Chapter 10
Callista graduated at the top of her class from the Imperial Academy this year. At only sixteen, she was the youngest student ever to complete the academy program.
Talent, background, and effort—she had all three, so the result was bound to be brilliant.
“The cleaning of the manor is already done. Miss, you should change your clothes and go out to greet her.”
“…Sigh.”
Yes, I had to greet her. Although due to my slow father and the council she hadn’t yet received the title of Minor Duchess, Callista was effectively the most authoritative person in the ducal family.
It made sense since the head of the house, my father, rarely stayed at the manor under the excuse of business.
In truth, he seemed more interested in travel and women.
He returned to the manor the same day as my sister.
Today was important for other reasons too. While greeting Callista, there was someone else I needed to see.
I changed into the clothes Jena had prepared. Clean but not too flashy, maintaining a moderate dignity yet blending in among the maids so I wouldn’t stand out.
Fortunately, Theon had sent about ten sets of casual clothes suitable for him a few days ago, so finding clothes wasn’t difficult.
“Keep your greeting modest, similar to the other servants, and keep your mouth closed.”
“Okay.”
“It’s best if you don’t catch Callista’s eye.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t smile… no, I don’t mean glare. Why do you have your eyes so wide?”
“…Now?”
“You look like a lost puppy. Very good.”
Since a few days ago, Jena had been unusually attentive, tying my hair back with a calm navy ribbon and warning me several times.
“Go down first. I’ll follow soon.”
I took a deep breath and left the room, descending the stairs. The atmosphere felt different from usual.
“Stand one hand’s breadth to the right, and the knights on the left… no, move one finger’s breadth more to the right.”
“If anyone’s collar is untidy, I’ll make them spar until they vomit.”
In front of the entrance, covered with a red carpet and decorated with freshly picked flowers, maids, servants, and knights busily studied how to line up properly.
I swallowed hard. I’d never seen the staff so orderly.
Don’t stand out, don’t stand out…
“Hey? Stop right there.”
Just as I was stepping back into the shadowed area below the stairs to avoid getting in the way before Callista arrived, something blunt like a wooden training sword touched the back of my neck.
“…Huh?”
“Are you planning to slack off during the greeting practice?”
A bratty adolescent boy’s voice came from behind. It sounded oddly familiar.
I turned my head. Another person was already at the bottom of the stairs.
A boy with dark brown hair and a slightly tanned face, who looked about five or six years older than me. His contemptuous expression caught my eye.
I knew that expression. Sometimes Callista’s true feelings showed in a similar look.
“…Louis.”
He was the boy who had joined the Luferne Third Knights as a squire a few months ago and was Callista’s maternal nephew.
Of course, he had no right to treat me, a noble lady, rudely. Normally, he would have greeted me politely…
“Hey, fake. You go stand properly over there too.”
Wow, the tone.
Unfortunately, most of the Luferne household servants regarded me as my father’s illegitimate child—a sort of fake noble lady.
Since Callista recently apologized to Jena, things had improved somewhat, but the news hadn’t reached the knights yet.
“You little brat, do you think I’m joking?”
Louis jabbed the tip of his training sword into my back, shoulder, neck, and even my cheek.
…That hurt a bit.
Now I remembered properly. Louis Evans.
Still a novice, he was often bullied by knights but found me as a target he could torment without resistance.
If this became known, it would cause a huge scandal, but it was me—only when no one was watching, of course.
“Get lost.”
I pushed the sword away and spoke.
In my previous life, I was a coward to the very end, but this isn’t right. Having come back, I shouldn’t be bullied by a worthless kid who’s neither Callista nor Clain.
“Huh?”
Louis tilted his head as if seeing a side of me for the first time. I didn’t care and asked,
“Does Mr. Soye know you use the training sword even outside training hours?”
Mentioning the knight captain he belonged to, Louis’ face turned gray. He’d thought I’d be frightened as usual.
“If you say this without evidence…”
“I will. You speaking to me informally is enough.”
I crossed my arms and looked up at him.
From the opposite side of the stairs came the head maid’s voice lining up the servants. I could also hear sounds from the garden—it seemed Callista’s arrival time was near.
