episode_0028

After the entrance ceremony, before the other students arrived, I entered the girls’ dormitory.

This was where Firunea should be. At the very least, a basic safety check was necessary.

“…It’s spacious.”

Firunea’s room was on the top floor of the dormitory.

At a glance, it was on a completely different level from the other dorm rooms.

Glittering marble floors, a dazzling chandelier, an elegant bed embroidered with crimson silk, and even an antique desk carved from oak.

I heard this was originally reserved for when a princess enrolled.

“How am I supposed to clean all this…”

I sighed deeply, already burdened with worry.

Academy rules didn’t allow bringing personal maids.

Of course, the academy employed maids who cleaned the rooms three times a week, but…

Firunea had a habit of making a mess of her room.

It would be a disaster again within a day.

While pondering whether I should learn cross-dressing to sneak in and out, I thoroughly searched the room.

Fortunately, there were no dangers. Still, dust had settled, so I was in the middle of a light cleaning when—

Clunk. The door opened.

“…!”

What? The young ladies should still be at the after-party.

I quickly turned around to see Firunea leaning against the doorway, a mischievous smile on her face as she covered her mouth with a fan.

“Virudem, what are you doing in the girls’ dorm? You pervert?”

“…Young Lady. What happened to the after-party?”

Just because the entrance ceremony ended didn’t mean she could leave.

In fact, the real event was afterward—small talk with unfamiliar nobles, sharing lecture schedules, and building connections. That was the essence of the entrance ceremony.

Of course, as a butler with no need for connections, securing Firunea’s living space took priority, so I slipped away. But Firunea shouldn’t have done the same.

For her sake, I had to make sure. Under my stern gaze, she shrank slightly before answering.

“N-No, it’s not like that. Wine got on my dress. Even if I used magic to clean it, it still felt icky, so I came to change. I’m going back.”

“Ah…”

So that was it.

“My apologies. I judged too hastily. I thought you’d run away because it was bothersome.”

“I wouldn’t do that! I’m not a child…”

Firunea raised her voice, then flushed and coughed awkwardly, twirling her hair as she muttered.

“…Anyway. Thanks for earlier.”

“What do you mean?”

“For blocking the wine. Honestly, I never expected it. Good thing it was an accident—if it had been an assassination attempt, it could’ve been dangerous.”

“Ah, that. I was surprised too. I didn’t think you’d let it slide.”

“…What, did you think I’d destroy a whole family over something like that? I’m not that extreme.”

“I didn’t go that far. But I thought you’d at least retaliate—to avoid being seen as weak.”

Honestly, if I were in Firunea’s position, I would’ve challenged them to a duel.

It worked out because it was Firunea. If another student had let it slide, they’d be labeled a pushover.

The academy was still within the nobility’s walls. The law of the jungle applied here just the same.

But if she’d already considered that, I had nothing more to say.

Firunea grinned and replied.

“Well, normally I would’ve taught them a lesson… but I was in a good mood, so I let it go.”

“Excuse me?”

She was in a good mood after getting wine spilled on her?

Why?

…Was it some kind of masochistic tendency?

Struggling to keep my expression neutral, I stood up.

“I-I see. Please return to the entrance ceremony after changing.”

“Where are you going?”

“I need to unpack in my room. Ah…”

I almost forgot.

I pulled out a pair of gleaming silver rings from my pocket and called Firunea over.

“Young Lady, your hand for a moment.”

“…?”

Confused, Firunea recoiled like a cockroach when I tried to slip the ring onto her finger.

…Honestly, that hurt.

But Firunea seemed too shocked to care, her face the most stunned I’d ever seen as she alternated between staring at me and the ring at least ten times.

“Huh? Wha—w-w-w-wait, wait, what? What is this? What??”

“It’s a pair of rings linked by the same magical wavelength.”

I rotated the ring on my finger.

In response, the other ring in my palm spun as well.

“Since I can’t reside in the girls’ dormitory, you’ll be alone at night. If any trouble arises, rotate the ring once. However, if you do rotate it, I’ll assume the worst-case scenario and mobilize every possible means to assist you. Please keep that in mind.”

“O-Oh. So that’s what it is…”

Firunea sighed but kept shooting me sidelong glances filled with resentment. Her face—was as red as a tomato.

