After learning his daily schedule, my impression of the boy has changed.

It was quite a busy schedule after all.

Every day, he will be taught by the live-in tutor throughout the morning and in the whole noon again, this was his schedule on magic lessons. And in the first half of the afternoon, he will be taught of fencing as well and on the latter half; he will be taught of etiquette.

His whole day was filled with studying arrangements.

When I first saw his schedule, I thought that his schedule should really be that busy because he was the heir of the household. However, upon witnessing his scheduled studies myself, I was filled with feelings of sympathy for him.

「The reason why I did not understand your lessons was because your way of teaching is poor.」Vincent

「Though I apologize for that, if the one I am teaching is not even interested in learning then there is nothing I can do.」Tutor

「Are you saying that the fault lies in me?」Vincent

「I was merely saying that we should both work harder on our ends.」Tutor

The boy who got poor grades only shifted the blame on his tutor. The tutor was also saying something against him in that matter.

It seems the tutor, Harvey Moore is a little different from the other servants. He is one of this family’s servants that were free to act towards Vincent… or just brave enough.

Even though his carefree way of speaking is rude, I sort of understand on where he stands. Just listening to the lecture and the class, anyone will. It was because just teaching this boy alone was too difficult.

I thought that Vincent is a bookworm type due to how he told me those stories from countless books and tales in their library. But after seeing his performance in his classes, he doesn’t have any motivation in studying any lessons or topics except if it is History. And right now, the topic is similar to that of basic mathematics.

Thankfully, the numbers and symbols they used were exceedingly similar to that of the Earth’s. So it is quite easy for me to know what was being lectured. Maybe someone from my former world taught them in the past.

「I AM working hard.」Vincent

「Is that really the case?」Tutor

「What??!」Vincent

「If you are listening to me properly, you should be able to understand what I am teaching right away. Not being able to do so only means that you are not listening diligently.」Tutor

「….That’s not true at all!」Vincent

「No. That’s how it is.」Tutor

「Why do you say so?」Vincent

「Because even him who was only listening on the furthest back was able to understand it.」Tutor

「What!?」Vincent

「Eh?」Me

It’s the worst development here. I want them to stop shifting the talk towards me. Well, indeed I understood it however, not because I’m properly listening but because I was already taught of it long ago.

Vincent in response to his shock, he asked me.

「Is that true?」Vincent

「That is…」Me

I was then confused if I am going to tell that I could or I can’t. I don’t know which of the answers can help me avoid trouble. But it seems that by hesitating to answer is also part of the options and it is the most troublesome.

「Not answering is the answer itself. This is just due to his consideration to you, Lord Vincent.」Tutor

Teacher Moore took advantage of my silence and used it for his own convenience. But because of this he was actually driving me more into a corner. Just what the heck is this tutor planning?

After hearing it, Vincent stood from his seat then went to the board and pointed at a written mathematical problem.

「…Rion… so you can. Well then, have a look at this problem.」Vincent

「Ah no, that is…」Me

「If you do not solve it then you’ll be punished by being exempted from dinner. Your choice.」Vincent

It seems he has now taken this ordeal seriously. In regards to this ordeal, it’s not even a choice.

「I understand.」Me

Obviously I wasn’t able to win over my appetite.

I was given a chair, a pen and a paper by the tutor and then I assessed the problem. The problem written was about the multiplication and division of fractions. As expected, I can answer this much.

Using this kind of feathered pen was quite harder than solving the problem itself. I’m not used to such a pen that needs to be dipped in the ink every single time, but I was able to answer the problem somehow… although it produced messy and dirty writing.

After writing the answer, I handed the paper to the tutor.

「…」Tutor

But when he took a look on my paper, he frowned and looked like he was surprised at something then looked at me in silence. I was wondering if my answers were incorrect.

「Umm, teacher?」Me

「…you… Have you taken arithmetic lessons before?」Tutor

「…uhm… Just a little bit from those who took care of me.」Me

I was surprised at the shocked reaction of the tutor, I thought he expected me to solve this as he had mentioned earlier. I have to use again my last method of misdirection by using their ignorance to the life and ways of those who lived in the slums.

