A Day in the Life of a Guard Knight (3)
It was a blunder.
To commit such an unsightly mistake, swept up in nothing but fixed ideas…
The cold beyond the castle walls was sharper still than anything she had felt until now.
Heily huddled her trembling body inward and thought.
Was she meant to wait in the carriage like this?
Or was she meant to follow after him?
The duty to carry out Karen’s request and the certainty that she would only be a burden to him right now sat side by side in her mind. Her body heat was steadily draining away; she had to decide quickly.
Just then, Orion came toward her.
"For now, at least put this on."
"What…?"
A large overcoat settled over Heily’s shoulders. Orion had stripped off his own coat and given it to her.
"…I cannot accept this. Please put it back on at once."
Heily immediately tried to return the coat. Orion stopped her and shook his head.
"You’ll catch a cold like this."
"Even so…"
"Come on—if my secretary catches a cold, I’m the one who’ll get an earful from the boss, won’t I?"
"……"
"It’s fine. Keep it on."
Heily lifted her gaze and studied Orion’s face. From childhood she had grown expert at reading the true intent behind a person’s eyes alone. Yet she could find no ulterior motive whatsoever in his expression.
"Is there something on my face?"
"…No. I merely wished to convey my thanks."
"Haha. It’s nothing, really."
Consideration. Pure goodwill. He could easily have ordered her back, yet he hadn’t. He had weighed her position and chosen to let her come along. Even if she was someone Karen had hired, they had barely known each other a few days…
"Well, since it’s going to be like this anyway."
Orion squatted down and held his hands out behind him. At the sudden motion, Heily tilted her head.
"Hop on."
"…Pardon?"
"There’s no one watching. And the coat will cover you, so it’ll be fine."
"…………"
When Heily hesitated, Orion understood. It was only natural that a grown woman would feel psychological resistance to being carried on the back of a man who was all but a stranger. But there was no helping it. If they matched her walking pace, the journey would take well over two hours. Why spend that long on a distance he could cover in thirty minutes if he simply carried her and ran? The method was better for both of them.
Just as Orion opened his mouth to persuade her—
"…Then, excuse me."
Weight settled onto his arms and back—light enough that it would not hinder him in the slightest. Orion slipped his arms beneath Heily’s knees and hoisted her up. Rising easily to his feet, he asked,
"You’re not uncomfortable, are you?"
"No. Are you not finding me heavy, Orion?"
"Uh… a little?"
"…I’m sorry. Please bear with it just a little longer."
"Ack—I was joking."
"Is that so?"
In truth, there had been no other reason she climbed onto his back. It was not that the thought of kidnapping had never crossed her mind—but he had shown her this much goodwill. Fleeing now would have been improper.
Heily leaned against Orion’s back. With his coat gone, only a single shirt protected him. His back was remarkably broad and firm… and somehow warm, almost cozy. She spread the coat draped over her so that it covered him as well.
"Secretary, shall we head out?"
"Yes. Please do."
At that very moment, someone else was quietly suffering.
I did not think of this.
Who would have guessed that handing over the coat would backfire so thoroughly. The maddeningly soft sensation transmitted through his back… To empty his head, Orion launched into a full-throated mental rendition of the national anthem.
In weather this cold, even the magical beasts seemed to feel the chill—judging by how rarely they appeared. And thanks to Orion, who knew the exact routes they never used, the two of them reached the cabin safely.
"Well, it’s nothing much to look at, but please come in for now."
A single small cabin stood alone on a field of pure white snow. By any ordinary measure, living out here was simply impossible. Heily stood blankly before the door in confusion until Orion tilted his head.
"Secretary?"
His voice pulled her back. She steadied herself and stepped inside. Thankfully, there were clear signs someone had been living there. The cold lingering within, however, was scarcely different from the cold outside.
"Whew—freezing. Just a moment."
Orion hurried to the stove, stuffed in firewood, and struck a match. He had left the place empty for three days; it couldn’t be helped. After several tries he got a fire going, then brought a chair over and set it in front of the stove.
"Secretary, you’re cold. Warm yourself up."
Guided by him, Heily found herself sitting before she quite realized it—and was promptly handed a cup of tea with steam gently rising from it.
"I’ll go pack my things, then. It won’t take long."
"…Yes. Please take your time."
