Chapter 35

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

Gdoc here.

I feel compelled make a PSA. Abuse is bad. If you or somebody you know is being abused, seek help. I know the USA has hotlines, and I am willing to find resources for other countries if asked (through google…).

Birdcage

When she heard that Wynn had received dispatch orders from the Knight Order, Leticia had naturally wanted to go with him.

But, since she wasn’t a knight, she hadn’t received permission to join the Imperial Army on its military movements. As a result, she chose to join as Wynn’s follower.

There were many cases of nobles and knights having their soldiers and followers accompany them to battle.

Of course, it was unprecedented for a lady of high nobility to become a follower.

However…

“Leticia, you can’t go to a battlefield!”

As she made preparations to go to Wynn’s side, her father, Lecter van Mavis[1], called out to her.

Lecter grimaced at the sight of the noble lady who wasn’t dressed well and wore no makeup.

“You want to become the follower of some plebeian brat!? What are you, a member of the Ducal House, thinking!?”

“I am not acting as a member of the Ducal House. Is there anything improper about a disciple following their master?”

“It’s completely improper!”

Lecter stood up from his chair, pounding the ebony desk with his fist.

Lecter remained in that position, glaring at Leticia for a while. He eventually let out a sigh and sat back down in his chair.

“You see, you are now the Brave, and everybody in the world has their eyes on you, Leticia.”

“I know.”

“Naturally, there is nobody in the surrounding countries who doesn’t know who you are. Even countries who have isolated themselves, and those of other races would know your name. As your father, I am proud that our family name has spread all over the world.”

“Therefore, it is important that you remember that you are the third daughter of the Remulshil Empire’s Duke Mavis. I don’t mind the fact that you have a commoner as your master. There’s no alternative, if it’s true. But you should spread the name of the Baron-dono who was your tutor far and wide as your master.”

“I have no Master other than Wynn Byrd.”

In the first place, she had no memory of being taught anything by that Baron.

In the first place, the young Leticia was a child who couldn’t stand staying still.

More than other people, she was inquisitive, wandering towards whatever caught her interest. Whenever she studied, whether it was reading books with the tutor, or practicing her writing, the birds flying outside the window and the flowers blooming in the garden would catch her interest.

The tutor would scold her harshly every time her eyes left the book.

He spouted abusive words towards Leticia for lazing around, and in the afternoon, during the basic swordplay and martial arts training, he beat her severely with the wooden sword.

It must have been him venting his pent-up frustration from acting as her tutor, since he never got her during the lesson.

Whenever they sparred, she was knocked to the ground— or rather— it would be more accurate to say that she was beaten to the ground.

Her whole body would be covered in bruises.

He broke Leticia’s bones, and gave her cuts and bruises only in places that were not easily visible; The Baron was surprisingly skilled.

As a result, Leticia was labelled a dunce in comparison to her older siblings, and was treated as a black sheep of the Ducal House.

When Leticia’s attending maids, who washed her body and changed her clothes reported her wounds, the tutor just said that it was his carelessness.

Under the tutor’s guidance, her brothers and sisters could carry themselves with pride for being a member of the Ducal House, so Lecter believed the tutor.

“For a Duke’s daughter to call an unknown nobody the Master of the Brave, it is doing a disservice to high society for you to follow that young commoner boy. Our honour would be stained!”

“Unknown nobody… even if you’re my father, for you to call Onii—my master that, I would never forgive you!”

Leticia was incensed at Lecter’s words.

If the tutor had patiently taught Leticia slowly from the basics, in her studies, in her swordplay, in her martial arts, she may have awakened as the Brave faster.

However, it was with Wynn that she enjoyed reading books, learning magic, and moving her body.

In Leticia’s isolated world, only one person gave an unwavering light.

Feeling Leticia’s rage-filled gaze, Lecter flinched, but trying to keep up appearances as a father, he squeezed his voice out.

“Li-Listen, Leticia. You and this commoner boy you call “Master” live in completely different worlds. Are you willing to face the unhappiness of the surroundings not being able to accept it?”

“Not able to accept it?”

Leticia showed a faint smile.

“Why does it have to be recognized by somebody? Apart from me and Master, who else’s opinion matters?”

“A-anyways, I will not allow you to join the campaign. Certainly, you were chosen as the Brave, and you have the status to be able to not bow down to the Emperor, but you are still my daughter. You have to obey the words of the head of Mavis House.”

Lecter rung a bell on his work desk.

The Ducal House’s attendants opened the door and filed into the room.

They held in their hands excessively decorated frames, with what appeared to be portraits.

A total of six attendants entered.

Each person carried five or six drawings, making a total of 30 to 40 paintings.

“These are all portraits of your marriage interview candidates.[2]”

“Marriage interview…!?”

