Eustia's Banquet (5)
"Thank you. Thank you so much..."
"...Please, don't."
Soi's mother continued to kneel and bow.
Both Silia and James awkwardly tried to follow their mother.
Of course, it wasn't strange for her, a commoner, to act this way after receiving a favor from Zeke, a noble. However, to Zeke, such formalities felt as uncomfortable as wearing clothes that didn't fit.
"I'm not comfortable with such customs."
"B-But still..."
"I would appreciate it if you would be more at ease with your actions and words. I'm here as Soi's instructor. As you've heard, everyone is equal within the academy."
Of course, they weren't inside the academy right now, and the instructor and the student weren't of equal status. But she was the student's mother, so it wasn't that different, right?
Despite his words, Soi's mother continued to bow her head.
What could he do?
"If you continue to be so formal, I'll have to ask you to repay the debt."
At that, her back straightened like a drawn line.
"Is our Soi adapting well to the academy?"
Zeke understood where Soi Spoon's shamelessness came from.
And so, an unexpected home visit took place at the Hillaise Bakery.
With freshly baked bread and tea, Soi's mother and Zeke sat facing each other.
Soi Spoon, also a party involved, sat beside her mother.
"I apologize for not being able to properly express my gratitude, both last time and this time, due to the unexpected circumstances. Thank you."
"Debt."
"Is our Soi keeping up with the lessons?"
Zeke nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, she's excellent."
"I'm ashamed to say this, but we're from a very ordinary family... I heard that even among commoners, there are many talented children there."
"And among those talented children, Soi ranked first."
Soi, unintentionally hit by a direct shot of praise for her, blushed.
There's no parent who dislikes hearing their child being praised.
Soi's mother smiled softly.
"Hehehe... Our Soi has been a bit exceptional since she was young."
"She takes after her mother a lot."
"No, I think she resembles him more."
Hero Spoon. He had heard about her father from Soi before.
"What kind of person was he...?"
"Well, he was nosy... and strong. He couldn't stand injustice and always rushed into things."
Indeed, it seemed he lived up to his name.
Zeke, who was once a hero of dark fantasy, felt a slight kinship with him.
"But thanks to his chivalry, he must have saved many people."
"...What good is that? He left so early because of that nosiness."
Soi's mother shook her head with a wistful smile.
'Hmm.'
Zeke cleared his throat.
He didn't mean to talk about something so heavy, but the mood had dampened.
'Well, I almost died a dog's death several times while playing hero. Maybe things would have been different if I had someone to worry about me like that.'
Zeke let out a short breath and turned to Soi.
It seemed best to quickly finish his business and take his leave.
"Soi Spoon."
"Y-Yes!?"
She had been sitting there like a mute, startled by Zeke's sudden call.
"It's time to work on your mana road."
"Uh... um. C-Can't I not receive it?"
She couldn't get the Second Prince's pained face from earlier out of her head.
On top of that, Iriel's chilling warning also frightened her.
Zeke frowned.
"Why not? It's good to receive it. Didn't you see Selena's growth earlier?"
"...T-That was amazing, but... Is there any reason for me to become that strong...?"
"It's never bad to have strength."
"Can't I become strong enough to protect myself just through training...?"
"It's possible, but I still want you to receive it."
Hmm.
Soi Spoon pondered deeply.
She had received help from Zeke again this time.
She knew it was shameless to be constantly protected like this.
However, Soi Spoon still couldn't make up her mind.
Could she really endure the difficult path of the sword to the end?
And...
Would it be alright to continue wielding the sword with a half-hearted will that wasn't her own?
'Instructor wouldn't want me to do it against my will.'
She was tempted by the words about protecting her money and her family, but...
Her father had lived such a life and died.
'If Instructor helps me again later...'
Oops.
Soi Spoon realized how much she had come to rely on him.
He was such a solid and big tree-like person that she had unknowingly leaned on him.
She had promised herself to stand on her own two feet without relying on others...
'...Actually, Instructor has no reason to look after my family.'
But he does.
He helps them nonetheless.
Why?
The reason was probably herself.
He had been good to her from the beginning.
He personally sought her out and gave her swordsmanship lessons,
He saved her mother from the loan sharks,
And he gave her a gold coin to buy bread.
Why would he go so far for her?
'He just said 'because' when I asked him before...'
Soi Spoon still couldn't understand.
However, the reason Zeke was doing this now wasn't for his own benefit either.
