Chapter 7 | Wells, the Smooth-talking Master Blacksmith
ANGELA had left after dinner to head back to the inn she was staying at. She’d already paid for her room and felt bad inconveniencing the owner, especially since she’d been staying in the same room in the same inn for so long. She promised she’d be back as soon as she had a word with the innkeeper.
Kiefer and Candice ended up staying overnight instead due to Kiefer’s complaints that heading back so late was too big of a pain. Of course, Candice couldn’t leave without him, but that didn’t stop her from complaining about the situation nonstop.
She didn’t seem that upset about getting to spend extra time with Ektor, though. Hee-hee… She’s so cute.
“I’ll make sure everything gets cleared up, so feel free to use the bath,” Ektor says after carrying all the cutlery and plates into the kitchen. Still, there are so many dirty dishes, I feel bad dumping it all on him.
“It seems like a lot, though,” I protest.
“I can handle it!” he insists. “You two did so much tonight, you deserve a nice, relaxing soak in the tub. Go on.”
Candice seems entranced by his sweet voice and gentle smile. To be fair, he is pretty cool. I don’t know why Claire seems to be rubbing her own arms.
…I still feel bad about taking advantage of his kindness.
In the end, I can’t help but feel bad, mainly because housework is the only thing I’m good at.
“Good idea! I’m more than happy to take it easy.”
“Not you, Rinny! You’re helping! And you, too, Macro!” Ektor snaps.
“Tch…” Rinny clicks his tongue.
It makes me feel a little better to see Rinny and Macro goofing off whenever they feel like it, but I don’t want to make them do anything they’d rather not do at all.
“Ektor, there’s no point in trying to make that ginger dummy do anything,” Macro says dryly. “He’s so useless, he’ll end up breaking all the dishes anyway.”
“What?! I can handle washing a couple of dishes! Leave me alone, you angsty pipsqueak!”
“Make me, you ex-convict!”
“Grr!”
I stand there, flabbergasted, as I watch yet another fight break out between them.
Sheesh, how does this always happen?
“You go on ahead, Claire,” I say with a strained smile. “You can spend some time with Candice, and I’ll join you after I finish cleaning up.”
“Ugh… Fine. I had a feeling you’d say that.”
She knows me better than anyone.
“Just one thing first!” Claire whispers urgently under her breath. “I’m worried about leaving you alone with Ektor. If he tries anything, just holler, okay?”
T-Try something? He’s such a nice guy, I don’t think I really have anything to worry about. She worries way too much.
“Okay…” It seems easier to simply promise her I’ll be careful, even if I think she’s exaggerating.
“I’m seriously worried…” she lets out a deep sigh, repeating how worried she is about me.
Why?
I send Claire and Candice off to the bathroom before hurrying to the kitchen, where I’m greeted by Ektor, who seems truly apologetic.
“I wanted to give you a break, and you ended up helping out anyway. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it!” I say with a big smile. “Claire did pretty much all of the cooking while I stood around doing nothing. That’s why it makes me feel a little better to help clean up.”
I had a feeling that just saying “Don’t worry about it!” wouldn’t convince him, which is why I elaborated a little. That seemed to do the trick.
Ektor falls silent, his cheeks turning slightly pink.
“Hey, Ektor?” I say. “I really appreciate you looking out for us, but I want to help out more around here. I mean…we’re all friends now, right?”
It’s been a while since I could talk to Ektor alone like this, and so I decide to open up about something that’s been weighing on my mind recently. Sometimes I feel as if he’s going out of his way to be extra kind to me. Maybe it’s my imagination. To be fair, there’s still a lot about him I don’t know, but he seems to treat Claire way differently. Maybe it’s because of how she treats him, too? But it actually seems like they’re both being real with each other. Sure, seeing them fight constantly makes me super anxious. I just want everyone to get along, of course.
