Cain East Rhapsody SSR "The Mischief-Loving Friend"

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Card Story: A Lesson in Eastern Country’s Etiquette

Akira: The Blanchett Castle always feels so tranquil, doesn't it.

Cain: Yeah. It’s probably partly because this Castle is surrounded by a forest, but I have the feeling the personality of the Castle’s Lord shines through too.

Akira: Ah.

As I was strolling around the Castle with Cain, we encountered a young servant. I couldn’t help but admire the way he bowed to us so courteously as he passed by.

Akira: (He feels like Riquet or Mitile. Though still young, his manners are perfect)

Cain: Huh? There’s something on the ground. A notebook for work it seems? It’s full of recipes and many other things.

Akira: A servant passed by us earlier. Maybe he dropped this.

Cain: Where did he go? Let’s chase after them.

As I was explaining the situation to Cain, who couldn’t see people, we went in direction of where the servant had gone. I quickly saw him in front of us from a short distance.

Akira: There he is. He’s opening the first door from the inside.

Cain: So the door that’s open right now. Got it.

Cain ran and reached the door in no time. He touched the servant’s back with the hand that was holding the notebook.

Cain: Sorry to bother you. Did you drop this?

The servant: Eh? Oh….

Akira: (Huh? He’s not taking the notebook. For some reason he seems to be panicking.)

Faust: What’s going on here, you two?

Akira: Oh, Faust.

Cain: We’re just trying to return something we found, but…

Faust: I see. In that case, leave it on the windowsill. The owner will pick it up sooner or later. After that, both of you follow me. Come here.

Still confused, we did as Faust said and followed him. When we were at a short distance away from the servant, Faust stopped.

Faust: This should be far enough that he’s able to pick up the notebook.

Cain: “Able to”? Why?

Faust: Generally, it’s courtesy that a servant not let their master or a guest pick up things for them. Also in this country, it’s emphasized that everyone should do their own work. Therefore, from the other side, it’s etiquette here that guests show appreciation to the servants and leave something they find alone where it is.

As we looked back, the servant from before collected the notebook we left.

Cain: So that’s why he acted so lost.

Faust: An experienced servant would be able to steer the situation but he’s still young. Probably he didn’t know what to do.

Cain: Thanks, Faust. You were a big help.

Faust: It’s no big deal. Well then, see…

Cain: Wait a sec. You’re having some free time now, right? I’ve a favor to ask you.

Faust: What do you want to ask of me?

Cain: You’ve lived in the Eastern Country for the long time, right? Can you teach me the etiquette here? I don’t want to put someone in a bind like before.

Faust: You’d be better off getting someone else. It’s true that I’ve lived here for a while, but I’ve mostly kept away from people.

Akira: But I’ll be glad if you teach me too, Faust. You always go into meticulous details when you teach so it’s easy to understand. I think even someone new to the Eastern Country like me can quickly learn how to act.

Faust: ……

Faust: I can only teach you the basic. If you don’t mind that, then let’s start.

Cain: Nice! Thanks, Faust.

[In the yard]

Faust started his lesson with a little lecture on the etiquette of Eastern Country. Then he had us practice so that we knew how to conduct ourselves in real situations, with Cain playing the guest and I the host.

Faust: Cain, as the guest, you shouldn’t approach the master of the house casually like that. Stay in your place, while act such that you show you won’t do harm. Master Sage, you too, please wait a least a beat when someone calls you. An immediate response can be easily taken as you not taking them seriously.

Akira: U- understood.

Akira: (The Eastern Country is comparable to Japan when it comes to things to pay attention to in one’s conducts).

Cain: There’re way more tiny details to watch out for than expected. I nearly made a blunder and acted like I always do, so I must watch myself constantly.

Faust: …..You don’t act correctly by the book most of the time. However, what matters is the feelings and respect in one’s conducts. I don’t think you’re lacking in that respect. If you can’t hold yourself to what you’ve in mind, perhaps it’d be better not to sweat too much over the tiny details of the prescribed etiquettes.

Cain: Thanks for the kind words. Still I’d like to try doing it the way you guys do in Eastern Country. I don’t know this country that well, so I want to experience for myself what it’s like here, where you and Heath call home.

