Lady Titania Squaret truly was like the Valkyrie of the Battlefield, just as Duke Helpion had described.
Her eyes, stubborn as those of Duke Squaret, still radiated an elegant aura, thanks to her well-proportioned figure and noble bearing, so she didn’t seem to have a harsh personality like the Duke himself.
Rather, she gave off a proud and refined air suited to her status and rank—the aura of a true noble.
Her blonde hair was swept up neatly with a hairpin, exposing a slender white neck that shimmered in the sunlight.
The unusual thing was the sword fastened discreetly at her waist over an otherwise modest dress.
Had she said she’d grown interested in the sword while exchanging Letters with Duke Helpion?
Judging by the healthy, balanced energy radiating from her whole body, she clearly wasn’t just playing around or imitating for fun.
“Thank you for visiting the Helpion Duchy. May I ask what brings you all this way? Duke Squaret has already passed away, you see.”
Duke Helpion was still processing his realization, so I and the Chamberlain greeted Lady Titania.
“I thought that might be the case, so I came now. If Father were here, it would only be noisy with all his nagging.”
Noisy…
From what I’d heard from Duke Helpion and read in Letters, I hadn’t really grasped it before.
But this young lady certainly had a strong personality. Nobly so, at that.
We explained that the Duke was currently recovering after his enlightenment.
“Amazing. There’s only one Grand Swordmaster in the entire world, and now he’s awakened again.”
“We don’t know how long it will take for him to recover from his realization. You’ve come such a long way… We apologize.”
“I’ll wait.”
“My Lady!”
Titania answered firmly, as if there was nothing to consider.
Thanks to that, the surrounding Servants all jumped, looking around at each other nervously and watching one person for cues.
It was the Knight in black armor standing behind Titania.
“If the elders find out, there’ll truly be trouble. A woman of marriageable age staying so long at an unrelated man’s mansion?”
“Don’t pretend you didn’t want to come here more than anyone, Captain.”
At Titania’s words, the man addressed as Captain blushed slightly.
So that’s the Knight Commander of the Squaret Family, it seems.
“Admiring Duke Helpion as a swordsman is a wholly separate matter from serving you, my Lady.”
“It’s the same for me right now. I came to learn the sword from the Duke, after all.”
“But, my Lady—”
“If you keep going, I’ll be sure to tell the Duke not to say a word to you later.”
“Th-that, um, well. I have no choice. If it’s your command, as a Knight, I must obey.”
He had no choice, and so, taking a step back, kept silent.
Captain, the Servants behind you are glaring like they want to kill you.
Yet the Captain seemed not to notice, fixing us with a suddenly solemn expression.
“Since it seems settled, could you please show us to our rooms?”
The Butler was a professional. Without changing his expression, he began to respond.
“They truly are humble rooms, will that be all right?”
“I didn’t come here for a retreat. I’m here to train with the sword. So I can handle a bit of inconvenience.”
Lady Titania answered confidently, and my eyes met the Butler’s for a brief moment.
It couldn’t be helped.
We guided Lady Titania and the five Servants following her to their rooms.
As soon as the door closed,
A deep sigh escaped from one of the Servants, clearly audible to me and the Butler, but we pretended not to hear.
She could have at least waited until the various goods ordered by Duke Squaret had arrived.
Ugh, no matter how you look at it, there’ll be chaos when the Duke wakes up.
Lady Titania Squaret is in the house, after all.
I let out a sigh, thinking to wrap up my day.
But—
Chaos broke out even before the Duke awoke.
It happened that very evening.
“Are you training?”
“Hngggh, urgh. Yeees…”
“That was an answer, right?”
Titania looked down at me, eyes full of curiosity.
I’m sorry, I’m in no state to control my body right now.
Once again, I was doing brutal physical training in the mansion’s square with the Chamberlain.
I wanted to practice proper swordsmanship and footwork, but since Duke Helpion had taken over the Training Ground, I was stuck with this hellish physical training.
That was when Titania and the Knight Commander approached.
“I’ve been watching your training, and it’s extremely systematic, but also… monstrous.”
“You could tell?”
“This course develops muscles rarely used, and relaxes them as well. It aims for strength, endurance, and flexibility all at once. It’s as if you’re trying to restore and normalize your body. The purpose is clear.”
She truly was the Knight Commander of the Squaret Family.
To deduce so much just from watching me train for a moment—astonishing.
“Despite how tough the training is, the Steward keeps up well… Oh my, you handle the sword?”
“The Steward also wields a sword?”
“Yes. From the muscles in your arms and the calluses on your hands. Though it doesn’t look like you’ve trained for long.”
“Amazing!”
I flopped down right where I stood.
Amazing? I feel like I’m dying here.
“I also wield a sword.”
“Ah, yes.”
I already knew from your Letters.
