Seria's Forced Day Off
The morning after that warm spring day, I woke up earlier than usual. To be precise, I barely got any sleep because of the fierce blanket-kicking sounds echoing from the next room all night long.
"Gotta go make up with her quick."
Clutching a mug of steaming chocolate milk, I stood in front of Seria's door. Knock knock.
"Seria, you up?"
There was no reply from inside. But the rustling sounds told me she was definitely awake.
"Seria~ I'm coming in?"
"......I've died of shame. Come find me in my next life."
She was really pissed. But I wasn't backing down—I turned the doorknob. It wasn't even locked anyway.
Creak.
"Well, well, if it isn't our knight still cocooned in her blankets."
As I cautiously opened the door and stepped in, there on the bed was a massive pupa bundled head to toe in covers. It twitched when I approached.
"Seria. Show me your face. I warmed up some chocolate milk just for you this morning."
"......Not drinking it."
A muffled grumble came from under the blankets. But I could clearly hear the loud gulp of her swallowing from the gap.
I chuckled and set the mug down on the bedside table.
"You sure? I doubled the cocoa powder—it's super rich and sweet. Even topped it with marshmallows."
"......"
Whoosh. The blanket slid down just a bit, revealing a single red eye peeking out from her messy black hair. There were faint dark circles under it—she must've spent the whole night tossing and turning with those blanket kicks.
"Sorry."
I sat on the edge of the bed and apologized sincerely.
"Dad and I were clueless yesterday. When the earl was praising you, I got so proud I couldn't help myself. And in my defense, he was the one who brought up the pot lid thing first?"
"......That word is banned."
"Got it, got it. Never again. I swear."
I placed a hand over my heart and made a solemn vow. Seria pulled the blanket up to her chin and pouted.
"Come on, Seria. Drink this before it gets cold."
I quickly handed her the chocolate milk before she could turn back into a pupa.
"......"
Thankfully, she took the mug. Whoosh, whoosh. She blew on it cautiously and took a sip. Her furrowed brow relaxed instantly.
See? Sweets are her kryptonite.
"Good?"
"......It's drinkable."
She answered curtly but gulped it down steadily. The brown foam on her lips was so cute I couldn't help but snicker.
Once she set the mug down, Seria shot me a glare, then hung her head. About ten seconds passed before she finally spoke.
"......I felt so pathetic."
"Huh? Pathetic?"
"Yeah. Lady Chloe is pretty, has a great personality, and she even matches your status, Young Master. I'm just...... a commoner orphan turned escort knight."
Her gaze dropped to the floor.
"So when you two were singing my praises yesterday, I was embarrassed, but...... I also felt miserable. Like your real match is someone else, and I'm just forcing my way into that spot."
Her heartfelt confession hit hard. I never imagined the always-strong, confident girl harbored thoughts like that.
I let out a quiet sigh and sat on the edge of her bed.
"Seria."
"......Yeah."
"I've got something to say too."
"Huh?"
She looked up. I paused, then glanced at the small vase on her desk in the corner—and the neatly placed blue ribbon beside it. A single blue rose, carefully preserved and coated to never wilt.
"Yesterday, when I said I got you that ribbon on the cheap? That wasn't true."
"......Huh?"
Her eyes widened.
"I know you treasure it and wear it every day. Honestly, it makes me happy every time I see it. But I got embarrassed showing off in front of others, so I spouted nonsense. Sorry."
Her face flushed bright red at my honest words. She averted her eyes and fidgeted with the blanket edge.
"And the rose too."
I scratched the back of my head and continued.
"The one I gave Lady Chloe? That was just a souvenir for a neighbor's guest. But yours...... you know."
"......"
"It's for my first friend, my first family. There's only one of those in the world."
The room fell deathly silent. Seria stared at me wordlessly. The hurt and bitterness in her red eyes melted away like spring snow.
Gauging her mood, I ventured carefully.
"Um...... Seria."
"Yes."
"Sorry. And thank you—always."
"........."
Overwhelmed, she grabbed both my hands in hers.
"N-no, it's me who should apologize and thank you."
"R-really?"
"........."
"........."
Sudden awkwardness hit. This wasn't why I'd come. Ahem, ahem. We cleared our throats and pulled apart.
"Anyway, you're over it now, right? So that thing from yesterday morning—we'll call it even?"
"......Huh?"
Her expression hardened. Yesterday morning. The infamous Seria Boob Grab Incident.
"Ah."
I'm screwed. By the time I realized, it was too late. Her face was already erupting.
"Y-y-you pervert Young Maaaster!!!"
"Aaaah!!! No, you slapped me first, didn't you!? Doesn't that make us even!?"
"Th-that was because you started the pervy stuff!"
"No, it wasn't on purpose! I tripped and my hand just landed there by accident!"
"Some accident— you grabbed it hard!"
"Reflex! And honestly, who expects them to be that big at 16!?"
"Y-you wanna die!?!?!?"
Shing! Seria yanked her wooden sword from under the bed.
"Waaah!!! I cleared up the misunderstanding, so why does it end like thiiiis!!!"
"You brought this on yourself!!!"
"Aaaah! Give me back my cute, sulky Seria!!"
