Safe & Sound in the Arms of an Elite Knight: Volume 1

Later that night, Lloyd stepped outside to practice his swordwork, his forceful grunts echoing through the darkness. Swordwork and strength training had been staples of his regimen for years. A knight should train far above and beyond the call of duty! he would often say.

The night was overcast, but that did little to hinder his keenly honed vision. His yard was spacious—likely designed to accommodate a knight’s daily training—and completely overgrown. Long blades of grass and weeds swayed in every direction across its unkempt surface—except where he stood. There, where he carried out his training regimen, nothing grew at all. It was a most curious sight to behold.

Completing his one-thousandth practice swing with a grunt, a peculiar thought crossed his mind: starting today, he would be sharing his home with someone else. What a strange feeling, he thought. He had lived alone for as long as he could remember, and the feeling hadn’t quite sunk in.

He had been contemplating hiring Chloe as his housekeeper since before he came home that day, but after witnessing her exceptional housekeeping skills and attention to detail, he was certain she was the right choice for the job.

The agreement was swift and mutually beneficial, yet Lloyd couldn’t shake his concerns. Will I be able to live up to my duty as her employer? he wondered. Having dedicated his life to the sword, he lacked experience connecting with his fellow human beings in general, much less a young woman of similar age. He was worried that he would do something unbefitting as her employer, that he was going to do something to make her dislike him—just imagining the possibility of the latter made his chest feel strangely heavy.

He recalled something Freddy had said to him in the past, I think you should involve yourself more with people—it’ll help you come out of your shell. Though he couldn’t say for certain, he felt that perhaps this was what Freddy had meant. With that thought, he began to feel a little more optimistic.

And…I just need to know, Lloyd thought. Behind Chloe’s sunny disposition and innocent nature, there lurked a past filled with bitterness and pain. Lloyd caught glimpses through her actions and words. A normal sixteen-year old girl wouldn’t prostrate herself on the floor in greeting, nor succumb to such total insecurity. What kind of upbringing could have brought about such submissive behavior?

As he thought about who or what would hurt such a gentle soul, a white-hot rage ignited within him, fueled by his unwavering sense of justice.

Whatever the case might’ve been, Lloyd found himself deeply invested in her story. Where did you live? What kind of life did you lead? What made you come to the capital? He would ask when the time was right.

As he waded through his thoughts, he heard Chloe call out to him. “Lloyd! Thank you for the bath!” she said, coming out of the house and trotting over to Lloyd.

“All done?” Lloyd asked.

“Yes, it felt great!” replied Chloe. “Oh my! I didn’t notice because it was so dark, but were you practicing with your sword?”

“I’m just training, yes.”

“You must’ve worked up a sweat! I’ll draw you a bath.”

“No need. This isn’t enough to make me sweat.”

“I-I see… That’s a knight for you, I suppose!”

It was then that it happened.

The clouds parted, and a beam of moonlight shone down from the heavens, illuminating the scene.

It all happened so fast.

Chloe gulped. She froze.

Noticing something was amiss, Lloyd asked, “What’s wrong?”

Her gaze was transfixed on one particular object—the longsword Lloyd had been using for practice. Its silver blade took on a menacing gleam in the moonlight.

She let out a shriek and collapsed onto her knees.

“Hey, hey!” Lloyd sheathed his sword and rushed to Chloe’s side.

◇◇◇

It all happened so fast.

After finishing her bath, Chloe had walked outside and over to where Lloyd was practicing. The moonlight peeked out from behind the clouds, casting light on Lloyd’s longsword.

Its silver blade shone in the dark—just like the knife her mother had used to try and kill her.

Chloe’s pulse surged. A cold, clammy sweat broke out across her body, and her blood froze. It felt like there was a lump of coal in her throat. She couldn’t breathe.

“What’s wrong?”

She couldn’t offer a response to Lloyd’s question.

Images of that day flashed through her mind: Isabella’s crazed figure, her ear-piercing screams of anger, and the deadly knife hungry for her blood.

Chloe screamed.

“Hey, hey!”

The moment she collapsed, Lloyd was already by her side.

She clutched at her chest. Her breathing was ragged.

“What happened? Are you okay?”

She couldn’t respond. She continued to gasp and heave.

Lloyd recognized that she was going into a panic attack. He dropped down to his knees and put his hands on her shoulders. “Hey! Stay with me! Can you look at me?”

Chloe did not see Lloyd. Her gaze was vacant and unfocused. “No, no! Please! Forgive me! I-I’m sorry!” Tone dripping with fear, she apologized to someone who wasn’t there.

Lloyd’s instincts told him this was serious. Chloe was in distress. At this rate even her breathing would be at risk.

Lloyd, however, remained calm—he had been through much worse than this. He sifted through his memories looking for a way to…

Then, he remembered. He’d endured a panic attack once. He remembered calming down after being embraced tightly and patted on the back. He swiftly wrapped both arms around Chloe and squeezed, replicating what was done to him back then.

Chloe let out a small whimper, but he did not let go. He continued to hold her tight.

“You’re safe now. Everything’s okay,” he uttered in the most gentle voice he could manage. He patted and stroked her back with utmost care, as if handling the world’s most delicate treasure. Her body was even smaller than he expected. He was overwhelmed by an urge to protect. “There’s no danger here. You can rest easy.”

After the initial shock of contact wore off, Chloe began to calm down. The soothing warmth of Lloyd’s body heat and the reassuring sensation of his hand on her back slowly brought her back to reality. With every gentle stroke, with every quiet whisper, Chloe felt her palpitating heart quiet down. Lloyd’s warmth, scent, touch, and most of all his presence returned calmness to her being.

“Better?” Lloyd asked.

Chloe gave a small nod of her head. “I’m… I’m sorry.” The first thing that occurred to her after regaining her composure was to apologize.

“What are you apologizing for?” said Lloyd, patting her twice on the back. “For now just focus on your breathing. Deep breaths. In and out…”

Following his instruction, Chloe slowly breathed in, then out—in, then out.

After giving her some time, Lloyd spoke again, “Did my sword scare you?”

