The Countess Lady’s Pet Dragon

C10



Chapter 10: A year of waiting

 

A year passed in the blink of an eye.
[Groan…]
Awakened by the chirping of birds outside the window, Schwarz let out a low moan as he opened his eyes.

Then, rising slowly, he stretched his body and turned his gaze toward the window. The Count’s domain was bathed in the light of dawn as the sun rose.

Watching the scene, Schwarz glanced at the clock.

Six in the morning.

Though it was early, he got up and opened the wardrobe to change clothes. A black suit that complemented his hair color.

Dressed in an instant, Schwarz left the barn and headed for the Count’s mansion.

As he walked through the corridor, greeting the busy maids, a familiar voice called out to him.

“Schwarz.”
“Good morning, Steward.”

Turning toward the voice, Schwarz bowed respectfully to the elderly man in front of him.

The man wore a butler’s uniform, his graying hair betraying his age, while his brown eyes still shone with vitality. His imposing figure, a head taller than Schwarz, belied his years.

This was Robert Bernstein, a member of the Bernstein family, which had served the Valentine Count family for generations. He was the closest confidant of Count Vernus Valentine.

“Today’s the day, isn’t it? How do you feel?”

“A little…nervous.”

In response to Robert’s question, Schwarz exhaled deeply. For the past year, Robert had been teaching him everything he needed to know. To Schwarz, he was a true mentor.

“Being evaluated on your achievements is nerve-wracking for anyone.”

Robert smiled faintly as he approached Schwarz and gave him a light pat on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry too much. You’ll do well.”
“Thank you, Steward.”

With Robert’s encouragement, Schwarz bowed again and continued down the corridor.

After a short walk, he arrived in front of a large door and knocked softly.
“Come in.”

Hearing the voice from inside, Schwarz cautiously opened the door.

Inside, he saw Vernus gazing out the window at the Count’s domain.

“Did you sleep well, Count?”
“Come in.”

As Schwarz greeted him, Vernus turned and gestured for him to sit.
“Sit.”
“Yes.”

Nodding, Schwarz carefully sat on the sofa in the center of the room.

“You know what today is, don’t you?”
“Yes. It’s the day Milia returns, and the day my performance is evaluated.”

In response to Vernus’ question, Schwarz nodded.

For a year, Schwarz had been training to become Milia’s personal attendant.

“Indeed…”

Vernus slowly turned to his desk, each movement exuding authority. Schwarz remained silent, watching him.

“You know that Robert and Heine have been evaluating you over the past year, don’t you?”

As he spoke, Vernus opened a drawer and pulled out a document. Schwarz didn’t need to be told what it was.

“This is the report on your evaluation.”

“…”

Schwarz stared tensely at the document in Vernus’ hand. At that moment, it felt as though his fate rested on that paper.

With a tearing sound, Vernus opened the envelope and began to read the document inside.

Each second felt like an hour as Schwarz watched him.

As time passed, anxiety began to take root in Schwarz’s heart. Sweat trickled down his back as he wished for the moment to pass quickly.

“Hmm…”

With a low hum, Vernus put down the document and turned to Schwarz, who was still sitting on the sofa.

His expression was complex, making it impossible for Schwarz to read his thoughts.

And then…

“You’ve worked hard this past year.”

“…”

Could it be that he had failed?

His heart began to race, and his breathing grew ragged.

What had he done wrong?

What had gone awry?

A whirlwind of thoughts swirled in his mind, and he struggled to suppress a wave of nausea as he stared at Vernus.

“Starting today, I will appoint you as Milia’s personal attendant.”

“Does that mean…?”

Schwarz looked at Vernus in disbelief.

Vernus nodded silently, a faint smile on his face.

“Ha…”

Feeling all the tension leave his body, Schwarz let out a short sigh.

Had it not been for Vernus’ presence, he might have collapsed on the spot.

“Thank you…Count. I will serve Milia with my life, ensuring I do not bring disgrace to the Valentine family.”

“As you should. A servant of the Valentine family must uphold such a standard.”

Vernus nodded at Schwarz’s declaration of loyalty.