I just pretend not to know, since there’s no need to let on that I ghostwrite them.
“How long have you been learning the sword?”
I wouldn’t say I’m learning swordsmanship. I’m just swinging a sword for basic physical training. It’s been about a month.
“That’s about the same as me. Then, could I ask you for a favor?”
The Lady of a ducal family, suddenly asking a favor?
I should probably agree, for Duke Helpion’s sake.
“Would you have a sparring match with me?”
“My Lady, that’s not a request you should make so lightly!”
The Knight Commander exclaimed in shock at Titania’s request.
It really was a shocking thing to say.
“I didn’t realize asking to spar with a fellow trainee was such a rude request.”
“We are guests of the Helpion Ducal Family. A spar, not even with a Knight, but with the Steward?”
“No one from our side will properly spar with me. How am I supposed to improve in such a situation?”
It was absurd, but at the same time, I understood.
So that’s what was going on.
Now I understood why Lady Titania had requested the spar.
Maybe her real reason for visiting now, out of step with Duke Squaret, was this all along.
But understanding and agreeing were two different matters.
The Butler even stepped in to help calm things down, given how flustered the Knight Commander was.
“The Knight Commander is right. Even if it’s a friendly spar, what if someone gets hurt? Who will take responsibility?”
“Why not ask one of the Knights for a match instead? For two beginners, it’s too dangerous. And if the Steward gets injured, we won’t be able to face Duke Helpion.”
“The Steward has barely started learning the sword; what if he accidentally injures Lady Titania…”
The two, intent on persuading Lady Titania, locked eyes.
It was like sparks were flying between them.
“He is a Retainer of the Helpion Ducal Family. Even if their skill levels are close, there’s still a difference.”
“Ahem, my Lady’s talent and effort with the sword are truly worthy of being called a genius.”
At first, they were against the match, but now their eyes were burning with competitive pride.
A battle of egos had set the whole thing ablaze.
“Ahem, then how about sparring with protective gear and practice swords?”
“If we referee, we can prevent anything dangerous from happening. What do you think, my Lady?”
At their compromise, Titania’s eyes sparkled.
“I’d love that!”
Just like that, the spar was set without my input.
If this was going to happen anyway, was there really a need for all that arguing?
When the Head Maid heard, she glared at the Butler with a stony expression.
“Are you crazy? The one who should have stopped this most eagerly just fanned the flames and arranged a spar?”
“Ugh…”
The Butler could only groan.
“What if the Steward injures the Lady?”
I may have subdued a top-tier Sword Expert, but sparring is a different story.
If you’re not used to it, accidents can happen easily.
“Be ready. When the Duke wakes up, I’ll tell him you made the Steward swing a sword at Lady Titania.”
“That’s too much!”
While the two squabbled, the Knight Commander shuffled over, looking awkward.
“I apologize. I lost my head for a moment, and now things have gone this far.”
It seemed he’d come back to his senses and was feeling ashamed.
“It’s all right. It’s hard to blame a single person for this.”
“Thank you for understanding. Actually, I came to suggest maybe it’s not too late to call off the match.”
At that, the Head Maid’s face brightened a bit.
“Has the Lady changed her mind?”
“No, she’s quite excited for her first proper spar to test her skills. In fact…”
“That makes it even more dangerous.”
The Butler nodded gravely at the Knight Commander’s words.
Getting excited during a match increases the chance of mistakes.
“I’m still worried about the Steward.”
At the Knight Commander’s concern, the Butler’s eyebrow twitched again.
I hurriedly grabbed the Butler’s arm before he could protest further.
There was no point in arguing more—it would only hurt us.
Hadn’t his excitement already gotten us into this mess?
“Please don’t misunderstand me. My Lady’s skill is at the entry level of Sword Expert. She’s talented, but perhaps she’s found some insight from Duke Helpion’s Letters…”
“That’s truly impressive.”
The Butler nodded, astonished.
To reach the entry level of Sword Expert after just a month with a sword—she truly deserved to be called a genius.
Of course, I felt a bit embarrassed to be talking about this myself.
“Even if we supervise, a single mistake could lead to serious injury.”
“We might as well proceed.”
“Head Maid?”
Surprisingly, the Head Maid interrupted the Knight Commander.
“As a Swordmaster myself, it will be safer if I’m there.”
“Oh ho, so there’s another Swordmaster here—Helpion Duchy is truly exceptional.”
The Knight Commander’s face lit up, as if reassured that everything would be fine now.
After leaving us with a word of gratitude, he returned to Lady Titania.
The Butler and I stared blankly at the Head Maid.
The Head Maid simply curled up the corners of her lips.
Wearing a terrifying smile.
“Ahahahahaha, Steward.”
“Uh… yes?”
“You must win. No matter what.”
Why did those words sound like a threat—that if I lost, I’d be dead meat?
Desperately, I nodded.