Chloe’s body twitched at the word. Then, she gave a small nod. “Just a while ago, I…I had a knife pointed at me—I was being chased. I thought I was going to die—I-I…”

She felt his embrace tighten. Lloyd’s comforting scent wafted into her nose and she went limp.

“You don’t have to explain,” he said with another pat on the back. “We can talk things over when you’re able.” He tried his best to bend his stilted delivery into something reassuring.

Something warm stirred within Chloe’s chest. Not the anxiety-induced palpitations from earlier, but a steady, reassuring pulse. “Yes,” Chloe said with a slight nod. As a warm blush spread across her cheeks, she gripped Lloyd’s clothing and held on tight. “Thank you.”

“Think nothing of it.”

For a little while, Chloe remained in Lloyd’s embrace.

◇◇◇

“Can this damn thing heal already?!”

In a bar within the unruly South District of the capital, a certain bald man—real name Alan—and his two lackeys sat around a low table.

“Me too, boss… My back is killing me—feels like I got whipped.” Alan’s blonde-haired right hand man, Giusto, whimpered as he nursed his back.

“Me too! I’ve been traumatized…”Alan’s left hand man with the bowl cut, Mush, picked up the thread. “I haven’t been able to eat anything with onions since…”

“Nobody asked you.”

Giusto’s verbal jab was interrupted by Alan slamming his glass on the table. “Who gives a shit? All I know is that I’m pissed off!”

“Same goes for me.”

“Aye, aye!”

The two goons nodded in affirmation. The fracas two days prior still stoked their ire.

Out in the middle of the pouring rain in the Middle District, the gang had attempted to forcefully pick up a lone runaway girl—“attempted” being the operative word. A lone young man passing by had thwarted their efforts. Annoyed, they wanted to hurt him a little, just to teach him a lesson, but were instead thrown out on their backs. Alan escaped the encounter with an injured neck; Giusto was nursing a bad back.

Mush came out with a phobia of onions.

They got what they deserve! one might say. Serves them right! one could argue, and of course, they’d be right. But these were three men who saw nothing wrong with abducting a young girl; their loathing of the young man who had humiliated them would not be so easily dismissed.

“Ahh, damn it! Just thinking about it is pissin’ me off even more. That punk!”

“Yeah. Next time I see him I’ll give him a piece of my mind… Maybe even two—no, three pieces.”

“I’ll grind minced onions in his eyes and make him cry!”

Conventional wisdom would tell you not to mess with someone who’d just easily beat you one-on-three, but there was nothing conventional nor wise about this bunch.

Bearing witness to this conversation was a rotund, middle-aged fellow. A greasy, mirthful laugh escaped his lips as he observed them with great delight.

“Whaddya laughin’ at, Morgan!” roared Alan.

“Oh nothing, I was just thinking about how our very own braggadocious brawler over here so easily had his ass handed to him! The irony is delicious indeed,” Morgan, a local celebrity of the South District, said with a self-satisfied smirk.

“Shut yer trap! If it weren’t for my neck that kid would be face down in the dirt!”

“Oh, but I thought he was the one that injured your neck in the first place?”

“Quit nitpickin’! Anyways, the point is as soon as my neck gets better, I’m gon’ grind my boot in his face!”

“If you’ll see a doctor, it’ll heal up right away, you know?”

“Whaddya think I’m made of, money?!”

Morgan shrugged his shoulders. “Alright, alright, settle down now. If you’ll just listen, I have some information that might be of interest to you.”

“What information?”

A crooked smile flitted onto Morgan’s face. “That kid you were talking about, I happen to know of someone who fits the description.”

To the sound of his clattering chair, Alan abruptly jutted his body forward. Giusto and Mush, too, opened their eyes wide and pricked up their ears.

“Tell me right now, you bastard!”

“Easy now. You know I don’t work for free. Information…comes at a price.” Morgan opened up his hand to reveal five outstretched fingers.

“Five hundred Crowns? Say less. Wait right there.”

“That’s fifty thousand, you oaf!”

“Fifty thousand?! Yer the one that’s outta your mind chargin’ fifty thousand!”

“Fine, suit yourself. You’re free to keep drowning your troubles in this dingy ol’ bar if that’s what you want,” said Morgan, reclining back in his seat. “Now tell me, what’s it gonna be?”

Alan clenched his fist with murderous rage. “Give me a week. I’ll getcha the money.”

Morgan’s mouth twisted into a wicked smile. “Appreciate the business.”

◇◇◇

“You’ve really done it now, Chloe…”

The next morning, Chloe lay on the living room sofa as memories of none other than last night flashed through her mind—how she had frozen at the sight of the sword, how her heart had begun to beat out of her chest, how Lloyd had embraced and held her so tight.

Chloe let out an anguished warble. She covered her face with her hands and flailed about on the sofa. Her body felt hot—and oddly sweaty.

Thank goodness I’m on the first floor. If she were on the second floor, the whole house would’ve shook with how much she was flailing about. The previous night, Lloyd had offered her the bedroom again, but she had insisted on sleeping on the couch. A second night on the bed would’ve been too much, she argued.

What have I done what have I done what have I done what have I done.

She still couldn’t believe what had happened. Her regret was almost tangible.

To be fair, what had happened last night was beyond what anyone could predict. At the sight of Lloyd’s sword, her whole body had gone into panic mode, stricken by an irrational fear that the weapon would be used to hurt her once more.

“And here I thought I was all better now…”

It seemed that the trauma ran deeper than she thought. But then again, what sixteen-year-old girl wouldn’t be severely traumatized by her own mother trying to kill her?

Chloe had learned to repress her negative emotions—showing weakness in that household was a surefire way to invite abuse. Memories, however, were not so easily repressed. The bad ones stay with you, no matter how hard you try to convince yourself otherwise. They lurk, somewhere deep inside, waiting for anything at all to trigger them to resurface, just as they had yesterday.

But, triggers and trauma aside, there was another, equally pertinent reason for Chloe’s current state of agitation: Lloyd had held her in his arms impossibly close for an impossibly long time.

Oh, the shame that she felt.

