/
I was so nervous that I woke up early
“The sword training won’t be easy. There would be no point if it was. Do you still want to do it?”
“…Yes!”
Tilura gulped once after hearing Mr. Ekenhart’s words, but then she answered loudly.
…Up until now, I had only seen her as the cute child who liked to play with Leo and Sherry, so it was surprising to see this side of her.
“Very well. Then I will teach both you and Mr. Takumi.”
“Thank you!”
“…Tilura…it’s fine if you train with the sword, but you must continue your other studies as well.”
“…Sister…”
Ms. Claire’s harsh words rained down over Tilura before she had much time to celebrate.
For just a moment, the word ‘studies’ caused her shoulders to droop… Well, she was that age…
It always seemed that it was the more active children who did not like having to focus and stay still while studying.
“Tilura. It is your duty as the daughter of a duke. …Did you really think that you wouldn’t have to study anymore if you started your sword training?”
“…No…I didn’t think that… But, I did hope it would be lessened a little…”
“Hahaha! I see that you still hate studying, Tilura. But most do at your age. However, Tilura, you insisted on training with a sword. And so you must be equally serious with your studies.”
“…Yes, father.”
“Wuff. Wuff.”
“Kyau!”
As Tilura replied to her father with her face downcast, everyone in the dining hall, including myself, chuckled.
But Leo rubbed her face against Tilura encouragingly, and Sherry, who was being held in her arms, licked her face in an attempt to cheer her.
…No, I doubt Sherry even knew what was happening… I think she just wants to play.
It was amidst this peaceful atmosphere that it was decided that Tilura would receive her sword training, and then we all retired to our rooms.
I think we were supposed to sleep early, so we would be prepared for tomorrow.
…Aside from the expedition into the forest, I had not really done anything in this world that could be considered exercise, and so I was worried about my strength.
And so I would keep the play with Leo short, and go to bed as soon as possible.
I told Tilura that she also shouldn’t stay up late playing with Sherry, and then I returned to my room.
Then I took a bath in order to warm my body, and then I went to bed early.
Leo had looked like she wanted attention, but must have understood that I had sword training tomorrow, as she quickly gave up and rolled up on the floor.
Sorry, Leo.
We can play some other time.
Perhaps Tilura and Sherry could ride with me on Leo as she runs all of the way to the town…
————-
In the morning, I woke up as the sunlight came into the room. I got up and dressed quietly so that I wouldn’t wake up Leo.
I felt quite refreshed as I had gone to sleep early, but…maybe I had awakened too early as well.
After all, training wouldn’t start until we finished breakfast, so I still had some time to kill. It was with such thoughts that I sat back down on my bed and gently petted Leo. And then there was a knock on the door.
“Are you awake, Mr. Takumi?”
“Tilura? I’m awake. Come in.”
I heard Tilura’s voice after the knock.
Apparently, Tilura had gotten up early as well.
She slowly opened the door and then realized that Leo was still sleeping. And so she tip-toed in quietly.
“What is it?”
“I woke a little early. I would have had nothing to do if you weren’t awake… Sherry is still sleeping.”
So, she really had woken up early, just like me.
Though, I was sure that Ms. Claire and Sebastian were already up. But Sherry was apparently still asleep.
I suppose Ms. Claire was busy with the morning preparations, so Tilura had wanted to come and see Leo.
“Sorry, Tilura. Leo is still asleep.”
“It’s fine. I like watching Leo sleep too. …Leo is so cute.”
Now that I thought about it, Leo had never slept while Tilura was around.
Her senses seemed to have become much sharper now that she was a Silver Fenrir, and so would always notice and wake up when someone entered the room.
But today, Leo was sleeping peacefully, even after Tilura’s arrival. Perhaps it was because she was so used to being in this mansion now, that she had let her guard down.
Tilura stared at Leo’s sleeping face as if peering into a window. This seemed to make her very happy.
Well, it was true that Leo looked very cute when she was sleeping.
Even though she was so big now, I couldn’t help but be reminded of when she was still a Maltese.
It was a little odd that her sleeping face had not really changed… Even though she looked so much more powerful.
“It’s good that you got up early, but did you get enough sleep?”
“Yes, I went to bed early like you said. So I’m fine.”
Tilura said quietly so as not to disturb Leo.
She seemed to be amused, as if talking in secret.
“But I am a little nervous.”
“Will you be using a sword for the first time? Then it cannot be helped. I’m quite nervous myself.”
“You’re nervous, Mr. Takumi?”
“Of course, I am. I’ve never used a sword. Well, just a little in the forest… But it’s different when you’re actually going to train with one.”
“I see.”
Tilura seemed relieved to hear that I was just as nervous as her.
Doing something new always came with some anxiety.
“…Wuff?”
“Ah, she woke up.”
“Good morning, Leo.”
While we had been talking quietly, Leo wasn’t so unguarded that she would keep sleeping.
She raised her head and looked around as if puzzled.
“Sorry, good Leo. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Wuff. Wuff!”
While Tilura apologized, Leo rubbed her face against Tilura’s cheek as if to tell her to not worry.
“Wuff. Wuff-wuff.”
“Hehe. Good morning.”
Tilura said with a smile as Leo greeted her with a bark.