Chapter 55

“Young master, there will be many eyes watching, but don’t worry too much. You’ll be able to do well.”

Finally, the time has come.

The coming-of-age ceremony starting this morning.

I was worried whether he could do well.

“Don’t worry.”

“But what if you make a mistake…”

“I told you I’ll be fine.”

There wasn’t a trace of worry on Kyle’s face.

His expression looked too relaxed for someone who was having both his coming-of-age ceremony and heir succession ceremony today.

To others, he would look like someone just going about their daily life.

“Yes…”

“Besides, do I really have to button up all the way to the top like this?”

“Yes, you do.”

Normally, I would let Kyle undo his collar button if he wanted to be comfortable.

But today, that wasn’t possible.

With so many people gathering to see Kyle’s coming-of-age ceremony.

There was no need to expose a weakness just for a few dozen minutes of comfort.

In noble society, even not fastening a single button could become a weakness.

They would criticize Kyle, saying nonsense about lacking dignity.

Rather than hearing such things, it would be better to be a bit uncomfortable.

“If you really want to undo it, do so after the ceremony, during the feast. They probably won’t say anything then.”

“I understand.”

-Tug…

I said that while tying Kyle’s necktie.

Normally, Kyle would never wear such clothes, but on a day like today, he needed to be dressed in nearly perfect attire.

It might be a bit hot for Kyle, a northerner.

Shirt, tie, and a coat on top.

Since he usually just wore a shirt, it must be especially uncomfortable.

“Haah… Young master, if there’s anyone you dislike, don’t do anything strange, just tell the head of the family, the head steward, or me.”

“Would such people even appear at a coming-of-age ceremony?”

“That’s true, but…”

Predicting the behavior patterns of nobles is harder than expected.

It means someone might behave disrespectfully on the day the heir of a ducal family becomes an adult.

Anyone with sense would never do so, but there are so many thoughtless people.

“Please be careful.”

“Yes.”

I went out of the room with Kyle.

Then we left the castle building.

And moved again by taking a carriage.

While moving in the carriage, I had one thought.

“The weather is quite harsh today.”

“Indeed.”

More wind was blowing than usual, and more snow was falling.

It was the first day of the new year, so it was in the middle of winter.

Naturally, the weather could only be harsh.

“Haah…”

“Are you alright?”

“Of course.”

Actually, I wasn’t really alright.

Even though it wasn’t me doing it, I was very worried about Kyle.

I couldn’t help but worry, knowing he had to endure in such cold weather for two weeks.

What if something dangerous happened?

“Miss Sofia.”

“…Yes?”

Kyle suddenly took my hand.

I wasn’t sure what was happening, but one thing was clear.

Kyle’s hand was extremely warm.

No wonder he can endure the cold weather well.

Human body temperature is supposed to be 36.5 degrees, but this feels like it might be 38 degrees.

“Are you that worried about me?”

“……Yes.”

“Even though I’ve told you many times not to worry?”

“That’s right.”

How could I not worry?

The child I’ve raised since he was 12 is suddenly being thrown into a snow field in such cold weather and has to endure for two weeks.

I couldn’t be such a cold-hearted person.

“Hmm… Then please cheer for me so I can do well.”

“Cheer…?”

“Yes, cheer. I think I can do well if Miss Sofia cheers for me.”

“…”

Even when asked to cheer, I didn’t know what kind of cheer to give.

It was too sudden.

If suddenly asked to cheer, what should I do?

“When you do well and return… let’s go to a nice place together. The nice place you mentioned before, young master.”

I suddenly remembered what Kyle had said before.

That he would take me to a better place than the mountain where I got hurt.

That memory suddenly came back.

“Shall we? That wouldn’t be bad.”

Kyle answered me with a smile.

It felt like I was the only one worrying too much, even though it was Kyle, not me, who was having the succession ceremony.

But thanks to Kyle, I could calm down.

“…”

It was amazing how that little kid had grown up so well.

I probably won’t have children, but if I were to raise a child, it would surely feel like this.

Anyway, we moved to the grand temple where the coming-of-age ceremony would take place by carriage.

The grand temple, which was started after seeing the cathedral and returning, was truly magnificent.

Worthy of being called a grand temple.

We stopped the carriage in front of the grand temple, and I followed Kyle out of the carriage.

There were an enormous number of people around the grand temple.

Not only the residents of the north, but also nobles from various regions and even people from the imperial family.

There were really a damn lot of them.

“Young master, you can go straight inside.”

Kyle nodded in response to my words and went inside.

The reason for having the coming-of-age ceremony at the grand temple was very simple.

The castle couldn’t manage this many people.

And you never know what might happen when so many people come to the castle.

Anyway, when Kyle went inside, people who were obviously nobles were sitting in the seats in rows.

And further inside were the main figures of the Eristirol family, including the head of the family, and the knighthood.

