The Little Duchess' Home Tutor (Novel) - Chapter Intermission 4

Volume 1 Segment 2

Intermission 4 – A Certain Kingsguard Knight, Trembling in his Boots

Translator: Mab

Editor: Kiriyume

“Just… what the hell is this situation!?”

A number of new recruits and mid-ranked members of our glorious Kingsguard Order were wreaking havoc in the Royal Palace——I almost doubted my own ears when I heard a colleague tell me so.

After all, today was a big day where the new Royal Court Magician-sama makes an appearance.

Not only will His Majesty the King be in attendance, but the Four Archdukes also gathered in the Royal Capital today for that reason only. In short, every bigshot of the Kingdom was present.

And yet, members of the Kingsguard Order raised a commotion on such a day… Unthinkable.

This calls for a harsh reprimand, I thought as my colleagues and I went to the troublesome lot in the training ground. However… 

“…You guys also came? I’m sorry for this. Great work today…”

“Sir! Vice Commander, what’s with this situation?”

The man standing beside the wall was Richard Leinster-sama. As his surname implied, he was the heir of the Leinster house of the Four Archdukes.

He was a man who gained the title of Kingsguard Order’s Vice Commander despite his young age, and already amassed numerous war medals due to his sword talent, magic, and tactical ingenuity. He was a hard-to-come-by irreplaceable superior who took care of us, knights who worked our way up from the butt of the barrel, rather than those aristocratic knights.

…I wouldn’t dare name them, but some of our scumbags of an officer blatantly and openly condescended us, those entitled pieces of shit… My apologies. Our Vice Commander was shining golden in the midst of those lot with their stupid elitism.

Our Vice Commander usually had an ever-present smile and maintained endless composure, and yet—He looked understandably troubled by the sight that unveiled before us.

…I wouldn’t blame him.

After all, glorious knights of the Kingsguard Order were being thrashed around by a single girl, her hair burning scarlet.

“…Things sure turned tricky. Aah, that’s my little sister over there. Her name’s Lidya. Perhaps you’ll recognize her with the title ‘Sword Princess’?” 

“T-, that person is!?”

In the past few years, there were two people whose fame rose in the Royal Capital.

One of them was Lidya Leinster-sama, the ‘Sword Princess.’

She graduated from the Royal Academy, the most prestigious education institute in the Kingdom, in just one year. After enrolling into the Royal University, she was involved in various incidents and solved them with her overwhelming—or rather, godly talent in swordsmanship and magic.

Rumors said that she was on par with our Commander and the so-called Strongest Person in the Kingdom, ‘Sword Saint-sama,’ as well as ‘Hero-sama’ of present—Of course, one would find it hard to believe such words.

…However, the sight unfolding before me was enough to convince me that perhaps those were not baseless rumours after all.

She had been tackling those strong knights one after another, but… she was… God, what a distinct gap in abilities. The scenery, it was as if… when the Commander trained us. Uh, my spine shivered… 

“Even though today’s such a bright day as well. Those bunch sure did something unnecessary. Lidya’s been in an ill-mood already, and they had to run their mouth and say the taboo words. There goes my arrangements, poof. I’m stumped really.”

“…Shouldn’t we stop her?”

“Well, can you stop her?”

“N-, no… Shameful as it may sound, I believe I can’t even make her stumble.”

“That’s about right, not that I’m belittling any of you. Not many can stop Lidya in her current state. You realized that, didn’t you?” 

“Yes sir. It appears that Sword Princess-sama is not using any form of attack magic…”

The symbol of the Leinster House, the ‘Flaming Bird,’ was the culmination of Fire Attribute Magic, a supreme flame that burnt everything to nothingness.

It was a Magic Bird that brought absolute victory for its allies, and death itself for the enemies.

Such an absolute power, and Sword Princess-sama had mastered it at such a young age. Rumors had it that she even overwhelmed the Headmaster of the Royal Academy.

However… There were no traces of it on the training grounds.

Every knight that groaned in the dirt was suffering from slashing injuries.

“That’s correct. As expected of someone who clawed your way up, you’re on a different level than those brats over there.”

“Sir! Thank you for the kind words. However, why must she do that?”

“It’s simple. Lidya just declared like so: “You’re complaining about my magic? I’m not against using my sword only, you know?” Idiots like them seldom come by in recent years, really. I mean, she’s the ‘Sword Princess,’ okay? True, her magic has been stealing the spotlight, but… It’s just common sense that, with her title, her swordsmanship is far more superior. Well, it’s also the most uncontrollable part of her too, at the same time.”

“H-, haa… Then, what shall we do?”

“—I’ve already made arrangements, though it annoys me to play by Lidya’s rule. From now, I wish you to follow suit with my performance.”

“…What arrangements?”

“About that—Here he comes.” 

As soon as the Vice Commander spoke, a young man (a butler?) entered the premises.

…With a few beautiful girls and a few maids in tow.

Who is this random bastard!?

What’s with him? Does he think everything will go his way just because he’s got the looks… The Vice Commander greeted him.

“I’m sorry for making you come all the way here.”

…They were acquaintances, it seemed.

Listening into their conversation, this man was the other person with rising fame—The man called Allen, the ‘Sword Princess’ Brain.’

—This skin and bone of a lanky guy is that famed ‘Sword Princess’ Brain’?

The one who can defeat Dragons and even Demons together with the ‘Sword Princess-sama’?

I found it hard to accept.

That lanky guy and the Vice Commander then walked into the training grounds. Then, suddenly, ‘Flaming Bird’ flew at them.

Ah, shit. They’re dead—Or so I thought, but the lanky guy dispersed that Magic Bird with a swat of a hand.

……HAAH!?!?

A-, are you kidding me? That’s the Culmination of Magic, and yet he did it so easily…

—After which, the “messing around a little” they showed us in public made me tremble hard in my boots. The rumors, rather than exaggerating, they’re devaluing the truth!

At the same time, a question floated in my mind—Why is such a talented person not in any power or authority? No matter how you look at it, that man is a great asset that will support the Kingdom.

If possible, I would gladly have him replace that entitled piece of crap in our ranks…

After which, the young ladies that came with Allen-sama, apparently his little sister and apprentices, were one-sidedly overpowering our rank 8th knight and his lackeys… There was only little possibility for them to lose.

—You girls are going great! More, torture that bastard more! Don’t hold anything back!! Just take his life already!!!

…I lost my composure, my apologies.

Lastly—It’s all right, Vice Commander.

Even if your appearance is a sorry one, we understand and we shall always follow after your footsteps. 

After all… Your opponents are just too extreme!