A Small but Certain Happiness (3)

He thought he'd told the elf what she wanted to hear. Why, then, had she asked him to stop?

Theorad looked at her in confusion. The elf pushed back her chair and rose abruptly.

“…I'll go.”

The words were so faint he almost missed them. With her head lowered, she left the drawing room before he could stop her.

Why is she acting like that?

He had thought he was giving her the answer she wanted. Instead, she'd gone away looking unhappy. Something in his chest felt unsettled, though not entirely unpleasant.

With the elf gone, at least he and Ashley could talk alone.

He touched the brooch near his collar out of habit and turned toward his fiancée.

“I'm sorry. I didn't expect the elf to take it so badly.”

“Oh, no. You have nothing to apologize for, Sir Theorad.”

“You're always so understanding. You make me feel rather inadequate by comparison.”

His gentle smile made Ashley's heart race. She deliberately steadied her breathing. She couldn't let herself look as though she'd lost all composure.

“You flatter me. Besides, it was rude of me to come to the manor without sending word first.”

“Now that I know why you couldn't send word, I don't think it was rude at all.”

Theorad lifted his steaming black tea. For a few moments, peace settled over the drawing room.

Then he looked up, as if remembering something.

“But why did you come so suddenly? I heard Count Pelgaroin was busy preparing the spring hunting party.”

“That's precisely why I came.”

“…What sort of reasoning is that?”

Was he truly oblivious, or merely pretending? Ashley smiled with a mischievous glint.

“It makes perfect sense. Preparations will only get busier. If I don't visit you now, I may not have another chance for some time.”

“Ah. Of course. I should have realized.”

Theorad nodded, took another sip and set his teacup down with his usual careful manners.

“Then I'll spend today with you. I have plenty of work to do, but none of it is as important as you, Ashley.”

“Of cour—pardon?”

Ashley swallowed hard. Her hands trembled.

Not as important as you.

She replayed the sentence over and over until it began sounding suspiciously like a declaration of love.

Her reason rang every possible alarm, but her feelings refused to listen. If this continued, she'd be hopelessly at his mercy. All the lessons her head maid had given her two days earlier—especially that romance depended on a little give and take—would come to nothing.

Get a grip, Ashley!

She'd been raised tenderly as a noble daughter, but she was hardly a fool. From a young age she'd studied the complicated relationships within her family and sought out people of talent. There were attendants and acquaintances throughout the Empire who would listen to her.

Surely a woman who could manage those affairs could manage her own feelings.

She straightened with renewed determination.

Theorad reached out and touched the back of her hand, looking worried.

“Are you coming down with something? You don't look well.”

“Wh-what? No, that's…”

Her resolve collapsed instantly.

I can't do it!

How was she supposed to play at being aloof when one look from Theorad disarmed her completely?

“Ashley? If you're feeling ill, perhaps you should go home and rest…”

“No!”

She hadn't come all this way just to leave. There were things she wanted to show him, and far too much she still wanted to say.

She raised her head.

“There's somewhere I'd like to take you, Sir Theorad. Would you come outside with me?”

“Certainly, but…”

He glanced toward the window. Dark clouds hung low, promising rain at any moment.

“The weather looks poor. Are you sure an outing is a good idea?”

Ashley clasped her hands uneasily. She tried to hide her disappointment, but it showed.

Theorad smiled. He ought to be more careful about the weather, yet her hopeful expression was difficult to refuse.

“I've been cooped up in the manor lately myself. Perhaps this is just what I need. I don't know where you have in mind, but anywhere will be pleasant in your company.”

“Sir Theorad…”

She smiled with an awkward mixture of apology and gratitude.

If anything, Theorad thought, he was the one who ought to apologize for making her worry. He finished the tea. Its sweetness and bitterness were unexpectedly agreeable.

---

When I stepped outside carrying a long umbrella, a four-wheeled Pelgaroin carriage waited at the manor entrance.

