In the afternoon, Ilario went to study room. He must learn the etiquette from a private tutor, Countess Valorem, who was famous for strictly manner in the capital. She was in her mid-forties, neat, bun hairstyle, brown hair, brown eyes, wearing glasses, calm and cold.

Countess Valorem was responsible for teaching him the social etiquette, the dignified manner in noble society.

Ilario could not do well at first. He was familiar with fighting and speed, it contrasts with the dignified manner. Moreover, the social etiquette was very strict. The good posture for walking, sitting, greeting, and talking, it must be correct in every single of detail to make it be dignified manner. There were also different kinds of greeting for the different status.

‘I’d prefer to fight with monsters rather than learn the etiquette. Well, I don’t have to greet and bow to the monsters anyway’ Ilario thought to himself while he was practicing to walk, bow and greet many times.

Ilario continued to practice without any complaint, he gave up to say anything after he saw her cold gaze.

Ilario had no problem with table manner, he just remembered the serving sequence and use the right set of knifes, spoons, and forks respectively.

“That’s all for today,” Countess Valorem said and left.

Beatrice came inside the study room after Countess Valorem left, it was like her daily routine to meet and play with him everyday.

“Brother, play with Bia,” said Beatrice cheerfully.

“Okay. Let’s go outside,” said Ilario kindly.

“Yay,” said Beatrice cheerfully.

Ilario let Beatrice play with Luna and Solaris, he wanted her to warm up her body by running with the spirits. She needed more strength to control her magic well, there should not be an accident like last time.

Letitia spent time to look around the castle while Ilario was learning the etiquette class. She came to find him and stood nearby as a knight escort. She was looking at Beatrice calmly.

In other people’s point of view, they might think that Beatrice was running strangely and even laughing to herself. For that reason, he did not allow any servants to stay nearby.

Beatrice run up to Ilario after she played with the spirits for a short while. She saw Letitia standing nearby Ilario.

“Brother, who is she?” Beatrice asked shyly.

“She is our distant cousin. Would you like to introduce yourself to her?” Ilario asked Beatrice kindly.

“Yes, Bia would like to,” said Beatrice cheerfully.

“Hello, Young Lady. I’m Letitia. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” said Letitia politely.

“Bia is Bia. It’s a pleasure to meet you too,” said Bia politely.

“Do you want to play with sister?” Ilario asked her kindly. He wanted them to be familiar with each other.

“Yes,” said Beatrice cheerfully. She ran to Letitia.

“…I’m still on my duty, Young Lady” said Letitia politely.

“It’s Bia, not young lady, Sister” said Beatrice nicely, “Play with Bia. Ava and Vita wanted to play with Sister too.”

Ava and Vita showed up themselves to Letitia. Letitia was startled when she saw Ava and Vita showed up in front of her, she froze but still stay calm as her character.

“I’m Ava. Nice to meet you,” said Ava energetically

“I’m Vita. Nice to meet you,” said Ava energetically

They both were flying around Letitia.

“We like your magic power. It was similar to Beatrice,” said Ava delightfully.

“…Thank you,” said Letitia, she seemed calm on the surface but she was still startling inside.

“They are wind and water spirits, Sister” Ilario said.

“Ahh…I see, the spirits” said Letitia, she felt of relief but still confused with the word of spirits.

Ilario guessed that she might not know about the spirits because there were less human who have known about the existence of spirits. He knew for sure that she will not ask him the details because she always keeps her cool and calm all the time.

“All right. It’s time to go back inside, Bia” said Ilario kindly. He helped Letitia out of the situation.

***

3 days passed, Ilario learned and passed the test of the etiquette class in the past 3 days.

His schedule today was to learn geography and economic.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Young Lord. I’m Count Abdias Henestus,” Count Henestus said. He was in his late fifties, white hair, violet eyes, and chubby. He had worked as a professor at The Libertas Academy, the best academy in the capital. Since retiring from the academy, he has worked as a private tutor.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Count Henestus” said Ilario politely.

The lesson was started by the geographic of Sapientia Empire, it was the same information he had read in ‘The History of Sapientia Empire’.

