Chapter 31
31
Ezekiel was the teacher for the first class, Social Trends and Ballroom Etiquette.
As a former president of the academy, he had created a tight educational curriculum, and I was busy picking up the information that poured in throughout the class.
"Finish your homework by tomorrow."
Near the end of the class, Ezekiel flicked his finger, and books and notes piled up in front of me.
He wants me to do all this? I gave Ezekiel a good-natured smile.
"Teacher, homework from the first day? Tell me about your girlfriend."
"I don't have a girlfriend."
"Aha, you used to?"
"I just don't have one. Hurry up and eat, then go to your next class."
Ezekiel snapped irritably and left.
Cute, his ears turn red when he's embarrassed.
I went to the dining room and finished the meal Ezekiel made (it was an undercooked meat pie).
Then, I changed into comfortable clothes and went outside for physical fitness, self-defense, and shooting training.
There, two very scary instructors were waiting for me. They were elite knight Killian and on-leave commander Dante.
"Huk... huk... why do I have to do this?"
And I had to run around the vast garden for the crime of saying I didn't want to be ignored at the ball.
On the third lap around the garden, Dante, who was running next to me, looked worried.
"Master, it seems you don't exercise much. You're struggling with a light run."
What's light about this! That man who doesn't even lose his breath after running three laps is abnormal!
"Don't talk to me, I'm having a hard time... huk."
My breath reached my chin, and my legs gradually lost strength, so I stopped in my tracks to catch my breath.
"Ugh, I think I'm done for. Leave me and go on."
"I won't leave you behind."
He was a man full of camaraderie. He dragged me, who was on the verge of fainting, to achieve the target of five laps.
After the arduous physical training, I struck the wooden training dummy with a wooden sword according to Killian's instructions, and pondered.
Why am I doing this?
Usually, romance fantasy novels invite beautiful noble ladies to get lessons. What I've seen is definitely a peaceful and gentle scene full of friendly smiles.
And the highlight of the episode before the ball is shopping.
'Calculate everything displayed here!' and pay in full, or 'Find hidden artisans and get them all to proceed!' and start a clothing business...
But why am I being trained as a gladiator? They must be pretending to take me to the ball and then taking me to the Colosseum.
Crack-
The head of the wooden dummy flew off and rolled on the ground from the swung wooden sword.
They're training me so hard that it breaks, right?
I felt a sense of reality and collapsed on the spot.
"I can't do it anymore. My arms are going to fall off."
Then Killian silently looked at the wooden dummy with its head cut off, gave me water, and offered words of encouragement.
"It seems that the Master is born with the qualities of a great warrior. You just need to change to a protein-based diet and do a little more strength training."
"Do other people prepare for the ball like this? Is this actually a plot to turn me into a killing machine? Tell me honestly. I know everything."
"Everyone does it. You never know when a duel might break out during the ball."
I don't want to prepare for a duel that might happen during the ball. I've even gained the tolerance to accept the emotional wounds I might receive from the haughty nobles.
"Just ten more times and it's over. You can become stronger, Master."
"This is all for the Master's physical fitness and health."
It's like muscle-filled gym regulars surrounding a beginner who came to the gym for the first time and forcing them to get personal training.
I felt like I was going to lose my mind between Killian and Dante, who were cheering me on like cheerleaders...
After overcoming those moments of adversity and hardship, next was dance class.
I took dance lessons alternately from Elluaerd and Ezekiel.
Every time I stepped on Elluaerd's foot, he made a pitiful face and spoke in a seductive banmal.
"It hurts, Master. Be gentle."
"I'm sorry. I'll be careful."
So I decided to use banmal back whenever he used banmal.
On the other hand, Ezekiel, who had his foot stepped on about five times, looked at me with resigned eyes and said he would make Magic Shoes that would take care of the steps on their own.
The following 'Advanced Joke Analysis and Understanding' class was painful in a different sense. Elluaerd led the class, and Mathias, a true old-timer, sat next to me and observed the class.
"A patient went to a doctor and complained that his back hurt every time he woke up in the morning. So the doctor said, 'Then wake up in the evening.' The patient went to the pharmacy and paid 50,000 Give for sleeping pills."
At Elluaerd's words, a smile spread across Mathias's face, which was always expressionless and cold.
"A joke satirizing the rebate relationship? Very funny."
"I think so too, Master of the mansion."
Those two men have a good sense of humor. Is it because of their family ties?
