“Ah.”

What a foolish thing to do.

Startled, Gopher opened his hand, and the sparrow flitted to the windowsill. It was no surprise, given the commotion he had caused, but Bleria was looking his way. His ears burned.

“What exactly were you doing?”

“It… it looked like something dangerous was flying toward you…”

“A sparrow?”

“…”

“You have quick reflexes, though.”

With that, Bleria pulled a small paper bag from her pocket. Inside were cookie crumbs.

So that’s what drew it here, Gopher thought, suppressing a hollow laugh.

“Come here.”

Bleria scattered the crumbs on the windowsill. The sparrow, glancing nervously at Gopher, pecked at the pieces while keeping an eye on him.

Bleria’s lips subtly softened as she watched.

Cats, sparrows… she must like animals.

Gopher’s gaze slid to her cheek.

As he had noticed the previous day, Bleria looked well. Her complexion was rosy, and her eyes sparkled with vitality. Though she seemed a little tired, possibly from lack of sleep, that energy remained undimmed.

Perhaps because of her newly dyed hair, she looked like spring, caught and held within her.

“Not the expensive kind the wealthy eat, but a cheap imitation snack. It’s barely sweet, though the color is pretty close. Gamblers love it as a go-to snack.”

Lies.

No matter how much she tried to disguise it, her hair couldn’t possibly look as worthless as a cheap snack.

Gopher found himself regretting not seeing her original hair color. He began to miss the snowy white hue he had never witnessed, his longing becoming more blatant.

Bleria seemed to notice his stare and tilted her head.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Do you want one?”

“Yes.”

His response was reflexive and not surprising. He took the cookie she offered and popped it into his mouth. It was an oatmeal cookie with almonds.

As Bleria continued to watch him chew, Gopher felt compelled to comment on the taste.

“It’s good.”

“Is it…?”

Her expression suggested she had expected something else.

At that moment, the sparrow, finished with its meal, took off into the sky. Distracted briefly by its flight, Gopher heard Bleria speak again.

“I didn’t think you’d eat it. Not that it’s a waste or anything, but… you look like you’d be picky.”

He wasn’t indifferent to taste, but it was good enough to eat. Whether it was due to the baker’s skill or something else…

“Is this a type of cookie you like?” he asked.

“They’re not bad. I’d prefer them a little less sweet, though.”

Bleria squinted at the thickening clouds and closed the window, firmly securing the latch. As the lock clicked into place, her expression soured slightly.

After a moment of thought, she turned to Gopher and asked, “Where did you sleep last night? I heard inns fill up quickly around this time.”

He hadn’t slept. He had merely paid extra for water at an inn and stayed in his carriage.

“In the carriage,” he admitted.

“The carriage? How long do you plan to stay in Conercio?”

“…”

“And if you can’t find a place to stay, will you just sleep in the carriage until you meet Mixel?”

“…”

He had come to Conercio when he found Bleria with no plan whatsoever.

It was uncharacteristic of Gopher, but he hadn’t been himself for some time.

As he stood silently, rain began to fall sporadically, then in earnest. Bleria sighed.

“There are still many windows to fix.”

“Yes, I’ll get started—”

“You can use the guest room until they’re done.”

Gopher’s mouth fell open.

He knew, of course, that this didn’t mean she was opening her heart to him or returning to the way things were. And yet, his chest tightened, a swelling of emotion he couldn’t suppress.

He had lied about being Mixel’s friend, making him a suspicious stranger. Allowing such a person into her home and offering a room wasn’t rational.

And so, he couldn’t help but wonder.

Perhaps even if Bleria’s memories are gone, the emotions from before remain. Maybe there’s a trace of how she once loved me.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Make sure to find a proper place within a week.”

He answered with a slightly cracked voice, “Yes, thank you.”

***

The bell jingled as the door opened. Courtney, who had been wiping a table, greeted the customer without looking up.

“Welcome!”

When she finally glanced up, her words caught in her throat, and she was relieved she had spoken first.

The man was extraordinarily tall. His shoulders seemed twice as broad as most, and despite his ample chest, his slim waist prevented him from appearing bulky. His well-tailored clothes hugged his long legs, their fabric flowing gracefully as he walked.

