The mock battle ended, leaving various lingering impressions.
Marius was led to a section of the royal palace by Helka and Lovisa.
“So this is Marius-sama’s laboratory.”
Upon opening the old wooden door, they found a spartan room with only a few desks and chairs. The room was about six tatami mats in size. It was clean, with not a speck of dust and sparkling windows. However, there was an undeniable sense that it had been prepared in a hurry.
“I will brew some tea,” Emma said, bowing slightly before turning to leave. Helka quickly called out to her.
“Ah, I’ll help you too, Emma-chan.”
“You are Marius-sama’s teacher and a guest now,” Emma replied curtly to her former colleague before leaving. Marius, not quite understanding what was being said, inferred from their exchange that Emma seemed to hold a stronger position. Lovisa then began to speak.
“Marius-sama, as a Royal Court Magician, you have been given a private room and developmental expenses of up to 800,000 Deels per month.”
Marius wasn’t sure if 800,000 was a large or small sum, but he decided to ask about it later and simply nodded for now.
“We will provide daily necessities and such. You will be responsible for anything else with your allocated funds.”
In other words, this also included his allowance.
“Do you have any questions?”
“I heard that as a Royal Court Magician, I can purchase slaves with my funds?”
Lovisa nodded and replied, “If the price is within budget, it is not a problem. Slaves who have experience as research assistants are popular for employment after their release, so we encourage it.”
Marius found this acceptable, thinking, “Is that how it is?”
“I will have your expenses for this month delivered later. Is there anything else?”
“No, that is all. Please let me know if anything comes to mind.”
The conversation paused. Lovisa opened her mouth, then closed it, and then hesitantly, almost timidly, made a suggestion.
“Also, Marius-sama. I, who you have helped, hardly have the standing to say this, but perhaps you should reconsider your fighting style? Many were terrified after witnessing Marius-sama’s power in the mock battle.”
This was a surprising remark for Marius. He had thought that after defeating a Wyvern, it would be acceptable to show a little more, and he had deliberately held back his power to avoid causing injuries, believing he had done so sufficiently. However, the atmosphere clearly did not allow him to say such a thing.
*I thought they’d want to see the power that defeated the Wyvern, so I did my best while being careful not to kill anyone, and they’re calling it scary…*
He wondered who they thought they were, but he didn’t voice his thoughts. It was true that he had managed to satisfy his desire to see Lucas and Nilson’s full potential, which had resulted in him unleashing advanced magic non-verbally. However, he felt that this was the minimum required to defeat a Wyvern alone. Frankly, he had expected to be asked to display his first-class magic instead.
Seeing Marius’s confusion, Helka decided to support Lovisa.
“That’s right. While my husband and Yaders-sama might be alright, officials like Falk are not. They have even become objects of fear.”
“Mmm…”
Marius couldn’t refute Helka’s sincere advice and could only groan. he had expected that it would be fine to show a little more power now that they knew he possessed it and were integrating him as an ally, but his assessment had been greatly mistaken. It seemed comical to Marius that they would ask him to show his power and then be frightened by it. He had understood, or so he thought, that one’s perspective and feelings change based on their position, and moreover, this was another world.
Just as a subtle, awkward silence began to fill the room, Emma returned, as if on cue. A fragrant aroma wafted from the containers on the cart.
“It’s cacao tea.”
Marius poured himself some cacao tea, following Lovisa’s explanation, and then poured for Lovisa, Helka, and himself in that order.
“As expected, Emma-chan, you’re still as skilled as ever,” Helka praised Marius in both Firmiyan and Taliant languages. Intrigued by the compliment, Marius took a sip and found it truly delicious, certainly better than what he had drunk yesterday.
“Mmm, it’s delicious. Possibly even better than what I drank yesterday.”
When Marius offered this understated praise, perhaps out of consideration for yesterday’s attendant, Helka happily translated it. Emma turned to Marius and gave a slight bow. She showed no signs of being pleased, as if this were merely a trivial task. Her composed demeanor exuded an aura of someone extraordinary.
“Now then, Marius-sama, let’s practice pronouncing ‘cacao tea’.”
“Huh?”
Before he had time to be surprised by Helka’s sudden suggestion, Marius was made to repeat “cacao tea” several times.
“Memorizing familiar things with your nose, tongue, mind, and heart. That is my teaching style. I tried it with my daughter, and it’s quite a quick method!”
Indeed, it is said that people learn things quickly when they are interested. Marius nodded in agreement. He himself had remembered the names of the beautiful Lovisa, Emma, and Helka instantly. Yet, he probably couldn’t recall the names of the Prince or the Chancellor. As if reading Marius’s mind, Helka spoke.
“Marius-sama, you have the look of someone who memorized Lovisa-sama and Emma-chan’s names first.”
“No, it was indeed Lovisa-sama first. She is the most beautiful, so it took but a moment to remember her name.”
“I see, you are good with your words.”
Lovisa received Marius’s heartfelt compliment with a composed expression. Marius made a mental note that generic seduction lines seemed to incur penalties. Helka, who had been watching the two of them, let out a chuckle.
“You can’t do that, Marius-sama. Princesses hear compliments about their beauty every day.”
“Helka!” Lovisa admonished, raising her voice, but Helka dodged her playfully with a laugh. It seemed Helka had the upper hand.
“Helka-san, Helka-san. Please, by all means, impart some seduction techniques that might appeal to Princess Lovisa.”
