episode_0014

After barely calming down Elin, I returned to the duke’s house.

“I’ll bring you all the food.”

The sky has suddenly become dark.

Luke, returning from the kitchen, was lost in thought.

Who on earth put a curse on Elin?

The chances of him being a warlock are low.

Elin, who was only in Bertain, would never encounter a warlock, and there would be no reason for her to be cursed.

So then what’s left is either a demon or an ancient being.

Actually, that doesn’t make much sense either.

When I was finally walking down the hallway without being able to come up with an answer.

“Uh.”

“Ah.”

We ended up running into each other.

“You, you fucking bastard… .”

“My name is not a bastard, Confucius.”

Gerald, who starts cursing at me as soon as he sees me.

“How was the gift? Don’t you feel better?”

“What the heck is that refreshing. I suffered so much…! And, how dare you tell your mother about the magic herb?”

“Wasn’t it Confucius who arrived first?”

Gerald just grumbled and said nothing.

I guess he has nothing to say even if he thinks about it.

“I gave you a gift with all my heart.”

He held up two fingers and pretended to light a magic candle.

“If not, you would have suffered a lot from mana addiction.”

“… Why do you care about that?”

“Well.”

If I want to apologize to Elin later, I can’t die now, right?

The words never came out of his mouth.

There’s nothing good to come from needlessly heightening one’s guard.

“Oh no, the food is going to get cold at this rate.”

I passed Gerald and tapped him on the shoulder.

“Anyway, be careful, Confucius.”

“… … what?”

“Anything.”

It had an ambiguous meaning.

It also means to be careful of mana addiction.

“From now on, you must approach the princess with caution.”

It also meant that I shouldn’t show off to Elin in the future.

“Let’s go.”

“… … ”

The hallway where Luke left with a grin.

Gerald stood there blankly for a while.

* * * * *

“For now, magic classes are suspended.”

He announced to Elin after she finished eating.

“… … Yeah.”

Ellen nodded obediently.

But his expression was the same as usual.

The stupid hair stretched forward.

“Then… what are you going to do next?”

The withered Elin showed no signs of coming back to life.

It wasn’t fresh to begin with, but this is a bit too much.

I took out a teacup and a magic teapot from subspace.

Of course, it wasn’t to water the withered Elin.

“I’m not the only one teaching magic classes.”

“Ah.”

Elin opens her mouth slightly.

I forgot, but Luke also decided to teach etiquette.

Bubbling.

I started boiling water with familiar hand movements.

“First, I need to find out what level of etiquette the princess has.”

Elin swallowed at those words.

“… I know most things.”

Of course, it wasn’t that Elin was insecure.

“Because I learned it from my mother.”

The knowledge of etiquette that is essential for nobles.

When I think back to the time I was taught etiquette, my calves still sting from the beating I received with the cane.

“Is that so? Then let’s get the car first.”

Tea leaves were placed in boiling water.

The color begins to slowly emerge.

It was the camellia tea that was always served every night.

Elin lifted her teacup with a nervous expression.

At an angle that was sharp and sharpened several times.

I drank the tea almost perfectly.

Elin put down her teacup without making a sound and looked up at Luke.

“How was it?”

Although I unconsciously hoped for praise,

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

Luke was sipping his coffee, the tension he had just felt fading away.

As always, it was iced Americano.

“… … Weren’t you evaluating it?”

Ellen asked in a flat voice.

“What are you talking about? Evaluation?”

“It’s also etiquette.”

“Why are you evaluating something that is already perfect?”

“… … ”

Elin was dumbfounded by the unexpected compliment.

Luke took advantage of the gap to continue speaking.

“Listen carefully, my lady. What I am about to teach you will be very different from the etiquette lessons we have had so far. And it may be quite difficult.”

“… What is it?”

Luke, who had always told me I was talented and could do it, started out by scaring me like that.

Gulp.

I couldn’t help but feel nervous.

“From now on, the princess will learn how to treat her subordinates.”

What followed was a speech that was difficult to understand.

“What?”

“What do you think are the qualities of a nobleman?”

“Soyang? That… Hmm.”

It was a question I had never thought about.

Because Elin was always busy acquiring knowledge that was being forced into her.

“The answer is how well you treat your employees.”

It was a truly unexpected correct answer.

“Your Highness is too intimidated when dealing with subordinates. Just look at this. Isn’t I the only servant who speaks informally to you?”

That was only natural.

Because the only person under Elin is Luke.

“No, that’s not true. All the servants working in the duke’s house are people that the princess can treat with ease.”

Luke shook his head.

“Don’t you use polite language even to the chef?”

It was strange when I thought about it.

If you are Bertain’s servant, then you are Elin’s servant.

But Ellen always treats them with respect.

As if his position was lower.

“But my mother also speaks politely to her servants.”

“You’re just being polite.”

Yeah, Natia does speak politely, though.

But I only use polite language.

She is clearly a woman who knows how to command and command her servants.

“But isn’t the princess in trouble?”

“… Because everyone hates me.”

“You need to change that attitude first.”

Luke declared proudly.

“Who dares to hate the princess, and for what reason?”

“Because I’m neither good at anything nor useful.”

“Oh, didn’t you see it last time? The princess has talent. Others don’t recognize it.”

“Even so, it’s still the same that I can’t use magic?”