Also, it’s perhaps a little weird, but I’m kind of envious of his relationship with Claire and all his friends. It makes sense he’d be super close with Rinny and Macro, considering they’ve been his friends since they were kids, but then he’s also just really casual and friendly with Angela, who we just met today, as well as Kiefer and Candice. And I’m sure he’ll be just as friendly with everyone else we ask to join the guild, since they’re all already Ektor’s friends.
It’s just me he treats this way! He only dotes on me, and it makes me feel a little sad. Don’t get the wrong idea—it’s not that I hate it! It just feels like there’s this wall between Ektor and me. Of course, there’s no way I can bring it up directly.
My ears and tail droop sadly, as I struggle to express myself, and as if able to read my thoughts, I notice him looking concerned, which only makes me feel worse.
I’m so sorry!
“You’re probably right. I’m sorry. Honestly…I’m a little lost.”
“Lost? How?”
What is he worried about?
When I ask him what he means, he simply smiles at me before continuing.
“We only met for the first time not that long ago, right? A part of me feels bad that I basically talked you into coming along with us, dragging you away from the small yet safe village you grew up in.”
I can see tears in his eyes as he speaks, as if he really is conflicted, and so I wait for him to finish. As he continues to talk, he focuses on his hands, and I follow suit, my ears straining to pick out his voice through the clatter of dishes and utensils being washed.
“It seems like Claire’s really been trying to get on my nerves lately, and so I merely give her the same attitude she gives me. I feel bad about it, but she’s just so grouchy sometimes, I can’t help myself. You must think I’m a real jerk.”
I see. He’s simply treating Claire the same way she treats him. Claire knows about the game, and she has a hunch Ektor does too… I’m sure she’s just being hypersensitive. Perhaps Ektor’s getting caught up in Claire’s annoyance because he’s just as aware of the game as she is… Although, to be fair, we still have no idea if he knows anything about the game to begin with.
“That’s not true. I like how real and true to yourself you are with Claire.”
“You do?”
I begin drying the clean dishes with a cloth, too embarrassed to look anywhere but at my hands. I can feel the weight of his gaze on me, though.
“And not just when you’re dealing with Claire. I feel the same way, even when you’re with Rinny and Macro, too. I know that’s who you really are…and I wish you’d stop being someone you’re not with me. I want you to be yourself, not this guy who goes out of his way to treat me nicer than everyone else.”
I try to sound as natural and unconcerned as possible, although I feel embarrassed bringing it up at all. I sound like a child.
“I don’t know. When I’m myself, people say I’m pretty argumentative and sullen, completely opposite from how I look… It doesn’t bother you at all?”
Who says that? He has a tendency to speak his mind, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. He does have some princely physical features. I admit, I was charmed the first time I laid eyes on him, and his sweet, gentle smile definitely suits him. Still, he looks just as sweet, even when he’s joking around with his friends, complaining, causing a fuss, or being completely serious. I don’t want to be judged by how I look, and I wish he wouldn’t care so much about what other people think about him.
“Nope. Not in the slightest. That’s part of what makes you, you. I like you the way you are, Ektor.”
“Miku…”
I’m still embarrassed, but I force myself to look up from my hands and into Ektor’s eyes. His cheeks are still very red, but I think he’s happy. And if he is, I am too.
“You don’t need to baby me, okay? I want you to treat me like everyone else,” I stress.
That last part was a little selfish, but oh well. I just feel so awkward when he treats me differently than everyone else! I want him to see me the same as the others!
His eyes widen in surprise at my determination in bringing up an issue I care strongly about before he smiles, almost shyly.
“Miku… If that’s how you feel, then I’ll try to do better.”
His smile is so radiant and pure, I feel myself melting. He really is very handsome. I understand why Candice immediately said his looks were his best asset.
Hee-hee… I won’t tell Claire how I feel, as she’ll just get angry…although I promise I’m totally not in love!
“Thanks for being my friend, Ektor.”
“Of course! And thanks for being mine.”
His face is still bright red, as if he’s still embarrassed, but I feel a lot closer to him, which makes me happy. I hope each day brings all of us a little closer.
Once all the dishes are dried and put back into place, I feel a warm coziness inside my heart.