118 - The Traveling Retiree and His Great-Grandson
As I declared to Leonardo, I was doing embroidery in the warm inn room when Kalisa, who had been waiting nearby, suddenly moved. I thought she must have gone to the anteroom to get something and paid it no mind, but then I heard Kalisa's uncharacteristically loud voice shout "Wait!" and I realized something had happened. Before I could brace myself, the door flew open, and out from the other side came the boy with the cute face from earlier.
"Hey, black cat girl! Rejoice, I came to play with you!"
Behind that boy's declaration, two loud sounds rang out in succession. I stood frozen, unable to imagine what was happening beyond the door, when Kalisa appeared from behind the boy.
"Nyo?!"
The moment I thought Kalisa was standing behind him, the boy's expression froze. Then, as if in a CG or special effects movie, the boy silently moved backward, and this sudden scene came to an end.
...Huh? What? What just happened?
As I stared at Kalisa, who stood in the anteroom in bewilderment, she smiled brightly, perhaps trying to reassure me.
"...Apologies, Tina-sama. Child intrusion, unforeseen. Will deal with it immediately."
"Un? Go ahead and go?"
Pressed by Kalisa's smile, I gave a small wave. Somehow, I felt I could see the truth behind how that boy had moved backward with such an unnatural motion.
...But still?
Leonardo had said this was a safe inn, but even if it was a child, they had intruded so easily. I had to wonder if it was really a safe inn at all.
Now then, I was thinking about what to do for lunch when an invitation arrived from the guest next door. The invitation, brought by a messenger dressed in formal attire, seemed to know that the occupant of this room was a little girl (me). It was written in words I could read, containing an invitation to lunch and an apology for the rudeness of the great-grandson earlier.
"That is a very polite invitation, deshu ne..."
I could not tell if it was handwritten or dictated, but the letters were beautifully decorated. The sender's name at the bottom read 'Ethel.' If I only judged by the wording, it did not seem to be from a bad person. That was what I thought, but.
"I accept the apology from that child's great-grandfather, but I must decline the invitation to lunch, deshu."
"How rude of you to refuse the great elder's invitation..."
I thought I was being polite while declining, but the messenger who brought the invitation twisted his face in offense. Apparently, declining this invitation at all was unthinkably rude to them.
...Ah, I was right to decline.
The lack of discipline in the servants was laid bare right before my eyes. And incidentally, the rudeness of the great-grandson earlier was probably also a discipline issue on the guardian's part.
"Young lady, you should accept the great elder's invitation obediently. You might not understand this wonderful fortune yet because you are still small, but..."
"Because it seems troublesome, I do not want to, deshu."
"Trouble..."
...Ah, he was speechless.
My true feelings slipped out, but since the annoying messenger fell silent, I decided that was fine. Just as I was about to close the door and retreat inside, Cidur appeared to mediate, apparently having been called by someone.
...No, even if he mediates, I do not want what I do not want, okay?
That was how I felt, but considering he was the father of my friend (Nils), I could not be too dismissive. When Cidur asked me to save face and accept the great elder's invitation, it was hard to refuse.
"Great elder, great elder... Is that child's great-grandfather really such a troublesome person?"
"He is of noble birth, but his character is surprisingly approachable."
...Mm, I understand. He is a very troublesome person.
Considering he was related to that rude boy, I did not want to meet him. However, being subjected to continued persuasion by the messenger and Cidur until I agreed would be mentally painful. I had wanted to relax in the warm room doing embroidery and wait for Leonardo's return, but to avoid the hassle, it seemed I would have to swallow this trouble once.
"There is a restaurant on the first floor, is there not, deshu?"
Visiting a stranger's room was scary, so I would accept the invitation at the restaurant where there were other people's eyes around. This was as far as I could compromise.
Once I was ready, I headed to the restaurant escorted by Cidur. Even though it was not what I had wished for, since it was a dinner party by invitation, Kalisa had me change into a visiting kimono. My hair was also braided in a complex style, about as intricate as what Aurelia did.