“That’s okay. The princess is the cutest in Bertain.”

“… … ”

Elin’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

As if wondering if it’s really worth it.

“… Is that so?”

“Yes. Anyway!”

Ellen applauded to lighten the mood before things got weird.

“Today I will teach you how to treat subordinates.”

I put my hand into subspace.

A chain comes with a snap.

No, looking closely, it was a chain leash.

“… Teacher?”

A flustered Elin reflexively called out to Luke.

Because I couldn’t understand why something like that was in subspace.

Luke continued speaking without paying any attention.

“All Bertain’s servants must obey the Princess’ orders. And so must I.”

Hand the handle to Elin.

“My leash is held by the princess. Feel free to do whatever you want with it.”

Elin looked back and forth between the handle she had accepted absentmindedly and the leash connected to Luke.

“… As I please?”

I’m not sure though.

It felt like an instinct deep within Elin that she had not been aware of was awakening.

* * * * *

So, the lecture on ‘How to deal with subordinates’ began in earnest.

The teacher was Luke, who gave up his own leash.

“… What about the leash?”

“I put it in because it was bothering me.”

Of course, it didn’t keep going.

I just wanted to show that I was loyal to this extent, I really didn’t intend to act like a dog.

“Ugh. Then first… … bring me some water.”

I poured some water for Elin, who seemed to be feeling a bit sorry.

Elin, who had gulped down the water, looked blankly at Luke.

“I don’t know what command to give.”

“Anything is fine.”

Still, Ellin held her head and thought hard, as if nothing came to mind.

“Show me some magic.”

“Okay.”

The magic was unleashed.

It was a magic that had more of a theatrical aspect than a practical one, with elements extending out in a rainbow shape.

“and.”

Elin gave a brief exclamation of admiration.

As the magic ended, he groaned again and thought about the distance of the command.

“… … Could you please bring me a book from the library?”

“What book are you talking about?”

As soon as he said the title, Luke immediately teleported to borrow the book.

It was a book with a picture of a rabbit on the cover.

“Is it a fairy tale?”

“Yeah. It’s my favorite book.”

After that, I brought whatever Elin said.

It was thanks to space magic.

“Eat dirt.”

As if there really was nothing to command, Elin just said whatever came to mind.

“Okay.”

Luke actually brought some dirt from the garden and tried to put it in his mouth.

“Okay, wait a minute.”

Ellen grabbed Luke’s arm.

If I had been just a little bit later, I would have really gotten dirt in my mouth.

No, I think it’s still a little bit there.

“Are you really going to eat it?”

“You gave me the order.”

“Cancel, cancel.”

“Okay.”

Sweat broke out on Elin’s forehead.

“Are you really going to do everything I tell you to do?”

“I plan to do anything except harm the princess.”

“Why do you do that?”

“Your Highness is a person of that status.”

The Bertains are a family that holds the central position among the five major dukes of the empire.

This is originally correct.

If Ellen doesn’t like it, she can fire some of her servants on the spot.

“Okay, put everything back where it is.”

Luke returned the things he had brought, including the dirt.

“… That?”

“Ah, I brought it to read to you before you go to bed.”

Let’s leave out the rabbit fairy tale I brought earlier.

“Then read it.”

Slap.

Whether her teeth were ticklish or not, Elin lay down straight away and pulled the blanket up over her.

Was this kid originally able to move this fast?

“Isn’t it a little early for you?”

“Turn off the lights.”

Was today’s training effective?

Just give the order.

Yes, this is the level of a princess you should have.

He obediently turned off the light.

“… … But then the text won’t be visible.”

“There is a way.”

A small sphere of mana floated in the air.

A dimly glowing light illuminated the storybook.

“I can read it to you.”

“That’s right.”

Because the light source was so dim, it didn’t bother me at all while I was sleeping.

Elin closed her eyes.

“I have one last order to give.”

And then it came up again.

“What is it?”

Luke asked, clearing his throat to read a fairy tale.

“Don’t go to graduate school.”

“Yes?”

“It’s a command.”

It’s an order.

It was not difficult to figure out why he insisted on giving orders even though he clearly said he would stay by his side.

That’s how scared I am of Luke leaving.

“If it’s a command, I understand.”

Elin’s stupid hair stood on end.

He looked like he didn’t even know if she would listen to this.

“I feel sorry for my senior.”

Elin flinched at those words and closed her eyes.

“… No. You can go there once.”

It really meant that I would close my eyes for once.

“Thank you for your permission.”

“But you have to come soon.”

“Of course.”

“Okay, then read it now.”

After giving the order and receiving the promise, Elin closed her eyes like a full cat.

Soon after, Luke read a fairy tale softly.

Even though all the characters’ voices were middle-aged men, it was still fun.

It was something I had already seen dozens of times.

I could have listed every single page, but Ellen listened in silence.

Because it’s my first time having someone read me a fairy tale.

It was quite comforting to lie down and listen to a story.

I also started feeling sleepy.

Ellen closed her cold eyelids without resistance.

“Good night, my lady.”

Luke confirmed that Elin was in a light sleep and turned off the light source.

The faint light disappears.

Elin’s room was plunged into darkness.

Luke got up quietly and left the room.

“Tomorrow is a day off. Get some rest.”

I thought I heard an ominous sound.

Thinking she had misheard something while sleeping, Elin fell into dreamland.