28.
Several days had already passed since I received Serena’s note.
It had said she had something to discuss and asked me to make time for her, but…
‘So when exactly is she coming?’
She had only said “on her next visit,” without giving a specific date, so there was nothing I could do.
I couldn’t just sit around waiting, so I simply ran the counseling office as usual.
In the meantime, things had gotten considerably better.
First of all, perhaps Agnes had kept her promise, because only one or two knights came to the office now.
And with Chloe and Veronica making a point of visiting, the other customers started coming again much as they had before.
From the maids, including Marie and Lize Helen,
to noble young ladies, with Lady Fleur among them.
It was nice to see them again after so long.
Well, to be honest,
what I was happy to see was the silver coins they left behind when they went out.
Maybe it was because, lately, all I had been getting were those church people who left only two coins.
Somehow, I’d become this kind of person.
What could I do?
I had to make a living too.
In any case, today was a decent day.
Chloe was standing at the very front of the morning line, and I chose three people, including her.
The counseling sessions ended without issue.
For the first two, hypnosis and massage.
For Chloe, as gentle a conversation as possible.
And so the counseling came to an end, but
Chloe did not leave.
Click—
The sound of the lock on the tea-leaf box opening.
Chloe very naturally took out the tea leaves and set the kettle on.
Apparently, since new tea leaves had come in, we had to taste them, or something like that.
A short while later,
a teacup was placed in front of me.
I took a sip.
Warmth traveled down my throat.
As for the taste, honestly…
‘It just tastes like black tea, as expected.’
I still had no idea what was different.
But saying that out loud would have been a disaster, so I said this instead.
“As expected, perhaps because you brewed it, Lady Chloe, it’s exquisite.”
“Hmph-hmm.”
There it was.
That little nasal sound that only came out when she was in a good mood.
Listening to it, I leisurely chatted with her.
“How was today’s counseling?”
“It wasn’t bad.”
“I enjoyed it. Because I got to talk with you, Lady Chloe.”
“You say that to the others too, don’t you?”
“I only say it to you, Lady Chloe.”
“Liar.”
Even as she said that, her cheeks were faintly flushed.
Her figure beyond the teacup.
Beneath the sunlight, her black ribbon fluttered.
“A lot of the others have come back lately too, haven’t they?”
Chloe took a sip of tea and spoke.
“Yes. Thanks to you.”
“Thanks to me?”
“Because you started coming, Lady Chloe, the atmosphere returned to normal.”
That was true.
The very fact that the carriage of the House of Count Levantia stopped in front of this alley had meaning.
Even if the knights hadn’t disappeared completely, the mood changed just from the fact that the regular customers were still coming.
“You say such embarrassing things.”
“I’m simply saying what’s obvious.”
“…There you go again.”
She lifted her teacup again.
Lightly touching her lips to it, she glanced over.
Then glanced again.
She kept studying me.
To the point where I wondered if those words had really made her that happy, a blissful smile hung at the corners of her mouth.
A brief moment of leisure after counseling was over.
It was just when I thought it would be nice if the day ended like this.
Tap, tap.
Footsteps sounded outside the door.
A neat, restrained rhythm.
Knock, knock.
“……Excuse me.”
The door opened.
A dark nun’s habit.
A silver cross.
Reverent silver hair.
It was the Saintess, Serena Justina Armenis.
‘…It was today?’
She had said she would visit sometime.
To think it would happen to be today of all days.
Serena’s gaze swept over the room.
Me.
Chloe.
And two teacups giving off warm steam.
“……It seems my timing was poor.”
Serena took one step back.
“I will come again next time.”
Just as she was about to turn around,
Chloe rose from her seat first.
“Saintess!”
An unexpectedly bright voice.
An elegant greeting.
And a face sincerely pleased to see her.
“It’s been a long time, Saintess. Thank you for last time.”
Serena seemed briefly surprised, but soon regained her gentle smile.
“Lady Levantia. It has been a long time.”
“The counseling is already over. Please come in and make yourself comfortable.”
…Why was she acting like this was her own house when it was my counseling office?
I was dumbfounded.
However,
when I thought about it calmly, it didn’t seem so bad to hear Serena’s “something to discuss” with Chloe present.
This person had a way of speaking that was a bit difficult to understand.
If I listened to her alone, it would only make me more anxious for no reason.
“Please come in, Lady Serena.”
At my words, Serena lightly bowed her head and stepped inside.
Chloe naturally moved to my side.
Serena took a seat across from us.
A short while later,
Chloe offered tea to Serena as well.
“Thank you, Lady Levantia.”
“I should brew it for you. The Saintess is someone special, after all.”
Chloe said with a smile.
Someone special.
As she said those words,
her hand brushed lightly against my wrist.
The side with the lapis lazuli bracelet.
As if she were making sure it was shown.
“Thanks to the blessing you gave us, Saintess, every day has been peaceful lately.”
At those words, cold sweat ran down my back.
Though we had somehow glossed over it, Chloe still believed it after all.
That I had promised her a future together.
That was why she was speaking as if to show Serena.
Please look, Saintess.
The two of us, whom you blessed, are getting along this well.
It felt exactly like that.
I glanced at Serena.
Her reverent smile remained unchanged.
But her gaze had quietly sunk.
As if she were confirming something important.
“So, Lady Serena. You said you had something you absolutely needed to tell me.”
The atmosphere was unsettling, so I spoke first.
“Is it something you can say with Lady Chloe present?”
If it was something I had to hear when no one else was around, then honestly, that would make me uneasy.
Serena set down her teacup.
Then, with her back straight and both hands neatly placed on her knees,
she opened her mouth.
“There are two matters. One is an apology. The other is a proposal.”
An apology…?
