TAPGB - Chapter 9
The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride
It was late today, so it was a little early to start swordsmanship. Instead, I took him to the studio to give him a taste of other things. This was a place I had locked separately, so Lucian had never entered.
"What is all this?"
[There used to be an eccentric painter who lived here. This is the room that the person used.]
About 50 years ago? A painter once lived in this mansion. Even though I was alone, I was so nervous that if something didn't work out, I would get angry at myself.
Now that I think about it, I think he may have done that to relieve his loneliness. Even though he had a dirty personality, his drawings were amazing.
"Can you draw like this too?"
[Hmm, well I've never drawn anything myself, so I'm not sure. Still, I might be able to teach you.]
"There is no right answer in the picture! I just have to draw and draw as I please! Those who draw from the beginning just because they made one mistake are idiots! Who knows what better work might come out of it!"
'Here, you have to relax your wrist appropriately so that drawing for a long time won't be difficult. You have to establish good habits from the beginning so you don't do unnecessary things later.'
I never thought the self-talk from an eccentric artist could be so helpful.
"But the owner of this painting must be a very famous person! The painting looks like it's alive!"
Well, I'm not sure if he's famous.
What was his name? Was it Henri Leifle?
"Uh? Is this a human face??"
At that time. Lucian found a painting covered with cloth in the corner. Unlike other clean paintings, it was an old painting with a lot of scratches.
"She's a very pretty person."
A portrait of a woman with a smile as neat as a flower. This is a painting that the artist always looked at right before going to bed. It's probably a portrait of a loved one.
Lucian, who had been staring at the woman's portrait, soon began to look at me closely.
[Why?]
"You said you don't know what you look like?"
[I did?]
"I will draw you!"
[What?]
After being taken aback for a moment, Lucian showed enthusiasm as if he had already decided to draw me.
"The Priest is so, so pretty!"
[Keu..keuhm... why are you suddenly saying that?]
"That's because the priest doesn't believe it!"
Sometimes Lucian would look at my face and say that I was pretty. Every time he did that, I would tell him not to play around because I was embarrassed.
"If I can draw this beautifully, I will draw the Priest's face!"
The purpose may seem a bit strange, but I'm glad he showed interest in painting. I stroked his head, thinking it was a good thing.
[Then let's just leave the drawing up later. I'll introduce you to other rooms as well.]
"Great."
This mansion was a place where people moved in and out repeatedly! If you add up all the years that people have lived, it would be less than 100 years, but since they were all eccentric and experts in one field, they had quite a few collections and antiques. So, when they died, I would decorate the room they often used with their belongings.
The first example was the studio I showed to Lucian, and there were many others.
A music room with a grand piano, harp, and violin, a laboratory used by alchemists, and a workroom used by archaeologists.
Although it was a two-story mansion, it was quite large and had several rooms. Many of them were stored in storage because they could not be decorated separately.
A representative example was the weapons.
I left the mansion with Lucian and headed to the small training shed in the backyard.
The warehouse had a deep cave dug underground. And in that cave, there were weapons used by a Weapon Master.
"What is this?"
Lucian's mouth widened when he saw the majestic weapons.
[These are the weapons used by the Weapon Master. It was a waste, so I kept it.]
"Wow"
[I will teach swordsmanship starting tomorrow. It's best to start using your body like this from a young age. You are a little late.]
"Am I using all this?"
[Wouldn't that be the case someday?]
He has a good head, so he can follow the theory well, but I'm not sure if he'll be good at using his body yet. Still, if you teach hard, you will be able to earn a living.
"What can't a priest do?"
Lucian, who was looking at the weapon. suddenly asked.
"You can cook well, you can read well, you can draw, you can play the piano, you know how to handle all of these things."
I guess he misunderstood that I knew how to do it because I said I would teach them everything.
I know how to teach something because I have seen and heard it, but writing it myself is completely different.
As I was thinking about how to explain it. I heard something strange.
"Are you a God by any chance?"
I stopped and looked at him with a puzzled face. Looking at his bright eyes, I think he is sincere.
[Say something that makes sense. If I am God, why am I doing this here?]
"But there's nothing you can't do."
[How many years did I say I lived here?]
"Uh... 300 years?"
[Okay. They have lived five times longer than humans who live an average of 60 years. It takes 60 years to become a master in one field, so what about me?]
Lucian tilted his head with a dumb expression. I guess it's a difficult thing for him to say.
[It's just that I live longer than others and know how to do many things.]
“Ah!”
[And teaching and doing it yourself are different. Maybe later you will be better than me?]
"Oh, no way."
(Why don't you believe me?l
"Well, you know how to do everything like a God, but I can't be like you."
[Well, that's.....]
Isn't that wrong? I also learned it over 300 years.
"Still, I want to be as cool as you! I will work hard from now on!"
Lucian smiled, showing his teeth, and then looked into the warehouse.
