OLOTV 18

Chapter 18

“Go to Aron’s stables?”

After parting ways with the old man and finding myself alone with Keris, I suggested we go to Aron’s stables. Keris, who perhaps hadn’t heard my conversation with the old man, asked in a puzzled voice.

“Of course, inspecting a stable isn’t strange for a territory survey, but why specifically suggest going there?”

“I just have a feeling something huge is waiting for us there…!”

Even I knew it sounded ridiculous and suspicious. But Keris didn’t press further.

“…I don’t know what scheme you have in mind for going to the stables, but I was planning to go there anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”

He was planning to go anyway? Had I unnecessarily taken the lead? But the milk was already spilled. Since we were going, getting there sooner to assess the problem and letting Keris solve it might actually be better. I followed Keris as he led the way.

The stables were located quite a distance from the mansion. We had to walk for a long time before we could see a building that looked like it might be the stables. Just thinking about walking back to the mansion later made my legs ache in advance.

Upon arriving at the stables, Keris knocked on the firmly closed door.

“Who is it?”

Shortly after the knock, a man’s voice called from inside, and the door opened. The person who appeared was a muscular young man with spiky blond hair. This must be Aron. Aron looked at us, seemingly unable to guess who we were at first. He frowned, stared for a while, and then seemed to realize who we—or at least Keris—were.

“My Lord, what brings you here?”

Earlier, with the crowd, perhaps because the attention was dispersed, people hadn’t recognized Keris as the lord, but Aron recognized him immediately. Or maybe Aron was just particularly sharp. Aron initially addressed Keris with formal speech, but his eyes showed he wasn’t pleased with Keris’s presence.

In response to Aron’s question, Keris removed the hood covering his face, glanced back at me once, and answered.

“I was inspecting the territory and came to check if the stables are operating well.”

“When did you ever show interest in our stables… and with a woman no less…”

The last part was muttered so quietly it was almost inaudible, but I heard it. I suspected Keris did too. However, Keris acted as if he hadn’t heard, showing no reaction. Instead, he stepped inside the stables and asked Aron.

“Has there been any problem recently?”

As Keris looked around the stables and asked, Aron hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth to answer.

“You’ve arrived at just the right time, as if guided by spirits. There actually is a problem at the stables.”

“What kind of problem?”

“We were planning to sell the finest horse in our stables to the Baron Alan family some time ago, but the horse that needs to be sold just won’t calm its excitement. I’ve been learning this trade since I was a child, but I can’t figure out the cause.”

Just as the old man had said. Feeling like I’d found what I was looking for, I stepped forward before Keris could even reply, grabbed Aron’s hand, and said with sparkling eyes.

“I see. You must be very worried. We’ll do our best to help you somehow!”

At my action, Aron seemed flustered, his body stiffening and his face turning red as he stammered.

“Uh, but… who are you, Miss, to say you’ll help me?”

“Me? Well… I’m an acquaintance of the Lord, visiting the territory as a guest. Please call me Sarina.”

“An acquaintance? To think he had such a beautiful acquaintance… No, Miss, you don’t need to do anything… No, what am I saying?”

For some reason, Aron seemed flustered in front of me, unsure of what to do or say. I tilted my head, looking at Aron, who refused to make eye contact. Just then, someone pulled me back forcefully from behind. It was Keris. Because of his pull, I naturally let go of Aron’s hand.

“The Alan Baronet family… they’ve maintained a friendship with our family for generations. If the horse meant for such a family is in poor condition, we certainly need to resolve it. Lead the way.”

“…Understood.”

As he said this, Keris somehow looked displeased. Aron also frowned and began to guide us. Since Keris was holding onto me as he moved, I had to stagger along.

“So this is why you wanted to come to the stables.”

Keris said in a low voice only I could hear as we followed Aron.

I pretended not to know what he meant.

“Huh? What is?”

“I don’t know where you heard about the stables’ situation, but what exactly is your scheme…”

Keris furrowed one eyebrow and trailed off. It was because we had arrived in front of the problematic horse. There were other horses around, but the one in the pen we reached had a glossy coat that clearly indicated its high value. And at this very moment, as we arrived, the horse was thrashing about wildly.

“Ha, please calm down, Insok. What on earth is the problem?”

It seemed there were many people working at the stables besides Aron. A man who was barely holding onto the wildly excited horse, which was causing a commotion, muttered with a completely exhausted and tired face. Aron, seeing this, let out a deep sigh and approached the man.

“Is it still like this?”

“Ah, you’re here? This fellow just won’t calm down. At this rate, it’ll collapse from exhaustion and die.”

“Just as I thought… Anyway, you’ve worked hard so far. I’ll take over, you go and rest.”

The man handed the reins over to Aron without a word and trudged away. Aron skillfully took the reins and calmed the horse. Surprisingly, the moment Aron took hold, the horse, which had been causing chaos until just now, instantly became docile. Aron was clearly an expert.

Having calmed the horse, Aron turned to us and spoke as if sighing.

“As you can see, it’s in this state. We can’t send the horse to someone else like this.”

Hearing this, Keris looked at the horse with a serious expression, slightly furrowing one eyebrow. But I couldn’t understand Aron’s words. While it was true the horse had been excited until a moment ago, it now looked perfectly stable.

“But isn’t it stable now? If it’s like this, it seems like you could send it.”

At my words, Aron shook his head.

“Even if it appears docile on the outside, the excitement hasn’t subsided. I’m just forcibly restraining it. And even if it does calm down, if it only stays calm with me around, we can’t hand it over to someone else.”

I had assessed the situation, but I felt lost about how to solve it. I knew nothing about horses. Of course; in the era I lived in, riding horses wasn’t common. So what help could I, someone like that, possibly offer Aron? I’d deliberately come here to improve Keris’s reputation, but there was nothing I could do. The most I could come up with was helping Aron, who was struggling with his work.

‘It might not seem like much help, but doing even that should be good for gaining favor.’

Thinking that, I approached Aron and said.

“Um, is there anything I can help with?”

“Huh? You, Miss?”

“Yes. I don’t know much about horses, so I can’t directly help calm this one down, but I’d like to help with other small tasks if I can.”

Aron looked slightly surprised, as if he hadn’t expected me to say that. I spoke to him again. “Would I just be in the way? If so, I’ll leave so as not to bother you.”

At my words, Aron quickly shook his head.

“No, not at all! Any help would be appreciated. But is it right for someone like you to offer such help…?”

Saying this, Aron scratched his head slightly, looking embarrassed. I carefully smiled at him and added.

“Ah, and our Lord will help too. Right, my Lord?”

Saying that, I looked at Keris. Keris, whose face had been stiff, met my eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. I clenched my fist inwardly. My plan to increase Keris’s favorability was progressing steadily.

But then Aron, who had been looking gentle until just now, hardened his expression and glared at Keris.

“Huh? The Lord is joining too?”

At that, Keris, who had been silent until then, spoke sharply.

“Sarina is my guest, so of course I should help too. It’s only proper.”

Saying this, Keris glared sharply at Aron. Even I, who was watching, flinched momentarily. Aron, meeting Keris’s gaze, flinched slightly, unlike his initially assertive self. It seemed that, no matter what, he couldn’t maintain a hostile attitude towards the lord of the territory he lived in.

Watching this, I thought to myself.

‘Is this going to be okay…?’