The Little Duchess’ Home Tutor - Vol 1 Chapter 13.1
Vol 1 Chapter 13.1: Interlude – 1: Liene Linstar
“What on earth is going on!!!”
The one raging before me is Lidia Nee-chan—the eldest daughter of the Linstar Ducal Family, one of the kingdom’s four great ducal houses and the guardians of the south. She returned from the royal capital just a few days ago.
The letter clutched in her hand must indeed have come from the royal capital.
…I was almost sure it was from onii-chan Allen.
“What happened?”
“There’s nothing to it at all! How in the world did that guy—Allen—fail to become a Royal Magician!!”
“What!?”
I couldn’t help but speak up.
Onii-chan is someone very dear to Nee-chan (though she exclaims, 『J-just a mere servant!』). At the same time, he is her master in magic.
Nee-chan—who effortlessly wields the pinnacle-level magic ‘Phoenix’, the very symbol of the Linstar family, and ranks among the kingdom’s foremost magicians—is the one who claims, “I’ve never once won with magic.”
Even someone like him… is it really possible for him not to become a Royal Magician?
Anna, Nee-chan’s head maid, tilts her head in confusion.
“Allen onii-chan taking the Royal Magician exam?”
“…The professor reported it.”
“Strange things do happen—though this is just too extreme.”
“…What do you mean?”
Lidia continues,
“Allen onii-chan is not the type to be caught off guard. And I can’t imagine he’d ever neglect to send Nee-chan a letter. Surely there must be some reason?”
Anna pipes up,
“As expected of Lady Liene! You seem to understand Allen onii-chan even better than Lady Lidia does.”
“…………Yeah.”
“Huh? What is it? I can’t hear you.”
Lidia retorts,
“I’m the one who understands Allen onii-chan best! I’m the one who trusts him most!! I won’t lose to anyone—even if it’s Liene!!”
“Yes. Nee-chan is number one.”
“Lady Lidia is number one.”
Lidia’s face turns bright red and she falls silent.
—Even though she’s my own sister, how can she be this adorable?
Anna, I expect a replay of that scene later.
“…Anna”
“――Understood. I’ll go and investigate the situation.”
“…I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“Aren’t you going?”
“Uh… w-well, that is…”
“That overprotective Allen onii-chan hasn’t sent a word to the lady, has he? This is no trivial matter. Perhaps…”
“W-what?”
“It’s nothing at all. I’ll just continue taking care of the ladies.”
“W-what are you saying?! You can’t just say that!”
“――Have you gotten fed up with me and are planning to run off with someone new?”
“Anna, that’s too far!”
Suddenly, the room’s temperature shoots up—there’s not a glimmer of light in Nee-chan’s eyes.
“…If there’s even a one-in-a-hundred-million chance—I will kill him. I’ll kill him and then I’ll die myself.”
“I always wonder… wouldn’t it be best to just capture him already?”
“Th-that’s not it… H-how many times do I have to say it?”
“Sigh… oh dear, indeed.”
Lidia adds,
“Anna, since I’m so worried, won’t you go and check it out?”
“Lady Liene is being a bit too kind.”
“That’s fine. I really am concerned.”
I had planned on having onii-chan visit under the pretext of preparing me for the Royal Academy entrance exams—otherwise, it would be hard to find an opportunity to speak with him.
“Understood. I’ll head to the royal capital to investigate.”
“Nee-chan, that will be fine, right?”
“Y-yes.”
“Then—”
In that very moment, Anna vanishes—swift as ever.
—I just hope Nee-chan returns before her patience wears thin.
*****
A few days later, Anna’s report upon her return shocks both Lidia and me.
“…Is that really true?”
“There’s no mistake. Allen onii-chan is currently staying at the Howard Ducal Family’s residence. It appears he has accepted the position as the princess’s tutor.”
“…It seems that Lady Liene and Anna’s prediction was somewhat accurate.”
Lidia lets out a deep sigh. If one were to be a tutor, there’d be no need to travel all the way north. I, who am set to enter the Royal Academy in the spring, had absolutely no reason to refuse. It seems unlikely—but could it be that he’s hesitant to meet Nee-chan? Anna even wears an unusually solemn expression.
“…I’m not sure if I should say this, but”
“What is it?”
“I feel that Allen onii-chan is far too good for Lady Lidia!!”
“What?! A-A-Anna! What did you just say—”
“It was because the lady was mocked—that alone was enough reason for him to be turned down as a Royal Magician, that very person!”
“…You’re kidding, right?”
After hearing the details, all my doubts melt away.
Certainly, given Allen onii-chan’s personality, he wouldn’t be able to explain his reasons to Nee-chan.
…Still, I have a feeling that Anna might be hiding something. Was it really directed solely at Nee-chan?
Anyway—Nee-chan, your expression has softened too much.
“Ahem—Anna, thank you for your hard work. I shall now head north.”
“That’s not acceptable.”
“I said, no.”
“W-why not!”
“I think we should wait for Allen onii-chan to come and visit.”
“If we go to meet him, we won’t have the upper hand.”
“The upper hand, huh…”
“Indeed.”
“Exactly.”
“――Understood. Let’s wait until he begs to meet us.”
That’s good. It would be unfair if only Nee-chan went to see onii-chan. Now I have a reason to lean on him as well. I believe the next time we meet will be in spring, and I’m already very excited.
――It turns out that it wasn’t only onii-chan I was destined to meet, but also that accursed Tina Howard and Ellie—but that’s another story.