I had the illusion that my heart was pounding when it wasn't there. I was reminded again of the reason why I take care of him. I must raise this child properly so that he can live well in this difficult human society.
A person who can afford good clothes, good food, and a good house. Is this the way a teacher looks at his students?
For some reason, it wasn't a bad thing to feel like my soul was crying.
"Wow! Wow, it's heavy!"
Lucian whined and tried to somehow lift the sword.
The sight of Lucian sending an SOS signal to me without knowing what to do was very pitiful. I burst out laughing and approached him.
[Then why are you touching it so carelessly?]
"It seemed light."
[What if you don't have any muscles in your arms? It won't work. I guess I have to build the body first.]
"Yes? I want to swing the sword first."
[You can't even hold the smallest sword. Stop talking nonsense and listen to me.]
"Yes..."
I ruffled Lucian's gray hair and left the warehouse together. Outside was suddenly covered in darkness.
***
[Now, follow along. A healthy mind!]
"A healthy mind. !"
[It comes from a strong body!]
Lucian barely got up from his sitting position, trembling.
Day 1 of swordsmanship training.
About two hours after starting training. Lucian's clothes became soaked with sweat, and his whole body began to tremble.
[Good job. Let's stop here for today.]
Lucian's body collapsed. He didn't even care about rolling around on the dirt floor. He just lay down and clutched his heart which felt like it was going to burst.
[Still, you're persistent?]
He lasted longer than I expected, and he followed along well, so I ended up going an hour longer than I expected.
Of course, it's almost half-baked now.
[How is it? Is it worth it?]
" Hah, hah, hah..."
[No, that's enough. First, take a breath and speak.]
Seeing as he doesn't have the energy to answer, I'll have to lower my exercise intensity tomorrow.
Lucian emptied the drink I gave him in one go and even poured the ice inside into his mouth.
"Puh-ha... I think I'll buy it!"
Seeing that he was still covered in sweat. I started to get some air. His expression got much better.
"It's so hard!"
[Okay?)
"yes! If this continues, my heart will burst and I will die. My legs feel shaky, and it's hard to lift."
It was the first complaint I had heard since teaching him.
"Do we really have to do this? Can't I just swing my sword?"
[Using one's body is difficult. Besides, you have weak stamina.]
"That..."
Lucian grunted and stuck out his lips.
[It will probably be as difficult as today for about two weeks. Since the body is not even equipped with the basics, even small stimulation feels like a big deal.?
"You say I have to do it for one or two weeks?"
[You do not want to do it??]
I looked at him at eye level, and Lucian quietly avoided my gaze. He looked at me for a moment and then nodded his head.
[If possible. I would like you to do it.]
"Why?"
[Because this will keep your body healthy.]
Perhaps because it was difficult for him to speak, Lucian rolled his eyes and looked at me.
[Do you plan to live here for the rest of your life?]
"Uh..."
It may seem like a long time ago now, but growing up takes place in an instant. Moreover, the imperial palace has decided to support applications only until the age of 18.
Lucian trembled. It seems that thanks to me, life became easier and he forgot about it without realizing it. There are exactly 10 years left until adulthood.
At that time, supplies and funds will not be provided as they are now. and Lucian will have to live alone.
I don't know how the current situation is going, but if he at least learns writing and swordsmanship properly, he won't have to worry about starving to death.
[Whether it is a sword, a bow, or a spear, you must have force so that no one can touch you. And when times are really tough, wouldn't it be possible to make a living by working as a mercenary?]
"Can't I just live here? I don't want to go out."
Lucian was still hesitant, perhaps because he was too young to understand what I was saying.
"I just need the priest..."
[...This guy. What are you doing with a ghost? You have to live with living people. It's because you haven't met someone who cares for you yet.]
Lucian looked distressed, as if he didn't like what I said.
"Are you trying to kick me out? You don't need me anymore? We are the bride and groom! We even got married!"
[That's not what we both agreed on.]
Lucian seemed to have hit the nail on the head and kept his mouth shut.
"Still, I am glad that you are my bride."
Lucian must have been overcome with emotion and shed tears like beads. I looked around him in confusion.
[Why, why are you crying? I just want you to meet a lot of people.]
"The only person who has been good to me so far is the priest."
Lucian wiped his reddened eyes.
[That's because all the people you've met so far are strange people...]
"Are you ignoring me just because I'm young?"
The look in his eyes was quite harsh.
"I'm at the age where I know everything. I know very well that people hate me. I was told to die."
What kind of nonsense is that?
Lucian's expression relaxed somewhat as he unconsciously got angry and belatedly covered his mouth. He laughed slightly.
"See... The priest is on my side."
[Sigh. That's right.]
"I was very surprised at first because the priest was a ghost, but of all the people I have ever met, you have the warmest heart and are cooler than anyone else. So don't kick me out. But why do you keep telling me to leave the mansion?"
Lucian pursed his lips, telling me not to talk like that.
I was just frustrated too. I feel like I'm spinning in place without my words getting through to him.
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