark.
Of course, saying that would brand me a lunatic on day one, so I just gave an awkward smile.
"Wait just a bit. I'll boil some soup."
She stood up, placed the bread somewhere safe, and set a pot on the stove.
What I witnessed next was a miracle of this world—or rather, magic. A spark ignited at her fingertips, and soon the firewood blazed to life.
I knew magic existed in this world, but seeing it firsthand was another matter. Neither my father nor mother had any connection to it.
"First time seeing magic?"
"Yes, it's an incredible ability."
"This is nothing special. Anyone with even a tiny bit of talent can do it. Who knows, maybe you can too."
Thanks for the kind words, but sadly, I have no magic talent. Anyone who's read the original story would know that.
'Elena, on the other hand, has tremendous talent.'
Talent rivaling that of a Magic Tower Lord. But it never bloomed because Luke, under the duchess's orders, fed her a poisonous herb.
The herb caused mana sclerosis in Elena, leaving her unable to use magic and living on borrowed time.
In the end, the future Magic Tower Lord cured her illness, and Luke was executed gruesomely...
'But that's got nothing to do with me.'
Assassination? No idea. Not interested anyway. Elena's servant and secret friend—that's perfect as is.
Anyway, something smells delicious...
"It's ready. Let's go."
While I was lost in thought, the soup had finished.
I left the kitchen with her and soon sat across from each other at the table. Freshly boiled soup and bread sat before us.
The bread was a bit stale, but dipping it in the soup made it decent.
"I'll be with you for the next week. Handover... might sound too formal. I'll just teach you the basics of servant life."
I'd been feeling lost, so this was a relief.
The Middle Ages gets it right—why do modern predecessors quit without any handover...?
Not that dwelling on it now matters, but it irked me anyway.
"You seemed really interested in the sword training grounds earlier. Do you like swordsmanship?"
"To be honest, my father trained me briefly. I'd like to continue here if possible."
"It's not common for servants to wield swords, but I'll ask around tomorrow."
"Thank you...!"
I never expected my predecessor to go this far. They say no one who feeds you is bad—and it's true.
Thirty minutes later, my thoughts shattered.
"When I was in the Northern Knight Order, if a bear showed up, we'd charge yelling 'Food!' and..."
Proud former Northern Knight Order member, Yulia.
Like many ex-military types, once she started on knight stories, she wouldn't stop.
I thought I'd escaped my father's knight tales, but there was a trap here too.
This is why the military sucks.
The next day, just as dawn was breaking.
The unfamiliar ceiling that greeted my naturally waking eyes was...
'What the...'
I panicked for a moment, but then yesterday's events came back.
I was in the Frozenheart Ducal Family—no, in the room next to Elena's.
With a sigh of relief, I finished dressing, and just then, a knock came.
I'd mostly finished preparing, so I stepped out right away.
"Good morning, Luke."
"Good morning, Yulia."
Yulia waited outside, dressed in a crisp maid uniform.
Soon, we started walking together.
One, two, three... eight, nine, ten. Exactly ten steps later, we stopped.
We'd arrived at Elena's door.
My first day as a servant was about to begin.