Happy Days of the All-around Maid and the Duke - Chapter 8

?Let’s learn one letter at a time. Yes, this is the list of letters?

Wilgia took the trouble to make a handwritten list of letters for Ririka and pronounced them one by one according to the chart.

?This is ?A?, next is ?B?, then this is?C?, and next?D?… Twenty-six letters in total. There are uppercase and lowercase letters. Write them down?

?Yes.?

?We combine these letters to make different words. Here’s what Ririka’s name looks like?

As he spoke, Wilgia wrote?Ririka?on a new piece of paper. My face burst into laughter as I saw my name written in letters for the first time in my life. Seeing my name written in letters like this, I felt that my name was very sacred, solemn, and special. Because in the suburbs, it is rare for people to be able to write or read letters.

?How do you write your name, Wilgia-sama??

?My name is like this.?

The name Wilgia Leclerc is spelled in elegant letters next to Ririka’s name.

?Lovely … flowing letters, yet gentle, a perfect name for your master?

?I don’t think so. I’ve never had anyone say my name like that before, so I’m a little embarrassed?

?I will do my best to name Wilgia-sama?

Ririka worked hard on studying under Wilgia’s supervision. Ririka has a tremendous ability to concentrate. Through training with her grandmother since childhood, Ririka has acquired the skill of never forgetting what she has seen and heard once, and she can remember letters that she has never encountered before without difficulty. It was enjoyable for her to learn something new and to see something that she had learned by ear take shape.

In no time, Ririka learned all familiar words, learned grammar, and wrote sentences.

Seeing Ririka able to read a simple book in three days, Wilgia let out a breath of admiration.

You’re amazing, Ririka. I can’t believe you can already read.

It’s all thanks to Wilgia-sama’s excellent teaching skills.

Ririka, who had already learned enough to help on organizing the study room, replied as she arranged the books on the bookshelf under Wilgia’s direction.

No one can learn faster than you. I met a good servant.

Under his shaggy blonde hair, Wilgia squints at me and smiles.

I’m glad I met a good master. I don’t think there are many people who will teach their servants how to read and write.

I remember what my grandmother used to say.

?Listen here, Ririka. There are many masters in the world who don’t even consider their servants as human beings. They treat them like rags, or make them their playthings. To prevent this from happening, you must acquire overwhelming power. When you have the skills to be admired by others, no one will be able to touch you so carelessly?

Hearing these words, Ririka took it to heart. She wanted to be better at her job than anyone else.

But Wilgia was not rude to Ririka, nor did she give her any unreasonable orders. I thought from the bottom of my heart that he was a good master.

Wilgia was arranging and stringing together a bundle of papers he had translated about the Averian dynasty, which he was currently researching. The thick bundle of paper was probably the fruit of Wilgia’s research. I have yet to read the contents of this history book, but I hope to read it soon.

?The Averian dynasty, which thrived around twenty-five decades ago, was in a period of great turmoil. Famine ravaged the region, the central dynasty had lost power and was largely ineffective and the lords had to manage their estates according to their own discretion?

Wilgia says, patting the slightly yellowish sheaf of paper.

That dynasty has been connected to the present, the people who went through the crisis are now the great nobles who play the central role today.

?Woah…?

Two hundred and fifty years ago. Even such an ancient event can be deciphered from a book.

For Ririka, who couldn’t read any letters at all, the world that Wilgia said was very new to her.

Wilgia must have faced the past this way and scooped up buried history. I think that is an amazing feat.

?…What’s wrong??

?Nothing, It’s just that my master is an amazing man?

?Eh??

Wilgia, who looked surprised, sloppily took down the book he was holding. Ririka didn’t care and silently continued to organize the books.

The study room is the most sacred and important place for Wilgia.

He unravels forgotten histories, translates them into modern languages, and compiles them into books. He is the one who revives the previous country’s footsteps so that they will never be left behind and be handed down to the future.

He knows that this is not the kind of work a prince should do.

The heir to the throne needs a more glamorous career.

Achievements in diplomacy with other countries.  He must have a distinguished career in the military. And in politics, he must have a record of success in formulating policies that surprise both the nobles, the lords, and the people.

The adults around him said that he should accumulate a variety of achievements and show that he was fit to be the next king. In fact, Wilgia is well aware that this is the proper way to be a prince.

His eldest brother is a diplomat.

His second brother is in the military.

The third brother is a policy wonk.

So there is no room for Wilgia to enter.

He is inferior to his older brothers in every way, and he is unwilling to do anything about it. Wilgia thinks that those who are good at what they do should do what they do best.

If you are going to read a text, read a policy text, not a history book. But he is not interested in what he was told, so there is nothing he can do.

As a result, her mother and the people around her were dismayed and made him renounce his right to succeed the throne before he was thrown away by those who wanted to establish a puppet government, which would have caused unnecessary political problems. Wilgia was fine with it, so he agreed.

Ever since then, he has lived only between the mansion and the Royal Library.

With the arrival of a servant named Ririka, Wilgia found himself enjoying life more than ever before.

Ririka’s unpredictable behavior never ceases to surprise him, but strangely enough, he doesn’t dislike it.

In fact, Wilgia even feels a little excited, wondering what she will do next.

What is this change of mind, even though I had no interest in other people and I used to love being absorbed in books more than anything else.

I hope this peaceful time continues, Wilgia thought, hoping that Ririka feels the same way.