A Day in the Life of a Guard Knight (4)
That night.
Someone had slipped into the dining hall of the Agnes manor.
"This is a matter of life and death."
It was Orion.
His stomach was practically glued to his spine—what was there left to be afraid of? He'd only picked at dinner the same way he had at breakfast, and now he was starving half to death.
"Let's see here."
Orion crept into the kitchen and quietly looked around. For all the anticipation he'd built up, there wasn't even a decent smell of food in the air.
"Ugh…"
Of course. A place this wealthy wouldn't stockpile leftover side dishes. They clearly cooked everything fresh each day with the finest ingredients.
Orion was just about ready to raid the pantry for raw carrots or cucumbers when—
"Oh?"
—he spotted something wrapped in plastic tucked away in a corner. A rather elegant-looking cake.
"Is this okay to eat…?"
He'd been craving a hot, steamy stew, but this was no time to be picky. Still, it wasn't leftover scraps—it was a completely untouched cake. Touching it made his conscience twinge.
Orion sank into deep deliberation.
"I'm always grateful. Go on and get some rest."
"Yes. I hope you have a peaceful night as well, Lady Karen."
Nine o'clock in the evening. Most days, work didn't wrap up until midnight, so finishing this early was something of a luxury.
"Haa…"
Heily, who had voluntarily stayed behind to help Karen with her duties, stepped out of the office. The sigh that escaped her was heavy with exhaustion.
"…I should go rest soon."
She pressed a hand to her faintly spinning head and quickened her pace. Ordinarily, working straight through until midnight wouldn't have fazed her in the slightest—but today was different. It was probably because of what had happened that afternoon. The fact that she hadn't caught a cold was blessing enough.
Before heading to her room, Heily made her way to the dining hall to soothe her parched throat.
Clatter—
Clatter—
"??"
A faint clattering sound drifted through the air. The kitchen staff would have clocked out long ago after dinner service. Heily carefully approached the source of the noise.
"Ah, damn. What am I supposed to do about this…"
Well, well. The culprit was none other than Orion.
Heily watched him with a puzzled frown. He hadn't even turned on a light, and for quite some time he'd just been standing there, shifting restlessly from foot to foot. Suspicious by any measure.
Her hand drifted to her waist, where a dagger she always carried was sheathed. She began to approach slowly—
"S-Secretary?"
—only to be discovered before she could get close. She was certain she hadn't made a sound. How had he noticed?
"…Lord Orion. What exactly were you doing in here?"
Even so, Heily didn't let her guard down as she pressed him.
"Well, that's…"
Embarrassment flickered across his face, and he seemed to be hiding something behind his back. Silence settled between them. As the seconds stretched on, darker and darker suspicions began to take shape in Heily's mind. Just as she had no choice but to draw her dagger—
"I-I was just so hungry…"
Orion stepped aside, looking thoroughly dejected—like a child caught red-handed by his parents. What he'd been hiding behind his back was none other than the cake.
Heily found herself speechless for an entirely different reason.
"I was trying to decide whether I was allowed to eat it…"
Feeling as though she were scolding him, Heily quickly spoke up.
"…That cake was prepared by the head chef as a dessert. As I recall, the Lady did not partake of it."
"Oh—so does that mean I can eat it?"
"Yes. If you are hungry, I suppose it cannot be helped. I shall inform the Lady separately."
"Oh! Then I'll trust you on this, Secretary!"
His face lit up instantly. The way he tore open the wrapping and took a huge, blissful bite looked so genuinely happy that Heily felt a pang of guilt for having suspected him even for a moment.
"Was dinner not to your liking?"
"No, it wasn't that… The meal itself was fine. I just felt a little uncomfortable at the table."
"I see. In that case, I shall speak with the Lady and—"
"Ah, no, it's fine. It's just a meal. Being shy around people is my own problem. It won't happen again starting tomorrow, so please don't worry about it."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. They say you shouldn't bother a dog while it's eating, right? Nobody's going to give me grief over how I eat my food."
And so Heily fell quiet, careful not to interrupt Orion's meal.
"Ah."
Then, out of nowhere, he made a rather silly sound.
"What is it?"
Orion scratched the back of his head as he answered.
"I was so hungry I just started eating without thinking, and now… what do I do?"
Cake was meant to be shared—cutting it into proper slices was the golden rule. But the cake before them was in a truly pitiful state.
"Wrapping it back up is out of the question, right?"
"…That would be rather difficult, yes."
"Ugh."
"Please feel free to finish it."
