Chapter 106 Silver, Red, And Black
After returning to the main mansion from the Maiden's Tower, Sara and Rebecca quickly finished their early lunch, changed into comfortable clothes, and headed to Jeffrey's estate, which was about 30 minutes away by carriage. This time, Maria accompanied Sara.
The building had a sturdy and practical air to it, befitting the residence of a knight commander, with a large training area for swords and bows.
"Welcome to Grandchester Estate!"
Jeffrey greeted them with a smile. Behind him stood a red-haired boy who looked just like his father, and a black-haired boy who had lost control of his magic.
"Let me introduce you. This is my son Scott. Doesn't he look just like me?"
"Nice to meet you. I'm Sara Grandchester."
Sara curtsied elegantly, and Scott walked up to her.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Scott Grandchester. My father and Milady Sara's father, Sir Arthur, are cousins, so that makes us second cousins, right?"
Scott flashed a charming smile and took Sara's hand, kissing the back of it.
'Wow, what a handsome boy. Thanks to Sedrick, I'm not flustered by the kiss, though.'
"Please, call me Sara."
"Understand, Sara. You can call me Scott too."
"Yes, Scott."
Jeffrey, standing beside them, chuckled and teased, "What's going on here? You two look like you're on a blind date!"
Behind Jeffrey, the magic-wielding boy who had lost control of his powers stood awkwardly, fidgeting. When Sara glanced at him, she noticed he was staring at her with a curious expression.
'Ah, I guess we haven't met like this before.'
Sara decided to approach the boy and greet him first.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Sara Grandchester."
"H-hi..."
Rebecca and Jeffrey, who knew the circumstances, watched the exchange with interest.
"I've heard about you. You're the magician who used fire magic to drive out the ambushers from the forest, right?"
"Ah, that's just a wild magic burst. I couldn't control it well..."
"It's because your body isn't used to the large amount of magic, that's why it gets out of control. So, if you learn to control your magic, I think you'll become a really strong magician."
"Ah, thank you. By the way, is Milady Sara related to Lady Sophia? You two look really similar."
'Well, I'm actually the same person, just 10 years younger.'
"No, we're not sisters. But we do have a close relationship."
Just then, Rebecca, who was standing behind them, walked up to the boy.
"Hello, little magician. Do you remember me?"
"Yes, you're Lady Rebecca, who was with Lady Sophia, right?"
"I'm glad you remember me. Just one more thing, please remember that until Ms. Sophia explains it to you herself, you shouldn't ask about her background. That's a rule for nobles."
"Y-yes, I understand."
"I'm glad you understand."
'This kid is so honest and nice...'
"I heard you told Sir Jeffrey that you wanted Sophia to give you a name. So, Sophia gave me your name to pass on to you."
Sara took out a parchment wrapped in a ribbon from the package she had given to Maria and handed it to the boy. Inside, a beautiful cursive script spelled out a single name.
"Can you read it?"
The boy shook his head regretfully. Sara took the parchment back, untied the ribbon, and spread it out in front of him.
"I'll read it for you. Your name is 'Blaze'. It means a big flame."
"Ah, that's a great name!"
Jeffrey patted Blaze on the shoulder.
"Do you like it?"
"Yes, but...does this mean I won't be able to see Lady Sophia again?"
"That's up to you, Blaze. Sophia is really busy working at the merchant guild. If you can read and write, or if you're good at math, she might hire you."
Sara smiled and replied, and Scott added his own words.
"If it's someone as beautiful as Sara, they'll probably be targeted easily. If they're an amazing magician or a strong knight, they might even be able to become a bodyguard."
"Then I'll become a magician and a swordsman too!"
"Let's study together, then!"
"Yeah!!"
'Blaze is so straightforward and cute... Wait, did Scott just call me beautiful?'
Even if Sarasa is an actually an old lady in her thirties, or rather, because she's an old lady in her thirties, she can't help but get flustered by the praise from a beautiful young man.
"Sara, are you going to marry Scott or what?"
