Chapter 7

“…I’m glad. Here, use this.”

Heidi pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to Ber.

“If it starts hurting at all, please tell me. I’ll bring medicine right away.”

Ber bowed his head slightly in thanks. Now that she had confirmed he wasn’t hurt, it was time to address Theo’s behavior.

“I’ll talk to Theo tomorrow morning over breakfast and ask why he acted that way today. Honestly, I don’t get it. I was with him all day and I never once smelled any kind of ‘burnt’ smell from you.”

She even remembered when the ostrich carriage had jolted so violently that she’d bumped her head against his arm.

Even then, she’d only caught a faint scent of soap. No burnt smell at all.

“Perhaps… because he’s a monster, his sense of smell is far sharper. It’s possible he picked up something only monsters can detect.”

“That does make sense. Well, we’ll find out tomorrow. And if it turns out Theo was in the wrong, I’ll give him a proper scolding.”

Heidi sighed softly, a little heavy-hearted.

She couldn’t just let Theo get away with being rude to others. As his guardian, it was her responsibility.

“Don’t be too harsh on him. Honestly, to injure my arm it would take a full-grown drake. What Theo did was more… cute, really.”

His words eased her heart somewhat.

“…He is cute. Whenever I see that fluffy tail of his, I can’t resist the urge to bury my face in it.”

Her laugh came naturally this time.

“One day, when he trusts me more, I’d like to touch it too,” Ber muttered quietly.

To Heidi, it sounded like a shy confession that he already felt a bit of fondness toward Theo. The thought warmed her heart.

Just then— grumble.

Her stomach growled.

“Oh, it’s already dinner time. How about some ham sandwiches?”

“That would be fine.”

“Great! Please, sit at the table and wait. I’ll have them ready in no time.”

“Thank you.”

Heidi gathered ingredients from the cupboard and quickly prepared sandwiches. Since no cooking fire was required, they turned out looking pretty decent.

She made portions for herself, Ber, and the three Horam-squirrels. Then she hesitated.

Will Theo even eat tonight? What if he’s sulking and refuses?

Still, she couldn’t let her little fox go hungry.

If I leave it outside his door, he’ll eat it later.

So she made him one too—an extra-special sandwich with three slices of ham, to make up for scolding him earlier.

“Here you go. Please enjoy!”

She placed a plate before Ber, then sat across from him. Her eyes drifted once again to the dark-gray scarf wrapped tightly around his face, hiding everything below his nose.

She had wondered about it since the first time they met. Most people showed their faces openly while talking. Why not him?

It wasn’t her place to pry, though.

She thought maybe, just maybe, he might take it off to eat… but his hand never moved toward it.

Instead, he spoke hesitantly.

“Um, Boss…”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for preparing this. But… may I eat in my room?”

“Huh? Why? Wouldn’t it be nicer to eat together?”

“I cannot remove this scarf in front of others. And of course, to eat, I must remove it. So I’m afraid I won’t be able to share meals with you. I’m sorry.”

“Ah…”

So that was it.

It wasn’t that he wouldn’t remove it—it was that he couldn’t.

That wording suggested something serious. Maybe he had a large scar across his lower face. If that was the case, of course she should respect it.

Even if she was wrong, it was clearly something very personal. Forcing him would only be cruel.

“All right. That’s fine. Do as you like.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Relief flickered in his blue eyes as he bowed his head.

It must really trouble him… I should never ask him to take it off. Not ever. Heidi resolved silently.

Her gaze drifted to the Horam-squirrels beside her, nibbling politely at their sandwiches. She should warn them too.

“Hey, you lot.”

“Churrk?”

“Don’t ever tease Mr. Ber by trying to pull off his scarf, okay? Not even as a joke.”

She mimed pulling off a scarf with her hands so they’d understand.

“Chuu…”

The squirrels made their soft, deflated little noises and nodded.

“And I’ll leave a note with Theo’s sandwich. He can read now, after all.”

Even if Theo had been bratty tonight, at heart he was kind. He would understand.

“Thank you again,” Ber murmured, bowing slightly. His eyes were earnest, almost solemn.

Their gazes met. His deep-blue eyes were as full of hidden stories as they had been when she first saw him. Both the scarf and the eyes drew her attention, tugging at her curiosity.

“…Why do you look at me like that?”

Her heart jumped. Caught staring, she snapped back to her senses.

What am I doing, spacing out over a man I just met?

“It’s nothing,” she said quickly, composing her face.

“Anyway, why don’t you take your plate? I’ll show you to your room. And we’ll write up the contract first.”

“Yes.”

Then, as if remembering something, he added:

“Oh, I’ll also wash the dishes later.”

“What? No, no—you’re a guest. I can’t let you do that.”

“It’s fine. You must be exhausted after going all the way to the capital today. Please rest.”

Despite his blunt tone, the kindness in his actions made her smile.

“Well, if you insist… thank you, really!”

Ber was turning out to be a considerate, dependable person.

Though they had only just met, Heidi felt she would enjoy spending the next month with him.

That same evening.

After finishing his meal in his assigned room, Ber kept his word and washed the dishes.

“Five plates,” he counted, smiling faintly. The little fox had eaten after all.

He scrubbed them until they gleamed, satisfaction rising in his chest.

Five years of wandering mercenary life had honed his dishwashing skills to near perfection.

I might even outdo a noble household’s maid, he thought with a small laugh.

Carrying his things to his room on the east side of the first floor, he noted how warm and welcoming it felt. Just like its owner.

“Come back with me next time, I’ll convince Ber to join!”

“Does your arm hurt? Let me see.”

“All right then, do as you like!”

The cheerful, gentle woman’s voice echoed in his memory.

For the first time in a long while, he felt at ease. He pulled a pen and paper from his pack.

It was time to write a report—someone would be worrying about him if he didn’t.

Scratch, scratch. Clean letters flowed smoothly onto the page.

“To my dear sister, Laurel.

“It is early March, when winter’s chill still lingers. I hope you are keeping warm and well.

“My new destination is Lium. I will be staying there for a month, working as a farmhand.

“‘You? A farmhand?’—I can already hear you asking. And my answer is this:

“Today, by chance, I met the daughter of the Primavera knights—no, the Primavera baron now.

“You, of all people, know what that name means to me.

“The moment I heard it, I couldn’t help but lower my guard. I couldn’t help but listen to her words.”