Secret (2)
Secret (2)
Strictly speaking, a vacation was much like a working person's leave.
Of course, compared to a laborer's, it was considerably longer, and children of a social standing high enough to attend the academy usually spent their vacations relaxing comfortably rather than working.
Claire and Leo could have done the same.
However, both had an immense desire to improve. Neither Leo nor Claire was unwilling to train diligently throughout the vacation to hone their swordsmanship skills.
Furthermore, during the semester the two had actually met the 'Sword Saint.' The time they had been able to learn from him was very short, but in that period they had received the title of 'disciples' from the Sword Saint.
And they had been told to come and learn whenever they had time.
The vacation period was, naturally, an excellent time to do exactly that.
Thinking so, Leo and Claire planned to leave for the north right after the visit from the two imperial princesses ended.
Of course, life would be nice if it always went according to one's own plans, but—
"Claire, you remain here."
Naturally, it was not always so.
"Mother?"
However, such things did not always turn out as one thought, or as one wished.
"It is a good thing to carry on the Grace-style swordsmanship. Having such a fine master as the Sword Saint, it would be right to devote yourself gratefully to your training. It is not an opportunity given to just anyone."
"Mother, then—"
"Nevertheless."
Baroness Grace exhaled softly and said to Claire,
"Claire, aren't you about the age to begin preparing for marriage now?"
"...... Huh?"
Claire's face went blank. With her mouth slightly open, she stared at her mother, her expression holding the emotion of, 'What do you mean?'
"I am not telling you to marry right this moment. It is something you can think about slowly after you become an adult. But even so, you should have the basic knowledge."
As she listened, Claire's face gradually flushed red.
"At the very least...... I must ensure that your deportment is above reproach and make you a proper 'young lady.' Let us focus your education on that this vacation."
"But, Mother—"
Claire protested with a pleading expression, but Baroness Grace's mind seemed firm.
"Claire, you are a daughter of our house, are you not? I think you must receive a proper education so that you will not be found wanting when you marry someone."
And in those words, there was an affection she could not hide.
Claire had no choice but to be at a loss for words.
Seeing Claire's dazed expression, Baroness Grace smiled faintly and said,
"Still, if during this vacation you can improve your deportment enough to represent our family, I can permit you to go north for swordsmanship training in the winter."
"Huh?"
And at those words, Claire's eyes widened.
"Truly? Truly, Mother?"
Watching Claire bounce up and down on the spot as she said that, Baroness Grace let out a small sigh.
"...... Very well. But first, let us do something about those impetuous movements of yours."
*
"Heh heh......."
Hearing Leo's story, the Sword Saint Frederick laughed dejectedly.
"It seems that people's perceptions do not change so easily even with the passing of time."
And he shook his head in dismay as he said,
"That even such an enlightened family cannot help but have such thoughts."
Frederick, who had been murmuring thus,
"Well, even if the person herself thinks it does not matter in the slightest, other nobles may well think differently."
and he nodded as if he understood the fact that one of his disciples had not come.
"Well, that is fine. A child like that will easily overcome such adversity. Let us hope that I can teach both of you properly in the winter."
Frederick uncrossed his arms and said,
"Then, for a start, shall we calm our minds through meditation?"
"Understood."
Leo nodded with a serious expression and sat down.
That was at the end of July.
*
A month under the Sword Saint's guidance was an extremely short period. The Sword Saint had spent his entire life, decades, honing his swordsmanship, and to inherit all of it naturally required a comparable amount of time.
Nevertheless, that did not mean there was no progress during that single month.
Leo grew able to approach swordsmanship with greater certainty and composure, and the tip of his blade became far sharper and more precise. Whereas before his skill and Claire's had been nearly equal, now he felt he might be able to beat her by a narrow margin.
Staying in a cabin built in a place that was practically a cliff, even though the weather had warmed, also proved quite helpful. Living in a building that barely kept out the wind, and one constructed in such treacherously rugged terrain, was training in itself.
Therefore, despite the physical discomfort, Leo felt satisfaction as he sensed his own steady growth.
"Hmm."
While he was calming his mind through meditation as usual, Leo heard the Sword Saint make that sound.
Gently opening his eyes and looking up at the Sword Saint, he saw the old man resting his chin on his hand and staring at the cabin's thin wall. Of course, he was not looking at the wall but at what lay beyond it.
"It seems we have an uninvited guest."
Sword Saint Frederick said that, then placed his hand on the basket full of herbs sitting on the table.
"Could it be Instructor Jennifer?"
"That's not her gait. If it were her, she'd come brazenly without concealing her steps. Besides, her steps would not be so unsteady either."
Frederick's eyes narrowed. Though the footsteps were unfamiliar, he did not think they belonged to a master so formidable as to be a threat to the Sword Saint.
On the other hand, he felt almost no bloodlust. Usually, those without skill failed to hide their killing intent and broadcast their presence everywhere, failing any ambush. Had they been skilled, they would have concealed their bloodlust, approached, and cleanly brought down their target with a single stab.
Then, could it truly be a mere visitor? Or perhaps someone who had been climbing the mountain for fun and become stranded?
Well, it did not matter either way.
Frederick thought as he gripped the basket tightly.
"......."
Without any particular hesitation, the other party came straight to the door of Sword Saint Frederick's cabin and boldly flung it open.
Frederick estimated the moment the door opened and immediately hurled the basket.
As the door opened, the basket flew, scattering the herbs inside in all directions—
and struck exactly, dead center on the forehead of a girl coming through the door.
"Eek!?"
At the unexpectedly adorable sound, Frederick blinked. The same was true of Leo. From his cross-legged meditative posture, he turned only his upper body to stare toward the door.
The girl, who had fallen squarely on her backside and was rubbing her head, appeared quite delicate at first glance. Though that was not to say she lacked any feminine beauty whatsoever.
To the girl, who was rubbing her forehead with tears just beginning to bead at the corners of her eyes,
"Sylvia?"
Leo asked in a somewhat dazed voice.
The girl called Sylvia blinked as though she had only just realized she was sitting on the floor. She seemed to have momentarily forgotten the fact that her forehead hurt.
After a brief spell with that blank expression, the girl suddenly wore a startled look—
"Again!"
she shouted—
*
I'd hit my forehead on that damned basket so many times and yet I'd forgotten again.
Well, it was only natural since I hadn't come back for months...... but it was embarrassing nonetheless.
Forget the Sword Saint—Leo inside there had seen me, too.
"Hoo."
I, having turned back time by a few seconds, composed myself and opened the door once more.
Creeeak. The ill-fitting door, which clearly did not look like a professional's handiwork, opened with that sound.
And what came into view was a basket flying straight at my face.
I raised the hand not holding the doorknob and caught the basket.
Snatch.
Fortunately, it did not seem to have been thrown with any genuine intent to kill me, so I managed to catch it quite stylishly.
"Ho-oh."
Frederick let out an exclamation I'd heard a handful of times before.
"Sylvia?"
This time, the voice that reached me held no bewilderment or confusion: it was purely one of surprise.
Pretending to be as composed as possible, I calmly set the basket down on a nearby table.
"So you are Sylvia."
Frederick looked thoughtful for a moment, then soon wore a somewhat ferocious smile at the corner of his lips.
"I see. You must be that child who was said to have distinguished herself on the battlefield the other day."
...... What was this?
Why did his reaction seem different from when I first met him?
For a moment I had the thought that Frederick might actually remember me, but fortunately, that didn't appear to be the case.
Rather,
"If you are my disciple's close friend, it would be good to see a measure of your skill."
He was holding a sword.
No, I had to wait a moment.