I bolted out the door without looking back.
"Stay right there!!"
"Save meee!! Seria's whacking people with a wooden sword!!"
Our boisterous morning chase echoed through the Lord's Castle corridors once more. The footsteps pounding behind me were terrifying, but the smile on her lips was brighter and freer than ever.
Yeah, this is how we roll—bickering like this is the best.
For now, I'd toss those weird swirling emotions from the past couple days far away.
Oh, but...... can I survive this?
A warm spring breeze swept through the Lord's Castle courtyard. The frozen winter ground was thawing, and fresh green sprouts poked up from the flowerbeds. Perfect weather for spreading a mat and napping.
"Hah! Hup!"
But the girl sweating buckets in the middle of the courtyard, swinging her wooden sword, didn't seem to care if it was spring or winter.
"......What a stubborn one."
Sitting on a bench under the shade of a tree, I watched Seria and shook my head in admiration.
Morning training, daytime glued to my side as escort, evenings personal practice. Even when I said, "Hey, take a break. You'll wear your bones out," she'd reply with zero flexibility: "A knight's sword can't rust."
Always in that dark navy uniform.
Sure, it fit her perfectly, but she was at that age where girls want to dress up, right? Like at the last Roan Earl's banquet, or wanting pretty dresses like Lady Chloe's casual wear.
Seria had locked herself too tightly into the "knight" mold.
"This won't do."
I jumped up from my seat. As her lord, ensuring my precious escort knight's work-life balance was a noble virtue.
I dashed to Father's office, struck a deal, then headed back to the courtyard.
"Seria!"
"Yes, Young Master? Heading out?"
She wiped the sweat from her forehead with a towel and approached.
"Yeah, going out. But you're on vacation starting today."
"......Huh?"
She froze mid-wipe.
"Vacation? What do you......"
"Exactly what it sounds like. Dad pulled strings for a special day off. No training, no escort duty all day. Just rest."
She panicked at my words.
"No way! A knight can't leave her lord's side! And with all the merchants coming through lately, security is......!"
"It's fine, it's fine. I'm not dying that easily."
I grabbed her shoulders and shoved her toward the castle interior.
"Mason and the guards have security. I'll handle my own protection—I'm a mage, remember? And you're resting today, so no arguments. Come on."
"Y-Young Master! Don't push! I don't need a vacatioooon—!"
"Aunties!! Over here!!"
I yelled down the hall, and the aunties I'd prepped beforehand came bounding out with sparkling eyes.
"Oh my, Seria! Look at you sweating! Let's get you washed up and all dolled up!"
"A-Auntie?! W-wait! My clothes are coming ooooff—kyaaah!"
Seria was dragged mercilessly toward the bath by the aunties. I watched with a satisfied cackle.
"Alright, time for me to get ready too."
I headed to my room and prepped for going out. Instead of my usual comfy casuals, I picked a neat shirt, vest, and well-fitted pants. At 14, I'd shot up in height, and thanks to Seria's hellish training, my shoulders had broadened nicely. The mirror showed a pretty dashing young noble.
This'll make escorting her fun.
I smoothed my hair and headed to the first-floor lobby.
"Young Master, um......"
About thirty minutes later, a timid voice came from the stairs.
"Ah, all washed u......"
I turned to look up—and my jaw dropped.
"......"
Her usually tightly bound black hair cascaded naturally down to her waist. Gone was the drab navy uniform; instead, she wore a light sky-blue dress like spring itself. Its soft curves elegantly hugged her maturing 16-year-old figure, and the glimpse of her white collarbone and neckline was captivating. No makeup, but fresh from the bath, her skin glowed porcelain-smooth, and her shyly flushed cheeks were prettier than any rouge.
......She's insane.
I nearly gasped aloud. Was this really the wild boar battering ram I knew? She could pass for a capital high noble's daughter.
"Y-Young Master? Is it weird? This doesn't suit me after a......"
Seria fidgeted, clutching her skirt hem. As she started to turn back up, I snapped to and blurted,
"N-no! It suits you perfectly! You're gorgeous!"
"......Really?"
"Yeah. Totally. The aunties have killer taste."
Her ear tips turned beet red at the praise. She shyly descended and stood before me. A faint lavender shampoo scent mingled with a sweet floral aroma.
"But you said vacation—why are you dressed to go out too?"
She eyed me up and down.
"Oh, that? You're on vacation today, but I'm not."
I grinned slyly and crooked my right arm toward her.
"Today's the day I escort you. One-day guide and chaperone."
"What?! A lord escorting his knight? There's no such rule!"
"My word is the law in Martel Barony. No backtalk—link arms."
"No way! That's lese-majeste lightning-bolt territory!"
"Come on. My arm's getting tired."
I held firm, and with the maids' giggling proving too much, she hesitantly slipped her arm through mine.
"......You're so stubborn no one can stop you."
"Good, you know it. Let's go. We're hitting every tasty spot and cute cafe in town today—brace yourself."
"Tasty spots? Cafes?"
Her eyes sparkled. Arm in arm, we stepped out the Lord's Castle main gate. Warm spring sunlight poured down on us.