The Northern Duke’s Eldest Son’s Tutor

Three days have passed since Catherine arrived at Eristirol Castle.
She hasn’t done any special activities since entering the castle.
At most, she just converses with Kyle.
Thanks to this, I became very happy.
I thought that as they continue to talk, their relationship would eventually grow closer.
And as they get closer, they’ll become friends… and from friends…
“Hehe….”
Just imagining it makes me happy.
Like a younger brother I raised? A son?
I’m not sure how to express it, but thinking about Kyle dating and getting married made me very happy.
Although it’s still too early, it was a pleasant thought.
I don’t know exactly what they’re talking about inside, but they must be having enjoyable conversations.
Though they’re nobles, they’re still teenagers, so they’re probably just having normal everyday conversations.
“Miss Sofia.”
“Yes.”
While I was having pleasant thoughts, Sebastian, Catherine’s servant, spoke to me from the side.
Normally I wouldn’t have remembered his name, but it was such a stereotypical servant name that I remembered it.
Why is he suddenly talking to me?
I don’t particularly like him.
I just don’t like him for some reason.
His appearance, the way he talks, everything.
It might seem too harsh to dislike someone without any reason, but I didn’t care.
“Do you have a map of the castle? My lady said she’s bored and would like to look around inside the castle.”
“…”
A map of the castle?
It exists, of course.
Since the castle is so large, naturally a map of Eristirol Castle exists.
But it wasn’t right to share it with outsiders.
Although they’re guests and nobles, it could potentially become a weakness for the Eristirol ducal family.
And it was strange that such a matter was left to me, a mere servant.
Shouldn’t this be asked of Kyle, or at least the head butler or head maid?
“That… is not for me to decide. I’m sorry.”
Therefore, I declined Sebastian’s request.
First, it was important to ask Kyle.
Logically, it was strange to ask me about such things.
Why ask me, a simple personal servant and tutor?
He should ask the head butler or Kyle.
“I see. Then I’ll ask the Young Lord separately later.”
After that, Sebastian didn’t speak to me anymore.
It might hurt him if I said it directly, but I was actually glad he didn’t talk to me.
It was annoying to continue talking with someone I didn’t particularly like.
By the way, I sent a letter to the magic tower, I wonder when a reply will come.
When I sent one before, a reply came within a week, but this time I sent it from the position of the Eristirol ducal family, not as an adventurer, so I thought it might come faster.
Of course, if that woman says she won’t do it because it’s bothersome, I’d have to wait longer.
I didn’t know about other magic instructors, so I chose her.
She’s exceptionally skilled, so she would definitely teach Kyle well.
If she doesn’t accept… I’d have to call another mage urgently.
But I’m not close with other mages besides her….
Still, she’s crazy about fun things or anything related to alcohol, so it should be fine.
“Young Master, did you finish your conversation well?”
“Yes. Today too… we just had a normal conversation.”
“I see. What would you like to do today?”
“The day is still bright, let’s proceed slowly.”
“Yes.”
As Kyle said, it wasn’t even past lunchtime yet.
There was no need to rush to start the schedule.
After finishing his conversation with Catherine, Kyle started exercising as usual.
As I enjoyed watching Kyle’s physique, which seemed to reach new levels of perfection with each passing day, I thought about what kind of knight to find.
I needed to consider carefully as I hadn’t had many conversations with the knights of the knighthood.
“Hmm….”
Since Kyle hasn’t properly learned swordsmanship until now, he needs to start from the basics.
Rather than learning a difficult sword style from the beginning, it’s better to learn step by step.
I’m not sure if there’s a suitable female knight available.
“Young Master, I’ll visit the knighthood briefly. Please wait a moment.”
“Huff… Yes…!”
Leaving Kyle exercising in the training ground, I moved to the building where the knighthood stayed.
Since I wasn’t simply trying to bring someone out but officially recruiting someone as Kyle’s swordsmanship instructor, I needed to talk directly with someone from the knighthood.
“Is anyone here…?”
I entered the building, but it was quiet inside.
Knights were training outside, but I had no idea the inside would be this quiet.
“Is nobody here..?”
-Crash bang!!
-Aaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I asked again, suddenly there was a sound of something falling and hitting from one of the rooms inside, along with a sound of pain.
