The dukes of Nilesteria in the Kingdom of Naglas.

　It is a family founded by the previous king's brother, and although it is lowly, it is an aristocrat among nobles with the right to succeed to the throne.
　It's a short history, but its financial power and influence are among the best in the kingdom, and it's far superior in terms of rank compared to provincial aristocrats like the Marquis of Trier.

　The current head of the family is the third-generation grandson of the first generation who founded the family.
　It's been five years since he inherited the title from his father. It is said that he has ruled the estate without much fault, and is trusted by the current king.
　According to Cesare's information, ''He has a good reputation among the people of the fiefdom. It seems that he is a loyal person who supports the royal family from a step back while building a firm position as an important figure in the aristocracy as well as the royalist faction,'' according to the information of Cesare.

　Unusually for a genuine nobleman, he did not despise commoners, and was known for his honest character even among soldiers and mercenaries of commoner origin.
　Of course, as Cesare said, 'As long as you're an aristocrat, it's not like you're a blank slate, though,' he wouldn't be able to keep his house just by being pretty.

　We don't know what those in power are doing out of sight,'' said Cesare.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this as well.

　I'm not a rabid dog that bites all the people around me.
　I'm not going to show any mercy to people who treat me with malice or who have a high-handed attitude because of their power, but I have the sense to treat people who should be respected with the appropriate amount of courtesy.
　Of course, I don't have the courtesy to show a fox that borrows from a tiger, and a person who has blind faith in a goddess is out of the question.

"You've been treating me pretty well, haven't you?

Don't you like it?　If so, you may relieve me of my duties at this time, if you don't mind.

　It's a good thing that the man Aldis is hitting with polite but rude (reluctant) contents is a well-dressed man who looks before 40.

　After instructing Minerva as usual, Aldis was called into the mansion and was shown into what appeared to be an office.
　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of who the man waiting for you there is, even if you are not familiar with aristocratic society, Aldis immediately knew who he was.

　You can see the style of a man who has always been destined to stand above others since he was born into this world, and who has always obeyed others.
　Although the design is simple, the clothes he wears are probably first-class tailoring.
　He is a man who holds the life and death of others in his hands, and we can see from his appearance that he is a vessel that naturally bears the burden and responsibility of life and death.

　His name is Larvest. He is the current head of the Duke of Nilesteria family.

It's the daughter's own choice. It's not a problem if she doesn't raise her voice. It's just that she's not yet married. Please don't leave any marks on her face or body.

　I'm sure you've been thinking that you'll be interfering with the content of Minerva's instruction, but Aldis rolled his eyes at the unexpected turn of events.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're going to do with your money.

"That's a surprising look.

　That must have rubbed off on the other party.
　The duke caught Aldis's expression and pointed out.

─ Is it natural? The daughter of a nobleman, and even the heir to the throne, running into the field covered in sweat and wielding a sword with her palms stiffened, is unheard of. There are many who say that a nobleman's daughter has no business learning the art of warfare. Before you came to me, I tried to talk to a number of sorcerers about teaching them the art of warfare, but they just wouldn't take me up on it.

And that's why they have to hire a mercenary like me?

''I don't like to talk about it that way. Nobles have their own role to play and mercenaries have their own role to play. It's just a different position, in my opinion.

　The Duke was rather more offended by Aldis's deliberately demeaning expression.

''Whether you are a knight or a soldier, whether it is a mercenary or not, those with ability deserve to be respected, and those who have made achievements should be rewarded, right?

　Before I knew it, the topic of conversation had turned to the war two months ago.

There has been talk of rewarding you for your service. It's not acceptable to give an award based on a rumor, even though it's not a formal accomplishment," he said. The story of beating a thousand cavalrymen on the battlefield is also suspicious. It's only a messenger soldier and the rest were schoolchildren. There are certainly many people who suspect that the story was probably exaggerated.

　The Duke himself has not shown any signs of doubt.
　In inviting him to be his daughter's instructor, he's probably at least doing a background check on Aldis and corroborating the rumors.

''It's not another battle I participated in for the sake of a reward. I would very much like to decline to talk about it.

　Aldis did not come to battle for rewards and fame.

'Why not take what you can get?

　When Aldis simply declined the award, the Duke's unaristocratic words fell out of his mouth.

I am not in need of money. It may seem rude to say this in front of His Excellency the Duke, but to tell the truth, I would like to live a life free of aristocrats, especially those high ranking aristocrats and royalty who are close to the heart of the city.

So does that mean this story was a nuisance to you?

　This time, that meant that he was Minerva's point man.

　Aldis would not be happy about it, but if he was an ordinary mercenary, his reaction would be different.
　Many mercenaries would be willing to accept an instructional role with more than enough compensation and no risk to their lives, and if they were successful, they would even get a connection to the Duke.

''Let's just say that if I didn't owe the ...... battalion commander a debt of gratitude, I wouldn't have been able to visit this mansion.

