Chapter 34
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Father's Permission
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And in that instant, Jerome's eyes caught sight of the training uniform Charlotte was wearing. That alone was enough to hasten the budding sympathy growing within him.
He had no idea what the full story was, but he recalled hearing that Charlotte had sparred with Lancelot while in the company of House Lord Camilla.
'She's not just sitting around doing nothing. It looks like she's trying her best to stay in this family by preparing for Shadow Blade Day somehow.'
But with these belated efforts now, just how much could she catch up?
'...But as the House Lord said, I shouldn't get too emotionally involved. That's Charlotte's business to handle. I'll just watch from the sidelines. Though if there's something I can help with...'
"Really, anything at all?"
"That's what I said."
Only after Jerome reaffirmed it several times did Charlotte hurriedly voice the real reason she'd been holding back.
"Then, please let me do some training."
"...Training?"
"You said anything would be fine. I want to train with Prince Joseph. Right in front of the sixth annex where the prince is staying."
Jerome frowned without realizing it.
Lately, Charlotte never did anything within the realm of what he expected.
One moment she'd act all polite and demure, the next she'd dive into things she'd never shown interest in before...
But this was a step too far outside the bounds.
"You have to say something that makes sense if you want my permission."
Jerome lowered his voice sternly to reprimand her.
"When you were sick, the Third Prince kept coming to see you, and I did wonder what was going on. But I hoped you'd build a friendship that would actually help you."
Charlotte looked straight up at Jerome. She hadn't brought this up without anticipating his refusal.
"You said you'd permit anything."
"Even so, this is a different matter."
"I thought... at least Father would understand my feelings..."
Charlotte abruptly cast her eyes downward, feigning sadness.
It was acting that didn't suit her one bit, even by her own admission, but after racking her brain, she realized it was the only way to sway Jerome, who moved based on his moods.
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"I... don't want to be thrown out."
"...Charlotte. This has nothing to do with the situation at hand..."
"Father knows it too. That Third Prince Joseph has incredible talent with the sword. Sure, his health isn't great, so he can't fully show his skills, but surely you've heard?"
Not many people knew about Third Prince Joseph's talent.
Since Charlotte knew, there was no way he could claim ignorance.
Jerome nodded unconsciously.
"Of course I know. He has a natural gift for it."
"See? A prince like Joseph, with all that talent, has actually been training swordsmanship with someone like me who has none."
"...What?"
"How else could I have beaten Lancelot?"
"...That."
Only then did everything click for Jerome.
He'd been wondering why Charlotte had suddenly changed her attitude and improved her sword skills, as if she'd hired a new teacher.
So that was it—she'd been learning from Prince Joseph.
Jerome's eyes widened in surprise.
As the captain of the Great Bear Knight Order, he'd once served as a sword instructor for the imperial children.
Joseph undoubtedly had talent and a burning desire to advance in the sword... but that boy could never truly excel.
From some point on, whenever Joseph pushed himself too hard with the sword, he'd collapse flat. And though he never told anyone but His Majesty the Emperor, there were times when he'd even convulse or roll his eyes back like he was having a seizure.
When you watch children training with swords, you learn that talent and effort don't always make a powerhouse.
There's no helping it if a deep illness is rooted in the body.
Joseph's other major flaw was his blind obsession.
When something doesn't work out, you should seek another path, but no matter what he was advised, he showed zero interest.
Win or lose, it was the sword and nothing else.
If training only wrecked his body further, anyone sensible would fear it and let go of the sword. Yet Joseph acted like he had no fear at all.
And that Joseph had been teaching Charlotte?
Did they have that kind of friendship?
No, he wasn't even the type to have the motivation to teach others.
Besides, Charlotte had been cooped up in her room lately—was this from quite a while back?
But Charlotte didn't give Jerome time to mull over her flimsy lie, quickly pressing on.
"Father knows everything about me, so you weren't completely in the dark, right?"
"...Huh? Oh... yeah."
"As expected of Father. Look, right now, the only way I can improve my swordsmanship quickly is by getting help from Prince Joseph. I get that it makes you uneasy, Father, but I'll make sure to conduct myself properly."
