354 - The End of Ladylike Education and the Return to Grenore
A sudden marriage proposal occurred amidst the cleanup, but the tea party itself ended safely. I am happy that Hermine gave me a passing grade based on how the tea party went, but with the passing of the tea party, the end of my ladylike education was also declared.
I was the only one surprised by the sudden declaration of the end of my ladylike education when I reported to Hermine after the cleanup.
I looked up at Leonardo standing beside me, but he was looking down at me with a troubled expression. It was less that he was surprised by Hermine's words and more that he was troubled over how to soothe my reaction. From this, I understood that Leonardo must have known the end of my ladylike education was approaching.
"It is so sudden that I am surprised, Hermine-sensei."
"Surely it is not so sudden. It was apparent to outsiders that the end of Tina-san's ladylike education was near."
"When you say outsiders... you mean Elvis-sama."
I had heard that Elvis had asked for Hermine to return as Dietfried's tutor after my education was complete. That was not some future consultation but rather a calculation that my education was nearly finished and Hermine's position would be vacated. It would be a waste to let an excellent tutor like Hermine sit idle until another family made her a teaching offer, and I imagine he would also regret letting such a capable person be taken by another house.
"I will miss you."
"A tutor is someone who eventually leaves a household. Since Tina-san will also be returning to the Grenore residence, I believe this is a good opportunity."
I understand the logic, but I do not want to accept it. Even if my education were extended by another year, Hermine would return to the city of Grenore as well. And then, for Hermine to come to the capital a year later would require time, travel expenses, and the dangers of the journey. If the education ended here in the capital, I understood all too well that it would be more convenient in various ways.
"Kalisa will continue to serve as your lady's maid at the Grenore residence, so there is no need to feel lonely."
Hermine said that while Kalisa is not as experienced as Nadine, she is a maid who can support me well. She told me to consult with Kalisa often and work together to support Leonardo.
"You would do well to coordinate with Kalisa and put the Grenore residence in order. Increase the number of servants a little and lighten the burden on Tabitha and Bart."
I gave a wry smile at Hermine's words as she continued, "They are already getting on in years." Even though I had heard about this in advance, I could not accept it so easily. All I could manage was a stiff smile, and then Leonardo's large hand was placed on my head. As his hand gently stroked me in concern, I thought that if I cried here, Hermine might revoke the end of my ladylike education by declaring me a 'failed lady,' but I could not do it. Parting with Hermine was sad, but that did not mean I wanted to undo all the education she had given me.
Until the day we departed for Grenore, I increased the time I spent with Hermine. Even though the end of my education had been declared, there were still many things I wanted to learn from her. Even if the declaration of the end of my education had been made, Hermine was still my teacher. She had given me permission to write letters, so our connection would not be severed immediately.
If I got married early and had a child, I could call her back as that child's tutor, huh.
I recalled what Hermine had said before in jest and glanced toward Leonardo. Leaving romantic feelings aside, it was Leonardo whom I wanted to be with in the future as well. If that was the case, the quickest way would be to become Leonardo's wife and have children.
Not wanting me to have children was just the royalty's 'wish,' after all.
As Ethelbert had also told me, this was a wish born from the royalty's convenience, not an order. And that convenience came from the danger that someone who could read Japanese might die in the life-threatening ordeal of childbirth. That meant if I translated Saint Yuuta Hiraga's research materials into the Erath language, the royalty's concern would also be resolved.
...Huh? Am I actually seriously considering becoming Leonyaldo-san's wife?
I did not understand romantic feelings, but there were things like political marriages and arranged marriages in this world. Surely it was not that you absolutely had to be in love with the other person to get married. I wanted to be with Leonardo, and Leonardo would not have to let go of his little sister. It was a marriage beneficial to both of us.
Maybe sometime soon, I should consider it a bit more seriously?
As I began thinking such things, I suddenly noticed something. Leonardo, who previously would sometimes leave the detached palace to do his work when I told him I had no plans to go out for the day, had been staying with me constantly these past days. He had been holed up in the detached palace together with me, never leaving Hermine's side.