「But I heard they died?」Tutor

「I-I was taught before they died.」Me

「...The dwellers of slums, teaching their children?」Tutor

「I do not have any idea in regards of those parts. However, I was only able to remember the things that I might be able to use to get out of slums. I only know the numbers and basic problems but I still don’t know how to read and write this kingdom’s language.」Me

「Well that is justified. However, to think you could do a very quick mental arithmetic...」Tutor

Ah, so that is the real reason why he was surprised. It seems that I have really done it now. Multiplication and division of fractions are just simple problems however I have overdone it by solving the problem mentally and writing the answer without the solution.

I shouldn’t have done it considering the level of education of this world–no, this age and era.

And the reaction of the boy was…

「As expected of my full time valet!! Alright, you must study with me from now on. Teacher, that is fine right?」Vincent

「Eh…Ah, of course…」Tutor

Not even tinged with jealousy, he was even happy about it. I expected him to show a tantrum or frown of being overcome by someone lesser than him.

Isn’t he a spoiled brat? I don’t understand just what he is anymore.

But what I’m sure now, is that it is too early to judge him as nothing but a selfish noble child.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

After the class, we went to eat lunch. But the valet may only eat after his or her master did, so I must escort Vincent and assist the maids who will serve him the food. It’s also my job to tell the maids what should be served, how much juice he needs, what kind of drink Vincent wants or what he doesn’t like to eat, but at the same time it’s also part of the job to manage what Vincent eats and serve him food that is not harmful for his body.

So yeah, basically it’s my job to watch what he eats and control his appetite… and become the scapegoat for his tantrums if he doesn’t like what I do to his food. But fortunately for me, he didn’t. He just accepted the food and cheerfully enjoyed the drinks he was given.

After letting Vincent enjoy his food, we went to the Hanging Gardens where he will be massaged by the maids. It’s actually a good place to relax, it is on the second floor with an open roof, the sun’s blistering heat is blocked by the large vines and leaves of the plants in the garden and in the windows, the cool breeze enters from the outside.

Then it’s my time to eat lunch. Vincent then told me that I have to hurry as I must attend in the next lesson. I went to the Servant’s Quarters building that had quite a distance away from the Hanging Gardens’ building. I got irritated at how wide the entire property is, that it became a chore to walk.

‘They should’ve allowed wagons and horses inside. Then the servants don’t have to walk between buildings that are literally far from each other. It is wide enough to have a racing competition between six chariots.’ I quietly complained.

It will be my first time to eat at the servant’s dining room. Only then I realized that I actually underestimated the number of servants this family had. This room is actually one of the largest in the property, second only to the Severwind Hall which was used for balls and parties with the nobles. But despite its size, the entire room is packed with servants taking their lunch.

I queued up on the line to get my food. But even though it is crowded and despite my small size, it did not help me avoid getting attention from other servants. The servants in front of me and the back were whispering to each other while sneaking glances at me. It is also the same to those servants on the tables I passed as I kept following the line. Maybe I should simulate several scenarios where I will be bullied by other servants, just in case.

When it was my turn to get food, the cooks just quietly gave me a tray of food and a glass of fruit juice. My second problem is to get a table or space where I can eat. I wanted to eat this food outside as it is very uncomfortable to be the focus of attention while eating. But unfortunately, it is not allowed to eat outside the servant’s dining room. Well, this is according to what I have heard from the other servants before me who also planned in doing so but was scolded by the cook.

I carried my tray while trying to find a good space. The servants who were whispering earlier at my back got a table to eat just after getting their food. Well, they knew someone from the table so it was easy for them to get one. If I am not in a position to mind etiquette then I would’ve eat on the floor instead. I have to quickly finish my lunch or I will get a tantrum from Vincent again.

I was about to go around again to check the other tables when someone called for me.

「Hey slumborn! Over here. 」???

I turned to see the one calling for me and I saw several maids on a table with one of them waving at me.

「Eh? 」Me

Well, not directly though but I am sure I am the only one here who was a slumborn here so the probability that she is referring to me is high.

