Chapter 53

I was curious about what had happened in the dwarf village, but I decided not to dwell on it too deeply.

It was already in the past, after all. What mattered right now was that the farrier was this dwarf.

“Why do you ask?”

“Oh, I heard a dwarf does the farrier work here, so I wanted to meet him. A horseshoe made by a dwarf — isn’t that about as ideal as it gets?”

Dwarves were famous for their skilled hands. They devoted their whole lives to whatever field caught their interest, and the things they made always fetched a high price.

“A farrier makes horseshoes to fit the shape of a dragon steed’s hooves. When I heard the one making them was a dwarf famous as a master craftsman, of course I was curious.”

I looked at Ukandir with my eyes shining, and he laughed heartily, stroking his shaggy beard.

“Well, well, it feels good to get such enthusiastic interest! But listen here, Trainer Litia — you sound like a master craftsman yourself. No sense talking as though it’s got nothing to do with you.”

“Oh, come on — me?”

“Of course! There’s no craftsman alive who can fool a dwarf’s eye! And you, young lady — aren’t you the one who’s truly serious about dragons?”

“How could I do a trainer’s job if I weren’t serious about dragons?”

“Ha ha ha ha! That’s right! Well said!”

Ukandir chuckled, slapping his knee, then spoke up in a hearty voice.

“Trainer Litia, how about a cold drink together once the work’s done? I got my hands on some good beer this time!”

“Oh, beer!”

“That’s right, that’s right! There’s a fellow in our village who’s a true master at brewing, and this time he got his hands on barley and malt from some region or other — what was it again? — shut himself away grinning ear to ear, and came out with the most incredible beer!”

…Beer made by a dwarf? Ugh, now that’s a combination that gets the mouth watering. A cold, sharp beer after work —

“That sounds delicious!”

“Ha ha, doesn’t it? Say, I like you, young lady — when you’ve got the time, how about we share a cup together?”

I wanted to say it was an incredibly tempting offer. If only the Duke weren’t staring at my cheek with a look so hard to put into words, as if he meant to bore a hole straight through it.

Ugh, what now!

If he’d just come out and say why he was looking at me like that, I wouldn’t feel so suffocatingly stifled!

“…I really, really, really, really want to, but I think I’ll have to take a rain check.”

“What, why! Don’t tell me you’re worried about something to go with it? No need to fret over that — we’ve got amazing sausages too!”

“That’s not it… As you know, Ukandir, things in the duchy aren’t exactly in the best shape, are they?”

“On the dragon side, that’s true enough.”

“I’m practically the one in overall charge, so… for the time being my workload is heavy and tight.”

Sniff. Farewell, delicious beer. I think I’ll regret missing you for a long, long time.

I answered while hiding a heart that felt like it was weeping blood, and Ukandir let out a pained groan.

“You’ve got it rough, young lady.”

“What can I do? It’s the fate of a trainer who looks after dragons.”

Of course, that fate had a damn huge share belonging to a certain employer of mine, but I didn’t have the nerve to say so with the man himself standing right there.

The dwarf clicked his tongue regretfully, but he didn’t push any further.

“Can’t be helped. Even iron has its proper time to be struck, you know. No dwarf worth his salt ignores that timing.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“There’ll come a day we share a cup together, sure enough. Yes, indeed. I’d best have that fellow bring plenty of drink along, ready for when it comes.”

Watching Ukandir laugh heartily and nod with such gusto, I found myself smiling. When a dwarf’s craftsman spirit turned sour, it often made for a hopeless old crank — so I was glad this wasn’t one of those cases.

“Well then, I’ll leave it in your hands.”

“Don’t you worry. I’ll build it sturdy enough that the trainer won’t need to fret.”

Having answered so readily, Ukandir’s gaze turned toward the Duke.

“That’s what you want too, isn’t it, Duke?”

“With a dwarf’s hand behind it, there’s no need to worry.”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

A smile tugged at Ukandir’s mouth as he stroked his shaggy beard.

“Oh, right, Duke.”

“Is there something else you need?”

“Ease up that look you give the young trainer lady. You go and bring in someone with that much skill, and then stare at her like that? Keep it up and don’t come crying to me when she runs off.”

At that, the Duke seemed to lose whatever words he might have had and fell silent, and inside, I cheered.

I knew it! Even a dwarf could tell that look was no ordinary thing!

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

At the words “keep in mind,” Ukandir grinned.

“Yes, yes. ‘Keep it in mind’ — now that’s a fine thing to hear.”

Then he drew the hammer tucked at his waist and spoke.

“Now that the plans are settled, time to get the work started. Oh, right, Trainer Litia. Seeing as you were asking about the farrier’s work — has some dragon steed run into trouble?”

