EP.164 That Painful Name, Summer Break
"Are you leaving?"
After exercising with Elga all morning and finishing lunch.
Just like yesterday, the menu wasn't particularly spicy this time either.
And since the rather uncomfortable Yugen Littorio didn't show up, it was completely relaxing.
Now that there was nothing left to do, it was time to return to the academy.
"Yes, Your Grace. I need to hurry back and prepare to return to my family."
"I see. Yes. Seeing family is always a joyous occasion. You've worked hard this semester at the academy. Both inside and outside of it."
"Thank you. Ah, Your Grace?"
Kyle speaks with a light voice while smiling.
However, the content within was anything but light.
"I think you'll be quite busy for a while, Your Grace."
A meaningful statement. The Grand Duke is not one to miss its implications.
A subtle question about whether he'll announce his successor once Kyle leaves.
To Kyle's indirect question, Grand Duke Littorio also smiles.
"Indeed. I'll probably be busy. Yes. I'll have my work cut out for me."
"I'll be cheering you on. After all, Littorio and Jonathan are friends now."
Kyle is one of the reasons things will get quite busy.
And Kyle is also the one who more firmly connected Littorio and Jonathan.
The Grand Duke nods while muttering about what an interesting situation this is.
"The break means a temporary farewell with my daughter."
"It's two months. That much is..."
"It's long. Very long indeed. From my daughter's perspective, it will be a very long two months."
He immediately seals his lips before saying that it's actually quite short.
If that's what his father-in-law says, then that must be absolutely right. Yes, indeed.
Two months is a very long time! No other opinions will be accepted!
"Hmm."
Grand Duke Littorio peeks his head out and looks around.
Just as Kyle wonders if he's looking for someone, the Duke parts his lips.
"Let me tell you something."
Grand Duke Littorio gestures for him to come closer.
It seems he has something to tell in secret.
So when Kyle carefully approaches, the Duke whispers quietly.
"My daughter has a strange sense of pride. So let her win once, deliberately."
"Pardon? Your Grace, I don't quite understand..."
"To put it simply, even though she'll be depressed about the two months being long, her pride won't let her make the first move. That cursed pride. So Kyle, I'm asking you to subtly prod her once, as if you're letting her win."
"Ah...!"
Kyle lets out an exclamation as if finally understanding the Duke's words.
It means that Elga won't come to Jonathan first during the break, so please invite her.
He's asking this favor because he doesn't want to see her struggling with her pride.
"Would that be alright? For me to do that?"
"If you're fine with it. The one who'll get busy is me anyway, not that child."
A question about whether it's okay to freely summon Littorio's future Grand Duchess.
To which the Duke gave a refreshingly clear answer that there's nothing wrong with it.
Saying he'll be the busy one, not her, is his way of asking Kyle to take good care of her while they still have time.
"I understand. When I have time after returning, I'll send a letter."
"Letters take too long. I'll give you a magic communication device. It'll connect directly to the family head's office. It's good for keeping things confidential too."
Kyle unexpectedly ended up with a hotline to Littorio.
A direct line to the Grand Duke, no less. Surely it's not for surveillance purposes?
"Kyle!"
With perfect timing, Elga approaches with quick steps from ahead.
She seems to be holding back from running, mindful of her dignity as a noble lady.
Honestly, running would be fine. It would be good cardio too.
"Ahem. Well, farewells have been said, so this old man will tactfully take his leave. Kyle."
"Yes? Your Grace?"
"Take care. And see you again later."
With those final words, Grand Duke Littorio truly turned and disappeared.
Thanks to this, Elga, who approached Kyle right after, tilted her head in confusion.
"Kyle. Did Father say something?"
"Just that we'll see each other later. I just said goodbye too."
"Really? That's strange. It's odd how he suddenly left as if escaping."
Women's intuition is truly something else. He realizes this once again.
While Kyle reminds himself to be careful, Elga makes a regretful expression.
"We won't see each other for a while."
"Aren't you going back to the academy?"
"No. I'll send people to get my belongings separately. Leto has already taken care of the important things."
"I see. Well, I'll head to the academy and then straight home."
At Kyle's response, Elga nods and starts staring intently.
The meaning behind that gaze, asking if he has anything to say or do right now.
Having somehow noticed this, Kyle quietly takes Elga's hand.
"Take care, and let's meet again soon."
"Even if you say soon, it'll be well over a month at minimum. The break is two months."