"Don't tease me!"
"No, I'm kind of serious. But Robert's persuasion would be a pain..."
"Yeah, they do look good together."
Jeffrey and Rebecca are watching Sara, who can't hide her fluster, with mischievous grins.
'Ugh... Even Miss Rebecca is enjoying this...'
"Yeah, Sara actually looks her age for once. It's a nice change of pace."
"Yeah, Scott's doing a good job."
'Grrr...'
"Anyway, we're running out of time, so shall we start training?"
Sara quickly changed the subject.
"Hmm, yeah. Let's see... First, I want to test Sara's endurance. Scott and Blaze, you two run too."
The 3 of them started running around the perimeter of the training grounds. One lap is about a kilometer, but it's a tough course with ups and downs, even for adults.
Scott, who's used to it, is running with a cool expression, but Sara, who hasn't exercised much before, is having a tough time. Blaze, who was in a mercenary group, but was treated like a sl*ve and didn't get enough food, is also struggling like Sara.
"I'll join in too."
"Me too."
Rebecca and Jeffrey started running slowly from behind, urging Sara and Blaze on as they panted heavily.
"Revi, you're so lucky to be young forever..."
"Men are more attractive after they hit their thirties, don't you think?"
"So, what about Robert, who's over 30?"
"Robert's still a kid at heart."
"Men are all like that, anyway."
"Hmm."
"About the brōtḥel Sara mentioned this morning... it was just necessary for gathering info on those embezzlers."
"I know that. Ms. Sara must have realized it too."
"Then, why don't you just marry Rob already?"
"But he hasn't even proposed yet?"
"Well, in that case, why don't you just go ahead and become his wife on your own accord?"
"Absolutely not."
"Yeah, I figured."
Just then, Scott caught up to them on his second lap.
"Father, Sara is really cute, isn't she?"
"Do you like her?"
"Not just her looks, but the way she interacts with Blaze is impressive. Even though she's younger, she has this motherly expression on her face."
"Haha. Well, Sara's got a lot more to her than that, anyway."
"That's what makes it exciting!"
"Aww, I thought Scott's first love was me, but I guess I was wrong."
"No, no. Just looking at the beautiful Lady Rebecca makes my heart skip a beat. But I know someone like me wouldn't be your type. It's just a fleeting first love."
"Hmm. Why are Jeff and Scott so charming when the 3 sons of His Excellency the Marquis are all so timid?"
"We're just simple guys who don't overthink things. We're all brawn, no brains."
"What are you talking about? You siblings were always top of your class in academics at the academy."
The 3 of them continued to chat and joke around as they left Sara and Blaze in the dust. By the time Sara and Blaze finished 2 laps, Scott had finished 5, and Rebecca and Jeffrey had finished 4.
"Well, it looks like you two need to work on your endurance."
"Haa... haa... yesh."
Sara, still panting and exhausted, managed to reply.
'I'm just so out of shape right now. Even considering my age, I'm way too weak.'
Actually, Sara――r rather, Sarasa――wasn't averse to exercise. As a workaholic, she knew that good health was essential for doing quality work, so she would jog 4 kilometers every morning and go to the sports club 3 times a week to do strength training and hot yoga.
"After this, it's just a warm-up, but... maybe Sara should learn the basics from Revi instead."
"Then, let's have Father take a look at Blaze and me."
Scott is treating Blaze like a senior would, in a way that's typical of older boys.
'It's like they're real brothers or something! It's a great feeling!'
Sara is delighted to see the boy she coincidentally picked up looking so happy, but since both Scott and Blaze are quite the pretty boys, Sara is staring at them with a creepy intensity, making her look like a suspicious person from the side.
Rebecca is a woman with enough sense to keep such thoughts to herself. Of course, Maria, who's watching from a distance, is the same.
Sara: "I may be a shotacon at heart, but not in terms of actual age!"
Rebecca: "When you've received a blessing from the fairies, it's just a minor discrepancy!"
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)