An Old Connection
The inside of the tiger’s maw was spacious and cozy.
To exaggerate a little, it almost felt as warm as if I had come down south.
At the very least, the temperature was a world apart from our house, where a cool draft always circulated even on the first floor.
The floor was black marble, crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The elegant balance between antique charm and outright opulence stood out beautifully.
One entire wall was densely decorated with swords and suits of armor.
You could probably only see decorations like that in the North. An ordinary noble would be busy hanging famous paintings and portraits of every description—who in their right mind would hang something like that?
Anyway, as I awkwardly lingered at the entrance, a great deal of bustling noise drifted out from deeper inside. At the same time, the smell of food wafted over and tickled my nose.
Judging by the scent, the chefs were preparing lunch.
Gurgle.
Ah. I’m hungry.
I had washed up the moment I woke, changed clothes, packed my bags, and come straight here without so much as a bite of breakfast.
Father really was heartless. Sending his son off on a long journey without even feeding him first…
Click.
Click.
“Hm?”
I was alone, pitifully lamenting my lot in life, when I suddenly heard the sound of heels. They seemed to be coming this way, so I turned my head.
Our eyes met.
Chestnut hair and amber eyes. Her hair was braided low and draped over her left shoulder. A familiar face belonging to a woman in a green dress.
She, too, stopped in her tracks and looked me up and down.
“Head Maid?”
“Young Master?”
The woman who spoke at the exact same moment as me was named Hilda Steiner.
The daughter of Count Steiner and Ilia’s maid, she approached me. Looking up at me with startled eyes, she opened her mouth.
“Is it really you, Young Master?”
“Yes. I’m Roen Kraus. It’s been a long time, Head Maid.”
“I’m truly happy to see you after so long as well, Young Master Roen. But there’s one thing I need to correct.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“I’m no longer a maid—I’m the Head Maid now.”
“What?!”
Had that much time already passed? Enough for the maid to become the Head Maid.
“Wait a moment. The last time we met was when I was ten, so…”
“It’s been nine years.”
“Ah, that’s right. Nine years.”
Around the age of ten, as part of my education, I had stayed here for a month. That was when I first made the acquaintance of both the Head Maid and Ilia.
But once that month ended, I never had another chance to meet either of them. There had been no particular excuse to visit, and I myself had been busy living diligently in my own way.
So that one month had remained nothing more than a fond memory—until I brought it up again today, that is.
“Still, you recognized me surprisingly well. I’ve changed quite a bit since then.”
“To be honest, I didn’t recognize you at first. You’ve grown so much taller, and you’ve put on so much muscle it’s almost unrecognizable. And… your face has become even more handsome than it was back then.”
“Haha, thank you. It’s all thanks to how well you looked after me back then, Head Maid.”
“Oh, honestly. Saying something like that again…”
She lifted her right hand to her cheek and flushed slightly.
Still weak to compliments, I see.
Even back then she would blush so easily whenever I tossed out a casual compliment. I remembered finding the reaction so entertaining that I used to praise her on purpose.
Well, I wouldn’t do that anymore. I wasn’t a child.
“More importantly, you recognized me right away too, Young Master. Even before I did.”
“Well, of course. You’re still just as beautiful.”
“……Pardon?”
“Ah.”
…They say men remain boys no matter how old they get.
Apparently I was that kind of case.
More importantly, look at the Head Maid’s face. She had frozen solid at my words, unable even to blink.
I needed to correct this somehow…
“Um, Head Maid?”
“Yes? Ah—yes, yes, yes! Th-that was a joke just now, wasn’t it? Really, Young Master, making funny jokes first thing in the morning—”
“No, uh… it wasn’t a joke. I meant it, but…”
“Euh……!!!”
Now she had gone so far as to cover her face with both hands and sink down right where she stood.
Surely she isn’t crying, is she?
“Head Maid? Are you all ri—”
“I’m fine, so could you please just leave me alone for a moment? …Haa. Hilda Steiner, pull yourself together. You’re almost thirty the day after tomorrow. Why are you getting this happy over something so small…!!!”
“Ah, yes.”
…I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that last part.
I covered my own face in equal despair. This mouth of mine was a menace. They say a single word can cost a thousand gold, yet I seemed to be racking up nothing but debt.
Worse, if anyone else saw this scene it would be a disaster. I didn’t care if strange rumors started circulating about me, but I drew the line at dragging the Head Maid into them.
So I crouched down as well, bringing myself roughly to her eye level.
“Honestly… what’s so good about an ajumma like me…”
“Head Maid?”
“I told you to leave me alone…”
“If you keep this up, what will become of your dignity as Head Maid? Come on, stand up quickly. I’ll take your hand.”
“…….”
The Head Maid slowly lowered her hands from her face. A bead of sweat traced the line of her jaw. With her cheeks still flushed a deep red, she squeezed her eyes shut and grasped my fingertips.
I closed my hand around hers in return and helped her to her feet.
“How long do you plan on keeping your eyes closed?”
“Until my embarrassment disappears.”
“That puts me in a difficult position. I need someone to guide me to the Grand Duke.”
The Head Maid’s eyes flew open.
“Why to His Grace…?”
“I was so happy to see you that I completely forgot to mention why I’m here. Starting today, I’ve agreed to become Lady Ilia’s bodyguard knight.”
“Pardon?”
At first her face said, What on earth is he talking about? But then her mouth gradually fell open and her eyes grew wide. Afraid she might scream again, I struck first.
“Shh. We can’t have a commotion first thing in the morning, can we?”
“…!!!”