Of course she knew that Lloyd had only done what needed to be done—Chloe was in crisis, and he had pulled her out of it. There was nothing more to it. In fact, she was beyond grateful that Lloyd had the presence of mind to take action.

Still.

Chloe emitted another quavering cry.

The embarrassment hit all the same.

Afterwards, Lloyd had pulled away from her as if nothing had happened and said, You must be tired. You should sleep for the night, then led her back to the bedroom. On top of that, he even offered her a cup of warm water and told her, Drink this, it’ll help you relax. His flawless gentlemanly behavior tugged at her heartstrings.

But, Chloe knew she couldn’t afford to lose her cool here. If she let her emotions affect her work, that would defeat the entire purpose of her being here. She wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip away. She was going to be a good housekeeper.

She exercised her strong mental control in an effort to purge the shame from her head. Perhaps she was not not quite successful, as the shame still lingered, but at least she was able to regain her composure. Next, she focused her mind on what was truly important now.

“Alright. Time to make breakfast.”

Mentally reset, Chloe hopped off the sofa.

◇◇◇

“Morning.”

“Good morning!”

Lloyd shuffled down to the living room just as Chloe finished preparing breakfast. Perhaps still hungover from a poor night’s sleep, he looked visibly frazzled.

“Ah!” Noticing something, Chloe trotted over to him. “Your bedhead is awful!” she said, reaching up to pat down a particularly stubborn lock of springy black hair. “There, all better.”

“Unnoticed cowlicks are a swordsman’s shame.”

Chloe stifled a laugh with one hand. “Where did that come from?!”

Lloyd was—for some reason—now wide awake.

“What do you usually do for breakfast?” asked Chloe.

“I either go without it or have a meal bar, whole.”

“And that’s enough to keep you going?”

“Of course. Back in the jungle I often went without food or water for three days and three nights.”

“This jungle does sound like quite an awful place… Well, in any case, breakfast is ready! It’s a fairly simple affair but if you would like some, please help yourself!”

Lloyd’s eyes widened in surprise. “You made some?”

“Yes! I thought it would be a nice change of pace.”

“In that case, I guess I’ll partake.”

Lloyd took his seat at the table and Chloe brought over a deep dinner plate. On it was a steaming hot dish of a rather coarse, crumbly matter topped with a very generous drizzle of a thick, gooey honey-like substance. A faintly sweet aroma wafted from the dish, stimulating Lloyd’s appetite.

“Here,” said Chloe, handing him a spoon.

Lloyd scooped up a heaping spoonful and shoved it in his mouth.

He stopped mid-bite.

“H-How is it?” inquired Chloe.

After savoring the first bite, Lloyd removed the spoon from his mouth. “This is good,” he uttered simply. Its crunchy, crumbly texture gave way to the decadent flavor of honey and butter, all garnished with just the faintest hint of chocolate taste. All in all, a most satisfying combination of flavors engineered to jumpstart his groggy morning brain and start the day right.

“Yay! So happy to hear that!” Relieved, a look of happiness bloomed across Chloe’s face. “Here, try it with some coffee; I think you’ll like it.” She gestured at the already poured cup next to him.

“I see.” He took a sip. “Yes, I do.” The bitter coffee cut right through the sweetness of the dish and refreshed his dry palate—a perfect marriage, a match made in heaven.

Lloyd continued to munch and sip away, when a certain thought crossed his mind. “I don’t recall having anything like this in the house.”

“Oh, I used your meal bars,” replied Chloe.

Lloyd blinked his eyes in surprise, speechless.

“I didn’t know when you would leave for work, so I wanted to make something simple and easy to eat. The meal bars already taste mildly like a chocolate cookie, so all I did was crush them, warm them up, then drizzle butter and honey over top.”

“You really know how to work your magic,” Lloyd said, praising her ingenuity.

Back home, Chloe was used to improvising dishes out of whatever she had on hand, as the neglectful kitchen staff had often failed to replenish their provisions on time. Because of this, she had developed a good understanding of the mechanics behind flavor and texture combinations—this morning’s concoction was but a simple application of theory.

“M-Magic? I’m flattered…” Chloe said, scratching at her cheek.

“Have you eaten?” asked Lloyd.

“Yes, of course.”

“Good.” He paused. “Did you sleep well last night?”

“Yes! Yes, I did. Thanks to you.” Being reminded of last night’s events, she fidgeted uncomfortably. But, knowing full well that Lloyd’s question had come from a genuine place of concern, she tried her best to counter in good faith. “I must’ve caused you a lot of trouble…”

“You’ve done nothing that warrants an apology, so please, don’t.” Lloyd cut her apology short.

Chloe spoke after a brief pause, “Y-Yes, of course. Thank you.”

“Good.” Lloyd flashed a rare smile, then returned his attention to his breakfast, which he cleaned up in no time. “That was a welcome delight first thing in the morning; thank you.”

“You’re very welcome!” Chloe replied with a smile, basking in Lloyd’s approval. Being appreciated for her efforts truly was a joy in and of itself.

Her gaze then dropped, fixing on Lloyd’s sword hung at his hip. She reacted audibly.

“Sorry, I should have known better.” He hurriedly attempted to hide it behind his back.

“No, no! I’m fine, I’m fine!” Chloe interjected. “It seems that I’m okay when it’s still in its scabbard. It must be something about the blade itself that’s the problem—the light, the edge…”

“I see.” He let his sword fall back into place.

“Sorry for the false alarm.”

“Not to worry. We’ll revisit this later.”

The root cause of her newly discovered trauma was yet unknown. Perhaps it was the sight of any blade, or perhaps it was simply because she hadn’t been mentally prepared last night. At any rate, the limits of her condition would need to be explored.

As Lloyd got up to leave, Chloe accompanied him to the entrance.

“I’ll be back by evening. What about you?” Lloyd said.

“I was thinking I’d take you up on your offer from yesterday and go out to buy some necessities.”

“Right, I did say something like that, didn’t I…” he thought for a moment before continuing, “Will you be all right going by yourself?”

“I’ll have you know that I’m a proper adult! I can handle a daytime errand or two.”

