The additional sword swings I had to do during the morning training, thanks to someone's whim, were finally complete. With a sigh of relief, I was enjoying a leisurely breakfast—

"I'm exhausted..."

Without any particular reason, I slumped over the dining table. To be honest, I had absolutely no appetite, and the mere thought of putting solid food into my stomach made me feel queasy to the point of gagging. However, breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day, and as a growing child, it's crucial for my future development to eat as much as possible.

—Not to mention, it'd be rude to the chefs who wake up early every morning to prepare such a fine meal.

The taste was, as expected from the personal chefs of a marquis’ household, exceptional. The nutrition was well-balanced, showing their careful attention.

"Phew... Thank you for the meal."

I somehow managed to stuff breakfast into my stomach and took a deep breath.

Today was a rest day, a break from the usual morning classes. Once every six days, even the maids, servants, and teachers were given a day off. The Bradleys aren’t harsh employers; they believe appropriate breaks boost motivation and maintain productivity. Overly dedicated employees are even forced to take days off.

—Exploitative working conditions are out of the question.

And yet, some old geezer here doesn’t seem to understand the concept of rest. He subjects me to grueling training every single day, as if to say, "Rest? What's that?"

"Honestly, I appreciate it, but still..."

Despite being busy with the knight order, my great-uncle somehow manages to show up every single day, even if just briefly, to oversee my training.

"Could it be that he’s secretly a slacker?"

"What are you talking about?"

As I was muttering about the superhuman great-uncle, Alice, who had been sitting on my lap, tilted her head curiously. Normally, I hardly have time to spend with her because of my studies and training. However, this morning was an exception, so I was playing with her.

After breakfast, while relaxing in my room, Alice had shyly approached me with a picture book. It was so adorable I nearly fainted on the spot.

"Oh, just marveling at how impressive Great-Uncle is. Shall we continue reading?"

"Yes, please!"

Her radiant smile was so dazzling it was hard to look at her directly. Big brother here could read her picture books forever. I returned my attention to the book, trying to maintain a calm demeanor despite my inner turmoil. She had brought a classic heroic tale—about a dragon-slaying hero.

—A hero, huh...

The term stirred bitter memories. In my previous life, I unwittingly committed countless misdeeds as an accomplice to evil. The man who exposed my wrongdoings and ultimately sentenced me to execution was the chosen hero of that time.

A commoner blessed by the world, chosen above all others. We crossed swords several times, and his strength was undeniable. But it was his overwhelming magic that made him truly fearsome.

—I can’t count how many times I nearly died at his hands...

"Hopefully, I won’t have to fight him this time around..."

"Brother?"

"Ah, sorry. Let’s continue. Once upon a time—"

Just as I started reading again, an uninvited guest barged in.

"Hey, Clay! You’ve got the morning off today, right? You’re free, right? Fine, I’ll take you somewhere good!"

It was none other than the grumpy old geezer, my great-uncle Fade, spouting off sudden nonsense again. Annoyed at having my quality time with Alice interrupted, I nearly let loose my usual string of expletives. However, I held back, mindful of Alice's presence.

"Where exactly? And by the way, I’m reading with Alice here... Did you finally lose it, you senile old man?"

I couldn't help it; the words slipped out. Habit is a scary thing.

"What did you just say, you little brat?!"

Predictably, he flew into a rage. This old man has absolutely zero tolerance for being teased. While I worried about his temper affecting his role as a knight instructor, my greater concern was Alice, who looked terrified.

"Hey, calm down. You’re scaring Alice."

"...Sorry about that."

Hugging Alice to reassure her, I returned to the matter at hand.

"So, what’s this good place you’re talking about?"

"Oh, the knight order’s barracks. Today, we’ll train there!"

"...What?"

Once again, he dropped a bombshell. While I appreciated his dedication to my training, I wished he’d give me some warning. Also, spending time with Alice was important for my future relationship with her. Today was a rare chance, and I didn’t want to waste it.

—If it weren’t for that, I’d be all for it.

"What’s the matter? Don’t tell me you’re chickening out. Guess it’s still too early for a little brat like you."

"Who are you calling a coward, old man?! I—"

I nearly took the bait, but a soft voice brought me back to my senses.

"Are you leaving, brother?"

"...Ugh."

Alice, who had been quietly listening, looked up at me with a forlorn expression, as if certain I would leave.

—That sad look makes it hard to refuse...

I decided to prioritize Alice but came up with an idea.

"Hey, Great-Uncle, can I bring Alice to the barracks too?"

"Huh? Sure, why not?"

While Alice was my first priority, the old man’s offer was also tempting. So, I figured I could just bring her along. With his approval secured, I turned to Alice.

"Alice, how about going out with me? Or would you rather stay home and read?"

"Going out with Brother... I’ll go with you!"

"Great, it’s settled then."

With her consent, there were no more issues. It was irritating to go along with the old man’s whims, but so be it.

"Let’s go, old man."

"That’s the spirit! No time to waste, let’s move!"

And so, Alice and I, though somewhat unexpectedly, were taken by the old man to the knight order’s barracks.