「Over here slumborn! We have a space here!」???

Due to her shouting, she gathered a lot of attention than I did previously, especially after yelling the taboo word here in the dining room for the servants of a noble.

After spending several days here, I found out that the word slumborn is considered a taboo word in the circles of nobles. The individual who will use this word against a person with noble’s blood cannot complain if he or she gets killed in retaliation. His or her family will have no right also to take vengeance on the murderer as the system of Nobles itself backed this unwritten law.

It attacks the dignity and the pride of being a noble. And if a peasant speaks of this word against a noble, he or she cannot resist the execution along with his or her entire family.

「Evelyn! M-mind your words!」??

「Ehhh… well, he is a slumborn so it’s no insult.」???

They began to argue but soon stopped as I reached their table. I asked them with a smile to create a good rapport.

「If I may be bold miss… were you calling for me earlier?」Me

「…」

Instead of getting an answer, all of them at the table just silently stared at me. Their silence and gaze were only seconds long but felt like it’s an hour that it is quite embarrassing.

Unlike the gazes I have received back when I first entered these grounds and after my first bath here, their stares were not uncomfortable. Maybe because one of my eyes were covered that they forgot that not only I am a slumborn but I am also a heterochromatic child.

「Cute…」???

「…Yeah.」??

「Wow...」????

「Eh?」Me

Although it was just mutterings and whispers, my small distance with them let me hear some of the words.

「E-Evelyn!」??

「Ah-Eh, uh yeah. *Ahem… you are trying to find some place to eat right? We have a vacant chair here. So don’t be shy and take a seat. We are all servants here.」???

「Thank you. I will take up your offer then.」Me

Finally, I was able to rest my tired knees after standing and walking around. The table had eight chairs and there are seven of them so I took the seat beside her companion. The one who called me is on the other side and it seemed that they are about to finish their lunch after seeing their food at the table.

「You must be very tired from standing at such a long time. I am sorry. I was actually watching you earlier and was waiting for you to come nearby so that I can call you here. We are actually quite interested in you… uhmm… before that, what is your name? It is quite awkward in calling you slumborn everytime. By the way I am Evelyn of House Ederlvann.」Evelyn

She had an aura of a strict but caring senior. But I don’t know if she really is though, after calling me slumborn in this place. And I was expecting that the one who invited me is some kind of jolly and dense character but was surprised to see a glasses type girl instead.

Looking sneakily at her robust figure and calculating her height from the way she sits, she must be 17 or 18 years old. But seeing her initiate the introduction and the dialogue, she may be a gossiping type. She also has a yellow-green hair in ponytail with green eyes.

「Oh, I apologize for that. I took a seat without introducing myself. My name is Rion, the new valet of Lord Vincent. Thank you again Miss Evelyn. And may I also know the names of your friends?」Me

I stood from my seat, bowed towards her while introducing myself and when back to sit.

「Heee… So you are the new valet who took Walle’s job from him. My name is Lucia of House Cardiggan. Good job at taking his job. That old man should never be given a job again because of his lobster personality.」Lucia

She winked at my direction. This one seems to be 15-16 years old, judging from her body and face that looks like it just started puberty.

Lucia sits beside Evelyn and seeing that both of us were not tall enough to reach each other’s hands, she used the table as support to reach me and offer her hands in greeting. I shook them in return. Only then I was able to get a closer look on her green eyes. I previously thought she is a commoner after seeing her short brown hair but it seems I was wrong.

「And I was expecting an ignorant young child in terms of manners but you actually carried yourself well. Ah right! Girls, why not introduce yourselves also?」Evelyn

「Well, he already stayed here for several days and he was employed by the marquis himself so he must have the skills to learn our ways quickly. You are now an acquaintance of Joanna from House Bandenoch. 」Joanna

The girl named Joanna was seated beside me. She smells like that woman named, Riza. She just glanced at me and returned to her tired sleepy posture using the table as her pillow. Although it was short but I got a glimpse on the blue color of her eyes. Like Lucia, she also had a brown hair.

