Episode 19: The Training is Exposed.
“Selene. For a while, you are not to leave the mansion,” Marquis Karamanlis—my husband, who has been staying at the mansion lately—declared to me one morning in the dining hall.
Atty and I were having breakfast together as usual in the dining hall, but before I knew it, the Marquis had started joining us. Well, he doesn’t talk even when he’s there, though.
But today was different.
Without looking at me, he spoke those words to me, who was assisting Atty with her meal (though Atty can eat quite well on her own).
“…What do you mean?”
Naturally, I couldn’t accept the Marquis’s words, so I immediately retorted.
“Just as I said. Is that clear?”
A cold voice came back instantly.
Oh, come on. Just giving orders without any explanation? You’re quite high and mighty.
Though it’s true that he is high and mighty!
…Seriously, this guy never explains anything.
I was quite irritated, but Atty and the other housefolk were there.
I couldn’t blow up.
Or rather, the Marquis (this guy) knew that, didn’t he!?
He knew that I could only obediently say “yes” here!!
Damn it.
Hmm.
Annoying.
But I don’t want to create a tense atmosphere in front of Atty.
Ah, but…
“Marquis-sama.”
I turned my body, which had been facing Atty, directly towards the Marquis and asked again.
“I understand that your words are absolute, Marquis-sama.
However, I cannot accept being told unilaterally.
Could you please properly tell me the reason?
If it’s confidential and can’t be discussed here, I’ll ask you later.”
I stated my opinion politely.
Yes, I want Atty to remember to ‘raise her voice in protest if she doesn’t agree with something’ like this.
We are not bobbleheads.
The Marquis stopped eating and made a subtle, really subtle face.
And then,
“…Selene. I hear you’ve been inviting Eric to the house under the guise of ‘training’ and teaching him various things.”
He said it as if he had a hard time saying it.
“Ugh…”
Ah, I knew it. The Marquis had heard about it too. Well, I didn’t think Eric would keep quiet about it.
To offer an excuse in my heart! I have never invited Eric to my house—! He comes on his own—!!
“And apparently, you’re teaching him things that are different from their educational policy.”
“Guh…”
…I can’t even make excuses. Yes, that’s right.
Because if I left him to their education, Eric would become an annoying guy who brandishes a shallow sense of justice. Just like the character in that Otome Game.
That’s not suitable for Atty’s husband. So, I’m trying to brainwash—no, to convey the mindset for becoming a proper ‘human’—like, you know…
“I’m sorry.”
Indeed. I made the Marquis’s position worse because of that.
I regret that. I apologized honestly.
“Moreover, I hear you’re rolling around in the garden covered in mud, shouting, ‘Ukemi is the foundation of all foundations!'”
…Ah, Eric.
Good job. You’re doing your own practice at home properly. This is what it means to be worth teaching. The captain is happy. Though I’m not the captain.
When I inadvertently let my face break into a grin with happiness, the Marquis spotted it and glared at me.
I’m sorry. I do regret it. Sort of. I should have told him not to do it in the garden because he’d get covered in mud, but to do it on the carpet at home.
“Anyway. From now on, don’t invite Eric to the house, and stay quietly in your room.”
The Marquis, looking annoyed, tried to conclude the conversation, but
“Um, may I ask one thing?”
I pressed further.
“What is it?”
Ah, he looks really annoyed. I don’t want him to make that face at Atty. I don’t mind if he makes it at me, though. I’ll say what I want to say even if he looks annoyed.
“What should I do if Eric-sama comes on his own?”
That’s right. I’ve never called Eric myself. It’s him who comes to visit every time, saying, “Captain! Training!!”
“…Tell him I’m not here.”
“Tell a lie?”
When I retorted, the Marquis was at a loss for words this time.
Atty is here. Can he condone lying in front of Atty?
Thinking of that, I glanced at Atty, and perhaps it was novel for her to see me and the Marquis talking, she was looking back and forth between me and the Marquis with sparkling eyes.
