The Deeper Meaning Hidden in Conversation

In the Wisdom Territory, Duke Wisdom primarily resided at Caine Castle in the Heivag Fief. The area was peaceful and prosperous, with a mild climate suitable for nearly every flower favored by nobles. Even while morning mist shrouded the grounds, servants were already bustling around the castle.

"Yaheng, carry over the boxes the coachman delivered earlier. We need them for this morning's menu." The cook's voice came from inside the castle's side entrance. The boy in rough linen clothes immediately answered. He had been standing by the flowerbeds talking to a maid.

"The Duke has invited guests these past few days." The maid was young, around Yaheng's age.

Yaheng had a head of flaxen hair that was rarely tended to. Though he looked thin and small, he was surprisingly strong. He could handle many crates that normally required two people, which made him a favorite of Caine Castle's cooks. "Then you must be busy. By the way, the results of Miss Wisdom's awakening ceremony yesterday weren't very good?"

"That's right. It's already spread everywhere—it's unbelievable," the maid said. "But I heard Miss Wisdom is preparing to marry into Gaodega. I really don't know what the Duke is thinking. This simply doesn't match the standing of the two families."

"I don't understand that sort of thing, but it really is a shame. Miss Wisdom has helped the village community a lot. If there are troublesome cases in the future, Uncle Gail will have a hard time of it." As he spoke, Yaheng carried the crate to the side entrance and let someone inside take it. "All right, if you get the chance, say hello to Miss Wisdom for me."

The maid nodded and waved at him before turning back inside, casually pulling the side door shut behind her.

At the same time, in a neatly furnished room within the castle, a girl in a beige lace nightgown sat on the bed with her knees hugged to her chest, staring blankly at a small golden orb floating before her. Her platinum-blond hair hung loosely around her pale face, and she looked utterly lifeless. Even her blue-violet eyes, the only color about her, were hollow.

"Ah, when you're feeling down, there are always more people watching the show..." The boy in plain clothes sat leisurely atop the table across from her. Though he was supposedly comforting Fatenai, he sounded more like he was gloating.

Fatenai ignored him, remaining seated with her knees drawn up and no expression on her face.

Hermes quickly grew bored. No matter what he said, she seemed unwilling to respond. He yawned and turned away, as if intending to find some other amusement.

Bang!

"What are you—" Hermes jumped in fright and hurriedly turned around, only to see that Fatenai had already leapt to the floor.

Barefoot and dressed in her nightgown, the girl stood on the cold floor and crossed the room in a few quick steps. She seized the bell for summoning maids and shook its golden body fiercely. As its clear chime rang out, Fatenai closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, the emptiness in her gaze had vanished—or rather, the gloom in her eyes had been temporarily driven away.

"Anna, what do I have scheduled this morning?" When Anna entered as usual and came forward to help her change, Fatenai looked at her personal maid with light gray hair and asked.

"This morning, you have history and etiquette lessons. The afternoon has been left open for you to arrange as you wish," Anna answered. "Would you like breakfast in your room or in the study?"

"The sitting room," Fatenai said, sounding slightly puzzled. "What about my swordsmanship lesson?"

"I'm sorry, Miss, but I don't know." Anna helped Fatenai change into a white silk blouse and a gray long skirt, then braided her platinum-blond hair and pinned it at the back of her head.

Fatenai said nothing more. She waved Anna away and headed straight for the sitting room.

Just as she expected, Lady Wisdom was sitting in the sitting room, speaking with Theretine. The young man across from her was polite and refined, and the two appeared to be getting along quite well.

"Miss Fatenai." Theretine seemed to notice Fatenai entering the room immediately. He stood and greeted her, his smiling expression making him seem gentle and comforting.

"Mr. Theretine." Given Fatenai's young age, such a formal address sounded somewhat comical, but Theretine did not seem to mind. They sat facing each other. "I hope you rested well last night."

"I feel quite refreshed now." Theretine smiled.

Fatenai smiled along with him, and Theretine continued by bringing up various topics related to the upcoming breakfast. The two of them seemed capable of chatting all day, until Fatenai remembered that her lesson was about to begin. Only then did she rise from her chair and head for the study.

"I like history lessons too. They're very interesting," Theretine said instinctively when he heard what class Fatenai was going to attend. "If you'd like, I could discuss some of Gaodega Territory's history with you. It might be something new."

"Then the two of you can go horseback riding outside the castle this afternoon," Lady Wisdom suggested.

Fatenai smiled but did not object, turning to continue toward the study.

