Episode 12

“Does he not trust us?”

As he disappeared, the masked man who had asked the question spoke up.

“No way, he’s still new and doesn’t know what he’s doing, that’s just his personality!”

The voice of the masked man slapped the newcomer on the shoulder.

“If you didn’t trust us, you wouldn’t have called us in on this. You’re the boss, and you do things yourself. Isn’t that right?”

The gruff-voiced masked man followed with a soothing tone.

“Of course he does. He even told me to be careful! That’s the captain’s way of showing affection, kahaha!”

The one with the girlish voice burst out laughing again and slapped the newcomer on the shoulder.

“Ouch! It hurts! Stop hitting me!”

The first time, the newcomer held it in, but the second time he hit the same spot with his toad-like hand, the newcomer yelped.

Their hilarious commotion didn’t last long.

“…… Hurry, we must find the Second Prince before they do.”

The first masked man to finish his report silently raised his hand to quell the commotion, then leaped down the clock tower.

“Ugh. You sound like one of his followers!”

The girlish-voiced masked man snorted and gave a raspy two.

“Come on, let’s go, or we won’t have lunch.”

He patted him on the shoulder, and the smirking man scampered off, followed by the other.

“Ew! I can’t eat nothing but grass again today!”

The newcomer quickly jumped down as well.

“What? Hey, come on, let’s go!”

The last of the girly-voiced masked figures leaped off in a huff and disappeared, leaving the clock tower silent again.

* * *

César, the masked man they called the Captain, reached the stables in a flash, his breathing still steady and calm. But his emerald eyes were busy.

He was suspicious, to say the least.

Even from a distance, it was obvious. The horse the robed man rode was a master horse, one of the finest I’d ever seen.

That was the problem.

The man in the robe was riding a horse that didn’t belong in this town at all.

Maybe it’s just my inherent inability to overlook the little things, but…….

It didn’t hurt to be thorough. After all, a small hole in the wall can make a big deal out of nothing.

“Hey. Let me ask you a question.”

Cesar scanned his surroundings sharply, but he couldn’t find the horse or the man in the robes, so he called for the stable keeper.

The stablehand eyed Cesar warily, scrutinizing his suspicious attire.

“What…… is it?”

Bill, the stablehand, jerked back his hesitant step.

Tsk. Thud.

César pulled a silver coin from his arm and tossed it at Bill’s feet.

“Where did the robed man on the brown horse go?”

Bill looked dumbfounded at Cesar’s question, but then his eyes lit up.

“I see,” he said, “you’ve recognized the white horse, too, and he’s a horse that will never be the same again, with that firm grip…….”

“Enough.”

Cesar lightly interrupted Bill’s spittle-spattered mouth, then added in a serious voice.

“Is the man in the robe from this village?”

“Ah! You’re looking for Tia, she lives up there and sometimes comes out to buy things like this…….”

“Never mind.”

Once again, Cesar cut Bill off. There was no need to investigate further if he already lived in the village.

A horse of his caliber was rare, and while he was curious about the horse’s identity, his priority was his people.

Of course, there was something else that came second.

Without hesitation, Cesar turned on his heel and was out of Bill’s sight in a flash.

* * *

“That’s enough.”

Phew. Theo breathed out a sigh of relief as he returned the missing broom to his toolbox and slowly surveyed the house.

The greased door moved smoothly, the wobbly chair steadied, the unbalanced bed stabilized, and the gaping hole in the wall was plastered over with wood.

Theo smiled with satisfaction as he finished the final touches.

“It’s been a long time coming.”

He glanced out the window and saw that the sun had already tilted closer to the ground and was setting.

“I guess exploring the neighborhood will have to wait.”

Theo slumped back in his chair, fatigue finally setting in.

It wasn’t the kind of movement he used to practice swordsmanship, and the stiffness in his muscles that he hadn’t felt in a long time added to his fatigue.

Theo stared blankly out the window, then spoke up.

“……when you’re coming.”

Theo jumped to his feet, stunned by the casual remark.

“Ha. I don’t know what I just said.”

Theo blew out a self-help breath and shook his head.

He couldn’t believe he’d been unknowingly waiting for a woman he’d only spent a day with, a woman whose identity he didn’t even know…….

Theo’s eyes, bathed in the light of the sinking sun, fluttered with a complex mix of emotions.

“I need to wash up.”

Theo muttered softly, scrambling out of his chair and heading for the bathroom outside the house.

Yes, he did. He needed to wake up his foggy mind. He needed to wash away the weakness of his nonsense.

In front of the bathroom door were two buckets of water, white and fuming like yesterday.

