Chapter 13

“……What?”

“I hope you won’t let this chance slip by.”

My mind went blank. In my letter, I’d only written that I’d been put in charge of managing Duke Albarant’s dragon. I hadn’t written a single word about the Duke’s training offer — so how did the Matron already know?

Seeing me startle and shift in my seat, the Matron nodded as if she understood exactly why.

“Rumors travel like the wind. And Duke Albarant is quite the famous man in his own right, in more ways than one.”

“That’s……”

“There was talk going around about an amazing trainer who managed to calm His Grace’s dragon.”

The Matron set down her teacup.

“And not long ago, the Duke came to visit the orphanage.”

“……”

“He made a generous donation, and even brought a priest along with him. Thankfully, the priest was kind enough to lay hands on the children who needed healing.”

A smile hung at the corner of the Matron’s mouth — a soft, genuinely relieved sort of smile.

“Among them, the children who show an aptitude for divine power have gone to the temple. It’s a fortunate thing. Of course, only the ones who wanted to go, went, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

“……And you, Matron?”

“Me? The priest looked me over too. Maybe that’s why my joints don’t ache anymore. It’s lovely.”

The Matron moved her arms and legs as if to show off. Before, even that small motion hadn’t been able to hide the stiffness and discomfort underneath it, but now there wasn’t a trace of it left.

“I’m so glad. I’m really, truly glad.”

“Well, then, that’s good. So, Litia — don’t you worry about us, and don’t let the chance Duke Albarant offered you slip away.”

The Matron’s eyes were gentle, but unyielding — the same look she used to give me when no amount of stubbornness or whining would move her an inch.

“His Grace told me himself. That he wants nothing more than to entrust the training to you. But that you won’t easily change your mind, and it’s weighing on him.”

“Matron, that’s……”

“Litia.”

She cut me off, low and firm.

“There’s nothing left for you to worry about now, is there? My health, the children’s health, the support that the empire always fell short on providing — all of it’s been taken care of. And still, I hope you won’t make the foolish choice of kicking away a chance like this, out of some notion that you’re doing it for our sake.”

Saying that, the Matron took my hand in hers. A hand mottled with calluses and burn scars.

“You worked until your hands ended up like this.”

“Matron, this is……”

“That’s right. You always said, like it was a habit, that this is just what happens when you work hard. Even so, who could possibly deny that it’s proof of how hard you tried?”

A smile settled into the wrinkles at the corners of her mouth.

“I only hope that effort of yours pays off.”

“……Matron.”

“Seeing you do well is my greatest joy.”

Then, just as gently, she added, teasing:

“If you insist on being stubborn about this…… I might just get angry, you know?”

My mouth fell open at that. I could feel how much she meant it.

“M-Matron.”

“What does it matter if we go a few years without seeing each other? We both know the other is well. And besides, I’d love to brag that our orphanage produced an amazing dragon trainer.”

She said it playfully, but her intent was unmistakable.

Don’t worry about the orphanage. If I used worrying about them as an excuse to turn down this chance, she’d be angry with me.

No — wait, isn’t this basically an unanswerable combo, Matron?!

“No……!!”

“Well, I’ll be on my way, then. Sorry for taking up so much of your work time.”

“Matron!”

“Oh my, I think my hearing’s starting to go with age.”

I watched her saunter off, idly poking at her ear as if she hadn’t heard a thing, and my mouth just hung open.

No, the Matron I know isn’t like this?! Give me back the real Matron!

“I’m going crazy.”

Unable to bring myself to actually stop her, I just stood there, scratching my head. I had a guess as to why she was doing this. It feels strange to say it about myself, but she probably figured I wouldn’t listen unless she went this far.

A sigh escaped me.

“You really talked her into it, Duke.”

Since I wouldn’t budge on my own, he’d gone straight to the orphanage and erased the very reason I had for feeling tied here. Honestly, that’s the kind of thing only a protagonist out of a novel or a webtoon would pull off.

Laughing helplessly, I started walking. He’d gone this far for me — standing around doing nothing wasn’t the proper thing to do in return.

The Duke was out at the training field with Kazen. Kazen, who’d been stretched out lazily with his head resting against the Duke, lifted his head sharply the moment he spotted me.

“Did you have a good talk? Trainer Litia.”

“Thanks to Your Grace’s consideration.”

“Consideration is a strong word for it.”

He answered as though it were nothing, stroking the scales along Kazen’s neck. I decided to bring up something I knew would catch his interest.

“I’ve thought over the proposal Your Grace made.”

“Hmm.”

At my words, the Duke didn’t turn his head. Whether it was deliberate or not, I couldn’t tell — his manner was carefully ambiguous.

“I accept your proposal, Duke.”

“I’m not sure what proposal you’re referring to.”

Oh, look at this. Playing dumb now, are we?

