ALL NOVEL Not much has changed in Eristirol Castle since the Duke’s return.
During mealtime, the Duke joined Kyle and Adela, and there were now… heir classes for Kyle?
I suppose the Duke came back to celebrate Kyle’s coming-of-age ceremony and succession ceremony.
Since Kyle will turn eighteen next year, the Duke had to return no matter how much he enjoys being outside.
There’s no other elder responsible for the coming-of-age ceremony except for the Duke anyway.
“Young Master, how are your heir classes going?”
Honestly, I don’t really know what they’re teaching.
It’s just the two of them.
Aside from them suddenly going out and doing something, I have no clue.
“Ah… about the heir classes….”
“Yes.”
Kyle looked troubled.
What on earth do they do in heir classes…?
“Miss Sophia is an adventurer, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
I can’t argue that I’m no longer in my prime.
But I used to be an adventurer too!
A gold-ranked one!
Now I can’t even win an arm wrestling match against Kyle…
Anyway, that was in the past.
“The coming-of-age ceremony in Eristirol is about enduring a fortnight in the snow.”
“Oh, is that so?”
That’s the first I’ve heard of it.
Enduring a fortnight in the snow…
That’s definitely something you’d expect in the North.
It’s not just beasts that come out in the snow.
There are monsters and a savage environment as well.
A fortnight in such a place…
“I’m taking lessons from my father for that… it’s quite tough….”
“….”
That’s true.
It’s ridiculously hard.
Being an adventurer isn’t even the difficult part; just catching beasts or monsters outside is hard enough.
If you’re going to endure for a fortnight alone, you’ll definitely need to set up at least a tent.
If they don’t provide any supplies, you’ll have to gather materials from around you to make one.
That sounds incredibly exhausting.
Kyle has lived comfortably in the castle for eighteen years.
Can he even survive outside for a fortnight?
Without a proper wash, without enough food…
“Ugh…”
What if Kyle gets hurt or something?
Isn’t it dangerous to spend time outside alone…?
Should I go tell the Duke to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances…?
“Anyway, I’m sparring with my father, catching weak monsters, and learning survival skills.”
“Is that so…”
I can’t help but feel worried.
Even though there’s still a year left, I can’t shake off the concern.
I worry whether a noble young master can handle it.
Looking at his physique, one might actually be more concerned about the beasts or monsters living in the snow.
*
Kyle’s heir classes continued.
“Hmm…”
Thanks to that, my time with Kyle was gradually decreasing.
Maybe that’s why it feels like I have less to do.
“….”
Louise is studying with Adela, and Elin is a member of the Knights from the start.
Unlike me, they have plenty to do.
“How boring….”
I sat alone in my room.
Normally, I would always follow Kyle around or study with him.
That was the case from ages twelve to fifteen.
Then, as I started lessons with Elin and Louise, my time gradually decreased.
Kyle seemed uncomfortable with me being there every time he took a class.
I guess that’s why he kept looking at me.
Otherwise, there would be no reason to keep glancing at me during class.
“Sigh….”
Anyway, my time with Kyle was getting shorter and shorter.
Is it time for me to find something else to do?
As a private tutor, I’ve practically done everything.
I’ve already made my debut in the social circle and Kyle has learned enough etiquette and such.
He’ll be an adult next year, too.
It’s rare for a family to keep a private tutor until adulthood.
Considering how long the Duke of Eristirol has been absent, it’s lucky I’ve lasted this long.
If it were another family, I probably would’ve been let go by now.
In many ways, it’s a relief.
“Hmm….”
Once Kyle’s coming-of-age ceremony is over, it seems like working in Catherine’s territory, as she suggested, wouldn’t be a bad idea.
After living in Eristirol for years, I longed for the mundane four seasons.
I should also visit my parents after such a long time.
To be honest, there are tons of people who could do a better job than me as a direct servant.
Even though I graduated from a boarding academy, there’s still a difference compared to the real deal.
Those who’ve learned since birth how to be butlers or maids are entirely different.
They truly think through every little action for their employers.
I’m not quite at that level.
“I don’t know, I don’t know!”
After all, everything will be decided after Kyle’s coming-of-age ceremony.
Even if I worry about it now, who knows what will happen?
Neither I, nor my parents, Kyle, nor the Duke know anything.
That’s what the future is like.
“Kyle should be back soon.”
