Good Morning, Lady Ulza

The following morning, as we were preparing to leave the village, the knight from the previous day approached us with a proposal.

"Would you consider traveling with us to the next town?" he asked. "It would be safer to have more capable fighters with us."

"...So it's really about safety?" Yuri asked, skeptical.

"Well," the knight admitted with a small sigh, "to be entirely truthful, my lady has taken an interest in your young charge."

"An interest?" Yuri raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed. My lady has found the journey dreadfully dull and has requested the boy as a companion to keep her entertained."

"Entertained? He's our client," Yuri said, his voice tinged with irritation.

"I assure you, no harm will come to him. My lady merely seeks someone close to her own age to talk to. I trust you can appreciate the challenge of refusing such a request."

Yuri sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine. If it's just talking."

Luca smiled politely, though her thoughts were unreadable. Meanwhile, I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. It seemed I'd been recruited as a noble's conversational companion.

The carriage door swung open to reveal a young girl, about my age, with cascading golden hair that reached her waist. She exuded an air of elegance, sitting poised as though the world itself were her audience.

"Good morning," she said with a warm smile. "I am Ulza Ivaldi, eldest daughter of House Ivaldi. You must be Matthew. Please, do come in."

"Yes, Lady Ulza," I replied, stepping forward.

Before I could enter, one of the knights stopped me. "Your sword, if you please."

Reluctantly, I handed over my short sword. With that, I climbed into the carriage. Inside, a young woman, likely in her twenties, sat beside Ulza. She had the quiet, composed demeanor of a maid. I took the seat opposite them just as the door clicked shut.

"Once again, good morning, Matthew," Ulza said. "This is my maid, Tissy. And you may call me Ulza—it's easier that way."

"Good morning, Lady Ulza. It's a pleasure to meet you," I said, my voice as formal as I could manage.

Ulza laughed lightly. "No need to be so stiff. In this carriage, let's keep things casual. Long journeys are tiresome enough without rigid manners, don't you agree?"

"I… suppose so," I said hesitantly. "Though, to be honest, I'm not well-versed in proper etiquette."

"Perfect! Then just be yourself. No one will scold you here," she assured me.

"Understood," I replied, though I still felt cautious.

"So, Matthew," Ulza began, "are you old enough to have unlocked your status yet?"

"Not yet," I admitted. "What about you, Lady Ulza?"

"Not yet either," she said with a small pout. "But my birthday is coming soon, and I can't wait to see what gifts and traits I'll receive."

"I'm excited too," I said, nodding. "Though I've heard it doesn't always align exactly with your birthday, so I'm a little nervous."

Ulza nodded thoughtfully. "That's true. By the way, I noticed you handed over a sword earlier. Are you a swordsman?"

"Oh, no," I said quickly. "It's just a memento from my village. I don't know much about swordsmanship. My father was a magician, and I hope to follow in his footsteps."

"A magician!" Ulza's eyes lit up. "How wonderful. I adore magic. I plan to enroll in the Royal Academy of Magic someday."

"The Royal Academy of Magic?" I repeated, unfamiliar with the name.

"It's a prestigious institution in the capital," she explained. "They teach and research all kinds of magic, and only the most talented magicians gather there. Isn't that amazing?"

"It sounds incredible," I agreed.

"If you want to become a first-rate magician, you'll need to graduate from there," she continued. "It's challenging for commoners to get in, but if you have enough talent and skill, it's possible. So, do your best."

"I will," I said, her encouragement sparking a bit of determination in me.

"That's the spirit!" she said with a smile.

As the carriage rocked gently along the road, Ulza kept the conversation flowing. Her maid, Tissy, remained silent, sitting motionless and watching everything with sharp eyes. Ulza, however, seemed delighted to finally have someone to talk to.

She talked at length about her dreams, her family, and her aspirations as a magician. I listened politely, occasionally sharing bits of my own life in return. She was clearly talkative, reminding me of Agatha, my childhood friend from the village.

Despite her insistence that I relax, I couldn't completely let my guard down. Conversing with a noble, no matter how informal they claimed to be, was still exhausting.

Still, for the rest of the journey, I resolved to keep up my end of the conversation, if only to avoid offending her.