I laid my index finger lightly against her lips. I could feel her hot, uneven breath. The Head Maid’s eyes began to dart about restlessly.
Somehow she seems even less calm than before.
Still, I had at least prevented an immediate uproar, so it was fine. Smiling, I withdrew my finger.
“Well then, now that we’ve caught up a little, may I ask you to guide me?”
“Y-yes, yes! Pl-please follow me!”
The Head Maid set off ahead of me, her earlier graceful stride completely gone as she clattered along in a fluster.
We climbed the spiral staircase to the second floor. I kept my gaze lowered as I followed her. There was one fact I had overlooked that made me deliberately keep my eyes down.
The way her figure was so blatantly revealed through the tight-fitting dress. Staring at it would have been no way to treat someone who had looked after me so carefully, even if it had only been for a single month.
Only after we reached the second floor did I finally raise my head. But the Head Maid did not stop walking. She continued all the way to the room at the far right end of the corridor—the Grand Duke’s study—and only then did she finally come to a halt.
Knock, knock.
“Your Grace. Young Master Roen Kraus has arrived.”
Her voice was clear, precise, and utterly professional—nothing like the way she had spoken to me downstairs. So this was what a true professional looked like.
— “Show him in.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
A heavy, imposing voice came from within the room at the same moment the Head Maid carefully turned the doorknob. The moment the door opened, a sudden chill brushed my skin and goosebumps rose along my arms.
It felt like the physical manifestation of sheer presence.
Beyond the Head Maid, who bowed silently in greeting, he sat at his desk staring this way.
Silver-white hair and a full beard. A face covered in scars that proved he had crossed countless battlefields. Even seated, he looked easily over two meters tall—a massive middle-aged man.
Friedrich Weiss, Grand Duke of Nordwacht.
Right. Thanks to the Head Maid, I had briefly forgotten that this place was the inside of a tiger’s maw.
With renewed tension rising in my chest, I stepped past her into the study. The door closed behind me.
Now only the Grand Duke and I remained inside the room.
I bowed my head respectfully in greeting.
“Good day, Your Grace. It has been far too long.”
“Indeed. It is good to see you, Roen. Sit.”
The Grand Duke indicated the sofa opposite him.
“Thank you, Your Grace. However, before that—my father asked me to deliver a letter. May I present it first?”
“Ah. So you brought the letter yourself? That friend of mine, really. Very well. Place it on the desk.”
I nodded and walked across the leather rug to the desk. Then I took out the letter I had kept carefully in my breast pocket and bid the thing farewell.
Thanks for taking my side earlier.
I thought I heard the letter cursing me—“You traitorous bastard!”—but the voice soon faded. Of course it did. I was not the sort of madman who heard letters talking.
Following the Grand Duke’s instruction, I stepped back and sat on the sofa. Even with my back perfectly straight, the plush softness made the sofa’s luxury obvious.
“Well then, Roen. The fact that you have come all this way means you have accepted the post of Ilia’s bodyguard knight, I take it.”
“Yes. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that would never come again.”
“Haha. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, you say. You are quite right. It is truly rare for my daughter to be the one who wants something first. And a bodyguard knight, of all things.”
The Grand Duke gave a bitter smile. I understood the reaction completely. I myself had never dreamed that the girl who was always expressionless and indifferent toward others would want something like a bodyguard knight—let alone that the person she wanted would be me.
“You must be curious as well. Why you, of all people, were chosen as Ilia’s bodyguard knight.”
“Yes. Honestly, I am curious. Why me?”
My palms grew damp with sweat. Was this truly something that had happened solely because of Ilia’s request? The Grand Duke’s own intentions must surely be involved as well. He might even demand some sort of political constraint from me—or from my family. In that case I would become a hostage wearing the title of bodyguard knight.
Behind the Grand Duke, the blizzard outside the window seemed to howl with unusual ferocity. His black eyes looked as though they could easily swallow a man whole.
At last he spoke.
“Mm. Go ask my daughter that. Our conversation is finished; you may leave.”
“…Pardon?”
Wait just a moment. That was it? The conversation was over after only this much?
Judging by the easy smile the Grand Duke directed at me, it really did seem to be over…
“What is it? Is there something you wish to ask me?”
“No, well… if I may be so bold, I expected Your Grace might demand something of me or of my family.”
“A demand, is it… So you believed that your becoming Ilia’s bodyguard knight was not simply the result of my daughter’s request, but that there was some other motive behind it?”
“Yes. Embarrassing as it is, that is correct.”
“Hahaha! There is nothing to be embarrassed about. It is a perfectly reasonable suspicion. Had I been in your position I would have doubted first as well. But do not worry. I have not the slightest intention of placing unnecessary demands or debts upon the family of a dear friend, or upon his son.”
“Ah… I see.”
“So go on out now. My daughter will be waiting.”
I rose from the sofa, placed a hand over my chest, and bowed.
“Thank you! I will work hard so as not to disappoint you!”
“Good. I trust you will do well even without me saying so. Ah—and the Knighthood Ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow, so keep that in mind.”
“Yes, sir!”
With a nod of dismissal from the Grand Duke, I hurriedly left the study. Outside, the Head Maid was still standing and waiting.
“Head Maid?”
“Ah. You’ve come out, Young Master.”
She seemed to have calmed considerably while I was speaking with the Grand Duke; her voice was composed once more.
“You’ve been waiting this whole time.”
“Yes. You need to see the young lady now, don’t you? I’ll guide you.”
“Thank you.”
The Head Maid took the lead, walking toward the stairs that led to the third floor. Quietly following behind her, I watched the tips of her ears, which were still burning bright red.