Chapter 10

“Hmm… So you’re saying you’re my attendant. I like that. So, what should I call you? Sir Nigel?”

“Sir is too formal for me. Please, just call me Nigel, Princess Ai-shan Gi-or.”

“Ha-shal-leur. Call me Ha-shal-leur. Ai-shan Gi-or is a bit of a mouthful for Westerners, isn’t it?”

Actually, I just don’t like hearing it.

I finally escaped from there, but every time I hear it, it feels like my feet are still tied to that place.

Nigel hesitated, looking a bit awkward.

“If that’s your command… I will comply. Princess Ha-shal-leur.”

“Drop the ‘Princess’ too.”

“……Understood. Ha-shal-leur.”

That’s better.

Calling each other by name made me feel like the distance between us had narrowed a bit.

Am I the only one feeling this way?

Since we’re peers, I wanted to chat more, so I gestured toward a chair in the corner.

Nigel walked over with a dignified posture, silently turned the chair, and sat facing me.

“Come to think of it, both the Marquis and you are quite fluent in Eastern language, huh?”

“Some time ago, the Marquis mentioned that learning the Eastern language would be beneficial.”

“Oh? I’m curious about the reason.”

Nigel pursed his lips, then hesitantly continued.

His brown eyes slightly avoided my gaze.

“Well… it might be a reason that could make you uncomfortable, Ha-shal-leur…”

“Doesn’t matter. Spit it out.”

I crossed my arms and urged her.

“Um… knowing the enemy’s language allows commanders to understand what they’re shouting, so we can respond faster. And understanding their culture helps us exploit their weaknesses, making it easier to… kill them…”

Wow, that’s way more brutal than I expected.

“…That’s definitely an awkward reason. But then again, Shane can’t understand a single word of it.”

“Sir Shane? I heard he’s accumulated so much experience and knowledge over the years that there’s no room left in his brain for Eastern language.”

Isn’t that just a fancy way of saying he’s too old to learn a new language?

That old man really knows how to spin his words.

“He also said, ‘If you have enough strength, your brain doesn’t need to suffer.’—”

“Alright, I get it. Let’s stop here for Sir Shane’s honor.”

The image of Shane in my mind is shifting from a solemn middle-aged knight to a smug, muscle-headed old man.

Nigel tilted his head, seemingly not understanding the subtext of my words.

Does he not realize he’s subtly roasting his superior right now?

“So, how long are you going to be my attendant? Just for the next four days? Or are you coming with me all the way to the Academy?”

Personally, I’d like it if you stayed with me.

Having an attendant is convenient. You can ask them things you don’t know and dump annoying tasks on them.

Plus, I kinda like your looks.

“As long as the Marquis doesn’t order me to return, I’ll be accompanying you until you graduate from the Academy. Special admission students at Remnant Academy are allowed to bring one escort.”

I didn’t know that.

So that’s why foreign characters always have someone trailing behind them like a human backdrop.

An escort, huh? In a way, it goes against the Academy’s founding purpose.

But then again, if a hostage kept for peace suddenly dies, it would be a huge problem for the Empire.

There have actually been people who tried to exploit this to stir up conflict.

“So, what should I do now? It’s still four days until the royal reply arrives.”

“The Marquis instructed me to teach you about the Empire’s customs and language during this time, if you don’t mind.”

“The Empire’s customs and language? Sounds good.”

“Yes. The Marquis will be pleased.”

It wouldn’t hurt to learn. There’s probably a lot I don’t know.

I don’t know a single word of the Empire’s language.

“Ah, and if you agree, the Marquis asked me to give you this gift.”

“A gift?”

Nigel quietly pulled out a round necklace embedded with a purple gem.

“Yes. It’s a necklace enchanted with a translation spell that lasts about three months. It will help you learn the Empire’s language.”

“A translation spell? That thing makes your head spin like crazy. It’s really unpleasant.”

At my words, Nigel’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Magic resistance… and at a fairly high level…!”

Oh, so that dizziness isn’t a normal side effect?

I thought it was just part of the translation spell.

Wait, if I hadn’t said I’d study the Empire’s language, they wouldn’t have even thought of giving me this necklace, huh?

That’s a pretty blatant warning.

If I want proper support, I need to actively show that I’m assimilating into the Empire.

“—My apologies. If you’re experiencing adverse reactions to the translation spell, then unfortunately, I can’t recommend using this necklace.”

“Alright. So, how long does it usually take to learn the Empire’s language without the translation spell?”

“Uh… could you give me a moment?”

The fact that he couldn’t answer immediately suggests that such cases are rare.

“Hmm. Let’s see… roughly… about nine months…?”

Nigel tapped his palm with his fingers while muttering, then nodded.

“Nine months. Yes. It generally takes about nine months.”

Nine months, huh.

“And with the translation spell?”

“Two weeks should be enough.”

“Let’s just use it then.”

I’d rather endure a bit of discomfort than spend nine months as a mute barbarian.

—

I placed the necklace Nigel gave me on the bedside.

