Boyhood (8): The Child-Rearing Diary
Edwin had been turning the theme of a child-rearing diary over in his mind when he dozed right off.
And the next day—
Eyes open at dawn again today.
Back on Earth I was the type who crashed at sunrise and rolled out of bed at lunch. Getting tossed around so hard since I got here must have rewired me into an early riser.
Still, novels always have training start first thing in the morning. Nobody's given me instructions yet, but if I wash up quick and head for the training grounds, that should be fine, right?
He finished a brief shower and stepped out of his room.
Creeeak.
From across the hall, Leonhardt appeared in his sleepwear. Whether it was lack of sleep or sheer ill temper, his expression was thoroughly foul.
"Sneaking out of your room at this hour. What exactly are you after?"
"You said you'd put me through knight training."
"…And who told you to be out before dawn?"
Can't answer, so he changes the subject. Classic.
"Just a thought. Even hunters get up this early to check the traps they set the day before. I figured knights would already be training by now."
"There is no training plan for you yet. Go back inside."
Okay. Waiting period before they assign me a slot, then.
In the novel I just dropped into the middle of everything, but if this is reality they'd have to account for curriculum and the rest. Got it.
Guess I'll go back and sleep a little more.
"Yes, sir."
Edwin turned around, returned to his bed, and lay down. Surprisingly, not a single sound reached him from outside.
The soundproofing's this good, so how did Leonhardt time it perfectly for the moment I stepped out?
Does he have a wiretap in here or something?
Thinking back on his first day in the duchy, it didn't seem impossible. He searched every corner carefully and found nothing suspicious.
Whatever. Sleep.
Edwin was deep in a blissful slumber when a racket yanked him awake.
"He's up!"
The moment he opened his eyes, he found Serifina bouncing up and down beside the bed—and several maids chasing after her, trying to rein her in.
"Young miss, you must not enter another boy's room first thing in the morning."
"You really must leave at once."
"Why? Edwin and I are friends."
"Well… because you're different genders…"
"But Edwin and I are friends."
Still half-asleep, Edwin reflexively reached for his diary. Writing even his unconscious thoughts into the book was a habit so solid that any elementary school teacher would have showered him with praise.
Serifina is so spoiled the maids can't stop her.
Then again, a kid drowning in love from both parents and her older brother—how are the maids supposed to put their foot down?
Now I get why there's a 94% chance she becomes the villainess. And why original-timeline Serifina was so willful and dense.
Nobody ever told her no, so she grew up thinking the world was hers.
One of the roads to a happy ending had just come into view. At the very least, he had to keep her from growing into someone with no manners.
"Serifina…"
"Yeah!"
"Please leave."
"…Why?!"
Serifina's voice shot up. Edwin explained with patient care.
"I'm not dressed."
"Is that true?!"
"Young miss, you must go now!"
The maids fretted and fluttered. Serifina, on the other hand, understood nothing.
"So what?"
"How would you feel if you showed me yourself without any clothes on?"
"Um…"
Serifina's face went scarlet in an instant.
Thank god she at least knows what embarrassment is. If she didn't, I'd have had to give a basic sex-ed talk, and that's not something a boy her age should be explaining.
Wait—if she were actually a regressor, wouldn't she already know this stuff…? Then again, in the original she barged into the male lead's room all the time, so who knows.
"Edwin is a bad boy!"
She snapped, then bolted. Edwin took another quick shower in the adjoining bath and headed to the dining hall for breakfast.
"My little one, why aren't you sitting next to Edwin today?"
"Edwin is bad!"
"What happened?"
One of the maids leaned in and whispered into the Duchess's ear. Hearing the morning's anecdote, Duchess Erhardt smiled with pure delight.
"Edwin."
"Yes."
"I'm so glad you came to us. Keep playing nicely with Serifina from now on."
"I'm not playing with bad Edwin!"
The Duchess then passed along her secret technique for soothing Serifina: a cake as a gift.
"Edwin is my fourth-favorite person in the whole world!"
Aren't you supposed to say "my favorite" in a situation like this?
Even if Mom and Dad take first and second, who's third?
Either way, he spent the entire day playing with Serifina.
I'm pretty sure the original said Serifina started etiquette lessons young.
So why are we just playing…?
Still, I got a little something out of it.
Progress: 2 / 100
No Affinity today.
So daily diary rewards and theme rewards are separate, huh. Yesterday I got a payout for unlocking the child-rearing diary for the first time; maybe from here on it drops every ten points.
Anyway, I really hope I get some training tomorrow.
Another day.
"Today is for studying letters."
"Ehhh… I hate studying!"
"Edwin, you said a bard taught you your letters, didn't you? Even so, you won't know them well, so study together with my little one."
Lesson time with the Duchess herself had arrived.
Why am I spending more time teaching Serifina than learning anything myself?
Wait—is she not a regressor? Is she actually just a little kid? Even if Serifina's a complete airhead, she shouldn't be illiterate. If she couldn't read, she never would have gotten into the Academy in the first place.
Serifina shot to her feet.
"Why'd you stand up all of a sudden?"
"Edwin is bad!"
She stormed off in a huff. Edwin found himself glancing at the Duchess before he could stop himself.
"Serifina ran away again."
"…Does this happen often?"
"Ordinarily she can't last ten minutes. Today, thanks to you, she sat for a whole hour."
The Duchess looked at Edwin with open affection. At first she had brought him into the duchy because he seemed like a child blessed by the spirits, just like her own daughter—and because he was the only friend Serifina had ever chosen for herself. But the longer she watched him, the more her feelings shifted.
