Chapter 44 - The Chess Record of Lady Ariarein (Part One)
A hard, clicking sound echoed.
The black pawn piece, picked up by Ariarein's white fingers, was set down on the chessboard. Arveil alternated his gaze between the book spread out beside the board and his own white pieces. With a careful hand, he took a white pawn piece and moved it one step forward.
Ariarein moved her piece without much delay, and Arveil, while glancing at the book beside the board—a book summarizing chess records—moved his piece exactly as written.
"My lady."
After the master and retainer had each played a few more moves like that, Arveil spoke to Ariarein.
"What is it?"
Ariarein responded while keeping her eyes fixed on the chessboard, where several pieces had been reduced as a result of exchanges.
"What exactly is this...?"
They were reproducing a chess record on the board. Arveil understood that much. What he didn't understand was the intent. To be precise, he understood the intent itself. There was no doubt she was aiming to improve at chess. Arveil just didn't know why she had suddenly started such a thing.
Ariarein let out a small breath, brushed back her hair, and stared intently at Arveil. In that posture, the master and retainer stared at each other in silence.
After a while, Ariarein exhaled and averted her gaze.
"—I can't win. It's not just that I can't win, I can't even make a game of it."
In a tone rare for the four-years-younger mistress, she didn't even try to hide her dissatisfaction.
"And that would be—against whom?"
Recalling that this lady was terribly competitive, Arveil asked.
"Father."
It's no wonder, Arveil felt like smiling wryly. Even if one searched the entire territory, there were few who could defeat the young mistress's father—that is, the current Marquess Mares. Considering the difference in age and experience, it was natural that she couldn't win, and it shouldn't be a source of shame even if she couldn't make a game of it.
However, for Ariarein, that fact seemed to be utterly dissatisfying. After finishing all the daily tasks that seemed somewhat excessive for a thirteen-year-old girl, there was a small amount of time left before going to bed. Normally, that time was devoted to reading, which was Ariarein's hobby, so Arveil had never been particularly called during this time before.
But today, Arveil was summoned abruptly. Having Arveil sit across the table after he visited the room with a bit of suspicion in his heart, Ariarein said:
"I'm sorry for calling you so suddenly. Arveil, can you read chess records?"
"Yes, my lady. I can manage the movement of the pieces and reading the records. Though, in truth, I ought to memorize the openings as well."
In less than two years, Ariarein was scheduled to go up to the royal capital. Arveil had been appointed as her assistant, also serving as a guard. Arveil was currently accumulating daily study for that purpose. Chess was also included in the education necessary for an assistant.
"Arveil."
"Yes."
Turning the pages of a somewhat thick book she held and stopping her hand at a place where a bookmark was inserted, Ariarein handed the open book to Arveil.
"Could you play the moves exactly as written there?"
At Ariarein's tone, which brooked no refusal, Arveil nodded and said yes. That was the story from just about half an hour ago.
*
Ariarein had stopped her hand. She wasn't trying to look at the board, nor at Arveil sitting across the table. Silence fell over the room again. Letting out a long breath, Ariarein broke that silence.
"Arveil."
"Yes."
"I'm sorry for calling you so suddenly. For today, that's—"
"My lady."
Arveil spoke as if to cut off Ariarein's words. It was behavior that could have been condemned as rude.
Intentionally ignoring the reproachful gaze Ariarein directed at him, Arveil moved a piece.
"—Check."
Ariarein's gaze alternated between Arveil's face and the board as if in hesitation. Arveil silently stared at Ariarein's face. As if to say, it is your turn next.
"—Is it alright?"
"I must memorize the openings as well."
Rather than just reciting the records, it was easier to memorize by actually moving one's hands and the pieces. So Arveil was saying that this was also for his own sake. It wasn't a lie, but it was a transparent excuse.
"In that case, Arveil."
Ariarein reached out to the board, moved a piece, and cut off the check placed on her King. Ariarein had no intention of disregarding the kindness of the retainer she had chosen.
"Could you accompany me for a while? Not just today, but from now on as well."
"Yes, of course, my lady."
Arveil didn't ask until when that would be.
Until she could make a game of it against her father the Marquess, or until she won. Either way, Arveil knew it wasn't something for which a clear deadline could be set.
The second part is a chess story inspired by the cover illustration of the middle volume.
Since it's the release date, I thought something like this would be nice!