“Is that so? In that case, when you leave the house, take the street on the left and follow it all the way down. You’ll reach a merchant district. It’s fairly safe there. The shops there cater to nobles, and there are plenty of guards on patrol.”

“Okay! Then I will do all my shopping there. Thank you for that.”

“No problem. Oh, and money…right.” Lloyd took out a few silver and gold coins and handed them to Chloe.

“Th-This is too much!”

“Think of it as an advance on your wage. Feel free to spend whatever’s left over on anything you like.”

“Oh, okay! Thank you again, for everything.”

“Pay it no mind. Very well, I’m off then.”

“Have a good day!” With a small wave of her hand, she saw Lloyd off.

◇◇◇

“Wow…”

The royal capital, North District, Merchant Quarter, Main Street—as she strolled down the avenue, Chloe marveled at the sights before her.

“So this is the capital… Amazing…”

As she had first set foot in the capital under the rain and totally exhausted, and then spent the next few days holed up in Lloyd’s home, this was her first real look at the city.

Colorful white-, brown-, and red-brick masonry abounded.

An endless throng of people and carriages came to-and-fro.

It was truly a sight she would never see back home.

The quarter bustled with activity. Fancy boutique storefronts were interspersed with buzzing street stalls, creating a lively, bazaar-style atmosphere. Pedestrians—perhaps nobles, if Lloyd was to be believed—strolled by in fancy, put-together outfits. Here, Chloe felt safe. She didn’t even feel the need to buy anything—she was having fun just being there.

Chloe herself, in fact, happened to be wearing a certain embroidered dress, making her no less presentable than the ladies around her.

“Thank you, Lily,” she muttered.

Indeed, it was the same dress that she had snatched off that chair back on that fateful day. The same dress that she had worked so hard to embroider the night before. Surely no one would blame her for taking it as recompense for the many, many embroideries she’d been made to stitch, right? Lily definitely wouldn’t miss it—this was but one dress out of hundreds she had lying around.

The dress had kept her alive in the freezing cold mountain passes, and it was keeping her nice and warm now, on this cold, wintry day. Though she had never thanked her sister for anything up until this point, she felt that this was a good place to start.

“Right! I’m supposed to be shopping!” Chloe snapped back to reality. She almost forgot she was here to buy necessities for her new life at chez Lloyd.

“Okay. First up is…” Not stopping to take in any more sights, Chloe navigated her way over to a reasonable-looking general store selling daily necessities and sundries.

There, she helped herself to a variety of personal effects: towels, tableware, clothing and the like—anything and everything she could think of.

Walking past a display of various cosmetics and small cute accessories, she stopped. “Oooh…”

Well, who could blame her. She was a sixteen-year-old girl, after all.

Her eyes were particularly drawn to a small accessory in the shape of a flower. After asking the clerk, she learned that it was called an “earring”. Chloe’s sister had often adorned herself with necklaces and rings, but this was a vogue that hadn’t yet reached the interiors of the Ardennes’ domain. An accessory you wear on your ear? How exciting.

Feel free to spend whatever’s left over on anything you like. That was indeed what Lloyd had told her. She stretched a hand out towards the pair of earrings but stopped herself. No, I shouldn’t… Something like that wouldn’t suit me anyway. She shook her head to try and rid herself of the temptation.

Her low sense of self-worth rearing its ugly head again, Chloe compromised and instead picked up a pink hair clip with a ribbon design. It wouldn’t be responsible of me to spend my first payout on something frivolous like that anyway.

This hair clip, though—completely different. It was cute, necessary, and utilitarian. She needed something to hold her hair out of the way when she was doing chores, and it just so happened that she had lost hers somewhere over the mountains.

After fully rationalizing the purchase in her head, she headed towards the till.

“Appreciate your patronage!” the clerk said. “That’s quite the haul you got there, miss. Are you gonna be okay by yourself?”

“Oh yes, of course! I made my way over the mountains with much more than this,” Chloe replied.

“The mountains? I’m not sure about all that, but take care getting home!”

“Yes, thank you!”

She stuffed her purchases in a newly purchased shoulder-slung sack—or rucksack, as it was known in the capital—and headed out.

“Let’s see… Next up is…”

Chloe decided to buy some more clothes next. Heaving the bulging rucksack onto her back, she set off towards the next store.

◇◇◇

“Okay! Now all that’s left is to sort out what’s for dinner.”

By the time Chloe finished procuring everything for herself, the sun was hanging low in the sky. Her rucksack was bursting at the seams and paper bags hung from her right hand. Provisions for the night’s dinner she would have to entrust to her left hand. She wasn’t worried—she still had tons of that country strength left in her.

At first, she considered patronizing a purveyor of fine foods catered towards nobles, but after careful consideration of Lloyd’s diet and lifestyle, she figured that he wasn’t terribly picky.

With that in mind, she decided instead to buy from one of the many value-oriented streetside stalls that dotted the main street.

Provide good cooking without breaking the bank! That’s my job!

Of course, the only job she had actually been charged with, as per Lloyd, was to keep the house clean. But it seemed that all of that had gone out with the wind.

For thirty minutes, Chloe performed some market reconnaissance, scouting out each and every stall. Eventually, she found herself in front of a stall run by a stout, spry-looking older woman. “Come one, come all! We got onions on sale!” the proprietress barked at passersby. Her stall was well-stocked with everything you could possibly need to cook a decent meal—vegetables, fruit, meat, and fish, all at reasonable prices. On top of that, her stall seemed like quite the people’s choice; a steady stream of passersby flowed in and out, each leaving with a purchase. A man who looked like a stall attendant hung around the register area.

“First time here, sweetie?” The stall proprietress called out to Chloe.

“Oh! Um, sorry are you talking to me?” A bewildered Chloe stammered back.

“No I’m talking to the ghost behind you—yes I’m talking to you! You’re new around here, aintcha?”

“Why, yes, but how did you…?”

“Sweetie, I’ve been running this stall for twenty years without a single day off. You come around with all that luggage of yours, I know you’re not here to visit.”

“Wow, how very perceptive of you!”

“What kind of merchant would I be if I wasn’t! Anyway, take your time sweetie, enjoy your shopping.”

