Chapter 3.4

The dogs, who had been lying on their backs and showing affection to Marianne, and Marianne herself, who had been crouching to pet them, all turned their gazes to the source of the voice. Feeling the sudden flood of attention, Sylvester gave a small, embarrassed laugh.

“Hello, Sir Sylvester.”

Her tone was calm, but the end of her words carried an unmistakable hint of delight.

“It’s nice to meet you here by chance.”

Sylvester crouched beside Marianne, following her lead. Soon, he spoke again.

“You seem close to the dogs.”

“I hope they feel the same way.”

Marianne said as she scratched beneath the ear of a black dog. The black dog, seemingly enjoying Marianne’s touch, rubbed its face against her palm, letting out a low, contented growl.

“I know these dogs as well.”

Sylvester spoke as he looked at the dogs.

“Really?”

“I’ve only recently gotten to know them. They didn’t seem to like me… so we haven’t gotten close. But now, they’re not running away, maybe because you’re here with me.”

Turning his gaze to Marianne, Sylvester continued.

“I guess my face isn’t one that dogs find appealing.”

Marianne, having pulled her hand away from the black dog, stared intently at Sylvester’s face. 

Dogs do recognize beauty, you know. These dogs are just shy. 

But too embarrassed to say such things aloud, Marianne simply gave a small laugh.

“Well, why don’t you try giving them food next time?”

“…They only seem to care about food.”

“Have you tried feeding them before?”

“I heard about a woman who fed the back gate’s guard dogs on behalf of those responsible.”

Glancing briefly at Marianne, Sylvester changed the subject.

“I knew these guard dogs were the ones mentioned, but I didn’t know who the woman was… turns out it was you, Miss Marianne.”

Sylvester spoke to Marianne with an awkward smile. Of course, his handsome face somewhat mitigated the awkwardness.

“…I don’t know anything about that story, but I did feed them.”

Marianne said as she looked at the dogs sprawled out on the ground.

“These days, I only bring them snacks occasionally. But it’s such a relief that knights are now taking care of them, isn’t it?”

Instead of answering Marianne’s question right away, Sylvester gave a small smile.

“Thanks to you, the Imperial Knight Order has become cleaner.”

“…Pardon?”

“It became quite a topic within the Knight Order. The fact that the knights avoided responsibility and left the care of the dogs to an outsider, nearly leading to their deaths, was a disgrace.”

Sylvester spoke lightly, with a laugh. It was surprising to Marianne that the matter of the neglected dogs had become such a prominent issue, even to the point where the Knight Commander himself, Sylvester, was aware of it. She had thought no one cared about the dogs starving.

“Um, by any chance…”

Marianne began to speak to Sylvester but then stopped. She was curious about who had reprimanded the knights involved in the matter, but she hesitated to ask Sylvester. Besides, even if she found out, she probably wouldn’t recognize the person.

“…I don’t know much about matters outside the Mage Order, but if you’re curious, I’ll try to provide an answer.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just remembered something I’d forgotten.”

“…”

“While I was feeding the dogs as usual, some unfamiliar knights suddenly came and apologized. They thanked me for doing what they hadn’t. But they looked so frightened… I thought they must have been scolded severely by their superior.”

Recalling Sylvester’s use of the word “cleaned up,” Marianne continued.

“I was curious about what happened to them, but I guess they were expelled from the Knight Order.”

“They made a mistake, so they faced the consequences.”

Sylvester finished speaking with a smile. His gentle smile contrasted with his firm tone.

“These guys seem to have used up all their luck meeting you, Miss Marianne.”

Turning his gaze from Marianne to the dogs, Sylvester shifted the subject again.

“Oh… that’s not true.”

Marianne laughed awkwardly and shook her head.

“It’s not easy to meet someone who loves and cares for you unconditionally.”

“…”

“Isn’t that right?”

Sylvester tilted his head and asked Marianne. Instead of answering, Marianne slowly nodded. Even without seeing, it was clear her ears were turning red. Thankfully, her curly hair covered them.

