“Ngh?!”
Catching the archduke’s blow with the tip of my wooden sword, I easily deflected his practice blade.
“Still green, my boy!”
With his extraordinary strength, the archduke flicked my sword away and lashed out with a horizontal slash to the exposed area under my arm.
“Hmph!”
Ducking low, I bent my body almost parallel with the ground, then smoothly lifted my blade up into the air.
Clack.
“…Ha-ha! You got me.”
Seeing the tip of my practice sword hovering mere inches from his white beard, the archduke surrendered.
“Hugh! You’ve worked up a sweat!”
Melza had been watching from the sidelines. Grinning, she ran over to offer me a handkerchief.
“Ha-ha… Thank you, Melza.”
“You’ve gotten so strong, Hugh.”
“Well, well…” The archduke scratched the back of his head and flashed me a wry smile. “I’ll admit, even I’m surprised by how much you’ve improved in a single year.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Your Grace. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without your dedicated instruction. You have my sincere gratitude.” Facing him, I bowed deeply.
A year ago, when I officially joined House Woodstock, I vowed to become stronger than anyone else so that I could protect Melza.
The archduke responded to my fervor with equal resolve, endeavoring to provide me with all the training I needed. His drills were so rigorous, in fact, that the training I’d undergone in my first life in order to become an assassin now felt like child’s play.
Every one of his lessons—equal parts severe and compassionate—served to make me stronger, and I was finally seeing results.
“Oh-ho… You should have expected as much, Grandfather. This is my Hugh we’re talking about.” Melza covered her mouth with a folding fan as she chuckled.
Yes… This woman—the most important person in my life and the one I’d sworn to protect—had been supporting me by my side all along. Thanks to her, even the archduke’s grueling lessons felt like a comfortable challenge.
It was all because of my newfound family that I had been able to grow so much.
The archduke stroked his whiskers and nodded. “Yes, indeed. You’re every bit the son-in-law I hoped you would be.”
“What do you mean, Grandfather…? I’m the one who chose him.”
Melza fixed the archduke with a cold stare, and he trembled under her gaze.
“In any event,” she continued, pulling me by the arm, “today’s training bout is over, so it’s time for us to try on our uniforms!”
“They’re ready, then?” I asked.
“They are. The tailor came by to drop them off a little while ago.”
Right on time, I suppose, as we’ll be enrolling in the Imperial Academy at the start of next month.
“Hah! Then you should both get changed!” the archduke exclaimed. “Hurry up and show me how you look!”
“Yes!” we answered in unison as I took Melza’s hand and headed back inside.
A moment later, we found Ellen.
“Oh! Master Hugo, Lady Meltreza!” she cried. “Sorry to keep you waiting!”
She was busy hanging up the uniforms to keep them from losing their shape, but she stopped to greet us with a smile.
She had joined me at the Woodstock residence about a year ago, and owing to her quick wits, she seemed to be getting along quite well with the other servants.
Fully aware that she was a spy in Marquis Grenville’s employ, our plan was to use her to lull the Grenvilles into a false sense of security. To do this, we would make sure she reported back to her master that my takeover of House Woodstock was proceeding as planned.
“Oh-ho… Then shall we get changed and see how we both look?”
“Naturally!”
And so Melza and I split up to change into our new uniforms. For some reason, however, Ellen refused to leave my side.
“…Sorry, Ellen, but can I ask you to step outside?”
“I’ve seen you naked plenty of times, Master Hugo. There’s no need to feel embarrassed.”
…Sounds like she plans to stick around.
I had no idea why she was so determined to watch me change, but since chasing her off seemed like it would be a hassle, I decided to simply let her stay.
“…You’ve become quite strapping, Master Hugo,” she murmured, staring fixedly at the muscles of my upper body.
Well, I have been receiving one-on-one training from Cyril of Woodstock, the empire’s strongest warrior, for the past twelve months…
“U-um… M-may I touch them…?” Ellen asked. She was gazing up at me, her breathing noticeably ragged.
“No.”
I refused her outright. That said, if it had been Melza asking, I would have been more than willing. Knowing things could get out of hand if this dragged on much longer, I quickly put on my new uniform.
Soon, Melza and I were back together.
“……”
“……”
The second we laid eyes on each other, we were rendered speechless. I couldn’t be entirely sure what she was thinking, but for my part, I was utterly mesmerized by her overwhelming beauty. Her usual attire was quite stunning, but the uniform only further emphasized her gorgeous looks.
“Oh, Hugh… You look splendid…” She timidly gazed up at me and breathed a blissful sigh.
“You look amazing, Melza. I mean it… When I think about you at the academy, with all those other men watching you with their filthy gazes… I already want to gouge out their eyes.”
“My, my… Ho-ho. I’m worried the other young ladies will start pining after you, too, Hugh…”
All at once, we smiled and linked hands.
“Er… Ahem.” The archduke appeared and feigned a loud cough.
“…Yes, Grandfather?”
Whoa… That sure made her angry…
The archduke recoiled under the force of Melza’s cold stare, but he quickly regained his composure and turned toward me.
“Hugo, my boy…,” he declared, fixing me with a solemn look. “You’ve worked hard to surpass me on the battlefield this past year, and all to protect my dear granddaughter. Well done.”
“Oh… Th-thank you!” I answered, standing up straight.
“Here.”
“Hmm?”
The archduke called out to a nearby knight, who handed him a saber.
“This blade came from a far eastern land and was then fitted with a handle and scabbard from the empire. Take it, and use it to defend Melza for as long as you both live.”
I knelt to accept the gift in both hands…and felt a weight greater than that of the blade come to rest on my shoulders. This was the weight of the archduke’s affection for his precious granddaughter.
“…I, Hugo Grenville, swear to protect and shelter Melza no matter what the future may hold.”
“Mm… I’m counting on you, son-in-law.”
When the archduke was done speaking, he flashed me a heartfelt smile.