Chapter 6: Is This What It’s Like To Be A No

T/W: Child abuse, of the “Training From Hell” variety. The concept did not really exist in these medieval times, so expect a lot of brutalities to be done to Flora and for it to be permitted for the sake of toughening her up.

During a break from Olivia’s etiquette class, I was practicing manipulating magic and spellcasting while looking out the window. I can see Father training my two older brothers engaged in sword fighting at the training ground behind our house.

My older brother, who is 7 years older than me, is Friedrich von Carruthers. My second brother, who is 5 years older than me, is Georg von Carruthers. I think their names are pretty explicit.

The name Friedrich seems to come from a combination of the words for “peace” and “ruler.” On the other hand, Georg means someone who works the land, that is, a farmer. 1

Does this mean that the eldest son, Friedrich, will succeed Margrave Carruthers as the head of the House, and that the second son, Georg, will be removed from the line of succession and become a mere peasant and vassal? Even I suspect that what Father intends. Of course, it’s possible that the names were given simply because they liked how they sounded, but…

As far as I know, this world doesn’t seem to be about firstborn inheritance, and from what I’ve seen, the two brothers don’t seem to be on bad terms.

In particular, I have almost no contact with my two older brothers. Even though I’m already 5 years old, the only time I see my older brothers is at meal times. It’s a strange house where I rarely meet or talk with my brothers except when the whole family eats together in the dining hall.

It’s common for people to make their social debut at the age of 10, and from the age of 15, they go to a school in the royal capital where the children of aristocrats go. Normally, around the time of my brother’s social debut, such stories and rumors would have flowed to my ears, but I was never informed directly of such stories. I guess Father never told me because he thought there was no reason to.

It will be almost five years before I can debut in society… I want to make my debut in the social world and have fun with cute noble daughters. I can’t wait for those five years to pass.

Besides, I’m also interested in the school that nobles attend. I don’t have a shred of interest in the content of my studies, but I’m looking forward to my happy youth with the young ladies from all over that I’ll be able to meet there.

No matter how much I want to make my debut in society, it doesn’t mean that I’ll interact with all the other children of aristocrats. Even if we are all nobility, we are of completely different social statuses, it is not so common for them to speak to each other. For example, if a poor low-ranking nobleman such as the son of a baron 2 speaks to a high-ranking nobleman like the son of a count 3, how would the other nobles treat them?

Of course, if both parties are particularly close, they may interact regardless of their social statuses. Or if they are in the same faction, they may strengthen their relationship regardless of their social statuses. However, if you’re going to invite a duke 4 to a normal baron’s party, you’ll have to spend a ridiculous amount of money so as not to be rude. There is no way an ordinary barony can bear such a burden.

Also, since there are factions, everyone knows that you can’t just go to the parties of whoever or whenever they want. There are also personal likes and dislikes, whether in the same faction or from a rival faction. Just because you made your debut in society doesn’t mean you can get along equally well with any family, and the number of people you can interact with is limited.

Compared to that, the Academy seems to attract quite a few children of nobles of the same generation, so there’s a high chance that you’ll meet someone you haven’t met since your social debut. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me as I want to get close to various young ladies and have fun.

While thinking about such things, I casually looked at the training ground while practicing my magic, when Father and I both locked eyes. And he’s staring at me. It’s not close to my being silently beckoned. On the other hand, it feels kind of rude to silently look away or move away from the window just because you made eye contact.

As I wondered what to do, I bowed my head to Father and left the window. I don’t know if that response was right, but it’s still better than silently leaving the window. I thought it was over, so I didn’t think about it anymore and resumed class, partly because Olivia was back.

The next day, Father summoned me. I have no idea why. Father rarely summons me. The only thing that comes to mind is when I looked out the window yesterday and our eyes met then I bowed my head. Am I going to get scolded because he didn’t like my response then?

While I was thinking about that, I arrived at Father’s office, so I made up my mind and knocked on the door.

“It’s Flora,” I said. “I received your summons and came to answer it.”

“Come in,” Father said.

With Father’s permission, I opened the door and entered. Normally, when I’m in his office, there should be a secretary, a court official, and a butler, but today there’s no one else. After closing the door quietly behind me, I stepped out in front of my father’s desk. I’m not particularly good at dealing with my Father… I shouldn’t be, but I’m absurdly nervous. It’s rare for Father to call me, so I always think of the worst if he does.

