Chapter 16
Thanks to Sonia’s appearance, the situation fizzled out.
“Lacey! Hurry, hurry! The family head is waiting for you!”
To be precise, it was because of the immense power held by the title ‘family head’.
“What on earth is this about?”
“That’s what I want to know. You didn’t get into trouble without me knowing, did you?”
Ouch.
“Eh, hey, what are you talking about? Did you forget I was under confinement until yesterday?”
“I suppose. If you were being disciplined, the head maid would have turned the castle upside down herself.”
“Ha, hahaha…”
Still, I couldn’t think of any particular reason why Ash Canis would want to see me separately.
Judging by the atmosphere, it didn’t seem like we’d been caught for going outside the castle with Daniel yesterday.
Unable to reach any conclusion, I arrived on the floor where the family head’s office was located.
“Long time no see, Miss Lacey!”
After climbing all the stairs, I was met by Fritz, wearing a broad smile.
The last time I saw him was his retreating back as he was being dragged to the dungeon. Seeing him safe and sound like this was somewhat reassuring.
“I have good news!”
It seemed he had come out into the hallway on purpose to wait for me.
The only connection I had with him was the matter of him recommending a dance teacher, which was flatly rejected.
Could this good news possibly be about that…?
“After I repeatedly submitted earnest petitions, the family head…”
His gaze, which had been sweeping down from my head, suddenly stopped.
Fritz’s eyes, fixed on my crutch, widened as if they were about to pop out.
“Are you injured?”
“Oh, yes.”
“How?”
Wouldn’t most people ask how it happened?
“It just sort of happened.”
“It just sort of happened?”
Fritz’s gaze was persistently intense, to the point of being burdensome.
From the way he craned his neck, I could tell I wouldn’t be able to escape this topic without an answer.
“Umm, Victor rushed at me.”
“Oh my, that crazy horse finally did it!”
…Sorry, Victor.
I had no choice. I’ll bring you some carrots as a treat next time.
“Ahem, ahem. Let me apologize on his behalf. I doubt the owner of that crazy horse would care even if he heard.”
“……”
Is it really okay for the Canis family to have a man like this as their chief aide?
Not that I plan to get involved.
“Sigh, let’s go inside for now. And you,” he said to Sonia, “may return to your duties.”
“Yes.”
While Fritz was turning away, Sonia mouthed, ‘Tell me later.’
I wondered if I would have a story satisfying enough for Sonia’s expectations.
Instead of answering, I gave an awkward smile and followed Fritz into Ash Canis’s office.
The first thing that caught my eye was the desk buried under documents. However, there was no sound of a pen scratching.
“Did you bring her?”
The voice came from elsewhere. Ash Canis was leaning against the wall, looking out the window.
But his eyes were sharp. For some reason, he was clearly irritated.
I let out a silent sigh, directed at Fritz’s back, who might be the cause of this situation.
“Yes, but there is a problem.”
“A problem?”
At that moment, my eyes met his magenta ones.
No, more like they brushed past each other.
I felt a sense of déjà vu from his gaze, which trailed down from my face.
“When did you get injured?”
I was almost glad to finally be having a conversation within the bounds of normality.
“A few days ago.”
Whether he was listening or not, his eyes kept hovering near the bandage tied around my ankle.
“Did you see Grandma Vianu?”
“Yes. She said it would be best not to strain it for two weeks.”
“That can’t be all, can it?”
Unnecessarily sharp.
“Umm, she also said it would be better to be careful for another month, if possible.”
Actually, Grandma Vianu had said six months.
“A month…”
Ash Canis stroked his chin and muttered, as if pondering my words.
Please believe it. Please.
The irritation from before had disappeared from his face as he lifted his head. I couldn’t possibly interpret the jumble of emotions that had taken its place.
“And yet you…”
“……?”
Why did you stop mid-sentence?
Ash Canis clicked his tongue as if his calculations had been thrown off.
“Let’s consider the dance teacher matter null and void.”
“What?”
So it really was about the dance teacher!
I looked at Fritz, pleading for help with my eyes.
“That’s right. It would be impudent to ask someone with an injured leg for dance lessons.”
I was doomed. This time, even Fritz wasn’t on my side.
My ankle. This damn sprained ankle was the problem. Because of a mere sprain, my only useful value had disappeared.
I didn’t know why Ash Canis had suddenly changed his mind, but this was an opportunity that had fallen into my lap.
I couldn’t just watch it fly away so meaninglessly right before my eyes.
I racked my brain furiously, trying to squeeze out a way to get noticed near Ash Canis, other than through dance lessons.
