CH 40

“I think Mr. Benjamin is really awesome.”

Before the walk, she talked to Benjamin.

“You mean that?”

“Yes. Leone doesn’t like Adler or Gourden very much, but he’s calm when he’s with Benjamin. Just like the last time he put on his shoes.”

“Isn’t he calm even when she’s with Trixie?”

“Nope. The other day, when he was with me, he growled at Adler. I think I made him depend on me too much as a guardian.”

She would rather be alone with Benjamin.

About a month and a half left now.

‘Leone. I’m sorry I haven’t taught you well in a while. Before leaving, I’ll make sure to develop your social skills.’

“Will… la. It seems a bit different from that, though.”

Benjamin grinned.

“I just presented conditions to Sir Leone and gave him an understanding. To be honest, it’s no different than endless scolding. As an educator, I think it is a bad practice.”

In contrast to his self-deprecating tone, Benjamin seemed unconcerned.

“Still, you are doing it.”

“Because there is no way. It’s not a good way, but I think it’s the only way for Sir Leone.”

In the end, it was a voice that knew that he was doing well even if his method was bad.

“I rather admire Trixie.”

“I disagree with you.”

“I am not someone who can provide social skills training to Leone. This cannot be done without Trixie.”

“It comforts me. Thank you.”

Benjamin said it wasn’t him, but if that wasn’t being humble, what could it be?

Leone… Now that it’s like that, she would have to somehow make it so that he could turn his eyes to others.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Only today, a ban on nagging was issued. No matter what Leone did, no matter how he walked on all fours, nagging was absolutely forbidden. Smelling many people at once would be stressful for Leone. Besides, today Leone even put on his shirt and shoes without them asking him. Of course, he wore them in a messy way as usual, but she was very grateful.

They headed for the side road between the main building and the annex where she always commute. She looked at Leone’s back as he walked ahead while holding his leash. With each step Leone took, the muscles of his broad back and shoulder blades visibly moved. It was exposed through the thin shirt.

Arriving at the side road, she opened the small wooden door and walked along the road.

“… smell.”

How long has it been since Leone frowned at her?

“Already? The annex is still far away.”

“Damn knights.”

Oh, it seemed that the body odor of the knights and Adler remained. She didn’t know, but Leone would.

Gourden and Benjamin were watching them from afar.

“Leone. Shall we take a break?”

She sat down next to him and stroked his head. Being much taller than her, he lowered his body to stick his head out.

“If you are tired, you can rest. Don’t overdo it.”

While trying to soothe him, Leone raised his head. He stared into her face and frowned. But he did not ask for anything.

“Nothing.”

“Nope. Let’s rest, Leone.”

“I can do it, Trixie.”

Somehow, it seems to be cheating…? He probably didn’t even know the purpose of this walk, but what was Leone trying to do?

“Yes? Okay. If it’s hard, tell me.”

“… No.”

As they chatted, Leone gave a short reply and walked away. Today, she really felt like she was handling an adolescent boy. Before she knew it, she saw a small wooden door that had to be opened to enter the annex. She also heard the sound of the annex little by little. At the same time, Leone stood there as if nailed to it.

“Leone?”

Leone was hardened as if frozen. His two hands gripped the floor as if alert. Dirt, stones, and small twigs were crumbled. It didn’t feel threatening.

Rather… He seemed frightened. Leone’s eyes became unfocused, as if wandering through distant memories. It was the first time Leone was as hard as a stone, even though he had seen him threaten and moan. His rigid body trembled slightly.

“It’s okay, Leon.”

She just sat down on the floor. Leone looked at her.

“Trixie.”

“Yes. I am.”

“Smell, go.”

“Well… Leone. Shall we bet?”

There’s no way Leone would understand the bet, but she said it lightly.

“We can sit here all day and nothing will happen.”

The eyes that met each other became round.

Leone’s hair, which tangled in her fingers, was very soft.

“How?”

“Bet-.”

“Oh, what a bet.”

A lengthy explanation followed.

“So if I lose, I’ll grant Leone’s one wish.”

“If I lose-.”

“Of course, if Leone loses, you’ll have to grant my wish.”

“Yes.”

He smiled faintly and nodded his head.

“Great. Wish.”

She was sure she would win.

“Nothing will happen, Leone.”

Reading lightly, she calmly looked around. Leone, who was stiff, also looked a little better.

Clink.

“It’s fine.”

There was a loud noise from the side of the annex that she could hear. It sounded like someone had dropped a plate or something.

“Leone, have you ever eaten that fruit? It looks delicious!”

Leone jumped up at the noise, but she stayed by his side and stroked his hair without a single change in her voice. She changed the topic by deliberately bringing up a different story.

“Sound.”

“Yeah, nothing happened, Leone. Why is that tree so pointy? I wonder.”

He continued to ask questions in a soft voice. His hand also moved diligently. Leone, who jumped up, slowly fell down again before hse knew it. After that, there were several loud noises in the annex, and he was equally reassured.

So they sat on the floor for a while.

* * *

“Trixie. I heard that Sir Leone is not as sensitive as before.”

