Lessons in the Carriage, Reverence at the Estate

“L-Learn… now? Here?”

“Why?”

The artist’s hands—hands praised by everyone—slipped beneath Vanessa’s clothes.

Fren’s face remained completely emotionless as he asked:

“Do you dislike it?”

“No. Not at all. It’s just…”

She tried to stay calm, but her voice trembled so clearly anyone could hear it.

Fren tilted his head to the side like a doll with a broken neck.

“How strange. I’ve already taught you enough theory.”

“…….”

“Maybe I should’ve taught you theory and practice together from the beginning. Did I raise you too gently? Or maybe…”

Fren pressed his left chest—where his heart was—and asked:

“Do you dislike me, Vanessa?”

“No. Never. I was just… surprised.”

Her voice still shook, but it was steady and properly trained.

Anyone could tell she had been thoroughly disciplined.

Fren stared at her, silently telling her to continue.

She didn’t waste the chance.

“I knew that someday I would have to learn this with my body. But I didn’t expect it to be here. Now, though, I’m prepared. If it’s now, I think I can gladly accept anything you want to do.”

“…Ah, Vanessa, you’re amazing!”

The icy winter expression disappeared, replaced instantly by spring warmth.

Fren stopped caressing her skin and hugged her tightly.

Vanessa returned the embrace.

Breathing in her scent deeply, Fren whispered:

“You’re so good at expressing your feelings beautifully. I should learn from you.”

“…No, that’s not true.”

“I was being foolish. I’ll stop venting.”

Fren collapsed gently into her arms and muttered as if asking himself for permission.

“This isn’t like me. Mm, definitely not like me.”

His voice sounded about two-thirds calmer.

The playful tone proved it.

“This is all that bratty princess’s fault. Saying I don’t know her? Ridiculous.”

Fren winked with his artificial right eye—the one modeled after Sylvia’s left.

“No one knows her better than I do.”

“You’re absolutely right. If Princess Daphne upset you that much, then perhaps we should find a way to return the favor…”

“Oh? You’ll kill a princess for me?”

“If you desire it.”

“That’s a bit unrealistic, isn’t it?”

“If you desire it, I’ll make even the impossible possible. Even if I have to risk my life.”

“Hahaha! Ahahaha!”

Fren laughed loudly enough for the sound to leak outside the carriage.

After laughing so long his eyes teared up, he grabbed Vanessa’s cheeks with both hands and stretched them like soft cheese.

Seeing her squished face, he burst into more laughter before saying:

“No need to risk your life.”

“…Yes.”

“You’re really adorable. Thanks to you, the tiny bit of anger I had left is gone.”

The carriage stopped in front of the mansion.

Fren held her arm as they stepped down.

“Hungry? What should we eat for dinner?”

“Anything is fine.”

“How about steak?”

Vanessa immediately remembered Daphne offering minotaur meat.

She hesitated.

“…Umm, maybe anything except beef.”

Fren snapped his head toward her.

Vanessa briefly panicked—worried he might be upset—but then he smiled brightly.

“Of course. After what happened, it’s natural not to want it.”

“Thank you for stopping me earlier. I really, really didn’t want to eat it.”

“Eating that would be like eating a human. It’s normal to feel uneasy.”

Vanessa’s face brightened.

But then his next words froze her solid.

“You’re not some lycanthrope beast. Why would you eat that?”

“…….”

“I’d never forgive you for doing something that filthy.”

That night, after eating turkey, they went to bed early.

Vanessa watched Fren sleep peacefully, without a single worry.

As she had said, Fren was someone she had loved deeply until now and would continue loving without end.

But…

Earlier, she had been a little scared.

Her hands still trembled.

So Vanessa lay with her back turned to Fren as she tried to sleep.

“Look at this dazzling diamond. Isn’t it perfect for Lady Sylvia?”

“What about this silk? Wouldn’t it suit Lady Sylvia’s milky skin wonderfully?”

The moment it became known that Fren was visiting Sylvia, merchants who sold luxury goods rushed to his residence.

They surrounded Fren—seated on the sofa—and eagerly displayed their wares.

Sylvia was a woman so influential that even other races admired her.

