The Cowardly Young Lady and the Escort Knight

Chapter 8: First Day of Getting to Know Each Other (1)

Leaving the dining hall where the maids were setting the table, he checked the courtyard through the door opposite the main gate. Following that, after checking the locations of the ballroom and the chapel, he went upstairs via the stairs, walked along the hallway, and stopped in front of a certain door. After finding the music room in that way, he entered another section through the connecting bridge and indoor garden. Whether it was built to be symmetrical on purpose, the layout of the hallway or the room was almost the same as on the other side.

"By the way, Escort Knight, you're amazing."

Was it because she had been talking because of the guided tour that her wariness had faded? While checking another prayer room and heading to the next place, the maid spoke to him in a low voice.

"You didn't even blink an eye even after seeing the Mage's cat! You seem younger than me... As expected, you're a man and a soldier, so you have a lot of guts!"

"Considering what I did to Freta's prank, I don't think I have that much."

After answering the maid, who was slightly sparkling her eyes, with a sighing voice, Patrick tilted his head and continued speaking.

"But I'm sorry, but what does the cat have to do with courage that you're mentioning it?"

"Huh? There were a lot of things that were related, right? First of all, it's as big as a child, speaks human language, and most of all, it used mysterious powers."

"Yes, it was big. But in the end, isn't it just a cat? And it's the Mage's residence, so it's natural to have a beast that speaks human language and has bizarre abilities."

Although this was the first time he had met one directly, Patrick was well aware of the image of the Mage that people spoke of. First of all, they wear robes with long hems that drag on the ground, and they wear hats with long and pointed tops. And they always stir a bubbling pot with one or two pets with mysterious powers. While occasionally glancing at a book full of spells.

"If someone comes to visit, they tell fortunes while looking into a crystal ball... but why are you laughing...?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I just remembered my younger sibling... That child also likes stories. Ah, this is the reading room."

Beyond the wide-open door, a large bookshelf filled with books was seen occupying the front and side walls. The window installed on the wall without a bookshelf was very small, barely letting in enough sunlight to slightly inform that it was daytime now. It was probably made so that less light came in on purpose so that the books would not be damaged. But he couldn't help but tilt his head at the sight of the center of the room. Chairs were gathered together, also placed as if surrounding a low tea table.

'Do nobles chat while reading books?'

If you read while talking, the content won't enter your head well. Then it would only be a waste of time, what a strange habit. Patrick thought so and shrugged alone, then turned to the maid standing holding the door.

"Yes, I have confirmed. Where is the next place?"

"There isn't one. This is the last place."

"I see. Thank you for kindly guiding me."

"You're welcome! Then let's go back to Cecilia's room."

He thought it would take a little longer because the castle was big, but the guided tour ended much faster than he thought. Patrick, very fortunate about that fact, tried to engrave the locations of the rooms he had been guided to today in his head again.

'Well, I won't be able to memorize everything at once.'

But he knew for sure what kind of places Cecilia would have to go to, so his goal could be said to have been achieved splendidly. Along with that fact that he had learned, Patrick's heart seemed to become a little heavy.

'She's really only going to be going to very few places.'

Dining hall, courtyard, ballroom, chapel, music room, and reading room. Cecilia will be going to a total of six places in the future. Even though it's a large castle with four pointed spires, only six doors are open to her. She won't be able to draw in a room full of sculptures, and she won't be able to swing a sword or ride a horse in the castle's front yard. Even if she goes out to the courtyard, Cecilia can only walk along the road and can't play ball in the corner of the courtyard like other people. Because she can't see.

'Come to think of it, she can't even eat well by herself.'

Eating food and washing her body will be extremely difficult without someone's hand. Even if she gets used to the shoes and there is no need to hold her hand, someone will always have to be by her side to walk around the castle. Just as he was thinking that it was pitiful that she was having a hard time living properly alone, the maid suddenly cleared her throat and carefully opened her mouth.

"Um, Escort Knight, if it's not rude, may I ask your age?"

"Eighteen."

"Oh my, you're older than I thought. I thought you were the same age as my younger sibling. He's sixteen years old."

Like many citizens outside the castle, the maid's father was also an ordinary farmer who farmed. Most of the land he farmed belonged to the lord, but it seemed that the maid's family had ownership of at least a palm-sized piece of land.

"So my father wants my younger sibling to inherit the farming work. But he doesn't listen, saying he wants to become a playwright or an actor. It seems to be very troublesome for him, and he sighs every time he goes home."

"Will he be punished if he doesn't inherit it?"

"Yes?"

The maid, who heard Patrick's question, blinked her eyes quickly, opening them round. It was as if she had never expected such a question to come out.

'Huh? Did I ask something weird?'

Patrick tilted his head, including that reaction from the maid. The maid, who was staring blankly at him, soon smiled and said.

"You were in the barracks before you came here, right? What age did you enter?"

"Yes? Why are you suddenly asking that...?"

"I think I can answer you well if I know."

What does his enlistment date have to do with her question? Patrick didn't know the maid's intention, but since it wasn't something he had to hide, he shrugged and answered.

"Six years old."

"......I see."

The maid nodded with a face as if she was ruminating on something, then smiled brightly again and continued speaking.

