episode_0020

The man who didn’t know how to read.

So naturally, Asia thought of Asias as a man who was strong only in physical strength.

A man who disliked learning and tried to solve everything with sheer force.

But after becoming a private tutor, he changed his mind.

Asias was not just a man strong in physical strength.

His knowledge was outstanding to the point where it was hard to imagine him as a commoner.

And his understanding was also quite high.

“It seems like you’ve received a high level of education.”

That’s why Asias had only one flaw.

He didn’t know how to read.

Facing Asias, Asia complimented him in a cool manner.

“You seem to learn faster than I thought.”

“Uh… Uh… Thank you.”

Asias expressed his gratitude for Asia’s compliment.

He was currently in a state of exhaustion, with dark circles under his eyes.

A sign that he had spent a lot of time studying.

Seeing him like that, Asia suggested a break.

“Um… Shall we take a break?”

“I-Is that okay…?”

A smile appeared on Asias’ lips.

Asia wasn’t particularly pleased with the man who was happy to hear the word ‘rest.’

‘Just with this much.’

Contrary to Asia’s thoughts, there was a reason why Asias was looking forward to the break.

Three hours.

A week of learning from Asia.

During this week, Asias could only sleep for three hours a day.

Even Sparta didn’t have this kind of Sparta.

He spent a week without rest in such a life.

The declaration of rest that came out of such a life made Asias ecstatic.

Asia checked the window.

Noon.

The sun was right in the middle of the sky.

“…I’ll cancel the break.”

“Uh… Why all of a sudden…!”

Asia’s words were like thunder.

Asias’ expression noticeably darkened.

Asia’s sweet words to comfort him followed.

“We’ve made enough progress in the past week, so today’s rest will be a day off.”

Not just a break, but a whole day off.

Tears welled up in Asias’ eyes at the thought of a long break after a week.

“T-Thank you.”

While expressing his gratitude, Asias made a judgment about Asia’s new side.

‘She must be the granddaughter of Hans Messiah, the creator of the Hell Training. How… can she give such a Sparta education…’

Asias thought that if it were someone else, they would have run away long ago.

Asias decided to give his brain, exhausted from the rest time, a gift.

A nap.

But…

Asia didn’t leave the room.

“Uh, Asia Yeong-ae…?”

Why isn’t she leaving and staying here?

Asias seemed to be lost in thought in Asias’ eyes.

When he called her again and she didn’t respond, Asias called her once more.

“Uh, Asia Yeong-ae?”

“Yes? Yes.”

“Uh… Aren’t you going back?”

Asias urged her.

Not firmly, but slightly insistently.

But Asia didn’t understand that.

Asia’s mind was full of different thoughts at the moment.

‘He did follow well for the past week. So I should reward him… Maybe he lacks rewards for rest… Yes! Let’s take him to the store!’

Her personal maid, Melia.

Asia remembered Melia’s words.

‘Asia, if it’s a man, anyone would consider going out with you an honor!’

So Asia thought for a moment and changed her mind again.

‘But… Going out alone with a man… Even though he’s a candidate for my engagement… No! This is a reward! Grandfather and father did the same! If you make an effort, you must be rewarded!’

That’s the quality of a ruler.

Asia clenched her fists and said firmly.

“It’s a reward! Let’s go out to the store together during this break time!”

Of course, Asia didn’t think that Asias would reject this proposal.

Asias was momentarily taken aback by Asia’s proposal, but soon responded.

Tired Asias accepted this proposal…

“Yes… Asia Young-ae. I understand it with honor.”

Accepted.

The reason why the tired Arthur accepted this proposal.

It was simple.

‘…I might strain our relationship if I refuse for no reason.’

Asia, whom he would probably have to spend a long time with.

So, he couldn’t refuse the gift she offered.

No matter how tired he felt.

***

Going out with Asia…

‘Can I call this a date…?’

Calling it a gift, Asia allowed me to call it a date.

And then she left the room.

I was waiting for Asia like that.

“Sigh… It’s easier than I thought.”

Basic studies.

There were many subjects, but most were at the level of elementary school students in their past lives.

So, they were called basic studies.

“It shouldn’t be too difficult.”

One month.

Although he hadn’t completely learned to read yet, the remaining time was enough.

“Old man…! Why didn’t you teach me how to read earlier!”

While harboring resentment towards the old man.

Knock, knock.

A knocking sound came from outside the room.

“I’ll go in.”

It was Asia.

More precisely, Asia, who had changed clothes and returned to my room.

A flowing white dress.

A wide-brimmed hat that seemed to be for covering her face.

Her red lips stood out as her eyes and nose were covered.

“How do I look…?”

“You look beautiful.”

It was an honest impression.

Asia was beautiful.

Even at the young age of sixteen, her future beauty was visible.

“Oh…? Thank you.”

Perhaps Asia was a little embarrassed by my directness.

Asia said to me.

“Shall we go out the back door first?”

“The back door? Why?”

Why go to the back door when there is a perfectly good front door.

Maybe it’s closer to the shops.

My question was answered by Asia’s following words.

“…Do you think my father will send us to the shops together?”

“Oh…!”

Certainly.

Even the lessons I was having with Asia secretly right now.