For now, I understand that Leonardo's clinginess is because I was snatched away by the spirits right before his eyes.
The moment he thought I had disappeared from before his eyes, I was found covered in wounds and with my hair even cut off. As a guardian, it was only natural he would become overprotective. I decided to wait until Leonardo's heart had settled a little more before consulting him about marriage.
The carriage prepared for our move to Grenore was the same one we had used when coming to the capital. It was a large carriage pulled by six horses, with a luxurious interior that could be mistaken for a noble's room. Last time, the journey consisted of three carriages total, which also served as resting places for the cooks and guards along the route, but unfortunately this time one more had been added. I had intended to carefully select our luggage, but clothing and gifts took up quite a bit of space.
"Thank you for your long service. I leave the matters during my absence to you."
After saying farewell to Nadine and the other ladies' maids lined up at the entrance, I turned to face Hermine. After finishing her role as my teacher, Hermine was scheduled to become Dietfried's teacher, and she was to move to Dietfried's detached palace after seeing me off. Until we parted today, she was my private tutor.
"Hermine-sensei, I am deeply grateful for your very long service. I will not forget the mindset and etiquette of a lady that you have taught me. I intend to apply them correctly in my future conduct."
I wanted to hug her out of emotion, thinking this was our farewell, but I held myself back with a lady's smile. Hermine was a teacher who had instilled in me the behavior of a lady. I thought she would be happier if I conducted myself as a lady in our farewell.
But unexpectedly, the hug came from Hermine's side.
"Hya!?"
"I see you still have not corrected your habit of making strange noises when your true nature shows."
Hermine's shoulders, shaking with soft laughter, were right before my eyes. From this close distance, which I had rarely seen, Hermine gave off a faint, pleasant fragrance. I knew this scent. It was the perfume that had been among the birthday presents Leonardo gave me this year. I had held back from using it, thinking perfume was still too early for me, and had only confirmed the scent. But it seemed to be the same fragrance as Hermine's. If I put it on a ribbon or something, I could stave off the loneliness for a while even after parting from Hermine.
"You have learned well. You were a rather challenging student with a bit of a tomboyish streak, but you were worth the training."
She continued, saying, "Take care of yourself even after returning to Grenore."
"You always collapse after a long journey, so listen to what Kalisa says and rest early. If you are in trouble, first consult with Alfred-sama. Mr. Dupre is a bit unreliable for that. Just because the Spring Flower Festival is over does not mean you should take off the beast costume. And also..."
Seeing Hermine starting to think there was still something else she ought to warn me about, I could not help but laugh. Hermine was supposed to be my tutor, but what she was saying sounded rather motherly. Thinking, She is like a mother, I wrapped my arms around Hermine's body. Since Hermine had hugged me first, she could not get angry at me for hugging her back.
"Sensei, I am truly grateful for everything."
I hugged her with all my feelings of fondness. When I took a deep breath, the gentle fragrance tickled my nose.
I pulled away from Hermine and boarded the carriage escorted by Leonardo. The bedroom I had shared with Hermine on the way here was to be shared with Kalisa this time.
...Huh?
I looked toward the place where the lady's maid would stay in the carriage, but Solana, who I thought would be there, was not present. Solana was Alfred's lady's maid, so she was supposed to be returned to Alfred now that I could go back to Grenore, but apparently she would not be accompanying us as Alfred's maid.
"Is Solana not coming with us?"
"I left some work for Solana. She stays in the capital."
I looked up at Alf, who was sitting beside me with a matter-of-fact expression, and tilted my head. If this were before I knew he was actually Alf, I would have pointed out, 'Why is Alfred coming to Grenore?' and had my cheek pinched.
If he did not come back with us, Alf-san would also be in trouble, right?