...Is Kalisa actually a super maid?
Earlier, she had taken out the two guards of that boy in a single blow, and eliminated the boy himself by grabbing the back of his head. Even the Black Knights left behind by Leonardo as guards were starting to hold a reflection meeting about how Kalisa moved faster than they did. And she was good at calculations, could cook, and could do dressing. If there was a flaw, it was perhaps that she was a little shy. But even that could look charming depending on how you saw it.
...I cannot quite imagine Salisa, who is supposed to be stronger than Kalisa.
When I thought of Salisa, I only remembered her making delicious meals every time. She certainly did not look like she could serve as a guard. And the strongest of the three sisters was apparently Alisa, but when I thought about it, it was Iridal and the fortress lord four generations ago who raised those three sisters. If they had closely observed the Black Knights' training and even received instruction sometimes, then it might not be strange for them to possess at least one combat skill not found in ordinary maids.
...No, that cannot be right, can it?
While I was thinking about such irrelevant matters, we arrived at the first-floor restaurant. In accordance with my wish to feel safer with other people's eyes around, there did not seem to be any measures like clearing people out or reserving the place. However, I could tell at a glance that a seating area had been set up in one corner. The quality of the chairs and tables prepared there was clearly different.
...Wow, that kid is here too.
The brattiness from our first encounter was either a facade or neatly concealed. The way he stood quietly was exactly that of a well-bred young gentleman.
...Well, I already know what is inside, so no matter how cute he is, it does not make my heart flutter.
I averted my gaze from the boy and turned it to the old man who called himself his great-grandfather. The boy's great-grandfather was a slender old gentleman with a white beard.
...Ah, I like this old man.
I was certain of it as I looked at the old gentleman, who wore a warm and refined smile. Just a moment ago, I had been disillusioned by a boy who was only cute in appearance, but I completely forgot about that and my wariness toward the old gentleman softened.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, little black cat miss. I am a traveling retiree called Ethel."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Ethel-shama. I am Tina. Thank you for the invitation, deshu."
Since I did not know the other party's status, I greeted him politely, following what Hermine had taught me. Greetings for nobles and commoners were apparently subtly different, but I did not know the status of the old gentleman called 'great elder.' So all I could do was behave as properly as I could. I figured any minor mistakes would be overlooked because the old gentleman himself was concealing his status and because I was a child.
The escort shifted from Cidur to the old gentleman, and I was guided to a seat. After sitting down on a chair adjusted for height with a cushion, the boy sat across from me, and the old gentleman sat between me and the boy.
"It seems my great-grandson Diet was rude earlier. My oversight caused you trouble, young lady, and for that I apologize."
With such words of apology, the dinner party began amicably. The boy called 'Diet,' described as a spoiled brat, twitched in response to his great-grandfather's words, but silently brought the appetizer to his mouth.
"I do not know what status Ethel-shama holds, but I must insist you properly discipline your great-grandson. It is one thing if he enters a female family member's room at home, but it is not okay to barge into a stranger's room without permission while traveling, deshu."
Regardless of the victim's status, barging into a woman's room without permission was a serious problem. It was disgraceful as a gentleman, and fundamentally unsavory behavior as a human being.
I made a sulky face to look especially childlike and drove the point home to the old gentleman, who promised me he would never let his great-grandson commit such a foolish act again. Perhaps one future burglar had been corrected onto the right path.
"You are a remarkably well-disciplined child, young lady. Is it your mother's good upbringing?"
"My mother passed away last year, so my tutor Hermine-sensei teaches me manners, deshu."
"Hermine...?"
The old gentleman stroked his white beard in thought. What? I thought, turning my gaze to Diet, who looked like he had bitten into a bitter bug.
"By Hermine, your tutor, you would not happen to mean Ms. Hermine Hartmann?"
