FSTE 09

Chapter 09

There had been a few commotions during the period of welcoming spring.
But from that day on, many things around Rian began to change.

“Excuse me, Master Diego.”
“What is it?”
“If I report this item as medicine instead of a spice, wouldn’t the tax be lower?”

Among these changes, the shift in attitude of that stiff, goatee-wearing man was perhaps the most noticeable.

“You little rascal. Where did you learn such mischief?”
“Oh, this little trick won’t work?”
“If you compare it with the supplier’s report, it’ll be found out immediately. Did you really think no one ever had ideas like yours before?”
“Wow! The officials are ruthless. They really go that far?”

Had he really been scolded by Isabel?
Since returning from that meeting with her, Diego’s demeanor had softened considerably.

Now, not only would he properly help with accounting work, but even if he sounded gruff when asked something, he actually taught Rian correctly.

If only he had been like this from the start. How wonderful that would have been.

“By the way, I’m having my coming-of-age ceremony today. Don’t you have anything to give me, Master?”
“When have we ever had time for such things?”
“But we’ve spent over three months together. Is it too disappointing to do nothing?”
“Here. Take this.”

Diego tossed a bundle of papers from the corner of his desk in front of Rian.

Was this his way of saying, “Just focus on work”?
But judging by the look of it, it didn’t seem like a ledger or voucher.

“Oh… what’s this…?”

They were all letters.
Congratulatory letters from the merchants who had been indebted to Rian, including Miguel.

They all must have known that, under Isabel’s orders, Rian could no longer help them.
Honestly, he hadn’t expected anyone to go to such lengths.

[My friend Rian, congratulations on finally becoming an adult!]

“Friend… huh…”

In his previous life, worn down by hardship, he hadn’t had a single proper friend.
Even now, the word “friend” felt awkward and strangely embarrassing.

“Can I reply to these?”
“Hmph. None of you ever worry about wasting paper, do you?”

Diego twitched his goatee and frowned.

“At least finish your work first, then write.”

Despite everything, he turned out to be a bit of a tsundere.

Rian smiled quietly, gathered the letters, and tucked them into his chest.

For a while, exchanging letters with Miguel and the others like this to check on each other seemed fine.
It felt somewhat like pen-palling, a refreshing little pleasure in its own way.

“By the way, you… why did you ask Lady Isabel for such a gift?”
“Why? It’s fun, isn’t it?”
“Tch! You immature brat!”

Now that he thought about it, she really might prepare the gift after all.

Rian found himself looking forward to the afternoon in many ways.

Among the changes that came to Rian, not all were bad, but some were less welcome.

“Hey, you’re having your coming-of-age ceremony today, right? Congratulations!”
“Oh, yes. Thank you.”

On the way to respond to Isabel’s call, a group of maids passed by, clustering around Rian.

“At first, I thought you were just a cute little kid, but when did you get so reliable?”
“Hey, he belongs to Lady Isabel. Don’t get any ideas.”
“Oh my! What did I do? You were the one making a fuss about how handsome he is!”
“No, that was just an observation!”

Perhaps it was because Rian had grown noticeably and carried a more manly scent.
The stares from Isabel’s maids felt a little overwhelming.

Well, being handsome is a crime, isn’t it?

“I’ll be off, since Lady Isabel called me.”

Rian gave a brief bow and quickly moved away.

As the old saying goes, a man must be careful in three matters.
Getting too close to them wouldn’t be beneficial.

“You’re here, Rian.”
“You called for me, Lady Isabel?”

He knew why she called, but asked politely as if he didn’t.

On the table in front of Isabel was the box.
The very gift she had promised.

“Yes. The gift meant for you has just arrived.”

A coming-of-age ceremony wasn’t much.
It was simply the eldest in the household giving a gift to a new adult.

The key point was what gift to give.

For example, a blacksmith might receive a hammer, a carpenter a saw or chisel.
Gifts corresponding to one’s profession symbolized their role in the household.

For a merchant like Isabel, decorative pens or scales were common.
But she let Rian choose the gift himself.

“Congratulations on becoming an adult, Rian.”

She held the box forward, as if to say he should open it.

Rian carefully opened the box.
Inside was a short sword, roughly the length of his forearm.

“Wow! Thank you! I can’t believe you actually prepared this!”
“I hesitated a little, but I thought you could handle it.”
“As expected of Lady Isabel! Should I even swear an oath of loyalty?”
“You’re already my slave; there’s no need.”
“True enough.”

Although short, the sword’s decorations on the scabbard and hilt were almost like fine craftsmanship.
Any cheap iron sword would have sufficed, yet she went this far.

Clearly, Isabel’s pride wouldn’t allow anything less.

“Lady Isabel! Giving a sharp weapon to a slave is far too dangerous! Please take it back!”

Not everyone welcomed such a gift.

Unlike the other guards, a man wearing a noticeable red scarf—Pedro, if Rian remembered correctly—glared at him.

As captain of Isabel’s private guard, he seemed ready to draw his sword at any moment.
As the person responsible for her safety, this was natural.

“Besides, swords are usually gifts for nobles…”
“Pedro, since when did you have the right to question my decisions?”
“…Sorry.”

Even he could not argue further against Isabel’s word.
Also, giving a slave a sword wasn’t entirely unheard of.

