Episode 26

“He was driven to drift by prejudice against ranch keepers. He worked as hard as he could and never got an extension, because once you’re attached, it’s hard to leave!”

“That has nothing to do with—”

“You’re going to kick someone like that out for no reason, just because their contract is up? Someone who’s attached to the Duchy of Altwood?”

“Hmm…”

“Is Your Grace so ruthless, cruel, heartless, merciless, inhumane, cold-blooded, and callous?”

“Hah!”

Leonel chuckled briefly as if he found it incredible.

I didn’t back down and leaned in closer.

“Are you like that? Truly?”

Leonel, with a furrowed brow, pushed my face aside with the back of his hand. There was a hint of resignation in his expression. I had sensed this even before I died, but Leonel was subtly weak to emotional appeals.

He might not realize it himself.

In other words, this argument was a victory for me.

After some thought, Leonel let out a deep sigh.

“Do you know what he’ll do?”

Alright, I’ve got this!

“He knows a lot about medicine, and he’s good with herbs. Since there’s no doctor in the estate, wouldn’t he be a great help?”

Leonel still wore a somewhat unwilling expression, but it was better than expected.

If Leonel had readily agreed to Frer’s residence, it would have been disappointing. After all, I wanted to do what Leonel disliked! I wanted to provoke him!

It might be even better if he dislikes it a bit more.

“But when a new keeper comes, the former one might not like that he hasn’t left yet. Farewell.”

“Nell—!”

I heard a voice calling me from behind, but I quickly walked away.

Alright, I’m satisfied.

I left the reception room with a bright smile and light steps.

* * *

As I remember, a new ranch keeper, Roman, came to the estate.

I spent my days off with Frer, keeping an eye on Roman, with half the worry that he might harm the townspeople with his absurd folk remedies and half the intention of chasing him away.

But I didn’t find out much. Roman, like Frer, always had a somewhat absent expression.

“Is that expression a standard ranch keeper’s default expression?”

“That’s right. You can only call yourself a true ranch keeper if you master that absent expression perfectly.”

I had made a joke, but when he said such a thing with that absent expression, it sounded genuine. When I stared at him intently, he mumbled something.

“You’ve aligned your rhyme and reason.”

“I know.”

I grinned and turned my attention back to Roman. He lay there leisurely, playing a flute. He didn’t seem like the kind of person who would cause trouble, so Frer looked worried.

“What if that person doesn’t cause any trouble?”

“He will. Definitely.”

I said it confidently, but deep down, I wasn’t entirely sure. People turned to Roman’s folk remedies because there was no doctor in the estate. But now, Frer was holding that position. Moreover, he got along well with people. They’d seek out Frer even for indigestion.

Wait, does this mean there’s no longer a threat to people’s lives because of Roman? Maybe I can’t just chase him away.

“Why don’t you just be a …… doctor?”

“I’m a ranch keeper.”

He clung to his identity unnecessarily.

“But being a doctor isn’t bad, is it?”

“While taking care of a pack of dogs?”

“…”

“You said you’d give me back to Vexi.”

“Come to think of it, Guadang seems to think he can live well even without Frer around.”

“Is that your way of diplomatically evicting me? Should I leave?”

“No, wait, hold on!”

I grabbed Frer’s shoulders. We had started to bicker, and when I turned my head, I noticed that Roman was nowhere to be seen.

I tilted my head and looked around. No matter how I looked, all I saw were the dogs guarding the sheep and the donkeys.

‘Where did he go in the blink of an eye?’

Frer pointed somewhere with his finger without even speaking a word.

Roman, who had just come out of the hut, was acting suspiciously, looking around nervously.

I grabbed Frer’s wrist and hid behind the bushes.

“What is he doing?”

In response to my question, Frer narrowed his eyes and observed Roman.

“He’s holding something in his hand.”

I observed him cautiously, trying not to be noticed by Roman. However, he was too far away, and I couldn’t see what he was holding in his hand very well.

“Can you see it?”

“Yes. It looks like paper. And white… um, it seems to be moving like dough.”

A moving lump of dough?

As I squinted my eyes, suddenly a bird flapped its wings and flew into the sky, making a noise. Coincidentally, it slowly flew above our heads. Thanks to that, I could see its shape clearly.

