<Chapter 22>
#3. The Only Ones Who Don’t Know (2)
Calix’s right eyebrow rose at Angel’s question. After pondering to grasp the intent of the question, he opened his mouth.
“I wouldn’t pay this much attention to someone I dislike, would I?”
“No, that’s not what I meant. I’m talking about romantic feelings.”
“…Are you overworked?”
“……”
Angel pressed his lips shut at Calix’s question. Seeing Angel furiously cursing with his eyes, Calix lightly shrugged his shoulders. Since their first meeting, he had been considerate in many ways to ease Melty’s high level of wariness. Thanks to that, Melty no longer tensed up when his head was touched. Though their distance had grown closer, he couldn’t understand why Angel would misinterpret it this way.
“Patting that guy’s head is something others do too, isn’t it? Why would you think that way?”
“…Why, you ask…”
Looking at the tower of gold coins conspicuously stacked on the desk, Angel suppressed his desire to shout, “Look at what you’re doing!” After calming himself with a deep breath, he began listing all the suspicious behaviors he had noticed.
“I haven’t been able to say anything until now, but… do you think there’s only one or two strange things? You, who never eat while working, are ordering desserts, and despite saying you have no time to waste on trivial matters, you’re deliberately piling up tasks that could be handled in 5 minutes!”
“Well, the desserts are because he enjoys them so much. And the work… these things happen when you’re teaching someone.”
Calix, barely listening to Angel’s words, dug his pinky into his ear. Angel frowned at his half-hearted attitude. He had thought “what if…” several times during work, but since the person in question was none other than “Calix Kuse Padrian,” he had dismissed the idea with a shake of his head.
The ripple in his firm belief that ‘Calix couldn’t possibly fall in love’ was a recent development. Even at this moment of confirmation with him, he didn’t have much faith in that hypothesis.
‘It’s shocking enough that he even knows the word consideration… could it really be an unconscious one-sided love?’
If it had been anyone but Calix, it would have been “possible,” but because it was him, it had long been deemed “impossible.” As his hypothesis gradually shifted from “speculation” to “certainty,” Angel opened his mouth again for one last verification.
“So you’re saying you gave him an ‘Ollua’ just because of simple fondness? No, I have a lot to say about that too. If you were going to give a gift, there are many other species and objects, so why specifically an Ollua?”
“Since when did I need your permission to give away something of mine?”
Angel swallowed hard as Calix displayed his bad mood, revealing a chilly aura without concealment. But he still had to say what needed to be said. Melty was smiling brightly, unaware of how dangerous the thing wrapped around his wrist was. To prevent any potential accidents, this was something that needed to be addressed.
“It’s not about permission… No, isn’t an Ollua a venomous snake? Does Melty-ssi know?”
The Ollua species was a special lineage. Only direct descendants of the Padrian family could handle them. Due to their small size and colorful body, they appeared really cute and lovely to the naked eye, but that was merely the perception of those unfamiliar with Olluas.
Intelligent and sensitive, Olluas could quickly sense danger around them. In other words, they could swiftly distinguish those approaching with hostile intent. Moreover, they possessed two types of venom in their body, one of which was a lethal poison. Its toxicity was so potent that even with an antidote, the after-effects would last a lifetime.
“Its name is Naru. That’s all he needs to know.”
“Isn’t it dangerous? If an accident happens…”
Angel still vividly remembered the shock he felt when first introduced to Naru by Melty. Melty stroking Naru’s head with a bright smile, and the Ollua flickering its tongue in apparent pleasure at his touch.
“What are you saying? I wouldn’t give him anything dangerous, would I? I’ve ordered it to kill any impudent person who approaches, so there’s no need to worry.”
“…That’s exactly what I’m worried about. If Ollu… I mean, Naru kills someone, wouldn’t it be my responsibility to clean up?”
“Ah, if that’s your concern, then continue to worry.”
“……”
Angel shuddered at the sight of Calix nodding with a bright smile, without a single excuse. He should have realized it from the moment Calix so easily handed over an Ollua as a “gift” – an Ollua that couldn’t be obtained even with a chest full of gold coins. Calix still seemed unaware, but in Angel’s view, the probability that his affection was biased with a hefty dose of personal interest had exceeded 100%.
Angel briefly contemplated whether to tell Calix what he had realized, but then curled his lips into a wicked smile. Even if he were to honestly say, “You like Melty-ssi,” that Calix would hardly respond with a simple “I see.”
It was obvious that he wouldn’t believe it until he realized it himself, and besides, Angel, who had suffered a lot at Calix’s hands, was excited at the thought of using this as an excuse for minor revenge. Having completely satisfied his curiosity, Angel leisurely changed the topic of conversation.
“By the way, when the exchange meeting begins, there will be many guests staying at the mansion… We should hurry with the preparations.”
“There’s a separate annex prepared for guests, isn’t there?”
“I don’t think the annex will be enough. The Sarvie family is supposed to arrive today.”
Calix frowned at Angel’s casually delivered information. It was natural for people to gather for the exchange meeting formed for social purposes, but Calix particularly disliked the people from the Sarvie family.
“…What? Why are you telling me this only now?”
“The letter containing this information was organized by Melty-ssi today. Haven’t you seen it yet?”
As soon as Angel finished speaking, Calix checked the ones at the back of the pile of letters that Melty had neatly sorted. The letter bearing the seal of the Sarvie family contained exactly the same information that Angel had mentioned. Calix, with a deep frown, glared at Angel.
“Why are these guys coming early and causing a fuss?”