What was unusual was following the noble custom of presenting a sword as a coming-of-age gift.

“Don’t worry. Even if this blade is aimed at my neck, I would never point it at Lady Isabel.”
“…First, make sure that never happens in front of me.”

Pedro gritted his teeth, eyes narrowing.
The look wasn’t just caution—it carried a sense of personal displeasure.

Rian had requested a sword as a kind of performance.

In noble coming-of-age ceremonies, swords held symbolic meaning.
They represented authority, accepting the family’s power, and a lifelong vow of service.

Rian’s request was meant in a similar vein.
And Isabel, thinking he was of noble origin, interpreted it as such.

Well, if not, then never mind.

“Hey, you slave, stop right there.”

Passing through the courtyard, a threatening voice called out from behind.

Even Diego wouldn’t speak to him like that these days…

Rian stopped and turned.
It was Captain Pedro.

“You probably know my name, but…”
“I don’t care about that.”

Clunk!

Something long fell at his feet—a wooden training sword.
Pedro also held one in his hand.

“Pick it up. I’ll teach you swordsmanship. I assume you don’t intend to use your gift sword for decoration only?”
“Wait, didn’t you tell me not to draw it…?”
“Silence. Appreciate that I’m taking precious time to teach you.”

That smirk. Surely he intended training as an excuse to rough him up.

“So, is this by Lady Isabel’s orders?”
“No. But I got permission.”

Rian frowned.
Even Isabel must know Pedro’s true intentions, yet she allowed it?

“Then I refuse.”
“Stand there, slave. Do you dare defy me?”
“It’s not even Lady Isabel’s order, so why would I waste your precious time?”

This wasn’t the first clash with him.

Lately, he’d been provoking Rian, clearly trying to make him react.
This time, he thought he had an actual reason to strike.

“Do you think a slave like you has a choice?”
“I’m not your slave, am I?”
“You insolent…”

At that moment, Rian felt a chill run down his spine.

“Uwaah!”

A terrifying hallucination came from his left side.
Rian rolled just in time.

Whoosh!

Pedro swung his wooden sword at Rian’s body, missing entirely.

“…So your reflexes aren’t bad.”
“What? Are you crazy!?”
“I told you to pick up the sword. Training has begun.”

Even so, he hadn’t expected such recklessness.
At least he had prior permission, so that was a relief.

“Fine. Picking up a dropped sword mid-attack isn’t bad training either.”

Pedro readied himself again.
His intent to thoroughly beat Rian was clear.

“Fine! I’ll pick it up!”
“Finally, you’re speaking sense.”
“If you teach me poorly, I’ll report you to Lady Isabel immediately!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll teach you properly.”

Rian glared at Pedro and picked up the wooden sword.
Now, he was determined to return the favor with a solid strike.

Honestly, he was a little overconfident.

Like a few days ago, when he executed a perfect throw on a crazed straggler,
he thought he could land a hit with the hallucination’s help.

“Ugh… ow!”
“Poor thing. Pedro is too harsh. What is he doing to this delicate body?”

A maid applied whale oil salve to Rian’s bruised body, clicking her tongue.

After about an hour rolling around in the courtyard, Rian hadn’t even touched Pedro’s collar.

Meanwhile, Pedro had thoroughly beaten him everywhere except the face and vital points.
Dodging a few strikes was possible, but keeping up with the chain of attacks was impossible.

Most guards were ex-soldiers or mercenaries, veterans through and through.
Though Rian didn’t like him, Pedro’s skill was undeniable.

“Hmm. I’ll handle the rest. Give it here.”
“It’s fine. Since my hands are already greasy, I’ll do it.”
“No, then why do your hands keep wandering to weird places!?”
“Oh my, don’t misunderstand. Do you think I have ill intentions toward you?”

The maid tried to appear innocent while clearly teasing him.

“Fine. I’ll do it myself.”

Rian forcibly took the salve and moved slightly away from her.

“Pfft! Boring.”

The maid pouted, wiped the remaining salve off her hands, and watched Rian apply it to his bruises, showing no intention of leaving.

“What are you doing? Don’t you have other tasks?”
“Don’t you wonder why Pedro treats you this way?”
“Of course I know. I have eyes and ears, you know.”
“Oh! You knew?”

The young, muscular guard captain Pedro was clearly recognizable even by description.
He was Isabel’s current lover.

“Lady Isabel is greedy, isn’t she? She has Pedro, and yet… you too…”

The maid continued sending sticky glances toward Rian.

“Hey, don’t you want to make a little secret of our own?”
“Get lost.”

Rian’s firm refusal immediately ruined her expression.

“Hmph! A slave with a good-looking face, thinking he’s something!”

Pushed away so decisively, the maid finally got up, face red with anger.

“Wait a moment.”

Rian felt something strange.

The maid, who worked closely with Isabel, should know her personality and reputation.
Why was she being so blatantly forward?

Moreover…

“What did you mean by ‘our’ just now?”

At first, he thought she referred to Isabel and Pedro, but the tone suggested otherwise.

“Curious?”

The corners of her mouth, previously angry, curled upward.

“Don’t tell anyone about this, okay?”

That expression clearly screamed she wanted to spill gossip she’d been holding back.

This was exactly the kind of story Rian had anticipated.