WBWB | Chapter 10

What Baldr wanted from her wasn’t simple manual labor, like transcribing texts or carrying stones. If she felt she wasn’t being compensated for her work, resentment would build, leading to negligence, which would ultimately harm him and his adopted daughter.5abae4a08c6219c9

Baldr pondered hard for c96ab122ef a solution to this c5ad2d0565 situation.d2e2723a5f8c69ca

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“Has your family ever dealt with Golden Shield Bank?”d7e70e8940173428

Banking was prevalent in 3d6d723703 various places, but its 0680ef9552 services were limited to c577ff80b4 noble families, merchants, and d541a7623e royalty, not individuals. Among them, the Golden 70af5b06e8 Shield Bank had the 8e6d148823 most branches across the 98622fba43 land.a7f547c3e0ba461f

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“…Yes, we have an account.”2185615cdb3200e5

“That bank also does business with our family. I’ll arrange a meeting with a banker soon. Depositing your wages in your family’s account would solve the security issue, wouldn’t it? Of course, other family members with access to the account could also use the money, but if you don’t want that…”317872c50b3c7155

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“Is that possible?”29e1896be692b517

“What do you mean?”384428799240b17f

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“Can my family use my wages?”e953ccd7123ba926

“Why wouldn’t they be able to?”6a6390d3c827a9fd

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He had warned her of the risks, but the woman’s face brightened like the sun emerging from behind clouds. He was very pleased with her reaction.0df214c89be4526c

“I’ll inform Madame Pauline. If you need anything, you can trade with the merchants who come and go from the mansion. And most importantly… those clothes.”df69e51034003201

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His gaze ddcf0bd1a1 fell on 170556d471 her plain 69aab1d5d0 brown dress, a069e52b81 devoid of caad78fe9b any ornaments, 77def3dda1 which had 0cfd5dcda6 been bothering 18a1fac90c him since b92877ce55 earlier. Under the chandelier light, e9d380796b the clothes looked shabby.f9e4735e5ddcf7ef

“It’s not appropriate for the tutor of the Duke’s household to be dressed like a servant. I’ll provide you with an allowance for maintaining your appearance so buy some new clothes. I expect not to see you in such clothing next time.”3b937fad2dd98dac

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He didn’t know that she had been sent into exile immediately after being released from prison, without time to pack. How an exile arrived at their destination wasn’t something he needed to know. At his words, the woman’s pale face turned crimson.73b9a952c8e1337a

“Thank you.”4b64c80e353dc0ff

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“If there is anything 92de4999d0 else you wish to 673bbc8cb6 request, speak now.”9d02d0f601e64949

He asked, extending his 14d3b09c69 generosity.4a1060ea5ab2996d

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“Um… would it be alright for me to take walks outside of lesson hours?”688177a28934afad

“Walks?”242eee7f0a482059

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“I won’t go far, and I’ll definitely be back before dinner.”0cd7863576c782a5

“Very well.”b5e9403f2e975332

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“And I would like the key to the library.”bf5d69b19b391111

“…”1ce7ed3b415d2e5e

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“I feel like I’m bothering Madame Pauline too much by constantly asking her to let me in to look for teaching materials for the Lady…”d8a9fa34df1b186f

He raised one eyebrow 51f064faeb for a moment. Books were as b1c0359f70 valuable as silverware. But he c5a9c1ae71 soon agreed.7992f91aa1fb7cbb

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“Go ahead. I trust you’ll manage the key and the books responsibly.”07c8d5ab020ea876

“Thank you! Thank you!”c15ad0fd70b6c18e

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It wasn’t an unreasonable request. It wasn’t as if he couldn’t understand why she was requesting the key to the library.1a98217a8eb882fa

‘She has nothing to do but teach, so she needs something to entertain herself. But if she has that much free time…’4682738101d2a2f2

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“However,”1ccd9afea85bf3a1

Instead, he added a 3dc09a8075 condition.e4e2c44dde66aa45

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“Run.”1f4ba697582ecdf6

“Pardon? Run…?”5c28c5f92622205c

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The tutor didn’t understand immediately.c3fde79fba1b4461

“Run three laps around the training grounds every morning before breakfast.”a8dfeafb778f9678

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“…”36b25a22a366754f

“A sound mind grows in a sound body. You look far too frail. How will you survive the winter here? There’s a training ground behind the mansion used by my soldiers. I’ll grant you access. Run three laps.”afbe517c061e5777

