Sharino, who had been waiting outside, gave Leni a once-over and tilted her head.
“These clothes are a bit big on you.”
The shoulder seams of the tunic sagged, and the sleeves covered her hands.
“Oh, no, it’s fine.”
Leni waved her hands and rolled up the sleeves.
“If I wear it like this, it won’t get in the way of working.”
Loose clothes would allow more freedom of movement.
It would be troublesome if they gave her children’s clothes under the guise of helping.
“Really? That’s good, not being fussy. Now that you’re dressed appropriately, let’s get to work.”
There was a pile of clothes stacked nearby.
Mostly gambesons and aketons worn under armor, but tunics and pants were also visible.
Sharino picked up a gambeson and pointed to a torn quilted section.
“I’m in charge of sewing, but today I have to check the horses. You just need to find the torn or ripped parts and sew them up. The tools are over there.”
She gestured toward a workbench in the corner where scissors, thread, and needles were neatly arranged.
Oh no.
Of all the tasks, sewing?
If I ruin the clothes, I’ll get blamed.
Leni grabbed Sharino’s arm suddenly.
“Can I check the horses too? Don’t you need someone to clean the stables?”
Handling hay and feed would be better than wrestling with clothes.
Maybe, if needed, she could sneak away on a horse.
Sharino, unaware of Leni’s thoughts, said kindly,
“It’s good that you want to work hard, but it’s okay. Since it’s your first day, start with something easy.”
Ah, I don’t appreciate this kindness.
“Um… could I maybe not do sewing? I’m not very good with my hands.”
Worried she might seem picky for a slave, Leni quickly added,
“I can do anything else. Cleaning dirty boots, laundry, even chopping firewood.”
“Hmm… you want to chop firewood with those skinny arms?”
Sharino tilted her head, scratching her chin, giving Leni an untrusting look as she appraised her from head to toe.
Ah, I should’ve just done as I was told.
Standing out won’t help me here.
This isn’t a theater troupe.
No one’s on my side.
“No, I’ll just do the sewing…”
Just as she was about to say she’d obey, a loud voice came from outside the open door.
“Hey there. Who’s this girl?”
A burly man stomped into the room.
Leni put her hands on her waist and looked up at the man in front of her.
His broad face had sharp dark brown eyes.
Broad shoulders and thick arms.
A strong chest that looked like it could burst through his tunic.
He looked like a gladiator used to physical power.
“A new slave. Her name’s Leni.”
At Sharino’s introduction, the man’s harsh gaze softened, and his rough expression turned warm.
“Leni, nice to meet you. I’m William.”
Thud, thud. Leni staggered as his thick hand patted her shoulder.
“Y-yes.”
Her own pathetic situation made it hard to return his greeting.
“Pfft!”
Sharino burst out laughing beside her.
“Really. What’s with you fluttering around like a leaf, saying you’ll chop firewood? Just sit down and sew. It’s okay if you’re not skilled.”
“Is it really okay?”
Leni shrank her neck in embarrassment.
She’s not weak normally, but she felt drained.
She had no strength at all.
“Of course! This isn’t about fixing noblewomen’s dresses. You just have to roughly patch the torn parts. No one here is checking if your sewing is neat.”
“Y-yes.”
She decided she shouldn’t insist any further.
This was no welcoming party for newcomers like a theater troupe.
She was a slave, and should be grateful just to avoid abuse.
“That makes me feel a little better. I’ll do my best.”
As she nodded with a bright smile, William’s sword at his waist caught her eye.
It was a short blade curved like a hook.
William noticed her gaze and asked,
“Why is that?”
“Oh, it’s just… it’s been a while since I saw a combat knife.”
“Oh? You know a bit about knives? Have you been to war? Were you captured in battle?”
“I haven’t fought in a war. I learned from my father.”
“What kind of man is your father?”
“He was a knight who fought on the battlefield.”
Not wanting to raise suspicion by saying he was the troupe leader, Leni dodged the question.
It was an old story, but not exactly a lie.
“Oh my, how did a knight’s daughter end up a slave? Are you from Kiabec?”
A look of pity flashed in William’s eyes. Sharino also perked up, curious about her answer.
“Uh…”
Leni thought quickly.
Her father was from Aquilium and fought for King Tigrinu.
Judging by his expression, William was favorable toward Kiabec.
Aquilium and Kiabec were enemies.
She had a bad feeling that if her father’s true identity was revealed, she would be treated harshly.
