The Cowardly Young Lady and the Escort Knight

Chapter 10: First Day of Getting to Know Each Other (3)

How much time had passed since then?

The clattering sound, which had been precariously chasing away the silence, abruptly stopped, and Cecilia's small voice was heard calmly.

"...Thank you for the meal."

As if drawn by it, Patrick directed his gaze towards the table.

Soon, the Tutor was seen wiping her mouth with a napkin, then getting up from her seat along with her.

As if they had finished their meal at the exact same time.

'Did she match her pace?'

To say it was a coincidence, the food laid out on the table hadn't diminished that much.

In other words, the Tutor had eaten very, very slowly, matching Cecilia, who ate at twice the speed slower than a normal person.

Without exchanging a single word.

Though utterly stark, that patience itself was genuinely admirable.

"Then, Lady Cecilia, while those two have their meal, let us have a conversation in the bedroom."

"Yes? Uh, uhh..."

Was this unscheduled?

Cecilia was greatly flustered, enough to tell easily even from her back.

After bowing her head slightly and fiddling with her skirt hem for a moment, she soon moved her hands in front of her and spoke.

"Um... doing it here, can't we...?"

"Of course, it's possible. However, Lady Cecilia, Jenny and the Escort Knight are those who serve you. I doubt they can eat comfortably in the presence of the master they serve."

"Th-that's... if I, t-tell them, not to worry..."

"If the Lord, in your presence together, told you to be comfortable, could you truly be comfortable?"

"......."

Hearing the Tutor's words, Cecilia's head and shoulders slumped down at once.

Calmly looking down at her utterly defeated appearance, the Tutor continued in a flat tone.

"Jenny is the one who assists your every move, and the Escort Knight is the one who protects your person. They must always keep their eyes on you. Therefore, if you are present at their mealtime, they won't even be able to taste the food properly. Especially,"

At that point, the Tutor grinned and looked at Patrick.

"The Escort Knight has an exceedingly loyal disposition, so if you are present, he probably won't eat a single bite of meat. Then his energy will surely drop. He mustn't be unable to use his strength when he needs to protect you, correct?"

'This woman...!'

Not only openly mocking him, but using Cecilia as material to pressure her.

There's a limit to having such a nasty personality!

Patrick felt anger surging and firmly pressed his lips together.

Had he not done so, a roar would surely have burst from his mouth.

Although he didn't want to accept it, the Tutor was not someone he could reveal his emotions directly to.

Because of that, he had to struggle mightily to suppress the indignation rising to his throat, and as a result, he had no leeway to snap back at the Tutor who had openly picked a fight.

"If you understand, let us go together."

".......Yes."

The Tutor received Cecilia's answer and started heading towards the bedroom.

She probably intended to leave during the gap when he couldn't speak out.

'Says who...?!'

He couldn't let the Tutor go like this without saying a single word.

Even if he might be pushed back again by that strange and fluent way of speaking, he had to throw some words!

"Excuse my impertinence, Tutor,"

Patrick said, hoping the boiling anger wouldn't tinge his voice.

"I believe it would be best to let Lady Cecilia rest now."

"...Quite persistent, aren't you. It's hard to believe it hasn't even been a full day since your appointment. What is the reason this time?"

A smile hung on the lips of the Tutor, who had stopped walking.

If a third party had been present, they would surely have thought she was praising Patrick.

But perhaps because this was already the third time confronting her?

Patrick was certain this middle-aged woman was definitely not praising him.

'She must be mocking me for persistently challenging her again and again.'

Her words were gentle, polite, and mild barbs.

If one wasn't familiar, they wouldn't even know they had been attacked.

That way of speaking, never experienced in the barracks, was similar to assassination techniques in that it hid the true intention behind it.

Patrick inwardly marveled at the craftiness and answered.

"It's simple. Lady Cecilia has suddenly come to live in an unfamiliar environment. Therefore, she surely needs time to calm her mind. In a state of mental turmoil, it's difficult to see proper effects no matter what one studies. I don't believe the Tutor would be unaware of that."

"Of course, I am aware. Isn't that why I suggested we talk together, rather than educate?"

"How would that constitute rest?"

If the atmosphere were actually a substance floating in the air, it would have completely frozen at this very moment.

Jenny's expression, standing beside the table, clearly proved it.

However, Patrick was not flustered in the slightest.

Because he knew the atmosphere in the reception room would become like thin ice.

So, looking straight at the Tutor, who was struck dumb by the words he threw, he continued speaking even more forcefully.

"You just said it. If Lady Cecilia were present here, the maid and I couldn't eat comfortably. I believe the same applies to you."

"...She would find being with me uncomfortable? Is that what you're saying?"

"That is correct."

Having answered firmly, he suddenly seemed to see Jenny's face turning deathly pale in the corner of his vision.

Somehow, she also seemed to be shaking her head and mouthing something.

'Well, she's probably telling me not to.'

However, he had not the slightest intention of listening to that plea.

He moved his feet altogether so that Jenny couldn't be seen and stood facing the two of them.