"Teacher Cachey, I'd like to ask, what is Mana?"

Fatenai asked.

Sunlight streamed through the study windows of Caine Castle, lending even the enormous pillars a warm, gentle air. Fatenai sat on the sofa with a thick book in her hands, asking the teacher before her. Cachey wore rimless glasses, her expression stern.

"It is Allentia's gift, Fatenai," Cachey said. "It is also the source of noble status."

"I mean, what can it do? Fire can burn and cook food, water can wash clothes, things like that." Fatenai had heard too many explanations like that, and they gave her a headache. She wanted something more specific.

Cachey was somewhat displeased by her words. "Miss Fatenai, is that something a noble young lady ought to say? Cooking and washing clothes are tasks servants should perform. You are a noble. Your life should be devoted to becoming someone others admire, not learning how to live like a servant. Your noble title grants you a prosperous life, so what dissatisfaction could possibly make you ask such a question?"

Fatenai felt her headache worsening. "All right, that was my mistake. I'm sorry. Please forgive my rudeness."

"I hope you remember that," Cachey said, her expression finally softening. "As for the answer, Mana is capable of anything. The most gifted nobles can possess abilities like those of gods. Without the ability to use Mana, one can never reach such heights and thus cannot become a qualified noble."

Fatenai was certain Cachey had no idea that she could no longer become the sort of noble she described. The answer felt like no answer at all, but she had gained a clearer understanding of one thing: Mana was extremely important to nobles.

But why was it important to such an extent? This seemed to be a vital part of her understanding of this other world that had gone wrong. Even in her original world, she had never been familiar with such things.

It's clearly the same air... Fatenai argued inwardly.

Unable to use Mana, she was still an unmarried young lady. No matter how glamorous she appeared on the surface, she lacked something essential to a noble. Thinking about it now, she had no choice but to marry some nouveau riche man who did not demand much of her.

"All right, that's enough for today. I hope you'll remember what I've said." Lost in thought, Fatenai did not listen carefully to what Cachey said next until she announced the end of the lesson.

The feeling reminded her of a time so long ago that she had nearly forgotten it. Back then, she had experienced something similar—she had always habitually ignored certain things teachers said.

Fatenai nodded and watched as Cachey stood, picked up her books, and prepared to leave. Then she suddenly remembered something and asked, "I'd like to know where Teacher Claude has gone."

Claude had been her swordsmanship instructor. The private tutors hired by the Wisdom Family had always served only the Wisdom Family.

"Miss Wisdom, so you still don't know about this," Cachey said after pausing midstep. "Claude will not be coming back. You're about to marry, so there is no longer any need for you to concern yourself with swordsmanship."

Fatenai froze. It was only after Cachey had left that she reacted.

Her life, which had seemed unchanged, was gradually shifting. Just as she had made plans to deal with it all, these changes had already begun, and what followed would head in a direction she could not imagine.

"I heard noble girls like you don't have much say before they get married. Maybe getting married really is a good thing?" A voice suddenly piped up. Fatenai turned expressionlessly toward the boy who had appeared out of nowhere. "Or do you just look down on nouveau riche people?"

Fatenai rolled her eyes. "Don't think so simply just because you're a child. The Arrenieu Family are newly elevated nobles. Matching social standing is a rule among nobles, and the Wisdom Family has no need whatsoever to form a marriage alliance with them. I don't understand it, and I never expected Duke Wisdom to be in such a hurry to marry me off. It looks as though he can't wait to throw away an old toy."

"Uh, maybe you're overthinking it? Maybe that Duke just wants you to find a good home or something?" Hermes had thought Fatenai would brush him off again. He had not expected such a long response, and for a moment, he did not know how to reply. He simply blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

Fatenai frowned. "Things are progressing absurdly fast. Logically, they shouldn't think I have any ability to resist. It feels as though they're trying to hide something from someone else."

"There is a solution! I've got a really good one!" Hermes said, dizzy from Fatenai's words.

Fatenai looked at Hermes's excited expression and could not help frowning. "Let's hear it?"

"You just need to stop being a noble!" Hermes declared as if it were obvious. "These are all noble rules. If you're not a noble, you won't have to follow them."

That was complete nonsense.

Fatenai sighed and gave up trying to communicate with Hermes. At that moment, she found herself inexplicably missing Jane Grey. Although Jane was, in Fatenai's eyes, a complete fraud, at least their similar backgrounds meant that Jane's words would not be as unreliable as Hermes's.