She decided to be vague.
“It’s a long story, so to speak.”
A lonely smile appeared at the corner of William’s mouth.
“Who here has a short story?”
“Yes, I suppose so.”
Leni lowered her gaze, wearing a gloomy expression.
Would that make her look pitiful enough?
She needed to earn their sympathy.
When she thought the fate of her future depended on her acting, William spoke again.
“Leni, was it? You have a good eye for blades. That’s good. Will you help me? There’s a pile of weapons that need repairs.”
“Yes! I’d be glad to!”
Knives were better than needles.
If she was lucky, she might even be able to hide a dagger.
To escape, she first needed to secure weapons.
Leni jumped up, then politely put her hands together in front of her.
“Thank you for your compliment. Whatever you order, I’ll do my best.”
She knew showing too much enthusiasm would raise suspicion.
Thwack!
William’s hand struck her back firmly.
Caught off guard, Leni gasped and staggered forward.
William laughed heartily at her reaction and winked at Sharino.
“I’ll take the newbie with me, Sharino.”
“Go ahead. I’ll stay at the stables.”
Sharino nodded and left the room, then looked back.
“By the way, Leni, the captain asked me to tell you something.”
“To me? What is it?”
“He said, don’t even think about running away.”
Leni flinched, her cheeks twitching, but she smiled casually.
“Of course not. I’d never think of that.”
Sharino passed by the stables and headed to the training grounds.
A fierce clashing of swords echoed through the large open area fenced with rectangular wooden posts.
Blayden, who was overseeing the sword training of the trainee knights, saw Sharino and approached.
“How did it go?”
“I entrusted her to William as you instructed.”
Blayden nodded and thought of Leni.
The way she wielded her dagger from horseback was unusual.
Using a hair ornament as a weapon, not waking up at dawn even after drinking sedative tea — she was no ordinary kid.
He was curious to see how she would manage to be thrown into a place full of spears and swords.
“How was their attitude toward you?”
“It was a reassuring atmosphere. I deliberately acted kindly.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. They seemed to think, ‘If they’re like this, we can easily handle them and escape.'”
Hah.
That innocent face probably gave everything away.
“Anything else unusual?”
“They seemed to know a bit about weapons.”
“Really?”
“Yes. When they saw William’s hooked blade, they immediately said it was for assassination.”
William was a master swordsmith.
Besides being skilled at tempering steel, he had plenty of combat experience, so he modified traditional designs to create practical weapons.
William’s hooked blade was probably used by an assassin squad, so it was surprising they recognized it.
A boy who looked like a weed growing in the forest said it best: a little kid is more suited for swordplay than kisses.
Now I understand how Martin Skalson must have raised his daughter.
“Good work, Sharino. Keep watching closely. You never know what kind of nonsense that kid might get up to.”
“Watching isn’t hard, but… Captain,” Sharino puckered her lips, then lowered her voice, “do you think that slave could be a spy?”
She hesitated as if unsure if she should say it. Did she think they weren’t a spy?
“Enemies sometimes come bearing the face of an angel.”
“Huh?”
“It means you should be wary of those who seem least like enemies.”
Blayden said this sternly and nodded.
It meant she should leave, but Sharino didn’t move.
Her gaze held worry as she studied him.
“By the way, Captain, are you alright?”
“What?”
“I hadn’t noticed that wound before.”
Blayden quickly lowered the hand he had raised to his cheek.
He must have been unconsciously touching the area where Leni had attacked him.
“What’s a wound to this face?”
Despite the nonchalant reply, Sharino didn’t feel at ease.
That wound wasn’t there yesterday.
There had been a banquet last night; had he gotten into a fight with one of the cheeky nobles?
No, rumors had spread that Princess Kiabel, who had been secretly conspiring with the enemy, was caught while trying to escape and was beheaded.
People whispered that it was the Red Wolf who captured and executed her.
Was that true?
He’s the kind of man who wouldn’t flinch even if cut by a sword in battle.
But just now, his expression showed pain.
Since he had been close to the princess from childhood, perhaps he felt conflicted.
“Go now,” Blayden said sharply.
His eyes said to get lost if she wanted to comfort him.
“Yes.”
Sharino swallowed her words and turned away.
As she left the training ground, a pale young page brushed past her.
The page hurried to Blayden, who was returning to training, bowed deeply, and whispered,
“Sir Rehat, His Highness the Prince wishes to see you.”