"There are things I can teach about studying and things I cannot."
One week had passed since the end of the field camping training, and Eleonora was fulfilling her promise to oversee Italy's studies when she said this.
Arithmetic, the history of the Kingdom of Ashreach, sword skills, and martial arts—Italy absorbed it all like water seeping into dry sand as Eleonora began teaching the basics and core training methods.
However, there were areas Eleonora could not teach, primarily three: religion, magic, and court etiquette.
Regarding religion, the only church in Machiki Village and Domaro Village was in the fishing village of Domaro, accessible only by boat. The priest there was an elderly man with two monks, two nuns, and two servants. His preaching was muffled and unpleasant to listen to. Since Eleonora had not encountered any deities upon reincarnation, she did not truly believe in the existence of gods from the bottom of her heart.
With a Japanese sensibility of *[Well, as long as it's not something to be ashamed of before the heavens],* she would be immediately branded a heretic if the head temple, the Holy Cathedral of Maro, became aware of her beliefs.
Thus, despite being of noble class, albeit at the lower end, she only had a vague memory of the doctrines and knew the words for the prayer before meals.
Next was magic. Eleonora was skilled in physical enhancement magic—or rather, that was all she knew. Furthermore, her physical enhancement was not systematic but simply forcing all the magic in her body to revolve and strengthen her muscles. An expert sorcerer would likely deem it extremely inefficient. But if it was the most practical to use, she wouldn't care.
As for court etiquette... what could one expect from the daughter of a mercenary knight who had risen in the world? Her rustic way of speaking would be enough to make an old-fashioned noblewoman faint.
"It's impressive that you know about those things..."
"Um, My Lady. Why am I studying too?"
"Idiot, Roberta. There's no harm in piling up knowledge."
Roberta, who had been taught addition and subtraction from letters on a whim, raised a questioning voice, but Eleonora cut her off bluntly.
"If you can read and calculate, there's a chance you could become a merchant's wife. It doesn't hurt to prepare."
"It's impossible for a farmer's daughter to marry into a merchant family, my lady."
Roberta said this and then abruptly pressed her forehead against the desk. At that, Eleonora lightly chopped the back of her head.
"If you give up like that, opportunities won't just come your way from the start."
"So, what should I do about those three...?"
The answer to Italy's hesitant question was the only one Eleonora could think of.
"So, you came to my place?"
"I'm sorry, Lady Vittoria. I can teach you everything I'm capable of with all my might, but there are limits to what I can do."
Sending a request for lessons to the Grand Duke's daughter, Lady Vittoria, was the solution. It was inferred that she would have both knowledge and academic ability.
To begin with, the educated classes were limited to upper-class nobles and priests. Among them, the only ones with connections were Lady Vittoria and Lady Clarissa. However, Lady Clarissa often seemed resentful due to being overly abused by her fiancé in duels, making it difficult to ask her. Lady Vittoria, despite being a Grand Duke's daughter, was gentle and approachable.
"But, I have nothing to offer in return."
"I see, that makes sense. But, I'll ask for something you can pay with."
At those words, Vittoria took on a slightly troubled pose, resting her chin on her finger.
There was hardly anything one could get from a rural knight, and they probably didn't have much money either. Asking for a pledge of loyalty would be too light a request.
Then, perhaps this side should also make a light request.
"Then... could you perhaps become my ally just once when I'm in trouble?"
"If that is your wish, I understand."
A year later, Vittoria strongly felt that it was good to have made this promise to become an ally, even if it was just once.