Ch.323EP.69 – The Knight Cheers for the Youth (3)/Check Afterword.

“What’s the most important thing for a ‘debutante,’ that is, a lady about to enter society?”

The gentle question came from a beautiful woman in neat attire.

She was a teacher in the elementary division of the Academy, instructing very young student cadets.

She primarily taught etiquette, linguistics, and the kingdom’s social culture. The young cadets seemed to like their elegant yet kind teacher, eagerly raising their hands with bright smiles.

“A pretty dress!”

“My house’s puppy!”

“Um, well… a handkerchief?”

The children each offered what they thought was the best answer, making the woman laugh.

Their answers were so pure and innocent.

“Yes, none of you are wrong. Dresses are important. A puppy would certainly be cute. And the embroidery on a handkerchief is indeed part of a lady’s accomplishments.”

The children giggled happily at their teacher’s affirmation, and she continued with her gentle smile.

“But before dresses, puppies, or handkerchiefs, there’s something more important.”

“?”

“It’s none other than a Chaperone.”

“??”

“Simply put, it means a ‘guardian.'”

“Ahh.”

The response was lukewarm.

They didn’t seem to understand why that would be important.

“It’s truly important. A chaperone is simply someone who vouches for your credibility. It’s a means of implicitly indicating that there’s no issue with a lady’s purity.”

“…?”

“Hoho, it’s difficult to understand now, isn’t it? When you grow up, you’ll understand. What a chaperone’s role is, why it’s important. And who knows, perhaps someday I might become one of your chaperones.”

“Me, me! Choose me! I like you, teacher!”

“Me too!”

“Me…!!”

“Ohoho.”

The woman hoped that the children’s innocence would remain forever.

Even when they eventually had their debutante.

“A chaperone is simply a matchmaker, a matchmaker. It’s like a supervisor your parents assign to help you catch a suitable man.”

“Is, is that what it is?”

“Yes, it’s not really a positive institution. It’s not legally mandated, but you know how some things are? Like an unspoken rule that’s become an established custom. It’s essentially a bad practice.”

“That bad?”

“Of course. The noble ladies who serve as chaperones are mostly aristocratic supremacists who discriminate based on social status. Plus, they’re incredibly strict, nitpicking everything from eye color to hair length, the angle at which you hold a teacup, and even how you laugh or eat.”

“Hmm…”

“And they say ladies should never exercise. Apparently, it lacks dignity…”

“What an utterly senseless custom.”

“Right?”

Having completed his eye-level education, the knight nodded vigorously, and the girl, whose childhood innocence had long since vanished, snickered.

Such was the transience of time.

* * *

‘Hmm, so to summarize, it’s like a control device to suppress youthful vigor.’

Though Ihan seemed to be agreeing with his disciple’s question, he had already filtered out what needed to be filtered.

Therefore, he knew that chaperones weren’t entirely a bad practice as Chicken #12 suggested.

‘It’s natural for kids that age to have vigorous energy.’

An age governed by hormones rather than the head.

It was an age when they might play with fire, an age of passion and storm when running away from home wasn’t uncommon.

Think that’s an exaggeration?

‘From what I heard at the last faculty meeting, there were about 50 pairs of students who caused trouble and exceeded speed limits last year, right?’

They weren’t doing their studies but were strengthening the national power instead.

Well, it’s not a concern since it’s just rich nobles falling in love and getting married.

The problem is that they call it love, but in many cases, they break up after just 2-3 years.

Like the saying “fiery love,” fire can suddenly blaze up and then suddenly extinguish.

In fact, it was said that across the kingdom, a whopping 80% of young noble couples divorce each year, so Ihan’s prejudice against nobles wasn’t unfounded.

‘There are really a lot of them who misuse their bodies.’

Is it believable that flesh-filled scenes like those in movies based on medieval European nobles’ lifestyles can be seen whenever a party is held?

The epitome of promiscuity.

Honestly, the promiscuity shown in movies is nothing compared to how bestial nobles can be.

That’s why the kingdom’s lawyers are always busy.

Not just with divorces, but also with “paternity confirmations” due to adultery.

So chaperones can’t be dismissed as merely a bad practice.

With young people causing so many accidents and squandering family fortunes through divorce and adultery, what parent wouldn’t want to monitor them?

You need to attach a supervisor or something.

…But.

“Why are you asking me to do this?”

Ihan couldn’t understand why his disciple would make such a request to him.

Especially since he understood the role of a chaperone.

It makes sense for another woman to vouch for her, but if a man like him becomes the guarantor, wouldn’t it defeat the purpose?

It was a reasonable question for Ihan.

To this query:

“Oh, that’s fine. Honestly, Britten and the Empire strictly adhere to such customs, but Pendragon isn’t so rigid about traditions.”

“Really?”

“Of course, female chaperones are more common, but male chaperones aren’t unheard of. Knights known for their honor, old knights, or even distant cousins of the family are sometimes asked.”

