“Isn’t this… the spare cutlery?”
“That’s right. Silverware. There were quite a few pieces, and since the handles had jewels embedded in them, I figured they’d fetch a decent price.”
The utensils clinked together in my full hands. Explaining myself while holding stolen goods felt a bit awkward.
“Unbelievable. You actually noticed something like that while working?”
Kalz looked dumbfounded, but soon he couldn’t suppress his laughter.
“Haha! To think you had the presence of mind to grab something like that at such a moment. You’ll certainly never starve anywhere you go.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
After laughing heartily for a while, his eyes sparkled mischievously.
“But do you know something?”
“What?”
“The clock sitting on your desk is worth more than a hundred sets of that silverware combined.”
“Huh? You mean that little toy-like table clock?”
Damn, I guess even thieves need some basic knowledge. Although I had noticed the subtle elegance of its craftsmanship, I never imagined a tiny clock could be worth a hundred times more than a jeweled fork. Now I’m too scared to even glance at the time in my room.
“Next time, if you plan to run away, take that instead. Don’t struggle to lug around heavy forks and knives.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Hearing my careless response, Kalz hesitated briefly, then quickly added,
“That was just a joke. You won’t have a reason to leave again. Right?”
What’s with those anxious eyes, desperately seeking reassurance? Is he genuinely worried I’ll run away again?
Damn it, he’s adorable.
Either I’ve completely lost it, or my mind’s too exhausted to function properly. Otherwise, there’s no way a guy—no, a male lion—twice my size could seem this cute.
When I narrowed my eyes at him in mock annoyance, Kalz’s ears instantly drooped, making him look utterly crestfallen. Ah, this is strangely satisfying. I flashed him a bright, teasing smile.
“That entirely depends on your behavior.”
***
“So… this bear—no, I mean this gentleman…”
“Yes. I’m Grill, in charge of castle security.”
I had no idea. Who would have guessed the black bear I encountered in the mountains was actually employed by the castle? Honestly, given everything I’d experienced so far, I probably could’ve figured it out if I’d been calmer. But at the time, that ferocious roar and the glowing eyes chasing after me were so terrifying that rational thinking was impossible.
“Grill is the only staff member who lives outside the castle. He stays in a cabin halfway up the mountain.”
“Ah, that’s why I never saw him before now.”
“If I’d informed you earlier, Briel, you wouldn’t have been startled or gotten lost. I’m truly sorry.”
“No, it’s not your fault. I was the one who panicked.”
Recalling how desperately I’d fled from one of my own colleagues made embarrassment creep over me. Still, Grill’s face remained genuinely intimidating. His voice was as gruff as his appearance as he spoke up again.
“I apologize for last time.”
“No need. You were just doing your job. You shouted because you thought I was an intruder and wanted to scare me off, right?”
“No. I was startled, too.”
“Huh?”
“It had been a long time since I’d seen someone up close.”
…So, that thunderous roar wasn’t meant as a threat, but was simply his scream of surprise?
Come to think of it, both my father and Leon had easily entered the castle before. Maybe Grill’s security duties weren’t exactly what I’d imagined.
As confusion filled my gaze, Grill awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
“Actually, I remembered later that Butler Squawk mentioned someone new had come to the castle. That’s why I approached you—but then you suddenly ran off.”
Approached? That gentle word hardly matched what happened. A bear as big as a mountain had charged straight toward me like a mad beast. Seriously, if you had an ordinary human body, wouldn’t you have fled too?
“…I apologize.”
Grill glanced at the gauze stuck to my cheek and the bandages around my arm, then bowed his head deeply. He didn’t talk much, but his remorse felt genuinely sincere.
Truthfully, Grill had put me through quite a bit of trouble. However, thanks to that incident, Kalz had rushed out to find me, and I’d managed to return to the castle in a rather grand manner. From my viewpoint, I hadn’t really suffered any major loss. Plus, these bandages only seemed dramatic because Kalz wrapped them up too excessively; the injuries themselves weren’t that severe. Wanting to ease Grill’s guilt, I smiled gently.
“It’s really fine.”
“……”
…Why isn’t he responding? Did I say that too late? Is he angry now? Grill stared at me so intensely, without even blinking, that I started shivering. It was probably impossible, but was he maybe wondering what my flesh tasted like? Just then, Butler Squawk landed softly on my shoulder and whispered reassuringly.
“Don’t worry about it. Grill’s just feeling shy. He’s a rather bashful fellow.”
“…I can hear everything, Almond.”
No, Butler Squawk, I don’t think that’s quite right. He definitely seems angry. Didn’t you notice he was practically gritting his teeth? But Butler Squawk paid no attention at all.
“On top of that, he’s quite timid. One time, he screamed just because a pinecone rolled past him.”
“How did you even know about that…!”
“But he’s become much braver with age. When he was young, he once even cried because a garden stone looked scary.”
“…Please, stop teasing me.”
Grill sank down, burying his face in both paws as Butler Squawk continued his merciless teasing. Upon closer inspection, the tips of his black, furry ears were slightly flushed red.
“Honestly, I didn’t want Grill to take on dangerous security work, but since he’s a bear, it was only natural to rely on him in that role. Just the rumor of a bear wandering around the mountain greatly reduces foot traffic, you see.”
“Oh, I understand. Then, was Grill originally assigned to something else? What kind of work did he do before…?”
Whoosh, whoosh.
“Huh? What’s going on?”
At the sudden sound of frantic movement, I turned and saw Grill urgently shaking both hands and his head.
“I’m sorry, but Grill seems determined to keep that private, so I can’t tell you.”
“Ah… okay.”
Thunk.
Once Butler Squawk confirmed he wouldn’t say anything further, Grill immediately stopped waving. By now, his face was so flushed that he almost looked like a brown bear.
What in the world had he done before to make him so desperate to keep it hidden? Although I was extremely curious, I definitely didn’t want to find out. If I accidentally learned about it, Grill might tear me apart.
In any case, Butler Squawk seemed right—Grill was undeniably shy.
“Is there anyone among the castle staff I still haven’t met yet, Butler Squawk?”
“No, Grill was the last one I needed to introduce you to.”
“Oh, good. Then there shouldn’t be any more surprises, right?”
“Haha.”
What was with that laugh? Why did it sound suspiciously like he was hiding something?
“Is there someone else?”
“No, not exactly.”
“Not exactly?”
“Hahaha.”
Butler Squawk? Where are you going? Why are you suddenly leaving? Seriously, what are you hiding?!