Chloe took a look around. All the produce looked fresh and appetizing, a sign of a very perceptive merchant indeed.

Still, what should I make tonight…? Stricken by indecision, her eyes began to wander.

Back home, all ingredients and groceries were procured for her, and the meals from the past few days she whipped up from leftovers and on-hand ingredients. When it came to making a meal from scratch, this was all uncharted territory for her.

“Thinkin’ about what’s for dinner?”

“Yes, I’m not quite sure what to make…”

“I getcha, I getcha. It’s hard to keep things fresh when you’re in the kitchen every single day.”

Chloe laughed uncomfortably. Better not let her know it was actually her very first day.

“What does your lover like?”

“L-L-L-Lover?! No, no! It’s nothing like that!”

“Husband, then?”

“H-H-H-H-Husband?!!! It’s even more nothing like that! Wh-What makes you say that?!”

“I see it in your eyes, sweetie. You’ve got the eyes of someone who’s fixin’ to make a meal for a certain special someone.”

“I-I do?!” She stuck her hand to her face. A soft warmth shot down her fingertips. I—huh?! Why is my face so warm?

The woman laughed and continued her line of questioning. “Well? Who is he?”

Chloe hesitated for a moment. “Well, he’s not my lover or my husband, but yes, it’s for me and him…”

“Oooh.” A hint of glee flickered in the merchant’s eyes. “So? What does he like?”

“I’m not quite sure what he likes yet, but he did mention he doesn’t like bell peppers.”

The woman let out an inquisitive, drawn-out three syllable laugh. “Newly acquainted and still feeling each other out, eh?” she said, to no one in particular. Then, turning to Chloe, “In that case, what do you think he would like?”

Though she was worried that she was standing precariously close to the wrong end of a grand misunderstanding, Chloe decided to tap into the woman’s expertise. “Well, his job involves physical labor, so I think he’d appreciate something hearty and filling.”

“Ah! Now that we can work with. How about something with chicken?”

“Chicken! That’s a good idea! That does sound very filling indeed!” She remembered the first night’s pot-au-feu, with its generous chunks of bacon and sausage. There was a high chance Lloyd was a meat lover at heart.

“We just got some fresh birds in this morning; I’ll give ya a little discount.”

“Wow, thank you so much!”

“And chicken this time of year should go in a stew, whaddya think?”

“A stew! Yes, that does sound amazing! I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.”

“Oooh we’re cookin’ now! Let’s see…for a stew you’ll need…”

She led Chloe around, suggesting and picking out ingredients for her. She gave out well-reasoned, thoughtful explanations for her choices, much to Chloe’s delight. As they shopped, the woman merrily greeted other customers and engaged in small talk, ensuring that everyone who walked away from her stall also walked away with a great big smile on their face. Seeing that, Chloe recognized that some customers came by just to talk to her.

“Thank you sweetie! Make sure you come back now.” With a warm smile on her face, the woman waved her hand at Chloe as she was about to leave.

“Thank you for everything! Especially the stuff you threw in for free, I really appreciate it!” Chloe said. At the register, the woman really had given her a lot for free. So much so that she felt just a little guilty about it.

“Don’t sweat it. Consider it a lil’ housewarming gift. Good luck to ya!”

“Y-Yes, thank you!”

Chloe couldn’t help but feel they were on two different pages here, but brushed the thought aside. She’d managed to get dinner sorted, and that was all that mattered.

With her left hand now full as well, Chloe set out for home. Well that’s why her stall is so popular, she thought. Now I need to hurry home and get dinner started!

Chloe’s mind conjured up images of the night’s dinner in anticipation. She just couldn’t wait to see Lloyd’s reaction to the very first bite. She began to pick up the pace when she suddenly stopped and planted her feet in front of a city park. “Oh my…”

Right next to the park entrance was a tree. Next to the tree stood a girl, maybe around five or six years old. She had a worried expression on her face, and gazed upwards at the tree. She had fluffy, soft-looking golden blonde hair that ran down the length of her back, and a pair of big blue eyes. She wore a frilly dress, fitting for the young daughter of a well-to-do family.

Chloe looked around. The young girl was alone; there were no adults to be seen.

I wonder what’s wrong… she thought.

Curious as to the girl’s plight, Chloe approached her. “Excuse me…”

The little girl turned to look at Chloe and tilted her head in confusion. “…A moving lady?” It appeared that she thought Chloe to be in the middle of moving house. A reasonable misunderstanding to make considering how much luggage she was hauling.

“Just a shopping lady, actually. Is everything okay?” Chloe replied.

The girl pointed upwards to the crown of the tree. Following her direction, Chloe looked up to see a kitten crouched on a branch, quaking in fear. Perking up her ears, she could hear it meowing faintly.

“I think that poor kitty’s stuck. I felt bad, so I couldn’t just leave it.”

“I see…” replied Chloe. What a kind-hearted young girl!

“Can’t we do something, Miss Shopping Lady?” She looked up pleadingly at Chloe, a sense of unease emanating from her eyes.

Chloe, of course, was not about to turn down this precious girl’s request. Maybe I could bait it down with some food? Or maybe grab its attention with a branch? No, wait. If it’s scared, it won’t be able to come down by itself in the first place…

Chloe looked up again at the tree. She gauged it to be about three stories high. Slowly sweeping her gaze downwards, she observed thick, sturdy-looking branches sprouting out from a well-gnarled trunk.

In that case… she thought. The corner of her lips upturned into a small cheeky smile. “Wait right here.”

“Huh?” The young girl watched on, wide-eyed, as Chloe dropped her bags on the ground and removed her rucksack. By the time she caught on to what was happening, Chloe already had all four limbs off the ground. “M-Miss Shopping Lady! Be careful!”

“Don’t worry about me! I can handle this much!” With a confident declaration, Chloe scampered up the side of the tree and reached the kitten in no time.

“Here, kitty, kitty! Don’t be scared!” She beckoned the frightened kitten over with an index finger. Despite being at quite the perilous height, Chloe showed no signs of fear—in fact, she almost looked as comfortable up there as she did standing on solid ground.

