The Cowardly Young Lady and the Escort Knight

Chapter 4: A First Day with No End in Sight (3)

Tick, tack.

Patrick walked down the hallway, making a slightly mismatched rhythm.

It was slower than someone carrying luggage, but it was still quite a bit faster than when he had just come out of the reception room.

That was thanks to the fact that wrapping his feet tightly was more effective than he thought, and the pain had decreased considerably.

It could be that his head had gone bad because it hurt so much, but since the situation was already frustrating, he tried to force himself to think positively.

'I really need to go to a healer......'

After sighing for what must have been the twentieth time, he walked diligently, asking the guards standing here and there or the servants passing by him where the Count's office was.

Fortunately, his efforts were steadily bearing fruit.

Soon, he could see a small girl being led by two women far ahead.

'Lady Cecilia......!'

He wouldn't be this happy even if he met his biological parents.

Patrick felt some emotion and tried harder to catch up, and he was finally able to catch up when they stopped in front of a door.

They must have heard his footsteps, but neither the tutor nor the maid said a word to him.

No, they weren't even giving him a glance in the first place.

As if they didn't even recognize his existence.

'I heard that most servants aren't interested in anything other than their own work, I guess that's true......'

The people of the castle seemed to be much more cold than he thought. Thinking that, he stood one step behind them so that he would look like he was in the same group and quietly sighed.

At that moment, the door they were facing slowly opened from the inside.

It seemed that this was the office of Trebble Count, the owner of Grayclaw.

'I almost couldn't get in.'

Sweating at the fact that he almost caused an accident from the first day, he entered the room with the three people.

The Count's office was surprisingly not that fancy.

Of course, Cecilia's room that he had glimpsed, and even the reception room, were much simpler.

The overall color was also dark, and a solemn atmosphere was felt somehow.

It was probably because it was a place where they worked, so they didn't put up any decorations that would distract them.

Patrick maintained a distance of one step from Cecilia and moved only his gaze to look around here and there.

'Well, it's not really simple after all.'

Only the atmosphere was simple, but the furniture was all high-end.

The bookshelves, the desk in the inner part of the room, and even the side table with the flower pot on it were all made of reddish wood.

They probably used a wood called mahogany.

Moreover, the edges were smooth curves, and there were even carvings reminiscent of vines or pillars, so it must be so expensive that he couldn't even dream of it.

Fearing that it might get scratched, Patrick slightly adjusted the sword on his waist so that it was tightly attached to his leg.

Then, he finally looked over the shoulders of the three people who had stopped.

First of all, he could see the old man in the black jacket...... the head butler standing there.

Next to him was a desk, and a man with light brown hair was sitting in front of it, reading something.

'That person is the Count.'

Albert, who had been his superior until yesterday, and Alfred Blaze Trebble Count, the owner of Grayclaw here.

It was the first time in his ten-year-old barracks life that he was facing his lord.

Of course, the person the Count would mainly talk to was Cecilia, not him.

Nevertheless, as the Count slowly raised his head, Patrick felt his shoulders tense up without him even realizing it.

"Ah, you've arrived. Welcome to Grayclaw, Miss."

As the Count spoke and got up from his seat, the two women who had been holding Cecilia's hand simultaneously let go of her hand.

Then, he could see the tutor whispering something in her ear.

Cecilia flinched as if she was surprised to hear the voice suddenly.

Still, she didn't scream this time, and after hesitating a little, she grabbed the hem of her skirt and slightly bent her waist.

Then, she held out her right hand to the Count.

"I, It's nice to meet you, Tri... Trebble Count. I'm Cecilia... I'm grateful for your kindness to let me live here..."

"Don't mention it. I'm just trying to repay the favor I received from your father, Marquis Rosepole, so don't worry about it. Rather, I'm sorry it's so late."

After saying that, the Count grabbed her right hand.

He was probably going to give her a kissing greeting as a matter of etiquette.

Cecilia, an hour or two ago, had thrashed around at such a greeting and slapped the other person's cheek.

Would she cause the same commotion this time too?

As the Count's lips touched her hand, Cecilia flinched.

Patrick swallowed hard, not even realizing it, at the sight that was clearly a prelude to tragedy.

However, the Count let go of her hand as it was without anything happening and smiled softly.

The great disaster of the lord getting slapped by a guest did not happen.

The tutor had probably warned her firmly in advance.

In the end, Patrick was the only one who got slapped while greeting her.

'Why me......!'

It was an extremely fortunate thing, but Patrick couldn't help but feel disappointed and wronged.

While he was suppressing his resentment at the injustice of the world alone in the back, the Count smiled and spoke to her.

"You must have had a hard time coming from afar. Excuse me, but I heard that your eyes aren't good, can you not see anything at all?"

"Yes, yes.... almost......"

"Was it caused by an injury or an illness?"

"No.... It was like this from the beginning......"

"Congenital, huh. That's unfortunate."

After frowning slightly as if he was really sorry, the Count laughed heartily and brought up the story again.

"Still, it wouldn't hurt to go to a mage. You might be able to get some help."

"Yes......"

"Anyway, I hope you have a comfortable stay here. Mrs. Haltt, who is next to you, will help you with the studies you haven't been able to do. She is an excellent teacher who is in charge of educating my children as well. Please take care of her this time too, Mrs. Haltt."

"I am honored, Lord. I will do my duty."

The tutor spoke very politely and bowed her waist.

The Count nodded as if he was satisfied with that appearance.

"And your safety is......"

Then, he trailed off and tilted his head.

"Hmm. An escort knight must have been assigned. Hasn't he come yet?"

"No, Lord. The boy behind the lady is the escort knight."

The head butler answered as soon as the question came out.

As expected of someone who manages the butlers, he seemed to have memorized Patrick's face just by seeing it once.

