Another World Story

Day Forty-Six: Civil Academy

It's been a week since the Minister, Duke Harold, left to 'Train'.

During this week, the Count gave me lessons on how to act as a servant. Well, it's not the Count specifically, but he sometimes told me about etiquettes that is a MUST for a servant.

The Count's personal butler, Mr. James. Is the person that thought me the know-how that I would need.

Mr. James told me that a civil servant is needed to study at the civil academy for more than 4 years. It depends if the servant is talented and he/she was hired by a noble.

If one is hired, they would immediately graduate the academy. Even if they have poor performance, as long as the noble that hired the said servant knows of the risk.

"It's like buying slaves..."

Is what I unconsciously said. Mr. James hearing my words, scolded me for a good while.

He said that slaves aren't allowed in the Kingdom. And s*****y is an illegal act that results in capital punishment.

I frowned when I heard that. It's quite obvious that they don't have full control on the whole Kingdom.

That girl obviously experienced the said "Illegal act".

I didn't voiced my thoughts though. They wouldn't be able to do anything anymore either. She was able to escape from the bastard that imprisoned her before. If I voiced it out. There would be a possibility that someone might hear, and the bastard might hear it as well.

I can ask the count to look for her and rabbit, before I enter the Academy.

Apparently, unlike knights, magicians and scholars. Servants attending the civil academy are to stay inside the academy, unless they graduate or hired.

And there are only few cases such as I, that only needed a few months to graduate. Of coarse with the requirement that I should know the in-and-out of being a servant.

And as my assigned job would be on the Royal Family's, I was also required to know the history, policies, and the nobles of the kingdom.

I was not required to learn combat arts nor magic spells, as I'm only a servant, assigned to teach and help their master's life easy.

But, the count thought otherwise.

He thought me how to use a sword, a spear, a bow, a dagger and many other weapons with blades.

Unfortunately I can't learn any skill from them. But that doesn't mean I can't use the weapon.

The -Curse of the Bladeless- is a curse that prohibits the cursed to learn skills on weapons that has blades. It also prohibits the cursed to use them on combat.

But training isn't considered as combat. So I was able to train my body by swinging such weapons. I didn't told the count about the curse, I can't trust him, nor anyone right now.

I need someone I can trust fully, someone that would trust me aswell. Someone that is required to trust in me to survive. That's the type of someone I need now.

Rabbit was that someone before. But, he's currently with the girl, and I don't know where they are.

So I don't know where I can find someone like that. Anyways, I stil got time.

A month from now, is the date that I'll be enrolling on the servant course. And in that month, I need to fulfilled all the requirements.

Thankfully, Mr. James is knowledgeable and quite strict on teaching me. This enabled me to study harder.

I don't want to get hit...

-----

The second week passed and I'm currently learning the second requirement; learning the history, policies and names of the great nobles.

All I gotta do was memorize and memorize to the point that I can identify the crest of the noble households with just a glance.

Easy right? Unfortunately it's not.

The way Mr. James made me remember those crest was quite barbaric contrary to his gentle look.

He would throw the symbol at me, and I was required to identify the crest before it hit me.

If I wasn't able to identify the household, he would hit me using a rolled book. A thick one at that!

And I would do that while reading the history books!! How does he even expect me to look at the crest while reading?!

Does he think I came from a clan with dotted-red eyes or something?!

My visual acuity is enhanced due to 'Cold Eyes', but it's effect is not that noticeable, unless I'm in great danger.

It was really hard learning those crest... He only told me once the names of the household each crest represents. And I was given a whole day to memorize the crest. After that, Mr. James throw the crests randomly.

After this second week, I was able to memorized quite a number of noble households. I wad also able to learn who their current head, previous, and to-be head.

A good example is the Count's crest, is a sword and shield protecting a silver eagle.

People could immediately identify what the crest symbolizes if they knew the Memphis Royalty crest - a silver eagle spreading its wings wide, with a sword attached to its beak.

The Count Vinceral household is the sword and shield that protects the Royal Family.

I've only seen the Memphis Royalty crest twice. Even though I've been in the capital for a month now... I have not the time to look around, due to the things I had to do.

"Are you done?" a voice called out to me.

"I'm done" I answered the voice "Are all this really required to be a butler?"

I look towards the person. A middle-age man, with green hair and amber-colored eyes. He's wearing the stereotypical suit of a bad-ass butler. Black suit, black tie, white inner cloth, black pants and black formal shoes. He's Mr. James.

His back is also straight. Though he look frail, inside that butler suit is a monster with countless scars.

He does not have any scar on his face or any part where his body shows, but a great number of scars can be seen from his back.

You guys wondering why I knew that?

He said, he was a former soldier when I asked his former job. He also showed me those scars. Quite the exhibitionist isn't he?