Sure enough, just as Grand Duke Littorio said, Elga is already becoming dejected.
Meanwhile, she still won't ask something like 'Can I come visit you at Jonathan during the break?'
He wishes she wouldn't find her pride in moments like these, but perhaps it can't be helped as a noble lady.
"That's true. Well, who knows? We might suddenly have a chance to meet."
"...That would be nice. Really."
I'll make sure that happens, so don't look so down.
You look best when you're showing confidence in everything you do.
To encourage her, he lightly kisses the back of her hand that he's holding.
To an observer, it might simply look like a noble son's greeting to a lady.
But to Elga in this moment, it would mean more than anything else.
"Ah...!"
"Take care, Lady Elga."
"Y-you too, Kyle."
"Keep up with your exercises. I'll be very disappointed if you get out of shape during the break."
I'm planning to enter hell training during the break.
It would be too unfair to suffer alone, so let's share the pain, even if just a little!
Elga just kept nodding earnestly, unaware of Kyle's true intentions.
===
**
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After finishing his schedule at the Grand Duke Littorio's residence, Kyle returned to the academy.
Arriving in front of his room, Kyle paused for a moment before turning around.
And shortly after, he came back to the corridor, dragging Ian by one ear.
"Ian."
"I'm listening, I'm listening, so please let go of my ear. It feels like it's going to tear off."
"The body is tougher than you think, so don't worry. More importantly, look over there."
Where Kyle pointed, there was a male student in front of his room.
No, let me correct that. A female student was kneeling there.
"Well, Ian. Would you care to explain why Nell is doing that?"
"I don't know either. I just told her she could go to Jonathan during the break, and she's been like that ever since."
Seriously! Why is she acting like this just from hearing those words?
Nobody told her to kneel and wait, it was just a casual suggestion since Ian was going too.
Doesn't she realize that acting so conspicuously could reveal her secret?
"Ian. How long has Nell been like this?"
"I don't remember the exact time, but it's been since yesterday for sure."
"Since yesterday?"
"Yes."
"You're saying she's been like this all day since yesterday?"
"That's right."
Kyle had to rub his forehead again.
Why is this woman acting like this? And here he thought she was somewhat normal.
"I understand being grateful, but why the kneeling?"
"Well, Kyle. From what I overheard Nell muttering, she seems to greatly admire you."
"Me?"
"Yes. I heard you defeated the Three Champions of the Kingdom Alliance and received direct commendation from the Imperial family. For Nell, who dreams of becoming a knight, such stories must be incredible. Am I wrong?"
It feels somewhat strange when Ian makes such a valid point.
Hearing that, he slightly understands why Nell is acting this way.
But only slightly. Admiration doesn't explain the kneeling.
He already told her to stop such behavior since it's bad for her knees.
Plus, with students still around, this is unnecessarily drawing attention.
If there's any silver lining, it's that more than half the students have left since it's the end of the semester.
Otherwise, such peculiar behavior would have certainly spread throughout the academy immediately.
If unlucky, those who noticed something odd might have discovered her identity.
First things first, he needs to get her to stand up.
As Kyle approached directly, Nell brightened at sensing his presence.
"Kyle!"
And then, while still kneeling, she even bowed her head to the ground.
At the sudden commotion, the remaining students peeked their heads out from behind their doors.
After observing the situation, they began looking at Kyle with strange expressions.
They were probably letting their imaginations run wild with various scenarios.
For example, a student who committed a wrong, kneeling with their head bowed.
Like Nell saying "Please forgive me just this once, Kyle!" and Kyle responding "Not a chance, you fool!"
'Has this woman really lost her mind? Why is she acting like this!?'
It's so bad that he's starting to wonder if this might be Nell's elaborate scheme to embarrass him.
But from Nell's perspective, she doesn't have any reason to hold a grudge against him.
Meanwhile, Nell began explaining the reason for all this herself.
"Thank you, Kyle! I'm honored that you thought of me and will take me to Jonathan! I will definitely live up to your expectations with utmost dedication!!"
"Alright, Nell? Please, could you just stand up?"
The unwanted spectators keep increasing.
At this rate, strange rumors will surely spread throughout the academy.
So Kyle tried to pull Nell away, suggesting they talk outside.
"Thank you so much, Kyle! I will definitely repay this kindness!!"
I get it, so just be quiet and stand up!!
"Ian! Bring your disciple and follow me!"
"Understood."
At least Ian's improved obedience lately meant his stress levels weren't increasing further.