It was oddly funny, honestly. But there was no need to rush, so I answered just as casually as he had.

“What a shame. After all the effort you went to, Duke, only to forget your own proposal. Should I take it that it’s off the table, then?”

“Saying that while knowing perfectly well what you’re doing — I can’t decide whether you’re fearless, or simply foolish.”

He finally looked at me. His blue eyes, cool and sharp, glinted keenly.

“I extended that goodwill as I pleased, so it’s just as much my choice whether to take it back. Isn’t that right, Trainer Litia?”

“Of course it is. But the moment you do, I’ll wash my hands of everything concerning Kazen.”

At that, the Duke paused. Feeling his gaze sharpen further, I smiled brightly all the same.

“As I’ve said before, there are plenty of trainers more experienced and more capable than I am.”

“……Ha. That’s rich.”

After a cold laugh, he stretched his long legs and closed the distance between us in a few strides.

“Good. If you’ve had a change of heart, that’s a welcome thing on my end as well. Shall we go over the details, then?”

“That’s exactly what I was hoping for, Duke.”

I decided to think of it as a good thing.

He’s got a face dripping with plot armor, so at least my eyes will be happy, and I get to work with an Agrix dragon, and I’ll get to see places outside the capital too. That’s not bad at all, is it?

It wasn’t that the orphanage didn’t weigh on my mind at all, but if I arranged things carefully when drawing up the contract, I might be able to find a way to make time regardless.

“I’ll guarantee your days off and your benefits. A trainer who’s finally won Kazen’s favor deserves at least that much, I’d think.”

“Thank you for saying so, Your Grace.”

“Read through the contract to confirm the particulars.”

I went over the contract carefully. And there, written out, was exactly what I’d expected.

“Making sure Kazen gets along with the dragons belonging to the ducal house’s knights is the top priority, I see. So socialization really was the thing worrying you.”

“You’d already guessed as much?”

“There was never going to be any problem between you and Kazen, Duke. If anything, it’s the ideal case. For anyone who rides dragons, moving as one body with your own dragon is the stuff of dreams.”

The Duke’s eyes flickered, just slightly. I smiled back at his surprised-looking gaze.

“You can tell with just a little watching. Besides, you never once skipped flying with Kazen whenever you came by, did you?”

So of course I’d notice. Let’s see anyone try to look away from the sight of a dragon as beautiful as living flame, with a tall, handsome man riding on its back.

“……May I ask about this part? ‘Should the trainer personally judge that additional training is required, an incentive will be provided.’ This part, here.”

“It’s exactly what it says. Who would know more about a dragon’s training than the trainer herself? So if you find some shortcoming I’ve missed, tell me. I’ll see to it you’re well compensated.”

“Hmm……”

He had a point. Honestly, I wish every one of my clients were like the Duke. It’s always better for both sides when things are left to the expert, rather than to someone who stubbornly insists on something they half-overheard somewhere as if it were gospel truth.

“If a matter like that does come up, could we settle the details of the additional compensation at that time?”

“No reason we couldn’t. Were you planning to add a clause for it?”

“I’ll write it myself.”

With the details settled that way, I pressed my seal to the contract and tucked it away.

“Then I’ll do my best, starting now.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it. Showing results worth what you were paid — isn’t that the proper attitude for an expert to have?”

A smooth smile rose to the Duke’s lips.

“After making me wait this long, I’d hate to be disappointed. Trainer Litia — the one who passed the dragon trainer’s certification at the youngest age on record, with the highest score on record.”

“……I’ll keep that in mind.”

He only smiled, saying nothing more. Watching him smile with that plot-armor face of his was certainly a treat for the eyes, but something about it felt oddly unsettling.

Ah. Something about this feels off.

It was the kind of feeling you get when you know there’s something enormously important you’re forgetting, and you let it slide anyway, uneasy but unable to place it — the exact pattern that ends with you realizing, much later, just what you’d messed up, and regretting it bitterly, or getting thoroughly chewed out by someone above you.

Whether or not I felt this nameless foreboding made no difference — the Duke rose from his seat.

“Well, my business here is finished, so I’ll need to head back to the duchy before long. I’ll give you three days — get ready.”

“……What?”

“Wasn’t it written in the contract? ‘Remain in the duchy until the required training is complete.'”

“No, but I didn’t think you’d be leaving so soon……!”

“Trainer Litia. What’s more pointless than sitting idle in the capital with nothing left to do here?”

His voice dropped so low and cold that it felt like the temperature around us had fallen all at once.

“I’ve given you three days to account for packing. Finish your preparations to leave for the duchy within that time.”

With those words left behind, the Duke walked off. His stride was as fast and as cold as the north wind.

“Ah, I’m screwed.”

Is it even real that I can already feel the aura of being screwed settling in? I’m sure it’s just my imagination that my future’s looking pitch black right about now.