By zeroing in on his exact concerns and promising to handle that part herself, Charlotte's words scratched precisely at Jerome's itch.
Jerome hesitated for a moment, but he realized he had no real grounds to object anymore.
Opposing it now would be pointless—she'd already been training all this time...
Besides, Shadow Blade Day was truly just around the corner. If her training was for that event, then using the Third Prince—who was little more than a dead card anyway—just for a short while wasn't such a bad deal.
Since things had come to this, he'd permit it without being petty.
As if pushed into it, Jerome voiced the sole answer left to him.
"...I did say I'd grant anything, so I have no choice. Fine."
"Really?"
"...Yes."
"Daddy's the only one."
Charlotte grinned broadly, delighted.
Jerome couldn't quite shake the nagging unease, but watching his daughter spin around in joy was a refreshing sight unlike before.
Up until now, Charlotte had always acted like whatever he did for her was never enough. But seeing her genuinely touched by even these small things was oddly amusing.
Even now, it was something he wouldn't normally approve, yet he'd nodded along without thinking.
Jerome let out a small sigh, his heart filled with a mix of quiet satisfaction and lingering discomfort.
"All right. If anything else comes to mind, tell Betty."
"Yes. Understood, Father."
"Good. Take care of yourself."
Charlotte bowed deeply and formally in response.
"Yes. May Father enjoy perfect health through this early summer season."
Jerome shot a glance at his daughter mumbling words he couldn't make heads or tails of, then turned and headed down the stairs.
'...Russell's going to throw a fit when he hears I permitted Joseph and Charlotte to train together. If that's where it ends, fine, but if the House Lord finds out... what'll she say?'
As he descended the stairs, one headache after another belatedly popped into Jerome's mind. But thinking of Charlotte's face lighting up red with joy over her newly renovated room, he knew he couldn't just take it back now.
'...I don't even know how I ended up permitting it so suddenly.'
Jerome clicked his tongue and quickened his pace.
He needed to come up with a plan—maybe vacate the main house for a bit before his hot-tempered son came storming in, or something else.
Charlotte stopped by the dining hall on her way out of her room.
She'd realized the day before that Joseph had this weird habit of barely eating.
She had no clue what was behind it, but if she insisted right in front of him, he wouldn't refuse entirely. Today, she planned to pack a lunchbox and make him eat.
The kitchen maids were startled at the sight of her, but they didn't pretend not to see her.
The story of Isaac formally apologizing to her at the imperial banquet had been a huge buzz among the Setia House servants for a time.
If it were the old days, maybe, but now no servant dared ignore her openly.
"Miss Charlotte, what brings you to the kitchen so early in the morning?"
Charlotte fidgeted awkwardly in front of the head maid before finally speaking up.
"Um, I know it's a bit of a request... but could you make me a lunchbox, by any chance?"
"A lunchbox?"
"Yeah. For breakfast and lunch while I'm training. But it's not just for me—could you make it for two people...?"
The head maid blinked.
It was hardly a big deal.
The kitchen was always running, preparing food not just for the ducal household but for all the servants too.
A lunchbox was nothing special—just packing up whatever was already made, unless it was some custom menu.
She'd looked so hesitant, even calling it a "request," so the head maid had half-expected something major.
"You could've just asked Betty, and we would've brought it over."
"Yeah, I know... but you're all so busy in the mornings, I didn't want to bother you. Thought I'd ask in person at least."
"...Oh my."
Not just the head maid—even the other maids who'd overheard exchanged wide-eyed glances of surprise.
Betty had been going around inside and out, endlessly bragging about how much Miss Charlotte had changed and how well she treated everyone. But they'd all let it go in one ear and out the other.
Charlotte's whims weren't anything new; they figured it'd last a few days before she reverted to form.
Yet here she was, the Charlotte who'd always seemed to treat the servants like a joke, personally coming to ask so considerately. What was this about?
"Just tell us where you're headed, and we'll have the lunchbox sent over."
"Yeah? Or I could take it now if that's okay."
"Ah... in that case, please wait just a moment."
The head maid gleefully directed the kitchen maids, whipping up two lunchboxes in no time flat.
It was routine work anyway, but somehow, after that gentle request, even packing lunchboxes felt enjoyable.