Let’s go out together.

Even if the Messiah Marquis couldn’t stop it, he could mobilize the knights.

And of course, the distance would be too far to call it a gift.

It would feel more like patrolling or inspecting the shops.

“Anyway, follow me.”

“Yes.”

So I followed Asia through the hidden alleyway, escaping from the Marquis’s mansion.

A lively shop.

It was distinctly different from the East where I had lived.

Perhaps because it was a well-off area.

It seemed like the measure of hidden happiness was visible.

‘…Of course, the security is good.’

Pickpockets that were often seen in the East.

Hungry children in every alley.

None of those things were present.

Asia walked with me and suddenly stopped.

“Do you know what’s the most famous in the Messiah Marquis’s territory?”

I immediately understood what Asia was trying to say.

The place where she stopped was a street stall.

“Street food?”

“Yes!”

Asia whispered a simple story about the street to me.

Gumseong, Hans Messiah.

He was a gourmet.

He ate anything well, but he had a preference for gourmet food.

In other words, Gumseong liked delicious things.

So he wanted to make his territory a place overflowing with delicious things.

The method he chose was…

“My grandfather set up a cooking academy to make it easy for the people of the territory to learn how to cook. Thanks to that, it’s hard to find a tasteless house in our territory.”

Asia went to the street stall and bought two skewers.

Handing me one skewer, she sent me a hopeful look.

I took a big bite.

The faint smell of fire.

The meat itself was not tough, it was a balance between chewiness and tenderness.

“It’s delicious.”

It was definitely of a high standard.

It was tastier than any skewer shop I had eaten at in the East.

“That’s right!”

Was it because she had acknowledged her territory?

A wide smile spread across Asia’s lips.

She then approached me a little closer.

But soon after, she withdrew her smile and distanced herself from me.

The reason seemed to be that we were getting too close.

“Hmm! Anyway, this is not the end!”

“Not the end?”

“Look!”

Asia stretched her hand forward.

At the end of her hand were street vendors lined up.

“There are so many places selling delicious food. Even if you’re full, force yourself to eat! Because it’s hospitality!”

Hospitality…

“Yes, thank you, I will eat gratefully!”

It was truly a good hospitality.

Full.

It could be said that it was just before bursting.

“Indeed, all the street vendors are of high quality.”

Then, how much more delicious would the food be in a restaurant?

While thinking about that, one question came to mind.

“Excuse me, I have a question.”

Asia, eating fruit sprinkled with sugar as dessert, turned to me.

“Yes?”

Was it because her mouth was full?

Her pronunciation became muddled.

Asia also seemed to know this, and after a moment of embarrassment, she swallowed what was in her mouth and spoke again.

“What are you curious about?”

Asia naturally acted as if nothing had happened just now.

“Why do you eat at street vendors instead of restaurants?”

“Oh… is the food at the vendors lacking in hospitality?”

“No, it was delicious enough to be considered hospitality. But I was curious why you chose street vendors…”

Usually, if you give hospitality, it is considered normal to be treated in a proper restaurant.

“Oh… then let me explain.”

Asia took me to a nearby bench.

She sat on the bench, and I followed suit.

“To explain that, you need to know that.”

“Know what?”

“Why the people of the territory don’t recognize my true identity.”

True identity?

What did she mean all of a sudden?

“What do you mean by true identity?”

“Think about it carefully. This is the Messiah Viscount Territory.”

“That’s right.”

“But even though the daughter of the viscount is wandering around, no one recognizes her.”

“Ah…? That’s true.”

Asia covered her face with a wide-brimmed hat.

But would the people of the territory not notice even if she did that?

Certainly not.

Asia, or rather the Messiah Viscount, had a big characteristic.

As rare as the old people, the Messiah Viscount, and Asia herself.

Silver-white hair.

It was a hair color as uncommon as black.

With such a distinctive feature, there was no way they wouldn’t notice.

“I’ll tell you an interesting fact.”

“An interesting fact?”

“The truth is, the people of the territory all know my true identity. But they pretend not to know.”

“Really…?”

They all know?

I quickly looked around.

As expected, people’s eyes were focused on us.

There were even guards patrolling among them.

With a heavy responsibility, the guard was watching over Asia.

“They pretend not to know even though they all know.”

“I see.”

Even more so, I understood Asia’s pride in her territory.

The people of the territory were showing consideration for Asia.

But…

“Then isn’t our current situation like we’re being watched by the viscount?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

Asia answered with an innocent expression.

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

“Why…? If it’s already reached my father’s ears, I would have already returned as the viscount, right?”

That wasn’t the problem.

The problem was that the two of us had secretly gone out and come back.

“…And we were seen as potential fiancées. To others, you and I might be in a relationship that could lead to an engagement in the future. There’s nothing strange about it at all.”

Blushing, Asia spoke.

I couldn’t bring myself to reprimand Asia for her words.

“…I guess I’ll just have to accept being scolded by the Marquis later.”

Well, there might be some retaliation for the increased difficulty of the test.

What can I do about it?

There’s nothing strange about it.

As they say in Asia, me and Asia are just candidates for engagement.

Thinking that way, I alone realized the seriousness of the situation and let out a deep sigh.