She didn’t want to go to the nearby spring because of unpleasant memories.

“Why are you fetching so much water?”

“She must be making some potion.”

“Who are you trying to kill?”

Even though they knew she needed a lot of water to help with the flower shop, the residents still made snide remarks. Trying to avoid people as much as possible, Chloe ended up making things harder for herself.

She gasped for breath while climbing the steep hill. She felt utterly pathetic for being so distracted by Sylven the day before that she had completely forgotten to tell Aunt Dona about the water shortage.

Trudging along with her energy already drained at the start of the weekend, her steps suddenly halted. Someone had arrived at the well before her.

Chloe hesitated awkwardly until her eyes met the man’s.

A tanned young man with a smile beckoned her over. Then he stepped away from the well and leaned against a tree, gesturing for her to use it first.

As she contemplated running away, he beckoned again. Reluctant to climb up and down the rugged hill again, Chloe hesitantly moved forward.

Despite what must have been frustrating, he neither rushed nor showed irritation, but waited patiently.

“Surprised to see an unfamiliar face? I work at that mansion over there.”

The tall young man bent down low, perhaps trying to match her eye level, and pointed to the mansion visible through the trees.

Situated at the top of the hill, the mansion was so large that it seemed closer than it actually was despite being far away.

“The water channel is still closed, so I came to fetch water myself.”

“I heard the Windalune Trading Company owner’s family has moved into that mansion.”

“That’s right. I’m Abbot, and I serve Mr. Ranbir’s children.”

Chloe glanced up at Abbot while taking out her glass bottles. She had thought only nobles employed servants.

The bucket at the well was already filled with water. Abbot helped Chloe transfer the water by picking up an empty glass bottle.

Still wary, Chloe hesitated to close the distance with Abbot but decided to maintain the manners Aunt Ann had taught her.

“I’m Chloe.”

“Ah, so you’re Chloe? Your eyes really are like violets!”

Chloe flinched at the suddenly raised voice. For some reason, Abbot expressed delight at meeting a child he’d never seen before and moved his hands quickly.

In no time, he had filled all the glass bottles and even took her bag. Faced with such excessive kindness, Chloe seriously considered running away again.

“Haven’t had breakfast yet? Let’s go together. The young lady and young master will be pleased.”

“Why, why would they be?”

“Because you’re friends with Young Master Sylven!”

Chloe could neither confirm nor deny this, only blinking her eyes. Mr. Ranbir had asked her to be friends with Sylven, but calling someone she hadn’t exchanged a single word with a friend felt like lying and made her uncomfortable.

“My family will worry. I left without saying anything.”

After deliberation, Chloe decided to reject the offer indirectly, regardless of the truth.

“I see. What about lunch?”

“…Lunch?”

“Yes, lunch. Come and eat with us.”

“Lunch… I’m supposed to eat with my family.”

Hmm. Abbot stroked his chin and laughed through his nose.

Having reflexively declined again, Chloe looked up as he straightened his back, falling into another dilemma about whether she should change her answer. It seemed impolite, and also like she was throwing away a chance to get closer to her Sorus.

“You two are so alike, I wonder when you’ll ever become friends.”

“Pardon?”

“Let’s go down and ask Aunt Dona for permission first.”

How did he know about Aunt Dona when he had just moved in yesterday? No, before that, how did he even know where she lived?

Without giving her a chance to ask, Abbot hummed a tune as he strode down the hill, casually carrying Chloe’s bag over his shoulder.

Dumbfounded, Chloe stared at his cheerful back before following him.

* * *

Aunt Dona was so excessively honest that it made Chloe’s excuses embarrassing. Perhaps the aunt’s guard had been lowered by the affable young man who was about the same age as her eldest son.

“Lunch plans? Chloe, since when were you planning to come to our house?”

Abbot grinned as if he had expected this. And so, Chloe’s comfortable and quiet lunch alone was thwarted.

Should she go to the neighboring village with Aunt Dona, or have a meal in an awkward and unfamiliar place?

To avoid being caught in a lie, she should choose the former. But she really didn’t want to.

Dona’s family had always been kind to the girl who wasn’t their blood relative. However, there was a clear fence that outsiders couldn’t cross, and Chloe felt lonelier at Dona’s house than when she was alone at the flower shop.