Simply wearing their products would be priceless publicity.

“Please deliver our sincerity to Lady Sylvia.”

But Fren remained firm.

“You know my mother only wears jewelry given by my father and grandmother.”

“But…! If she always wears the same jewelry, won’t fools assume the Fronia family’s finances are lacking?”

“Isn’t it wasteful to buy jewels she won’t even wear just to satisfy idiots? Please leave now.”

“N-no, that’s not what we—!”

“Please leave. We want to depart soon. Let’s go, Vanessa.”

“Wait! Just this one, please—!”

Vanessa quickly shut the door before they could follow.

All the way to the Fronia estate, Fren said nothing.

Vanessa didn’t try to start conversation either.

The estate was uncomfortable for her too—though not as much as it was for Fren.

Because it was practically a shrine dedicated to Sylvia.

Yes, a shrine.

She wasn’t even a god, so why a shrine?

Vanessa would soon find out.

Upon confirming Fren’s identity, the iron gates opened and the carriage entered the mansion grounds.

Both of them looked outside.

The ancestral Fronia estate was not as vast as the imperial palace, but still massive.

Thanks to preservation magic, the old, stately architecture had not a single blemish.

Golden apples—the family symbol—grew in abundance year-round in the garden.

“Welcome home, young master. We’ve been waiting.”

When Fren stepped down, the housekeeper, Gremi, greeted him warmly.

Fren chuckled.

“I’m too old for you to call me that, grandma.”

“You’ll always be a child in my eyes.”

“As I mentioned earlier, I’m here to see Mother. Where is she?”

“In the prayer room.”

“Then I’ll go right away.”

“Wh-what? You should rest first—”

“I want to see her even one second sooner. Please understand.”

Gremi’s eyes glistened with emotion.

Tearfully, she said:

“I’ve never seen a mother and son as close as you two.”

“…….”

Fren didn’t respond and simply walked inside with Vanessa.

As soon as they entered the prayer room, an enormous painting greeted them.

A brown-haired man wrapped his arms around a green-haired woman and a child.

Fren stared at it and commented simply:

“Awful.”

It was his own painting, which is why he felt free to judge it.

He always wanted to tear it down and redo it.

Just as he winced at the sight, a voice called out:

“Welcome back to your mother’s arms, Fren!”

Fren turned his head.

Neferr stood at the top of the stairs, waving a wine glass filled with apple wine.

Fren blinked.

“Neferr?”

“Hello, Fren. And hello to the pretty one too.”

“…….”

“Are you willing to smile at me today?”

‘No.’

Vanessa quickly knelt on the floor, her expression rigid as usual.

Neferr laughed, slapped his forehead, and pleaded:

“Please smile for me too, pretty one.”

He swayed drunkenly, clearly tipsy on apple wine.

Fren leaned in and whispered:

“Poor thing. Smile for him.”

Vanessa’s lips instantly curved into a perfect artificial smile.

Neferr stared blankly… then exploded.

“That’s not it!”

“Oh dear. I knew you’d hate forced courtesy.”

“That’s not what I mean!”

Neferr pointed angrily at Vanessa.

“There’s no soul in that smile! Smile at me the way you smile at that artist!”

Impossible.

Neferr wasn’t Fren.

Vanessa kept her artificial smile firmly in place.

As Neferr ranted in frustration again, Fren glanced at his clothes and asked:

“Why are you here? And what is that outfit…?”

Neferr was wearing the tunic given to long-term guests.

He touched it proudly and laughed.

“How does it look? Doesn’t it suit me perfectly?”

“You must have been staying here quite a while.”

“Of course. Lady Sylvia liked the gift I offered her.”

“…What did you give her? She rejects most gifts. That’s impressive.”

“Hehehe, nothing big.”

Neferr puffed out his chest proudly.

“I gifted her a locket to preserve the former family head’s hair— Huh?”

Vanessa had suddenly stood up and covered both his eyes with her hands.

Neferr froze in confusion for a moment, then got excited.

“What’s this, Vanessa? Why’re you covering my eyes? Is this some kind of surprise? If you get bold like this, I can’t help but expect something~”

Covering his eyes, Vanessa thought:

‘Please shut up.’