“So, can we start now?”

“Not today. I didn’t bring the study materials, and I have other plans, so we’ll start teaching you the Empire’s language tomorrow.”

“Other plans?”

Is there something else left to do?

Nigel stood up.

“Nothing special. Just a sparring session with me.”

Wait, what?

So, you’re saying you’re going to beat me up now?

“Sparring? That’s a bit sudden.”

“This is also the Marquis’s order. Even for special admissions, Remnant Academy—”

“To enter the academy, you first need the skills to match.”

“…It’s not something to boast about, but I think even Marquis Ludwig has heard of my deeds. Do I really need to prove myself?”

I’m not going to be infamous.

I haven’t even touched the Empire yet, but even Shane was shocked when he heard my name.

They called me the whore of Ka`har. Quite an unpleasant nickname, wasn’t it?

“…If it’s the Marquis’s will, it’s not for me to judge.”

Are you my subordinate or the Marquis’s? Oh, right, you’re the Marquis’s subordinate.

Reluctantly, I got up from my seat.

“Since I’m in a dependent position, I have no choice. Alright, let’s go fight.”

“Yes. I’ll guide you to the training hall.”

Nigel gave a light nod and led the way. His confident steps made the hem of his coat flutter behind him.

You seem kinda excited, huh? Or is it just my imagination?

—

Contrary to my expectation of heading outdoors, Nigel led me to a spacious area inside the castle. Walls about three times my height surrounded the space, and the warm afternoon sunlight streamed through the open ceiling. Weapons lined up against one wall glinted in the sunlight.

“It’s inside the castle, but the floor is just dirt.”

“Stone floors tend to break easily during sparring, so it’s better to have dirt.”

I walked further into the training hall with Nigel. Only the sound of our footsteps echoed quietly.

“For a place called a training hall, there’s no one else here. Did you clear it out on purpose?”

“No. This is the Randenburg family’s private training hall, reserved only for the family head and his heir. The knights are probably training in the outdoor training grounds across the castle.”

A private space for the family head and heir? That’s a bit too much pressure.

“I’m not sure if we should be using such a place.”

“It’s the Marquis’s consideration. The outdoor training grounds would draw too much attention.”

Is that so? Well, then I guess there’s no need to worry.

—

“Speaking of heirs, what’s the deal with Marquis Ludwig’s children? I haven’t met any since I got here.”

“The Marquis has no children.”

That’s unexpected. Don’t nobles usually have wives and children? Especially someone as high-ranking as a Marquis.

“Isn’t that strange? At his age, he should have at least a couple of kids. He needs to continue the family line.”

“Both of them died in battle.”

Oh, damn. The atmosphere just got icy. The sunlight no longer felt warm.

“Uh… well, that’s unfortunate. But, you know, they say you can always have more kids. With the Marquis’s wife—”

“The lady took her own life.”

Why are you telling me this?

Nigel’s eyes, glancing at me, were as hard as fossilized stone. I shouldn’t have asked. If we spar now, I’ll probably end up buried like a dinosaur.

Sensing my discomfort, Nigel turned to me.

“…You probably didn’t know, so don’t worry about it. But it’s best not to mention them in front of the Marquis. From what I’ve heard, it was Ka`har who killed his sons.”

Now I’m ten times more worried. Our tribe destroyed the Marquis’s family? Am I going to be found dead in my sleep or something?

—

Nigel walked to the end of the training hall and picked up two wooden swords.

“Wooden swords?”

Thank goodness. At least with wooden swords, I won’t get seriously hurt.

“Oh! My apologies. I’ll correct that.”

Suddenly, Nigel put the wooden swords back and moved to the side.

Wait, what’s the problem? Whatever it is, don’t correct it.

A chill ran down my spine.

“I sincerely apologize for my rudeness. Ka`har is a warrior tribe where even children wield swords. Unless it’s a master-disciple relationship, they consider it a matter of respect and honor to fight with their lives on the line during sparring.”

Then, Nigel drew two longswords. The blades gleamed sharply.

So he really was planning to kill me!

“Handing wooden swords to such a person is no different from insulting them by treating them like a child. It’s a culture I’m not entirely familiar with, but… I will face you with the same seriousness as I would an enemy knight, giving it my all.”

Damn you, Ka`har. You’re holding me back even here.

Feeling like livestock led to slaughter, I took the longsword Nigel handed me. Well, whatever. It’ll work out somehow. I’m counting on you, Ha-shal-leur’s body!

“Then…”

Nigel took a few steps back, holding the longsword with both hands and saluting like a knight.

…Yeah, that’s cool.

I gripped the sword awkwardly and stared at Nigel. Well, it’s just sparring, so I won’t die, right?

That was wishful thinking.

**”The Shield of the Empire, the Tenth Sword of Randenburg. Nigel.”**

Suddenly, her demeanor changed. Her eyes, filled with hostility, glared sharply at me.

She turned her body sideways and leveled the sword at my throat.

**”Here I come.”**

With a low voice, a chilling killing intent swirled around us.