His unsmiling face was austere, yet his features were so strikingly sculpted that even the severity of his expression seemed elegant.

What’s going on in Conercio these days?

Courtney couldn’t help but recall the occasional breathtaking beauty who frequented the bakery and stifled a groan.

If only Aaron could see this man, he’d stop dreaming about becoming an opera star.

She regretted that her nephew wasn’t there to witness it.

The stranger surveyed the shop briefly, then approached her.

“One of each kind. Except the sweet ones.”

My goodness, he’s generous, too.

Courtney beamed and replied swiftly, “Of course, right away!”

***

Two knocks on the door, accompanied by the introduction, “It’s Pearl.” The response came almost immediately.

“Just a moment, I’ll be right there!”

The faint voice, muffled by the door, made his chest ache for no reason.

Before long, the door opened, and Bleria appeared.

Her mouth was open as if she were about to say something, closed to a smaller, uncertain size. She blinked several times, and her sunlight-filled eyes sparkled like jewels with each blink.

Gopher captivated, stared into those eyes for longer than he realized, noticing only belatedly that Bleria was looking at him with an incredulous expression.

“When I didn’t see you, I thought you’d left for good, but…”

Her slender finger pointed to Gopher’s chest—the bread bag pressed tightly against it.

“What is all that?”

“A gesture of thanks.”

“I can’t eat it.”

Her firm tone left Gopher momentarily at a loss.

“I’ll eat whatever’s left. Just take what you like.”

“It doesn’t look like this is for two people, but… fine. I’m only eating what I really want.”

With a sigh, Bleria glared at the bread bag as though it were her sworn enemy, then sighed again and asked, “Do you like coffee?”

“Yes, I do.”

“You say ‘yes’ to everything, don’t you?”

It wasn’t exactly the kind of question worth refusing.

Before he could explain, Bleria asked in a lighter tone, “You are looking for lodging, aren’t you?”

He couldn’t answer. It felt like glue had sealed his throat, making any response impossible. Seeing his hesitation, Bleria opened her mouth as if to say something but quickly gave up, her voice tinged with resignation.

“You have a week before I throw you out. Just keep that in mind.”

“…”

“Come in.”

Even after entering the house, Gopher couldn’t ask if he was being a nuisance. He wasn’t confident he could leave even if she said yes.

I’ll be satisfied just knowing she’s alive?

The thought made him laugh bitterly at himself. He was a foolishly greedy man who didn’t know his limits.

Gopher watched Bleria at the dining table, sorting through the bread bag. Though she seemed to be getting on with life calmly, she was still burdened by the stigma of living in hiding, carrying a false identity. Of course, she would find it burdensome for a stranger to keep approaching her.

Understanding that, he knew he should behave more detachedly. But he couldn’t restrain himself.

Just a little longer.

He didn’t expect to see her face forever. This moment wouldn’t last.

Just a little more.

Guilt yielded all too easily to desire. Gopher swallowed his self-reproach along with the dryness in his throat. Perhaps sensing his gaze, Bleria looked up.

“Do you have something to say?”

“…What kind of bread do you like?”

“Either really crispy or soft bread. Nothing sweet.”

“You don’t seem to like sweet things.”

“Only when it comes to bread.”

Bleria frowned slightly, then added, “Don’t buy more.”

Her naturally expressive face was endearing. Gopher quietly carved out a space in his heart to remember that expression for a long time.

“There’s so much that sorting through it took forever. You’ll have to eat the baguette with coffee. This one’s too large, and there’s still some left from before.”

Bleria set aside the baguette and a bread knife, tidying away everything else. Then, she brought a breadboard and two plates and asked him, “Do you know how to slice it?”

“Yes.”

“Do it while I get the coffee. But wash your hands after taking off your gloves, of course.”

As Bleria headed to the kitchen, Gopher followed her instructions.

He had handled swords far more often than knives. Though he had never sliced a baguette before, could it be more complicated than cutting through steel? Indeed, it was easier than fixing chandeliers or windows.

When he finished cutting the last piece into perfectly even slices, Bleria returned.

“…What is this?”

Her voice, undeniably bewildered, left Gopher momentarily speechless.

Setting down the tray she had brought, she picked up one of the baguette slices he had cut and examined it.