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chapter 27
After that walk, Rivanu began physical training.
He had always been a proper young master, but now he became even more diligent.
Every morning, as soon as he woke up, he would eat, then go straight out for a light walk.
This was following Grace’s advice that it wasn’t good to overdo things from the beginning.
Since there wasn’t a separate training ground, his exercise was replaced with jogging a few laps along the walking path.
He disliked the sticky feeling of sweat on his skin, but he endured it.
The only problem was that the itching worsened after running.
“…I didn’t think of this problem. Hm.”
Caught scratching his arms and legs all over his body when he thought Grace wasn’t looking, Rivanu tried to act nonchalant.
“It’s not that itchy.”
“I don’t like lies.”
“…It’s bearable…”
In a blink, his words shifted from not itchy to bearable.
Grace let out a short laugh of disbelief.
“I’ve always been this itchy anyway, so I’m fine.”
Rivanu insisted over and over that he was fine, but Grace couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong with her method.
She had followed what she learned from her mercenary teacher, but she and Rivanu were fundamentally different from the start.
Grace had been trained more in creating a mana core than in mana manipulation.
Since her core hadn’t formed, she focused heavily on physical conditioning during that period.
But applying the same methods to Rivanu, who suffered from a severe skin condition, clearly wasn’t right.
“I think it would be better to find you a real teacher than to keep learning from me.”
She doubted if there was anyone skilled enough who would come all the way here, but if she contacted Ahin of the Veronix Guild—whom she met back in the capital—maybe she could find someone. She had planned to keep that connection alive anyway.
After she voiced her thoughts, Rivanu quickly shook his head.
“I want you to be my teacher.”
“What? How could I possibly be your teacher? That’s nonsense!”
“…Why not? I’ve always thought of you that way.”
“I can only teach you the most basic things… I’m not qualified to be called a teacher. Besides, I’m just a maid.”
“Still, you’re the one I’m learning from.”
“…What good does it do you to call me your teacher?”
It seemed like such a pointless thing to cling to, but since he insisted, she couldn’t outright refuse. She just let out a small laugh.
“Fine, fine. Then I’ll do it.”
“This really doesn’t seem right though…”
Grace trailed off, but Rivanu was firm.
“If it’s not you, I don’t need another teacher.”
“…Well. I don’t really mind, but the truth is you do need someone who can teach you properly. Judging from how your body improved after forming your core, physical training is important, but you need to really learn how to handle mana. That’s crucial for you, and I don’t know enough about it.”
“…”
“Right, young master?” Grace clasped her hands and spoke earnestly.
“Ah…”
“I want you to stay healthy and live a long time by my side. Please.”
When she lifted her damp eyes to him, Rivanu groaned as if in pain.
“…That was sly.”
“Hm? What was?”
“…You know I’m weak against you, and you did that on purpose.”
“You’re weak against me?”
“Honestly.”
He gave a disbelieving laugh, and Grace replied as if innocent.
“Well, I’m weak against you too, so it’s mutual.”
“…Really? Then—”
“But this time, I can’t give in.”
Whatever Rivanu had been about to say, he simply nodded, realizing she wouldn’t yield.
“But… is there even a teacher who would want to take me on?”
He muttered with a hint of worry—almost as if he hoped the answer was no.
In the end, though, his worries about training were pointless.
There was no need to contact Ahin for a teacher.
Surprisingly, once Rivanu could handle his core to some degree, he instinctively figured out how to release mana in moderation.
No one had taught him—it was something he simply realized: Ah, if I do this, my body hurts less.
“…Huh.”
Grace gave a disbelieving laugh, but Rivanu looked pleased at not needing another teacher.
“My body feels light.”
Above all, Rivanu’s condition had recently been at its best.
His skin, which used to ooze and run, no longer looked so severe.
With daily mana release and proper care, his skin condition might improve quickly.
“To think it could get better this fast…”
Grace murmured with regret, but Rivanu grinned.
“It’s fine. I know it now, that’s enough.”
“…You’re right.”
Normally, the second prince would only step in to help after Rivanu became an adult, so this was five years ahead of schedule.
“I feel good. Breathing used to feel so stifling, but now it’s so refreshing.”
“If you feel good, then I’m happy too.”
For the first time, Rivanu—who usually only ever gave faint smiles—laughed brightly, his eyes curving gently.
His appearance was still marred by his skin, but for the first time Grace thought he looked beautiful.
Though his face had not healed, his eyes were so pure and clear that they were truly beautiful.
“Young master.”
“Mm?”
“Your eyes are really pretty.”
The words slipped out before Grace realized it.
“…What?”
Rivanu’s face flushed crimson in embarrassment, and Grace thought:
He reacts so transparently to every word.
If he grew up like this, there was no way he could ever be a villain.
Oblivious to his flustered state, she just smiled warmly, while Rivanu’s mouth opened and closed.
“…You really have strange taste.”
“No, I mean it. Your eyes are beautiful.”
“You’re prettier.”
It seemed he didn’t realize it himself because he disliked his own face and avoided mirrors.
His skin might be damaged, but his eyes were undeniably beautiful.
Rustle—
Just then, there was a sound, and something peeked out from behind a tree.
Rivanu stiffened, his cheerful demeanor instantly gone, body tense with wariness.
“Who’s there.”
His low, sharp voice cut through the air.
A head cautiously poked out from behind the tree.
“…Eh? Young Master Reto?”
It was someone Grace thought she’d never see again, other than during the brief greeting visit before.
Yet here he was, spying on her and Rivanu.
“Young master?”
The moment Grace recognized him, Rivanu’s usual gentle look—at least toward her—vanished instantly.
“…So you’re the young master who was here before.”
“Yes, that’s right. But what are you doing here—”
Before she could finish, Reto suddenly strode forward and—
—hugged her tightly.
“Wha—?!”
Grace cried out in shock, but couldn’t bring herself to push away the small boy.
The instant Reto clung to her, Rivanu’s expression twisted, and he shot up from his seat.
Crash!
The chair toppled onto the grass with a loud clatter.
Grace had no idea what was happening.
Why had this little young master, who had been hiding, suddenly thrown himself into her arms?
“…Uh, young master?”
Even stranger, after hugging her, Reto suddenly looked startled, then shoved her away roughly.
“Ah!”
Caught off guard, Grace fell to the ground with a cry, staring up at him in shock.
“What in the world…”
She couldn’t even laugh at the absurdity.
As she stared in silence, Reto’s face flushed red and pale by turns—then he bolted away.
“What was that?”
It had all happened so fast that even Rivanu muttered in disbelief.
Only after Reto disappeared into the distance like a black dot did Grace take Rivanu’s offered hand and get up, still bewildered.
“Grace, when did you meet that boy?”
“…Ah.”
She hadn’t intended to mention it, but she couldn’t shake the thought that Reto had come looking for her deliberately. She stayed silent, and Rivanu’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“…So you did meet him. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I did, just briefly…”
For the first time, Rivanu’s normally gentle eyes hardened into something sharp and cold.
“Then why didn’t you say anything?”
“I’m sorry for not telling you sooner.”
“…This feels strange. Why do I hate it so much, the thought of you meeting that boy without telling me?”
“…Uh…”
“You used to tell me everything before you did anything. No, wait—you didn’t tell me about the Essey matter either.”
“I’m sorry. But really, nothing happened.”
Grace hadn’t thought Rivanu would dislike it this much, and she was a little shaken.