Is she happy? That face, is she happy? It’s getting quite tense, but Atty is happier when me and the Marquis are talking?
Seriously! Then from now on, I’ll bother the Marquis in front of Atty as much as possible!!
“…You can respond if Eric comes,”
The Marquis muttered sullenly.
“But don’t teach him anything weird. Got it?”
And he added a final warning.
It might not matter, but I don’t like it when people force their opinions on others with that “Got it?”
Ah, but I might be doing it to others too.
I have to be careful.
“Understood.”
I bowed respectfully.
…He came right away, didn’t he? Eric. Does he have nothing better to do?
Well, he’s only four years old, so he probably has free time outside of manners and study.
But isn’t he coming too often? Won’t he get scolded? Won’t Eric himself get scolded??
Responding to him inside the mansion, I didn’t go outside as the Marquis had told me, and guided Eric, who had come, to the lounge. The caretaker boy who was always with Eric was there too.
However. Today was different.
Atty and her tutor Samuel were there too.
Why??
Faced with the extremely incongruous group gathered in the lounge, I wondered what to do.
First of all. Samuel (the tutor) must not find out Sergios’s true identity.
However, there’s a very high probability that Eric will blurt it out. Or rather, he definitely will. 100% chance. I’m done for. What should I do?
Also, why is the tutor (this guy) here? Wasn’t today Atty’s lesson?
“Um, Samuel. Why are you here?”
My smile must have been terribly strained. Samuel had a hint of joy in his usual poker-faced smile.
“I heard that Selene-sama has been teaching Eric-sama various things. I would very much like to incorporate that into Atty-sama’s instruction, so I came to observe.”
Don’t “came to observe” me! Your mouth is twitching into a smirk, you jerk!
Is he trying to find my weakness or something!? He even brought Atty as insurance!
This guy has a bad personality! Not that I can talk!!
“There’s nothing that would be helpful for Atty’s instruction—”
“Captain! I (↑) can (↓) do Ukemi now! What are we doing today!?”
Before I could somehow make excuses and get the tutor (Samuel) to go somewhere, Eric! Eric blurted it out so easily!!
“Captain?”
Atty tilted her head at Eric’s words. Yes, cute. But that’s not the point!
“Ah, well, you see, Atty. I’m teaching Eric-sama… that…”
Ugh, what should I do? I can’t talk about the Dragon Knights who protect Atty, the key to the world!
Atty herself would be confused if I told her that!!
“Selene-sama is teaching Eric-sama how to conduct himself in case of an emergency.”
The line came from an unexpected source.
The caretaker boy, who usually stood behind Eric with a smile, spoke. It’s the first time I’ve heard his voice.
“Conduct himself?”
Atty looked at the boy and tilted her head again. From there, she glanced up at the tutor (Samuel) and
“‘Conduct himself’ means how to move your body,”
He explained to Atty in a small voice.
“Y-yes, that’s right. I was teaching Eric-sama how to do ‘Ukemi’ to avoid injury when he falls or loses his balance.”
I jumped on the caretaker boy’s lifeline as if I had been waiting for it.
Saved. I was really saved. He skillfully skipped over the ‘Captain’ part, and he didn’t even lie.
Not bad, this boy!
“Ah, Ilias-sama is with Eric-sama, so he knows the details.”
For a moment, Samuel looked at the boy with a twitch in the corner of his eye. Heh. He must not have liked not being able to grill me.
Haha. I won’t be easily—
Ilias?
That name sounds familiar—
Ah, déjà vu.
Ilias Lysander Theodorakis
A name I saw in the Otome Game.
And quite often.
Ah, this guy…
He’s a Capture Target from the Otome Game.
Eric’s distant relative, a future prime minister candidate, and the eldest son of Prime Minister Theodorakis, Ilias!
The moment I realized that, various memories flooded my mind.