Chapter 39 – Mute’s folly

The next day, the Inn was open for business as always. The Inn at the same time has a visitor that has become a regular for the Inn. This person was none other than Gundry. He stood in front of the door early in the morning. Felli saw him and was greedy enough to allow him to enter and take two drinks.

Felli ignored him and went to the kitchen. Ramiel, who just woke up stared at the burly tailcoat servant of the lady. He tilted his head and wraps the white cloth in hand around his waist. Walking to the tables he was about to start cleaning when Gundry opens his mouth.

“Can you follow me?”

He gestured just to make sure that Ramiel was able to follow. Ramiel understood but still shook his head in refusal. He knows that fetching for them isn’t that bad. He was, during the last days of spring go to work on minor things. Gundry also taught him a bit of the language while at the same time he was bribed to watch over the lady.

It was an okay job compared to the first time he was asked to something for them. But somewhere inside Ramiel’s head, there is a hesitation. He was sensitive about all of these things. And looking at Gundry, and sometimes the mistress he serves make’s Ramiel cringe. There is something about the two that makes him want to avoid them.

They pay well in terms of the job. But Ramiel, after the first try on working for them put up a guard. He knows that he can’t let it down and actually, not being able to understand them is quite the advantage. So he decided to ignore Gundry and feign ignorance.

But Gundry has seen the look that Ramiel gave him. He sips on his drink. He waggled his wrist for a bit before speaking.

“No need to fear.”

He said while gesturing something.

“What?”

Ramiel did not understand that gesture. He thought that maybe it is some sort of gesture to not be scared. Ramiel, however, did not bother to even look at the burly man and keep on doing what he is paid to do. He arranged the chairs and tables properly. He opened up the windows.

The door opened. Desha entered and immediately went to Felli. Ramiel kept on ignoring the burly man. He was a bit trying to ignore him. But Gundry, who was calmly sitting on the bar’s tool merely sipped on his drink.

He pulled out a bag of silver coins. He spoke.

“I will pay you in advance. The Mistress has something to show. Also, madam Felli, may I coax you into letting the lad come with me? I will pay the ‘fee’.”

Felli peeks out of her kitchen. She looked at the bag of silver coins before pointing her eyes towards Ramiel. Seeing Felli’s eyes, Ramiel sighs and pulled the white around his waist. He then walked back up to the attic, putting the white cloth away and taking his cloak with him.

Glancing at Gundry, Ramiel blankly followed him as Gundry stood up and went to the door.

...

The sun was up high as usual in the town of Tal.

Summer was fully here.

Many of the farmers who are busy rolled with their carts around the town.

Ramiel who was wearing the cloak on his shoulder watching the farmers lined up on the road. He noticed that aside from the carts, there are guards among them. Ramiel doesn’t know about the huge farmland just near the town. So he merely tilted his head.

The sun’s quick blaze of light made Ramiel shield his eyes. Continuously following Gundry until they made it to the high-class district, he was then forced to stay in the living room again.

He waited for the servant again. Gundry went upstairs to inform the lady about his arrival. Ramiel doesn’t know what they want from him. It made him suspicious and put his guard even tighter.

Really, what do they want from me? They can hire anyone other than me, and I am somebody who is not as special as them. I mean, aren’t nobles supposed to be haughty and arrogant? They might be, and maybe they are just hiding it, their schemes.

Ramiel thought in paranoia. He could not help but think about what they want. Whether it was just purely asking someone and paying them for the job. Ramiel could not find any reason why would they keep on bothering him. It is odd no matter how much he tries to ponder.

Ramiel grabs his chin as he thought. His expression was rather odd, as he caresses his chin. The shadows were covering him, and the dim room made him looked creepy.

Gundry walked down the stairs and took a glimpse of Ramiel. He noticed the odd expression he had but dispelled it out of his mind. Moving towards Ramiel, he told him to follow him. The two went up the stairs and arrive at the room of the lady. Gundry instructed Ramiel to get in. He entered the room.

He saw the lady sitting in the same place as usual. Her appearance was beautiful and elegant as usual. And her red eyes focusing on the paper she is writing made her even greater to look at. Ramiel stared at the lady near the door. He walked unsteadily and sat on the chair and was prepared to do nothing again, only for the lady to call out to him.

“Don’t just sit there. Help me by passing the papers down. You will be working for me.”

“What?”

Ramiel’s brain stiffened as he heard the words that came out of the lady’s mouth. He was able to understand it, and not because he suddenly got better in the language of the land. But because the lady, was speaking English, and hearing her made Ramiel baffled.

“H-how?”

“I am a cursed scriber. Why does it surprise you that I am a fast learner? I can decipher dead languages and wrote far more complicated magic scrolls than what you wrote.”

Lady Aubrey said with pride.

“Then...you understand me completely?”

“I do.”

“I see...

Ramiel could not help but somehow grin. Finally, after months of staying in this land, he has found someone who can understand. And because of that, Ramiel let his guard down in an odd joy.