“I didn’t realize today was Saturday.”

“Oh, this child.”

“So there’s no reason to decline anymore.”

Abbot rested his chin on the table and leaned in triumphantly. While Chloe was happy about meeting Sylven again, Abbot’s smiling face was a bit annoying.

He chuckled as he watched her expressionless face chewing on a whole wheat cookie.

Somehow, the three of them ended up having a simple breakfast together before leaving the flower shop. He was truly a man who could steal one’s senses.

Chloe’s eyes fell on Abbot, wondering when he had picked up Aunt Dona’s luggage, like witnessing a pickpocket with dazzling sleight of hand. Taking advantage of the moment when the aunt was calling for a hired carriage, he winked at the girl looking up at him.

What’s with this person?

Chloe was considerably bewildered by this unfamiliar type and her mind went blank. Despite having encountered many people while moving between relatives’ homes, she had never met someone so slick.

“Could you possibly look after Chloe until I return?”

“Of course, the young lady and young master will gladly welcome her. They’ve been saying the house feels desolate with so many empty rooms.”

“That’s very kind. I’ve always been worried about leaving the child alone.”

Chloe watched Abbot loading Aunt Dona’s bag onto the carriage as she listened to her weekend schedule being decided without her input.

“Chloe, I’ll see you tomorrow night! Have a nice weekend with your friends.”

There was no time to object. Even after the carriage departed, Chloe stared blankly at the swirling dust.

Just two hours ago, she had been climbing the hill to fetch water.

The residents of Eb were just starting their weekend morning. It felt like she had been dreaming in that short span of time.

“Let’s go too.”

Abbot looked down at Chloe with a grin and extended his hand. The child, who had been moving sluggishly until then, suddenly jumped and quickly backed away.

His ever-present smile instantly froze. This reaction was familiar to Abbot, who had grown up on the streets.

As her dilated pupils fixed on him, Abbot relaxed his expression and bent down.

“Get on my back.”

“I… won’t run away. I’ll walk by myself.”

“It’s hard for me to slow down my pace. Ah, you want me to carry you in my arms like a princess? I suppose that’s a fantasy at your age.”

As soon as he finished speaking, weight settled on Abbot’s back. Despite the villagers looking curiously at the unfamiliar young man, he laughed loudly, masking his inner pain.

“Chloe, you shouldn’t fall for just anyone who treats you nicely and follow them.”

Why wasn’t anyone stopping a stranger from carrying a child in the middle of the street?

“Should I get off Abbot’s back then?”

“I’m fine. Because I’m handsome.”

“…If you say so.”

“What do you mean? You thought someone like me would be more dangerous, didn’t you? Why aren’t you answering?”

Abbot had fully grasped how a twelve-year-old girl was treated in Eb.

Chloe, who had buried her face against his broad back, only raised her head when the surroundings grew quiet. After confirming there was no one around, she spoke.

“I have a question. May I ask?”

“If you have something to ask, you can just ask directly.”

Abbot held back a sigh at her un-childlike demeanor. A child like this would likely be disturbed by even the slightest sound.

“Abbot works for Mr. Ranbir, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Is Mr. Ranbir a nobleman?”

“No, but he has more money than most nobles. Conversely, he hired people because he lacks time.”

Abbot’s words flowed gently along with the sound of grass swaying in the breeze. Chloe closed her eyes.

“Most employees were vagrants wandering the streets without families. Mr. Ranbir is remarkable—usually, tycoons of his caliber buy slaves from foreign countries. They don’t need to pay proper wages, and there are no legal restrictions on how they treat them. Of course, being a merchant, Mr. Ranbir still brings in people who are worth the cost.”

“Did Abbot wander the streets too?”

“I ran away from the orphanage at seven and hung around with children slightly older than me. I got caught stealing once and was stoned, but it didn’t hurt as much as the beatings at the orphanage.”

Chloe surveyed his neat and tidy appearance. There was no trace of his origins anywhere.

“Our gang had planned to pull off a big heist against the Windalune Trading Company and then leave the continent. We were arrogant enough to believe we could fool them completely, but we were far from it. If Mr. Ranbir hadn’t saved me then, I’d still be wandering the streets. Or dead in prison.”

With Abbot’s hearty laughter, Chloe arrived at the mansion she had only viewed from afar.