Chapter 11 - The Young Lady Appears

"Then, I shall introduce you to my daughter at once. Nothing can begin until that is settled." 

"Naturally, sir." 

"Follow me."

Big Sis and I followed behind the Governor, entering the mansion.

...For at least the next few years, we must protect the Governor’s daughter as her bodyguards and look up to her as our mistress. That is why today’s meeting is critical.

Aside from the lady’s own personality, if we leave a bad impression during the first contact, the next few years will be a nightmare! I have to get through this smoothly, no matter what!

"My daughter is currently busy with preparations for her enrollment at the Royal Academy. Since you two are going with her, once greetings are finished, please help her with the packing and get your own preparations in order." 

""Understood.""

We proceeded through the mansion, up the stairs to the second floor, and further down the halls... Damn, this place is huge! Just moving around is a chore!!

"Alright, we've reached her room...!"

The old Governor was huffing and puffing. Imagine getting winded just walking through your own house.

"Staff, my dear, your father is here. May I come in?" 

"Father? Yes, please come in."

A lovely voice drifted through the door. With permission granted, the door swung open...

"Welcome, Father, to my tea party."

The one whispering so gracefully was a gorgeous young girl who was the very definition of a "noble lady." Her radiant blonde hair was styled into vertical ringlets, and her blouse was a dazzling, pristine white.

While she wasn't wearing a full gown at home, her outfit was subtly adorned with ribbons and frills, emphasizing her status as a high-born lady.

"She's so cute...!"

Big Sis was instantly smitten. A village girl's financial standing could never afford clothes that cute and elegant.

As for what this young lady was doing in her room, she was elegantly sipping tea in the center of the area. However, around her, several maids were scurrying about in a frantic mess.

"This is quite a disjointed space, isn't it?"

Specifically, the contrast between the stillness and the chaos.

"It is preparation for the move to the Royal Academy. Most things are already provided at the manor in the Capital, but there are certain items I simply cannot do without, so the luggage has increased significantly...!" 

"I see...!" 

"I truly wanted to sort through them myself, but I was told my hands were too slow and we wouldn't make the departure deadline, so I have been confined here. They told me not to touch anything because it only adds to the work..."

An "o-jou-sama" anecdote right out of the gate. She’s quite the capable lady. Or rather, incapable.

"Sorting things is the maids' job," the Governor said. "The master must not meddle unnecessarily and steal their work. One who leads must sit firmly at the top and direct. You must learn the proper etiquette of the nobility while you are in the Capital." 

"Yes, Father."

She seemed to listen to her father dutifully.

Though it was a brief exchange, this young lady's refined upbringing manifested as a gentle, laid-back personality. She wasn't the typical spoiled, selfish brat. The fact that she wasn't that kind of "high-born" was a stroke of luck for us...!

"So, Father, what is your business in the middle of the move? As you can see, things are very busy."

For the maids, anyway.

"I told you before, didn't I? That I would provide bodyguards for your journey to the Capital. They have arrived, so I came to introduce them." 

"Were you serious about that...?"

Oh? The young lady’s expression turned into one of slight annoyance.

"I am happy that you worry for my safety, but having guards around twenty-four hours a day sounds stifling. Besides, bodyguards are usually just... rugged men, aren't they?" 

"Were you worried about that? Fear not. I have handpicked these individuals to ensure your safety while also guaranteeing a comfortable school life. You two, introduce yourselves."

Prompted by the Governor, Big Sis and I knelt together. I had learned these manners from Mother beforehand.

"I am Sao, son of Machete from Elmi Village." 

"And I am her daughter, Caliber!"

Big Sis stumbled over her words. Also, apparently, the village we grew up in was called Elmi Village. Since there was no need to remember it unless we left, it felt strangely fresh.

"...My, my, my, my, my!?"

Wait, the lady's reaction changed? Is she getting excited?

"What a handsome gentleman, and such a cute friend! I get to be accompanied by such wonderful people!? Are you serious, Father!?" 

"Dead serious. I’m glad you’re pleased, Staff."

Is that really okay, Governor? Well, her attitude went from reluctant to favorable in an instant, so I suppose I should be happy.

"I am Staff de Elminar Zelizar, daughter of Ogoba, Governor of the Zelizar Territory. It would be my pleasure to have such wonderful people with me! We seem to be close in age, so I'm sure we'll get along!" 

"I wonder about that...!"

Even if we’re the same age, one side is commoner and the other is noble. Since we lived in different worlds, I wonder how many topics we’ll actually have in common...

"I'm glad Staff likes you. It's settled then—you're all going to the Capital." 

"Wait, was there a chance we weren't going?" 

"Well, if my daughter had truly hated the idea, yes."

This Governor guy...! To think he was ready to scrap our plans based on his daughter’s whim—do nobles really just play with commoners like that!?

"I married late, you see. Before that part of me became useless, Staff was the only one I managed to conceive. The future of our house rests solely on her shoulders. She is irreplaceable to the house, and to me." 

"I see...!"

A child born late in life is like a hybrid of a child and a grandchild; of course he dotes on her.

"So... Sao, was it?" 

"Yes?" 

"Do not misunderstand just because Staff called you 'handsome.' Men tend to get the wrong idea the moment a beautiful woman says something kind to them. Thinking she's interested in you...!"

As he spoke, his hand on my shoulder dug in again.