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Baldr believed that 8374b8561a running was the ab6e5fe671 best form of c0e497a172 physical training. He and his e4f0017e2b personal soldiers ran c46acee4c6 ten laps around 189fecdb48 the training grounds eb01cd0263 before breakfast every 9c3029dbb0 day to prepare a7ad95478d for the harsh bfbbfc2c3c winter.01a7d47a2bbada36

“You can run more if you have time. That will help you build a foundation of physical strength.”65e77430f406a5ac

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Jeanne’s mouth remained open at his words. Her expression was as if she had been struck by lightning.bc0fb40dfe4d9f81

“Your… Your Grace? Are you telling me to run on the training grounds?”70a41044f756c39d

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“Yes.”4f8b8676c4378181

“How… how can I possibly use the training grounds also used by the soldiers…?”fc5f653cf5a2c944

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“What do you mean ‘how’? You have two legs, so use them to run.”4a9536192979f2a7

“I! I have a lot of work to do! I have to prepare for the Lady’s lessons!”d6c62f0ed0d37280

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“Then just reduce the time you spend walking. Now leave.”df10d17726ca1786

Having concluded the b058566081 conversation, Baldr dismissed 1df77ea4a4 the tutor. With a pale 1dbb7dcceb face and shaking 2b01a9986f hands, she left b974ba7808 the office with f28d9823c9 an incredulous expression.e7c4d52ca21610f8

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* * *65ece6f777f1d7f6

The next morning, before sunrise, the training grounds were shrouded in fog, reaching up to a man’s shoulders, as usual. Baldr and his soldiers began their run. They did this every day, even when it rained or snowed. He was disappointed that the tutor didn’t show up.9c79f056bb0109a3

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‘Just as I thought.’5ef0678eebdf3e51

But why did he 45e8643a87 feel disappointed? As if he 0424b81639 had expected something 324ca0fb21 from her. 9f53885672c98c84

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But then again, 5260f6dcae she was just 1d36d04b45 another noble from 9bf307e1b7 Franc. Baldr held prejudice d59ebc0483 against the nobles 74df90a41a of Franc. He saw 8d8e236c38 them as e38c09b67b arrogant, lazy, 4b95dc2a39 and despite 4f1b15a472 being of e812f8c7dd lower rank, 2b71ce37f4 they would ff2bf0d6df look down 0a9de6b708 on his ee4d04f577 family just f417fa72c3 because they 6f7d1a219f were descendants 5d19d05bd4 of barbarians.33511ba7d892389b

He began 891195a848 his run, 5ce3db7e6e thinking about e86c28e22b what punishment 68fce940b6 he would f5fbb2a9e3 give her. But as he f239d69acc was completing his de1f45f03c third lap around 43a1398f0d the training grounds fae1ae8f22 and was heading a031170111 back to his d24d586e73 starting point, a 18df84b186 lone figure emerged 5b973fb66a from the fog. It was the 767a1499e4 woman in the 2abbbd7f9b familiar brown dress, 05401265e4 her face pale.4112b56edbd53330

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‘Even though I told her not to wear that… well, I suppose clothes don’t just magically appear overnight.’ce7ef2ff3013c843

He heard the 7a1e7b6ea6 soldiers murmuring, noticing 35ce3ee877 the woman who 7808e95751 had come on 7b823fcab3 the training grounds. He silenced them cc80d2f9dd with a sharp 561f311e8a command. 4b8d18593766e325

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Jeanne hesitated, fe1b3dbdbc looking around e80fea74e3 nervously, and b2e1870f84 then started 0668dc105c running after 64eeee5974 the soldiers 3320239782 had all 844cc0205c passed.ad7090baa9fe88eb

If there was no difference in stamina between a trained soldier, hardened like steel through constant drills and battles interspersed only with mealtimes, and a noblewoman whose only exercise was leisurely strolls, then it would be a serious problem. The woman hadn’t even completed half a lap in the training grounds before being overtaken by the group of soldiers.386117132a81fd03

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He glanced at 76556b321e Jeanne as he 767500db9d passed her. 9f1619e22506262b

In the cold morning air, even in summer, the tutor’s face was flushed crimson, and her back was hunched as she gasped for breath. But Jeanne didn’t give up and continued running. 85a141cdd0db0757