Two knights in gleaming plate armor stood rigidly beside it. Meanwhile, our own knight, Beynon, was leaning against a pillar and whistling as though none of this concerned him.

The Deharem family's household knight…

The comparison was rather painful. I walked alongside Ashley, trying not to let it show.

Where were we going in this weather?

“Won't you tell me our destination?”

She shot me a mischievous glance.

“That would spoil half the fun.”

“Not even a hint?”

“No. Absolutely not.”

She seemed unusually excited. There was clearly a plan.

At the carriage, the coachman bowed and opened the door. After a moment's thought, I placed a light hand against Ashley's back.

“Please get in first. I need to speak to Beynon for a moment.”

“Ah, all right.”

She climbed aboard. I watched her settle inside before turning toward the knight.

As I approached, Beynon hastily spat out the blade of grass he'd been chewing.

“Beynon!”

“Hm? What is it?”

“What do you mean, 'what is it'? Look at you! How am I supposed to hold my head up when my own knight behaves with so little dignity?”

“What's wrong with me? The Pelgaroin knights are the strange ones. We're going on an outing, not marching to war. Do they really have to stand at attention the whole time?”

“They have good reason. People are watching, and—”

Beynon's expression shifted into an irritating grin.

“Beynon, I'm speaking seriously.”

“I know. You certainly look serious.”

“Then why that face?”

“Because I'm proud.”

“…Proud?”

“You've started courting Lady Ashley in earnest. You've even become concerned about looking like a proper gentleman in front of her. It's good to see you growing into a man.”

His skill at turning a reprimand back on me was almost offensive.

There was no point continuing. I sighed and turned away.

“Good luck, young master! I'll be cheering you on!”

Perhaps I'd have to revoke my promise of free chocolates from Balgeum.

Ignoring him, I climbed into the carriage. Ashley was waiting with her hands neatly folded. Two unfamiliar books lay on her lap.

I was curious, but held my tongue.

Once I sat beside her, the coachman closed the door and took his place. I tapped the wall to signal that we were ready, and the horses started forward.

Only then did I turn to Ashley.

“What are those?”

She smiled and handed me one of the books.

“I prepared them especially for you, Sir Theorad. With these, we can talk even when we're far apart.”

“Really? But wait…”

The book's appearance and the description were unmistakable. It was one of the witches' communication notebooks.

“Thank you, but aren't these illegal?”

“They are, but…”

Her voice faded. She looked afraid I might scold her.

I did feel awkward. Still, she'd obtained them for our sake; I couldn't bring myself to spoil her happiness over it.

As I understood it, only people licensed by the Witches' Association were permitted to use such books. Witches themselves nevertheless sold them through unofficial channels, and unlicensed users were hardly rare.

“I'll take good care of it. Could you show me how it works?”

Ashley brightened and nodded. She opened the book she'd given me, somewhat awkwardly—as though she'd never actually used one herself.

“Dremes said you place your hand over the page to connect to the witches' system. An ID is made automatically the first time.”

“Automatically?”

“Yes. Apparently the ID reflects the deepest instinct in your heart. Isn't that interesting?”

Could an artifact really do that? I'd seen enough strange witchcraft not to dismiss it outright.

I nodded and placed my hand over the page.

Mana spread from my fingertips in branching threads like a spider's web. A square window appeared in the air, displaying an ID in large letters.

[I'm hungry]

What?

I didn't feel particularly hungry. Perhaps some primitive appetite was buried in my heart after all.

Beside me, Ashley covered her mouth to hide a smile.

“How cute.”

Being called cute did nothing for my dignity.

I closed the book and cleared my throat.

“Your turn. Let's see what ID you get.”

“I'd like that.”

She answered with confidence, opened her own book and put her hand on the page.

Mana spread just as it had for me. Another square window appeared.

“Ah…?”

Ashley went perfectly still.

[I want to work with Theorad]

Whatever the words were meant to convey, they had left her utterly exposed to embarrassment.