When the Biting Wind Blows — Chapter 4

A PLEASANT MORNING TO YOU!

IT HAS BEEN QUITE A WHI...

CRIMSON...

DRENCHING HIS ENTIRE FRAME...

MY LORD...!

INSTRUCTOR...?

EVERYONE ELSE HERE...

APPEARS ENTIRELY ACCUSTOMED TO WITNESSING HIM IN SUCH A STATE.

GOODNESS,

YOUNG MISTRESS, WHERE ARE YOU HURRYING OFF TO AT SUCH A PACE?

I-IT IS NEARLY THE HOUR FOR MY S-STUDIES...!

MIND YOUR STEP!

You Could Easily Trip And Fall!

IS SHE GENUINELY THAT DELIGHTED?

ONE WONDERS HOW MANY DAYS THIS TUTOR WILL ENDURE~

EVEN SO, SHE HAS GROWN REMARKABLY FOND OF THIS NEW INSTRUCTOR, WOULDN'T YOU SAY?

TRUTHFULLY, I HAVE NEVER ONCE WITNESSED THE YOUNG MISTRESS BEAMING SO BRIGHTLY.

MY INSTRUCTOR IS SURELY WAITING FOR ME ALREADY, ISN'T SHE?

I OUGHT TO HAVE DEPARTED MUCH EARLIER...!

I CHERISH EVERY SINGLE MOMENT I SHARE WITH MY INSTRUCTOR.

SHE IS SO DAZZLING AND LOVELY,

SHE HOLDS THE ANSWER TO EVERY QUESTION,

SHE NEVER RAISES HER VOICE AT ME,

AND WITHOUT FAIL, SHE

PRAISES ME FOR DOING A SPLENDID JOB.

EXACTLY THE WAY...

A REAL MOTHER WOULD.

I-INSTRUCTOR...!

HAVE YOU ARRIVED, ANA?

INDEED...

How Adorable...

DID SHE SPRINT THE ENTIRE DISTANCE TO REACH ME?

TWO FULL WEEKS HAD ALREADY SLIPPED BY SINCE OUR CLASSES COMMENCED...

WELL THEN, SHALL WE DIVE INTO TODAY'S STUDIES?

BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THIS SWEET GIRL

OF COURSE...!

RESTED A PAST FAR HEAVIER THAN ANYTHING I HAD ENVISIONED.

LORD WILL DE SKADI, THE LATE FATHER WHO SIRED LADY ANA,

MISTRESS PAULINE, CHIEF HOUSEKEEPER

MET A TRAGIC END DURING A SKIRMISH AGAINST THE NORTHERN SAVAGES.

HIS GRACE WELCOMED THE YOUNG MISTRESS UNDER HIS WING FOLLOWING THE TRAGEDY,

THOUGH SADLY, WE FAILED TO SECURE A FITTING INSTRUCTOR UNTIL YOUR ARRIVAL.

REGARDING THE HANDFUL OF WOMEN WE PREVIOUSLY HIRED,

THE CHILD REFUSED TO WARM UP TO A SINGLE ONE OF THEM,

FORCING US TO SEND EVERY LAST TUTOR AWAY.

IN THAT CASE...

HOW WOULD YOU PREFER I STRUCTURE HER DAILY EDUCATION?

TO BEGIN WITH, HOLD HER ACADEMIC SESSIONS BETWEEN THE MORNING MEAL AND MIDDAY,

AND WHENEVER YOU SHARE A TABLE WITH THE YOUNG MISTRESS,

ENSURE YOU GUIDE HER THROUGH REFINED DINING MANNERS.

MOREOVER, WHENEVER THE GIRL DESIRES TO PERUSE A BOOK OR STROLL THE GROUNDS,

YOU MUST ACCOMPANY HER WITHOUT HESITATION,

AND YOU HAVE FULL PERMISSION TO STRIKE HER WITH A SWITCH SHOULD SHE MISBEHAVE.

EXCUSE ME...?

OUR LORD DESIRES FOR THE CHILD TO BE MOLDED INTO A DISCIPLINED NOBLEWOMAN.

AS THE ANCIENT PROVERB STATES, SPARING THE WHIP ONLY RUINS THE YOUTH.

EVERY WORD OF THIS STEMS STRAIGHT FROM HIS GRACE'S MOUTH, SO HEED IT WELL.

...NO MATTER HOW I PONDER IT, THE LOGIC ESCAPES ME.

THE POOR GIRL IS MERELY STRUGGLING TO FIND HER CONFIDENCE,

YET THEY DEMAND I BEAT KNOWLEDGE INTO HER WITH A STICK.

The Oak.. Stands.. Within The Woods..

ADMITTEDLY, HER PROGRESS FALLS SHORT OF PEERS BORN TO OTHER HIGHBORN HOUSES, YET...

THAT WAS READ FLAWLESSLY, YOUNG MISTRESS!

IN SITUATIONS LIKE HERS, PATIENCE AND GENTLE STEPS ARE THE PROPER REMEDY.

Come To Think Of It...

A WONDERFULLY SUGARY AROMA IS DRIFTING THROUGH THE ROOM, DON'T YOU THINK?

ER, ACTUALLY...

TAKE THESE...

I-I PREPARED... SOME BISCUITS...!

HEAVENS ABOVE...!

THEY APPEAR UTTERLY CHARMING AND MOUTHWATERING!

ARE YOU FOND OF BAKING TREATS?

I AM...!

BAKING BISCUITS IS FUN, THOUGH...

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE CHORE IS WHIPPING FRESH CREAM INTO BUTTER...!

MY ARMS ACHE TERRIBLY FROM WORKING THE PADDLE FOR SO LONG,

YET THE REWARD IS SIPPING ALL THE LEFTOVER BUTTERMILK I PLEASE...

M-MISTRESS PAULINE STRICTLY FORBADE ME FROM MENTIONING SUCH HABITS...

IF THAT IS THE CASE,

WHY DON'T THE TWO OF US GUARD THIS AS OUR PRIVATE LITTLE PACT?

FRANKLY, I HARBOR A DEEP FONDNESS FOR FRESH BUTTERMILK AS WELL.

R-REALLY...!

THEN WE MUST CHURN A BATCH SIDE BY SIDE VERY SOON!

I WOULD LOVE THAT.

I AM WELL AWARE THAT MOVING AT SUCH A LEISURELY PACE

NINETY SHORT DAYS...

SHOULD I FAIL TO WIN THE LORD OF SKADI'S FAVOR BEFORE THAT WINDOW CLOSES,

THE EXECUTIONER'S BLADE IS MY ONLY DESTINY.

EVEN SO, I REFUSE TO CRUSH A FRAGILE GIRL'S SPIRIT

SIMPLY TO PRESERVE MY OWN NECK.

ULTIMATELY, I SHALL DEMONSTRATE THAT MY GENTLE APPROACH BEARS FRUIT.

EVEN IF THE BLOSSOM TAKES A WHILE LONGER TO OPEN...

PARDON...?

WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU IMPLYING BY THAT...?

GATHER YOUR POSSESSIONS IMMEDIATELY.

RELIEVING THE INSTRUCTOR OF HER DUTIES AS OF THIS VERY HOUR

IS THE DIRECT COMMAND OF HIS GRACE.