NOVEL NEXT I was walking down the corridor during Kyle’s personal time.
Normally, I would have been relaxing comfortably behind him, but today he sent me out, telling me to take a break.
“Hmph…”
Honestly, just being comfortably behind Kyle was already a break for me.
But now that he suddenly sent me out like this, I didn’t know what to do.
I was walking through the corridor…
To be honest, I had nothing to do.
“What should I do….”
So, I was following Kyle’s advice and taking a break outside, but I had no tasks.
After years of just following Kyle around, I seemed to have forgotten how to rest properly.
I think I used to know how to relax well back when I became a private tutor.
“Sophia?”
While I was walking through the corridor, I ran into Catherine.
Behind Catherine stood Sebastian, dressed like a butler in a tailcoat.
“Oldenburg Young Lady.”
I greeted Sophia as I ran into her.
As I was greeting Sophia, she gave me a signal to lift my head.
And when I did, Catherine was looking at me and smiling.
Why is she smiling?
“Sophia.”
“Yes.”
“Do you have a moment? I’d like to talk.”
“Of course.”
I had no idea what she wanted to talk about, but this was basically my first conversation with Catherine.
Catherine was someone who normally would talk to Kyle, not me, so it made sense.
By the way, what did she want to talk about with me?
Why not Kyle, of all people?
“…..”
I slowly followed Catherine down the path.
She didn’t go to the reception room as usual but headed outside the castle.
It was cold out…
Catherine’s outfit wasn’t exactly warm either.
Just a plain dress.
While I was thinking about that, Sebastian handed Catherine his outerwear.
But I had nothing.
“Hmm… I think this will be enough.”
“Can I ask what you want to talk about?”
“I just wanted to talk about Young Master Kyle.”
Talking about Kyle?
Was she really here to meet Kyle as I had imagined?
I was a bit surprised.
Though Catherine often talked to Kyle, I didn’t think she would have those kinds of feelings for him.
But seeing her ask about Kyle now, it seemed like she might have a slightly different affection for him.
If Catherine approached Kyle first, he might slowly open his heart.
Catherine was a pretty girl.
Since they were the same age, it would be even easier for them to get closer.
“Hmm… How long have you known Young Master Kyle?”
“It’s been about three years now.”
“Hmm… That’s quite a long time. It definitely feels different from the people we hire in our family.”
“Is that so?”
The contracts in the Oldenburg Family are usually short, so that makes sense.
Three years felt long for them.
Sebastian, standing behind us, was probably around one or two years too.
“Three years, huh… Sophia, how do you feel about living in Eristirol Castle?”
“How do I feel…?”
Honestly, I just feel it’s good.
Except for being a little cold, I’ve been living quite well for several years.
As long as I don’t go outside, I can stay in the warm castle and enjoy delicious food.
Isn’t that enough?
Working here isn’t bad either.
Over the years, I’ve gotten close with some maids, and Kyle was nice and listened to me well.
To be honest, there’s no reason not to like it.
“I think it’s good.”
“Hmm… Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Catherine’s expression slightly cooled down.
Was that not the answer she wanted?
“Hmm… If that’s the case, it’s fine. That’s enough for today. You can go back.”
“Yes.”
I headed back inside the castle as Catherine said.
No matter how formal I looked, it was still cold.
I prefer warm.
“Hmph….”
Once I got inside, it was definitely different from the outside.
It was warm.
“Kyle…”
His personal time should be up soon.
It would be best to go to Kyle’s room now since it was time for his sword training session.
-Knock Knock
“Young Master, it’s almost time for your sword training. I’m coming in.”
I opened the door as usual and went inside.
When I entered, Kyle was out of breath.
He seemed to have done some light exercise since he had nothing else to do.
A little workout before sword training was a good thing.
“Shall we go straight to class?”
“No, I’ll change clothes first.”
After hearing Kyle’s words, I went back out.
Even though my clothes were comfortable enough, they were a bit lacking for proper activities.