Soon after, a noisy sound filled Marianne’s ears. It was a chaotic mix of footsteps and voices.

“It’s the shift change.”

Sylvester, who also heard the sound, slowly stood up. Marianne hesitantly followed, standing up as well. It seemed like it was time to say goodbye. However, though she thought so inwardly, she couldn’t bring herself to say the words. Marianne froze in place, distracted by the scene behind Sylvester.

As Sylvester mentioned, it was indeed shift change time. Knights who had finished their duties, along with others working within the Knight Order, were pouring out from the main building above. Seeing the flood of people, especially the groups of men, Marianne blinked. Her heart sank without her realizing it.

The small square near the library, museum, and art gallery maintained a similar flow of people both day and night. At night, the library area was even quieter than residential neighborhoods. For Marianne, who worked in such a place, the current situation was something she had never experienced since arriving in the capital.

Marianne always visited the Knight Order Fortress at odd hours when crowds were unlikely. Because the working hours of knights and librarians differed, this had been possible. Up until now, she’d been lucky to avoid such an experience. Watching the bustling crowd, Marianne weakly lowered her head. 

‘Let’s just focus on the cobblestones and shoes in front of me.’

Marianne clasped her hands together. Sweat began to form in her palms. Sylvester, who had been looking at the crowd, turned to Marianne. Seeing her lowered head, Sylvester paused in thought before slowly speaking.

“People working in the Knight Order usually use the back gate. It’s closer to the residential area than the front gate.”

He continued.

“Miss Marianne.”

“…Yes.”

“Good things will happen if you lift your head.”

His confident voice tickled Marianne’s ears.

“…Good things?”

“I guarantee it’ll be something very good.”

Good things? 

Marianne couldn’t predict what kind of good things Sylvester was referring to. However…

‘I’m curious.’

Sylvester’s confident tone and gentle manner soothed Marianne. She wanted to trust him. Resolving herself, Marianne tightly shut her eyes and hesitantly lifted her head. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

Ah. Marianne’s almond-shaped eyes widened into perfect circles. Because Sylvester was now… standing right in front of her. The close distance between the two made Marianne’s thoughts and breath come to a halt.

“The good thing is higher up.”

Sylvester whispered, pointing to his face. Over his shoulder, groups of people were passing by. It was a sight that would have normally frightened Marianne. Yet, for some reason, everything except Sylvester became blurry. Like smeared ink in a water-soaked book.

It felt as though only Sylvester and Marianne remained in the world.

“Do you like it?”

“…”

“The good thing.”

Sylvester repeated, pointing to his face again. A playful grin spread across his features.

“…What is it?”

Even Marianne’s small voice began to carry a hint of ease.

“Some say my face is so scary that it makes everything else fade away, while others claim it’s so handsome that it overshadows everything around it.”

“…”

“I don’t care how others see this face. But… I’d like it if you, Miss Marianne, found it more handsome than scary.”

Marianne glanced at Sylvester, who was smiling, as if she couldn’t believe him.

“My one and only friend once told me that if it weren’t for my face, I’d have been stoned to death long ago. Do you agree with that?”

Sylvester asked nonchalantly. That trivial question began to ease the stiffness in Marianne’s heart little by little.

“I know you think this face can overshadow everything else.”

“…You caught me.”

Eventually, Marianne smiled in response to Sylvester. Following her lead, Sylvester smiled once more.

“Are you feeling a little better?”

“…Yes, I’m fine. It’s embarrassing.”

As Marianne said, a slightly awkward silence settled between them.

“I don’t intend to pry into your matters, Miss Marianne. But I do want to help.”

“Help…”

Hesitating, Marianne slowly spoke.

“How?”

“By sticking by your side like today… and using this face if something troubles your heart.”

Huh? 

Hearing Sylvester’s absurd joke, Marianne burst into laughter. It was truly ridiculous. Yet, somehow, the ridiculousness calmed her heart. Strangely, she felt reassured.

“What if I feel anxious when you’re not around?”

So, half-jokingly, Marianne asked Sylvester.

“In that case, just picture my face in your mind and heart.”