"It is" Mr. James answered "A servants job is to make their master's life enjoyable and easy. We servants, must learn the things our masters had learned, so that they could have someone to consult if they are troubled"

"Learn the things our future master had learned..." I muttered "But all I'm learning is history, policies and the noble names. Added with etiquettes and manners. That's all I've been studying, isn't that quite insufficient? Not that I'm looking for more work though, it's fine as it is"

"You're right. It's insufficient, especially if your future master is part of the Royal family"

I nodded my head. That's exactly what I'm saying. How would I perform according to their expectations, if I lacked something? Welp, there's still a few months where I would study in the servant course.

"The servant course would be the one to supplement that ones you lacked"

"Thought so. How many months exactly am I going to study there?"

"Until, your assigned master recognized your abilities and hire you"

So... I won't graduate unless the said master recognized me?

"What's with the 'few months' then?"

"Under that few months, if you're not hired nor acknowledged, you'll be sent for another job. That's what the count said" Mr. James said.

"...And that would be?" I asked, hesitantly.

I might be sent to a different field, and I won't be able to enter the palace if that happen.

"He didn't say" was all Mr. James said as he throw a crest at me.

I dodged and stated the crest's owner.

"Marquis Alimon!"

"You're getting better"

"...You've been throwing those crest at me almost everyday, you know"

"It's best to learn this way. If something happen, you'll be able to find the most appropriate person, faster than others can"

"That is if I knew their faces..."

"Almost every noble of the Kingdom would always wear their crest, it is to show their rank and status to the people around them"

"More like boasting their status. I think the lower class nobles aren't wearing theirs"

"They are, it is to show that they are part of the nobility. It is actually the great nobles who would not wear theirs, Count Vinceral is a great example"

Now that he mentioned it. The count didn't wear his crest whenever I see him outside. I didn't noticed until now...

"Of course, it doesn't mean that he doesn't wear them. Only on especial events does he wear them. There are also those great nobles who wear their crest alost everyday. Marquis Alimon is a sample for that" Mr. James said as he showed the crest of Marquis Alimon.

'How many copy does he even have on each of them?' I thought.

I haven't seen any nobles besides, the count, the minister of defense, and the prime minister.

The prime minister, is actually the old-man that I met when I tour the capital with the Count.

He's quite the big-shot. He's of a ducal household as well.

There are two dukes in the Kingdom. The Duke Segal Household and Duke Retadane Household.

Both of them are ministers too... But, they are quite loyal to the Royal Family.

It's truly different on the things I've read. But, I know there are those waiting for the spotlight to arrive on their location.

To begin with in a theatre, one can't act unless their time arrive.

But, those on the backgrounds are allowed to move whenever they pleased.

What am I even talking about? Anyways let's go back to the topic.

"There's only a week left, before your enrollment. Can you complete the requirements?" Mr. James asked.

"I only need to learn about the history of the Kingdom. Etiquette and manners is quite ingrained in me by the count, you see..." I replied.

The count might've been angry by the way I addressed him before. I mean who wouldn't be? He's a count, so manners and etiquette is quite important for him, especially as he is the knight of the royal family.

That said, the only thing he did was to remove my evening meals, whenever I failed in my manners. I would be so hungry when morning came, and would lose focus again, resulting for my morning meals to disappear.

I had to go with just water for a few days, until I was finally able to eat. My perseverance stats increased during those days...

And I was finally able to fixed my manners, posture and know the etiquettes required.

"Then, we'll be ending the lessons for now, it's quite late right now" Mr. James said.

I nod my head at him, and say my goodnight.

I will continue to learn this history. The world's history, is quite an interesting thing that I find to be amazing.

The way the ancient people with no knowledge of the things around them, improve to the current civilization that they are now, is truly amazing.

Their curiosity that led them to create and discover things. Their wants to ease their lifes by improving their creations.

The great inventors, philosophers, heroes, conquerors, and the leaders that changed their era.

This book right here, is just on the Kingdom. I want to know this world, Ashura's history.

When was the first sentient creatures appeared?

What are the changes that appeared on this world?

Why monsters, mana, and other powers exist in this world?

Where was the first civilization appeared?

And How were the people of this world survived the monsters for this long?

I want to know them... But I don't have the books.

Welp, this Kingdom's history is quite interesting as well.

A long standing Kingdom with centuries of history. All who reign in this kingdom are known for being great leaders.

And the nobles were all loyal and did their best for the Kingdom's benefit.

Though, I doubt that it's the same until now.

It isn't strange for even half the nobles of this kingdom to be corrupt. Hell, it would be far stranger if there isn't a single corrupt noble here.

Welp, that's just my prejudice on the people on the higher plains.

Anyways.

Things would start starting next week.