Yesterday she had grown fond of him for the good influence he had on Serifina, and his circumstances—orphaned, surviving alone—had moved her. Then Serifina ate her salad. And today he had stretched out her study time. The more she saw of him, the more he pleased her.
It would be wonderful if this child stayed at Serifina's side…
Once he starts knight training, they'll inevitably be apart more often. Perhaps I should find a way to keep them together longer…
Why did I just get chills?
Anyway, Serifina bolted, so today's lessons are over. When am I going to get training… Should I just ask?
Edwin was about to speak when he hesitated mid-breath.
What do I even call her? "My lady," like the knights? "Your Grace"?
Seeing him waver, the Duchess asked gently of her own accord.
"What is it?"
"I… I'm not sure how I should address you."
"Oh dear. Since you're my little one's friend, why not simply call me Mother?"
Uh. No. Absolutely not.
Anyone listening would think I was her son.
Watching Edwin fluster, the Duchess smiled softly.
"I was only joking. Call me Lady Ercia."
"Lady Ercia. When might I begin knight training?"
"…That is Leonhardt's responsibility, so I'm not certain. I'll ask for you."
"Thank you."
While the two of them were chatting warmly, Leonhardt appeared without warning. The moment he entered, he fixed Edwin with a hard stare.
"Edwin."
"Yes."
"I heard you teased Serifina."
Excuse me?
What kind of nonsense is this now?
"Who said that?"
"Serifina herself."
"…"
When did I ever tease her?
Not only did she ditch studying because she didn't want to do it—she lied to her brother about it…?
At this rate, a one-percent bump to her villainess odds wouldn't even be surprising.
"I'm sure that's a misunderstanding."
"Mother. Serifina does not lie."
"Not even the Serifina who fled because she didn't want to study?"
"…I have work piled up. I'll take my leave."
Once Leonhardt was gone—
"Lady Ercia, something's come up for me as well. I'll go find Serifina."
"I'll come with you."
Found Serifina and taught her that lying is wrong.
And she still insists I teased her?
I honestly don't get it… understanding a little kid's head is hard.
Progress: 3 / 100
And the next day.
"Today let's try some dictation. Write the word friend for me."
When the Duchess checked the test paper, her eyebrow twitched.
"My little one."
"Yes!"
"What is this?"
Edwin peeked at the paper and stuck out his tongue.
She wrote my name.
"Friend!"
"Edwin is not a friend, dear."
"Huk…"
Shaken, Serifina looked at Edwin. Moisture welled in her wide eyes.
"Edwin… aren't you my friend?"
"I am your friend."
"Mommy's mean! He is my friend, so why did you say he isn't!"
The Duchess pressed her fingers to her forehead.
"Haa…"
She held out Edwin's test paper. There, written plain as day, was the word friend.
"Read this for me."
"Edwin!"
"That's not it…"
"Edwin… aren't you my friend?"
Serifina's voice wobbled again.
"I am your friend…"
Today I taught Serifina that friend ≠ me.
Then Leonhardt heard through a maid that she'd been sniffling, came looking for me, and tore into me.
I am going to lose my mind.
Progress: 4 / 100
And then—
Serifina skipped her vegetables again.
So I asked the cook for a dish that mixed meat with vegetables and ate it with relish right in front of her.
Today I had tea with Serifina in the garden.
Little Serifina was so distractible she couldn't sit still the whole time. The Duchess just called it cute and left her alone, so I had no choice but to correct her myself.
Today Serifina must have overheard something strange somewhere, because she started declaring she was going to become a villainess.
When I explained that being a villainess was not a good thing, she took such a shock that her already huge eyes went perfectly round, as if they couldn't possibly get any bigger.
It was cute. Extremely cute.
Even so—no becoming a villainess.
Progress: 8 / 100
Afternoon tea after lunch.
Edwin set his teacup down without a sound and wrote in his diary.
When do I get training already…
"Edwin, try this too."
"Serifina."
"Do try this as well, if you would."
Serifina was putting on a rather proper young noblewoman's way of speaking.
"Ohohohohot!"
Even her laugh had undergone a world-shaking transformation.
She's been stuck on that laugh ever since the day she declared she was going to be a villainess…
Edwin had no idea why she was doing it—but in truth, it was entirely his fault. He had carelessly written, A villainess really ought to laugh "ohohohot," and pure-hearted Serifina had seen it and latched on at once.
"Our little one is simply adorable."
The Duchess, of course, was a hopelessly doting mother who approved of anything Serifina did. And so the three of them continued their tea time without incident—until Leonhardt appeared, dark circles heavy under his eyes.
"Edwin."
"What brings you here today?"
Here to pick a fight again.
At first I couldn't figure out why he always showed up whenever we had tea in the garden—then I found out you can see this spot straight from his office window, and it all made sense.
Even a maniac doesn't want to watch other people lounging around while he's buried in work.
"You wanted knight training so badly, didn't you? It starts today."
"Thank you!"
Edwin meant it from the bottom of his heart.
WHO was it?!
Who dared to badmouth this wise and magnificent Lord Leonhardt?!
Serifina, who had been peeping at the diary over his shoulder, went blank for a second. The little girl decided Edwin had absolutely no shame.
I should learn from that!
"Where should I go, and who will I be learning from?"
"The training grounds."
Leonhardt wore a meaningful smile.
"With me. Directly."