“Listen Arlo, I want you to observe that woman well. We’ll be gone most of the day before Lady Paige’s birthday so, I want you to watch over her and make sure she doesn’t do anything that is detrimental to his highness’ name!”

Sir Henry held my shoulders firmly as he looked into my earthy eyes with his frightful blue ones. At his words, I nodded frantically feeling the pain in my shoulders.

He often carried a dignified air so seeing him get this flustered aside from his highness’ antics is quite troubling. Even so, I agree that the miss is indeed somewhat troublesome.

The very next day, after Sir Henry’s order, I immediately went to visit the miss’ room at sunrise. In the corner near her room, I patiently waited.

The miss is indeed scary with a sword but she’s truly beautiful. But Sir Henry is too wary, I mean, she’s just a lost girl with no memories, how can he be so hostile to her? It’s true that it’s suspicious but…

Those thoughts have been in our minds since we met her, we only knew her for a few days but she seemed harmless when we talk to her from time to time. That’s why I doubt that she’s a spy or a forest-kin. Forest-kins are known to be aggressive, aside from the gypsies that visits towns and sell their products.

Well, she’s aggressive like them but she’s nice too! She plays with Lady Paige all the time so I can’t really be suspicious of her.

I pondered. I was nervous because I’ve never done anything such as this but at the same time I was excited. It’s like some covert mission, observing the enemy to exploit their weakness.

“It’s quite fun actually. Hehe…”

“Umm…”

At my chuckle, a maid passing by called out to me. I froze and panicked. How should I explain myself waiting here? My eyes darted in panic as I look for a reason to tell her.

“Good morning Sir Knight, my name is Adele. If you are waiting for Miss Violet, I’m afraid she always leave before sunrise so her room is probably empty right now.”

Before sunrise? She wakes up that early? Where does she go? As I thought—!

While I think of such things, the daemon maid called Adele looked at the window. Outside was the full view of the southwestern garden, where the figure of the miss dancing beautifully with a sword.

“She often wakes up early to swing her sword. Then comes back for breakfast.”

She explained, looking warmly at my target. His highness often eat with the Mastris family so Sir Henry, Captain Liam, Velden and me eat together after his highness. The miss doesn’t eat with us so everyone was curious if she ever ate breakfast.

She was eating fine when we camped out so…

“She eats breakfast? When?”

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“Yes, she often eats with us before the excellencies wake up. The head chef cooks the servants’ breakfast early so we can start with our work early as well.”

She answered, she didn’t have any reason to lie, so I judged that she was telling the truth. I bid my thanks to Adele and ran for the garden.

When I reached the garden, the miss was nowhere to be found. I thought that she might have went inside for breakfast but the servants were still busily doing their chores.

“Good morning, have’t seen you here before.”

Turning my head to the voice, a man wearing a straw hat greeted me. He had wrinkles that showed his age, but he had proper muscles in the right places and the tan showed how much he stayed outside in the sun.

“Ah, are you one of the guests by any chance? If so, please forgive this rude servant. Guests rarely come here this early aside from the sweet miss that helps me.”

He removed his hat, bowed and explained while a childish grin stretched his wrinkles making him look young. He must be the one tending this garden.

Behind him, I saw my target approaching with a sword on her side and a trowel on her hand while a fruit on the other.

“Uncle, can I?”

She called from behind the gardener. Her hair was on a bun and dirt covered her clothes. Even with a shabby appearance she still looked beautiful.

“Oh, sure. You could’ve taken more you know.”

They cheerily talked ignoring my presence. The miss rarely spoke but the gardener continued his monologue, with her listening attentively.

She’s so quiet.

I turned around not to get caught by her. This was my chance to observe her carefully while she hasn’t noticed my presence yet! I hid behind a tree in a hurry while I puzzled the gardener and the miss.

“Where’d he go?”

The gardener exclaimed, puzzled. On the tree’s shadow, I laid low and watched them from afar. It was hard to hear their conversation or rather, the gardener’s monologue from my distance, but I could observe the miss really well from here.

I followed them deeper in the garden and saw her helping the gardener tend to the plants and continued for an hour or so.

What am I doing?

I sighed and hanged my head, the cooly breeze brushed my coffee blonde head. A sweet scent and the smell of earth tickled my nose while I surrender to boredom.

“Want some?”

I jolted in surprise, beside me the miss kneeled with an extended hand. Slices of fruit were placed on a large leaf and offered to me. I was surprised, scared even. When did she—?

“… useless…”

She left the of slices of fruit before she mumbled and headed to the manor. “Useless” it stung really well. I felt contempt at those words. So she already noticed me and saw I was useless too. Did she come here just to mock me?

My fists unconsciously gathered. I was inferior and I understood that. Of all the knights from my platoon, I was one of the weakest. Even though I’m a noble from the prestigious Cuppra and had talent for light magic, I was still inferior from everyone else. Her image leaving looked blurry while my eyes slowly moistened from all the frustrations I’ve felt.

I guess I’ll forever be useless…

I was reminded how I was berated and scolded during training. I didn’t graduate the same time as my platoon. I was held back, I was laughed at and when I was finally recognized as an official Golden Knight, no order wanted me. I was a leftover, but then…

“I know it’s not my business, but I think she wanted to say that it was useless to observe from afar. She just asked for another fruit and cut it up for you, you know.”

The gardener explained behind me.

“Was she worried?”

I realized seeing the slices of fruit she left beside the tree. I looked at the old man while he fanned himself with his hat. In his hand was a basket filled with the same fruit she gave me.

“That miss’ words are so sparse that sometimes you’d misunderstand. But if you know her well enough, she can be quite sweet.”

He said walking away, while he headed the same way as Miss Violet. The scent of cooked food was carried by another breeze and tickled my nose. My stomach grumbled.

“It may be impudent of me, a mere gardener but come, let’s have breakfast.”

My cheeks flushed but I nodded in agreement and picked up the sliced fruit. It was sweet, too sweet, I felt tears form at the corner of my eyes while I took a bite at the sweetest fruit I have ever tasted.

I ate while I thought of Miss Violet as she was just like his highness.