Common Sense of a Warrior

I feel like some things got translated strangely but…..some of the phrases were weird too! Teehee?

Some time has pa.s.sed since those girls came.

It seemed that they had become quite used to the mansion, so gradually they started to do more work as my personal attendants.

In reality, right now Anna is next to me as I read a book, making tea.

I read the book as I drank the tea that she made.

"……this tea is a bit too hot."

"Eh?"

"For tea from the Filden shop, it is better to steep it in a bit more tepid water or else it will end up with a more astringent taste. In order to enjoy the original sweet taste, the water needs to be more lukewarm."

I only really started to drink tea after I began my manner lessons at the Armelia Ducal House.

Apparently, as a n.o.ble it is only natural that one must know what [good things] and [genuine articles] were in order to go out into the world.

I imagine that the tea time we have been having as a break between lessons lately was also a part of my studies.

……now going back to the main subject.

It goes without saying that one must know about the different varieties of tea, but there was no loss in a hostess knowing the optimal way of making that tea…….which is why I was also in the midst of studying that.

Honestly speaking, until I started taking the manner lessons, I had never taken the time to slowly enjoy tea. Since I was always sweaty from training and would want something to drink, the sense that [as long as it"s drinkable, it"s fine] is deeply rooted.

Of course, I was aware of whether or not it was delicious.

"Ah, y-yes! My apologies……"

I don"t know what or where Anna and Enaline will be in the future, but it would not hurt for them to have more knowledge about things.

As such, though they may think that I am cautioning them over unnecessarily minute details, I still communicated that to them.

"It is fine. I only want you to memorize that for your job. Please be careful of it next time."

I took my gaze off the book and looked at her eyes as I said that.

She lowered her head in a fl.u.s.tered manner a number of times and then took the teapot and left the room for the time being.

I once again turned my gaze back to the book.

After that, I continued to read the book for a period of time and around the time when the sun started to set, stretched my body while seated.

And then, I called Granny to the room.

"……Ojou-sama, how was it?"

"I will now be going to train. I"ll notify you again once I come back and finish changing."

"Understood."

Having reported the information that needed to be conveyed, I promptly changed into my training clothes.

Suddenly, I became curious about the me reflected in the mirror and turned my gaze towards it.

……they were clothes that I was used to wearing.

It was for that reason that when I saw my appearance reflected in the mirror, it felt out of place.

Even though my hair had always been short like a boy"s, right now it had grown quite a bit and was now reaching below my shoulders.

As expected, it would be difficult to train like this, so I tied it all together.

And then, I took my sword, and left the mansion.

First, I"ll do laps around the mansion.

Perhaps because it"s been a while, after the first lap I started to sweat quite a bit.

Once I finished running, I took my sword and started doing practice swings.

…….as expected, swords are nice.

Every time I swung my sword, my heart calmed down as if I were slicing off extraneous things.

However, on the other hand, my head would freeze over, and the moderate sense of tension felt awfully good.

Like that, I wanted to continue swinging my sword forever, free from obstructive thoughts.

Then in the afternoon, I returned to my room, changed, and went to eat dinner.

When I went to go for training for the first time in a while since I started taking the manner lessons, I reflected on how dull my body felt.

Ever since then, after doing continuous training day after day, it felt like my condition has recovered considerably.

At the very least, it was to the point where I did not have to sit for a while in my room right after training.

It is often said that what doesn"t kill us only makes us stronger.

After finishing the meal while thinking that, I dressed myself in front of the mirror.

Clothes okay, hair okay.

The reason why I was paying so much attention to my personal appearance was because Rui apparently had some errands to do nearby today and would thus be dropping by the Anderson House.

Though I visit the Armelia House almost every day, I have not really been able to meet Rui much.

Instead, we have been exchanging letters frequently.

In the beginning, since Rui had never written a private letter before, his writing style was quite stiff.

That being said, I had also never written a letter before, and was still being taught how to do so under Aurelisama.

