The Mob Noble Who Got Reincarnated in a World Where Men Are Naturally Protected—So I Trained Like Crazy to Protect Girls Instead, But Their Love Got Way Too Heavy - Chapter 31 & 32

Chapter 31: Attendant Training

That night, I was being worked to death.

“Your mopping is sloppy! Do it more carefully, firmly, and with speed! Move like your life depends on it!”

The one barking orders was an elderly maid, her voice sharp enough to split stone.

I straightened my back and shouted in reply.

“Yes, Master!”

“I am not your master! Call me Head Maid!”

“Yes, Head Maid!”

With that, I threw my weight forward and resumed wiping the corridor floor at full throttle.

This wasn’t some school hallway.

This was the royal dormitory—Princess Illucia’s private residence.

Yeah, no big deal.

Just me, the newly appointed “attendant,” getting whipped into shape by one of the princess’s personal maids.

I kept scrubbing, trying not to think about how I’d ended up in this mess in the first place.

It all started right after I agreed to follow Her Highness.

“Tect, now that it’s come to this, you’ve got no choice but to go through with it—but be careful.”

“…Careful? Of what?”

Before I could even blink, Aegis leaned close to my ear and whispered in a rush.

“The princess hates men. A full-blown man-hater! And you know those rumors about her—building a yuri harem? She’s got a thing for girls, Tect! So if she’s suddenly asking for a male attendant… she’s obviously planning to bully you within an inch of your life!”

“Ugh… y-you really think so?”

I’d heard the rumors before, of course—about her being surrounded by girls who adored her and all that—but hearing Aegis lay it out like that made my stomach twist.

Seeing my face pale, Aegis let out a sigh and said firmly, “Listen carefully, Tect…”

“Since this has turned into such a big deal, I doubt she’ll go out of her way to bully you openly or anything. But—just in case something really bad happens, rub this.”

Aegis handed me a ring.

“It’s the same kind I use to summon my gear. If you rub it, I’ll be summoned straight to your location. Whatever happens, I’ll take care of it.”

“O-Oh. Uh, thanks… I think?”

“Ahh! That’s not fair, Shorty! Tect! Give me one too! I’ll rush to your side no matter what!”

“Pipe down, gloomy girl! Like a viscount’s daughter could even stand in front of a princess and talk back to her!?”

“For Tect, I’ll destroy the whole country if I have to!”

“R-Right… I’m just gonna… go now.”

Leaving the two of them to their usual bickering, I jogged after the princess.

When I caught up, she didn’t say a word—just turned gracefully and motioned for me to follow. Before long, we arrived at her dormitory.

“So this is where Your Highness lives? It’s… huge.”

The building was massive—definitely not what I’d call a dorm. It was practically a mansion of its own, the kind of place that radiated royalty.

While I was still busy gaping, the princess glanced back at me with a sidelong look.

“Well then, let’s start with something simple.”

“…Yes, Your Highness. I’m ready for any order.”

Still on guard, I gave a polite nod.

Then the princess spoke.

“Please, call me Shia. In return, I’ll call you Tect.”

“Y-Yes, understood, Your Highness.”

“Not Your Highness?”

“…Shia, ma’am.”

“Good.”

Satisfied with my correction, the princess—no, Shia—smiled softly and added, “You see? A little familiarity is important, don’t you think?”

I had no idea what she was really planning.

Her first order as the so-called man-hating princess… and it turned out to be this?

Honestly, I’d braced myself for some cruel prank, but this was just… confusing.

Still, I wasn’t about to lose my composure.

After all, I’d been trained to survive way worse back home.

Whatever she had in mind, I’d endure it with pride.

Thinking that, I followed her inside the dorm.

The moment we stepped in, an elderly maid appeared—stern-faced, her movements sharp and mechanical, like a perfectly wound clock.

“Welcome home, Lady Shia. And… a male guest, I see.”

Her gaze snapped toward me, sharp as a hawk’s.

Yeah, fair enough. A guy walking into the girls’ dorm was bound to raise suspicion anywhere.

…Wait, hold on.

In this world, gender roles are kinda flipped, right?

So shouldn’t I be the one feeling unsafe here?

While I was quietly questioning reality, Shia spoke up.