Faust: ……

Akira: (Amazing. I really like this side of Cain, when he gives his all to understand something)

Cain: Time to give it another try! Please watch over us. Lord Akira, it is an honor to be invited here today. Allow me to express my gratitude.

Akira: …..Welcome to my humble abode. Please take your time and rest.

Faust: …..Hold it there. It is bad manners to look directly in the eyes of the other person when talking for the first time. You two should keep your gazes downwards. Meeting the other person’s eyes should be done only when saying thank you.

Cain – Akira: Oh!

[A while later]

Faust: Let’s take a break. It seems someone is calling for me so I’ll go back inside the Castle.

Cain: I see. Akira and I will practice by ourselves then. If you’re back here, please lend us your help again.

As we saw Faust off, we noticed someone heading towards us from the other direction.

Akira: Look, Cain. That person is…

The servant: Excuse me…

The person approaching us was the servant who lost the notebook. He was a youth whose intelligence shined on his young features.

The servant: Thank you very much for your help back there. Words can’t describe my regret for failing to express my gratitude properly earlier.

Cain: Ah no, it’s me who should say sorry. I didn’t know the ways of this country and put you in the bind.

The servant: N- no, not at all! That notebook is full of what I need to know for my work, so I was really glad you found it! Er… Besides my words, could you please accept these?

He held out to us a bowl full of beautifully made sweets.

Akira: Whoa, they look delicious!

The servant: Thank you. I made these to practice my skills, so it is not really proper to offer them to esteemed guests like you, but… This is the only thing I could come up with.

Looking at his tense face, I was struck by how much he was still a youth, as he maintained his conducts as a servant at all time. He knew well that he was deviating from the prescribed etiquette, which he might be rebuked for. However, we understood that he wanted to thank us by doing this.

Akira: (It must take real courage to do this in a country so strict with manners like here. As the receiver of such a gesture, what should I do?)

As I was thinking, Cain ignored the forks being prepared for us and picked up a treat directly with his hand, then put the whole thing in his mouth.

Akira – The servant: Eh?!

Akira: (Uh, that was a flagrant violation of etiquettes just now)

Cain: Hmm, yummy! You’re an amazing confectioner, aren’t you. Thanks for treating us to these. They’re more than enough to thank us.

Akira: (Oh I see. So Cain intentionally did that to be on the same line as the servant.)

The servant: It’s my honor! Please take your time to enjoy them.      

 [A moment later]

 Akira: He was really happy. You surprised us, but I think you handled the situation brilliantly.

Cain: He gathered all of his courage to do that for us. If I could manage something in return of such a gesture then I’m glad. I was pretty nervous too though. There’s a difference between unknowingly breaching etiquette and intentionally breaking it the same way he did.

Akira: You were really amazing! I was caught up in thinking about the right conducts and couldn’t do anything. It’s really cool how you acted quickly and deftly.

Cain: Really? Thanks, Akira. Let’s continue our practice after we’re done with the treats. Let’s work hard together to understand this country.

Akira: Sure! Let’s give it our all!

 

Card episode: To Live Together Without Conflicts

Akira: Cain, what kind of book are you reading?

Cain: This? A book about the etiquette of Eastern Country. We got a lesson about how to conduct ourselves that day at Blanchett Castle, remember? Faust lent me this book to review what we learnt, since he already taught us the basics.

Akira: Oh I see. If I could read, I’d like to borrow this book too.

Cain: In that case, let me read it out for you. Let’s perfect our manners and surprise the Eastern guys.

Akira: Ahaha, sure! What did you think when you were learning about the etiquette of Eastern Country?

Cain: Hmm. I was really surprised at first to be honest. I didn’t think that there would be rules for even the smallest details of how one should act.

Akira: It’s certainly difficult when you aren’t used to such rules, because just a little change can alter the whole meaning of a gesture and such.

Cain: Yeah, pretty much. Depending on which hand you use, the action can have a different meaning, and so on. However, I feel that it’s just like the Eastern Country to be so careful and meticulous to avoid conflicts between people like this.

Akira: I suppose. From a certain point of view, if you follow the prescribed conducts, you can be certain that you won’t hurt the other side.

Cain: Yeah. Perhaps because I was born and bred in Central Country, I’m more comfortable when people exchange their opinions directly no matter the situation instead. Still, I guess there’re also those who find it easier to live when there’re detailed rules like in Eastern Country.