WSMD 06

Chapter – 06

After Dad and Sherry left the Stone House,
I found myself in a subtle standoff with Anne.

“Sherry said there are rabbits on the walking path near the west gate. Want to go see them?”

I wanted to go to the west gate, where the Red Eagle Knights’ training grounds were.

“The west gate? That’s too far, young miss. Instead, could you tell me more about what it was like living in Bonwell Village?”

Anne was trying to dig into how Dad had lived while we were alone in the room.

Back in Bonwell Village, I was a champion crayfish catcher. The secret was finding where they lived and choosing the most tempting bait.

You just imagine what kind of bait would look the most delicious to a crayfish and put that in front of them!

“Well, if that’s the case, it can’t be helped.”

I flopped onto the bed and spoke to Anne, who was organizing clothes.

“Oh right, last time I went to a fruit shop with Dad, I saw a wanted poster—”

“You mean Young Master Reitan’s wanted poster?”

And the best bait for Anne was Dad’s past that nobody knew about.

The moment I dangled that bait, she stopped what she was doing and came over to the bed to continue the conversation.

“You saw a wanted poster with a bounty on him in front of the fruit shop? Then what happened?”

“And then we couldn’t even buy strawberries… Yawn. I’m sleepy.”

“Miss, if you sleep more now, you won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

“Then I’ll have nothing to do…”

“Do you want to go see the rabbits?”

“…Isn’t it far?”

“If we walk, it’s manageable. It’ll take some time, but if we talk along the way, it won’t be boring.”

“Reaaally? Should we ask the other maids if they want to come too—”

“They’re all busy, so they probably can’t.”

Tempted by my bait, Anne conveniently eliminated the other maids herself. She probably thought it would be easier to talk if it was just the two of us.

Which is exactly what I wanted too.

Hehehe.

Fishing: great success.

So how long had we been walking after leaving the Stone House?

Here it is!

It was a building I had never seen before, but I recognized it instantly. While walking hand in hand with Anne, I suddenly stopped.

“Miss? The walking path is further ahead.”

“Anne…”

I looked up at her with teary, pitiful eyes.

“My legs hurt… I can’t walk anymore…”

This must have felt like a bolt from the blue to Anne.

Yesterday and today, I had often been carried around by Dad, and Anne had seen all of it while working at the Stone House.

Judging from her confused expression, she was probably thinking something like:

Do I have to carry her too?

But unlike Dad, who could easily carry me with one arm, Anne was just an ordinary seventeen-year-old girl.

Carrying a seven-year-old like me for over a kilometer was impossible.

“W-what should we do? I don’t see anyone nearby to ask for help…”

In the first place, the western wall didn’t have living quarters for the direct family, so people rarely came here.

If she wanted help, the only place would be the knights’ training grounds.

Be brave, Anne!

But since it was full of knights, it probably felt scary for a maid who had only been working for five months to go in alone.

The massive red eagle banner hanging from the building fluttered intimidatingly.

Carry me… or go inside the training grounds.

Caught between the two choices, Anne hesitated before asking:

“…You really can’t walk at all?”

I nodded and looked up at her with the same expression Marshal Grandma once talked about.

“Don’t make that face. Even if you act like a drenched chick, you still have to take your medicine.”

What kind of expression does a drenched chick even make?

Anyway, after groaning in indecision, Anne finally made up her mind and stepped into the training grounds. She sat me on a bench in the courtyard and gave me strict instructions.

“Stay here for a moment. I’ll bring a knight I know. Okay? Don’t leave the building.”

“Okay! I won’t leave the building!”

Seeing my cheerful answer, Anne left me without suspicion and went into the main building.

Just as planned!

The moment she disappeared from sight, I started exploring the training grounds. Since Crown Prince Theon had come to the Travel family around the same time as me, there was a high chance he would be here.

What I wanted was a meeting disguised as coincidence.

I didn’t know when Uncle might throw Theon out, so I needed to meet him as often and as soon as possible. Becoming friends takes time.

Today, just introductions! Then I can go back to the Stone House before Dad returns. There’s plenty of time!

***

Boing. Boing.

I can’t seeee—.

First-floor hallway of the annex.

I was jumping repeatedly to try to see through a window.

The windows were made for adults, so even standing on tiptoe only let me see the frame.

I hear Uncle Rex’s voice. I really want to see inside.

Let me try jumping a little harder this time.

One more time!

I bent my knees and jumped with all my strength.