"No, the thing is… the more I ate, the more I got sick of it…"
His expression drooped again. Heily felt oddly uncomfortable, as though she'd poured cold water over someone who'd been enjoying himself. With little other choice, she picked up a spoon and stepped up to the cake.
"Allow me to help a little. It would be a shame to waste food."
"Oh! That's our Secretary for you."
And so, trading idle conversation all the while, the two of them successfully finished off the entire cake.
The next morning, at breakfast.
"You seem to have an appetite today."
"You're not supposed to talk while people are eating."
Karen shot him a sharp look.
"Eat slowly. Anyone watching would think I starve you."
"Picking at delicious food right in front of you is just plain rude."
"Honestly…"
Orion had achieved enlightenment. You weren't supposed to walk on eggshells at the dinner table. Planting one elbow on the table and settling into a thoroughly comfortable posture, he finally felt like life was worth living again.
Karen and Heily couldn't help but glance his way—not because they found it improper, but simply because he ate with such hearty gusto.
"Would you care for my portion as well?"
"No, this is plenty."
Orion snuck a glance at Heily. She was already looking at him like that first thing in the morning—with something almost maternal in her gaze, as if she wanted to take care of him. Had he really looked that pitiful last night?
Anyway.
Once the three of them finished eating, they settled into a leisurely tea time.
"Ah—hot, hot…!"
Orion had been about to down his tea in one go and bolt for his room when the scalding liquid put a firm stop to that plan.
"You have nothing pressing to do. Why the rush?"
"A man ought to be diligent, shouldn't he?"
"Music to my ears. Shall I help contribute to that diligence of yours, then?"
"…I misspoke."
"Tsk. No backbone whatsoever."
Karen regarded him with a look of pure exasperation.
"It's hot. Let it cool properly before you drink."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Or must I cool it for you myself?"
"Pardon?"
Was she serious? Orion studied her face. Sure enough, a faint smirk played at her lips. Not one to back down, he lifted the corner of his mouth and held his teacup out toward her.
"I'd appreciate that, then."
Karen's brow furrowed slightly. The blank look on her face was a bonus.
At that moment, it was none other than Heily who intercepted Orion's teacup.
"I have already cooled mine sufficiently. Please have my tea instead."
"Huh? Ah—yes. Thank you…"
Feeling oddly guilty, Orion shot Karen a resentful glare. She, however, had already looked away long ago.
"Coward," Orion muttered under his breath. Karen caught it and sent him a piercing look, which he promptly ignored.
"Hmph. You must be terribly bored."
Karen set a sheet of paper down on the table.
"Which is why I prepared this. It concerns you, so read it."
Curious, Orion snatched up the paper and scanned it.
You are hereby notified of the forthcoming inauguration ceremony for the newly appointed Guard Knight of House Agnes.
Orion nearly jumped out of his seat.
"W-Wait—why are we holding an inauguration ceremony?!"
"Every other house does it. Is there any reason we alone should not?"
"Come on, Boss. You hate tedious stuff like this."
"That much is true."
"Then why bother—"
"Even so, it must be done."
"Why?!"
Karen spoke as though she had no choice in the matter.
"Nobles adore their gossip. The moment Albert was expelled, rumors about you spread across the entire Empire. As I told you before, the prestige of a Guard Knight is considerable. In the Empire, a Guard Knight's inauguration is treated as something sacred."
"Then couldn't you just use your authority to—"
"Hmph. I am thoroughly tired of being bombarded with letters from other nobles. Day after day they ask when the ceremony will be held. It is only one day. Endure it."
"……………"
Still clinging to a sliver of hope—maybe it wouldn't be that big a deal despite what she'd said—Orion asked,
"Fine, whatever. So what am I supposed to do at this inauguration?"
"I have no idea."
"Excuse me?"
You've got to be kidding. He waited, assuming it was a joke, but she showed no intention of elaborating.
"Hold on—you don't know?"
"You are my first Guard Knight. How would I know such a thing?"
"So you scheduled an inauguration without knowing how it works?"
"It is fine. My butler will handle the proceedings, so do not worry. Besides, how many people would bother traveling all the way to this remote northern continent?"
"Well, that's true enough."
"In all likelihood, it will be a modest affair—just the territory's residents and the knight order."
Hmm. So even if I mess up, they'll probably just shrug it off.
"Okay, got it. So when is this inauguration?"
"Hmm. As far as I know, it is today."
"What?"
"It says noon today."
You've got to be kidding me.