I Was Brought Back To a Wealthy Vampire Family And Now I Have Become Their Only Daughter's Tutor - 11 - The Training Begins

The ride back to the Kurohana household had been surprisingly quiet. The driver, the same stoic man who had brought us to Yumeji Academy that morning, kept his eyes firmly on the road. Tsukiko sat next to me in the roomy back seat, her face unreadable and calm. I couldn’t tell if she was reflecting on our little adventure or simply lost in her own thoughts.

I glanced out the window, watching the city lights blur as we left the outskirts and moved toward the estate. The sprawling mansions and well-kept gardens of this elite neighborhood were a stark contrast to the lively streets we’d just come from. It felt like stepping back into a different world—a colder, more controlled one.

As the car slowed to a stop in front of the grand gates, I couldn’t help but stare at the sheer size of the Kurohana household. In the moonlight, the towering mansion’s exquisite architecture stood out as both stunning and intimidating. This will take me a while to get used to this kind of view.

“We’re home,” Tsukiko said softly, breaking the silence.

“Yeah,” I replied, stepping out of the car and stretching. “Even though the first day of school ended today, it feels like we were gone for days.”

She smiled slightly in amusement at me but remained silent as she made her way to the door. Lily, the ever-obedient head maid, was waiting for me as I followed her inside.

“Welcome back, Tsukiko-sama, Kazuki-sama,” Lily said, bowing gracefully.

Tsukiko nodded in acknowledgment. “I’ll be in my room, studying. Please ensure Kazuki is prepared for his training.”

“Of course, Tsukiko-sama,” Lily replied, her tone unwavering.

I raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two of them. “Wait, training? Like, right now?”

Lily turned to me, her usual serene smile in place. “You are Tsukiko-sama’s servant, Kazuki-sama. It is essential that you are properly trained to fulfill your role. Please follow me.”

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Lily guided me through the intricate corridors of the Kurohana mansion, her footsteps deliberate yet gentle on the smooth wood floors. I trailed along, ignoring the rising unease that was wriggling in my stomach. I was even more uneasy because of the estate’s magnificence, which included elaborate décor and lofty ceilings. What sort of training was I going to receive?

After a few minutes, we stopped in front of a pair of sliding doors. Lily slid them open, revealing a room I hadn’t seen before. It was a training hall, simple yet elegant in design. The polished wooden floors gleamed under the warm light, and the walls were lined with neatly arranged equipment—wooden staffs, practice swords, and even a small rack of weights. A long mirror stretched across one wall, reflecting the room’s immaculate symmetry.

“Whoa,” I muttered, stepping inside. “This looks serious.”

Lily closed the door behind us, her usual serene smile firmly in place. “This is where you will learn to carry yourself as a proper servant of the Kurohana household.”

I turned to face her, crossing my arms. “Alright, what’s first? Etiquette lessons? How to serve tea without spilling it?”

Her smile widened ever so slightly, a faint hint of amusement flickering in her eyes. “Patience, Kazuki-sama. We’ll get to that in time. But first, we must address the fundamentals—your posture, your manners, and how you interact with those of higher status.”

“Posture?” I echoed, raising an eyebrow. “Is that really such a big deal?”

“It is,” she said firmly, stepping closer. “Your every action reflects upon Tsukiko-sama. If you slouch or appear unrefined, it will bring dishonor not only to yourself but also to her.”

“Alright, alright,” I said, holding up my hands in mock surrender. “No slouching. Got it.”

Lily gestured for me to stand in the center of the room. “Now let’s begin. Forst things first, stand straight, with your shoulders back and your chin slightly raised.”

I did as she instructed, feeling a little ridiculous as I tried to mimic her impeccable posture. She walked around me, her sharp gaze taking in every detail.

“Not bad,” she said after a moment. “But your shoulders are uneven. Relax them, and keep your weight balanced on both feet.”

“Like this?” I asked, adjusting my stance.

“Better,” she said, nodding. “Now, let’s move on to bowing. There are different types of bows, depending on the situation and the person you are addressing. Watch closely.”

She demonstrated a deep bow, her movements fluid and precise. “This is a formal bow, used when greeting someone of significantly higher status. It should be executed with respect and humility.”

I tried to imitate her, bending at the waist and keeping my hands at my sides.

“Too stiff,” she said, tapping my shoulder lightly. “Relax, but maintain control. Try again.”

I adjusted my posture and bowed again. This time, she nodded in approval.

“Good. Now, let’s practice walking with proper form.”

“Walking?” I asked incredulously.

“Yes, walking,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

I tried to match her graceful steps as I moved back and forth across the room for the next half hour. Every few paces, she pointed out the slightest flaws in my movements and corrected me. My legs felt like lead at the finish, and I began to wonder why I had done it all.

An hour and a half have passed. After the etiquette lessons, Lily handed me a wooden staff and gestured for me to stand in the center of the room again.

“Now we move on to basic martial arts,” she said, her tone serious.

I stared at the staff in my hands, then at her. “Martial arts? Why do I need to learn this? I thought this was supposed to be about manners and serving tea.”

Her expression softened, but her gaze remained steady. “Yumeji Academy is home to many powerful individuals, Kazuki-sama. Not all of them are kind or trustworthy. Should anyone wish to harm Tsukiko-sama, it will be your duty to protect her.”

Her words hit me like a cold gust of wind. The idea of someone targeting Tsukiko hadn’t even crossed my mind, but now that she mentioned it, it made sense.

“Is that so.” I said, gripping the staff a little tighter. “Then, let’s start the training.”

