The Tutor's Gentle Afternoon
"Sophia~"
"Yes, miss."
"Got a moment?"
"Could you spare some time?"
".... Yes?"
After roughly cleaning Kyle's room, she came out and ran into Catherine and Lily.
The two suddenly followed her and took her somewhere.
They brought her to outside the main building of the castle.
"....?"
Why was she here?
She hadn't left the castle completely but was outside the building.
"Sophia, I have a question."
"Question, miss...?"
What question are they asking outside like this.
Since she came out suddenly, she was a bit chilly without the coat Kyle gave her.
The two ladies who brought her also looked cold, but she decided to listen anyway.
"Yes."
"By any chance, how are you getting along with Kyle lately?"
"With the young master? We live as usual, no different..."
"Is that so?"
"Yes..."
Suddenly a question about her relationship with Kyle.
Since they ask about Kyle out of the blue, maybe they have some interest in him?
That's why they came outside, because there are many ears inside the castle.
"Hmph.... Then, how long do you plan to be Kyle's private tutor?"
"I haven't been doing the tutoring duties lately."
She had debuted in society, and Kyle was busy with successor lessons, so no time.
She had already taught him everything over the years.
According to Louise, she was proficient in magic too.
Elin said she had learned enough to wield a sword.
So from this year, Kyle was mainly doing successor lessons.
"The young master has been doing things related to that with the head of the family for the successor succession."
Because there were no other lessons, she had more time with Kyle.
It felt better to be with him than to be apart.
Since they've known each other for a long time, maybe that's why.
"I see..."
"Hmm.... Could we take a slight look around Eristirol with you?"
"That's not possible."
"Why? Did Kyle tell you not to go somewhere?"
"No."
It's not that.
Kyle never told her not to do something.
Rather, he always asked questions.
"It's almost time for the young master to return."
"......"
Yes, it's almost evening.
The time when Kyle would return to the castle after his lesson with the head.
"The young master always returns at this time. So I can't go now."
If she had asked a little earlier, maybe, but now she couldn't.
Because it's the time Kyle returns.
She had to receive Kyle's clothes that were dirty from the soil and hand them to other servants, or take something Kyle brought.
"I see..."
"Yes, and I have to ask the young master, so for now, it's not possible. I'm sorry."
She bowed to Catherine and apologized.
Catherine looked at her with a slightly regretful look.
But she had no choice.
After all, her master was Kyle.
*
"Sophia, thank you."
"You're welcome."
Even today, at the time when the sun was setting, Kyle and the head returned.
Today, his shirt was stained with blood, as if he had caught some beast.
She was a bit worried if he had some injury somewhere.
"Young master, are you not injured anywhere?"
"I'm fine."
"Is that so...?"
Since he said he's fine, he probably is.
But she worries if he might be hiding an injury.
"Take off your clothes first."
"... Yes?"
"You don't catch a cold anyway, do you? It's better to take off clothes that are so dirty."
Even if pants are okay, top can be removed.
"Take them off."
"......"
Kyle handed her the shirt he took off.
It was a shirt with some blood still dripping, but better for her to hold it than him.
By the way, this shirt doesn't have the scent that sometimes comes from Kyle.
"Young master, go wash up right away. Servants are waiting."
"Yes."
She walked into the castle with Kyle, holding his dirty shirt.
Fortunately, no wounds on her body.
She had worried if he might be hiding, but luckily not.
"Young master, won't you go see the duchy with the guests tomorrow?"
"Yes?"
"The two young ladies told me to go see the duchy..."
"Sophia said she would go?"
"...?"
Why are you asking that?
Of course, she should have asked for permission.
"Since the young master is returning soon, I refused today."
"... Is that so."
"Yes."
I don't know why she's so worried.
How much has she done as a servant that she wouldn't do this much.
Is the trust this low...?
"You don't have to worry. The young master won't suddenly make plans with another person. So, are you going tomorrow?"
"... Yes, let's go."
**
In that sense, she came down to the duchy with Kyle, Catherine, and Lily.
Since it was summer, the murderous cold wasn't there.
Just, if you go out without clothes for 30 minutes, you die?
"...."
"...."
"Young master, pay more attention to your clothes. There are young ladies too, so you can't dress too casually."
"Sophia, it's fine."
"What are you talking about.... Isn't this the clothes you wear when you exercise or something?"
"It's fine."
"Haa..."
When she went out with him, she wore nice clothes, but this time she came out too casually.
Pants that she wears when exercising, top that she wears when teaching Louise.
It wasn't stylish.
Actually, thanks to Kyle's appearance, it was somewhat stylish.
"Why is Kyle here? We only asked Sophia."
"I asked the young master. The young master didn't go to see the duchy this month either."
"... I see. Kyle, you've improved since before?"
"Compliment, thank you."
Too many flashy members.
Two children from the ducal family, one from the count's side.
If they walked around the capital with this group, they would have decorated the front page of the newspaper.
Of course, the sharp-eyed Eristirol people didn't give any notice.
Rather, they treated them normally so that our group could have fun comfortably.
Of course, it looked a bit uncomfortable to her eyes.
"Since we've already eaten, let's do some sightseeing as you said."
"Yes."
"Being guided by the prince of Eristirol and beautiful servants is refreshing."
Lily attached the word "beautiful" to her.
Seeing a pretty girl in her late teens say that to her, she seems to want points from Kyle.
Otherwise, no reason to say it.
"Hmm.... What is that over there?"
"It looks like some construction site."
Lily and Catherine were curious while looking at the construction site of the Great Cathedral.
Kyle started building a cathedral for the people of the duchy because he liked the great cathedral he saw in the capital before.
Since they don't believe in the religion commonly believed in the empire here, it's called a temple, not a cathedral.
And it said that when there are things like weddings or memorial services, the local residents can use it for the purpose.
"Eristirol's upcoming temple."
"Temple?"
"Yes, it will be used as one worship hall together with Borussia's great cathedral. Although the north believes in religion, it wasn't on the scale of the capital, so they decided to build it this time."
"Hmm.... Well, the grandeur of the great cathedral is definitely impressive."
"Isn't there a cathedral in White too? I saw it when I went to play before, but White's was prettier."
"Grandeur and beauty are different things. Grandeur is Kyle, beauty is Sophia."
The noble young master and young ladies continued to talk in front of the construction site.
Because the construction scale of the temple was so large, it was enough conversation for them.
In fact, the residents liked the fact that a big worship hall was being built among them.
Because it's different from doing it in a house or a really small hall, and gathering dozens or hundreds of people.
"Hmm.... Is there any place with a good view around here, Kyle?"
"A place with a good view.... It's a bit far here. I don't recommend it, I recommend elsewhere."
Kyle said that and moved his steps again.
He must know there's a good view place, but why didn't he go?
She had been there several times with him.
"..."
Maybe because she thought it wasn't good enough to show to the two.
I don't know.
Well, Kyle would naturally seduce them well.
If there's no interest, he wouldn't.
Both didn't seem bad people, so she was in favor.
A white-haired couple would fit well.
Originally, in comics or novels, couples with white-haired protagonist and black-haired heroine, but since no black-haired in the young ladies, maybe white-haired would fit better?
Catherine had brown hair, not black.
Black and brown are completely different.
"Wow.... Is this the knight order that Eristirol is proud of?"
"Yes."
The place they arrived was not the duchy but the training ground of the castle's knight order.
It was a mistake to bring the young ladies to such a place, but they seemed to be watching the scene interestingly.
Thinking about it, in this world, there are those who die loving knights.
So, knight and noble romance novels must be selling as monthly bestsellers.