Chapter 3.3

Marianne, a trainee librarian at the Imperial Library, had her day off every Thursday. She worked three days a week from 7 PM to 7 AM and the other three days from 7 AM to 7 PM at the library. 

Her work environment left her spending weeks commuting only between home and the library. Of course, once the word “trainee” was removed from her title, her days off would increase to two. But that was still a distant story for Marianne.

Therefore, it was only natural that Thursday, her sole day off, was more precious to her than any other day. Yet, even on her day off, Marianne found herself heading to the west of the capital, where the library was located. However, she wasn’t setting out to visit the library.

Holding a small picnic basket covered with beige fabric, Marianne walked briskly. Her destination? The Knight Order Fortress.

A ten-minute walk from the library to the outskirts of the capital led to the fortress shared by the Imperial First Knight Order and the Second Mage Order. Only those with guaranteed credentials from the Imperial Household could set foot deep within the fortress. However, the wide outdoor training grounds where knights trained and the beautifully landscaped park were open to everyone, so many people visited the fortress. Some, like Marianne, came with picnic baskets.

But today, Marianne’s aim wasn’t to watch the knights train or relax in the park under the sun. She headed for the back gate of the Knight Order Fortress, not the main entrance.

“What is your purpose for visiting?”

One of the guards at the back gate asked Marianne. Though the back gate was relatively quieter compared to the bustling main gate, security wasn’t lax.

“I’m here to see the dogs.”

After showing her pass to the guard, Marianne waited for entry permission, not forgetting to clasp her hands politely.

“Oh, it’s you. The one who takes care of the dogs.”

Another guard recognized Marianne. It seemed there was a rumor about a strange woman who visited the dogs in the corner of the fortress. Marianne could only remain silent, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Let her in quickly. If we delay and get caught, both you and I will be in big trouble.”

The guard who referred to Marianne as “that person” whispered to the other guard.

“…Pardon?”

Marianne asked the guard who left the cryptic remark. But instead of answering, he shrugged his shoulders roughly and turned away.

Who was going to scold whom? 

She felt puzzled. But she didn’t think she’d get an answer even if she asked further. With a lingering unease, Marianne entered the fortress. The place where the dogs, mentioned by both the guards and Marianne, resided wasn’t far from the back gate.

“Hello!”

Marianne greeted the dogs, significantly larger than those commonly seen in residential areas, with a cheerful hello. The dogs, who had been stamping their feet and wagging their tails even before Marianne approached, barked in response to her greeting.

“We get to see each other twice this week.”

After speaking, Marianne patted the heads of the five dogs equally once each. The five dogs, living in the most secluded corner by the back gate, were once search dogs of the Knight Order but had retired due to old age, now serving as nominal guard dogs. Marianne first encountered these dogs half a year ago.

The librarians often ran errands for books for busy scholars, research mages, or enthusiastic users who were overwhelmed with work. It was a kind of service for regular patrons. No matter how state-run the library was, they didn’t want to appear unwelcoming due to a lack of users.

On the day she met the dogs, Marianne, unfamiliar with the geography of the Knight Order Fortress, got lost. Fortunately, she found a path leading to the back gate. It was on that path to the back gate that she met the dogs.

Marianne was scared that the large dogs, tethered with loose and worn chains, might attack her. But the dogs, lying flat on the ground, merely glanced up at Marianne without any significant reaction.

“…They look like they don’t have the energy to move.”

The dogs literally seemed too exhausted to move. Their fur was unkempt and dirty, and they were so emaciated that the outlines of their spine were visible. All the dogs were in such a state.

Sniff, sniff. The sound that snapped Marianne out of her thoughts was the sniffing noise. The dogs, who had been indifferent, suddenly began looking around and flaring their nostrils. After sniffing for a while, the dogs’ gaze returned to Marianne. For some reason, she sensed an inexplicable anticipation in their eyes.

“What’s the matter…?”

The dogs, watching Marianne intently, began to drool. The scent they were eagerly following soon reached Marianne as well. It was the familiar aroma of bread and stew, carried by the wind.

The dining hall she had passed by a few minutes ago came to mind. Indeed, the kitchen had been wide open to let out the heat. She was convinced that the scent tantalizing the dogs’ noses came from the Knight Order’s dining hall kitchen.

“Could it be… are you starving?”

Marianne asked the dogs. Naturally, there was no response. The dogs only wagged their tails weakly from side to side.

After contemplating for a moment, Marianne quickly walked out of the fortress’s back gate. However, she had no intention of stopping by the library and then returning home as originally planned. Instead, she entered a small bakery that she noticed as soon as she exited the gate.

Using the coins she had left in her purse, Marianne bought a large loaf of bread. It was a slightly dry and plain loaf meant for meals. Tucking the bread under her arm, Marianne returned to the Knight Order Fortress and evenly distributed it among the dogs. The dogs eagerly devoured the bread Marianne carefully handed them. It was clear they had been starving for a long time.

Marianne glanced around. In this secluded area, only the dogs were present—along with a water bowl filled with rainwater and a heavily stained food dish.

After pondering for a while, Marianne walked toward the guards stationed at the back gate. She couldn’t bring herself to leave the emaciated dogs behind. Approaching the tall guard standing to the left of the gate, Marianne brought up the issue of the starving dogs.

“They seem to be unable to eat?”

“…Yes.”

“That’s strange. Someone should be taking care of them.”

“Then, could you tell me who is responsible for the dogs?”

“I wouldn’t know. But one thing is for sure: feeding the dogs isn’t my responsibility.”

The man spoke in a dry tone.

“Come on, whoever’s in charge must be taking care of them properly. You don’t even seem like someone working for the Knight Order, so why bother worrying about these dogs?”

Another guard standing near the tall one chimed in. Marianne couldn’t say much in response to them.

The next day, after finishing her night shift, Marianne headed to the back gate of the Knight Order Fortress. She couldn’t stop thinking about the starving dogs. The dogs she met again still looked weak. However, upon seeing Marianne, they immediately stood up and wagged their tails, as if to express their gratitude for the previous day.

From that day on, Marianne began bringing food for the dogs. She visited them twice a day, once during her commute to work and once after, and ensured she came at least once a week even on her busiest days.

Over the course of two weeks, Marianne learned that the dogs by the back gate were once search dogs used in war by the Knight Order. Now, they had become old guard dogs whose existence was barely known to the knights.

“Is that why they’re not being fed properly…?”

Because they’re no longer useful. 

Marianne mulled over the words she couldn’t bring herself to say aloud, feeling upset. She continued asking the guards and knights if they could tell her who was responsible for the dogs. However, the responses were almost always the same:

“You’re the library’s apprentice librarian, right? Why should we tell you that?”

“Sorry, I don’t know.”

“How would I know who’s in charge of the search dogs?”

“I’ll pass the message along. Though I’m not sure who to pass it to.”

No one wanted to take responsibility for the dogs. Frustrated by the process, Marianne made a decision.

I’ll take care of their meals myself.

It wasn’t an easy decision, considering the meager salary of a trainee librarian. But still… she wasn’t sending money back to her estranged family, and aside from rent and food expenses, she didn’t have many other expenses. So, she thought it might be manageable.

Fortunately, Marianne didn’t have to stretch her small salary any further. She began bringing snacks instead of full meals for the dogs. And the reason for this was…

“We meet in such an unexpected place.”

A man’s voice reached Marianne’s ears. A low, pleasant voice she knew well. Startled out of her thoughts, Marianne looked up at the man.