And of course, the status window that had once threatened his life had long since disappeared.
‘He really can’t do anything poorly, can he?’
He was far stronger than the average man and quick to learn, so even though he had never farmed before, he handled plowing the field with ease.
While Seith tilled the land, Ain and I sowed the medicinal herb seeds my father had left behind and watered them, waiting for the sprouts to grow.
At the same time, we didn’t forget to carefully trim the herbs we had gathered.
And just like that, another day passed.
Ain also knew this mountain well, so he was fully aware of where rare herbs grew. Because of that, I often went herb gathering with him.
‘Wow, this is no joke.’
Thanks to that, our household finances didn’t just improve, they became quite comfortable.
The plan I had set to move to the capital in three years might even be shortened to two, and the thought made me grin.
“Seith!”
Today as well, Ain and I had gathered a large number of rare herbs, and before heading down to the village to sell them, I called out to Seith.
“I’m going down to the village with Ain for a bit. We’re going to sell the herbs. If there’s anything you want to eat or need, let me know. I’ll bring it back.”
But instead of sending us off like usual, Seith hesitated and walked toward us.
“Doctor.”
“Yes?”
“May I come with you today?”
I blinked in surprise at his unusual request.
“You too, Seith?”
“Yes.”
“Why do you want to come along? That’s annoying.”
Ain grumbled.
“Ain, I told you to speak nicely.”
“Hing… Ailet always scolds me.”
Ain clung to me, whining, while Seith rubbed the back of his neck, his face slightly flushed.
“Well… just staying here waiting feels a bit boring.”
Ah, I hadn’t thought of that. I looked apologetic.
“I see. You’ve only been in the mountains. Sorry about that. Then just a moment.”
I went to the storage and brought out a wide-brimmed hat, placing it on his head. It still felt risky for him to show his face openly.
Seeing Seith in the hat made me burst out laughing.
“Hahaha.”
As I laughed, Seith smiled as well, only his mouth visible.
“Why are you laughing?”
“You look exactly like a countryside farmer.”
To be fair, he really did, though I could confidently say he was the most handsome countryside farmer in the world.
Then Ain pouted and teased him.
“A farmhand. A farmhand.”
“Ain, do you want to keep being difficult?”
When I scolded him, Ain linked arms with me and acted cute.
“I want it to be just the two of us~.”
“Think about how bored Seith must be.”
“Okay…”
Ain nodded sulkily, and Seith adjusted his hat before asking me,
“Doctor, do you dislike countryside farmers?”
I laughed again.
“What’s there to dislike? I’m a countryside girl myself.”
“That’s true.”
The corner of Seith’s lips curled up.
“Let’s go then. Our countryside family.”
“Sounds good.”
He took the herb basket I was carrying, and the three of us headed down the mountain together.
I was worried that those frightening knights we had encountered before might run into Seith again and threaten him, but now, Seith was completely different from how he had been back then.
I was confident they wouldn’t recognize him.
His face was slightly tanned now, and after living outdoors constantly, he truly looked like a mountain villager.
Though, of course, he was still handsome.
‘What a waste of a face.’
Both Ain and Seith were handsome and hardworking. It felt like such a waste for them to be living in the mountains like this.
As I was thinking that, Seith, as if reading my thoughts, asked,
“Doctor, do you plan to keep living here?”
“Hmm… not exactly. I have plans.”
Seith looked surprised, then after a moment of thought, asked carefully,
“You’re going to leave?”
“Someday.”
“…Then what about me?”
His expression looked like that of an abandoned puppy, and I chuckled, lightly nudging his side with my elbow.
“By then, your memories will have returned.”
“And if they don’t? Or… if they do, will you abandon me?”
At his cautious question, I considered teasing him, but instead shook my head and answered sincerely.
“If it’s fate, we can still meet occasionally even after your memories return. And if they haven’t returned by then, let’s go to the capital together. I’m actually quite responsible.”
“Really? Thank you. I’ll work hard.”
Only then did he look relieved. Was he really that worried?
But really, why hadn’t his memory returned yet? The poison had been neutralized with a basic antidote, so I thought the short-term memory loss would recover quickly.
‘Was it a stronger poison than I thought?’
As I pondered this, Ain linked arms with me.
“Ailet. I’m going too, right?”
He leaned against me and asked, tilting his head.
“Of course, Ain. A curious beastman like you wouldn’t stay cooped up in this mountain forever. Let’s go together.”
“Ailet is so kind! Yay!”
Ain cheered, and Seith smiled as well, clearly relieved.
It made sense. Being in a situation where you remembered nothing must feel like being an abandoned dog.
I suddenly felt a strong sense of responsibility to take care of this little family.
‘Is this the weight of being the head of the household?!’
It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling, and smiling to myself, I headed to the herbal shop again.
“Welcome, Ailet!”
The shop owner, seeing Seith instead of the usual companion, looked surprised.
“You came with someone new today? Who’s this? Handsome fellow.”
“Ah, he’s my relative too. He came from far away, and he’ll be staying with us for a while.”
“Isn’t your house small? Must be tough housing two relatives.”
“It’s fine.”
I smiled, glancing back at the two dependable men.
Ain turned back into a fox at night and slept, so he didn’t need a separate bed, and Seith slept in the annex, so everything worked out just fine.
“Our log house is bigger than it looks.”
“I see.”
The shop owner nodded and grinned.
“Well, that’s good then. I thought Ain was handsome, but this young man is tall and handsome too.”
“Right? They’re both handsome.”
I tapped Ain and Seith’s shoulders proudly, like I was bragging about my own children, and the shop owner narrowed his eyes.
“Hmm. But are they really relatives? Ain and you at least look somewhat alike… but this man doesn’t resemble you at all. And somehow, he feels familiar…”
The shop owner tilted his head.
But that wasn’t what mattered to Seith.
“They said you don’t resemble Ailet at all.”
“…Be quiet.”
“Annoying, isn’t it~?”
Seith looked dejected, clearly bothered by the comment, while Ain teased him triumphantly.
I told Ain to behave, then asked the shop owner,
“You said you’ve seen someone like him before?”
The shop owner nodded and studied Seith, who had his hat pulled low.
“Yes. In the capital.”
“The capital?”
At that moment, Seith’s expression stiffened, but I didn’t notice as I continued talking with the shop owner.
“Yeah. I went to a wholesale market there to supply herbs, and I saw a missing persons list. I think there was a drawing that looked like him. He’s not that missing person, is he?”
As the shop owner looked between us suspiciously, Seith stepped forward.
“No. You must be mistaken. I really am Miss Ailet’s relative.”
He spoke with a quiet authority, and for some reason, the shop owner flinched and nodded.
“Ah, alright. No need to glare so fiercely.”
I stepped between them, laughing lightly.
“Thank you! I’ll check it out when I go to the capital later, see if they really look alike. And yes, he’s our relative.”
“Alright. Do check. They really do look alike. Though the man in the drawing looked more noble. Now then, let’s see what rare herbs you brought today.”
“Yes. Ain, Seith, show them.”
The shop owner was delighted with the herbs we brought again today and said he would sell them in the capital.
We received a generous price, and I looked proudly at the two men who were growling at each other over who would carry my bag.
Was this what it felt like to raise a loyal dog and cat?