He wondered if she had left them before she went out.

Theo quickly grabbed one of the buckets and went into the bathroom.

At this point, he didn’t notice anything strange. Hestia must have left early in the morning, and the water hadn’t cooled down by the time the sun rose.

If Hestia had left early in the morning, the water should have already cooled. So who had brought this water in the first place?

But it would be days before Theo realized it.

After a long, hot shower, Theo stepped out with a clearer mind,

“Ah…….”

I realized that I had forgotten to bring my clothes that Hestia had washed yesterday.

It was an embarrassing situation, but he was not about to pick up the dusty clothes and put them back on.

“I don’t think you’re back yet, so I’m going to run out and get dressed.”

Eventually, Theo wrapped a towel around his waist and hurried home.

Ding-ding.

And when Theo opened the door, there was…….

“You…….”

Hestia was there.

Theo stopped dead in his tracks. His mind went white with embarrassment.

He realized he was wearing nothing but a towel, so he played it cool.

“I was just going to get cleaned up, but I’m a little late. How are you?”

Tsk-tsk.

I closed the door to block out the last of the light coming through the open pane. I didn’t forget to put on my tutu to feign nonchalance.

Theo takes a step toward me, thinking I should take this opportunity to get dressed.

“……Sleep, Kanman.”

Hestia was strange.

There was a slight tremor in her voice. The ripples seemed more pronounced now that she was shrouded in darkness.

A click.

The sound of water dripping from Theo’s hair filled the silent house and dispersed.

Hestia’s shaky breathing echoed above him.

“……are you okay?”

He wondered why she looked so vulnerable, so unshaken by anything.

But Theo asked her if she was okay in his normal voice as if he hadn’t noticed anything.

As if no emotion had seeped into his voice.

Theo asked her how she was doing.

A silent question rose in her mind.

What’s the story?

What’s the story?

A tap.

A small wave of water droplets jolted Theo awake from his curiosity about her.

“Oh, yeah……. It’s okay.”

Hestia finished her sentence.

But Theo couldn’t believe it.

Does Hestia know what she looks and sounds like now?

He couldn’t stand it if he didn’t let out that stifling breath for her.

“Can I approach …… now?”

I asked cautiously, but there was no answer.

The house had already been engulfed in total darkness.

Still, Theo could see her.

He was used to the darkness, to the shadows.

So……. he could see Hestia more clearly.

Her emotions.

Her trembling.

Her pain.

Who was she, and was she hiding a deep sadness that even Izzie could see?

“…… Stay there. Don’t come near me.”

Theo’s brow furrowed at Hestia’s outright refusal.

“It’s dark…… it’s dark, and you could get hurt if you wander off. Wait a minute while I light a candle.”

Theo’s eyes locked on Hestia’s still, precarious form as she rattled off her excuses.

Her golden eyes, brilliant with light, sank low.

“Ah, I found it.”

Tsk. Thud. Hiss.

The candle sparked and a flash of red light lit up my vision in an instant.

“It’s back from wherever it was.”

The corners of Hestia’s mouth twitched as she struggled to hold the flickering candle up.

Did he think he could hide behind that little light?

Yes, she had. Maybe someone else wouldn’t have noticed.

If it weren’t for the fact that, after nearly losing her life to those she’d trusted for so long, she was quick to see through people’s pretenses and sincerity.

Tsk.

Theo ran a hand roughly through his wet hair as he screamed, dripping onto the floor once more, and finally had to ask.

“Are you sure…… you’re okay?”

Strangely, he wanted to know her sincerity.

Even though he knew nothing about Hestia.

Nothing about her was out of the ordinary, yet her words seemed genuine. It felt like she could be trusted.

But not now.

“What’s not to like about ……?”

Hestia drew the veil of nonchalance tighter around her.

Whatever had happened out there, Theo could tell it was there because the once-sturdy veil was shaking.

“You’re hungry, aren’t you? I brought you some food from the village.”

Hestia gathered herself in an instant and smirked. The veil that had enveloped her was now so tightly woven that I could not find a single crack in it.

This was the Hestia Theo knew.

“I think we should eat and clean up.”

Hestia walked over to grab some food from the basket by the door but stopped when she saw Theo.

“Uh…….”

Hestia rolled her eyes, seemingly at a loss for words, and lowered her gaze to the floor.

Theo’s face scrunched up in question as he watched her closely, and he shook his head.

But soon,

“Did you ……wash up?”

Hestia’s cautious words made Theo suddenly realize what he looked like.

“Ew!”

A short, lone scream erupted from Theo’s mouth, and he stumbled backward, slamming his back against the door.