“Why’d you have to phrase it so misleadingly?”

“I’m not sure what you found misleading.”

“When a man gives a woman a ring, it usually means… that kind of thing.”

“Before I am a man, I am your butler—Virudem of the Selbus family.”

“…”

Firunea made a displeased face, but there was nothing to be done.

The only reason I could stay by Firunea’s side was because I was Virudem.

Selbus Virudem. A butler family bound in absolute obedience to Seriratus.

Had I been anything else, staying by her side would’ve been impossible.

It was so obvious that I hadn’t forgotten it for a single moment since I was ten.

“…Give it here.”

“Of course.”

Firunea took the ring and naturally slipped it onto her finger.

Then—swish swish swish swish—she spun it wildly.

Naturally, the ring on my finger spun just as wildly.

“Hmm, works well.”

“Please only rotate it when you’re in danger—”

“Instead of that, come every time I spin it.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’ll call you even when it’s not dangerous.”

I looked at Firunea.

She was grinning, slightly annoyed.

“Young Lady.”

“What?”

“This is presumptuous of me, but you’ve already reached the pinnacle.”

“Yeah, I know.”

It was a simple fact, so Firunea accepted it readily.

In terms of pure magical refinement, some professors might surpass her.

But in a purely lethal confrontation, even a trained knight commander wouldn’t be guaranteed victory against her.

If Firunea was in danger—

Even if I rushed in alone, I’d be useless.

Naturally, if the ring spun, there were far more important things to do than charge in blindly—like informing MacLaine or calling on every trustworthy noble for aid.

“If you’re aware of that, why say such a thing? Even if I rushed to your side in danger, I wouldn’t be of any help.”

After a brief pause, Firunea deployed her ultimate weapon.

“Don’t wanna?”

“…Sigh.”

Completely unreasonable, really.

I slowly nodded.

“Very well.”

Every aspiring butler must know this truth:

A butler and their young lady exist in an absolute hierarchy—one the butler can never overcome.

The after-party of the entrance ceremony.

Compared to the entrance ceremony itself, where everyone sized each other up in orderly lines, the atmosphere was much more relaxed now that some social hierarchies had been established—

But Lea sat alone, despondently eating cherry cake in the dessert corner.

“…”

Well, strictly speaking, she wasn’t completely alone.

If you looked closely, Armeria was in a corner, muttering Why…? How…? like a madwoman while pinching Arin’s cheeks (who had answered her 34th question by now).

But Lea had made up her mind.

Tomorrow, she would dye her hair and sever all sisterly ties with that thing.

In other words, she was alone.

…At least until she mustered the courage to approach someone first.

The time to act had come.

“I-I can do this…”

Lea muttered to herself for courage.

Due to the strict upbringing of the Faltis family, this was effectively her social debut.

Lea, in particular, had been raised under even harsher conditions.

While Armeria had run away from home since she was ten as if it were nothing, Lea had borne the pressure of being the “remaining child” who had to be raised properly.

But rather than resenting her sister, she endured it, dreaming of academy life—falling in love, becoming popular, living the so-called “in-crowd” life.

Peeking at her reflection in a wine glass, Lea gained confidence.

This should be enough!

After scrutinizing the other young ladies with hawk-like eyes—

She concluded that while she couldn’t outshine them, she could at least hold her own.

Most importantly, hadn’t people spoken to her during the entrance ceremony earlier?

The other students were clearly interested in the young lady of the Faltis family.

With a bit of newfound confidence, Lea approached a group of tall, handsome students chatting and spoke up.

“H-Hi there.”

She bit her tongue.

“Hm?”

The chatting students turned to her, and Lea’s face went pale.

She needed to say something, but nothing came to mind.

“…Uh, h-hi?”

I want to die.

The worst possible greeting. As suicidal urges surged within her, the students brightened and approached.

“Ah! Lady Lea of House Faltis!”

“House Faltis—the family of the Hero, right?”

“Wow… This is my first time seeing the Hero in person.”

…Huh?

The unexpectedly warm response made Lea see the light.

Maybe she wasn’t doomed after all. For the first time in her life, she reaped the benefits of her family name, sending endless gratitude to her heroic ancestor as she forced the most natural smile possible.

“O-Oh, the Hero? That’s all in the past. You don’t have to treat me specially.”