"She is kind to everyone. She's a good girl. Don't you dare dream for even a second that you are special. To begin with, a romance between a commoner and a noble is the height of forbidden fruit, you hear me!?" 

"Understood! My heart shall remain unmoved no matter what is said to me!" 

"How dare you not be happy when Staff praises you!!"

The irrationality typical of a protective father assaulted me!? What exactly am I supposed to do then!?

"Well, since greetings are done, let us help with the move. We’re used to manual labor."

Big Sis said, rolling up her sleeves. She really has developed such a great personality, a far cry from how she was as a kid.

"Please, don't mind that. Caliber, was it? Why don't you sit here and have some tea with me?" the young lady invited.

"But, we are technically of a status to serve you, Milady..." 

"Organizing things is the maids' job. We must not infringe upon their professional domain. Conversely, your duty is to protect me, is it not? Therefore, you must not leave my side for a single moment." 

"The duty has already started!?" 

"First, let us start with plenty of chatter so we can become friends. Since we will be living together, mutual understanding is indispensable. Maid, please bring a teacup for her as well."

The maids' work increased again!?

Well, maybe I should sit and talk too as a bodyguard? I could share my illustrious history with women...

"You, would you mind loading the packed luggage into the carriage?" 

"So I'm the one who has to do the heavy lifting?" 

"The maids have a hard time without a man's strength. Please handle the grueling manual labor."

Even as a guard, this old man doesn't want a man near his precious daughter, does he...?

Well, I don't mind carrying luggage if asked. If I help the maids, maybe they'll let me touch their butts as a thank you.

"Then, please take the wooden crates piled over there—" 

"Stacked four high!?"

Can't be helped. 

Heave, ho.

I just need to carry these down to the first floor and load them into the waiting wagon, right?

Heave, ho, heave... Oh?

 I accidentally picked up a maid instead of a crate (princess carry). No wonder it felt so light!

While I was busy laboring away, Big Sis seemed to be enjoying her chat with the young lady and deepening their friendship quite a bit. Well, close communication with the person you're protecting is necessary for future operations, so I figured it was fine.

Preparations proceeded busily over the next few days, and finally, the day of departure arrived.

---

"Well then, Father. I, Staff, shall go and learn at the Royal Capital." 

"Umu. I look forward to the day we meet again, when you have grown into a fine lady. Listen to your teachers and apply yourself to your studies." 

"Yes." 

"Be sure to write letters frequently. If you lack anything, I will send it at once. There are dangerous areas in the Capital, so do not approach them heedlessly. If anything happens, rely on Caliber or Sao immediately. That is what guards are for. Also, keep a regular schedule and go to sleep early. Lack of sleep ruins the skin. And don't be a picky eater; eat everything the cook serves..." 

"We're leaving now."

Cutting off the Governor's endless stream of advice, the young lady stepped into the carriage. As expected of a Governor's daughter, the procession wasn't just one carriage; several others followed, filled with attendants and luggage. Furthermore, several mounted guards surrounded the convoy.

A noble's journey is truly extravagant.

"I wonder which carriage we're in...?" 

"Sao, you and Caliber are with me."

I turned around to find the young lady already inside, beckoning from the window. Is Big Sis in there too?

"In the same carriage as Milady!? That's too much honor!?" 

"You are my bodyguards, so it would be troublesome if you weren't by my side to protect me at all times. The cavalry will protect the convoy itself, so you two should focus solely on my safety."

If that’s the case... I guess there's no choice? Big Sis had already resigned herself to it. If I insisted on another carriage, the lady’s defense would drop, which defeats the purpose. I'll just follow orders and hop in.

"Excuse me... Whoa, it's huge!?"

As expected of a Governor's daughter’s carriage! The interior was incredibly spacious. I thought a carriage would be about the size of a train booth seat at most, but this was like a limousine.

The limousine of the carriage world!?

"There is plenty of room for three. Sao, please sit there." 

"Y-yes...!"

The basic structure was two seats facing each other, like a cross-seat arrangement. I sat on one side, while Big Sis and Lady Staff sat side-by-side on the other.

The sound of the coachman’s whip cracked, and the carriage began to vibrate as it rolled forward. We were finally moving. This was a true farewell to our hometown for a while.

"I am going to study in the city to become a fine Governor and succeed my father," the lady began to share her ambitions.

"It is not just about what is written in books; hearing from famous teachers in the Capital and deepening my insights by interacting with classmates who gathered for the same purpose is something I cannot do by staying shut in at home. Sao, Caliber, I would like your help with that. Please look after me." 

"As you wish."

She was a good girl with a strong sense of responsibility toward her noble duties. I was wary of the possibility of a selfish noble archetype, but this was infinitely better.

"That being said, there is something I would like the two of you to instruct me on immediately." 

"Us...?"

I don't think commoners like us can teach you anything about being a Governor... What kind of knowledge are you looking for?

"You two are siblings, but you have a physical relationship, don't you?" 

"Guh-!?"

Where did she get that information!? Come to think of it, she and Big Sis had been chatting animatedly until we left... Did she spill the beans herself!?

"We got excited and it just slipped out...!"

You've got a loose tongue, Big Sis!? Are you really okay!? You're not going to blurt out security secrets, are you!?

"I heard that Sao has relationships not only with his sister but with many other women as well. I wanted to ask a favor of you, seeing as you have such... expertise!"

The young lady said it plainly.

"Would you mind teaching me about sex?"

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