They had gone round and round this issue time and time again. If it weren’t for the fact that, for whatever reason, Melina seemed attached to this mongrel, he would have already met the headsman’s block several times over.
“Your role as Melina’s retainer should be the single most important thing in your life. Do you know how many talented, dedicated warriors would kill to be as close to the royal family as you are? I have half a mind to send you packing…”
Of course, he couldn’t do such a thing. Well, he could, but it would jeopardize the trust he had spent years building between himself and Melina. Damn girl and her sympathies for such a useless man…
“I’m doubling your training schedule for the next month. You’re already far behind the other royal retainers; you couldn’t protect Lady Melina from a butterfly in a breeze, never mind a potential assailant.” Was Melina defenseless? Of course not. But neither was Prince Xander or Princess Camilla, and their retainers dedicated every waking moment to their safety and happiness.
Why had the one royal child Iago gave a damn about been stuck with such a useless retainer?
Mintha was tempted to make a remark about how close his family as a whole already is to the royal family, but he holds his tongue. Even if he hadn’t taken on the role of Melina’s retainer, he was bound to come into direct contact with the Nohrian royals at some point. However, he isn’t one to discuss the privileges that come with his noble lineage. “I am aware, sir...”
The young man is aware someone else in his family would be far more suited to being a retainer to Melina.
His attention was yanked out of his thoughts at the mention of his training being doubled. Which distressed him a little when one considered how much training he was already going through. “But w-what about Gu-” Blue eyes looked horrified when he catches himself, already feeling as though he should run for even thinking of trying to put his other training first. “I-I...” Gunter would understand him missing their training sessions, right? “M-My magic is still tied to m-my instruments after all. I promise...being able to protect Lady Melina never leaves my mind.”
The more he thinks about it, the more he realizes that he’ll have less time for Melina to teach him more basic magic as well. Not that he would ever allow Iago to know that the princess was teaching him. “I am still a Minstrel...n-not a knight.” Nor was he a Dark Mage like Odin, despite his affinity for magic. His lack of being able to use a tome properly and preferring to cast spells with an instrument is what he knows best.