“How could we? If not for House Faltis, none of us would even be here. How could we treat you normally? Hahaha!”

“Ah, haha…!”

It was working.

In fact… it was going surprisingly well!

“Ah, right. Lady Lea, what do you think of this guy’s fashion sense?”

“Hey, don’t bring that up! She’ll think I’m weird!”

The male students, clearly familiar with each other, playfully shoved one another before turning the topic to Lea.

“Fashion sense?”

“Yeah. This guy wore Prêt-à-Porter to the entrance ceremony.”

“I wore Haute Couture, but it was so uncomfortable I changed. That’s all.”

“Pr…?”

Lea froze at the unfamiliar term.

“Honestly, my Mastige is way better than this guy’s, right?”

“Speaking of which, Lady Lea, what are you wearing? I’ve never seen this brand before.”

“Haha, a young lady’s fashion sense is beyond us mere men. It must be a custom piece from a renowned capital tailor.”

Under the students’ expectant gazes, Lea answered in a tiny voice.

“I-I… just made it myself…”

“…”

Lea’s face turned as red as a beet.

After a brief silence, the students hastily changed the subject.

“…A-Ah! I see. You’re very skilled. I thought it was from a luxury tailor.”

“More importantly, Lady Lea, I heard your swordsmanship is extraordinary. Achieving so much at your age… Could I ask for a match sometime?”

“Y-Yes! I’ll do it right now!”

“…Right now?”

Lea had made her first mistake.

Eager to erase her “country bumpkin” image from the earlier conversation, she latched onto the topic of swordsmanship—her forte—the moment it came up.

The student, who had only brought it up to shift the conversation, hesitated before awkwardly relenting.

“Uh, sure. Thank you. But we can’t draw swords here…”

“You don’t need to draw it! Just pretend you’re holding one and demonstrate a stance. I’ll evaluate it!”

“Whoa…”

After a brief pause, the student decided to take it positively.

Getting evaluated by the Hero’s descendant might help him improve.

Wasn’t this a rare opportunity? Though slightly embarrassed, he nodded and walked to an open area.

“Then, please watch this humble demonstration.”

“Of course!”

Lea focused intently, determined to make up for her earlier blunder.

I’ll give them a proper evaluation!

…That was her second mistake.

The student performed his family’s secret sword techniques, pretending to hold a sword.

The sound of his sleeves cutting through the air echoed through the hall, drawing curious glances from others.

“Hm? What’s that student doing?”

“He’s demonstrating his swordsmanship for Lady Lea of House Faltis.”

“…The Hero’s descendant? Lucky him.”

The impromptu event fit the relaxed atmosphere.

Thanks to the student’s considerable skill, conversations died down as everyone began watching.

For about five minutes, a swordless sword dance unfolded.

—Whoosh!

“Phew…”

—Clap clap clap…

As the final, poised movement ended, light applause filled the hall.

Even without a real sword, his fluid motions showcased exceptional skill.

The student bowed, pleased. Though initially flustered, he’d managed to display his abilities naturally. His reputation had undoubtedly risen.

Grateful to Lea, he asked:

“It was lacking, but what did you think?”

“…”

Lea didn’t answer.

With an intensely serious expression, she studied the student’s arms, waist, and hands in silence.

When the student called out nervously—

“Uh, Lady Lea…?”

“—It’s sloppy.”

“…Excuse me?”

Immediately, unfiltered criticism poured out.

“Why did you use one hand for the third aerial slash?”

“B-Because that’s how it’s done…”

“That’s a terrible habit. Any downward slash while airborne leaves you completely exposed to counterattacks. If you’re going to take that risk, it should be a full-power, decisive strike. But one-handed? That’s just flashy nonsense. And why did the twelfth step extend a foot past your shoulder? That advance was utterly meaningless. It looked like you were walking into your own death. The fifteenth thrust was also completely pointless—”

Midway through the brutally cold evaluation—

Lea suddenly realized everyone was staring at her.

“Uh…”

The student receiving feedback looked utterly deflated.

The spectators wore expressions of horror, as if they’d just witnessed a gruesome murder in a back alley.

Lea made a snap decision.

“…I’msorrybye—!”

She bolted from the hall.

Her third—and worst—mistake of the night.