Then, in the next moment…

“Take this.”
“What is it…?”

Vernus opened the desk again and handed Schwarz a small envelope.

“It’s a letter from Milia. Go on, read it.”

Upon hearing it was from Milia, Schwarz quickly rose, took the envelope from Vernus, and carefully opened it.

The sound of paper rustling filled the room as Schwarz unfolded the letter and began to read.

“What does it say?”

“Uh…well…”

When Vernus asked, Schwarz’s voice wavered, sounding troubled.

Puzzled by Schwarz’s reaction, Vernus stood, approached him, and took the letter. Narrowing his eyes, he read it.

A moment later, he let out a low groan.

“It seems…the situation has become a bit complicated.”

Hearing this, Schwarz replied in a conflicted tone.

~The next day~

“Barenberg…”
Staring out the window at the rapidly passing scenery, Schwarz muttered to himself.
The carriage he was riding in was heading towards Barenberg, the capital and heart of the kingdom.

The reason for his sudden trip to Barenberg was simple.

[Suddenly, things have become too busy, and it seems like it will be hard to go back. I’m sorry, but could you come here instead?]

Milia Valentine

To put it simply, it was because of Milia’s letter.
The letter stated that, due to sudden work, she couldn’t return to the Count’s domain and requested that Schwarz come to Barenberg instead.
Of course, for Schwarz, there was no time to even consider it.
“I don’t know if it’s okay…”
Having spent eleven years only in the Count’s domain, heading to Barenberg felt like traveling to an entirely new world he had never seen before.
Still, the thought of meeting Milia again made it a trip worth enduring.
While looking at the passing scenery, Schwarz was deep in thought when suddenly…
“That’s…”
Out of the corner of his eye, Schwarz saw a blurry image of a city in the distance.
“We’ve arrived. That’s Barenberg.”
At that moment, Ban, the coachman from the Count’s household, spoke to him.
“That’s the…”
Schwarz opened his eyes wide and stared at the scene.

The scale of the city was so vast that the long stretch of city walls seemed to never end, even after they had been traveling for quite some time.
Behind the walls, towering structures stood tall, exuding an imposing grandeur.
“That’s where Milia is…”
How many days had he eagerly awaited this moment?
The thought of seeing Milia again filled Schwarz with an excitement unlike any other.
After traveling for another ten or so minutes, the carriage passed through a massive city gate and entered the city…
Schwarz let out a quiet exclamation at the sight that unfolded before him.
Buildings made of pure white stone looked like enormous sculptures.
The broad and long streets made from meticulously carved stone were impressive even when compared to modern roads.
People dressed in colorful and extravagant clothes were strolling through the streets.
But above all, what stood out the most was the massive building in the distance, glowing with a blue hue.
“Isn’t it magnificent? That’s the royal castle, the pride and symbol of our Elianos Kingdom. It’s also called the Blue Garden.”
“Blue Garden…”
Looking at the structure, Schwarz could understand why it was given such a name.
Made of an unknown material, the blue-tinted exterior and the large forest planted on top of the castle showcased the vibrant green of nature.
If there was a place like that on Earth, it would surely be a famous tourist attraction, Schwarz thought as he continued to gaze at the sight.
At that moment, I was lost in the breathtaking view like a country person visiting the city for the first time…
“Alright, we’ve almost reached it. That’s Central Academy.”
“Finally…”
Turning to Ban’s words, Schwarz let out a gasp, gazing at the massive building before him.
Even compared to the royal castle, this structure was just as grand in size.
Centered around a large domed structure, four towering spires surrounded it.
It was the royal educational institution that produced all of the kingdom’s scholars.
That was Central Academy.
“Alright, this is as far as the carriage can go. I’ll leave the rest to you.”
“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”
As Ban spoke and the carriage stopped at the main gate of the academy, Schwarz nodded lightly and got off.
Waving his hand, Ban drove the carriage away, soon disappearing from sight.

“Ha…”
In the bustling street filled with people, Schwarz stood, looking at the vast main gate of Central Academy.
“I’ll be there soon.”
A short while later, muttering to himself, Schwarz began walking toward the academy.


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