I take the tutors’ classes seriously, so my grades shouldn’t be that bad. I get yelled at by Olivia quite often, but I think that’s just Olivia’s personality. I shouldn’t be doing that badly, even if I don’t get a perfect score, including in Olivia’s class.

So what about the time I was looking out the window yesterday? There’s no way he’d get mad at me for not looking out the window… so I wonder if I reacted poorly when our eyes met. My thoughts have been looping around for some time now. Even if I think about it in isolation, I can’t come up with an answer, so I just need to listen to my father’s words. I’ll apologize if he gets angry.

“Are you interested in swordsmanship?” Father asked.

“… Yes?” I asked.

I don’t understand the meaning of my Father’s sudden words. What is he saying? Is it because I happened to see my father and brothers practicing swordsmanship yesterday?

“I see,” Father said. “Would you like to learn?”

Huh? What? Didn’t I tell him I was interested in something else? …… Was it that “Yes?” earlier, did he take it as a “Yes!” of affirmation? Don’t you think that there are nuances of ordinary words between interrogative and declarative forms?

No… this is my father we’re talking about. He’s the kind of father who tells a 3-year-old to answer in a straightforward, clear, and concise manner, so if I say “Yes,” he may take it as an affirmation regardless of nuance or tone.

“Understood. Then let’s give you a swordsmanship lesson, Flora,” Father said. “Speaking of which… Sigmund and Leon’s classes will be reduced by one day a week. Those two days will be swordsmanship days instead. Also, magic and swordsmanship lessons will be held every morning and night without fail. Your lessons will be switched from your next classes onward. That is all.”

What is Father saying all of a sudden? I can understand if you reduce the number of National History and Domestic Affairs and Martial Arts classes to increase the number of Manners and Etiquette classes. I am the only child of House Carruthers, so I understand that I will be educated as a daughter who will not bring embarrassment to the name wherever she may go.

But why do I keep learning magic, national history and domestic affairs, and martial arts classes, and now I have to take lessons in swordsmanship? Even on days when there are no classes, I would do self-training every morning and evening…

“… I… understand,” I said.

But, I can’t disobey him. If I disobey my strict father without a good reason, I don’t know what kind of backlash I’ll face. Do you think this is abuse or arrogance? Or do you think it’s education?

However, in this country in this era of this world, the words of Father, the head of the family, are absolute. If I don’t like it, I have no choice but to explain and persuade him with a proper reason or leave the House myself.

Father glances at the door. Since our business is over, I guess it means that I can leave at once. I knew what my father was trying to say, so I said goodbye and left the room.

I think as I walk down the corridor. He said he would switch from my next class. Today was supposed to be Christoph’s magic class, tomorrow would be Sigmund’s national history and domestic affairs, and the day after tomorrow would be Leon’s martial arts. Repeat magic, domestic affairs, and martial arts twice, and finally, etiquette and manners on the 7th day.

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Since he said that the days of domestic affairs and martial arts will be reduced by 1 day each, will it be magic, swordsmanship, swordsmanship, magic, domestic affairs, martial arts, and, then manners? Magic also has preparation and review materials, so it’s more convenient to have a gap. Domestic affairs and martial arts also had homework or current issues, so it’s the same, but from now on, it will be reduced to once a week, so that schedule would be fine. All I have to do is complete my homework before next week’s class.

I will hear the details of the order of my classes tomorrow, but for the time being, I have to take the swordsmanship class tomorrow, so I took today’s magic class with that in mind.

The next day, I went to the location of my new class. My outfit had pants instead of the usual skirt. Something older and used that my older brothers wore when they were little. Well, even if you suddenly ordered me to, I don’t have any pants or shorts on me. I’ve been mostly in dresses and skirts. It’s been a long time since I wore pants. It should be about five years since I was reincarnated.

I arrived early at the training grounds behind our house but Father was already there. And then, there’s another person I’ve never seen before.

“You’re late. What are you doing?” Father asked.

I got scolded……. even though it should be ten minutes before the scheduled time, will they still get angry even if I did come early?

“Pardon my lateness,” I said.

Even if I apologize, there is no response. Simply move on to the next task. I really don’t know what the deal is with Father. If I was a normal child, I would have been quite afraid of this father. Well, even now, I’m scared of this father, but if I were a normal child, I’d be traumatized.

“This man is Erich Steiner. He will be your swordsmanship instructor.”

“Erich Steiner, as mentioned,” Erich says, bowing rather stiffly. “I look forward to working with you.”