With an air of practiced ease, Chloe slowly coaxed the kitten over to her. “Good kitty!” She grabbed the kitten and stuffed it down her dress collar, before dexterously descending back down to the ground.

“You’re amazing, Miss Monkey Lady!” The young girl had watched the entire sequence of events unfold with an expression of pure astonishment.

“Is this your kitten?” Chloe asked, gesturing at the kitten. Its big head popped out of her collar; it was grooming itself, seemingly feeling very safe.

The young girl shook her head.

“Oh I see.” Chloe said, freeing the kitten from her dress. The kitten trotted a few steps away, turned around to give Chloe one final meow, then darted off.

“It thanked you, Miss Monkey Lady!”

“Miss Monkey Lady…?”

“How did you climb the tree like that?! Teach me, teach me!” The girl asked, eyes glittering with excitement.

Chloe, as a born-and-bred country girl who grew up next to a forest on her estate, could offer no more than a, “Just, y’know…?” in response. Since she had often played in the treetops with Shirley, it was a skill that she and her kinfolk had taken for granted.

“Thanks, Monkey Lady!” With an aggressive bow of her head, the young girl thanked Chloe for her little act of heroism.

“Y-You’re welcome…”

“Millia!” At that moment, a beautiful young woman with glossy, light pink hair approached the two at a swift pace.

“Ah! Mother!”

“What have I told you about running off on your own?”

“But staying at home is so boring!”

The heartwarming exchange brought a smile to Chloe’s face.

“And who is this, Millia?” the mother asked.

“This is Miss Monkey Lady!”

“Miss Monkey…?”

“Oh no, I’m sorry! You see…” Before the mother could jump to any conclusions, Chloe hurriedly gave a brief explanation of what had just transpired.

“Is that what happened…? I apologize on behalf of my daughter. She really can be quite the handful sometimes. Go on Millia, you apologize too now.”

“I’m sorry…”

“No, no, it’s fine! Please, raise your head!” Having never had anyone bow to her before, Chloe was flustered at the sight.

“I must thank you for playing along with her whims. Look what happened to your lovely dress! Please, I must make it up to you somehow.”

“No, no, no, that’s absolutely fine! It was really nothing at all!” Having already broken it in on the mountainous trek over, Chloe didn’t mind her dirtied dress in the slightest.

“May I ask your name, at least?” the woman said.

“I’m—my name is Chloe.”

“Chloe, what a lovely name. I’m Sara, pleased to make your acquaintance,” she said with a slight bow of introduction.

Rattled, Chloe responded with a hasty bow of her own.

Sara let out a brief giggle of amusement. “Please, no need to be so formal. Make yourself at ease.”

“Y-Yes, thank you.”

A gentle smile broke out on Sara’s face.

Chloe’s first impression of Sara was of a kind woman who would never threaten her daughter with physical harm. Their conversation continued for a short while longer, broaching topics like Chloe’s day out shopping and her dinner plans for the night, and by the end of it all, Chloe’s fondness for Sara had only grown.

“Well, it’s been a pleasure, but I must get going. My husband will be back soon,” said Sara.

“Oh, yes of course! I’m sorry for keeping you!”

“Not at all; I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. I hope we meet again someday.”

“Of course! Until next time!”

“Bye-bye, Miss Monkey Lady!” With an exaggerated wave bidding her farewell, the young Millia trotted up next to her mother, taking her hand.

“How wonderful.” Chloe watched as the two made their leave. So that’s what a normal mother-daughter relationship is like, she thought.

When Chloe was growing up, Isabella had never shown her so much as a hint of motherly affection. Not in the business of missing something she never had, Chloe never felt particularly strongly about its absence—in fact, she even found it to be a bit liberating. But then again, she’d be lying if she said she didn’t romanticize it just a bit.

And having just witnessed it firsthand, that yearning got a teensy bit stronger. Before her thoughts could spiral too far, she shook her head and chased them from her mind.

It was time to hurry back and get dinner started. Chloe set out on her way home once more.

◇◇◇

Lloyd returned by evening, same as the previous night. Greeting him again at the door was Chloe.

“…Welcome back.”

“I’m home—” Lloyd froze in his tracks. Chloe wasn’t prostrated on the floor like the night before, but something was clearly amiss. Her voice lacked energy, her gaze aimlessly drifted to the floor, and her shoulders drooped. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Chloe let out a strained laugh. “And here I thought I was doing a good job of hiding it… What was I thinking, trying to deceive a knight…”

“No, it was quite obvious,” Lloyd shot back. “So? What happened?”

“It seems that I’ve discovered a critical weakness in my housekeeping skills.”

“A critical weakness?” Intrigued by Chloe’s unusually solemn expression, Lloyd unintentionally furrowed his brow as well. Chloe’s gaze wandered around the room as if she were struggling to bring up a particularly difficult subject. Finally gathering the courage to speak, she locked eyes with Lloyd and confessed, “It seems that…I’m unable to use a knife!”

◇◇◇

That afternoon, Chloe had successfully purchased a kitchen knife—or perhaps managed to would be a better way of putting it.

Okay Chloe, you can do this. You’re just buying this knife. No one’s holding it. All you’re doing is buying it. As Chloe approached the knife display, her whole body began to tremble. Fragmented memories from that fateful day flickered through her mind. Pushing through them, she managed to complete her purchase. Although it was a far cry from the panic attack she experienced the other day, the ordeal was still distressing nonetheless.

Will I be able to use a knife like this…? she’d thought at the time.

Her gut instinct would later prove to be true.

Before preparing dinner, she first made her rounds cleaning the house. Then, when the time came, she gripped the knife and—

“My hand was…shaking so much. I couldn’t hold it properly—let alone cut with it.”

Chloe sat on the living room sofa, one hand gripping the other, as she explained the situation to Lloyd, who was sitting across from her. “A housekeeper who can’t even hold a knife? That’s unheard of. I-I’m so sorry, this must come as such a disappointment to you.” Chloe bowed her head deeply. How can you be a competent housekeeper without being able to use a knife? He’d be justified in firing me on the spot.