Lily nodded approvingly and began demonstrating a basic stance. “Your feet should be shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees slightly and keep your weight centered. This will give you stability.”

I mimicked her stance, though it felt awkward at first.

“Good,” she said. “Now, hold the staff like this.”

She showed me how to grip the staff properly, her movements fluid and precise. I tried to copy her, but my hands felt clumsy and uncoordinated.

“Relax,” she said, placing her hands over mine to adjust my grip. “Martial arts is not about brute force. It’s about control and balance.”

For the next hour, she guided me through basic movements—blocking, striking, and dodging. Each motion was deliberate and precise, and she made sure to correct every mistake I made.

“You’re doing well,” she said after a while, stepping back to observe. “But you need to focus more on your breathing. A steady breath will help you maintain control.”

I nodded, trying to ignore the burning in my arms as I repeated the movements she’d shown me. By the time we finished, my body was drenched in sweat, and every muscle ached.

“Done already?” Lily asked, raising an eyebrow as I collapsed onto the floor.

“Not… used to this,” I panted, trying to catch my breath. “Can we take… a short break?”

She chuckled softly, offering me a hand to help me up. “We’ll stop here for now. But we’ll continue this training every day until you’ve mastered the basics.”

“Every day?” I groaned, wiping the sweat from my forehead.

“Yes,” she said, her smile returning. “It’s for your own good, Kazuki-sama. You’ll see.”

I wasn’t so sure about that, but as I looked at the determined glint in her eyes, I realized I didn’t have much of a choice. This was just the beginning, and I had a long road ahead of me.

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Four hours. Four grueling, sweat-soaked hours. My body felt like it had been run over by a truck—twice. I collapsed onto the polished wooden floor of the training room, gasping for air as if the mansion itself had stolen the oxygen. Every muscle in my body ached, and my arms felt like jelly from the endless drills Lily had put me through.

“You’re done already?” Lily’s calm voice cut through the haze of my exhaustion.

I looked up to see her standing over me, not a single hair out of place, her crisp maid uniform as pristine as ever. Meanwhile, I was sprawled out on the floor like a fish out of water, my shirt clinging to me from the sweat.

“Done?” I panted, glaring at her. “I’ve been blocking, bowing, and balancing on my toes for hours. I’m not a machine, Lily.”

She offered me a faint smile, kneeling down gracefully beside me. “You’re making progress, Kazuki-sama. But progress requires perseverance. If you stop now, you’ll never improve.”

“I’ll improve tomorrow,” I groaned, rolling onto my back. “But right now, I’m about five minutes away from passing out.”

Lily chuckled softly, pulling out a neatly folded handkerchief and handing it to me. “It’s important to push past your limits. That’s the only way to grow stronger.”

“Limits?” I said, sitting up slowly and wiping my face with the handkerchief. “I think I left my limits back in the first hour. What’s the point of all this, anyway? Bowing, martial arts… Why does being Tsukiko’s servant require me to learn how to throw a punch?”

Her smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. “Yumeji Academy is not an ordinary school, Kazuki-sama. It is a place where power and status often dictate relationships. Not everyone there will have Tsukiko-sama’s best interests at heart.”

I frowned, the weight of her words sinking in. “You think someone might actually try to hurt her?”

“It’s not a matter of if, but when. Tsukiko-sama is the heiress of the Kurohana family, and that alone makes her a target. Whether it’s out of jealousy, competition, or something more sinister, there will always be those who wish to bring her down.” Lily’s gaze didn’t waver.

The room felt colder suddenly, and I sat there, the implications hitting me like a punch to the gut. I’d only just started to understand this world, and now I was being told that it could get dangerous—potentially life-threatening.

“That’s why you’re training me.” I said, more to myself than to her. “So I can protect her.”

“Exactly,” Lily said, her voice calm but firm. It is your responsibility as her servant to keep her safe. You may not have her power or status, but you have something just as valuable: loyalty.”

I swallowed hard, nodding slowly. “Alright. I get it. I’ll do my best. But seriously, does it have to be this intense? Four hours straight is a bit much.”

“You’ll thank me later,” she said, standing and offering me a hand.

I took it, groaning as she helped me to my feet. “If I survive until later.”

As I stretched my stiff muscles, a thought dawned to me. “Hey, Lily,” I murmured, looking at her. “I had observed something earlier. The household’s head, Akito-san, has been absent since this morning. Where is he?”

Lily’s expression softened, and she folded her hands neatly in front of her. “The head of the Kurohana household visits this estate only once a month. He is a very busy man, with numerous responsibilities beyond the mansion.”

“Once a month?” I repeated, frowning. “That’s it? Doesn’t that… I don’t know, feel a little lonely for Tsukiko?”

Lily tilted her head slightly, considering my words. “Perhaps,” she admits. “However, it is also part of her training. Tsukiko-sama has been taught to be independent and self-reliant since she was a child. She understands that her father’s absence is not neglect but necessity.”

I stared at her, trying to imagine what that must have been like for Tsukiko. To grow up in this massive, cold mansion with only servants for company, knowing that her father’s distance was part of her training to inherit the family legacy.

“That’s… tough,” I said quietly.

“It is,” Lily agreed. “But Tsukiko-sama is stronger because of it. She understands the weight of her responsibilities, and she carries them with grace.”

“Does she ever get to… I don’t know, just be a normal girl?”

Lily’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. “Perhaps that is why she chose you, Kazuki-sama. You bring something to her life that no one else here can.”