The Branded Female Fencer

"Dear Linda, what can I get you for a drink?

"Herbal tea is this time of year, something like Almessia."

"Other luluca, midazolan. Some of these freaks are couscous herbal teas."

"Well, Kukus'? I've never tried that. Can you do me a favor?

"Yes, I did. I'm going to tell the lady that Linda and Jake are here."

Vernon, deacon of Dute Hilde, gracefully leaves. The two passengers in the guest room sat side by side on the couch, but Jake was not at all comfortable. The ceiling is high enough to say if it was stuck for the giants, and the room would be bigger than the house Jake and the others used to live in Meesia. The condiments are expensive enough for even Jake to see at a glance. If I accidentally crack it, it could be a lifetime's compensation. Jake imagined how much bread he could buy with that tapestry.

Linda embarrasses Jake.

"Mr. Jake, it's not that trivial. You'll be rude."

"Because come on. Because I've never been in a room this big."

"It's not that wide. If I go home too, a room this size will be a private room. I'm a Marquis, and Dute Hilde is a Duke, so in her case, she said this mansion was just about the size of the space she had in her home. You know, the father of Dute Hilde made it so that it wasn't too different from when he was at home."

"Uh-huh!

Unbelievable words came out of Linda's mouth taunting (at last), so Jake accidentally almost flipped back. Jake still felt that the world was unreasonable. Compared to them, they think it's something cute, like a Meesian luxury house.

Jake was so restless that he stood up and looked around at the conditioning. Looking at it for his hand because he found a beautiful cup in it, Linda said, "You can buy a normal house with that one," so Jake undoes the cup with his trembling hand. In doing so, Vernon came back with herbal tea.

"Thank you for waiting. It's a couscous herbal tea."

The two were invited by the sweet smell of tickling their noses and drank that herbal tea while being offered.

"Good!"

"Yeah, this scent, the taste I don't hate. This is a good delicacy. Mr. Vernon is as good as ever at making tea. As much as I want our butler to apprentice me."

"It's an honor and a compliment."

Vernon is polite. But this herbal tea was really delicious, so Jake is obsessed with drinking it. Vernon looked a little troubled and Linda was a little frightened as the appearance was far from polite.

"Mr. Jake."

"It's a teacup that stands in one mansion."

"Boo!"

Jake unexpectedly erupts herbal tea and turns back. That look was extra funny, Linda was laughing as she rocked the blue ribbon on her head.

"Just kidding, Mr. Jake."

"Hih, people are bad!

"Because it's something you don't hesitate to drink to make too much noise,"

"Ku, ku, ku"

"Heh heh, I can't help it."

Wipe away the herbal tea Jake sprayed from staining the carpet.

"So, come on... Dute Hilde's had a fever for four days?

Ask Vernon a question as he manages to hold Jake back.

"Yes. It didn't seem good for my body to walk in the rain and I was totally broken. The doctor said it would be just a cold, but he said he didn't want any medicine or food, so he didn't take it."

"It's..."

Vernon asks if Vernon has guessed anything by looking at the two silent people.

"I beg your pardon, was there something for the lady? Thank you. There was something wrong with you around this time. If you'll excuse me, could you tell me about this grandfather?"

"Actually..."

Jake told me what was going on at school. That Dute Hilde is the central person discriminating against civilians, that he was discriminated against and that he went out to fight back. Jake judged Vernon to be a trustworthy person and spoke without covering up a series of streams. Vernon is just listening quietly to the story.

"... and that's why"

"I see... the truth is, as a butler serving the Liechtenstein family, you shouldn't be saying these things, but there's certainly something wrong with the lady."

Two people are surprised by Vernon's words.

"Are you sure you want to say that?

Linda asks roughly. Vernon then answered disgustingly, rubbing his moustache.

"No, let me say that it is my responsibility, of course, to entrust the lady's educator. As a matter of fact, my daughter's grandfather and I were classmates in Gloria."

Vernon had a slightly distant eye.

"Dear uncle, Master Ferrald and I were best friends. I am from the civilian population and at the time I was a marquis but a prestigious nobleman, Master Ferrald and I had a poor compromise at first. Like the lady you two talked about, he was very discriminationist. At the time, it was like the aristocracy and the civilian population were divided into two parts and in conflict. Even for me, I wondered who would be friends with such a proud man."

"So, what happened?

Jake asks with interest. Because I thought Vernon's story might help.

"Was that when you were in third grade? There was an exercise in the open air. So we were attacked by a herd of wild dogs. Without knowing why, it was like Ferrald who was fighting with a slice of a tree or something around it as a weapon, and realizing that he was fighting back-to-back. Strangely enough, we used to hang out all the time, but we were breathing perfectly during the battle. Maybe we were fighting over each other."

"Then, you know, we started talking to each other better. When I talk about this, surprisingly, Master Ferrald is casual. I understand very well that you're not able to do it at school. A person called the aristocratic world is exposed to a variety of pressures more than we civilians think. In fact, Master Ferrald has been targeted for his life not only by the social community, but also by assassins three times, even when attending this school."

Jake was annoyed. That's the only danger with dignitaries leaving the area and attending these kinds of schools. To civilians like Jake, it was completely unimaginable, but you're right, if you ask me. That's why Miriazal isn't out of Arnelia, either.

Later on, I heard that Miriazal was on his way home to bring Jake and the others, five degrees, and there were dangerous occasions. That patience that Miriazal does all the time also makes me wonder if it's a way to relieve stress that doesn't make me free.

Still Vernon continued.

"The school boarding house has a lot of people in and out, and it's impossible to confirm everyone. The assassins are in the children."

"I know that. And that's why we're building villas, protected by guards."

Linda answered. Jake thought so, but Linda's man had a knife. Jake thought it seemed like he wasn't the only one from his waist and tricks.

"We are routinely exposed to such threats and we cannot find someone to open our minds to. All those speculations about who to trust and who not to try to use themselves come first. Master Ferrald said it too. It's a pleasure."

Vernon wipes his eyes gently. Sure, Jake wasn't thinking about that possibility. But even so, it still doesn't seem to Jake that what Dute Hilde did was right. What is the best thing to do? Jake couldn't make up his mind.

Vernon has a tender eye when he sees how seriously troubled that Jake is.

"Will you see the lady?

"Yeah... right. I figured we'd better meet."

Jake nodded.

"I think bad things are bad after all, and whatever the circumstances are in Dute Hilde, I think what I did to Nellie is bad. But I don't even know what Dute Hilde feels like. But I don't. So at least I want you to know that we're on your side."

"Really... thank goodness. The lady had a good classmate."

Vernon saw Jake and Linda with warm eyes.

"Now let's ask if the lady will see you two"

"Oh, I'm coming with you to the front of the room, too. All right?

"I'm coming too."

"Okay. Then come with me."

That's how the three of them headed to Dute Hilde's room.

Continued