“Maybe they have a lot to talk about?”
With a displeased look, Calix scanned the contents of the letter in his hand and then moved to the empty desk. In front of Calix, who sighed as he pushed back his hair, was a pile of documents whose processing had been delayed. Taking the paper at the very front, he quickly moved his eyes and hands as he spoke.
“Go to Jenny and make sure Melty doesn’t go down to the village alone. If he happens to run into those guys, it’ll be troublesome.”
“Yes~”
Angel, who had risen from his seat as if he had been waiting for this, swallowed the laughter that almost burst out as he watched Calix processing documents at a frightening speed. His previously slow work pace had suddenly caught fire.
It was too obvious that the measure to prevent Melty from going out alone was to avoid any possible situation where he might encounter the Sarvie family. Glancing at Calix, who still hadn’t properly recognized his own feelings, Angel secretly smiled.
From what he had observed so far, Melty seemed to have little interest in Calix. In other words, it meant that only Calix had a great interest in Melty. Angel, directly witnessing the one-sided love of the proud Calix, found himself humming a tune. He knew that once Calix became aware of his own feelings, he would proceed without hesitation, but Angel had not the slightest intention of telling him.
‘I wouldn’t tell him even for 100 gold coins. Let him suffer a bit.’
With these wicked thoughts, a sinister “hehehe” escaped from Angel’s lips. His footsteps became lighter as he dreamed of small revenge for all that he had endured.
***
At the very time Angel was dreaming of minor revenge against Calix after an exhausting night of overtime work, Melty had already descended to the village by carriage. Since he had completed a letter to send to his family last evening and had been carrying it in his bosom, he was able to quickly come down to the village after work.
It had been a very long time since he had come down to the village alone, so Melty took a deep breath. Naru, who had been quietly wrapped around his wrist, slowly climbed up his arm with languid movements.
Naru pressed its mouth firmly against Melty’s cheek, which was tense. Startled by the cool sensation on his cheek, Melty turned his head to see Naru tilting its head at him, which helped him release the tension in his shoulders.
“Are you worried about me?”
In response to Melty’s whispered question accompanied by a small but clear laugh, Naru showed affection by nuzzling its cheek against him. Melty laughed out loud once more at its lovable behavior and clenched his fists, gathering strength.
“Have you been to the village many times, Naru?”
Naru shook its head from side to side at Melty’s question. Melty stroked Naru’s head, helping it to settle comfortably on his body, and began walking while chattering in a small voice.
“Actually, I don’t know this place well either. This is my first time in a village outside. But since we get to enjoy an early holiday for once, let’s have fun before we go back.”
Melty, whispering to Naru, had a gleam in his eyes. When he had come with Calix, he had to follow wherever Calix led him, so there was no time to properly look around. And when he had been selling goods here, he couldn’t properly explore the surroundings for other reasons.
Thanks to the carriage that had dropped him off at the village’s bustling area, he could easily identify where people were gathering. But he couldn’t find the place he had specifically come looking for. Drawn by a suddenly wafting fragrant smell, Melty moved his steps and his eyes lit up when he discovered aromatic grilled skewers.
“Hello.”
“Oh! A little friend. What can I get you?”
Melty fingered the money in his pocket, considering the question asked in a hearty, kind voice. Despite having eaten a lot of desserts during work, they had all gone to his dessert stomach, so his regular stomach hadn’t received a notice. Feeling the small growling sound from his stomach, Melty smiled shyly and held up his fingers.
“Two skewers, please.”
“Do you want them non-spicy?”
“Yes! Oh, and please make one without any seasoning.”
The shop owner burst into hearty laughter once more as he watched Melty nodding vigorously. A brownish seasoning was brushed over the nicely grilled skewers. Melty licked his lips at the delicious smell enhanced by the seasoning.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen a small-form person like you around here… Are you traveling?”
“No! I came here to work.”
“Oh~ That’s impressive!”
The man laughed boisterously and handed Melty four well-grilled skewers in a paper dish. Surprised by the larger quantity than expected, Melty fumbled to take out coins from his pocket. The man smiled at Melty’s small hand holding out the coins and only took payment for two skewers.
“The rest are on the house, just take them.”
“B-but is it okay to give me so much?”
“Hahaha. Of course! You need to eat a lot if you’re going to work.”
Melty stared at the man who was waving his hand and laughing heartily, then broke into a bright smile. His mood was lifted by the unexpected kindness.
“Thank you.”
“Sure. It gets crowded over there, so eat here.”
Melty stood in the spot the man suggested and took a big bite of a well-seasoned skewer. The meat’s juices and sweet seasoning danced in his mouth. With a happy face, Melty pulled a piece of meat from the unseasoned skewer with his hand and blew on it to cool it down. After splitting the piece of meat in half with his hands and checking the temperature, he passed it to Naru. Naru, with its black eyes shining brightly, opened its mouth wide to accept the meat.
“Delicious, isn’t it?”
Seeing hearts in Naru’s eyes as it wagged its tail from side to side, Melty laughed softly. After feeding Naru two more well-cooled pieces of meat, Melty quickly devoured the remaining skewers that were his portion.
The shop owner, who had been watching contentedly as Melty chewed with his cheeks full of meat, also handed him a wet towel to clean his hands. With a polite “Thank you,” Melty wiped his hands clean and quickly spoke up, remembering his intended destination.
“By the way, do you know where ‘Footprints of Sunset’ is located?”
“If you’re looking for that inn, it’s over there.”
The one who answered the question was not the shop owner, but someone else.