“…Hmm, I hate to say this myself, but didn’t you say it’s a means to prove purity? Isn’t it a bit odd for a man to do that?”

“That could be the case, but in a way, it’s not.”

“Huh?”

“Though you might dislike it, ‘noble language’ isn’t direct. It’s expressed not just through words, but also through actions, possessions, or decorations. In that sense, if you bring a man as a protector, it means: ‘I can prove my purity to the extent that I can select a man as my protector.'”

“…That works?”

“It does. Even if someone tries to mock you, it’s not a problem. You can duel them.”

“?”

“That’s why many chaperones are knights. If they’re insulted, they can immediately initiate a duel.”

“Isn’t that suddenly too violent?”

It’s called proof, but isn’t it just forcing submission through strength?

After talking about noble language, it suddenly turned into gangster language, making Ihan feel that noble society was closer to fists than to law.

“But that’s your style, isn’t it, instructor?”

“…I won’t deny it.”

If someone speaks ill of my child, there’s no need to waste mental energy; just fight with fists. It’s direct, which he likes.

“But I’m not asking you just because you’re strong. Such requests are only made to adults who are trustworthy. As far as I know, the most reliable adult is you, instructor.”

“…You’re just a chick without proper down yet, but you’re flattering me.”

“Then why do you give me jerky?”

“Because it’s true that you spoke nicely.”

“Ahaha!”

Lirina laughed heartily, and Ihan rubbed the tip of his nose.

In his 30s, it was a time when emotions were abundant, and Ihan was taking pride in the fact that he had given trust to his disciple, no…

‘Those little ones are now trying to get positions.’

He was proud that he had given trust to his “disciples.”

“Lirina, you’re cutting in line!”

“You really have no business ethics.”

“No, this is without agreement…!”

“Hmph, first come, first served.”

“!!?”

The rest of the chicks suddenly joined their conversation.

They were outraged after hearing their conversation a bit late.

In other words, those chicks also wanted to ask Ihan to be their chaperone.

For Ihan, it was somewhat heartwarming to see that he had become an adult others could rely on.

But he also had a question:

“But, a debutante now?”

Didn’t they have a debutante last year? Ihan tilted his head.

It was in the second semester, so it wasn’t that long ago…

“That was like a rehearsal for entering society, Master.”

“…I didn’t say anything.”

“You were speaking with your expression, hehe.”

“Ahem.”

One of the flowers of the 108 Arhats, who had pierced through his doubt just by looking at his expression, approached him with a bright smile.

Levi, she calmly gave Ihan, who wasn’t familiar with noble culture, a concise explanation.

“The debutante, which refers to the process of young noble ladies and gentlemen entering society, might seem peculiar to you, instructor, but it requires numerous procedures and processes. In that sense, the ball held last year was a practice session before the actual debutante.”

“Then this year?”

“The real debutante is scheduled. Because the Crown Prince’s first birthday is coming up soon.”

“…?”

“To be more specific, it means that numerous nobles will finally come to the capital.”

“More details, please.”

“Just as you need to go to a river or sea to catch fish, or to the north to see snow-covered plains, there’s a saying that you should gather in the royal city to enter society. After all, the center of society is inevitably the royal city.”

“For connections?”

“That’s right. You understand immediately, as expected.”

As expected of someone with a talent for explanation, Ihan found it easy to understand.

“Additionally, traditionally, debutantes often occur under the pretext of royal birthdays or princesses’ coming-of-age ceremonies. But recently, the Pendragon royal family…”

“Got wiped out.”

“M-Master…”

“It’s fine. No one’s listening.”

Ihan suddenly realized why the chicks were so excited.

Yes, after that lady was confirmed as the heir to the throne, all other blood relatives were either dead or confined.

There were young children too, but they were also sent far away as if exiled.

In this situation…

‘This means it’s been years since such a formal banquet was held in the royal city.’

No wonder the chicks are excited.

Not just the chicks here, but young people.

Young people over 19 would all be filled with anticipation.

“…People will flock to the royal city.”

“Yes, tremendously. It will be massive after being quiet for so long. Not only the rulers of each region but also some great nobles will likely make appearances. After all, the only Crown Prince is making his first official appearance. …I wonder what kind of person he is?”

Levi rarely showed curiosity about others.

And for good reason—he’s a royal born between a prince of Britten and a princess of Pendragon.

A figure who will bridge two nations, his extraordinariness is truly…!

“He’s a bit small. He seems undernourished compared to other babies. His name is a bit ominous too, Arthur, really…”

“…Pardon?”

“But he’s cute in his own way. Genetics can’t be denied. He takes after his mother.”

“?”

“Hmm, I wonder if he’s grown a bit now?”

“???”

Why does he speak as if he’s actually seen the prince?

…And it doesn’t sound like a joke.