After the duchy’s traditional breakfast came to an end, I returned to the mansion with Elena for the time being. Even if the duke had summoned me, I could not send Elena back alone.
Of course, Yulia was with her, but she was there to help me. Not to take my place.
“Luke, follow me.”
“Yes, my lady.”
I followed Elena into her room.
Once inside, Elena hopped up and perched on the bed. Her short legs swung back and forth.
“You’re going to Father now, right?”
“Yes, I am.”
“You have to be careful, okay? Father is really scary when he gets angry.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
It was not as if the duke had any reason to be angry with me. I had literally done nothing.
Though perhaps it would be a different matter if he had discovered our secret-friend relationship…
If possible, I did not want to see the duke angry. Not today, and not ever.
Because that day would surely become the day of my memorial rites.
“My lady, may I say one thing as your secret friend?”
“H-huh? What is it?”
“The way you ate carrots this morning was truly splendid.”
“Right?! I’m good at eating carrots…! And onions too…! And also…”
Elena folded down her fingers one by one as she listed off the vegetables she knew. Sadly, she stopped before she even got past one hand.
Perhaps, starting today, Elena had come to like vegetables even a little.
They said a healthy mind dwelled in a healthy body, did they not? The healthier Elena became, the more her future vicious personality would soften, bit by bit. That was a happy thing for me.
A fearsome servant who could even fix a nine-year-old’s picky eating. That was me.
“Then I will be going, my lady.”
“Okay, come back soon.”
I bowed politely to Elena and left the room.
When I carefully closed the door so it would not make a sound, Yulia looked at me as if she had been waiting.
“Luke, are you going now?”
“Yes, that is my plan.”
“Do you know the way?”
“Yes, I do. Yesterday, my lady personally showed me there.”
“Hmm—still, if you can’t remember, ask one of the servants nearby.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
I was grateful for her concern, but there did not seem to be any particular problem. Unlike an ordinary nine-year-old, I was an extraordinary nine-year-old.
Something as shameful as getting lost would absolutely never happen…
Absolutely never…
‘Where am I…?’
I had done well enough finding the main building, but the problem came after that. If I walked straight to the left, the office should have been there, but instead of the office, there was some kind of storage room.
No wonder no voice answered no matter how much I knocked. To think it was because there was no one inside.
‘Should I go back for now?’
I immediately turned around and retraced the path I had taken. Before long, I was able to arrive at the entrance of the main building.
I never imagined I would actually get lost…
It seemed best to ask a servant after all. It was a little humiliating, but I could not be any later for my appointment with the duke.
Humiliation would not feed me, but the duke would.
I immediately looked around, and fortunately, I spotted a servant not far away.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
“Yes, what can I do for…”
The servant who had been dusting the window frame turned her head as she replied. She blinked as if she did not understand, then slowly lowered her gaze.
“Were you perhaps calling me?”
“Yes, I was.”
“What seems to be the matter?”
“My name is Luke, and I have newly become Lady Elena’s personal servant. I have forgotten the way to the office, so I would like to ask for your help for a moment.”
“I see. The young lady’s newly arrived servant…”
The corners of the servant’s mouth slowly rose. I did not know why, but that smile felt terribly ominous.
Gulp.
It would be fine… right?
“Then I’ll help you. Follow me.”
“Yes, please.”
Even as I followed the servant, I could not shake the ominous feeling.
Come to think of it, my parents told me never to follow bad adults…
Should I say I’m fine even now…?
It was not long after that when she suddenly stopped walking.
“We’re here. This is the family head’s office.”
“Thank you.”
“My name is Sein. If you need help, come find me anytime.”
With those words, Sein promptly left my side.
Unlike what I had worried about, nothing happened, but the smile she had shown me still remained in my mind.
For the time being, I should not leave Elena’s side…
‘Then now it is time to meet the duke.’
After taking a deep breath, I slowly raised my hand.
“It is Luke Nineheart.”
“Come in.”
When I spoke along with a knock, an answer immediately came from beyond the door.