Marius’s playful words made Helka clap her hands with delight.
“I don’t mind. Princess, you should be swept off your feet by a man’s words at least once.”
“Marius-sama, please stop playing along; it will only make Helka get ahead of herself.” Lovisa glared at him, her eyebrows furrowed, but Marius thought that even her scowl was becoming, realizing that beautiful people had an advantage.
“Yes. If it means I can become closer to Lovisa-sama, then I’ll leave Helka to her own devices.”
“Oh, how cruel. Are older women out of the running, Marius-sama?” Helka took out a handkerchief from her skirt pocket and began to cry theatrically. Marius gave her a cold glance.
“Because you’re a married woman.”
“I’m relieved that Marius-sama possesses rational judgment,” Lovisa murmured with deep emotion. In reality, Marius and Lovisa weren’t supposed to have such a familiar exchange. However, the fact that they could was likely due to Helka’s personality or aura. Perhaps Lovisa felt the same. Marius decided to thank her separately later.
Just as the conversation lulled, Emma offered some sweets.
“Candied dried sweet potato.”
Lovisa translated for him, and Helka made him practice the pronunciation. Marius, however, was impressed by Emma’s service. Despite the language barrier, where she usually seemed to go unnoticed, she performed her tasks with exquisite timing and professionalism when needed. She was a true professional.
“By the way, Lovisa-sama, Helka-san. We’re communicating now, but what about reading and writing?”
In response to Marius’s question, Lovisa and Helka exchanged glances, and Helka answered.
“To understand foreign cultures and languages, I believe the first step is to comprehend what is being spoken. Besides, don’t babies first learn to speak by listening to those around them rather than by reading and writing?”
“Ah, now that you mention it…” Marius nodded twice in agreement, realizing that learning to read and write certainly didn’t come before speaking. Helka, however, flashed a mischievous smile.
“However, Marius-sama, you are already doing so well, we will have you learn reading and writing in parallel, won’t we?”
“Eh…?”
Before Marius could even ask his question, Emma placed a stack of paper and a large inkwell with three pens on the desk. He barely had time to wonder when she had retrieved them before Helka and Lovisa picked up their pens. Helka wrote “cacao tea,” and Lovisa wrote “candied dried sweet potato.” Marius was encouraged to follow suit. They seemed to be starting by having him memorize vocabulary. For Marius, who was not particularly good at languages, it promised to be a difficult time, but it was an inevitable development that he had been waiting for. He decided to console himself with the fact that his two instructors were both beautiful women and switched his mindset.
After writing each word ten times, Helka gave the next instruction.
“Now, this is ‘oppai’.”
“Hey!” Marius reflexively interjected.
“Is something wrong?” Helka asked, genuinely tilting her head. Marius almost wanted to bury his face in his hands.
“Lovisa-sama, is there no law against harassment?”
“It’s difficult in this case. Helka likely has no ill intentions,” Lovisa replied with a somewhat tired expression. It was true that if she claimed she was just teaching words he would eventually need to learn, it would be hard to argue. This aspect seemed similar to his original world.
“Marius-sama, do you dislike oppai? Or do you dislike older women like me?” Helka asked, sounding offended. Her complete lack of malice was troublesome. Marius replied, thinking this.
“Putting aside likes and dislikes, it certainly is a cause of mental distress.”
If it were only Emma, who couldn’t understand Firmiyan, it would be one thing, but Lovisa could understand perfectly. He couldn’t afford to react carelessly to women he had only just met.
“But Marius-sama, isn’t that an overreaction?” Helka’s voice and expression were laced with a great deal of teasing. It was true that this was a situation he could have easily brushed off. If it hadn’t been so sudden, he surely would have. However, Marius didn’t just stop at self-reflection; he felt a sense of unease. Helka’s words and actions seemed too frivolous, too playful for someone who was a maid to a former Princess. He had initially thought it was a consideration to make him feel more comfortable, but it seemed her casualness was her natural disposition. Wasn’t the difference between her and Emma too great? Of course, individual differences were to be expected, but for a Princess’s maid, one’s duty should be more important than their personality. The rapidly growing suspicion allowed Marius to cool his head and think things through.
“I think it’s normal to be surprised when a woman mentions ‘oppai’,” Marius replied, deciding to continue the conversation for now.
“Marius-sama is acting normally,” Lovisa immediately agreed. Helka smiled at the former Princess she had served.
“Lovisa-sama, you seemed a little happy just now.”
“Helka, stop explaining everything,” Lovisa said curtly. If she had intended to tease him, she would have said it in Taliant. The fact that she went out of her way to use Firmiyan was meant to register with Marius. This intention made Lovisa’s tone harsh. Sensing her stiffened demeanor, Marius arrived at a possibility. Wasn’t Helka trying to foster a closer relationship between him and Lovisa by taking on the role of the “villain”? While the reason for this was unclear, it would explain her frivolous behavior, despite being a noblewoman who was a former lady-in-waiting to a Princess. As Marius pondered this, Helka glanced at him and sent him a discreet wink. It seemed Marius’s guess was correct. In that case, the real Helka was likely a woman who was considerate, like Emma, and adept at reading people’s expressions and the atmosphere.
*Then why does she want to bring me and the Princess closer?* The question arose, but Marius couldn’t come up with an answer. All he understood was that a sense of camaraderie was beginning to form between him and Lovisa.