Amidst Elluaerd and Mathias's gentle laughter, I was the only one who couldn't laugh. I missed the timing to laugh along because I was thinking about what was funny.
Mathias, seeing me bewildered, clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"To not understand such sophisticated jokes."
He began to explain in detail what was funny. Usually, additional explanations are attached to failed jokes, right?
But isn't this a new kind of torture? I have to listen to this for two hours every day? It's painful both physically and mentally.
Through that Spartan strengthening period, I vaguely understood high society, gained strengthened arms and legs, could vaguely do 12 kinds of dances, and became a strong-willed Spartan warrior who could smile even after listening to very old jokes.
Finally, the day of the long-awaited ball arrived.
Afternoon on the day of the ball.
"Master, this is a gift. If you wear this, you can interact with me secretly."
Elluaerd, who came to my room, handed me a box containing jeweled earrings.
I picked up the earrings and brought them close to my eyes, admiring them.
How many carats is this? It looks very expensive, is it a diamond?
"Wow, thank you. It's not too big, so it's light, and the simple yet luxurious exterior design even has a sense of restraint. And it has the perfection of practicality that goes well with any time and place. But what do you mean by secret interaction?"
He pointed to his head and said.
"It means I can convey my thoughts to the Master."
Ah, it's like a walkie-talkie? It's a very useful item for me, who still hasn't adapted to high-level humor. Like an audience member, I can laugh out loud when I receive the signal to laugh.
While I was happy to receive the precious and pretty earrings, Ezekiel approached with a face that was pink all over and said.
"So... Mia, can you stand in front of the full-length mirror and close your eyes?"
"Okay, I understand."
I stood in front of the mirror as he told me and closed my eyes.
Then, there was a snap of fingers.
"You can open your eyes."
At Ezekiel's voice, which was full of shyness, I lifted my eyelids and looked at myself reflected in the mirror.
"Huh?"
I was surprised to see that I had changed into a soft silk tubular dress. My long, voluminous brown hair was also curled.
It was exactly the same style as the magazine Ezekiel and I had seen last night before going to bed.
"Oh, that's amazing. Did you copy the clothes from the picture?"
To be able to copy pictures, that's an amazing ability. Ezekiel doesn't need to buy things with money. Is that why he can wear different clothes every day?
At my envious gaze, Ezekiel vehemently denied it.
"I bought it with my own money? You said you liked it. Look at the other clothes too."
Every time he snapped his fingers, I changed into various clothes like a dress-up game, such as a turquoise satin evening dress and a ribboned two-piece.
"I like this one."
My choice was a white tailored suit. It's perfect for me, who has a summer cool tone.
Besides, since I'm a beginner at dancing, pants that are active and comfortable are better than a dress that reaches the floor. It's also stylish.
"A color scheme that seems to match your skin and hair color, and a comfortable yet luxurious and sophisticated design. You have an eye for it. In particular, the Handmade Bouffant Button made with precise techniques is like a work of art."
At my simple compliment, Ezekiel scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed face and asked.
"Are you a cultural critic or something?"
I shook my head, wearing shoes with low heels and turning around.
"No?"
In fact, I had no intention of standing out flamboyantly at the ball.
The main purpose is to let people know that I have a handsome and powerful fiancé to block the annoying aunt and uncle, and the next purpose is just to eat delicious things.
"It looks good on you."
Ezekiel, who was standing with his arms crossed, lifted his chin and praised me with a sulky expression.
"Thank you so much, Ezek. You're going to the ball too, right?"
"Yeah. I think everyone's going?"
"That's great. It's an opportunity to taste and research the Imperial Palace's bread. I'll try to eat hard too."
"Why do you only think about eating?"
Leaving Ezekiel's nagging behind, I straightened my shoulders and walked out of the mansion with confidence, fully prepared.
"Master, I will serve you comfortably."
Killian, who was waiting in the garden, held out his hand as if to escort me. Even though it was evening, his black helmet and armor were shining brightly.
That man, he cleaned and polished himself and tried to dress up hard.
But what is that big, black thing standing behind him?
I gaped at Toto, who had returned to his original huge size.
"...Are we really going in a personal 'dragon'? Well, it's probably common to come to a ball riding a dragon, right?"
There might be such a culture due to the characteristics of the world. The person who rides the more splendid dragon might become the popular person of the day.
"No. If you ride Toto, no one will ignore the Master."
Isn't that just an attention seeker?
I Hired the Villain as a Housekeeper