"Yes, that is right. Hermine Hartmann-sensei, deshu."
"...I see. So that heroine was truly an excellent teacher."
...Heroine?
A word that did not even remotely match my impression of Hermine came out of the old gentleman's mouth. The impression I had of Hermine was of a mirror of ladyship, always with her back straight. 'Heroine' was not the image.
"Hm? But did you not say your mother passed away last year?"
"I did say that, deshu."
"Then when did you begin studying under Ms. Hartmann?"
"Hermine-sensei has been coming to our home since this winter, deshu."
"...It has not even been three months."
"That is right, deshu ne."
What was so strange about that? It was a rather unsatisfying conversation. Still, I did not know if it was appropriate to press further and ask what this was all about. I felt like Hermine would probably say that a lady does not pry into others' affairs.
I decided not to pry, following the image of Hermine in my head, but perhaps all my thoughts had shown on my face. The old gentleman gave a wry smile and told me why he had been surprised by Hermine's name.
"Ms. Hartmann was Diet's tutor for about three years."
"...And after three years with Hermine-sensei, that is the result, deshu?"
My true colors slipped out, but it could not be helped. I was too shocked to compose myself.
"At the end of the third year, she finally threw in the towel. She said teaching someone who had no will to learn was pointless."
According to the old gentleman, Diet had been raised not by his parents but by wet nurses and servants. The people around him had simply spoiled Diet, who had an angelically lovable appearance, raising him however they pleased. As a result, he grew up into a textbook spoiled tyrant. Seeing that this was bad, they hired Hermine, who had a reputation for being strict.
"Ms. Hartmann was as strict with him as we expected, and now, like this..."
He could at least behave during meals, the old gentleman said, turning his gaze to Diet. Diet's quietness was not a facade, but apparently the result of Hermine's discipline. Hermine had apparently been patiently trying to discipline Diet, but the wet nurses and servants who had raised him by spoiling him got in the way. They complained to Diet's parents that Hermine's education was too strict and that it was cruel to Diet, and eventually Hermine, exasperated, resigned.
"...I think you should fire all those wet nurses and servants, deshu."
"As expected of Ms. Hartmann's student. You say the same thing she did."
...No, I think anyone would understand that the environment is bad, not just Hermine-sensei's students.
The wet nurses and servants raised a tyrant, and just when Hermine had finally managed to discipline him enough to at least be quiet during meals, they pushed Hermine away and spoiled Diet again, making all of Hermine's efforts come to nothing. Unable to stand by, the great-grandfather apparently decided to take Diet in and show him the outside world. Show him what children his own age were like.
"Children come in all kinds, you know?"
"Indeed. Right before my eyes is a remarkably well-behaved child who has studied under the same tutor, and for only three months at that."
"I think my manners are only within the range that is excusable because I am still a child. If I were an adult, I would have to speak much more properly with Ethel-shama, would I not, deshu?"
"...I am just a retiree now. Even if you were a little older, you would not need to speak so formally with me."
The old gentleman winked playfully, but I somehow understood that I should not take his words at face value. It was just a gut feeling without certainty. Actually, I felt this was a matter I should not confirm. The old gentleman's status was something I should not ask about. As I was thinking about this, I heard a faint sound of cutlery being set down. It seemed that the time was up for what Hermine had taught him... at least being quiet during meals.
"Grandfather."
"Diet, you apologize properly to the young lady as well."
The old gentleman said coolly to Diet, who glared at me with a thoroughly dissatisfied expression. Diet was apparently a tyrant, but even so, he seemed able to obey his elders. After furrowing his brow in displeasure, he still bowed his head to me.
"I am sorry for barging into your room so suddenly earlier."
...Surprisingly obedient?
I could tell he was reluctant, but he seemed to be reflecting on his actions. His face was sullen, but his blue eyes trembled as if frightened.
"...You must not barge into other people's rooms suddenly anymore, okay, deshu?"
