Episode 7: The Late-Night Visitor

—-Clang!!

A pleasant, clear sound echoed through the nighttime garden.

“Phew. Well, this should be enough for today.”

After destroying the 10th training dummy of the day, I let out a breath and wiped the sweat from my forehead.

When I arrived, there were still guards and such around, but now there was no one but me.

I came here a little after the 9 o’clock end-of-work bell rang, and it’s probably been about 2 hours, so it must be past 11 now.

Normally I’d stay for another hour or so, but since Eleanore’s birthday is tomorrow, I’ll end it here.

“But my movements have gotten quite a bit better, haven’t they.”

I’ve been swinging a sword ever since I can remember, and I think I’ve become reasonably skilled.

I sometimes spar with the guards, and I can win at about a fifty-fifty rate.

To be at a level where I can beat people who do this for a living—isn’t that pretty good? Well, they might be holding back somewhat since I’m a child, and I don’t know what would happen in a fight to the death with real swords.

But there’s no point in worrying about that right now.

I disassemble the sword I made with magic using magic again, and do a little cleanup.

And just as I’m about to return to the mansion.

“Arcs.”

My name was suddenly called in a dignified voice.

“Eleanore-sama!?”

What came into view was her—my friend and young lady.

At her sudden appearance, I involuntarily stepped back in surprise.

“S-since when have you been here…”

“I’d like to say ‘the whole time,’ but it was a little before now.”

I didn’t notice at all… It’s probably because of the darkness, but I couldn’t sense her presence at all.

“Why would you do such a thing… or rather, won’t you catch a chill?”

“If that happens, you’ll warm me up, won’t you?”

…Well, yeah. I can use magic to raise body temperature and magic to start a small fire, at least.

Actually, Eleanore should be able to use that much too.

“Besides, Arcs, you haven’t been meeting with me much lately.”

Eleanore frowned slightly, looking displeased.

Incidentally, since I became a servant, she’s been calling me without honorifics.

Well, it would be strange for her, my master, to use honorifics with me.

…However, have we really not been meeting that much?

Well, it’s true I’ve been busy and we’re not always together, but we see each other at least once a day and exchange words.

“Is that so?”

“It is. You are my mo… my servant, so shouldn’t you be with me constantly?”

“I would like to do so as well, but…”

There’s that amount of work.

I didn’t have much time to spare, so it couldn’t be helped.

But that’s an adult’s reasoning, and perhaps it’s something she can’t quite understand.

“…However, it’s all for tomorrow. To grandly celebrate you, Eleanore-sama.”

I approached her and tried to take her hand, but I noticed my hands were dirty with sweat and such.

I quickly stopped and took out my usual white gloves from my pocket and put them on.

Eleanore’s eyes widened for a moment at my approach, but she quickly returned to her usual manner and looked away from me.

…Before, her face would turn completely red though.

Perhaps she’s built up a resistance over these three years. A bit lonely.

“Yes, that’s right. Tomorrow is… an important day.”

“Yes, I’ll celebrate you to an absurd degree, so please be prepared, alright?”

“Fufu, then I’ll look forward to it.”

When I said that with my chest puffed out, she smiled happily.

Mm, having received this smile, I must do my best tomorrow as well.

“Well then, it’s getting cold outside, shall we return to the mansion?”

“…Yes, let’s.”

I crossed past her and hurried toward the building.

The wind is strong today—if we’re careless, we’ll catch a cold.

“U-um.”

Eleanore’s voice, but it felt strangely distant.

When I turned around, she hadn’t moved from that spot.

“…What’s the matter?”

Her gaze was directed somewhat toward the ground, and she was looking at me in what I can only describe as a fidgeting manner.

“I-if… if it’s alright, tomorrow…”

Her mouth just opened and closed, but the words that followed weren’t woven together.

Even if I tried to read her lip movements, it was too dark to manage.

Since she seemed to want to say something, I waited for a bit.

“N-no. It’s nothing at all. Please take care of things tomorrow, alright?”

She made a smile as if nothing had happened and trotted over to me in a small run.

And then she passed right by me.

“? Yes.”

I couldn’t really read her intention, but well, if she decided not to say it, that’s that.

Maybe I’ll hear the rest of those words someday.

Pulling myself together, I walked after the mansion’s lights, after her back.

Incidentally, I did cast magic to raise body temperature as a chill-prevention measure.

She made a somewhat dissatisfied face, like “that’s not what I meant.”

It seems I made another mistake.