Leaving that aside, when it came to meeting up with him, though I was happy, there were also some unexpected feelings of anxiety……I was unable to contain myself, and unconsciously adjusted my appearance to try and calm my feelings.

"……Ojou-sama, Rui-sama has arrived."

Enaline called out to me as I fidgeted in front of the mirror.

……it felt a bit embarra.s.sing having my current appearance be seen by someone, and I froze.

I stayed motionless for a period of time while staring back at her, but her expression didn"t change one bit as she waited for my next words.

"Is that so……understood. Guide him to the room."

"Understood."

After that, I made my last futile efforts to put my hairdo in order, and left the room.

I walked down the hallway with quick steps, and headed towards the targeted room.

I called out to Anna, who was waiting for orders in front of the door, and had her open the door.

"I"ve made you wait, Rui."

"No, not at all."

When I lowered my head lightly, Rui made a tender smile as he waved his hand side to side.

"Shall I have Anna and Enaline retire?"

"But……"

They looked and me and Rui in a bewildered manner. I once again opened my mouth in order to persuade the two.

"It"s fine if it"s Rui. And Granny will be coming here soon."

"……understood."

At my words, they reluctantly nodded in a.s.sent.

"Are they the rumoured newcomers?"

Rui spoke as soon as the two had left the room.

"Yes, that"s right. The two of them are working hard on both their work in the mansion and training."

"I see……"

"Say, Rui. Have talks about their frequent visits to the palace reached your ears?"

"Yeah. Since I"ve been paying attention to those topics."

"In other words, that means…….it is not such a big topic that you"d hear about it if you weren"t paying attention to it?"

"Unfortunately. It hasn"t gone up to the top…….and quite frankly, right now the view of it being a joke is stronger."

"I see……"

"Well, for it to be accepted in reality, since the organization of the army itself has to be rearranged, the hurdle to getting it done is quite high."

"Yes, it is irritating, but that is true."

"Although I do think that their will-power is the real thing……..otherwise they probably would not have been able to bring their written pet.i.tions like that so many times."

"I see……"

I became happy at his words and my face unconsciously slackened.

If they really want to enlist in the Army, then they will have to exert themselves to win that opportunity themselves.

Father"s voice was influential in the army, and as the Prime Minister, Romel-sama"s voice was influential in the palace.

…….if we were to ask the two of them, then changing the system may not be just a pipe dream.

Though it would come with remarks of things being forced.

However, the chances of that backlash turning towards those girls was high.

No, not just them…….the probability of it turning towards all of the women who aimed to enlist in the army in future was high.

If they were to become crushed by that, then all of the doors that would allow women to enlist in the army would close shut.

It could potentially make it so that those doors would never open again.

In order for things not to turn out that way, it was better to for the imperial court to deliberate over the matter and adjust the system accordingly, instead of forcing things through with the power of those two people.

"I"ll indirectly transfer the discussion to the relevant people."

"Thanks, Rui."

"There"s no need for thanks."

Rui waved his hand, beckoning me over.

Tilting my head, I approached him as he was sitting directly across from me.

He gently placed a kiss on my cheek.

"Sorry, I still have some errands to do after this."

As he said that, he stood up.

"Ah……"

I couldn"t say anything to detain him after seeing his apologetic, bitter smile.

"Will we meet again?"

"Yes, of course."

I rushed over to him as he gave his affirmation, and hugged him.

He was not surprised at my sudden actions, and smiled as he stroked my back.

……how irritating.

It"s as if I"m the only one who feels lonely here.

Though it was wrong to have such thoughts about him when he went out of his way to come visit when it was such a busy time for him.

However, it was as if only my feelings of love were getting bigger and bigger, which was precisely why I felt bitter at his current composure.

I want to see him become fl.u.s.tered.

I want to fill his head with myself so that he can only see me.

Such desires swirled inside me and peeped out from within my face.

This time I gave his cheek a kiss and took a step back from him.

"See you later. Next time when you get the chance to visit this mansion, I"ll guide you around."

"Sure. I"m looking forward to it."