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Chapter 22
This Guy, Is He My Type?
“Ah, they must be the new knights. Looks like they’re doing morning training.”
Looking down in the direction of the voices, I saw the new knights in the training ground taking turns carrying someone on their backs in a relay.
“Carry Hermes on your back and run!”
“Puhahaha!”
Looking closer, the knights were taking turns carrying Himena on their backs as they ran around the training ground. Himena, for some reason, was in high spirits, giggling and laughing.
“Give Hermes a piggyback ride and run!”
“Hehehe… Wow! It’s high!”
“Carry Hermes in your arms and run….”
“Stop right there!!”
Kailian suddenly shouted angrily.
The knights and Himena in the training ground were startled and looked up at the wall where the voice came from.
“Huh? It’s the Marquis! Marquis!”
Himena and the knights spotted him and waved their hands happily in greeting.
‘That woman, what’s so great about being carried by this guy and that guy?!’
Kailian looked down at them, who were beaming brightly, with a furious expression, his eyes blazing.
“Don’t anyone move until I come down!”
He abruptly stopped his exercise and irritably jumped down from the wall.
“Why all of a sudden… Is he angry?”
Wale, who was also puzzled and didn’t understand what was happening, quickly followed behind him.
“Everyone, line up in front of the Captain!”
At Kailian’s call, the training sergeant in charge, who had been hastily summoned to the training ground, lined up the new knights and stood before him with a tense expression.
“Sergeant, since when did the training ground turn into a playground? Huh?”
“Huh?”
“Since when did the new training program change to hugging each other and running? Is it acceptable for discipline to be this lax?”
“S-sorry, Captain.”
“What on earth were you doing and where were you during training, leaving the new recruits alone?”
“W-well… It wasn’t training time yet….”
“What?”
“Originally, today’s training was scheduled to start at noon, so they said they’d warm up lightly among themselves….”
“I-is that so….”
‘Oh no, I got too excited without thinking.’
Kailian was inwardly embarrassed, but to avoid showing it, he didn’t lower his voice.
“Ahem. Even if it’s break time, showing such lax behavior already—what will the residents think of our knight order?”
“S-sorry.”
As the sergeant flustered and turned red, not knowing what to do, Wale, who was next to Kailian, lowered his voice and spoke quietly.
“Um, Captain. Last time, you said outside of scheduled training times, they could spend their time freely…”
“Are you not busy?”
“Huh?”
“I asked if you’re not busy right now? There must be tasks I assigned you—can you really afford to be this idle?”
“W-what tasks….”
“That, yesterday… I told you to inspect the market and submit a report, didn’t I?”
“That’s due by tomorrow…”
“Submit it right now!”
“Ah, yes…”
‘What’s with Kailian today? Did he eat something wrong this morning? Anyway, this is why we shouldn’t praise him. I gave him a little boost yesterday with that warm heart comment, and he can’t help himself…’
“Hermes, you!”
“Eek! Yes yes, Marquis!”
Himena, who had been lost in thought, was startled and stood straight in attention.
“As far as I know, your wrist hasn’t fully healed yet, right?”
“…Yes. T-that’s right.”
“Using your injury as an excuse to laze around—seems like you’re getting restless. I’ll give you something to do then. From today until your wrist is fully healed, you will attend to me. Understood?”
“A-attend to you?”
“Yes. For a knight who wields a sword, a strong wrist is as important as life itself. But if you carelessly use your injured hand and end up permanently unable to use it, what then? No backtalk, just do as you’re told.”
“…Yes, understood.”
“Sergeant, start the training immediately! After the two-week adaptation training is over, we’ll have a proper initiation ceremony, so prepare the new recruits in advance!”
“Yes, understood. Captain.”
“Hermes, what are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”
“Ah, yes…”
Himena, who had been standing with a puzzled expression, quickly followed Kailian into the lord’s palace.
‘What’s this? He said to attend to him, but he just sat me in the office and isn’t telling me to do anything? He was angry this morning, so it’s a bit awkward to talk to him. Well, it’s better for me, but… it’s somehow uncomfortable. Should I be doing something on my own?’
Himena felt as uncomfortable as sitting on pins and needles because Kailian had called her to the office an hour ago and had been silently reading reports without a word.
But Kailian, too, had been staring at the same page of the report for an hour.
‘What should I have her do? What can I ask her to do that would seem natural?’
Since he usually didn’t have servants attending to him for every little thing, Kailian, after calling Himena, didn’t know what to have her do. Even though he could feel her gaze on him, he pretended not to notice and kept reading the report.
“Um…”
“Well…”
After cautiously watching each other, they both spoke at the same time and then flusteredly tried to backtrack.
“You go first, Marquis.”
“No. If you have something to say, say it first.”
“Well… you see… I’ve actually never done attending work before. What should I do…?”
“Ahem. W-well… okay, how about… a cup of tea… bring me one.”
“Ah! Should I? What kind of tea would you like?”
“I have my usual, so if you tell the kitchen maid, she’ll know.”
“Yes! Understood! I’ll be back!”