Without hesitation, I opened the door and entered the office.
“Luke Nineheart greets His Grace the Duke of Frozenheart.”
“Yes, good to see you.”
The duke’s office was a little different from what I had imagined. There were piles of documents here and there, and a large map of the North hung on the wall.
Rather than an office, it looked more like an army operations room.
Well, the North often clashed with barbarians, so perhaps that was only natural.
“Sit comfortably over here.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Following the duke’s words, I sat in the center of the long sofa—more precisely, directly across from him.
Of course, I did not sit comfortably, but maintained proper posture. Sitting comfortably just because someone told you to was something only amateurs did.
It was absolutely not because I had experienced it myself.
“Thank you for coming to our house. But before that, I should apologize first. I am sorry for calling you so suddenly.”
“It is all right. Being summoned by my lady is an honor for me.”
“If you truly think so, then I could not be more grateful.”
I did not exactly mean it…
Aside from that thought, it was easy enough to tell that he was not a bad person. After all, apologizing to someone beneath you was quite a difficult thing.
Not difficult? There was no way. My company life proved that.
After that, I continued conversing with the duke.
He said he would send a tailor to Elena’s mansion sometime today, and asked whether my sleeping arrangements had been uncomfortable. He seemed to be trying to be as considerate of me as possible.
I did not know why he was going this far for a single servant, but there was no need to refuse. Not that I could refuse in the first place.
“Come to think of it, this reminds me of when I met your father.”
“My father, Your Grace…?”
“Yes. It was when I was the commander of the Northern Second Knight Order. Back then, Deren, your father, was quite the knight…”
The moment I heard the words “Knight Order,” my mind went blank. Just yesterday, I had already been forced to listen to Yulia’s endless stories about the Knight Order.
Why were people from the Knight Order all like this…?
As expected, the Knight Order—no, the army—was the problem.
How much time had passed after that? Before I knew it, my ears were on the verge of bleeding.
“Oh dear, I have spoken for too long. Elena must be waiting.”
“It was an honor to hear such fascinating stories about the Knight Order.”
“Then I shall tell you more next time. Elena dislikes them, you see.”
No, I would really appreciate it if he refrained from that, at least.
Of course, there was no way I could say such a thought aloud. The person before me was none other than the duke.
First, I needed to wet my lips a little…
“It would be an honor if Your Grace would call for me.”
“Yes, I am glad as well. Then you may return now.”
I rose from my seat and bowed my head politely.
Just as I was about to leave the office, a voice suddenly came from behind me.
“Luke, take good care of Elena.”
“I will do my utmost.”
I bowed politely to the duke once more and left the office.
Fortunately, I remembered the way back, so before long, I was able to arrive at Elena’s mansion.
“My lady, it is Luke.”
“Come in.”
When I spoke along with a knock, a voice immediately answered.
But why was that? Her voice sounded far from ordinary. It was as if she were extremely sulky.
Had she perhaps gotten upset because I took too long?
Thinking that, I entered Elena’s room and found her with her lips sticking out in a pout.
“I have returned.”
“You’re late…!”
“I apologize. The family head told me stories from his days in the Knight Order…”
“Th-the Knight Order…?”
Elena’s expression filled with horror. It seemed she truly hated stories about the Knight Order.
I did not know just how much the duke had talked for her to react like this, but…
This time, I agreed. I wanted to stop hearing stories about the Knight Order too.
“Oh, right. Yulia said earlier that you wanted to learn swordsmanship…? That thing.”
“Yes, that is correct. I learned a little swordsmanship from my father back at my family home, so I intend to continue a little further.”
It seemed Yulia had looked after things while I was gone.
If I had had a senior who worked this hard, my company life might have been a little easier.
Thinking about it now did not mean much, but the thought came to me for no reason.
That was when Elena, who had been sitting in a chair, hopped down.
“Then let’s go together! I want to try it too! Swordsmanship!”
It seemed our dear secret friend wanted to play together.