At the unexpected words, I blinked.
“I will offer my apology first.”
Serena bowed her head.
“The matter of the knights occupying the front of the counseling office was entirely my oversight. I heard that Lady Levantia spoke separately to Agnes about it.”
Serena’s gaze turned toward Chloe.
“For that as well, I offer my thanks.”
She showed a benevolent smile.
“And now, the proposal.”
This time, Serena looked straight at me.
“I believe an apology alone is insufficient. Therefore, by my authority, I would like to designate this counseling office as a special protected zone.”
“…A special protected zone?”
“I will ensure that, even if they are members of the Order, no one can recklessly investigate or interfere with this place as they have been. I will also provide regular financial support.”
Investigate?
Interfere?
Wait.
…As they have been?
“The priority is to create an environment where you, Counselor, can work with peace of mind. In the long term, I am also considering designating this place as an official institution of the Order. If that happens, members of the Order will use this place regularly.”
A torrent of words came out, and I had no idea where to even begin untangling them.
“Your abilities, Counselor, are recognized by the Order as well.”
She spoke calmly, like someone who had already finished organizing everything in her head.
But I hadn’t organized anything at all.
No, if anything, things had become even more complicated.
“That is truly an excessive offer, Saintess.”
Before I could open my mouth, Chloe interjected first.
“However, if this place receives the Order’s protection, won’t the atmosphere here change? The people who come here now like it precisely because of that comfortable atmosphere.”
“I see. I had not considered that point.”
Serena readily admitted it.
Chloe tilted her head slightly and smiled.
In any case, since Chloe had taken the initiative, it was now my turn.
Three hypnosis sessions a day.
Because I used those three on people who gave tips, I had my current income.
But an official institution of the Order?
Members of the Order using this place regularly?
With Serena giving two coins, Agnes giving two coins, and every single knight giving only two coins,
I couldn’t exactly expect a tipping culture from people for whom poverty was a virtue.
Naturally, that meant absolutely not.
“Thank you, Lady Serena.”
Still, I bowed my head politely.
The proposal itself was clearly made out of goodwill.
“However, this counseling office must be a place that belongs to no side.”
I took a moment to breathe, then continued.
“Whether they are people of the Empire or people of the Holy Kingdom. Once they open the door and come in, they are all equal customers.”
Serena quietly repeated my words.
“……A place that belongs to no side. Is that your will, Counselor?”
“Yes.”
A brief silence.
Serena looked at me for a while, then slowly nodded.
“……I understand.”
There was no coercion.
Nor did she try to persuade me.
“I will withdraw the proposal. However, if you ever change your mind, please tell me.”
“Thank you.”
But Serena’s posture had yet to relax.
This was not the face of someone who was done.
Serena looked at Chloe.
“Lady Levantia. May I ask you something?”
“Yes, Saintess.”
“You have known the Counselor for a long time, have you not?”
“Yes. I may not have been his first customer, but I do take pride in being one of his oldest.”
Her tone was a little proud.
It was a little cute, but
that wasn’t what mattered right now.
Serena asked,
“Has he changed from the beginning to now? The Counselor, I mean.”
It was an unexpected question.
Serena’s expression was still gentle.
But her gaze had sunk far deeper than before.
Chloe thought for a moment, then shook her head.
“He’s someone who has always been the same.”
…That was a bit grand.
“He listened to me from the very beginning, and he still does now.”
Chloe did not hesitate.
“No matter what anyone else says, he is someone who treats me as special. That has never changed since the beginning.”
There was no hesitation in Chloe’s voice.
She truly believed it.
Without even a trace of doubt.
Serena looked at me.
Our eyes met.
…How was I supposed to react to this?
If I denied it, Chloe would be hurt.
If I affirmed it, that would be its own problem.
In the end, I could say nothing.
Serena’s gaze slowly moved back and forth between me and Chloe.
“……Someone who has always been the same, then.”
Serena quietly repeated.
At that, Chloe immediately replied,
“Yes. That’s why I like him.”
As if it were nothing.
In front of Serena.
While looking at me.
Serena silently lifted her teacup.
One sip.
As she set the cup down, her gaze brushed over my wrist.
The lapis lazuli bracelet.
And Chloe beside it.
A very faint smile settled on Serena’s lips.
“……I will take my leave for today.”
Serena rose from her seat.
“It was good tea, Lady Levantia.”
“Please come again, Saintess. You’re always welcome.”
Serena stopped in front of the door.
She looked back.
“Counselor.”
“Yes.”
“Please be careful. You do not seem to be someone who should be allowed to be hurt.”
Her voice was low.
Rather than calm, it felt closer to earnest.
I was about to ask what she meant, but Serena had already turned away.
The hem of her nun’s habit disappeared beyond the door.
Tap, tap.
The sound of her footsteps grew distant.
“……What am I supposed to be careful of?”
It had been strange when she made her proposal earlier too.
She would prevent anyone from recklessly investigating or interfering.
She would create an environment where I could work with peace of mind.
And then, at the end, telling me to be careful.
It felt like something was unfolding, but I couldn’t find the thread.
Besides, saying I shouldn’t be hurt.
Was there something coming that would hurt me?
“Teacher.”
At Chloe’s voice, I turned my head.
She had set down her teacup and was looking at me.
“That proposal just now. You refused it because of me, didn’t you?”
No, it was because of the tips.
Completely unaware of my thoughts, she spoke in a voice utterly immersed in emotion.
“Because Isaac’s counseling office needs Chloe.”
She smiled quietly.
As if asking, Right?
The black ribbon.
The sunlight settling by the window.
A languid afternoon.
Even though the scenery was peaceful, Serena’s final expression kept lingering in my mind.
Because those had been the eyes of someone who had resolved herself to something.