"Children aren't punished for not inheriting their parents' work. It's not stipulated by law. So my younger sibling doesn't have to become a farmer if he doesn't want to."

However, if her younger sibling does not inherit the farming work, the land they currently own will be passed on to another family. It's land that they worked so hard to obtain, but it will be taken away in just one generation. My father said he didn't like that, and the maid sighed softly.

"Um... In other words, you don't want to pass it on to another family."

And next to her, Patrick nodded very seriously and said.

"If your younger brother doesn't do farming work, there's a high possibility that you'll dispose of the farmland, or it will be paid to the other person as your marriage dowry... Is that right?"

"Yes, that's right. You know that part well."

"I saw a play with such content added in..."

"You watch plays too. What was it about?"

"It was a common romance about a poor farmer's daughter marrying a prince."

The heroine's house was so poor that they had no other private property other than two hens. All the land they farmed belonged to the lord, but unfortunately, he was a corrupt lord who extorted a lot of taxes, so they were barely making a living. Because of that, the heroine's father was lamenting that he couldn't marry off his daughter even though she was of marriageable age.

The maid smiled softly at his words and nodded her head.

"Escort Knight, you're a commoner only in status, but you're similar to nobles in that you've only learned about the world outside the castle through stories."

"Yes? Yee... I didn't go out of the barracks well, so it can be said to be true, but..."

It was a valid statement, but it didn't sound very good. The maid, who was looking at Patrick, who was slightly frowning because of that, smiled brightly and waved her hand.

"Oh my, don't take it badly. It's just that's my feeling about you. We're practically working together in the future, so I need to know what kind of person you are to some extent, right? That way, we can work smoothly."

"Yes, yes, you're right."

"And as I said first, I think you're very amazing."

Does she want to ease his frowning face? The maid continued to rattle off words to him in a bright voice.

"You didn't mind your two feet being badly injured and cared for Lady Cecilia. Besides, you even stood up to Mrs. Haltt! It's something someone like me can't even dream of!"

"Is that so? I'm also an employee."

The Tutor is from a noble family even though she's like that. Judging by the fact that she doesn't live as a noblewoman and teaches other people's children, it seems that her family doesn't have very strong power. After whispering that in an even smaller voice, the maid shrugged and continued speaking in a normal-sized voice again.

"Besides, you saw it too, right? The Lord praised her. She has taught not only the two young masters and the youngest lady, but also the children of other nobles who serve the Lord. So I can't even make a peep."

More than anything, her face isn't scary? The maid added, frowning her face like imitating the Tutor, and then smiled at him.

"...Actually, I thought you were a scary person, Escort Knight. You didn't change your face even though Lady Cecilla was stepping on your feet, and you spoke to Mrs. Haltt in a very stiff voice... So, as the Lord said earlier, I thought you were a soldier to the bone."

He only seems to be the same age as her younger sibling, but in reality, he must have gone to the battlefield for several years and fought in many battles. So his emotions are all worn out, so his expression is dry, and he can only use stiff speech. Thinking so, she said that she didn't dare to talk to him earlier, and the maid smiled awkwardly.

"I was really scared when you mercilessly hit the Mage earlier, but after that, when I saw you being flustered, I thought you might not be as scary as I thought. So since I had to talk because of the guided tour anyway, I mustered up a little more courage... Hehe, I think I did a really good job doing that. It's because I found out that Escort Knight is just a stiff person."

"...Did it get better?"

"Of course! I'm not scared at all now."

She seemed to see him as not just not scary, but as a very friendly opponent. Because she added a word while looking at him with playful eyes.

"I'm going to ask you to call me noona in the future."

"I'm sorry, but that seems a bit difficult."

"Hehe, I'm just joking. Mrs. Haltt would scold me for losing too much tension."

If they were working separately, it might be different, but the two had to serve Cecilia, a noble, right next to her. If they let go of their tension too much in such a situation, an accident will surely happen. More than anything, the two have not even known each other for a day. No matter how friendly she is, Patrick was not friendly enough to call someone he had known for less than a day noona.

"Come to think of it,"

When they finally arrived near Cecilia's residence, the maid said, scratching her cheek as if embarrassed.

"We haven't introduced each other yet, have we? I'm Jenny. I'm Lady Cecilla's exclusive maid. Please take care of me in the future."

"Yes, Jenny. I'm Patrick, an Escort Knight. I'm the one who should be asking you to take care of me."

"Hehe, I've been working here for a little over three years even though I'm like this. So if there's anything you don't know, feel free to ask."

"Yes, I will."

After giving a smile to him, who nodded his head slightly in response, the maid... Jenny opened the door to enter Cecilia's residence. Following the cheerful sound of clicking, the door opened wide. The incredibly splendid reception room slowly began to come into view.

'Lady Cecilla, are you okay?'

Patrick, who had a faint worry, entered the room, and he saw the Tutor emptying a large plate full of various foods. The maids were setting the table in the dining hall, so it seemed that it was mealtime while Patrick and Jenny were touring the castle. The foods that were fully set on the table must be the lunch that the Count said he would send up, so it wouldn't be surprising at all. But Patrick's two eyes looking at the table were full of shock. It was such an unrealistic sight that he felt his soul leaving in real time. In front of Cecilia, who was sitting at the seat together, nothing was placed.