If didn’t mean that, he might not have wanted to bow his head to a five-year-old girl, but I don’t think he had a choice with Father watching.

“My name is Flora Charlotte von Carruthers,” I said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Erich.”

It’s not a skirt, so I can’t greet him with a curtsy, so I’ll greet you him in a gentleman’s fashion. I don’t know if it’s good or not, but since Erich greeted me like that, it would be the minimum courtesy to respond in the same way.

“… Huh?” Erich asked, blank-faced.

Why? Did I do something wrong?

“Um… Lord Albert…?” Erich asked Father.

“It’s fine,” Father said. “I understand you have questions. But, it’s useless for me to answer them.”

Erich seemed to be about to say something, but Father interrupted him then drew his sword and pointed it at me.

“Bear witness, first,” Father said. “Erich, you’re on observation duty. Flora, take a sword for yourself.”

“… Yes,” I said.

I follow Father’s command and choose one of the swords lined up for practice. It’s absurdly heavy. It’s not heavy enough for a five-year-old to swing around freely. Even with this, the smallest and lightest looking sword, it’s hard to hold properly. 5

“What are you doing?” Father said. “You’re full of openings.”

“–KAH…! Geeh…! Woaahhh…!”

And suddenly, I was hit in the torso and blown away. No, it’s just my imagination that he’s going to hold back, and in reality, my father gives his all. No matter how much you have blunted the edges of the swords, it’s only for practice, but if you don’t wear the proper amounts of armor, a serious hit might lead to more than just a serious injury.

“How long are you going to spend lying down? Do you think the enemy will wait for you to regain your bearings?” Father asked.

“Gebogh!” I gasped.

Father chased after me and kicked me in the lower back while I was laying on the ground. I’m blown away again, he pursues and kicks once more, leaving me tumbling across the ground.

“What are you doing, letting go of your sword? Your sword is the last line of reliance to protect your life. Know that letting go of that sword is the same as giving up your life,” Father said.

“Aaaahhh…!”

He stomped on my right arm. It hurts. Tears and snot are overflowing. But I’m not crying because this demon of a father has made me cry. It’s the same physiological phenomenon that makes anyone tear up or get a runny nose when they’re smacked in the stomach or get bashed on the nose. The pain makes even adults cry, but I’m definitely not crying because I was being beaten by this fucking old man!

With that in mind, I glared at him and put all my strength into my arms to try and knock off his legs. Of course, there’s no way a five-year-old’s physical strength could push an adult away. But it doesn’t matter if you can do it or not. This is a matter of my pride. It’s my determination not to give in to my bastard of a father.

I’m a 5-year-old child who has never swung a sword before, and he slashed at me with all his might. I got kicked and knocked away while I was down, just because I couldn’t get up right away. I let go of the weapon and he stomps on me while I’m still down. Is my father a lunatic or what?

But there is nothing wrong with what he’s saying. If today, at this moment, a war broke out in the Margrave of Carruthers territory and the enemy attacked me specifically, I would have suffered more than this current trade of blows. The enemy won’t take it easy just because I’m a child or because I’m injured and laying on the ground. On the contrary, if they found out that I was the daughter of a Feudal Lord, I didn’t know what they would do. 6

I have to protect myself, protect my family, and protect my people. And in some cases, I will need to be prepared to take my own life. Born as the daughter of a high-ranking noble, I have that much responsibility. That’s why I’m living off the blood tax of these people.

Rights are protected because there are duties to fulfill. Aristocrats are not allowed to live as they please. Rights are recognized precisely because you fulfill your responsibilities as nobility.

I won’t give in to my father or my enemies. I pick up the sword while glaring back at my father, who is staring at me from a distance. I had never properly held or swung a sword even in my previous life, so I prepared my sword and slashed at my father.

Footnotes

In German, these are both true.5th place of 5 in the Kingdom of Ploiss, the starting point where you have both a noble title and land including inheritance rights.3rd place of 5, one step below House Carruthers1st of 5, just below the royal family and related to them, in the Kingdom of Ploiss.Flora may have made a mistake by choosing the smallest sword. The balance of a sword is very important, and in some cases, a longer, larger longsword that you can grip with two hands is easier than an arming sword that puts all the weight on one hand.As much as Flora fears the worst, and rightfully so, there would probably be much more value in kidnapping her and keeping her safe, fed, and in good health for ransom and not inviting a rescue raid or a brutal campaign of vengeance. “Don’t damage the merchandise,” in a very dark sense.

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