There was a solemn atmosphere thanks to the temple’s inherently reverent ambiance.

Except for the head of the family and Adela, everyone was speaking very quietly.

And looking towards Elin, I could sense that she was trembling slightly.

“Kyle Eristirol of the Eristirol family, come forward.”

Following the head of the family’s words, Kyle walked forward, passing between the seated nobles.

And I was standing by the door of the grand temple, watching the beginning of Kyle’s coming-of-age ceremony.

It wouldn’t be right for a servant to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony.

The ceremony began with the head of the family’s eloquent welcoming speech, which was different from his appearance.

I made a light prayer with both hands, believing Kyle would do well.

Though I don’t have a religion, I’ve prayed once or twice.

In my past life, I went to church to receive culture gift certificates, and my parents suddenly sent me to a temple stay in the summer.

Anyway, I prayed for Kyle to do well.

“From today, Kyle, who was a small wolf of the Eristirol family, will have the opportunity to be reborn as a wolf. Kyle, with what mindset will you accept this opportunity?”

“I think this heir succession ceremony won’t be difficult for me.”

“?”

Kyle suddenly started saying strange things.

In front of all the nobles watching.

After I worried so much and told him not to make mistakes…

“Thanks to the person who raised me, the person who took care of me, the person who taught me, I have no worries at all. And I think I’ve already completed my preparations.”

“Hooh…”

It wasn’t a mistake but a confident statement.

The head of the family started to raise the corners of his mouth, finding it more amusing than he expected.

Normally, he would have laughed heartily, but given the formal setting, he didn’t laugh out loud.

“Before the succession ceremony, I’ve prepared a test to determine if the small wolf of Eristirol is worthy of receiving this opportunity.”

The head of the family said that and glanced lightly towards where the knighthood was standing.

So this is what Elin was talking about.

The duel between Kyle and Elin.

I already knew about it since it had been mentioned several times.

But I wasn’t worried.

Since it was supposed to be a demonstration duel anyway.

Kyle took a stance while holding a longsword given by another knight beside him.

“Oh…”

I was amazed.

I knew Kyle had been learning swordsmanship, but I had never seen Kyle wielding a sword directly.

Maybe that’s why.

Kyle’s stance was very good.

It was too good for someone who started learning swordsmanship around age 15.

“To your positions.”

With the head of the family’s words, the two took their positions and faced each other.

Elin was acting like an ordinary knight, wearing armor.

Perhaps because if Elin removed her helmet, attention might focus on Elin rather than Kyle.

“Ready!”

Unlike Elin, Kyle was wearing armor only on his helmet and hands.

I was worried he might get hurt dressed like that, but I immediately erased the worry from my mind.

Because the opponent was Elin.

I thought Elin would handle it well.

“Begin!”

The duel began with the head of the family’s words.

At first, they faced each other in a standoff.

The place where the two were dueling was the perfect center of the grand temple.

Right in the middle between the audience and the people of the Eristirol family.

“Hmph…!”

Kyle closed the distance with Elin while swinging his sword.

Kyle’s swung sword was lightly blocked by Elin’s sword.

-Clang!!

Though his sword was blocked by Elin, Kyle didn’t pull his body back.

Rather, he applied more force to Elin to try to drain her stamina.

Elin, recognizing Kyle’s intention, changed her sword to an angle and deflected Kyle’s sword.

-Thud!!

Kyle’s sword was driven into the floor of the grand temple.

“!!”

As soon as Kyle’s sword was stuck in the floor, Elin swung her sword at Kyle, and Kyle abandoned his sword and bent his waist backward to avoid the attack.

For a moment, I worried Kyle might get hit, but fortunately, he dodged well.

But now Kyle was in a state of having lost his weapon.

It’s not easy to face a knight with a sword when you don’t have one.

After all, knights are incredibly knowledgeable about the weapon itself, the sword.

-Swoosh!

Elin continued to swing her sword after the moment Kyle lost his sword.

And Kyle dodged those swords very minutely and well.

“Hmph…!”

Elin put strong force into her arm and thrust her sword toward Kyle’s side.

-Swish!

If it had stabbed Kyle’s side, it would have been a very fatal wound.

But Kyle avoided the attack.

And he grabbed the sword with one hand!

“Phew… Finally caught it.”

Of course, Kyle’s hand was armored, so it wasn’t a problem, but I closed my eyes for a moment.

Worried about what if blood came from Kyle’s hand.

“Is it my turn now? Lady Elin.”

Kyle said that, pulled the sword from Elin’s hand, and then threw the sword behind him.

Probably because he thought it wouldn’t be easy to win with a sword fight.

I thought it wasn’t a bad judgment.

-Clang!

-Thud!

The two instantly changed the style of the duel to a fistfight.

Since the purpose was essentially for the audience’s entertainment, it wasn’t a problem, but I was extremely worried.

What if Kyle’s face got hurt…