Fortunately, it seemed someone was inside.
-Just a moment!!
A woman’s voice was heard from inside.
And it was a somewhat young female voice.
“I’m sorry!!!! I was just dozing off inside..!”
“Ah…yes.”
The woman who opened the door and came out of the room had a prettier appearance than I expected.
No, rather than pretty, is it a cute appearance?
“Is there a person responsible for the knighthood in the building right now? I came to discuss the Young Master’s swordsmanship training.”
“The Young Master’s swordsmanship?! One… one moment..!”
The woman suddenly went back into the room.
And again, loud noises were heard from inside.
Metal clashing with metal, and light metal falling to the floor.
I wasn’t sure what she was doing.
“Did you wait long?!”
“No…not at all.”
She came out of the room again, making a fuss.
Wearing armor.
“I am Elin Raine, the Deputy Commander of the Eristirol Knighthood! It’s an honor to meet the Young Master’s tutor whom I’ve only heard about in rumors!”
“What..?”
“The Deputy Commander! I am Elin Raine! It’s an honor to meet the Young Master’s tutor whom I’ve only heard about in rumors!”
“….”
This woman who was just fumbling around until a moment ago is the deputy commander of the domain’s knighthood?
This woman?
I couldn’t help but be a bit surprised.
The north was cold and overall, how should I put it… a cold region.
The people, the atmosphere, the weather.
That’s why I couldn’t imagine that a woman with such a personality would be the deputy commander.
“Are you really the deputy commander?”
“Yes!”
This woman who seems about my age or slightly older is the deputy commander.
Is she incredibly skilled?
Or was she placed there because there was no talent to take charge of the practical work?
I couldn’t know exactly, but I needed to speak about Kyle’s swordsmanship.
“Then let’s get straight to the point. I am currently looking for a female knight to teach swordsmanship to the Young Master. Is there a talent you would recommend? For reference, he won’t just be learning the sword. In addition to the sword, magic will also…”
As I spoke, the eyes of the woman in front of me, Elin, began to change.
Those eyes were not the same as before, but the eyes of a knight, a warrior’s eyes.
I may have underestimated her too much.
She is the deputy commander, after all.
It’s not a position that would be easily assigned just because there’s a vacant position or a lack of talent.
“What do you think?”
“Hmm… A female knight who is skilled and proficient in teaching… That’s rare. To begin with, there aren’t many female knights…”
“Is that so?”
If there’s no one, we’ll have to call a female knight from outside.
It wouldn’t lack in ability, but… it was annoying to separately call a female knight despite having a knighthood nearby.
“But! There is one person who is skilled and good at teaching others!”
“Who?”
If such a person was in the domain right now, it would be really good.
It would definitely be a great help for Kyle’s learning.
“Me!”
“….”
“Despite appearances, I’m in charge of educating the regular knights, you know?”
“Is… that so?”
An eye is an eye.
Apart from her eyes, I honestly didn’t have much faith in her given the behavior she had shown until just now.
“Do you know when the Knight Commander will return? I need to consult with him as well.”
“Hmm… Uncle Alex… training won’t finish for another 2 hours from now.”
“I see.”
The Knight Commander will come in 2 hours.
Then there was nothing to do here right now.
“In that case, I’ll come back in 2 hours. Please leave a message for the Knight Commander.”
“Yes!”
After saying that and greeting Elin, I left the knighthood building.
What I felt upon leaving was the cold air.
*
“Young Master.”
“Did your conversation go well?”
“Yes. I’ve arranged to have a conversation with the Knight Commander in 2 hours.”
“I see.”
“I had seen the Knight Commander in passing before, and he was a strong man. In terms of muscles, skills, and various other aspects.”
“I see…”
“He will likely introduce a good person.”
His appearance and overall demeanor made him seem reliable.
The kind of character that fits the description of a veteran often portrayed in media.
If only he had been younger, the Eristirol domain’s knighthood wouldn’t have had to worry for decades.
“Hmm… Would you like to come along, Young Master? It’s about determining your swordsmanship instructor. It would certainly be better if you came along…”
“I’ll go.”
“With us.”
Kyle interrupted me while I was speaking.
Is he excited about the fact that a swordsmanship instructor will be determined?
Not a bad flow.