*Several days earlier...*
Marin came skipping down the corridor, practically bouncing with barely contained excitement.
Sebas watched her approach with the fond expression of a grandfather greeting a beloved grandchild.
"Did something happen, my lady?"
"Butler—no, *Mentor*." She caught herself and straightened. "I wanted to ask you something."
"Why so formal all of a sudden?"
"Because right now I'm addressing you as a student to her teacher."
She smiled—shy, earnest.
"Ask anything."
"If you happen to encounter the young Lady Garnet Adria, please show her the horse you introduced me to. It belonged to her mother—I think she'd appreciate it." Marin's expression grew thoughtful. "And perhaps... talk with her a little? The other nephews are gradually settling in, but Lady Garnet seems to be keeping herself apart."
"Ah..." Sebas's weathered face creased with realization. "You're right. I hadn't noticed. My apologies."
"Oh, please don't apologize, Mentor! And..." She hesitated. "If the young lady happens to request anything specific, it would be wonderful if you could accommodate her."
"Of course."
---
*The stables, that same day.*
"Why do you want to learn swordsmanship?"
Garnet's chin lifted. Her clear green eyes blazed with fierce determination.
"I want to protect them. My older sister *and* the younger ones—I want to protect them myself."
Sebas smoothed his lips thoughtfully, then nodded.
"An excellent goal. I understand." He paused. "As it happens, I know a suitable instructor. Shall we begin tomorrow?"
"*Yes!*" Garnet's response came with passionate intensity. "I'll be there!"
---
## — The Training Grounds, Dawn —
*Ugh. I don't want to do this...*
"Why are *you* here?"
Garnet had arrived at the parade ground with Butler Sebas at an ungodly early hour, still bleary-eyed and half-asleep.
What she had *not* expected was to find Marin already present, stretching casually beside a tall, red-haired young man.
"Oh! Young lady—no, wait. *Junior* Garnet!" Marin raised both hands in exaggerated greeting, beaming. "You made it!"
"*Junior*?" Garnet's voice sharpened dangerously.
Marin's smile only widened. She turned to her companion.
"Yubis, we use 'Senior' and 'Junior' rankings based on order of entry, correct?"
"Naturally." The red-haired young man—Yubis—confirmed this with cheerful nonchalance.
"You see?" Marin pointed at herself, then at Garnet. "I started training earlier, which makes me the *Senior*. And you, having just arrived, are the *Junior*."
"And this is supposed to be a knight order?"
"Our mentor is the former vice-commander of a real order." Marin's tone remained infuriatingly pleasant. "So the rules apply. Isn't that right, Mentor?"
Sebas, observing from a safe distance, pressed his lips together to suppress a laugh.
"The rules... do exist, yes."
Garnet shot him a look of profound betrayal. He quickly found something fascinating to examine on the horizon.
"Wonderful! Now then, Junior Garnet—" Marin clapped her hands together. "Ten laps around the parade ground. Begin."
"Why *ten*?"
"Swordsmanship is about endurance above all else. I've been running fifteen laps every morning now."
Marin squared her shoulders with obvious pride.
"Hmph." Garnet's eyes narrowed. "If I run *more* than fifteen, do I stop being the Junior?"
"Deal. If you run more than fifteen, we'll renegotiate."
"Fine."
Yubis drew his scabbard along the ground, carving a line in the dirt.
"Start from here."
Garnet marched to the mark, chin high. Up close, she noticed that Yubis—despite his imposing height and broad shoulders—looked roughly her age.
"Hmph. Got it."
"Mm-hmm." Yubis propped his sword over his shoulder and offered nothing more than a lazy acknowledgment.
*I don't like any of them.*
Garnet fixed her gaze forward, jaw set.
*Fifteen laps? Child's play.*
---
"*Hkk... hok... hok...*"
*Impossible.*
Eleven and a half laps in, Garnet collapsed onto the grass, lungs burning, legs screaming.
Under a nearby tree, Marin and the red-haired menace sat whispering to each other.
*They're definitely mocking me.*
Fury surged through her veins. She forced herself upright, trembling with exertion. Her heart pounded against her ribs. Her legs felt like they'd been filled with wet sand.