“Family Head, how about departing for the Euphorian Kingdom a month earlier than scheduled?”
“Why would we do that?”
“I will secure a dance teacher and have them wait at the townhouse. Surely someone of your caliber could learn two or three dances within a month, right?”
Damn it. Are you already making the next plan?
“Miss Lacey, I’m sorry for calling you here for nothing. You should go now…”
He was even giving me the order to leave.
Should I really just go back obediently like this?
I can’t do that.
“Ow, ow, ow!”
I crumpled to the floor, grabbing my ankle.
“Wh-what’s wrong?”
“Oooh, my ankle hurts too much, I can’t go!”
Fritz jumped in surprise upon seeing the tears streaming down my cheeks.
“Oh my, what should we do!”
The operation was a success.
But these tears weren’t fake. My leg had slipped, delivering a direct impact to my ankle.
Why did I try to fake an injury when I’m so bad at it?
“Right. We should have you see Grandma Vianu!”
If we call Grandma Vianu, would that buy me at least 30 minutes?
If I could just think of a way during that time…
“Don’t worry about the journey. A knight can carry you on his back; it should be easy.”
“…….”
He was the chief aide of the Canis family for a reason. Whenever he opened his mouth, solutions flowed out effortlessly.
Picking only the directions I didn’t want.
“Is anyone outside?! Come in and…!”
Damn! Should I have covered his mouth first?!
But my hand didn’t reach Fritz, only slicing through the air.
“Huh? Wha–?”
“Whoa?”
My body was lifted into the air. What came close in an instant was that wild, primal scent from my memory and Ash Canis’s face.
Excuse me?
“F-Family Head?”
I blinked and asked, but all I caught was the moment his eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“……Family Head, what are you doing right now?”
Fritz was asking with his eyes, ‘Have you lost your mind?’
The reply was even more unbelievable.
“I heard women aren’t supposed to sit on the floor.”
“Who told you such nonsense?”
“My father.”
The previous family head said that? That always-silent man?
My impression of the previous family head at the royal dinner party was that of someone who stayed in their seat purely for propriety’s sake.
Not much different from his son, who clearly gave off the vibe that he was forced to attend.
In short, he was the kind of person far from being affectionate or romantic.
Now that I think about it, during my time at Canis Castle, I had never seen the previous family head and his wife together.
I hadn’t even heard any minor updates about them.
Don’t tell me, like my own father…
“Next time, I should write that down and send him a letter. His reaction would be worth seeing.”
“Please, not that…!”
Phew. Sounded like they were doing well.
Anyway, thanks to the previous family head, my path to Euphorian was being maintained.
I wished them well with a grateful heart.
“Ahem, ahem. So, you are saying the Family Head himself will grace the apothecary with his presence?”
Fritz, looking pale, tried to change the subject.
But his opponent was none other than Ash Canis. Surely he wouldn’t fall for such a childish provocation?
“…….”
Was it because we were so close I could feel his breath? I could see his red irises trembling slightly.
Damn it. Don’t fall for it!
“You haven’t forgotten the inspection of the Wolf’s Forest scheduled for the afternoon, have you? You need to finish those documents before then, so the administration can proceed with the next tasks, right?”
His already stiff expression was growing even more rigid.
If I didn’t make a decision before that cunning tongue caused more trouble!
“I’ll be fine if I just rest for a moment!”
I grabbed hold of Ash Canis’s collar and spoke as if pleading.
“Really. I just need to borrow a chair for a little while.”
Please say yes.
I put strength into my gaze, transmitting my will.
“……Fine.”
It felt like a reprieve.
Unintentionally, I ended up indebted to the rest sofa.
Fritz picked up my crutch and handed it to me, asking,
“But did you go to work with this leg?”
Of course, I had considered taking leave.
The day I heard the confinement was lifted, I inquired with the head maid.
“Ha, haha. Well, I heard there’s a saying in Canis: ‘Those who don’t work, don’t eat.’”
“Hmm, that is true, but…”
Apparently, it doesn’t apply to lifelong contractees who are bound for life.
Ultimately, I was pressed for time. I was busy trying to earn points; how could I afford to be careful?
“I’d like to assign you to document assistance or something, if I could…”
Fritz rolled his eyes, checking Ash’s reaction. He received one sharp glare and shut his mouth.
“Sir Fritz, I’m grateful for the thought alone…”
Suddenly, a lightning bolt of realization struck me.
There is another way.
My utility value.
My lips, trembling as if electrocuted, parted.
“What if I create a dance manual instead?”
