Chapter 15
Boreas Household
Rudy POV
I will be here until Bon Festival,
After Bon Festival, I will not be here.
A familiar tune rang in my head. I'm sure I heard of this before…But where?
If Bon Festival comes earlier,
I would return home earlier.
That right…It was back in that house. Mother used to sing me this…I think…It called…
"Ha! ha…ha…? Where am I? And why is it soft around my hand?" And what with that dream? I think I heard some familiar lullaby. And why is it so soft anyway?
"If you wake up, can you move your head out of the way? It kind of blocks my view." I heard Lucy's voice from behind me. When I turned to look around I saw Lucy's deadpan face. "Also move your hand away before I knock you out again."
I look around still confused until I look at where my hand is. It's on her thigh. I quickly remove it as I know she is not joking. "Ahaha…W-where are we?" I ask nervously.
Lucy took out a letter from her back and handed it to me. "I didn't read it." She said as she began to watch outside the window again.
"Ok…" I opened the letter—two pieces of Paper show in front of me. One is for me the other is for Lucy. I handed her one of the letters and began to read mine. The letter is basically about what happened. Paul thinks that me and Sylphy are getting too dependent on each other so he wants to separate me from her by sending me to the Boreas household to become the Tutor for their Daughter.
…That damn Paul! He could have just said so! And how did I even become dependent on Sylphy?! I never even- ... wait...Maybe it is true…After all, I only ever stay with Sylphy. I…Become too attached to Sylphy? I spent all my free time with her, I didn't learn anything new. I just…Neglect everything else.
And Sylphy only stays around me or Lucy. Although she still fears Lucy a bit she stays with her because she feels safe. She gives off that vibe. Everything will be alright if you're with her.
Did I...Become too attached to Sylphy to the point that even that meathead Paul thinks it's not good? That's no good. I used Sylphy as an excuse to stay away from training myself because I don't see much improvement. Saying that it's because I hit my Limit…
But that is not true. I knew that was not true. I just didn't learn anything new. That is why this may be good for me. I can see more of the world while amassing enough money for our Tuition in a safe environment.
…I mean there must be a lot of books, right? After all, the Boreas household is noble. And if Zenith and Paul could buy a book with just their income alone then the Boreas must have a library full of them.
Paul said that I needed to Teach the daughter of the Boreas house. What more? He said that I need to be there for 5 years. And that the Daughter of that household is a little troublesome…This gives me a bad feeling. Oh well, we will know when we are there.
…
Lucelia POV
I take the letter from Rudy. Hmm…well, let's see what it says….
...Sizzling…
I just burned the letter down just now. Well well, Want to know what it says? IT SAYS THAT I NEED TO BE HERE FOR 5 FUCKING YEARS! Hmm, and the reason? He wants me to focus on training and watch over Rudy. freaking selfish prick…
Oh well, no use getting mad over it. And it is not like I need to obey it. I could just pop back to see Norn and Aisha when I want to. It's not like the road is too long either.
Hm…We need around a few more hours till we reach the town huh? Well, I will just go back to sleep. I need some shut eyes right now.
…
"...cy…Lucy. We have already arrived." I heard Ghislaine's voice. God…My eyes…It's kind of heavy.
"Kay…I will get up now…" I slowly get up. More slow than I want but meh I just woke up. I looked around me and saw Rudy being amazed at everything he looked at. Well, It was his first time in a big city like this.
But man…I kind of miss a big city like this. Back then we used to go around everywhere on a job and then stay in a village or city. Paul will be the first to get drunk. Then out of nowhere, Gesse will come back with a depressed face as he loses all of his money on gambling.
Then Talhand will just drink beside me while rambling about his Brother on and on. while Elinalise just finished draining someone dry and came back to party with us. Zenith and Ghislanie are together watching over us while drinking too. I would just drink water and eat some meat.
Back then was a good time. But that doesn't mean that right now isn't a good time or anything…Maybe I just miss the old time. oh, my thoughts are beginning to derail again. I should focus.
We were already at the gate of Boreas house after all. Ghislaine jumps out of the carriage and I follow her, taking my bag with me. Rudy comes after me and takes his bag too. I followed Ghislaine and someone was waiting for us there.
He bows down toward us. He is a big man with a kind of average face. I never saw him before, considering the last time I was here was 7 years ago. So he was probably hired after that. Man, he's huge! He is probably bigger than Paul by 2 or 3 inches.
Ghislaine just nodded her head and walked forward. I just bow down to him lightly and walk together with Ghislaine.
When I walked past him I felt him glaring at me for some reason. It is kind of an unpleasant glare that people got toward the demon race. I ignore him and walk forward with Ghislaine.