*Move. Move, you stupid legs.*
She slapped her thighs and began walking—slowly, painfully—one step at a time. Gradually, she drew closer to the chattering pair.
"Isn't she impressive, though?"
"This is basic level."
"At first, *I* couldn't manage even this much."
"That's because my lady has less stamina than a puppy."
"*What?* A puppy? Do you have any idea how resilient puppies are? They *never* get tired!"
"I meant a *newborn* puppy. Not a grown one."
"Excuse me? You want to experience the fist of someone with less stamina than a newborn?"
"Oh dear, I'm strongly opposed to violence..."
Garnet averted her gaze, expression clouding.
*I'm going to pretend I don't know these two kindergarteners.*
She tried to stride past with dignity, but her legs were too heavy. Her body had never been this uncooperative before.
"Lady Garnet, perhaps we should stop here for today?"
The gentle voice descended like a blessing from heaven.
Garnet whipped around. Butler Sebas stood nearby, regarding her with grandfatherly sympathy.
"We can... stop?"
"Of course. Overexert yourself on the first day, and you won't be able to rise from bed tomorrow." His eyes crinkled knowingly. "As *some* people have learned the hard way."
Behind him, Marin developed a sudden coughing fit.
After a moment, she rose and approached Garnet, smile firmly in place.
"Eleven laps is excellent, Junior Garnet."
"...*Eleven and a half*, Senior."
"Hmm?"
"Don't shortchange me by half a lap."
Garnet bit out the correction through clenched teeth.
"All right, all right. Eleven and a half. Well done." Marin's expression softened into something almost genuine. "It'll get easier. Let's work hard together."
"*Hmph.* Fine."
The gentle encouragement only irritated Garnet further. She snorted dismissively and looked away.
---
## — Later That Morning —
After finishing her workout and sharing breakfast with her mother, Marin descended to the second floor of the outbuilding.
Perido emerged from his room, neatly dressed, clutching Daya's hand with one small fist and his bag of pastels with the other.
"Teacher, hello!"
"Hello, Teacher."
"Good morning, Daya. Good morning, Perido."
Marin peered past them into the room. Garnet was nowhere in sight—apparently she'd retreated to her quarters after training, groaning with every step.
Rubiena's face appeared in the half-open doorway.
"Hello, Teacher!"
"Hello, Ruby. I'll meet you in the library after lunch."
"Yes!"
After Rubiena's cheerful acknowledgment, Marin accepted Perido's hand from Daya.
Chatting with the boy as they walked, they reached the Duke's study in no time.
---
Light flooded the office once again.
The table in front of Perido's designated sofa was already laden with treats—pastries, fruit, small sandwiches arranged with care.
Perido released Marin's hand and positioned himself squarely before the Duke's desk.
He drew a breath so deep his small chest visibly expanded.
A look of fierce determination crossed his face.
Marin watched, not understanding what was happening but mentally cheering him on. *You can do it, whatever it is.*
"Hello! *Uncle!*"
The Duke's eyebrows rose—then fell.
For just an instant, surprise flickered across his usually impassive features.
"Ruby said that's what we should call you," Perido explained matter-of-factly.
"...That's correct."
The Duke's response came slowly, as though he were testing the weight of each word.
Perido broke into a triumphant smile, his rounded cheeks swelling even fuller with satisfaction. He looked like a small warrior who had just completed an impossible quest.
Marin watched from the side, fingers twitching with the overwhelming urge to pinch those adorable cheeks.
*Ah, if only I could—*
She was unreasonably proud of him for scraping together the courage to say that single word.
"Teacher, I'll sit here and draw now." Perido settled onto the sofa with practiced ease and selected a sheet of paper from the table. "You go do work."
"Thank you, Perido. I'll give Uncle his report, and then we can draw together."
"Okay!"
Olive, standing nearby with an expression of quiet satisfaction, handed Marin the day's folder.
She opened it—and her eyes brightened immediately.
*Finally.*
The opal had emerged.
"A report on the silver mines in the Nyron domain." She began reading aloud, voice steady and clear. "The underground monsters that appeared periodically have been completely eradicated. The low-grade ore has been collected and processed. According to the cutter, the resulting stones are exceptionally beautiful—unlike anything he has seen before. We are sending cut samples for Your Grace's examination."