27: The Heir’s Poise
Pain.
Not the sharp sting of battle wounds, nor the searing burn of mana backlash—but the dull, persistent ache of overworked muscles and exhausted limbs.
I barely made it out of the dance hall before Sir Garret dragged me down the corridor, my legs sluggish beneath the lingering weight of yesterday's torment.
"Move faster," he said, his tone as casual as if he were commenting on the weather.
I turned my head to glare at him. "Sir Garret, I think my soul left my body back there."
He patted my shoulder—hard. "Good. Maybe now you'll learn how to keep up."
…I take it back. My soul is still here, and it's suffering.
And just when I thought I had endured enough for one morning—
Knock.
The heavy doors of my private study creaked open, revealing the ever-imposing figure of Baron Lucien Valmont, my instructor in noble etiquette.
The moment our eyes met, I knew.
There was no escaping this lesson.
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The Heir's Dignity
Baron Lucien was the very image of nobility—sharp emerald eyes that missed nothing, neatly combed black hair, and an aura of unshakable refinement. He had been my tutor for two years now, and despite my best efforts, I had yet to master the art of nobility as he envisioned it.
With a measured nod, he gestured for me to sit. "Averis."
"…Baron Lucien."
"You look dreadful."
I resisted the urge to collapse into the chair and instead lowered myself with whatever grace my battered body could muster.
"I feel dreadful," I muttered under my breath.
Lucien's sharp gaze flickered with amusement, but his voice remained as poised as ever. "That is no excuse. A true noble must carry his burdens with elegance."
Right. Elegance. I'll remember that next time I'm fighting for my life under the weight of these cursed training routines.
---
[System Alert!] (Visible Only to Averis)
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Mission: The Heir's Dignity
→ Maintain proper noble posture for 10 minutes.
→ Execute a flawless noble greeting.
Rewards:
+1 Intelligence (You now sound slightly less like a sleep-deprived noble son.)
+1 Perception (You can now sense when someone is silently judging you.)
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
I let out a slow exhale. Even the system is mocking me now…
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Posture is Everything
Lucien tapped his cane against the floor. "Straighten your back. Shoulders aligned. A noble does not slouch, even in exhaustion."
I forced my spine into what I hoped was a respectable posture.
The Frost Raven, perched near the window, tilted its head.
["I've seen marionettes with better posture."]
I didn't dignify that with a response.
Lucien, however, nodded slightly. "Better. Now, a noble must control his presence at all times. When you enter a room, your demeanor alone should command attention."
I blinked slowly. "…So, I have to be intimidating?"
Lucien raised a brow. "No. You must exude dignity. There is a difference."
From the window, the Frost Raven let out a thoughtful hum.
["So, less 'scary villain' and more 'handsome young master who gets into trouble'…?"]
I don't like that phrasing.
Lucien gestured. "Rise. Walk to the center of the room and perform a formal greeting."
I pushed myself up, my legs screaming in protest. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward with the practiced ease of two years of training—
Clunk.
The extra weight on my limbs threw me off, and I nearly stumbled. I quickly masked it by adjusting my stride, hoping Lucien hadn't noticed.
He had.
There was a long pause before he exhaled through his nose. "…Again."
I bit back a groan.
This is going to be a long lesson.
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The Art of the Noble Greeting
Lucien folded his arms. "A proper greeting is the foundation of etiquette. Whether before royalty or nobility, the first impression is everything."
I straightened my posture. "Understood."
"Good. Greet me as you would a senior noble."
I placed a hand over my chest and dipped my head. "Good day, Baron Lucien Valmont."
A short silence.
Lucien's expression remained neutral. "Passable."
I exhaled in relief. Finally, a lesson that didn't end in pain—
"Now, do it while wearing 20 kg of weight."
I stared at him. "…What."
Lucien smiled. "A noble must remain poised under any circumstance."
I turned to the Frost Raven. "Do you think I can fake my own death?"
The Raven preened its feathers.
["Do you need a cane? Or perhaps a sled? Oh wait, you ARE the sled."]
I slowly turned back to Lucien. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
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The Inevitable End
An hour passed. Then another.
By the time the lesson ended, I wasn't sure if I was still breathing.
Lucien finally set his quill down. "You are improving, Averis."
I barely managed a nod. "Thank you… Baron Lucien…"
He closed his books with a decisive thud. "We will continue tomorrow."
I froze.
"…Tomorrow?"
Lucien gave me a small, knowing smile. "Of course. Mastery is not achieved in a day."
Sir Garret suddenly stepped inside the study, crossing his arms. "Oh, good. You're done here. Time for combat theory."
My entire existence paused.
I slowly turned to the Frost Raven. "Do I have permission to die now?"
The Raven cackled.
["Not yet. I want to see how much further you can break."]
And so, my suffering continued.
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End of Chapter 27