After the walk became a daily routine, she received many questions about Leone from the people in the annex.

“He seems to be more calm than before.”

She laughed awkwardly and chewed the lamb.

“I saw Trixie and Sir Leone through the window. What is that leash? Is it a tool to make Sir Leone calm?”

“Huh. Is there such a thing?”

“Yes. What is he wearing on his mouth? Trixie, did you use herbs or something?”

Listening to the baptism of questions made her feel like she was some kind of trickster and magician.

“It’s not like that.”

“When Adler placed Trixie in the main building, I was wondering what to do with that little friend. There must have been a reason.”

“I thought that if Leone came close to the annex, someone would be killed for sure. jeonMy.”

“Haha…”

A conversation ensued, permeated with fear. They were the ones who directly witnessed the serious injuries of several servants. From some point on, they even avoided paying attention to Leone for fear of being injured.

Even though she said they were just taking a walk around the annex, this situation without anything happening seemed very strange and welcomed.

“Ask in moderation. Wouldn’t Trixie have a hard time if there were a lot of questions like that?”

There was someone blocking that conversation.

“Oh my, butler.”

It was Jen, the butler of the mansion. She turned 50 not too long ago, and was the type to quietly do her job without stepping forward. She seemed a little lacking in presence because she was quiet, but it wasn’t the way she saw it. There was no place in that mansion that Jen could not reach.

‘She’s a respectable person, but she’s so uncomfortable to be with…’

Shee passed by often, but since they work in different places, they had never had a proper greeting or conversation. Even so, Jen’s ‘hostility’ towards her always touched her vividly. She looked her up and down from the beginning, and always had a disgruntled look. With her tall stature and stout body, she was stunned.

“I know it’s surprising.”

After Jen usually served Adler’s meals, she ate alone, and he did not appear in front of the servants. She was puzzled that she was at the dining hall at that hour.

“What are you doing? Master!”

When the youngest servant of the mansion asked cheerfully, Jen grinned.

“Today, I wanted to have dinner with Miss Trixie.

Well. More than ever, it seems that the day was standing.

“Haha. That’s right. It’s fair for Gourden to call her teacher. She got Leone out of the house! Did you see Adler’s face earlier? It was perfectly bright.”

“So, Trixie. What’s the secret?”

“Uh… There’s no such thing as a secret. I guess I was lucky enough to be liked by Leone.”

She tossed roughly because it was clear what kind of reaction would come back if she said that she had been taking care of him as if he was a puppy. Fortunately, everyone in there nodded.

“It’s luck, really.”

“He is ‘that’ Leone.”

“You’re lucky.”

“Haha…”

It felt like she was sitting on a cushion of thorns. At some point, Jen sat down and chewed on her vegetables.

“Then I’m…”

“Trixie.”

“Yes. Yes?.”

“I heard Adler asked you to go to the capital together. Am I right?”

“Really?”

“Ah yes…”

“Wow. It’s something special!”

Everyone was surprised, amazed, and applauded.

“But Adler tends to look more at ability than status. Still, Trixie is the first commoner employed inside the county’s mansion. Gourden is from outside too but…”

“Right. It seems Sir Adler is definitely giving you ‘special treatment’.”

Among harmless voices there was clearly a strange wariness, no, annoyance, in Jen’s voice.

“Adler said he was wary, but in the end he was really good inside… You trust people easily.”

That was what he said then. What Adler said while blocking the way before going to pick up Benjamin. That time when he was staring at her blatantly…!

“I’m worried that even if something like a killifish muddy the water, you wouldn’t know.”

The more Jen talked, the more she could see that she was openly expressing her dislike of her.

‘That person hates me. What do I have to be hated…? Why does she hate me?’

“But Adler is adamant. It’s because Trixie is so good at it.”

“That’s right. Sir Leone is being so calm.”

Fortunately, the atmosphere seemed to be moderated thanks to the kind and careless servants.

“Come to think of it, there was a famous thing that happened in the capital not too long ago.”

But Jen poured cold water on her again.

“Yes? Suddenly?”

“I heard that there was a young lady who was kicked out of her family because she fell in love with a commoner.”

That happened a long time ago, why so suddenly…!

Jen was sniping at her now.

“Oh my gosh. Are there any girls like that in the world these days?”

“Everyone makes mistakes when it comes to falling in love… But she was kicked out of the family. That’s sad.”

‘Why are you doing this?’

Adler and Jen’s relationship of trust was quite strong. So Jen knew most of his work. She was also Adler’s counselor.

She was kicked out of an aristocratic family, so it’s a story that could get into Jen’s hands while investigating her past. So how he knew it was predictable. Then what’s left: why was she doing that to her?

“What do you think, Trixie?”

Jen had a fairly large physique for a woman. She had a friendly face as she asked her questions.

‘It looks like she’ll take my money away.’

In her previous school days, she thought of the children who were playing, laughing and snatching money little by little. The so-called ‘iljin’. How could a woman over 50 have such a sense of intimidation?

“How can I know what the noble lady thinks? I’m just a commoner.”

Beatrice’s body would collapse with just a slight push from that person. She instinctively felt threatened and smiled brightly.