Then Jena must be looking for me.
“I’m going.”
“You, you haven’t been hit by a training sword before, have you? If I wanted—”
“Go ahead, try.”
I shrugged. Even in my previous life, I was a coward; Louis only ever threatened but never dared to hit me.
No matter how unloved a daughter was, the ducal family had its dignity. No one would let a squire hit a noble lady.
I realized this only after nearly dying once.
“Try hitting me then.”
I stepped closer and provoked Louis. His face flushed crimson, but his sword arm lowered.
“W-what…”
Louis barely grabbed my collar. His voice grew quieter; he seemed uncomfortable with the situation.
“You’re all talk, coward.”
I gave him one last jab as I passed.
“Huh…?”
Louis’ grip on my collar was stronger than I thought, and I stumbled, losing my balance.
“Ugh, ugh!”
“Ah!”
Clatter—both of us tripped over each other and fell. The shadowed space under the stairs disappeared as bright light poured in through the window.
“Ouch, ouch…”
Still on the floor, unable to lift my back, I noticed dozens of neatly lined feet.
To this side were the maids, on the other the servants and cooks, four knight captains, trembling Jena, Theon, and…
My eyes stopped at the center of the red carpet.
Black shoes without a speck of dust, no ribbons or lace, but a luxurious deep blue dress that caught the eye immediately.
The tension I’d released after meeting Louis flowed through me again. I slowly lifted my eyes to confirm the person in front of me.
Long silver hair tied neatly, the small crystal necklace she always wore, piercingly cold yet beautiful deep blue eyes like the abyss.
“Si-sis…”
It was Callista, standing upright and looking down on me.
In her unwavering cold gaze, I felt a trace of contempt directed at me. I froze as if my whole body turned to stone.
Several seconds or minutes passed in silence. Finally, Callista’s tightly closed lips parted.
“…Get up.”
I tried to move but couldn’t.
Only then did I realize Louis was lying on top of me, still clutching my collar.
“P-pleased to meet you, noble lady! I’m Louis!”
Louis pushed me roughly away and knelt. His demeanor was completely different from before.
“I greet you, sister.”
I weakly returned the practiced greeting.
There was more proper etiquette, but what use was it lying on the floor making eye contact in the courtyard?
“…What on earth happened to Luferne’s discipline?”
Callista’s low, cold voice echoed through the quiet manor. My shoulders twitched and trembled involuntarily. I parted my lips but couldn’t get words out.
“S-sorry…”
“Soye, I hear you want to resign as captain.”
As I was about to apologize, Callista turned toward the door. There stood Soye Marsel, captain of the Third Knights, with a stern expression.
“Was it so difficult to teach a squire manners?”
Squire…?
I blinked several times, trying to understand.
She wasn’t scolding me?
“My apologies, miss!”
Soye knelt and shouted as if shaking the manor.
“It’s all my fault! Please punish me!”
Only then did I glance at Louis, who was trembling with wide eyes.
“I seem to have entrusted you with something beyond your capability, so I will teach you myself.”
Callista spoke evenly as she approached Soye.
When she reached out, Soye swallowed and handed over the training sword from his waist.
“…Yes, noble lady.”
Swish—
Before I could even grasp the situation, Callista pointed the sword at Louis. Louis’ lips trembled as he responded.
“Noble lady…”
“Raise the sword.”
“B-but…”
“If you endure well, both you and Soye will be forgiven without punishment. But if you do not stand, I will use a real sword.”
The suffocating silence swept over the dozens of people present. Callista simply stared down at Louis with the same expression as before.
“…Yes.”
Louis slowly stood and raised the training sword. His arm wavered uncertainly but barely held the stance.
They were similar in height. Callista was a few years older, but Louis was bigger and stronger than his peers.
For a moment, a small hope flickered in Louis’ eyes.
Having joined the ducal family only a few months ago, he’d never met Callista and never seen her hold a sword.
His eyes brightened a bit more.
If he won, or at least endured well, he would be forgiven and gain favor with Callista… that’s probably what ran through Louis’ mind.
Of course, that hope was shattered in less than a second.