Feeling like she was finally escaping the uncomfortable space, Himena quickly left the office and headed to the kitchen.
She had snooped around the kitchen area before to look for Ines, but she hadn’t been able to properly search because she thought a new knight poking around everywhere might look suspicious. This was a good excuse.
“Hello. I’m Hermes, a knight trainee who will be attending to the Marquis starting today. Please take care of me!”
As Himena entered the kitchen, she bowed respectfully and greeted the employees who were busy preparing ingredients.
“Oh my, aren’t you the famous blonde knight?”
“Goodness, you’re the one who was the most popular in the recent competition, right?”
“Ah, so nice to meet you.”
Everyone recognized Himena and was pleasantly surprised.
“Haha, yes. That’s me. I injured my wrist, so I’m taking a break from training. In the meantime, I’ll be attending to the Marquis.”
“Ah, I see.”
“I’ve seen you in passing, but seeing you up close, you really are pretty.”
“That’s right, you look just like a beautiful noble lady. No, how do you, with such a small body, manage to throw around big, sturdy men like that, huh?”
The employees surrounded Himena, looking her over and expressing excited interest.
“Hahaha. I’ve been doing all sorts of exercises since I was very young, and before I knew it, I became like this.”
“Hohoho. Seeing that the Marquis even has you attending to him and keeping you close, it seems he really likes the handsome knight.”
“That’s right. Weren’t you out inspecting the city with him yesterday too?”
“Ah, yes. I’m not sure if he likes me, but he definitely can’t stand seeing me idle. Haha.”
Himena scratched her head and smiled awkwardly.
“Oh, no. How long have we been serving the Marquis? There have often been knights who gained popularity in the knight order entrance competitions, but he’s never kept anyone as close as he does with you, handsome knight.”
“That’s right, exactly. Besides, knights getting injured isn’t exactly a new thing, is it? Getting hurt is part of the job. He definitely treasures you, handsome knight, more than others. Hohoho.”
“Ah… i-is that so?”
Come to think of it, it was true.
Normally, during training or when Kataraetsu’s minions attacked civilian homes, knights would rush in and fight risking their lives—injuries were a constant.
But to exclude her from training just because of a wrist injury and show such concerned attitude—it must be true, as the employees said, that he was giving her special treatment.
‘Kailian… maybe his type is… handsome men? Ah, no. Kailian had Ines. What am I thinking…’
“Um, the Marquis asked me to bring tea…”
“Ah, I see. Hoho. Wait a moment. I’ll prepare it for you right away. But can you carry it?”
“Yes, that should be fine. Ah, and… I have a personal favor to ask…”
“Yes, handsome knight. Please, say anything.”
“By any chance, recently… among the lord’s palace employees, was there a new girl with blonde hair and blue eyes?”
“Hmm… Well, I’m not sure. Has anyone seen a girl like that?”
“No?”
“I haven’t either.”
At the head kitchen maid’s question, everyone shook their heads.
“I haven’t heard of such a girl either. Most of the employees here have been with the Marquis for a long time, so even if their workplaces are different, we generally know each other. Besides, blonde hair and blue eyes would stand out immediately… If we don’t know, probably the other maids wouldn’t either.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Why? Who is that girl?”
“Ah, yes. She’s… a friend from my hometown. We separated when we were young, and I was wondering if she might be living here in Actikos. Haha.”
“Oh my! She must be the handsome knight’s first love. To still be looking for her after all this time since you separated as children.”
“Ahaha… w-well… yes, something like that… haha. Ah, anyway, if you happen to see a girl like that later, please secretly tip me off.”
“Yes, I will. And please come to the kitchen often. I’ll give you some tasty snacks.”
“Hehe. Yes. Thank you.”
Himena carefully carried the tray with the chaga mushroom tea prepared by the head maid and lost in thought.
‘When will the culprit make a move? Even if we suddenly meet here, since I’m disguised, the chance of her recognizing me is low, but it’s better to be careful so she doesn’t notice I’m asking around about her. I shouldn’t stir things up too much; it’s better to stay close to Kailian and observe.’
“Marquis, I’ve brought the tea.”
“Okay, come in.”
“Huh? Vice-Captain, you’re here too? Good. I brought two cups, so both of you can have some.”
“No. I have to go out now, so you have it with the Captain. Captain, I’ll head to Glakies now.”
“Okay. Have a safe trip.”
“Take care, Vice-Captain.”
After Wale left, Himena poured the tea generously into the cups and placed one in front of Kailian, who was sitting across the table.
“Here, have some, Marquis. They say this tea is called chaga mushroom tea?”
“Yes. It’s one of the specialties of Actikos. It’s good for your health, so you should drink it often too. It’ll help your wound heal.”
“Yes. Thank you. Mmm… the aroma is very savory.”
The two drank tea in silence for a while.
In the afternoon, in the quiet office, the only sound was the gentle slurping of tea, which seemed peaceful but was somehow awkward and uncomfortable.
“Well…”
“Um…”
They both spoke at the same time again, embarrassed, and quickly averted their eyes.