The Eristirol heir always returns before sunset.
The sun outside the window is gradually setting.
I readied my blazer to go greet Kyle.
I can’t endure the cold entirely, but it’s still part of my outfit.
I had to wear it.
“Sigh…. Father, can you not go so hard on him?”
“If you show such weakness, it won’t be good.”
“Sigh….”
About five minutes after waiting by the castle gate, Kyle and the Duke entered, chatting with each other.
Both were dressed in very ordinary clothing.
It’s amazing they look okay after being in the snow for hours.
Kyle carried his usual sword at his waist and had an axe slung over his back.
The Duke, unlike Kyle, carried two axes.
“….”
I couldn’t help but think they resembled Vikings.
With long beards, long hair, muscular builds, and bare chests, carrying axes around?
If someone like that showed up at an event in my past life, someone would surely shout “Vikings!”
“Younger Master, please hand over your clothes and gear.”
The clothes and gear were stained with what looked like animal blood and a lot of dirt or snow.
But that wasn’t the real issue.
It was supposed to be me holding onto these things, not Kyle.
“Sure.”
Even if I’ve gotten weaker than I used to be, it wasn’t a problem to carry these types of loads.
They hadn’t brought back any game anyway.
“Kyle, I told you about last time, right?”
“Father, I absolutely won’t do that method.”
“Well… you’ll probably end up doing it anyway, unable to resist.”
“…Sigh….”
I don’t really know what that’s about, but it’s probably related to the heir classes.
Is it possible the Duke suggested a strange method?
Like drinking urine in a situation with no water?
Oh, wait, this is the North.
They could just eat snow.
“Kyle. There isn’t much time left. You should do it while you can….”
“Yes, yes.”
Kyle was vaguely responding to the Duke’s words.
It was a vibe I wasn’t used to seeing.
Well, I suppose it makes sense, real family differs from me.
I am just a slight family feeling, while the Duke is his real family.
“Sophia.”
“Yes.”
Kyle called for me.
The Duke had already wandered off in another direction.
Is he heading off to wash up first?
“Do you have a lot of free time these days?”
“Yes.”
I have more free time than I’ve ever had.
Never before have I had so much time since my early teens.
“Then could I borrow some time tomorrow?”
“Time… you’re referring to?”
“Yes.”
This is the first time Kyle has asked to make plans with me.
I have absolutely no problem.
“That’s fine.”
I have time to spare.
There’s no reason to refuse spending time with Kyle.
“Then would you like to go out together tomorrow morning?”
“Yes.”
Is he planning a trip to the village?
Going to see the village…
I haven’t been since I went with Catherine once.
I really didn’t want to go out because it’s cold…
“…”
I need to dress warmly tomorrow.
It wouldn’t be very nice to go out with Kyle while shivering because of the cold.
“…So you came to me for that right now?”
“Yep.”
Now that I think about it, I don’t have many clothes like that.
I have no pretty ones.
So I went to Louise’s room.
“Loan me some clothes.”
“….Hey.”
“Yes?”
“I don’t mind you borrowing clothes, but you forgetting the most important thing is honestly weird.”
“The most important thing?”
I had no idea what she meant by the most important thing right now.
I couldn’t predict what she was referring to.
“What if our sizes don’t match?”
“Huh? Our height and weight are similar, right?”
“Are you out of your mind…”
“?”
Huh? There’s hardly any difference in height around 160 cm, and not much difference in weight either; what’s the problem?
I genuinely didn’t understand what Louise was talking about.
What in the world is it?
“If you’re saying our chests are the same size?!”
“Oh.”
So, that’s what she was talking about.
There’s definitely a size difference between Louise and me.
That’s what she meant all along.
But if that’s the case, saying “chest size” instead of “clothing size” would’ve been clearer.
Why say it ambiguously as “clothing size”?
“Sigh… Are you saying my big chest and your average size can compare?!”
“Well… it’s not the same. Sorry.”
Louise’s size is average.
Of course, by past-life standards, it’s on the larger side but in this lifetime, it’s considered average.
However, my size…
Is significantly larger, both in this life and the last.
“Sigh…”
Not being able to wear clothes freely was truly annoying.
Being this size just causes discomfort; there’s no actual advantage.
The only upside I can think of is…
Um, I can hold a cup on my chest and drink comfortably through a straw?