I did not know when they had switched places, but considering Kokumaro's reaction, it was probably when Jasper brought back Saint Yuuta Hiraga's research materials. Kokumaro had obediently listened to Alf, who was behaving as Alfred. I did not know if he would react the same way even now that he had returned trained, but Kokumaro showed signs of wariness toward Alfred when they first met. At the time, I did not know of Alfred's existence, so I was convinced that Alfred was Alf, but Kokumaro had correctly distinguished between them.
That same Kokumaro was in the same carriage as me. Unfortunately, Elke and Petrona were riding in the servants' carriage. That was the plan at least until we left the royal castle. Once we left the royal castle and also the capital, I planned to call them over to this carriage to play with me when the carriage stopped for the horses to rest.
"...We can finally return to the city of Grenore."
"If I had to choose between the border and the capital, the capital is safer, though..."
"The capital has too much strange tension and I cannot relax. And Leonyaldo Big Brother leaves me behind for work."
Perhaps because of the lady's maid present, Alf remained as Alfred. Because of that, Leonardo was sticking to his role as my guard and did not join in conversation. Aaron and Giselle were riding alongside the carriage on horseback, occasionally taking turns with Leonardo.
The return journey to Grenore was a comfortable one. Unlike the trip there, there was no anxiety about heading to an unfamiliar place, and I had Elke and Petrona as playmates. The fellow passenger was Alf instead of Alfred, and besides Alfred's lady's maid, Kalisa was also there. There was a sense of confinement from being shut up in the carriage the whole time during travel, but that was all. At mealtimes, the carriage would stop by springs with nice views or on hilltops, and I would play with Kokumaro or enjoy the scenery. During the day, I would call Elke and Petrona into the carriage to play board games, and when I grew tired of that, I would pass the time with embroidery or reading. Occasionally, I was even allowed to ride on Leonardo's horse. Being able to straddle a horse on my own made me want to believe I had grown taller. It felt slower than my friends, but I was growing little by little.
When we arrived at the town where we had briefly stayed on the way to visit Waiyakku Valley, we sent a letter from Kalisa to the Mandez residence. It was a letter reporting that Kalisa would continue to be employed at the Grenore residence. Aside from that, personal messages including recipes for Napaji cuisine were written in it. Salisa would probably find it a good gift.
While waiting for a reply to the letter, we headed for Waiyakku Valley again with just a small group. Last time I thought it was surprising that Alfred would come along when I could understand Alf coming to visit Aurelia's grave, but I think Alfred was actually setting a precedent for Alf. When Alf, present in this situation as Alfred, said, "I'll go too," Alfred's guards did not look surprised or puzzled. They probably naturally thought, since we went last time, we would go this time too.
Alfred-sama is really thoughtful toward Alf-san. Though his love often runs in circles.
Aurelia's grave, which we had not visited in two years, was neatly maintained. Previously it had been a grave with just a large stone placed on it, but now there was a carved tombstone like the surrounding graves. I traced the name of Aurelia engraved on the tombstone with my finger and gave my report on the past two years.
The saint's secret arts should be able to be revived somehow, so please rest assured. Also, the bobbin lace that Aurelia-san taught me. I want it to spread, so I made a guidebook.
Speaking of the bobbin lace guidebook, something a bit interesting was happening in the capital. Since the bobbin lace technique was something Aurelia had brought to this world, I included a little about her in the guidebook. Perhaps because of that, Aurelia was beginning to spread her name not only as the wise woman of Waiyakku Valley but also as a reincarnator who brought 'Aurelian lace' to this world. By the way, 'Aurelian lace' was a name that Felicia's followers had started calling it at some point. Apparently, they decided to use Aurelia's name because 'bobbin lace' was too plain and lacked elegance.
Ah, I just imagined Aurelia-san making a displeased face. She definitely looks annoyed.
I pictured Aurelia with furrowed brows saying, "Don't go giving it weird names," and I could not help but let out a small laugh. And then I realized that I had come to be able to smile in front of Aurelia's grave, feeling the passage of these two years.