“Hedda. This is Tect. He’ll be serving as my attendant for the time being. He’s technically from the lower-noble class, but treat him as a servant and train him accordingly.”

“Hmm… understood. I am Heddarris, the head maid in charge of Lady Illucia’s dormitory.”

The elderly maid bowed deeply, her tone polite and composed—then immediately fixed me with a glare sharp enough to cut steel.

“I don’t know the full details, but if he’s to be treated as a servant, then this, Hedda, will show no mercy. Even if your true status is that of a student, I’ll train you thoroughly. Prepare yourself.”

I could only give a wry smile at that, then quickly introduced myself.

“Nice to meet you. My name’s Protelclus. Please call me Tect. I might cause you some trouble, but I’ll do my best—please take care of me.”

When I bowed politely, the elderly maid—Ms. Hedda—blinked, her eyes widening in surprise.

Then she leaned close to Shia and whispered,

“He’s… unusually well-mannered for a boy, isn’t he?”

“Indeed. But don’t go easy on him, alright?”

“Of course, milady…”

Whatever they were whispering about, I couldn’t make out a word. Still, I figured I should at least look eager, so I straightened my back and nodded firmly.

Ms. Hedda clapped her hands together with a sharp snap.

“Very well. Training begins immediately. Follow me.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

I responded loud and clear, then marched after her down the hall.

―And that’s how I ended up here.

“Next—cup polishing! Don’t tell me you’re tired already!”

The moment we were alone, Ms. Hedda’s eyes turned into drill sergeants in human form. Her orders came at me like machine-gun fire—relentless, precise, and absolutely terrifying.

But honestly? I was used to this level of intensity.

“No problem! Leave it to me!”

“Talking big won’t polish the cups! Move those hands!”

“Yes, Master!”

“I’m not your master! Call me Head Maid!”

“Yes, Head Maid!”

I grabbed the cloth and started polishing the teacups at lightning speed.

They were fine porcelain—one slip and I’d probably owe the royal treasury a lifetime of debt.

I made sure to wipe every inch until not even a trace of fog remained—careful yet fast, polished yet precise.

True mastery demanded both quality and speed. I understood that much at least.

“Finished!”

“Let me see… hmm… I see, I see…”

Ms. Hedda inspected each cup one by one with deadly seriousness, her wrinkled hands moving like those of a veteran artisan evaluating gemstones.

Then, after what felt like forever—

“Pass! They’re perfectly polished!”

“Thank you! What’s next!?”

“Nothing! Take a break!”

“Yes, thank you very much!”

I flopped down into a chair in the servants’ room, though my posture stayed unnaturally straight out of habit.

Ms. Hedda, now clearly in a good mood, sat across from me with an elegant smile.

“Sir Tect, here—some tea and cookies. The cookies are leftovers, but still quite good.”

“Oh, thank you.”

She poured the tea with flawless grace, every movement refined and exact. I glanced at the cookies in front of me, hesitating for a moment—only for her to snap, “What are you waiting for? Eat.”

“In that case, I’ll gratefully accept.”

I reached for a cookie, still trying to process how I’d gone from combat training to tea time in under an hour.

“…Manners while eating—also perfect. Sir Tect, where are you from?”

“The Garland Knight family.”

“My, that Garland family? You mean the famous knight herself?”

“Yes. You know my mother?”

“But of course. Your mother is a formidable woman.”

Ms. Hedda nodded fondly, the corners of her mouth softening as she looked at me.

“That explains a lot. I was wondering why a boy—noble blood or not—didn’t act spoiled. Most would crumble the moment they’re scolded.”

She took a calm sip of tea before continuing.

“You endured shouting, stayed focused, and even improved your speed without cutting corners. You must’ve done household work back home too, haven’t you? In just a few hours, you’ve already grown remarkably.”

I scratched my cheek, smiling awkwardly.

“No-no, it’s all thanks to your—uh, Head Maid’s excellent training.”

“Sir Tect… you endured well.”

“I endured.”

We shared a grin—one of those silent we survived the battlefield kinds of grins.

Then Ms. Hedda cleared her throat with a polite cough.

“Now then. You’re here as an attendant, correct? Let’s review your duties for tomorrow. You still have classes at the academy, yes? We’ll need to balance your schedule accordingly.”