The white dough that Roman was holding was none other than a pigeon.

“Did you just see that?”

Frer nodded his head.

“There was no letter on its leg.”

“Then, could it be a pigeon?”

“I don’t know.”

I looked at Frer, who shrugged his shoulders.

The sky was clear without a single bird.

“Should we wait? Will the pigeon come back if it’s a messenger pigeon?”

Frer shook his head.

“It uses homing instinct, so it can only be sent one way.”

“Well… you seem to know a lot about pigeons.”

I squinted my eyes and looked at him, and Frer looked extremely puzzled. Then he pointed his finger at Roman.

“That look in your eyes, I think you should send it over there, not here.”

Right. Frer and I were on the surveillance side. It seems like Leonel’s paranoia has rubbed off on me.

I continued to glare at Roman with narrowed eyes. Roman was herding sheep inside the fence.

I gestured to Frer to follow me and slowly stepped back.

I came to a place where Roman couldn’t see us and sat down in the field.

“Earlier, you said that the pigeon had a homing instinct, right?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s wait here. If the bird returns, it’s a pet, and if it doesn’t, it’s a messenger pigeon!”

“He might have taken care of an injured bird and let it go.”

…I didn’t think of that.

“I’d rather inform the Duke.”

“He probably won’t believe it…”

“He’s extremely distrustful.”

“That’s true!”

Frer opened his mouth as if to say something, then scratched the back of his head with his staff. Afterward, he looked at me and sat down beside me.

I lay down and gazed at the sky intently. However, no matter how long I waited, the pigeon didn’t return. 

As the day grew darker, Frer stood up from his spot. When he brushed the dust off his buttocks, it flew onto my face. I waved my hand, trying to avoid it, and he spoke in his peculiar, hoarse voice.

“I need to go make some medicine now.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

Frer nodded and turned to walk away. I shook my hand at his back and shouted,

“And from now on, shake the dust off in the opposite direction!”

“Really?”

“Yep!”

I shouted abruptly, then turned around in surprise at the sound of something approaching.

“Guadang-a!”

I spread my arms, and Guadang leaped onto my side.

Thud!

Today, his welcome was especially vigorous!

With joy, I tried to embrace him, but Guadang quickly avoided me. He had a carrot pouch attached to his mouth.

I gave him an annoyed look, but Guadang opened the pouch with his mouth and hastily devoured the carrot.

“Guadang, have you been hungry for a few days?”

Guadang didn’t offer any response.

Of course, he’s a donkey.

Instead, I heard a slow voice I wasn’t very familiar with along with the sound of shuffling feet.

“Hey, what are you doing here?”

The owner of the voice had a voice like flat, lukewarm beer, with no enthusiasm left, and it was Roman.

I felt a little embarrassed, thinking that he might have seen me spying earlier.

For some reason, his gaze, which wasn’t particularly significant, looked eerie.

“Hahaha.”

I tried to hide my tension and brought Guadang closer.

“Guadang came to say hello!”

“Ah, you mean Vexiadria Larelius?”

The tension in my shoulders and back, which had been quite stiff, suddenly relaxed.

Why does Roman call Guadang like that again? Did he get influenced by Frer?

“Well, yeah. But is he hungry? He’s usually not this crazy for food.”

“He seemed to have no appetite today.”

Roman reached out as if to pet Guadang, but Guadang pretended to kick and turned away, then swayed his tail and walked off. Leaving just Roman and me. What will I do without you, Guadang!

I looked at Guadang imploringly, but he didn’t return. An awkward silence settled between Roman and me.

“Haha. Looks like you two haven’t become friends yet.”

“It seems a bit confusing for him because he keeps seeing the former ranch keeper.”

He said it with a hint of nostalgia as if he were someone who couldn’t forget a lost lover. While doing so, he subtly gestured to me, as if to say, “Don’t bring Frer around here.”

Pretending not to notice, I gazed at a distant mountain.

“Don’t come.”

“Alright, I’ll try not to.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll probably need to come here often…”

“It’s not allowed.”

Before I could finish my sentence, Roman shook his head. I kept my suspicions hidden well and stroked my neck.

“I sometimes need to do fieldwork in the morning. I need the donkey.”