Episode 11: Greetings
“Arianna Cybarossa. Daughter of the Cybarossa Barony. Pleased to meet you.”
“I am Cladfield. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Having successfully completed my education and with the warmth of spring replacing winter, I was now enrolled in Blostwill Academy, accompanying the Young Lady.
Our residence was a detached house owned by the Cybarossa House in the Royal Capital, far more luxurious than the Lord’s mansion in our territory’s capital. I was given a room in the servant’s quarters there, rent-free, and received a monthly salary of 100,000 Wica as a guard.
The Lord’s family also covered the academy’s entrance fees, creating a wonderful environment where I could live comfortably without spending much money, as long as I didn’t indulge in luxuries.
“I am George Fortla. Heir to the Fortla Barony, pleased to meet you.”
“I am Cynthia.”
It seemed to be customary at this academy for the master to greet first, followed by the servant. The seating arrangement was arbitrary, but it appeared that factions had already formed, likely due to long-standing relationships from childhood.
“You are nobles and their servants. It’s best to remember names and faces in a single greeting. It’s one thing to embarrass yourselves in social circles, but it could lead to you offending someone,” the teacher said after everyone had introduced themselves. Noble society is scary, even after etiquette lessons.
“Cladfield, did you remember?”
“Probably.”
I replied quietly to the Young Lady’s hushed question.
“I see, sorry.”
“Please do your best too, Young Lady.”
I can’t always follow up for you.
“Also, the first Magic Class is tomorrow, and injuries are common every year, so be careful.”
Injuries every year, huh?
We received other minor announcements, but most of them were directed towards the Young Lady, the master. Of course, I memorized the content, but what am I supposed to do with information like who’s coming from which country?
“May I speak with you?”
“Ah, well…”
“Lady Evelyn Sandfelds, I’ll give you my seat.”
“Oh, thank you. You have an attentive servant.”
“You honor me.”
As soon as the teacher left, a noble Young Lady approached our Young Lady. The Sandfelds House was a marquis family, a much larger house than the Cybarossa House. Oh, she really has blonde, curly hair. And she’s more developed and impressively endowed than the Young Lady.
“Sorry, Cladfield.”
“It’s alright.”
She’s obviously relieved, and please stop muttering “Lady Evelyn, Lady Evelyn” under your breath. It ruins my efforts to support you.
Once the Young Ladies started talking, the servants were left idle. We exchanged glances and wry smiles, wondering what to do.
Lady Evelyn’s servant was a woman with straight indigo hair.
“I’m Cladfield. I have no family name.”
“I’m Kalinka. I don’t have a family name either. Nice to meet you.”
“Oh, that’s unexpected.”
I thought that in such a great noble house like a marquis, the servants would be nobles or knights.
“The Sandfelds House is meritocratic, you know? I thought it was quite famous.”
“Sorry, we’re from the countryside.”
“Is that so? I believe the Cybarossa Territory is in the eastern mountains, right?”
“You’re well-informed. Sandfelds is near the southern desert region, I believe.”
“That desert is also Sandfelds territory. In terms of size, it’s probably the largest in the Blostwill Kingdom.”
“That’s amazing.”
A desert, huh? It may seem like nothing, but it often has a lot of resources buried in it. Plus, the sand and wilderness make it easy to install mining machinery.
I wonder if the Young Lady is alright? How much does she know about the Sandfelds Territory…?
“Cladfield, help me.”
“…Is it just my imagination? I think I hear something.”
“I don’t think it’s your imagination.”
Please don’t ask for help in front of a high-ranking noble Young Lady.
“What should I do? I’ve been invited to a tea party.”
“Please accept.”
“O-Of course. But what to do? A souvenir or something…”
“You shouldn’t say that in front of the person, Young Lady.”
“Ah!?”
“Hehehe, she seems quite amusing.”
“Auu…”
It’s rare to see the Young Lady blushing.
“I’m looking forward to the weekend.”
“A-Ah. I’m counting on you.”
“…Kalinka-san, can I have some time later?”
“We will send a formal invitation letter.”
“That would be helpful.”
I’m a guard, not a butler.