「Or Walle did a good job in teaching and training him thoroughly…Rion, I am Julie of House Quethyller.」Julie

I took a look at her and Julie has green eyes also; I don’t have any knowledge in regards to the names of female’s hairstyles so I will just describe her as someone with curly brown hair. She also had a, what you can call “baby face”.

「I am quite pleased to finally meet you, Rion. I am Louise, third daughter of Viscount Shredzunburg.」Louise

This one will attract a lot of men who had strike zones for foreheads. Her fore hair is pinned to the back that made her shining forehead exposed. She has a brown hair with blue eyes like Riza.

「I am Hopia, first daughter of Baron Harethford. Hmmmm, you seemed to be more mature than you actually look.」Hopia

Again, another girl with braided yellow-green hair and blue eyes with a motherly aura. She appears to be the eldest among them.

「Celia of House Ulster!」Celia

Celia seems to be the youngest member of their group but still, much older than me. She had a dark green hair in twin tails supported by flowery hairpins. Her sparkling green eyes can make anyone see her childish personality.

This is quite a peculiar group of friends as each of them has different hair and eye colors. Well, it’s no wonder after knowing all of them came from the vassal families of House Windhill.

All of them introduced themselves with their houses attached. I was told by Riza that this is actually a normal introduction between servants that have a noble blood. In entering the employment under House Windhill, they are now carrying the reputation of their own house and family.

「Is it true that you saved the young lord back in the slums? We are quite curious on the authenticity of the whole story.」Julie

「Um…」Me

Ahhh… it seems I will not be able to eat my lunch in peace. It may be rude to them if I didn’t answer or satiate their curiosity, especially after offering me a space in their table to eat. Sigh… even though the food in my tray is mouthwatering, Vegetable salad, milk soup with some shrimp on it and a plate of meat. This is quite a luxurious meal for a servant if I compare this to what I ate back on the slums.

「Don’t worry, all of the servants here were ordered by the marquis to never tell anyone outside this House. But as servants of this house, we are free to talk about it inside the premises.」 Julie

That is not my concern though but well, nevermind.

「Well… *Ahem, it is the same for both of us as I have mentioned to Marquis. I did save the lord from his kidnappers but Vinc- Lord Vincent also carried me to safety when I lost consciousness in the slums.」Me

「Wait… what?」Lucia

「Carried you to safety? Eh? Really? Are we talking about the same Lord Vincent?」Evelyn

「Y-yeah.」Me

It seems that they cannot believe that Vincent did something like this.

「This is quite… shocking.」Lucia

「Yeah, this is more than just “doing something out of his character” but it is just…」Louise

「I thought he would even grew up to be one of the worse type of nobles but one can never really predict the future of every person huh.」Lucia

「I never would’ve thought that the problem child of House Windhill would do such a thing. What a surprise…」Evelyn

「H-hey Evelyn!」Celia

「What? It’s true anyway. Almost all servants here were annoyed by such spoiled personality of the young lord. But still, a job is a job, so we have to serve him well even if he is that bad. If only he is the same as Lady Ariel. I still remember how he caused several injuries to many servants that later prompted them to voluntarily leave their jobs. I think Walle is the only one who was the longest to ever hold his position under the young lord.」Joanna

「I think the young lady is not that much different though, haven’t you heard? The rumors said that she once whipped a servant so hard that her entire back was covered in blood.」Evelyn

「Eh? Really? I haven’t heard of that. What was the story?」Julie

「You see-」Evelyn

Girls really love gossips in any form huh.

Thankfully, their attention has now turned away from me which let me start to enjoy my lunch. But still that rumor intrigues me so I keep both of my ears open while my mouth and hands were busy eating.

The level of their voices weren’t really trying to hide the dangerous topic of their talk but it did seem unnecessary to whisper to each other when the entire room is noisy from all the talking from other tables and servants. Still, it changes everything when the one sitting on your table is getting attention from others, specifically… me.

Either they just don’t care about who will hear it or this kind of talk is normal between the servants of this family.