The mansion is really big just like I remember. And there are still a lot of Beast-woman Maids in here. And it's not just dogs or cats. There are bunnies, deer, man there, and even bird types! There are a lot of beastman species…Maybe it's better to call it Tribe?
Anyway, we were guided into a guest room I think? The room is beautiful. There are maid stations near the seat so they can serve you at the moment's notice…What this…This kind of gives me the creep. For some reason, I feel like I was always watching if I'm in this room. Maybe it's just me. Rudy seems fine, he doesn't feel anything.
Maybe it is my imagination. But If I learn something in this life is that it is better to trust it than to let it slide. I survive a lot of those monsters this way after all. Let's be vigilant around this area…
As I and Rudy sat down on the chair, the maid began to serve us a drink. Juice to be specific. Rudy just drinks it without concern. before I stopped him he already drank it…And nothing happened. Yeah…Nothing happened. Maybe it's really my imagination. Is my intuition wrong?
I picked up my drink and tried drinking it too. It's just ordinary juice…Maybe I'm being too paranoid. Why? For some reason, I feel something bad is going to happen…
"Lucy? What's wrong?" Rudy asks me. He probably saw my face.
"Nothing. I'm ok Rudy." I said with my best smile to try to not worry him. The atmosphere is really weird for some reason. The last time I was here the atmosphere just felt like an ordinary household. But now it feels so…Dread for some reason. other is acting like everything is normal. But I feel like something is wrong.
Thud…Thud…
A footstep…from how it sounds they are stomping all the way here. And with a bang, the door opens up loudly. Rudy is startled and drops his juice. An old man with a cane is at the door. He looks at both me and Rudy with a glare. Eh…What should I do? AH! Maybe he is the lord?
I quickly got up and urged Rudy to do the same. I quickly did some basic etiquette I learned from Lilia. The maid way. While Rudy just bows down.
"Nice to meet you, My name is Rudeus Greyrat"
"And my name is Lucelia Greyrat." Rudy introduced himself first and I did after him.
The old man glares at us. Specifically me. He keeps glaring at me for some reason. Then He spoke up.
"Why did you use some maid etiquette!" His voice is loud. So loud that I think The entire mansion could hear it. "It's Not proper for a noble to use some etiquette like that!"
"My apology. But as I'm not of noble blood I deem it appropriate to use this." I answer honestly. I indeed have no noble blood. I think my father is some kind of priest in Millishion but he is a commoner who climbs the rank. Zenith doesn't know him. and when she did some research on him when she got the box from Anashia she didn't find any of his information other than his rank and title in the church.
Anyway, I still bow down to him right now. He just huffs and walks away to the other seat."Seeing as you two at least got some basic etiquette I will allow you to live here! BUT YOU! The girl! Learn that the moment you are adopted by a noble you are a noble!"
He yelled at me. Does it work that way? The moment I was adopted I became a noble? I don't think it works that way…
Clap clap clap…
Someone is clapping outside the door. When I looked there I saw a young man around the age of Paul. So he is Phillip? I bow quickly to him but this time using what I learn from Zenith. I don't want to get yelled at by that loud voice again.
"Nice to meet you, My name is Lucelia Greyrat." I introduced myself to him and he nodded slightly and looked at Rudy.
"I am Rudeus Greyrat, It's a pleasure to meet you." Rudy introduces himself.
"Mmh. I see, I see. It was really hard to believe that both of you are the child of that unruly Paul. My name is Philip boreas greyrat. And the one you just greeted just now is my Father Sauros boreas greyrat." Phillip said. I heard a huff from behind me. "Though the way Rudeus bow is wrong. The proper way is like this." He then shows us the proper way to do it.
"Did you get it?" Phillip asks, still smiling.
Rudy nodded and began to imitate him. "Is this how it is done?" He asks and Phillip nods showing his satisfaction.
"Good, good. Now then let's get to business. As you both know I hire both of you to work in the estate. Lucelia will be working as a maid in exchange for the training of Ghislaine. While you Rudeus. You will be teaching my daughter magic and mathematics. Is that clear?"
We both nod at him and he also nods back.
"Well, how much did you know about my daughter?" Phillip asks Rudy.
"Um…I don't know much. Father only mentioned that she is a bit troublesome." Rudy replies. "Father never mentions anything else."
"Troublesome? Paul really did not give you much information huh…" Phillip utters under his breath. I heard him but Rudy didn't. "Well, Let's go and meet her shall we?"