Oblivious to the thoughts running through Chloe’s head, Lloyd’s gaze remained fixed on her. He rose from his seat, moved closer, and knelt in front of her. “You know, I’m terrible at sewing.”

“…I’m sorry?” Bewildered by the abrupt change of topic, Chloe cocked her head to one side.

“Terrible doesn’t even begin to describe it. I tried it once and couldn’t handle it. The small needle going in and out and in and out and in and out… I thought I’d be driven mad.” Lloyd grimaced as if recalling an unpleasant memory. “I’m terrible at all tasks that require any sort of finesse, frankly. The same goes for cooking, cleaning in tight spaces… They’re all just things I’m not suited for.”

Slowly but surely, Chloe began to see what Lloyd was getting at.

“What I’m trying to say is, we all have things we can and can’t do. That much is obvious. No one is perfect, so I’m not expecting you to be.” He looked at her with his usual serious, deadpan expression. “There’s no need to berate yourself over a knife.”

With a single sentence, Lloyd cut through all of Chloe’s past struggles and left her vindicated. For far too long, her world had expected perfection from her. The vitriol she faced if she fell short—sometimes even if she didn’t…

Lloyd continued, “Besides, you have many exceptional skills apart from cooking. Cleaning, for one. And—for what it’s worth—I thoroughly enjoyed all the meals you managed to make without a knife these past few days.”

“Y-You’re far too kind…”

Having thought she’d get scolded or fired, Chloe was instead showered with praise. Her expectations were so far off the mark she was more confused than happy.

“Not to mention our original agreement was for you to keep the house clean, first and foremost. Cooking was never a part of that. What would I be if I got angry at you for that?”

“Th-That’s right… But still!”

“You’re diligent, so you try to take everything on by yourself. I’m appreciative, but it is by no means necessary. As I said, we all have our strengths and weaknesses, and when it comes to the latter, we should reach out for help.” Lloyd locked eyes with Chloe. “Rely on me. Don’t struggle alone.”

“Lloyd…” His name escaped her mouth as she choked back emotion. He was so kind, so considerate. She couldn’t have asked to run into a better person to be her employer.

“So? What do you need me to do?” Lloyd stood up and asked.

Chloe’s gloomy composure cleared up into a sunny smile. “I still hate to trouble you, but in that case, could you cut chicken into bite-size pieces for me?”

◇◇◇

Later that evening, Chloe and Lloyd sat around the living room table, piping hot dishes of her cooking set out between them. After giving thanks, the pair took up their spoons and dug in.

“This is good.” One bite into the evening’s main dish—a chicken and tomato stew—and Lloyd’s tongue was greeted with the rich, unctuous flavor of slow cooked chicken. The beautifully prepped chunks of chicken meat—so tender they could be flaked apart with a spoon—intertwined with the tangy tomato, the sweet onion, and the aromatic garlic to form a wonderfully complex yet harmonious dish.

“It goes great with bread too!” Chloe playfully jested.

“Very well.”

Lloyd heaped up a hot and fluffy piece of baguette with some chicken and mushroom. Then, after giving it a generous topping of tomato sauce, he brought it to his mouth and took a bite. “This is the devil’s bread, no doubt,” he muttered in reaction.

After the second bite, third bite, fourth… Lloyd showed no signs of slowing down.

“I’m glad you like it!” said Chloe.

“I do, very much. Today’s training was extra rigorous, so something filling was exactly what I needed. What a great, muscly dish.”

Chloe burst out into laughter. “Muscly! That’s a new one.”

A nourishing dish worthy of a working man had been her main goal for the night’s meal, so it seemed that she had at least hit the mark on that one. Chloe proudly pumped an imaginary fist.

“Um, thank you again for helping out, by the way.” Halfway through dinner, Chloe addressed Lloyd again.

During dinner prep, Lloyd had stood in for Chloe and cut the chicken—and the onions, the garlic, and the bread. As it turns out, his knife skills were not too shabby.

“Of course. You could say cutting is my area of professional expertise. As someone who cuts through enormous straw dummies regularly on the job, cutting through chicken is child’s play.”

“R-Right, that is true…” Chloe couldn’t help but feel some of the nuance behind the word “cut” had been lost in translation.

“Judging by your culinary prowess, you must’ve been able to use a knife before,” said Lloyd.

“Yes. You could say that back home I did wield dual roles in both kitchen and home.”

“Dual wielding, eh? Incredible. Even among the Order, few knights can boast of that.” Lloyd nodded deeply in agreement.

“You’re being silly!” Lloyd’s misguided reply tickled Chloe’s funny bone.

“The point is, if you could use it before, you’ll be able to use it again, so there’s no point losing sleep over it. If you ever need something cleaved in the meantime, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Yes, thank you. I’ll definitely call on you if I need anything…cleaved.” Chloe let out another small giggle.

“Did I say something funny?”

“I’m sorry, I suppose I just find your choice of words oddly amusing,” she said, stifling another giggle with her hand.

Not at all dissatisfied with her playful retort, Lloyd’s lips rounded into a subtle smile.

◇◇◇

“How was the town?”

After dinner, the two found themselves in the living room, relaxing on the sofa.

“It was so much fun!” Chloe said, face lighting up. “The buildings were all so big, there were so many people, and the shops—my goodness, the shops! It was never-ending! First, I went to this general store on Main Street, and they had so many goods that I—Oh! They had this one thing…”

Starting with her purchase of a complete set of personal effects, Chloe gave an animated account of the day’s events, from her memorable encounter with the lovely grocery stall lady, to her unexpected run-in with the young girl and the cat on the tree. She talked and talked and talked, walking through her entire day in chronological order when suddenly she stopped in her tracks. “I-I’m so sorry! How long have I been talking for?”

“It’s fine. It sounds like you enjoyed yourself,” Lloyd said with a warm smile on his face. The way she managed to portray something as simple as a day out as a grand and amusing adventure warmed his heart.

“Do you not go into town that often?” asked Chloe.

“I keep it to a minimum. I don’t like to drink, so I suppose the only time I go is to buy food.”

“Really? That’s a shame! You should explore the town! I’m sure you’ll find something you like!”