「I heard it happened two years ago, a servant or specifically, one of her handmaidens did something Ariel didn’t like. And as punishment, she whipped that handmaiden so bad that she only stopped when her female servant isn’t responding to her whips anymore and fainted. Days later, that handmaiden resigned and went back to her family along with the scars on her back.」Evelyn

「Ehhh?! That’s awful! What did she do to get punished like that?」Louise

「I don’t know… I think only Lady Ariel, the Marquis and the handmaiden knew the cause of that predicament.」Evelyn

「Do you know her name or even just the name of the house where she came from?」Louise

「I’m afraid the marquis ordered a full concealment on the matter or even her identity as everytime I asked about it from the older servants, they always change the topic or ignore me or just give vague answers.」Evelyn

Ariel huh… she doesn’t strike me as that kind of person though… or she haven’t show it to me yet. Anyways, this is a very important information for me.

「Hey, hey ladies! I think we should stop talking about such rumors. We will be scaring Rion here.」Hopia

Hopia clapped her hands to stop her friends from continuing. Though I don’t really mind them though as I would rather hear more rumors and information that may help me survive and live easily under this House.

「Forgive me if I am rude but may I ask something about all of you?」Me

「Yes?」Hopia

「I am still new to the ways of the nobles so I wondered why all of you chose to serve the family of the marquis? I realized that all of you were mostly daughters from powerful vassal families so I thought that you would rather… you know stay with your family.」Me

Although I still haven’t read that book about nobles, I already memorized the main vassal lords under House Windhill after asking Riza. So some of these girls were from powerful families of that have a rank of Count or Viscount.

In the choice of living in luxury with your family or serving two spoiled children of your lord, I would immediately select the first option.

「Frankly, most of us here have the same reason: to escape from being married to someone we don’t like.」Hopia

「Yeah, we don’t want to be forced in tying the knot to someone whom our parents wanted just to increase the power of our house.」Lucia

「We have better chance in finding a good partner if we serve as handmaidens or servants of a powerful house.」Louise

「Eh? How?」Me

「Tea parties, Balls, Dance parties, Birthday Parties, Weddings, and any celebrations that will gather a lot of nobles and fellow servants. These events doesn’t just to create connections for the lords and nobles but it is also one of the easiest ways for us servants to know and meet new promising acquaintances and potential spouse. If lucky, we may get chance to be married to a handsome, rich and powerful noble.」Joanna

「Or a prince if we pooled all of our luck. Hahahaha!」Lucia

「As if! Prince Arnold is still 11 years old, you know. So no luck for us ladies if he doesn’t have a taste for those older than him.」Hopia

「Well, that depends on how good is your charm as a woman.」Evelyn

「Sorry but I don’t have a taste for young boys, I would prefer men like Count Strastleberg or Count Fitzmartin. Muscles and height is what makes a man for me.」Louise

「Eehh? I don’t want to marry a burly man. Just someone with a fit body and a good face is enough as long as he has high magic affinity.」Celia

「Ah yeah, that is also one of the reasons why my parents wanted me to marry the heir of House Berckeneth. They always wanted our bloodline to gain good affinity with the elements. Though I don’t like him one bit as he is younger than me and skinny for my type. He looked like he swallows poison everyday that his muscles were replaced with bones instead. If he wears a black hood and carried a scythe, he can become a good replacement for the Reaper.」Joanna

「You are being rude Joanna.」Hopia

They are now already on their own world of fantasies.

「And Miss Joanna, your… parents just allowed your decision to be employed as a servant?」Me

I thought that their parents would see it as an insult if their child were reduce as one of the maids or servants of their lord, especially for powerful and high ranking nobles. But it seems I was wrong.

「Yeah, they were actually quite happy for me to be employed under this house as they were also hoping for me to meet and catch a much better partner.」Joanna

「Let me guess, one of their hope is Lord Vincent?」Louise

「Yeah, but even given a chance I wouldn’t even take it. Even if I ignore that he is younger than me and too chubby, his personality makes it impossible for me to like him.」Joanna

Vincent must be quite a problem child if he is hated to this degree by his family’s servants.