Afterward, Kyle came out in comfortable clothes, and we headed to the Knights’ building.
“Hello!”
Elin greeted us as soon as she saw us.
Kyle raised his hand slightly and commanded a salute to be relaxed.
We moved straight to the training ground.
Unlike yesterday, Elin was wearing proper armor.
It wasn’t completely white, but it was a splendid armor that was sufficiently white.
It was definitely different from the armor you’d see on an adventurer.
Especially in terms of price.
The sword was in its sheath, but it clearly was a sword that matched her position as the vice-captain of the Eristirol Duke’s Knights.
It would probably take a long time to buy with the money I had as an adventurer.
“Hmm… Since Young Master doesn’t have a proper sword yet, we’ll start with a regular one for now.”
Elin handed Kyle a regular longsword.
Kyle took the sword and looked it over.
Considering he had only held dining knives until now, it must have been fascinating for him.
“So let’s start with how to hold the sword. Young Master, please give it a try.”
Starting with the very basics.
Elin had really meant it when she said she was teaching a common knight; she was teaching the class quite well.
Even I, who learned swordplay recklessly, could easily understand.
Today, unlike yesterday, Elin had tied her sky-blue hair back for easier movement.
She was right next to Kyle as they practiced.
Since it was a sword training session, there was no way around it.
“Young Master, don’t apply too much strength here…”
Elin continued the lesson while feeling Kyle’s body through his thin clothes.
Even if it was a lesson, is it really okay for a man and a woman to be that close together?
Shouldn’t Kyle be careful since he’s from a high-ranking duke’s house?
Elin could certainly have kept a safe distance while giving instructions, so why was she so close?
“Young Master, your thighs are too tense.”
“……..”
Kyle focused as he followed Elin’s guidance.
I could only watch Kyle from the side.
“…..”
It felt kind of weird.
I’m not sure why, but something didn’t sit right with me.
“Um… Young Master.”
“?”
“Why are you so tense? Is it because there are people watching?”
Kyle looks tense, huh?
It’s true his body is firm, but I didn’t think it was that tense.
“….”
Kyle suddenly looked at me.
Could it be that he was uncomfortable because I was nearby?
If that’s the case, I’d feel sorry…
I can imagine it would be a bit uncomfortable to have someone standing next to you while you’re in the middle of a lesson.
“I’ll take a short walk around. Young Master, Elin is a good person, so it’s best to learn well.”
“…Okay.”
Kyle replied, and after hearing his answer, I slowly exited the training ground.
By the way, I thought Kyle and Elin suited each other surprisingly well.
Elin was also pretty enough that it made for a surprisingly good match.
Although I felt oddly uncomfortable, it was an undeniable good match for anyone to see.
You often hear tales of a student falling in love with their mentor.
That was the sort of scene they resembled.
Of course, it seemed Kyle didn’t have those thoughts yet.
“Ugh…”
But considering how he suddenly talked with Catherine alone at night yesterday, it might not be impossible.
If he slowly opens up his feelings, he might establish such a relationship with Elin…
“….”
Maybe.
Kyle is now fifteen, and a few years from now, he’ll enter the social circle, where he’ll surely meet someone good.
He’ll probably date someone prettier than I am, get married, and live happily.
“In a few years…”
To be honest, I can’t predict it.
My entire life until now has been completely unpredictable.
As a child, I suddenly remembered my past life and my identity became strange, and then I was sent to a boarding school to learn etiquette and some odd things.
After several years as an adventurer, now I’m working as a private tutor.
I have no idea what I’ll be doing when Kyle becomes an adult.
I won’t be a private tutor until adulthood, so I’ll probably leave soon enough.
And… it might be nice to visit my parents after a long time.
Having only seen them once since graduating from the boarding school, I think it’s time.
Even though I’m also working as a direct servant without a vacation concept, I’ve sent them a letter, so it should be okay.
Honestly, my mom probably won’t worry too much.
Especially since she wouldn’t bother replying properly and would just tell me to come back with a lot of money.