“Have you ever read ‘The History of The First Empress’?” Count Henestus asked Ilario after finished the geography of Sapientia Empire.

“No, I haven’t read yet, Sir” Ilario said.

“If you have some time, please read it once,” Count Henestus said, “it would help you to understand the root of the economic in Sapientia Empire.”

“Sapientia Empire was exporting the luxury products to north, west and East World since 1 SE……… The Empire was growing continually until 451 SE, or around 150 years ago, there were many foreigners from west and east world emigrated to Sapientia Empire because of freely trade. That was the beginning of conflict between the citizens of Sapientia Empire and foreigners. There was no law to control and manage foreign people at that time. The citizens of Sapientia had collapsed and suffered from competitive business. The natural resources had been taken from Sapientia Empire and there were spies among them. — In the Year of 498 SE, The Twelfth Empress Drusilla S. De Sapientia, the grandmother of The Present Empress Victoria S. De Sapientia, had driven all the foreigners out of Sapientia Empire and helped the citizens of Sapientia Empire to recover from suffered. But the empire was in economy crisis for many years before driven the foreigners out. Moreover, many nobles had taken advantage from that period, they exploited the citizens who suffered from lost by being loan sharks. The gap between the nobility and commoner was widen. That’s why it could not solve all the problems in short period of time. Only Capital, Ferrum and Fortis have succeeded to solve all the problems and narrow the gap between the nobility and commoner in their territories recently,” Count Henestus explained and asked.

“Do you have any question?”

“How did The Twelfth Empress control the empire’s trade with other countries after that? I have seen the trade at Harbour in Mercatura, there are a lot of foreigners,” Ilario asked curiously.

“Good Question, at that time, The Twelfth Empress stopped the trade between countries. The empire could rely on itself because of the fertile lands, we had no problem with the shortage of foods. It was not necessary to do business with the other countries. Moreover, The Royal Family were rich, they donated money and done many works of charity to citizens for 3 years. In the meantime, The Twelfth Empress had made the law to control the international trade and prohibit the foreigners to stay in the empire more than 7 days including limit the area for them, they could stay in the inns near the harbours only. The other countries must deal the trade with the merchants who were the citizens of Sapientia Empire, they could not sell their products to the citizens of Sapientia Empire directly. The Twelfth Empress had intention of giving chances for the commoner to do businesses and rely on themselves. — The Twelfth Empress confiscated the sole right of the international trade from The Mercatura Family and prohibited them to interfere with the commoner. The Twelfth Empress also opened the new routes of the trade by creating new Harbours at Scientia and Gladius for avoiding the monopoly,” said Count Henestus. “Please read this book when you have time, it would be a great help for Territory Management.”

“Thank you, Sir” Ilario said.

Beatrice came inside the study room after Count Henestus left, she knew his schedule very well and came to meet him at the right time.

“Brother, Bia would like to learn magic from last time,” said Beatrice cheerfully.

“Okay,” said Ilario kindly.

We went to the garden. Ilario activated “Wind Barrier” to make sure that there will be no effect like last time.

“Do you still remember the feeling of air moving around you?” Ilario asked her kindly.

“Yes,” Beatrice said.

“Think of that feeling but try to activate water magic instead. Like this,” said Ilario kindly, he activated “Water Shield” moving around himself. It was harmless type of magic for practice.

Beatrice activated “Water Shield”. She has succeeded easily at the first try.

“It’s good. Bia is so talent, right?” Ilario praised her kindly.

“Yes,” said Beatrice gladly.

“Would you like to try ‘Wind Shield’?” Ilario asked.

“Um…” Beatrice seemed a bit hesitant, she wanted to try but also feared that she might make a mistake like last time.

“Do you remember what I’ve told you last time? I will help and protect you, Bia. Give it a try?” Ilario asked her kindly, he encouraged her, he wanted her to pass her fear.

“Yes,” said Beatrice obediently.

Beatrice activated “Wind Shield”. She succeeded to make ‘Wind Shield’ this time but it was still bigger than her body, like a small version of ‘Wind Barrier’. She processed wind magic power at high level, as a result, she could not control her power well at this age. At least, she did not make the storm like last time. It was a great success for her.