「I am quite surprised that all of you were here with the same purpose.」Me

「Yeah, thankfully I was able to avoid becoming one of the concubines of a fat and pig-like man. My parents arranged our marriage before even I was even born to increase our house’s connection and support from his house. And all of that were thrown away when I was able to enter the employment under this house. But the arrangement between my parents and that man is still floating. In order for me to fully escape his clutches, all I have to do is to find a decent spouse and marry him with the blessing of the marquis. This way, even my parents and that man cannot overturn my decision.」Evelyn

So it means that if she will resign or lost her job here, she have no choice but to marry the person arranged by her parents. Hm... this is probably one of the reasons why there are a lot of servants here.

「By the way, can I ask on how old is Lady Ariel and Lord Vincent is? I forgot to ask Walle about this.」Me

Even though it was my fault for not asking, it is still part of his responsibility to help me know more about the people I will be serving. Yet, he didn’t even bother telling me the age of the two children before leaving.

「Hmm… Lady Ariel is 9 years old this year and Lord Vincent is 11 years old. Speaking of age, how old are you Rion?」Louise

「I… I don’t know…」Me

「Eh? What? You never counted your age? Or you just don’t remember the day you were born?」Louise

「Ah no, actually I don’t even know how many days or years I had lived in the slums.」Me

And this is actually the truth even after gaining two memories.

「Is it common in the slums to never know your age?」Celia

「Yes.」Me

Celebrating birthdays and counting one’s age is not even part of the life in the slums. Especially when most children don’t even live long enough to reach the age of 10.

「Hmm, oh yeah Rion, can I ask on how was your first day in serving the young lord? And I almost forgot, why aren’t you wearing the uniforms of valets? And where did you get that suit?」Lucia

「Lord Vincent gave this to me. This is actually one of his old clothes and the only set that fit on my size because I found none among the valet’s uniforms.」Me

「Heeeeh… Another surprising matter, I didn’t even expect that the young lord would give one of his old clothes to someone who isn’t even a noble. I thought he wouldn’t care less about the servants that were assigned to him. Or he would just make you wear something awful just to make fun of you, seeing how he hated all of the servants that were given to him.」Lucia

You are not alone in that thought, I was expecting even worse after Ariel and Vincent tried to persuade their father by hiring me as their toy.

「Tsk-tsk-tsk. That is where you were wrong Lucia. I heard that it was Lord Vincent himself who wanted Rion to be his valet. He even carried Rion on his back until they were found and rescued by a Sturmhound. Even he is that bad, I am sure he would never harm someone whom he gave an effort to save. Am I right Rion?」Evelyn

「Eehhh?! I-is that true?!」Julie

「What? what?」Louise

I don’t know why but Celia, Louise, Lucia and Julie suddenly got excited. All of them suddenly huddled closely. Even Joanna suddenly perked up as if her sleepy and tired mood had disappeared.

「Now that I think of it, this new change of the young lord is actually quite strange. In the past, Lord Vincent’s tantrums are an everyday sight for us servants. Every morning he would scold the servants who just walked pass him, trying find faults in order to have a good reason in yelling at someone. Then he would intentionally throw all of his clothes outside the window to have the servants wash it and put it back again on his wardrobe. He did things that are obviously not intended to be pranks but guaranteed to make everyone annoyed and irritated. And worse, he doesn’t even care if it will harm someone.」Evelyn

Eh? He did those kinds of things? I wish he wouldn’t do something like that to me. I wouldn’t want to regret my decision in not leaving this house to survive in this world.

「But now after he returned from the slums, most of his past habits had disappeared. I heard he even started to say shocking words such as “Thank you” or “Sorry” from the maids who served him in these past days.」Evelyn

Vincent must be one of the worse kinds of spoiled brats to make these servants shocked to see his changes.

「Eh really?!」Julie

「That infamous young lord is saying such things?」Joanna

「Speaking of which, I have heard that they also thought that you were a girl until you told them, is that also true?」Lucia

「Ah yeah but–」Me

「T-this is starting to get interesting…」Louise

「I actually noticed just now, but you really could be misunderstood as a girl Rion.」Lucia

「Y-yeah… B-but c-could it be?」Celia

「H-hey they are still k-kids!」Hopia

「But, but… don’t you feel something about this?」Julie

Yeah, I got a strange, creepy, and bad feeling towards the way their talk is slowly turning that every strand of hair in my body stood on their end. Their eyes even gave a dangerous glint. So I decided to change the subject again by asking more questions about some topics that may help me in my future.