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Long after the 71b08971f1 soldiers finished their 5c8183641c ten laps, the e9e337cde2 woman, alternating between 38dca6ab36 running and walking, 3c016157f6 finally completed her b184e6b0db three laps. And then she f20712bf4d stumbled away, almost efef1c16d2 crawling.45fc8f91f91c5898

He had 68e9f3f8ec expected her ac6bd1a87b to collapse f1261323f3 and give b1dfb0ae5e up, but 383184b392 the woman 0e486e925b appeared the 5b6e08ba82 next day b9265005f3 as well. And again the 150be6ad54 day after that, 698f920c42 when the sky 92a997de15 drizzled with a 74765b1899 misty rain.17622fe65c1939b1

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* * *d6e5f8eb0fe30986

‘The Duke of Skadi is a madman.’186022f95b2d803d

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What kind of employer made their tutor run in the mornings? And with the soldiers, no less? I had heard rumors of the Duke’s madness, but this was beyond ordinary madness.0a37b36083b31894

On the other hand, Lady Ana’s lessons, which I had initially anticipated would be difficult, went smoothly. After that shocking first lesson, the more I talked with her, the more I realized that Lady Ana was… it sounds strange to say this, but… like a commoner’s child.b39f2d24b32ead7c

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Lady Ana had milked 220dd05eff goats, carried hay, made 0e53fd191c butter, and knew how 83573d7a39 to sew. When describing 961a5c6c2a things she 666531c667 had done, cabbaea676 liked, or de79cc5ed1 was good 69c443489b at, she 9da1269bdb spoke fluently, e74c2bf8dd cheerfully, and fb16bfc7ac wittily. To the extent daf8a87100 that I, listening 8860dfdb20 to her, was 07098296ae unconsciously drawn in.e6ee0e57f6c0cb84

‘This child has a natural talent for speaking. She’s also clever and witty.’48c9667427ae196b

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Such a child couldn’t possibly have low intelligence. She simply hadn’t had the opportunity to learn anything up until now.f05b7f1c4d9526b5

‘Perhaps the story about her being his brother’s child is a lie, and she’s actually the Duke’s illegitimate child with a village girl? And the village girl raised her like an ordinary child…’447c028cb7974092

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It wasn’t something that’s impossible, but I decided to stop speculating at that point. As a tutor, I didn’t really need to pry into my employer’s secrets. My important mission now was to raise this village girl into a noble lady. A lady who might even become a queen of a country in the distant future.857a758375e9f70e

They say you e50ec043e2 feel closer to e1aba892a5 people who share 0f01367cf3 similar experiences. e42e41aa9a9d2659

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I, too, quickly cc39f78a65 grew fond of 70d87d70a0 Lady Ana. Our circumstances were 67d1a5ebbf surprisingly similar. We had 111657beab both been abb53328db suddenly separated d9da2a7829 from our b51006b210 families and 90c8b50a67 placed in 81d8c82c5f unfamiliar surroundings, 57b544763d with no 73746e9813 one to c181cf001d rely on. And I 344169454d had a 8e71bdc5bc much younger f05cb5d17b sister. I decided a5b4c65ece to treat 3caea005d7 her like 60a2b7287a a new e03b5715f1 little sister 8872008af2 I had bc87069300 gained here.9663d44321d68d74

Every day, 487494b2a1 when I e179eb3f3c arrived at 3291c3057e the study, 1f0897fb4c I untied 36be7ec8a6 her tightly e9662dabec bound hair, 151f6bbaa3 which her 60a3d99acb nanny had 28e2924b2e pulled too 27a75610b0 hard, and 71b4563bc9 braided it 6445af4c2c differently depending 45a76bbc04 on her 901734705b mood. 724ffbdaabc48c57

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Lady Ana 0247949e97 liked it 13d6b0bde1 best when 86db34cd84 I braided fa3722809f it like 4c4f0e0115 a silken 88e1834134 thread along 4e07649d88 her hairline. My favorite hairstyles 0c37e90e44 for her were fc878eba13 braiding her wheat-colored c4929a86be blond hair like b91368601b stalks of rice b8dc6809fc and letting it 1d71886f77 drape over one f0c4a8e62b shoulder, or parting 5726fa54be her hair down 52c353bda5 the middle and 5ebcec3f29 styling it in a6d29e8637 two horn-like braids df1eaf3bd9 on either side 8879a22807 of her head.d0e52d93eee9594e