“That’s great!” said Ilario kindly. “It’s easy, right?”

“Yes,” said Beatrice happily.

***

The next day, at the training ground.

Ilario told Letitia to have a duel with him, a real fight by using swords and magic powers. He wanted to know her skills and abilities.

“I had already activated ‘Wind Barrier’ on this area. Fight seriously and use everything you have, Sister” Ilario said.

“I’m afraid that you might get hurt, Ilario” Letitia said.

“Don’t worry. Please do your best,” said Ilario nicely.

Letitia started to attack Ilario first, her speed was quite fast, it must be her wind magic power. Ilario blocked her attack, he shot a fire ball at her but she could block with her ‘Wind Shield’.

‘Wow, she was great. I will make it harder for her,’ Ilario thought to himself.

Letitia was attacking Ilario with her speed continually, she activated “Wind Slashing” and hit him with windy sword at once. Ilario blocked and dodged her attack, his speed was faster than her. Ilario attacked her with ‘Fire Raining’ but she blocked his attack with ‘Water Shield’.

Ilario activated “Ice freezing” to freeze both of her leg but she could break it quickly by using her sword and water magic. Letitia attacked Ilario back with ‘Wind Slashing’ continually while destroying the ‘Ice Freezing’. He got a slash on his arm.

‘Whoa, I thought that I could make a final hit. She had a lot of experience of fighting. She might be able to fight with the monster lords.’ Ilario thought to himself, he admired her.

Ilario activated “Fire Raining” to attack her and limit her movement. Letitia blocked ‘Fire Raining’ with ‘Water Shield’, she could block the attack but it was hard for her to move or attack back to Ilario because there were a lot of ‘Fire Raining’. — Ilario used his light speed to attack her for a last hit, his sword was on her neck. Letitia was surprised by his attack, she could not see his movement.

“How did you do that?” Letitia asked curiously, it was a first time that she had a question.

“I used ‘light Speed’. That’s why you could not see my movement,” Ilario said.

“Did you hold yourself?” Letitia asked continually.

“To tell you the truth, I used only 1 in 5 of my magic power. But you are great with the fight, you even greater than Sir Augustine, a knight commander,” said Ilario honestly, “ah, you see, I had been missing for many years, right? I had to fight and hunt for survival since I was 5 years old. It was unusual situation. If that not the case, I might be a jerk who can do nothing. I’m the worst, you know?” He smiled at her nicely.

“Haha…I see,” Letitia chuckled and said, “anyway, I realized that I’m still lacking after fought with you.”

“I have an incredible training. Do you want to try, Sister?” Ilario asked, he had a broad smile.

“…” Letitia said nothing, she had a doubt about his words.

“Well, I’m serious. Did you know The King of Monsters will return?” Ilario asked.

“What?” Letitia asked, she had a great shock.

“Diabolus will return within the next 10 year,” said Ilario firmly.

“Aha,” Letitia said, she could not act cool and calm like usual after she heard Ilario’s words clearly.

“I can make you stronger. It's worth a try,” Ilario said.

“An incredible training of yours?” Letitia asked.

“Yes,” Ilario said and asked. “Do you know that you can use ice magic?”

“No, I don’t. I didn’t possess that kind of power.” Letitia said.

“You can mix your magic types. Like this,” said Ilario, he activated water magic and wind magic separately and made it to be icy ball. He showed her how to mix the magic power.

“…I thought that only direct bloodline possesses many types of magic,” said Letitia surprisingly.

Ilario explained the magic theory to her briefly. Letitia has a good memory, she could activate ice magic at the first try.

“You can mix your magic types freely as the theory and your imagination. You can develop many abilities from your magic types and even make it more powerful,” Ilario said.

After finished the training, Curtis came to meet him.

“Young Lord,” said Curtis politely.

“I want a new training ground for magic training. The secluded area that have nothing surround or a place that protected by Iron walls. Prepare the training tools and weight bracelets…” Ilario said and explained about weight bracelets to Curtis.

“I will prepare everything right away, Young Lord” said Curtis politely and left.

***