“I think I’d rather watch you explore instead.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?!”

“It means exactly what it means,” Lloyd replied, a hint of a teasing smile on his face.

Chloe puffed her cheeks in protest. Then, an idea floated into her mind. “Then…would you like to join me the next time I go?”

“Into town?” Lloyd’s eyes widened.

“Yes…if you don’t mind, that is.”

“Someone as dull as I am? I’ll only put a damper on things, you know.”

“That’s…that’s not true… It’ll be fun—I promise.”

Lloyd carefully considered Chloe’s words for a brief moment before answering. “I’ll try and make time.”

A brilliant, frame-worthy smile broke out on Chloe’s face. “Yes! I’ll be looking forward to it!”

A tinge of discomfort tickled his chest, and Lloyd turned his head away from the little bundle of joy that was currently Chloe Ardennes—it was almost as if there was something he didn’t want her to see.

“Lloyd? Is something the matter?”

“…That hair clip. Is that new?”

Taken aback by Lloyd’s brazen attempt at changing the topic, Chloe was left momentarily perplexed. Yet her confusion quickly dissolved, giving way to an even greater surge of joy. “Y-You noticed…”

It was the very same pink hair clip with a ribbon design that she had picked up at the general store. The one that was cute, necessary and utilitarian.

“A knight must be able to pick up on even minute changes in their surroundings. I had already noticed when I got home, I just didn’t feel the need to bring it up until—what’s wrong?”

Lloyd noticed Chloe was unusually fidgety—squirming, even, and a faint rosy blush adorned both her cheeks. Never having dealt with a similar reaction from a member of the opposite sex, he was at a bit of a loss.

“Nothing, I’m just happy.”

“I don’t recall saying anything that would make you happy?”

“Well, you see…it makes a girl very happy when you notice something small like that.”

“Is that how it is?”

“That is indeed how it is.”

They both fell silent for a moment.

“So…what do you think?” Chloe spoke up first.

“Think about what?”

“It’s not…weird, is it?” An embarrassed Chloe put her hands on her lap and cast her gaze to the floor.

Lloyd attempted to give his honest opinion, but the words hitched just shy of his throat. That was…strange? Perplexed by his own response, he paused, composed himself, then tried to string together a response once more. “It’s not weird. It looks great on you.”

Upon hearing that, Chloe’s face lit up like a lantern. “Thank you…for that.”

The smile on her face was bubbly like that of a child who had just received a present from her parents for the first time.

Lloyd attempted to turn his head away once more, but this time, he was too late.

She saw it—his cheeks, tinged with just the slightest hint of blush.

Though he hadn’t realized it yet, something had shifted with him. The warm glow in his chest and his oddly quickening pulse were surefire signs of change that stirred within Lloyd’s heart.

◆◆◆

“What do you mean you still haven’t found her?!”

The Kingdom of Rose, Margraviate of Ardennes, Shadaf—Isabella’s rage echoed throughout the estate.

“A-Apologies, milady. We’ve dispatched all servants to assist in the search, but we’ve been unable to locate her,” the head maid meekly reported.

Isabella sat on a sofa and hurled her drink at the head maid’s feet, shattering the glass vessel. Its contents seeped out, forming a puddle around her.

Suppressing a shriek, lest she be reprimanded, the head maid trembled silently in fear. An entourage of maids-in-waiting hurriedly swooped in and swept away the remains of the glass—their haste in no small part motivated by fear also, no doubt.

“We’ve dispatched all servants, we’re still unable to locate her—I’m tired of hearing it!” Isabella’s rage knew no bounds.

It had been two weeks since her daughter Chloe had disappeared.

Upon her disappearance, Isabella had contacted Harry, her eldest son and the current head of the Ardennes household, who in turn oversaw the search order.

Manpower for the search had been limited to servants of the Ardennes household. Many townsfolk still held a grudge against Chloe for her perceived role in the recent plague and famine, and it would’ve chipped at the house’s reputation if news spread that their daughter was missing. Resolving the issue internally was crucial.

“Milady, we’ve searched nearly everywhere of note! It may be worthwhile to consider the possibility that she is no longer within our domain!”

“Enough of your nonsense!”

The Ardennes’ domain was a valley basin flanked on all sides by mountain ranges. On top of that, it was winter. By carriage, it was a three-day journey through treacherous snow-capped mountain terrain to reach the plains beyond. Leaving on foot in this season amounted to no less than suicide.

Although items and supplies had gone missing from Chloe’s room, Isabella would not even humor the possibility that she had left their domain. In her mind, Chloe was hiding somewhere, biding her time.

Isabella was furious. She couldn’t believe that ungrateful little brat would do such a thing to her. Sure, she had gotten a little emotional that day, but running away from home? Preposterous.

The faster they found her, the better. She’d teach her to never leave home again.

Of course, in the back of her mind lurked the possibility that Chloe had indeed attempted the crossing but perished somewhere over the mountains, but that would be inconvenient. She brushed the thought from her mind.

“Keep searching. Pick over every nook and cranny if you have to. She’s still here, I know it!”

“Y-Yes, milady!”

With that, the head maid took her leave. Isabella slumped back in her seat and emitted a guttural snort. “How irritating.”

Chloe’s disappearance had caused Isabella considerable stress. Not just because she was gone, no, but because since her disappearance, the quality of cooking at the estate had declined considerably.

Unbeknownst to Isabella, Chloe’s culinary prowess, honed through Shirley’s tutelage, rivaled that of chefs who ran restaurants in the capital. Finding someone to replace her was not so simple a task.

It wasn’t just cooking either. All kinds of housekeeping-related matters around the estate had fallen into decline since her disappearance. The true extent of the household servants’ reliance on Chloe’s competence was quickly becoming apparent.

Isabella, as prideful as she was, would never admit it.

The only emotion she would admit was the white-hot rage she felt towards Chloe for running away.

“Hmph. No matter. That brat. She’ll see her folly and come crawling back soon enough.”

She turned a blind eye to all of it—the skills Chloe had forged through years of hellish existence, the cracks that had begun forming in the estate in her absence…

Rejecting the truth, she poured herself another glass.