"Not a butler, huh? Hmm."

The Count's gaze turned to Patrick.

As he faced the eyes filled with the pressure of a ruler standing above tens of thousands of people, Patrick was startled without even realizing it and gave a salute.

"May the blessing of the White Deer Dragon be with you! Trainee 13 Patrick, greets the Lord!"

"......"

The Count didn't say anything.

It wasn't because he was surprised by his loud voice.

He received greetings with a volume several dozen times greater than this when he patrolled the barracks every season.

A face with his eyes slightly widened and staring blankly at him with his mouth slightly open.

Facing an expression that was closer to suspicion, Patrick realized in his heart.

'I greeted him wrong!!'

It wasn't wrong to pray for the blessing of the White Deer Dragon, the god that the kingdom worshipped.

The White Deer Dragon was the spirit that protected the Trebble family and the legendary existence that they were engraving as the family's coat of arms, so everyone who belonged to the family was using it as a greeting.

The problem was next.

As a result of being flustered, he introduced himself as 'Trainee 13', as was his habit in the barracks!

Patrick tried to maintain his composure even as he felt his face turning red and said again.

"......I'm sorry. I'm Patrick, who was appointed as Lady Cecilia Bedere Rosepole's escort knight."

As he finished speaking while slightly bowing his head, the Count chuckled and said.

"As I heard, you're well trained. You're still young, but you've become a soldier to the bone."

".........I'm sorry, Lord."

"Don't worry about it. It's understandable that you're confused since you were assigned so suddenly. Your uniform isn't ready yet either. Anyway, I'll look forward to it in the future as Sir Albert recommended you. Always stay by the lady's side."

"Yes, I will protect Lady Cecilia with my life."

The Count's eyes widened a little more as he looked at him.

After blinking blankly for a moment as if he had heard unexpected words, the Count suddenly burst out laughing loudly.

He had answered seriously, but had he said something strange?

Patrick blinked, not knowing what was going on.

The Count laughed loudly at him and spoke to him.

"Hahaha! You're really passionate! Yes, that's the attitude. I wish the other escorts would see and learn from you!"

After nodding his head repeatedly as if he was really pleased, the Count turned back to Cecilia.

"You can rest assured knowing that you have a good escort. Well, you haven't recovered from your journey yet. I think it would be a good idea to rest now."

It sounded like a suggestion, but it was no different from an order to return to her room now.

Adding that he would send lunch to her residence as she must be tired, the Count nodded slightly.

"Then I'll see you again, Cecilia."

"Yes, yees.... um, there's something I want to ask..."

"Hmm? Is there something you're curious about?"

From the way he raised his eyebrows, it was clear that he wasn't planning on receiving her question.

If it was Patrick, he would have swallowed his question at the Count's expression.

However, his little master was so blind that she couldn't see anything, so she hesitated a little and then brought up the story.

"Um, my mom..."

"The Marquis Rosepole and his wife were killed in an incident that day. Haven't you heard?"

"Yes? Ah, no. Not that person, but the person who lived with me..."

"Lived with you......? Ah, you mean the nanny. I only received letters, so I've never actually met her. From the way you're asking, it seems she's disappeared? However, I don't know anything. I'm sorry that I can't help you."

".........I see."

Cecilia lowered her head and answered weakly.

It seemed to be an answer that was disappointing in many ways.

Still, she didn't completely lose her mind, and as the tutor poked her back slightly, she flinched and bowed again.

"Th, then I'll be leaving now...... I'll see you again, Count."

"Rest comfortably."

As the Count's words fell, Cecilia hesitated a little and turned around.

And with her hands held again, she slowly began to leave the room.

Patrick, who had slightly stepped aside and was waiting for her to pass, was once again secretly looking around the room with his eyes when he suddenly saw the Count.

The owner of the castle was frowning as much as he could, showing a lot of displeasure as he looked at her back.

He was trying to hold back from clicking his tongue and shaking his head.

'Is he disappointed?'

He was probably disappointed in her appearance, which wasn't like a Marquis' daughter.

Even Patrick, who had no connection to her, felt a little bleak about the future, so the person who was looking at the daughter of someone he owed a debt to must have been burning inside.

'Well, it'll get better soon, right.'

She had finished the greeting without saying anything wrong, although she had stammered a little.

Of course, it was something the tutor had instilled in her, but she had memorized it and said it in one or two tries, so there was a good chance that she would get better in the future.

Patrick followed Cecilia with such a hopeful heart.

......While doing everything he could to not limp.

After walking far enough away from the office, the tutor stopped in her spot and sighed deeply.

"Ha...... Somehow, we got through the big thing."

And after muttering to herself, she slightly turned her body and looked at Patrick.

"Are you okay, your feet? I think you got hurt."

Surprisingly, she seemed to remember that he had been stepped on a lot.

Maybe she wasn't as cold as he thought.

Patrick felt somewhat awkward and coughed slightly.

"......Um, it's not that serious. However, I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to visit a healer as there is a concern that it will hinder my future actions."

"What healer...... Ah, you came from outside. There is no healer in the castle. The mage also handles the treatment of diseases and injuries."

That's why the Count had recommended Cecilia to go to a mage.

Since the Count had recommended it, would they go to a mage like this?

Since he didn't know the inside of the castle well yet, Patrick looked at the tutor with some expectation.

However, the tutor fidgeted with her fist to her mouth and said to the maid who was holding Cecilia's opposite hand.

"I'll take Cecilia back. Jenny, you take this escort to the mage and come back."

"......I'm sorry, but, Tutor,"

He spoke first before the maid could answer and sent a stiff gaze to the tutor, who was raising one eyebrow.

"I was going to ask for Lady Cecilia's permission."

"......"

Patrick watched very clearly as the tutor's expression hardened in real time.