Chapter 33: Personal Attendant

“A ‘personal attendant’, you say?”

“Yes. High-ranking nobles decide on a person during their childhood who will become their close aide in the future. They take charge of personal care and even guard duties. Usually, someone other than the eldest son or daughter of a lower-ranking noble is chosen.”

“But for personal care, I have Arisa, and for guard duties, I have Tanya Celesta.”

Hearing Father’s explanation made me a little anxious. Surely he’s not going to say they’re fired, right? They’ve both been doing a great job!?

“Arisa and Tanya will continue to serve Sakuraile as before, but this is necessary apart from that. Eventually, when you enter the ‘Academy’, you cannot take Arisa and Tanya with you. That is why you need a personal attendant of the same age.”

Ah, could it be that Hanger-on A and Hanger-on B, who were attached to Sakuraile in the game, were those personal attendants? Neither of them can come to the ‘Academy’ anymore, though. I guess that means a replacement is needed.

“You don’t need to think too deeply about it, you know? Just think of it as gaining another close friend.”

“A friend… is it…”

Mother says that, but a personal attendant is technically an employee hired by the Ducal House, right? It feels like a hired friend, which makes me somewhat resistant to the idea. It would be nice if we could become true friends like Elliott and Jean, though…

“It might be fine for the second son or daughter of a lower noble, but for the third son or daughter and below, life is quite difficult without a backer. If they have a history of serving a high-ranking noble, they can obtain a good position in the future.”

Basically, a noble house is inherited by the eldest son, or in the worst case where there is no male heir, the eldest daughter. The second son and daughter are treated reasonably well by their family as—to put it bluntly—spares in case something happens to the eldest, though you could also say they are kept in limbo. However, for the third son or daughter and below, it is decided from the start that they will leave the house and make their own way. Men go to the knight order or become bureaucrats, and women become ladies-in-waiting and such. Well, for women, marrying into another family is common. They marry and become a bridge between their birth family and the family they marry into. However, the third or fourth daughter of a lower noble cannot marry into a good family unless she is exceptionally beautiful or talented. Therefore, young ladies other than the eldest daughter of lower nobles often become maids serving high-ranking nobles, or even serve as knights. Our Arisa and Tanya Celesta are examples of this. Arisa is the fourth daughter of a Viscount house, and Tanya Celesta is the third daughter of a Baron house. In terms of status alone, they are just children of lower nobles, but once they become a maid and knight serving a Ducal House, half-hearted lower nobles cannot touch them. If things go poorly, they might even hold more power than the heir of their own family. In that sense, being a ‘personal attendant’ is probably the biggest chance for a noble child who cannot inherit a title. Moreover, in my case, I am technically royalty. I carry the title of third in line to the throne. If something were to happen to Elliott and Father, I would be supported as the Empress. Well, the possibility of that is infinitely low, though. I understand why someone like me needs a personal attendant. I understand, but…

“Actually, I’ve already called for the child. Come, enter.”

“Eh!?”

I was startled by Father’s words. So sudden! I don’t need that kind of surprise!

“Excuse me!”

The living room door opened, and a single girl entered. She was a girl about my age who looked energetic. However, the moment I saw her, the blood drained from my entire body—whoosh. Short silver hair and violet eyes filled with strong will. Perhaps because she comes from a knight lineage, her posture as she stood straight and saluted had a dignified nobility. Her attire was not a dress but light armor, and a child-sized short sword hung at her waist.

“My name is Bianca Latia Serenade! As Lady Sakuraile‘s personal attendant, I wish to be of service with all my heart and soul!”

Bianca Latia Serenade. The villainess of the Jean route, and the fourth daughter of the Viscount Serenade house, was right there. Wait a minuuuuute!? Why is a dangerous element of a destruction flag coming to my house!?

“F-Father, surely she is…”

“Yes. This Bianca will become your personal attendant. I intend to have her learn various things as a guard from now on.”

Oof… Seriously…? I want to interrogate the Goddess of Destiny for about an hour on what it means for a villainess to serve a villainess. In the Jean route where she is the villainess, I summon magic beasts indiscriminately with [Beast Demon Summoning], and end up being eaten by the very beasts I summoned—the absolute worst ending. Currently, I don’t possess the [Beast Demon Summoning] [Gift], so I want to believe that ending won’t happen, but actually, in the Jean route, there is one other scenario where Sakuraile is ruined. Sakuraile, who was losing her status at the academy, approaches Bianca, who also viewed the protagonist Estelle as an enemy. And she proposes this: Why don’t we cooperate to frame the protagonist Estelle? At this point, if Jean‘s affection for the protagonist Estelle is high, Bianca, driven by jealousy and anxiety, follows this route. Well, this is a pretty difficult route to enter, though. I think it wouldn’t happen unless you pursued Jean exclusively from the early stages. The two villainesses team up and take action to frame the protagonist Estelle, but thanks to Jean‘s efforts, it is prevented. Then, Bianca is admonished by Jean and the protagonist Estelle, has a change of heart, and stands in my way. As a result, I fall to Bianca‘s sword and am arrested as a criminal. Well, the game version of me saw Bianca as a disposable pawn, so it’s kinda getting what I deserved. This route is better in the sense that I don’t die, but still…

“It is an honor to become the personal attendant of the ‘Princess of the Holy Sword’! I will do my very best, so please treat me well!”