Once Orion disappeared into the inner room, Heily warmed herself and looked around the cabin. Setting aside its location, it was no different from an ordinary family home. A few spots were a little untidy, but the necessities were neatly arranged, and at a glance it looked as though someone had lived here for a very long time.
…Just how?
She was confused. Should she find it fascinating, or be shocked? What kind of life had he led alone in a place this remote? Had he never been lonely? Heily felt she would never truly understand him.
"Haa—all packed. Shall we go? Better to hurry back and rest, I think."
About ten minutes had passed. Orion emerged into the living room, sweating freely, a very large bundle strapped to his back.
"…Yes. Understood."
Heily was intensely curious about what was inside that bundle, but she did not ask.
A tumultuous day was drawing to its close. Beyond them, a crimson sunset was sinking. Fortunately, they made it back to the mansion before the sun went down.
"Urgh…"
Orion stole a glance at Heily. Her face was as expressionless as ever, yet something in the atmosphere had changed. Subdued, one might say.
It had started the moment they left the cabin.
"Um… I think you’ll have to let me carry you in my arms…"
"What do you mean?"
"If I sling the bundle in front, I won’t be able to see ahead…"
"………………"
It had been unavoidable. Wasn’t it a situation that left him no choice but to carry her princess-style? If they walked, the sun would set and the cold would only deepen. From that point on, conversation between them had simply died. Orion, who knew nothing of a woman’s heart, had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.
"So you’ve finally returned."
When they stepped down from the carriage, the one waiting to greet them was none other than Karen.
"Boss? Why are you outside?"
"What is that look that says, Someone who never leaves the house? When one works, there come moments one wishes to breathe the outside air."
"Then you could just open a window. Be honest—you were waiting because you thought I’d run away, weren’t you?"
"What nonsense. The moment you open your mouth, you commit rudeness. Enough. Hurry and unpack first."
"Hmm? Is there something to do?"
"Mealtime is soon. Let us dine together."
"What? Again? You said it was only breakfast!"
"You don’t particularly have anything else to do right now, do you?"
"Well, even so…"
Was she trying to starve him to death?
Just then, Orion’s gaze caught Heily stepping down from the carriage. He dashed over on pure reflex and held out his hand.
"Ah—almost forgot. Please, come down."
"…Ah. Thank you."
Watching the two of them, Karen looked intrigued.
"Oh ho. You two seem to have grown rather close."
Orion answered at once.
"What does close or not close have to do with anything? It’s simply showing the courtesy of mutual respect."
"Hmm. In other words, you are calling me a wicked boss."
"Think whatever you like. Unlike the boss, my secretary actually knows the meaning of the word respect. Ah—are you jealous, by any chance?"
"Tsk. Even talking nonsense is a disease."
Karen clicked her tongue and eyed them both. In the midst of it she noticed that Heily’s ears had turned a subtle red. That was not from the cold. Something had clearly happened.
Karen drew Heily behind her back.
"You. You didn’t do anything untoward to my secretary, did you?"
"Huh? What are you talking about? Don’t go accusing an innocent man. Right, Secretary?"
Heily answered.
"…Yes. Nothing happened."
"See? I was right, wasn’t I?"
"Hmm. I’m quite certain something did."
It was highly suspicious, but Karen decided to let it pass. Heily was not someone who lied.
"More importantly, Boss—isn’t this a bit much?"
"What is it this time."
"I mean, that outfit in this cold is a bit much, don’t you think? She’s not a maid—she’s your secretary. Why have you dressed her in a maid uniform? Your tastes are certainly unique—"
At that moment, Heily spoke up in Karen’s place.
"It is the attire I chose myself."
"—uniquely sensitive to trends! I knew it all along! Maid uniforms are great! You’ll look good in anything you wear, Secretary!"
Karen’s lips curved upward.
"Hmph. So you accuse the innocent as well."
Orion whispered, thoroughly wronged.
"Why didn’t you tell me!"
"You never asked."
"…Well, that’s true, but."
"You reaped what you sowed. Hurry and go apologize."
Tch.
Orion let out a groan, approached Heily, and bowed his head.
"I’m sorry…"
"It is quite all right. I pay it no mind, so please raise your head."
It had already been awkward enough.
What was he supposed to do now?