　But for Ardis, the scales tilt more towards the dangers associated with aristocratic society than the rewards and personal safety.
　For Ardis, who wants to protect the twins, power and religion are more troublesome opponents than demons if you make enemies with them.

　But apparently, the duke shows no signs of firing the mercenary who acts as his point man.
　I have no choice but to give up and turn back to the original topic.

''May I ask you one thing?''

What is it?

　As long as we can't throw out the instructors, even if Minerva can't learn sword magic, we must continue teaching her.

''Honestly, I expected Miss Minerva to make a sound in less than a week. Although I've been very careful with the fact that she's the daughter of a young lady, I'm sure she's still going through quite a tough time.

　Hungry, Ardis spoke of a question that has been on her mind for a long time.

''Why does she care so much about sword magic--or maybe it doesn't matter if it's not sword magic for her. Perhaps what she wants is the power to fight. But why she wants to obtain the power to fight herself, I don't know. Do you have any idea what the duke has in mind?

　When it comes to the duke's daughter, she will have a bodyguard, and if it comes to it, the servants and squires around her will also try to protect her.
　If you feel that you are in danger, you can increase the number of guards or bring in a skilled hand.
　It would still be easy to understand if she wanted a wielder like Aldis as her bodyguard, but there would be no need for the young lady herself to acquire the power to fight anywhere.

　Why do you care so much about the power to fight?
　That's what Ardis couldn't understand.

'I guess I can't divide it,'

　In response to Aldis's question, the words returned from the Duke's mouth were too poorly explained and unadorned.

　A moment of silence flows through the office.

　The duke opened his mouth again and uttered a single word.

''Eight.''

What do you mean by "eight"?

　Ardis asks the truth of his words, as if he can't get out of his mouth.

'The number of people who have died protecting me so far.

　The Duke, who had turned away from Aldis, looked out of his office window in the direction of the parade ground.

'Three by the time you come of age. Four by the time he takes over as governor. And one after he succeeds as governor. The guards and attendants who died defending me from those who tried to kill me. Some of them lost their lives by taking the blade in my place, and some of them lost their lives by eating poisoned food in my place.

　The duke speaks in a matter-of-fact tone.
　But Aldis could see that this was only the top of the agony that had finally been pushed to the back of his mind by the long months.

...... I don't really understand, but isn't that what being a nobleman is all about?

　Aldis can't understand his anguish.

　On the one hand, he is a nobleman who was born in a position where his life is being threatened, and he lives by constantly sacrificing someone else.
　On the other hand, he is a mercenary who has always lived next to death and has lived by taking someone's life.

　The Duke shows a gesture of affirmation at Aldis' words, which are not in the realm of speculation to the extent that they are only speculation.

''That's right. That's the way it is. If you don't dismiss it as such, you won't be able to serve as a nobleman.''

And you don't think Miss Minerva can do that?

The daughter is also the heir to the throne, albeit a lowly one. She is also in the same year as Prince Karst, the dauphin's first child, and is a strong candidate for the queen's throne. There's no shortage of reasons to send an assassin to him. There is no shortage of reasons why assassins would be sent to take your place. One of them died less than six months ago.

　Whether the assassin was sent to him because he is the heir to the throne or because he is a future candidate for the crown prince, we don't know.
　The fact is that an attempt was made on his life, and it is also true that there are people around Minerva who sacrificed their lives because of it.

''A nobleman is a human being. It is natural to be saddened when a side servant, who was as close as a sister, falls to a deadly blade in defense of you.

So you think that's why you want to be strong?

　The duke nodded and turned his back to Aldis, turning his gaze to the view outside the window.

'It's not the end of the story, though. I know exactly how my daughter feels. I even thought the same thing when I was young myself.

　She gazed straight into the distant landscape as if in search of something, and considered her daughter's heart as if it were a penance.
　Ardis, who was convinced, guessed Minerva's thoughts on behalf of her.

If you are strong, the people around you will not be able to kill you. That's what Miss Minerva must have thought.

　As expected, even Aldis doesn't say that it's meaningless.

　But no matter how strong the daughter becomes, that doesn't mean that she doesn't have to have a guard, nor does it mean that those around her don't have to protect Minerva.
　After all, the people around them will lose their lives before Minerva herself can fight.

　It was because he understood this that the Duke was forced to divide, and Minerva would have to accept it eventually.

　Turning to Aldis, who has resolved his doubts for now, the duke concludes his story with a glance at the window pane.

''My daughter is twelve years old. Even if I have to accept reality eventually, I'm still going to let her do what she wants for now. It's just that, well--

　The Duke smiled slightly as he turned his head to look at her with his body in the same direction.

''I didn't expect my daughter to show so much guts, though.

　The expression on her face was filled with mixed emotions, a mixture of confusion at the unexpected glimpse of her daughter's true face and joy at finding a new side to her.