Just as I arrived at the tower entrance, my gaze met that of a slim man coming down the stairs—His Lordship’s other caretaker, Karl Anker. The thought that he’d been in the same room as Lord Heinreid not minutes ago filled me with a jealous irritation, but there was no point in saying so. I just averted my gaze and tried to make my way inside.
Usually, Karl would make every effort to ignore me completely, but for once, he stopped me as we were passing one another.
“Wait. What is that?” he asked, pointing at the paper bag of cookies Sir Schmidt had just given me.
“Simply some baked goods,” I replied slowly. “I’ve already tasted them for poison. Do you have some objection?”
I didn’t like discussing my friend’s gift in those terms, but I’d heard the wariness in Karl’s voice, so I reluctantly went along with it. Karl silently considered for a few moments, then sharply turned his gaze away from me as though to say he’d lost interest.
“No. Do as you please.”
I heard something odd in his tone, but even if I asked about it, I didn’t imagine he’d explain further. His footsteps receded as he headed off to wherever it was he went; I proceeded into the tower and up the stairs, not turning to see him off. Finally, I reached the room at the top.
“Excuse me, Your Lordship.”
“Gah! You’re here already?”
What kind of greeting was that? I pursed my lips in annoyance, but before I could press him on it, I caught sight of him, and an entirely different question spilled from my mouth.
“What is that you’re doing?”
“Hmm? Stretches. You said you were gonna have me do indoor workouts, so I figured I should warm up.”
He sat on the bed, his legs stretched straight out in front of him and his torso pressed flat against them. He didn’t seem to be straining himself at all. If he was this flexible, I couldn’t help but wonder what use there was in stretching in the first place.
“Weren’t you opposed to that plan?” I asked.
“I never said that. I mean, it’s true that I’m getting out of shape—as long as you’re not making me do anything too crazy, I’m up for it.”
With his torso still bent, he now began spreading his legs apart. The bed wasn’t especially wide, and one of his feet thudded to a stop against the wall, but if not for that obstacle, he would have been able to do a perfect split. I’d already witnessed for myself what a wide range of positions his body could accept.
“The stretches you’re doing now are meant to be performed after exercise, Lord Heinreid.”
“Wait, for real? Are there different kinds of stretches for before and after?”
“I’ll give you proper instruction the next time I visit. Right now, I’m simply here to bring you a snack.”
“Oh?”
He sat back up, realizing that the stretches wouldn’t be necessary today, and I handed him the paper bag I’d brought.
“One of my colleagues—a friend of mine—bought too many of these at a sweetshop down in the city, so he gave me some. I can’t finish them by myself, so you’re welcome to them.”
“Huh, you made a friend? What kind of guy is he?”
Rather than focusing on the cookies, his attention went somewhere unexpected. I didn’t usually talk much about my life outside, and he was leaning forward with a look of fascination; his choice of words was a bit rude, but I gave him an answer.
“He was originally a commoner, so I doubt you would have heard of him. He led a militia during the rebellion.”
“Commoner, militia... Sven Schmidt?”
I’d given him barely any information, but somehow, he’d immediately arrived at precisely the right name. My eyes widened in astonishment.
“You knew of him, Your Lordship?”
“Well, I’ve never met the guy myself... But Sven’s there, huh? That’s good to hear...”
He’d never met him—in other words, he’d been in possession of information on the rebel militias during his time at the estate. Given his mutter of relief, maybe he’d obtained that information after his shift in personality and quietly worried for the man’s safety? I’d never picked up any sign of that before, though...
My slight doubts were drowned out by Lord Heinreid’s voice as he examined the contents of the paper bag.
“Ooh, cookies. Sven’s got a sweet tooth, huh?”
“He was after the shopgirl more than the sweets.”
“Ah, gotcha. Well, either way, he’s got a healthy appetite. They look tasty. My throat might get a bit dry, though.”
Lord Heinreid was interested in sweets, it seemed. I let out an inward sigh of relief. He reached for the water pitcher, but I stopped him and sat him down in a chair. I suggested that tea might be better, but he didn’t want to wait that long, so I assented and poured him a glass of water. His throat must have been a bit dry to begin with—he started by taking a small sip of water, then plucked a cookie straight from the bag and bit into it.
“Mm, these are nice.”
“Are they to your liking?”
“It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to snack on anything. Oh—don’t bring stuff every day, though, okay? I’ll spoil my dinner.”
I’d just been considering bringing more tomorrow, given his favorable response, but he’d immediately warned me against that. Disappointing as it was, it would defeat the purpose if he couldn’t finish his actual meals. I abandoned that idea; instead, I took a seat next to him, taking the rare opportunity to watch him while he ate. Seeing him pick up the food I’d brought him, bring it to his lips, chew, and swallow, I felt something clench tight inside my chest. It wasn’t an unpleasant sensation, though. As I pondered, trying to put a name to the feeling, Lord Heinreid felt my gaze on him and glanced at me uncomfortably out of the corner of his eye.
“Enjoying yourself?”
“I am.”
“Hmm...”
My prompt and honest answer sent Lord Heinreid into contemplation for a brief moment. Then, struck by an idea, he pressed a cookie against my mouth. I hadn’t intended on eating any, but with it already resting against my lips, I had no choice but to accept. I obediently opened my mouth and closed it around the cookie, taking it from his fingers. As I crunched down on it, I heard an appreciative noise beside me.
“Feels like I’m giving a dog treats,” he said, laughing.
“I’m the one who brought them.”
“Yeah, yeah, I got it. You’re the master here, Craig.”
“You— Mmnph!”
I tried to scold him for his spur-of-the-moment teasing, but he cut me off with several more cookies shoved into my mouth. Having forcibly shut me up, he ate the final cookie, then downed the remaining water in his glass.
“Look, don’t worry. I’ll make sure I don’t lose any more weight,” he said. “So you go out there and get your job done, all right? Don’t go causing trouble for your work friend.”
He gave me a warm smile. If I told him that he sounded like a wife seeing off her husband, he’d probably be upset with me. And for my part, I’d be too embarrassed to say that in the first place. Nevertheless, my heart was filled with a happiness too great to put into words. Even as I made to leave the room, I still couldn’t contain my elation. I leaned in to whisper sultrily in his ear that I’d be back tonight, and he gave me a playful shove, telling me to get going already.
Ah, I simply can’t wait...
I wanted every single minute I could have with him; determined to get my work finished as soon as possible, I made my way down the spiral staircase on quick feet.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Nh... Gh...uuh! Eguh...”