“No, it’s not that… We recently caught a few wild dragon steeds. Once the taming is finished, they’ll need horseshoes fitted, and I wanted to check whether that would be alright.”

“Wild dragon steeds, eh? Those’ll have nasty tempers, I’d wager.”

“I’m planning to use equipment to restrict their movement.”

“Even so, you’ll have to accept some injuries as a given. Fitting shoes means working right up close to the hooves. Creatures that have never had shoes fitted in their lives are bound to get spooked and thrash about at first.”

Even as he said it, Ukandir’s eyes were shining with interest and anticipation.

“Don’t worry. What kind of dwarf worries about burning his hands before he’ll heat the iron? Just say the word when the time comes. I’ll be glad to come running.”

“Thank you.”

“Well then, off you go now. I’d like to get my head down and focus on the work from here.”

I nodded at Ukandir’s dismissal. I had no wish to do anything so foolish as interrupt a dwarf’s work.

The Duke seemed to feel the same way; he left a short word of thanks for the work and turned to go. Our business was settled now, so if I just went off to take care of my own errands—

“Trainer Litia.”

Ugh, couldn’t he just let it go?

No matter how much the fault lay with the Duke first, facing him again after an argument like that was uncomfortable in all sorts of ways.

Swallowing my complaints, I looked over at the Duke.

“…Give me a moment. I’d like to talk.”

“…Talk?”

His hesitant manner was unexpected, nothing like what I’d anticipated, but the offer still didn’t sit well with me.

What’s he going to say this time…

My feelings must have shown plainly on my face, because the Duke’s lips moved uncertainly before he added one more thing.

“It won’t take long.”

“Understood.”

I didn’t know what it was about, but since he said it wouldn’t take long, I supposed I’d hear him out. However much I disliked it, he was still my employer.

I followed after the Duke. The clang of metal being struck had already started up — it seemed the work had begun.

The Duke stopped at a suitable spot. Given where we were, it was open grassland, but at least no one else was in sight nearby.

“You said you had something to say…”

I had no idea at all what he meant to say to have called me all the way out here, and while I stood puzzling over it, he opened his mouth.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Ah… excuse me?”

Did I mishear that? Did the Duke just say he was sorry?

Wondering if I’d imagined it, I looked at him. But his face was deadly serious.

“The other day, I said something that hurt your feelings. I’d like to apologize for my careless words and conduct.”

It was I who was startled by his words.

I never imagined he’d apologize like this.

And less than a day later, too — I hadn’t expected the Duke to be the one to bow his head first.

“It wasn’t something Your Grace needed to apologize for.”

At the voice reaching his ears, the Duke clenched his fist.

Feeling his emotions surge at a voice that so lightly brushed aside the conclusion he’d fought his way to just before meeting Litia, he lifted his head.

“I did say it was unpleasant, but I am, first and foremost, Your Grace’s exclusive trainer and your employee, aren’t I?”

Meeting his gaze, Litia wore an expression of discomfort.

“So please don’t bow your head so easily. I’m not important enough to deserve an apology from Your Grace.”

There was nothing but resistance in the way she waved her hand, making plain how uncomfortable she found it. Feeling the simmering sensation inside him grow even stronger, the Duke spoke.

“If the duchy’s one and only exclusive trainer isn’t important, then that would mean my own judgment is worth nothing either.”

At the words that slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them, Litia fell silent. Seeing that, the Duke shut his own mouth, wondering if he’d made a mistake.

For some reason, whenever he stood before Trainer Litia, behavior unlike himself kept bursting out of him without his meaning it to.

Even now, the simmering feeling in his chest refused to settle. The Duke was secretly grinding his teeth, not knowing why this kept happening, when —

“Um… actually, female trainers who handle large and mid-sized dragons hear that kind of thing all the time.”

Unexpected words came from Litia’s mouth.

“What I said to Your Grace just came out reflexively, out of experience from the training center. So please don’t take it too much to heart. I’m the one who should be apologizing. I’m the exclusive trainer, and yet I was rude to Your Grace.”

So saying, Litia bowed her head to the Duke.

“I’m sorry for behaving so excessively. So please, don’t bow your head to me.”

Seeing Litia bow before him, the Duke fell silent.

Strangely, watching her lower herself so readily, bowing without complaint, left him unsatisfied.

Just as Litia had said, it was she who had shown such a bold attitude. It was she who had spoken her mind without bowing to him.

It was only natural for Litia to apologize. He was the Duke, and Litia was a commoner.

And yet, not knowing why it left him feeling so unpleasant all the same, the Duke clenched and unclenched his fist.