“Thank you for the consideration. As for tomorrow’s classes…”

After finalizing the next day’s schedule with Ms. Hedda, I was treated to a simple dinner with the staff before heading home for the night.

The harshness from earlier was completely gone—Ms. Hedda now saw me off with a warm, almost motherly smile.

“Then, I’ll see you again tomorrow!”

“Yes, I look forward to it, Sir Tect.”

Her tone was soft, genuine. The same woman who’d barked orders like a drill sergeant was now the picture of calm grace.

As I turned to leave, I caught her mumbling under her breath, voice barely audible.

“…Perhaps you’ll be the one to free Lady Shia from her suffering someday…”

I froze mid-step, wondering if I’d misheard.

“…Huh?”

But when I glanced back, she was already walking into the mansion, her face unreadable in the dim light.

Probably just my imagination.

With that thought, I shrugged it off and walked back to my room with light steps.

Chapter 32: Perfect Attendant Tect

Just as Aegis had predicted, the Third Princess Illucia—better known as Shia—was a complete man-hater.

Actually, it would be more accurate to say that a good number of women in this world disliked men by default.

Arrogant attitudes.

No sense of gratitude.

The kind of selfishness that made them believe only their actions were ever justified.

And yet, women were still forced into marriages with those very men. Naturally, many grew tired of it… and some developed outright disgust.

So in an era like that—

When Shia stumbled upon one particularly defenseless boy named Tect, she couldn’t help but take an interest.

“…Pfft, fufu. A boy… taking a nap so openly… how bold… fufufu…”

Men were usually wary of women.

Among commoners, there were constant stories of misunderstandings and “incidents.” Among nobles, even a casual glance from a higher-ranking woman could spiral into a full-blown scandal.

So by all logic, a boy taking a nap out in the open—alone, unguarded, right in the middle of the academy courtyard—was absolutely unthinkable.

And yet there he was.

Completely relaxed, sleeping like a cat in the sun.

Half of Shia’s reaction was genuine amazement at his nerve.

The other half? Pure amusement at his complete lack of self-preservation.

That was her very first impression of Tect.

But it didn’t end there.

The second encounter came that same afternoon—

When Shia went to confront Aegis, after hearing rumors that the “Little Fortress” herself was secretly meeting a lower noble boy.

Shia knew Aegis was the type who normally couldn’t stand men, so the report had genuinely shocked her.

But when she arrived and saw Tect sitting there… everything suddenly clicked.

And what followed after that encounter was, in Shia’s eyes—truly fascinating.

To her surprise, Tect had been nodding along with the girls’ gossip about how awful men were.

Watching that, Shia had nearly burst out laughing right there.

That completely serious expression he wore—like he’d also “been through some real trauma himself”—was just too much. It was absurd, ridiculous… and absolutely hilarious.

At that moment, she’d thought, If I spent more time with a boy like that, every day would be entertaining.

Their third meeting came later that same day—when Aegis brought Tect to her regarding the “curse” incident. While Shia calmly considered possible ways to remove it, another thought began to take root in her mind.

A boy unlike any other.

Smart, polite, thoughtful… yet naive and defenseless to a fault.

A curious little mix of discipline and disaster.

And Shia decided—

She wanted to peel off that mask and see what lay underneath.

Because in her eyes, no matter how charming or noble a man might appear on the surface, deep down they were all the same—filthy, self-serving creatures. That belief had never failed her.

So, to expose him, she planned to toy with him little by little—using his “curse removal” as the perfect pretext.

She’d make absurd demands, corner him with impossible tasks… and see how long it took before his “gentle” act finally cracked.

The next morning, after Tect’s first day as her new attendant, Shia sat before her mirror as Hedda helped her prepare for breakfast.

Once her hair was perfectly arranged and her uniform immaculate, she rose and walked gracefully toward the dining table, wearing her usual serene smile.

It was a perfectly ordinary morning—same tea, same calm routine.

And yet, in that tranquil voice of hers, Shia turned to Hedda and asked,

“By the way, the boy I told you to start training yesterday—how is he? Has he already run away?”

Hedda’s training had a reputation—even back in her royal palace days—for being absolutely brutal.