It wouldn't do him any good if she accepted it.
It would only waste his time.
Suddenly, she felt a sense of self-loathing.
'The reason Instructor came all the way here is for me...'
Just because she was a little hurt, a little scared...
She hated herself for taking his kindness for granted.
Soi Spoon made up her mind.
She still didn't know much about swords, but...
At least, she would try to meet his expectations.
"Yes, Instructor. I'll accept..."
"Hold on a moment."
Just then, a voice interrupted from outside the room.
One was Iriel, and the other was... Selena?
The two most famous princesses in the capital had come to visit the Hillaise Bakery.
*
'Huh? I thought Selena might come, but Iriel came too...?'
Zeke felt a wave of bewilderment.
He had rushed to the bakery right after class because he was worried Selena might show up.
'I mean, her mom and family are all here, so it would be a bit awkward to have her undressed...'
That's why he was going to quickly put his hand under Soi's clothes and get it over with, but...
Selena and Iriel had shown up.
'Damn it, I guess I have no choice but to do it like before...?'
Zeke considered the situation.
'It's fine even if she doesn't take off her clothes.'
He could already imagine the looks Selena and Iriel would give him if he said that.
He would be treated like a pervert who did something unnecessary just to see their naked bodies.
'It would be fortunate if I were only treated like a pervert.'
He would be kicked out of Yohaiden and his relationship with Iriel, which he had finally managed to bring back to normal, would become awkward again.
She had recently become a strong contender for the female lead, so he had to avoid getting on her bad side.
Especially now that he was at odds with the Eustia family.
'Hmm.'
Zeke stroked his chin.
"Soi Spoon."
"Y-Yes!?"
"Stay where you are. Ma'am, would it be alright if we used the room for a bit?"
"Y-Yes, go ahead. But those two ladies..."
"They'll be coming with us. It's a secret technique that I can only share with my students."
"O-Oh, I see."
Soi's mother answered Zeke's words, but she couldn't take her eyes off the two overwhelmingly beautiful women who had suddenly appeared.
'Wait, his students? Does that mean they take lessons with Soi...? Th-Those ladies are princesses!?'
She almost dropped to her knees again, but Zeke and the girls had already entered a room.
Creak—
"Mom..."
Silia, who had been standing at a distance, finally spoke up after they entered the room attached to the bakery.
"Those ladies... they're princsses, aren't they...?"
"I-I think so..."
"...I'm starting to think Soi is amazing..."
"...By the way, when I woke up in the bedroom today... who cleaned up...?"
Ah.
The mother and Silia turned to James.
"I-I overslept today...!"
They both closed their eyes tightly.
* * *
Zeke and the three girls were gathered in one room.
It was such a small room that it felt cramped with four people inside.
'Is this a small storage room?'
'Is this a doghouse?'
Selena and Iriel had no qualms about thinking such harsh thoughts that would have deeply scarred Soi if she had heard them.
Their rooms were a world away from this cramped and dirty room.
The room where they were raised was at least ten times larger than this one, so this commoner's room was truly a shocking sight for them.
"Th-The bedroom is a bit... messy."
Soi said, cautiously observing their reactions.
'James!!!'
She cursed her younger brother inwardly and began to tidy up the room.
She folded the blankets, gathered the clothes scattered on the floor, and quickly kicked the miscellaneous items into a corner.
"It's alright. It's a nostalgic feeling, somehow."
Of course, to Zeke, it was a scene that reminded him of his old studio apartment, so he rather liked it.
Iriel made a surprised face when she heard that.
'Ah... Right... It's similar in size to that underground prison where Zeke used to be... I guess even though he doesn't remember... the feeling remains.'
The four of them quickly finished tidying up and sat down on the floor.
Zeke spoke first.
"We're going to check your mana road."
Gulp.
Soi Spoon swallowed nervously.
"Remember, there's no personal interest in this for me. And if your family asks, keep it a secret."
Zeke added out of concern.
However, Soi Spoon tilted her head, not understanding what he meant.
'No personal interest? What does he mean? He said it's a secret technique, so I understand keeping it a secret, but...'
Then she remembered the Second Prince receiving the mana road.
She had forgotten because of his pained expression.
He had his shirt off!
Soi Spoon's face turned bright red.
"D-Don't tell me!"
Zeke nodded.
"Yes."
'What do you mean, yes?! And what do you mean, yes?! And these people are here to watch me...!'
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