He got up and walked to the door and we followed him. "Ah right, Lucelia you can go and change into the maid uniform. The head maid will show you what you need to do. You are going to meet my daughter when you start training anyway so use this time to get used to the mansion and your Duty."
Then he claps his hand and two maids suddenly appear behind me. Both of them got a star in their eyes for some reason. Both my hand got grabbed before I know it and with a power I didn't know they have they dragged me away.
"Eh? W-wait! Rudy! Ghislaine Help!"
All of this happened too fast I don't even know what was going on. I want to struggle but with my strength, I know I would break their arms. So the only thing I could do right now is pray silently that they won't make me do something unreasonable…
…
Rudeus POV
Seeing Lucy getting dragged away by two beast woman maids. She tries to struggle but to no avail. As she began to be dragged away out of my sight. I heard Philip laugh lightly under his breath.
"Those girls are very enthusiastic about their new Junior." He said and then began to walk forward again. "Well, then let's go and meet my daughter shall we?" I just gulp and follow him silently. This seems kind of troublesome…
After walking for a bit Phillip came to a stop in front of a certain door.
"Well then here is it," Phillip said. "I wonder if you have what it takes to handle my daughter."
"Eh?" Before I can ask what he means the door opens up.
What I saw was a girl with red hair. The feeling she emits is that of a fierce girl. Who won't back down on anything.
The voice around me seems deafening as I stare at her. And before I knew it I was already face to face with her.
"Ah…, My name is Rudeus Greyrat. It's a pleasure to meet you, my lady." I did the proper bow that Phillip showed me.
"Hmph! Aren't you younger than me!?" Woah! She's loud! Just like her grandfather. Her voice could pierce heaven!
"I don't think my age has-"
"Are you having a problem!?" She cut me off. This is starting to get annoying. But be patient Rudy. Be patient.
"But it true that there something I can do which you can't do-"
Pap!
Alright, second impression. She violence.
Getting slapped in the face does not really hurt. She is still weak compared to Lucy. But damn this is starting to get irritating.
She reminds me of those old days…
Should I fight back? But maybe it will hurt her pride and she will start to beat me up?
"You don't even know your place and you dare to talk back to me!"
Pap!
A loud slap sound echoed in my ear. My hand hurt a little and I heard some audible gasp from the surroundings.
I know what I just did. I just slapped her back. For some reason the moment she said that something snapped inside of me.
"Now you know the pain of hitting others," I said as I looked straight at her face. It got a glaring red mark on it. Maybe I used a bit too much strength.
She looked me in the eyes before she grit her teeth and threw a punch straight at me. It was fast. But not Lucy or Paul level.
I dodge it by stepping to the side but what I didn't expect was that she was using her leg to swipe at me. I fall down fast. Using my hand to protect the back of my head I was already on the floor.
I quickly tried to get up but she jumped on me and her leg was locking me in my place.
"This will teach you not to mess with me!" She yells as another punch comes straight to my face. I can't dodge this so I directly take them.
Fuck it hurt! Gather mana in my right hand I fire an Air bullet at her before another punch comes in.
It hit her and made her fly away. I quickly got up and started to run outside. I could hear her running after me and yelling.
God, what kind of girl is this?! She is the definition of a fighting manga protagonist! Let's just hide here till she calms down…
…
After around an hour or so of me running away and that girl chasing after me, she stopped and went to get dinner. I came back to the room I was meeting with Phillip.
With a sigh, I enter the room. How much stamina did she get in that little body of hers?
Inside I saw Phillip just smiling while sipping his drink and someone in a maid uniform with a deadpan face muttering something.
No, not someone that Lucy! Did she get makeup on? I didn't recognize her at first. She looks...very pretty.
"So, what is your impression of her?" Phillip cut off my thought.
"Ah...well, she is very lively isn't she?" I answered him with a forced smile.
"Well, will you give up? Because I honestly didn't have hope for you." Phillip said his mouth is smiling but his eyes aren't.
He is really honest about it huh? Well, I got my reason to not quit too.
"I will not quit until I feel completely defeated. That is why please let me work for you." I said while bowing my head to him.
"Then how do you think you will gain her trust?" Phillip asks. Hm...how huh? I don't want to do something extreme that will possibly traumatize her.
"I will gain her trust for sure. Just please give me one month to work on it." I said.
"Well, said. I will wait for the result in one month." With that Phillip casually leaves the room. Leaving me with Lucy who seems like she just got traumatized for life.
"...Uh, Lucy-"
"The first rule of women is to take care of their face!" She said that out loud. "Ah...Sorry...I will be going now!" And without a word, she just left sprinting out of the room with a hand covering her red face.
"...Eh?"