Standing tall as if blocking the path, he opened his mouth again.

"You are the Tutor. Neither Lady Cecilia's friend nor a subordinate she can comfortably command. Even if you were to share idle chit-chat, Lady Cecilia would feel the burden of not knowing when she might be found fault with. Far from resting, fatigue would likely build up instead."

Cecilia needed time to reflect on her situation and compose her mind.

Even Patrick, whose eyes were perfectly fine, felt restless about staying in an unfamiliar place; how much more so for her who cannot see?

So, leave her alone for today.

Patrick revealed the thoughts and intentions he had held when first confronting the Tutor, this time without hiding anything.

In other words, he had requested that she stay away from Cecilia.

And that intention seemed to have been conveyed sufficiently well to the Tutor.

The Tutor's eyes, wide with bewilderment, narrowed, and their temperature seemed to drop sharply.

".......How audacious."

The Tutor's cool words seemed to brush past the nape of his neck.

Trying not to reveal his tension, he bowed his head and secretly took a long breath.

"I apologize if I have offended you. However, as an Escort Knight, I must prioritize Lady Cecilia's safety. There is nothing more dangerous for Lady Cecilia, whose body is unwell, than losing her peace of mind. That is why I am saying this; I would appreciate it if you understand that there is absolutely no other meaning."

"......."

A considerably cold gaze was settling upon his head.

She probably had nothing to say.

'Still, I can't be relieved. She might twist the story strangely again.'

Or, as just mentioned, she might burst out in anger, calling him 'insolent'.

She might run straight to the Count, slander him by saying he was interfering with her teaching, and have his position as Escort Knight revoked.

'Well, then it can't be helped.'

In the first place, he wasn't someone who was idly waiting and wanting this job, so there was nothing to regret even if he had to return to the barracks.

Having to use the 6-person room again was frustrating, but returning to a place no different from home was actually rather welcome.

However, as he had caused Sir Albert to lose face, it was obvious that some kind of disciplinary action would surely be handed down.

'Still... it can't be helped...'

Patrick waited for the Tutor's words with a slightly heavy heart.

Finally, the Tutor, who had been silently staring coldly at him, slowly opened her mouth.

"...Lady Cecilia, are your thoughts also the same?"

".......!"

It was an unexpected development.

He thought she would get angry at him, calling him impertinent, but surprisingly, the Tutor was asking for Cecilia's opinion.

As if she would follow whatever she said.

However, it was definitely not a good turn of events.

Because she would surely pressure her, even using physical force.

For example, by squeezing the hand she was holding tightly.

"...Ugh!"

Sure enough, she, who had been hesitating and unsure what to do, suddenly made a sound and flinched her shoulders.

And seeing her turn her head slightly towards the hand held by the Tutor, it seemed she was indeed putting strength into her hand to pressure her.

She was trying to force an answer from her again.

Just like when returning from meeting the Count.

"Please answer, Lady Cecilia. Is it uncomfortable for you to have me by your side?"

"I, I... Ughh...!"

"It's not uncomfortable, is it? Isn't that right?"

Cecilia's brow furrowed sharply.

She was definitely feeling pain.

Because her hand was smaller than the Tutor's, it wasn't clearly visible, but she was surely putting strength into it until her hand turned bright red!

'Doing it openly right in front of my eyes?!'

She must think he'll just stand by.

Just as he was about to explode in anger at the behavior that completely looked down on him,

"N...o...!"

Stuttering, words flowed from her mouth.

To Cecilia, who spoke with difficulty as if enduring something, the Tutor frowned one eyebrow and asked again.

"What did you say?"

"N-o...! Un-comf...! Uncomfortableeee!!"

Cecilia, who had been speaking haltingly, suddenly shouted loudly and shook her arm!

Was she surprised by her unexpected resistance?

The Tutor's eyes widened, and she abruptly let go of her hand.

"Waaah?!"

Because of that, her body, having lost its balance, swayed back and forth and began to tilt sideways!

Without even time to be amazed that the event from just a few hours ago was happening exactly the same way, Patrick quickly reached out his hand.

"Lady Cecilia!"

His hand caught the slender arm flailing wretchedly in the air.

Without even time to feel the texture of the cloth touching his palm, he immediately pulled her towards him.

"Augh...!"

With a sound like a sob, the small body touched his chest.

After wrapping his arm around her waist so that her body wouldn't slump to the floor, Patrick spoke to her, who had frozen stiff.

"Lady Cecilia, are you alright?"

"......"

"Lady Cecilia?"

Even asking again, there was no answer from her.

'Could she have fainted from shock?!'

Since she's someone who fears even a spoon touching somewhere else, the possibility was certainly strong.

Patrick, flustered, tried to move away to check on her.

Then, his clothes were grabbed tightly, and wasn't she pressing herself closer against him instead!

Patrick froze completely at the unexpected situation.

"D-don't let go...!"

Cecilia whispered, burying her face in his chest like that.

Her voice, filled with fear, quietly resonated in his embrace.