“Eh? No, ah, yes…”

She’s looking at me with incredibly sparkling eyes, though. Wait, stop! Don’t look at me with those eyes! This is definitely some kind of misunderstanding, right? Come to think of it, this child was at that scene too. I wonder, I feel like the image of the ‘Princess of the Holy Sword’ is taking on a life of its own. Is she mistaking me for a saint or something? Is this what they call reputational damage…?

“Her father, Viscount Serenade, is the Captain of the First Knight Order. Bianca has also been learning the sword since childhood. Rumor has it her skill is considerable for her age.”

Father explained, but I know that from the game. She trained together with Jean, right? The kind of bond forged by eating from the same pot? No, that’s not it.

“I have been receiving instruction from the people of the Knight Order since I was four. Among my peers… ah… among girls of my age, I rarely lose!”

Bianca answered with slight hesitation. Yeah, Bianca is quite strong, but she loses to Jean and his sister Cecil, right? Apparently, that gap exists even ten years before the game starts. In my case, only the Holy Sword’s ability is strong; I myself am not strong in swordsmanship. In terms of sword skill, I’m no match for Jean or Bianca.

“Since Bianca will be Sakuraile‘s personal attendant, she can no longer receive instruction at the Knight Order. So, I decided to hire someone new to teach swordsmanship here as well. It would be better for Sakuraile to learn at least the basics, right?”

Following the personal attendant, a sword teacher too…? Father loves surprises too much. Could you maybe consult me just once? Well, even as a noble, I thought it would be better to acquire some means of self-defense. I won’t have guards 24/7.

“Then, since the teacher is at the summoning ground, let’s go greet her.”

Father said such a thing. Having gotten a grasp of Father’s personality by now, I know. That is the look of someone trying to surprise me. It seems the surprises continue. I’m telling you, I’m full. When we went to the summoning ground built in the garden, a woman with long flaxen hair in a single braid, dressed in light armor just like Bianca, was standing there holding a wooden sword. A female teacher. Wait, huh? I’ve seen this person somewhere… Ah!

“Estelle‘s mother!?”

“Excuse the intrusion, Lady Sakuraile.”

The person there was Estelle‘s mother, Baroness Euphonium, Julia. Eh!? Why is Julia here!?

“Father, don’t tell me… Julia is the swordsmanship teacher!?”

“Hahaha, are you surprised? That’s right. It was a recommendation from Father-in-law. Lady Julia, who was once the greatest swordsman in the frontier, has agreed to train you two.”

No, I am surprised! I assumed she had already returned to her territory…

“The greatest swordsman in the frontier… Excuse me! Is Teacher Julia perhaps Julia of the ‘Flash Sword’!?”

“That is a nostalgic name. Indeed, I was called that. Though I never called myself that.”

Julia answered the excited Bianca‘s question with a wry smile. Julia of the ‘Flash Sword’? As I tilted my head, the excited Bianca explained in a rush.

“You don’t know!? Her movements are like thunder, her sword like a flash! She is the wielder of god-speed sword techniques invisible to the eye! The story of her defeating the Bandit King Jahara and his forty subordinates all by herself has even become a bard’s song, you know!?”

…Seriously? What do I do? It seems my friend’s mother was some kind of amazing person…

“Umm, well, is it really okay? For a Baroness to be a swordsmanship teacher…”

“It is no problem. If I can be of use to Lady Sakuraile, my lifesaver, I will gladly accept.”

No, lifesaver… I think that was mostly Estelle’s effort. Just like with ‘Princess of the Holy Sword’, I feel like everyone is overestimating me… For the time being, we decided that training would start tomorrow, and today we would coordinate our schedules. As a Ducal Lady, in addition to normal studies, I need to learn various noble etiquette, domestic affairs, diplomacy, and territory management know-how. Naturally, Bianca won’t be joining me for everything, and we intend to use that time for her sword training. While I study domestic affairs and territory management, Bianca will learn swordsmanship from Julia. Of course, we’ll do my sword training time together, though. To think I would end up learning the sword with another villainess… I earnestly, earnestly pray that the tip of her sword will not be pointed at me.