“Upward thrust!”

Right then, Uncle Rex shouted the name of the next move. Maybe because the loud voice startled me, I jumped higher than before—

“Ah!”

And accidentally made eye contact with a knight standing near the window.

“Upward thrus—!?”

Crap. I got caught.

The knight’s voice cracked, and after landing, my heart started pounding like a guilty thief’s.

“…!?”

After a brief silence, Rex’s angry voice boomed from inside the training hall.

“Who dares make such a foolish sound like ‘!?’ during sacred training hours?!”

“S-Sir Vice Commander, I have something to report.”

We only made eye contact for a second, but the knight looked ready to snitch immediately.

“Something to report? That’s your problem, Aishal! That mindset! How unfocused must you be during training! Back in my day—!”

The shouting got louder and louder.

If Uncle Rex found me, I’d definitely be sent back to the Stone House. I had no reason to stay here.

I can’t get caught before even seeing Theon!

Panicking, I spun my brain as fast as I could.

So much so that I didn’t notice someone passing beside me and entering the training hall.

“I brought what you asked for.”

“Ah, later, Theon. The Vice Commander is angry right now.”

What!?

Among the quiet conversation, one name struck my ears.

I quickly turned, but the back door of the training hall had already closed.

I need to get inside!

If I wanted to greet Theon, I needed an excuse. Back door? Front door?

“Back in my day, we wouldn’t even think about losing focus during training! When Young Master Reitan—”

“Dad?”

Then I used Dad’s name, which came out of Rex’s mouth, as my excuse. I ran to the nearest door, stood on tiptoe, and pulled the handle.

It was the front door.

……

At a glance, more than thirty knights turned to look at me.

With expressions that clearly said:

Who is that kid?

When things get awkward, smiling is best.

I grinned innocently and asked:

“Is my dad here?”

***

“Young Master Reitan’s daughter?”

“They don’t look alike at all… Are you sure she’s really his daughter?”

“That’s the mystery of life. Not a single trace of her father’s scary face—just pure cuteness.”

“No wonder he retired to raise his child. With a daughter like that, who cares about a Holy Sword?”

“You should care. It’s a Holy Sword.”

I could hear all their whispers.

I was sitting on a large chair the knights had brought from somewhere. My back didn’t even reach the backrest, so I was basically perched on it.

A soft red cushion stuffed full of cotton, golden legs and armrests with fancy carvings.

Completely Uncle’s taste.

Ugh. Did he sit here and boss the knights around or something?

Uncle had dreamed of becoming the sword-wielding head of the family, but unfortunately had to give up that dream in childhood. He lacked talent—and right beside him was a genius who could do everything.

My dad.

Uncle likes flashy attention. Big ambition, little skill.

Whenever he felt inferior to the direct family, he would come to the training grounds to relieve stress. Watching the knights obey his commands gave him satisfaction.

Petty behavior.

Having to receive training orders from someone with no sword skills.

Workplace harassment victims right in front of me…

I looked sympathetically at Uncle Rex, who was fidgeting in front of me.

The Vice Commander of the Red Eagle Knights. He appeared often in my other memories.

Seeing him in person, he really was built like a bear. Apparently he was afraid of small living things because he thought they looked like they might break if touched.

“U-um, Lady Berry? I understand Young Master Reitan is currently out…”

“Yes! He said he’ll be back before dinner!”

“I see. We’ve sent someone to his residence, so someone should arrive soon. …But did you come alone?”

“Yes! Can I wait here?”

“Well… we are in the middle of training…”

“Vice Commander, since Lady Berry is here, should we end training early today?”

One knight quickly suggested it, but of course Rex wouldn’t allow that.

The look he gave over his shoulder was like a wild bear.

“With that weak mindset, do you think you can defeat enemies?”

“N-no sir. I was just joking—”

“Five hundred push-ups. Five hundred overhead strikes. Fifty laps around the training ground. Begin.”

“…Begin.”

Then he turned back toward me, still uneasy.

“Would you like to wait in the Commander’s office? There are tasty snacks and cute dolls there…”

“Okay!”

As I nodded, Rex looked relieved.

“I’ll assign a knight to guide and guard you. Aishal, escort Lady Berry—”

Ah, no! Then coming all the way into the training hall would be pointless!

I quickly pointed somewhere and asked Rex:

“Can I ask my friend to go with me?”

“Your friend?”

The knights’ gazes followed the direction I was pointing.