“Hmm, this is the Adventurer’s Guild.”
The Royal Capital is very large and crowded. It’s on a scale that can’t even be compared to our village or even the territory’s capital. If I were seeing this many people for the first time, I might have been overwhelmed.
Still, it’s my first time in this facility. I’m a little nervous.
“Are you a servant of some noble? Do you have a request?”
I opened the swing door and entered. The timing must be good, as there were hardly any people inside.
A gruff voice reached me from the counter. Are they watching the entrance?
“It’s not exactly a request, but I have a letter for someone named Iserina-san.”
“Iserina, huh? Wait a moment.”
The stern-looking man went behind the counter and brought back a woman.
“I’m Iserina. You have a letter for me?”
“Yes. It’s from my mother.”
“Mother? Hmm?”
She narrowed her eyes and looked at me as I handed her the letter.
An elf, huh? It’s my first time seeing one in this life.
“What’s your mother’s name?”
“Anessa.”
“…Your father is Ziegklinde?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll read it right away. Come over here for a moment.”
“Hey, hey, is that Anessa and Ziegklinde’s kid?”
“Shhh!”
Dad and Mom, their names are known?
I was led to a private room and told to sit down.
“I wondered which young master had come. What’s with those clothes?”
“I’m currently working as a servant for the Cybarossa House. I’ve also been asked to do some shopping later.”
“…Are you really those two’s child?”
“…How should I answer that?”
Am I being praised or belittled?
“It’s surprising that you’re so polite for those two’s child. And it’s also unexpected that you’re working as a servant.”
“Dad told me to go out and work.”
It’s hard to say that I was told to find a bride.
“Are they doing well? I can’t imagine Zieg getting sick, especially.”
“He says he’s never even caught a cold. Mom is also doing well.”
“T-That’s good. Heh, you have a Spatial Storage.”
“Oh, is that written in the letter?”
“I don’t intend to spread it around. I don’t want to make enemies of those two.”
“Those two…”
I wonder what kind of duo my parents were.
“You have materials from the Black Forest, right? Do you have a Jewel Unicorn horn?”
“Ah, yes. Which horn and how many do you need?”
“Just one of the jewel horns. I’d be troubled if you offered two or three.”
“I see.”
The Jewel Unicorn is a black horse monster with two horns. Although it’s a horse, it’s a monster, so it’s much bigger than a normal horse.
One of its horns shines like a jewel, and anyone can tell at a glance that it’s a valuable item. However, that’s only one of them. The other one can be scraped off to create a potent poison, a source of powerful toxins.
“I’ll buy it for 3.2 million Wica. I’ll ask about the others later.”
“Ah, well, I understand.”
“Oh, and I’ll issue you an Adventurer Card. The handling fees for purchases are cheaper with a card.”
“Is that so?”
“But you don’t have any achievements. Is Rank 6 okay?”
“…If I don’t have any achievements, shouldn’t I start from the bottom?”
“Can I entrust the lowest rank job to Zieg and Anessa’s child!”
“H-Hey, I don’t know…”
Were my parents active?
“…Who defeated the Jewel Unicorn?”
“I did.”
“See! I knew it!”
Even if you hold your head there…
“Ah, right. Our village was abnormal.”
“Did you remember!?! And it’s not just the two of you, the whole village is strange!?”
“That’s what I’ve determined.”
At least that’s how it looks to me, a gathering of such people.
“Well, whatever. Anyway, show your face once in a while. The materials from the Black Forest and its surroundings are very useful. I’ll pay you for them, and if you want to go to a dungeon, I’ll introduce you.”
“Ah. Well, I’ll show my face when I want to move my body.”
Training alone will dull me.
…Somehow, I became rich after delivering a letter.
I should buy some sweets for the Young Lady on the way back from shopping.
Or should I just buy the ingredients and try making them myself? I have a military survival manual and a recipe book in my Spatial Storage.
Also, I need to buy a short sword. Mine is still broken. The Lord gave me one, but it’s blunt, and it would be bad if I broke something I received from the Lord.
How interesting! I want to read more! Write more, dammit!
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