I was able to get more information thanks to their gossiping nature, although most of it was actually just rumors and their own conspiracy theories. After finally finishing my food, I took my tray, thank them for the time and the chance of meeting them then bid my leave telling them that I still have to attend the afternoon’s lesson with Vincent. I left them at their table still talking about something that I felt better off not knowing.

I actually thought that they may show some kind of disgust towards me after knowing that I am a slumborn with Heterochromatic eyes… but I never felt that from them. Either they are good at hiding it or they were truly sincere on meeting and knowing me. I may have to take a mental note and memorize their names. I can definitely use them as a source of gossips and information while living under this House.

After exiting the hall, I immediately went straight to the scheduled grounds of the next afternoon lessons. I got in time just before the teacher arrived. This time it’s about learning sword arts. When I arrived at the venue, Vincent was already wearing something that looks like a leather breastplate with armguards and carries a wooden sword.

I immediately took off my top and changed to one of the white shirts that were offered to me by one of the maids standing on the corner. Although I was just taking off my top, it seems it is not good manners for a valet to just suddenly show his naked body out in the open so I was told by Vincent to change in one of the vacant rooms nearby. Then I realize that they really don’t have a size for me as the white shirt is quite big for my upper body.

「Master Erick, I wanted someone to join our lessons today. I am sure you wouldn’t mind another student right? Rion, introduce yourself.」Vincent

「Yes! I am Rion, the new valet of Lord Vincent. Please take good care of me Master Erick!」Me

The one teaching us was one of the commanders of the Sturmhounds, the elite personal guards of the marquis. Because my position was also one of his students, Vincent told me to call him “master” which is part of the boy’s stubbornness.

He has an aura of a strict military sergeant with an army-cut brown hair with green eyes. But contrary to my previous expectations though, he has an average height with no stone-like muscles like those generic martial art teachers. Instead he is actually wearing glasses, black pants, black leather shoes and a plain blue shirt with collar that he looked like a 25 year old math teacher.

「Good, it is actually better to have someone with you in our lessons. So new students were always welcome. Seeing that this is our first meeting Rion, I will be introducing myself once again. My name is Erick Averis Chaldea Magdra Almohk of House Ducsentria. I will be your teacher until you learn how to beat me using a real sword. So until then, I will be the one who will beat the two of you with this wooden sword. Grit your teeth and prepare yourselves!」Master Erick

「Yes Master!」Vincent

「Y-yes Master!」Me

Because this is about sword arts, as expected it should not be the same with what happened to arithmetic.

Of course, unlike those main characters in those generic novels, movies, fictions or anime, I have done neither fencing nor kendo in my previous life and as to what a completely beginner like me should start doing, that is already decided.

It’s nothing but practice swings.

Master Erick who was at the boy’s side glance was wholeheartedly swinging his sword as an example for us.

It’s already way past the thing called practice swinging.

His footwork, the movement of his ankles and knees, the center gravity of his hip and lower back, the smooth swinging of his arms and being able to swing in one breathe without defiance.

I was told to do the same thing but, I can’t understand it let alone do as I was told. His instruction was that the correct way of swinging not just by your hands but your whole body as well.

With that in mind, I kept practicing by swinging while being conscious of my body movements.

But while doing so, I noticed that the other knight who came with Master Erick was staring at me. Although he is on full plate armor and helmet, I can feel his deep stare towards me, as if observing me carefully at my every move.

I tried to think of the possible reasons of his stare but in the end for the peace of my mind, I decided to ignore it. Instead I kept on earnestly doing the same actions I was told to repeat entire time. Or so I say, but currently I still can’t keep up.

By the time we were finished, I was already out of breath with aching arms and body. Only then I realize the capacity of my stamina with this fencing lesson. I should create time for myself to train my stamina later.

Like this, I was able to formulate my own schedule little by little.