Leticia’s mind recalled the time when Cornelia showed her portraits of various young aristocrats a few days ago.

“Not only from our country, but even royalty and prominent families from neighboring countries. You can choose a suitor from any of these.”

“Father. Why are we doing this? I do not wish to have a marriage interview. I have already dedicated my heart to somebody.”

“Is that the commoner you call ‘Master’?”

Leticia hung her head at Lecter’s words

From her anger to her bashfulness, and seeing her completely flushed face, her attitude was fitting for her age, but Lecter merely scowled upon seeing her attitude.

“There is also the proposal from Prince Alfred that His Majesty mentioned. His Majesty is very enthusiastic about the idea. Rather than some foreign nobility, Prince Alfred should come first. Of course, you can decline if he doesn’t interest you. It would normally be unacceptable to decline the Crown Prince after having the marriage interview, but your circumstances are special. At any rate, the Brave is an existence outside normal common sense.[3] The title of Brave is that important. I am proud of you as my daughter.”

Lecter’s gaze moved from Leticia to the attendants in the room.

“Leticia. You’re a member of the Ducal House. Please be aware of the status you hold. You all keep watch and keep her from leaving.”

“We will humbly obey, Master.”

“You’re not thinking something stupid as trying to force your way out, right? For your sake, and for the sake of the commoner brat you call ‘Master’.”

“If you lay a hand on Onii-chan—!”

Leticia’s voice was once again filled with rage. However, Lecter didn’t flinch. He merely looked at Leticia with a grim face.

“Take them with you.”

With one sentence, Lecter looked down at at the papers spread across his desk. His voice showed that it was final.

Leticia glared at Lecter, but at the urging of the attendants, she rose and left the room. In the doorway, she looked back for a moment, but Lecter paid her no heed, his expression showing that he wasn’t going to say any more.

‘What do I do, Onii-chan?’

If she used her power, nothing in this world could suppress Leticia.

However, apart from simple strength, Leticia was bound by the chains of her own status, as the Brave, and as the third daughter of the Duke.

More than the difference in status between Wynn and the nobles, Leticia and Wynn’s status were as different as night and day, just as Lecter had said.[4]

‘You and this commoner boy you call ‘Master’ live in completely different worlds. Are you willing to face the unhappiness of the surroundings not accepting it?’

She couldn’t respond to those words. Leticia’s status, which she had never desired, was a tall wall looming between Wynn and her.

She returned to her room, and looked out the window. She saw a single bird flying in the sky.

She wanted to throw away everything.

Her title as the Brave, and her status as a Duke’s daughter.

However, it was impossible.

Her exploits and achievements would be handed down for generations.

If Leticia desired, she could take Wynn and flee to another country. If she did that, she could leave behind the title of Brave and her status as lady of a Ducal House. Unlike any other noble lady, she believed she could live in any sort of environment.

But that would mean that Wynn would have to give up his dreams of becoming an imperial knight.

If Leticia begged him, that kind youth would accompany her. However, Wynn would end up abandoning his dreams. Leticia didn’t want that.

Just like a bird which had once again lost its freedom, Leticia stared enviously at the birds flying freely in the sky.

Translator Notes

Expletive you レクトール… I was going to call you Lector, but considering your actions, I’ll call you Lecter. I don’t care if google comes up with Lecter being a last name. You deserve it. —back

omiai… I rage-quitted here for a long time… —back

Lawyer A will record this sentence against you for the trial. You have been notified. —back

Translator’s liberty of idiom… —back

I ended up ragequitting partway through the chapter. That’s why it’s late. In consolation, I named Leti’s father Lecter instead of Lector, as I had originally transliterated(is that the word?) it. Also, I learned that there was an Animesuki forum thread for this series… There is a spoiler-ish thing somwhere there that may console the rage. I won’t directly link to it in public.

I am opening up the World Turtle Translations server to the public. I’m just trying to circumvent the traditional media(WordPress), and get a more direct connection to the public. I’ll keep governance simple. I’m not going to be too picky on what happens in it, but do read the rules (not long). If it becomes too much for me to manage, I’ll purge the server, just as Stalin purged things. But feel free to rage as much as you want on the server. I’m not sure if how much tolerance I have for trolls. I only have one channel for people to chat on, for now.

In summary, the server is an experiment in anarchy, under the staff’s dictatorial oversight. If that even makes sense. Maybe it’s closer to model of an unlimited monarchy, except I’m not sure how the subjects can rebel, and how oppressive the monarchs will be. Here’s the invite.

BTW, Kuro Kishi(Black Knight) is still being edited. Xant’s group is facing a shortage of editor minions, and they also hold their multiple projects to a higher standard than I do with this one project(rightfully)

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