A problem to solve

I head to the usual hill where I spend my daily breaks. In my hand I have a classic wooden sword. "I happened to peek at the teachings of Gilberta's instructor, in the back garden of the villa, maybe it's not much but at least it's something." I carry a wooden sword with me, wrapped in a cloth so as not to arouse suspicion in the villagers. After all, why would a mere hostler carry a practice sword?

"Boy, good morning." I hear a voice calling me from a stall in the street, I turn around and see Mrs. Meredith, an old lady who works as a baker.

"Good morning Mrs. Meredith, how is your day?" I approach the stall, where I see baskets containing bread. They are almost all empty, but it is normal since we are almost at the end of the day, it will soon be time for dinner.

"Okay thanks, I actually called to give you something." Meredith hands me an envelope, inside which I see two loaves of bread. "The day is almost over and most likely no one will pass, instead of wasting it you can eat it." Meredith smiles as she hands me this envelope.

"Thank you very much Mrs. Meredith, I never refuse food, especially your good bread." I take my bag thanking the old lady, then say goodbye and continue my walk.

'I also have energy supplies, great.' I look happy at the bag of bread.

"Well, time to start doing some warm-up." I start by doing a series of push-ups and other warm-up workouts to relax my muscles.

"If I remember correctly, these were the movements." I try to remember the movements that the instructor taught Gilberta, trying to imitate them as much as possible. 'They won't be perfect, but they're better than nothing.'

I'll continue to train until dinner time, basically because of the viscount, Aldo has allowed us more free time.

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Meanwhile, in a room of the villa, two men sat facing each other on their respective sofas. In the center a transparent table, with a tray on which a jug of wine is placed, and two silver goblets.

"Well, Endrick, I want to discuss the subject I mentioned to you at the end of our ride." I see the viscount take one of the two goblets from the tray, which already contains the wine. "It's about your daughter, Gilberta."

"Gilberta? What's wrong with my daughter, viscount?" My eyes widen when I hear my daughter's name spoken by this worm.

"I've heard that your daughter has a strong fencing talent, as well as a refined Astra inside her, I'm amazed to know her parent..." Limosa hints at a mocking smile, in response to my glare, then takes a sip of wine. "Who would have thought that the late Baron Endrick's daughter could have such a talent, I am truly amazed by it, sometimes fortune looks to the least deserving."

'Limosa! This bastard always tries my patience, but I won't fall for his trick.'

"I'm so proud of my daughter, not just for her talent, but for how he's constantly perfecting it. And I'm happy for her that she can have a bright future." I put a smile on my face, taunting the viscount.

"Sure, sure... but speaking of the future, I've made a decision, we're going to have an arranged marriage between your daughter and my son." I freeze for a moment hearing these words. "It should be an honor for you, a mere baron, to join a family like mine. You know I am a generous and merciful viscount, and your daughter will do well in our mansion."

'This bastard! He wants to have my daughter on his side because he knows her talent, as opposed to his son who is known for her lack of talent.' I recover from the sudden announcement "Are you sure Visconte wants to marry his son to a girl who is from my family? Surely there is someone more talented out there."

"True, surely there is someone more worthy out there who could join my family, and for that you should feel more honored by this proposal, Endrick. This will be a good opportunity to lift yourself a bit from your past, don't you think? think ?" She sips another drop of wine, looking straight into my eyes.

'He's pointing his finger at my past again, I can't let my daughter fall into his clutches.' I stare at the viscount's eyes "You are generous in thinking about my possible recovery, but now I have turned the page on that story, and started a new chapter in this one."

"I think you have no other choice, Endrick, it's just a proposal but you know what happens if you refuse, after all who cares about the disappearance of a simple baron and his family? " The viscount finishes his wine, places the goblet on the table and then gets up from the sofa and goes to the door. "Think of your daughter's 'bright future', she is your wife Endrick." He says these words before leaving the room .

I put my hand on my temple, thinking about this problem. 'I have to think of something, I can't let Gilberta throw away her future with that creep. But what can a simple Baron do?'

*knock knock* someone knocks on the door "Enter" I know who it was from the emanation of the Astra of him.

"My Lord." Head Valet Josh "The viscount headed for his carriage, he didn't even want to dine here." Better for us, having dinner with that man would have killed my appetite.

"Okay Josh, come sit on the couch and keep me company." I motion for Josh to sit on the couch where the viscount had sat earlier.

"With my lord's permission." Josh walks and sits on that sofa. He picks up the pitcher that's on the tray and starts pouring some wine into my goblet, after all I haven't had a drop of it.

"Here too Josh, fill this goblet." I take a third goblet that was out of the tray.

"Sir, I'm on duty, I can't drink." Josh is a very diligent man, he always tends to be strict in his work.

"A glass doesn't hurt anyone Josh, go fill it." I insist, making Josh give in. He also fills the third chalice.

"Will you discuss some subject with me, my lord?" worthy of Josh, he already knows what I want from him, after all he is not only the head nurse, but also my close adviser.

"Yes, I have to discuss with you what the viscount has just revealed to me." I start by telling Josh what the viscount wants to do with Gilberta so I can find a way to stop him.

"I understand, the matter is serious, and our chances are very slim, it would take an external event to derail this marriage." Josh rubs his well-trimmed mustache, his habitual gesture when he has to think about matters of vital importance.

'An external event ehh...' I take a sip of wine, while looking out the window of the room, observing the setting sun, giving space to the starry sky.