CH 277

I Was Asked To Do Something In Secret

“It’s me. Mr. Takumi, do you have a minute?”

“Mr. Ekenhart? Yes, of course.”

“Excuse me.”

It was Mr. Ekenhart who was on the other side of the door.

We had been together not long ago. What business could he have now?

“Sorry to disturb you. Were you about to sleep?”

“No. I was just relaxing.”

I would have gone to sleep soon enough if not disturbed. But I wasn’t really tired, and so I didn’t mind.

“So, is something the matter?”

“Ah… Indeed. It’s about my request that you go to Ractos…”

Mr. Ekenhart seemed a little uncomfortable, as if he was thinking about something.

Was there a problem concerning me going to Ractos?

“Yes, I was going to go tomorrow. Did something happen?”

While there wasn’t any rush, I had still thought that I would go tomorrow after making the herbs.

It wouldn’t take long if I rode on Leo, so I could reach Ractos before Nick left and hand the herbs to Mr. Kalis directly.

“Uhh, indeed… I…was wondering if I could go with you.”

“You, Mr. Ekenhart?”

“Mmm.”

“I don’t mind, but… Does Sebastian know that you will be going?”

“I wish to keep it a secret from him. And you will be riding on good Leo, yes? So I will not have to use the carriage.”

He did not want to tell Sebastian… So I suppose he wanted to secretly go to Ractos without telling anyone?

“Are you sure? You will not even have guards with you…”

“Well, I do know that I would need them under normal circumstances. However, Leo will be there, and I can fight as well. And you’re not too bad these days.”

“Hah… Yes, it’s true that we should be fine if Leo is with us…”

We would not really require guards if we were with Leo.

But then again, she could not go inside of buildings, so it wasn’t completely safe.

Mr. Ekenhart was a master swordsman though, so perhaps there was nothing to worry about…

“I want to see the town by myself, without guards following me… But Sebastian and the others wouldn’t like it, and would try to stop me.”

“I see.”

Mr. Ekenhart was friendly and easy to talk to. But he was still the head of this house.

And due to his position, he could not be put in harm’s way… Even I knew how important he was.

After all, he might have enemies who would try to target him.

“Please, take me with you!”

“Hah… But if they find out, it’s you who is going to get in trouble.”

“Hmm, I know that.”

“Very well. Then we will go to Ractos tomorrow together.”

“Thank you, Mr. Takumi!”

Mr. Ekenhart bowed his head pleadingly.

While I couldn’t help but think that Ms. Claire and Sebastian would be quite angry if they found out…he would not give up.

And so I nodded and agreed. Mr. Ekenhart looked quite happy… Did he really want to visit the town without his guards so much…?

Well, since I was going there anyway, it wasn’t any trouble for me.

“So… Tomorrow, I will leave the house without my guards. We can meet up on the way there.”

“…Yes, I see.”

I didn’t know if he could leave the mansion without being noticed, but he obviously knew this place very well. So perhaps he could.

Besides, when I had first met Ms. Claire, she had also done something similar… Maybe the guards here weren’t very watchful?

No, I suppose it was because they knew the guards so well that they could find openings.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“Yes.”

“Wuff!”

And then Mr. Ekenhart left.

Leo barked cheerfully.

As she liked carrying people, she was probably happy that there were two passengers now.

“Hah… So I guess we’re going with him tomorrow… Well, I’m used to it, so it will probably be fine.”

“Wuff?”

“Well, he is an important person. I sometimes get nervous. …Anyway, we should get some sleep now.”

“Wuff.”

When it was just me and Leo in the room, we talked a little before getting into bed.

Before falling asleep, I briefly worried about Ms. Claire and Ms. Anne, who must still be drinking, but as there was nothing I could do, I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

——————-

The next day, I washed up and followed Tilura, who came to greet us, and went down to the dining hall.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, Mr. Takumi.”

“…Where is Ms. Claire and the others?”

When I entered the dining hall, I saw that Sebastian and Ms. Gelda was there, but there was no one else.

…It looked like Mr. Ekenhart was sleeping late again.

But it was unusual for Ms. Claire to not be present.

“Lady Claire is still asleep. It is because of the wine she drank yesterday. I believe that she will not come down until midday…”

“…I see.”

“And Lady Anneliese said that she is not feeling well, and so she is resting in her room. And since Lyra had to stay up so late, she is also resting now.”

“It sounds like quite the disaster for Ms. Anne… And I hope Ms. Lyra rests well.”

After Mr. Ekenhart and I had escaped from the dining hall, we had left Ms. Anne as a sacrifice and Ms. Lyra had to stand and watch.

Apaprently, Ms. Claire was in a deep sleep, and Ms. Anne…was suffering from a hangover.

Sleep well, Ms. Lyra… I’m very sorry.

“Now, breakfast will be served.”

“Thank you.”

And so today it was just me, Leo, Tilura and Sherry, which made for a rather lonely breakfast.

But then again, perhaps it was good once in a while.

“Sherry got mad at me…”

“Hahaha. It’s because you keep bothering her while she is eating.”

“Wuff.”

“I’m sorry, Sherry.”

“Kyau!”

During breakfast, Tilura kept touching Sherry while she was eating.

And once her hand just happened to go near Sherry’s mouth, and she thought that Tilura was trying to take her food.

Leo was also nodding as if to take Sherry’s side.

But even after Tilura apologized, Sherry was still upset. And after barking once, she turned her nose away indignantly.