"I know. Grandfather hit me, and that maid over there hit me too."
...Huh? Kalisa hit him?
I could not help but turn to look at Kalisa, who was standing behind me. Kalisa looked puzzled. From Kalisa's perspective, it might have been a perfectly natural way to handle an undisciplined child.
"I already apologized properly! That is enough now. Let us play!"
Diet seemed to be the type of child who switched gears quickly. As if to say, I apologized so this matter is over, he brought up the next topic.
"I am still eating, deshu..."
"You are too slow of an eater, black cat girl!"
"My name is not that, deshu. I have a proper name that my father and others gave me. It is Tina, deshu."
...Also, I never said I would be Diet's playmate.
I told him that not only during his own meal but also during others' meals he should stay quiet, but he ignored me. Apparently Hermine had not taught him that far.
"Tina is too short. It is not your real name, is it?"
Saying that nobles all had long names, he told me that 'Diet' was a nickname and his formal name was 'Dietfried.' He also informed me that the old gentleman's name 'Ethel' was a nickname and his formal name was 'Ethelbert.'
...I did not want to know such personal information.
I caught a flicker of recognition at the name, but I stopped myself from confirming what was nagging at my memory. There were many things in the world that were better left unknown. The old gentleman's name was one of them.
Diet kept pestering me for my real name, but I answered that I did not know and brushed it off. Since I had decided to keep calling myself Tina, I had no interest in my birth name. I had been taught the characters, but I had never even heard Leonardo read them. I could probably read them myself now, but back then I could only read the last part, 'Tina,' so I had only a vague impression.
"...What do you want to play, deshu?"
I gave in to Diet, who stubbornly kept pressing me to tell him my real name. When I brought up a different topic to divert attention from my birth name, Diet fell for it completely.
"Do you know Reversi? You probably do not, right? I will teach you as a special favor. So let us play!"
"Huh? Reversi, deshu?"
At the familiar word that came out of Diet's mouth, I blinked for a moment, wondering if Reversi existed in this world too. I was simply surprised, but Ethel smiled wryly and explained Reversi to me.
"Reversi is a board game my grandson brought back from somewhere. The rules are simple, so you will be able to play right away."
...A grandson who brought back Reversi?
If I thought about who owned a Reversi board, it would be Alf. Perhaps Alfred might have had one made after returning to the capital, but the only Reversi board owners I knew were Leonardo and Alf. When I thought about it, Diet and Alf had the same hair color.
"By any chance, are you Alf-san's grandfather, deshu?"
It could also be Alfred's grandfather, I supposed. In fact, that seemed more likely, but I put forward Alf's name, hoping that was the case. If he was Alfred's grandfather, then the old gentleman before me would be the former king. I really hoped that was not the case.
...I did think the name sounded familiar, though! Imagination, just my imagination!
Internally, I was in turmoil at having encountered an unexpectedly noble person, but the old gentleman looked slightly surprised.
"Do you know Alf, young lady?"
"He always looks after me in the city of Grenore, deshu."
Ah, so it was Alf after all, the option I had thought was less likely, I thought in relief. The old gentleman stared at my face intently. Perhaps meeting an acquaintance of his grandson while traveling was unusual.
"...Could you be the rumored little sister of Leonardo?"
"Yes. I am Leo's little sister, deshu, but..."
Before I could ask back, what rumor?, the old gentleman nodded with a look of understanding. So this was Leonardo's rumored little sister, he seemed to think.
...Seriously, what kind of rumors are going around about me and where?
It got longer than planned... Kalisa keeps appearing here and there, but not even a millimeter of Kalisa's most important trait shows up... I also created Kalisa's appearance using a Twitter diagnostic maker, and actually, she has big boobs. Actually, she has big boobs. I said it twice because it is important. But it is not a necessary element, so it simply cannot appear in the main story!!
I will fix typos and misspellings another day. I have fixed the typos and misspellings I found.