She was strict about everything.

Not a single speck of dust. Not even a fingerprint on a glass. Perfection wasn’t her goal—it was her baseline. And she demanded that same level of perfection from everyone around her.

There were even rumors that female servants couldn’t last a single day under her training. So for a pampered boy? He’d be lucky to last five minutes, at best.

“If he’s run away, then so be it. Lifting the curse would likely be dangerous anyway, and if it’s only a minor inconvenience to him, then he’ll just have to live with it.”

She nodded, already satisfied with that conclusion—

But just as she opened the doors to the dining room, Hedda’s calm voice reached her ear.

“Pardon me, milady—but in just a few short hours yesterday, Sir Tect has already surpassed the standard I would normally expect from an attendant.”

“…What?”

Before Shia could even respond, a bright, cheerful voice rang out from inside.

“Good morning, Lady Shia! Forgive my boldness, but I’ve taken the liberty of preparing today’s breakfast myself!”

“…Eh?”

Standing there with a radiant grin, arranging dishes on the table with the composure of a professional butler—was Tect.

“…Hedda?”

“Lady Shia. I believe I’ve already taught you to greet even servants with proper courtesy.”

“R-Right… Good morning, Tect.”

“Good morning, milady. Please, this way—your seat is ready.”

For some reason, it was Shia who ended up being scolded by Hedda instead.

Flustered, she quietly sat down in the chair that Tect had politely pulled out for her.

Then her gaze drifted toward the table—

And she froze.

Toast. Salad. Soup. And a perfectly round, golden omelet that gleamed like a piece of art.

It was a simple breakfast, yet the care in its presentation made it shine.

“…Hedda, your cooking’s improved…”

“Sir Tect told you himself, didn’t he? This meal was prepared by him.”

“…I see.”

Shia swallowed, caught somewhere between disbelief and curiosity.

Still, no princess could resist such a flawless spread first thing in the morning.

Her royal pride surrendered easily to her empty stomach.

“…Let’s eat.”

She murmured softly, lifted her fork, and took her first bite.

And then—

“…!”

Her eyes widened.

It was delicious. Astonishingly so.

Hedda was already known for her top-class cooking, yet this… this surpassed even her level.

The flavors were delicate, perfectly balanced, and rich all at once. What should have been an ordinary breakfast somehow tasted luxurious.

“How is it, Lady Shia? Does it meet your satisfaction?”

Tect asked with a bright smile, and Shia nodded with a flustered “Y-Yes,” while continuing to eat, her hands moving busily.

It was too good to stop. The toast was perfectly crisp, every bite releasing a gentle sweetness of baked wheat that filled her mouth. The salad dressing was rich and fragrant, far beyond what she’d expected.

But the true masterpiece—the one that left her speechless—was the omelet.

The moment her fork sliced through it, the half-melted center spilled out in a creamy golden flow. She dipped the toast into it, took a bite—

And nearly moaned from how good it was.

By the time she finished the soup, a blissful sigh escaped her lips. “Haaah…”

“Was it to your liking?”

“…Ahh.”

Tect’s cheerful voice snapped her back to reality.

She quickly cleared her throat and composed herself with a small smile.

“Yes, I’m quite surprised. You’re a very skilled cook, Tect.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I actually don’t cook very often, so I was worried.”

“…What?”

“Please, enjoy the rest of your meal at your leisure.”

With that, he slipped quietly back into the kitchen, his movements so smooth and practiced it almost looked like he belonged there.

Still dazed, Shia turned to Hedda beside her.

“He just said he doesn’t cook often… after serving this?”

“When I first watched him, he nearly burned everything. I showed him once—just once—how to do it properly. And by his next attempt, he was already better than me.”

With a look that was half admiration and half resignation, Hedda let out a quiet sigh before continuing,

“I’ve lived for decades, but now I finally understand what a true genius is. Someone like Sir Tect. If only he weren’t a man, I’d have personally trained him myself and recommended him as an attendant for the queen.”

“…I see.”

Shia took a slow sip of the after-meal tea Hedda had poured, her gaze unfocused as she drifted into thought.

…To think she’d hear Hedda—the strictest maid in the entire royal household—speak such words of praise.

Just who is this boy, really?