—So, please always stay by my side.
At that ti, unable to respond, I saw Amal smile at
quietly. It was a smile tinged with loneliness and resignation.
A week had passed since then.
We went about our days as if nothing had happened, continuing our usual routine.
After breakfast, once Amal stepped out for prayer, I found myself at a loose end and wandered around the monastery.
“Kuro-dono”
I was called out while walking down the corridor and turned around. A thin man in a loose-fitting tunic and scapular over it, wearing a monastic hood, approached .
“Father Benedict, is sothing the matter?”
“Yes, there’s sothing I’d like to discuss with you.”
He was Benedict Bonosus, the abbot and priest of Stonehurst. Father Benedict stroked his aquiline nose and appeared restless. After letting his gaze wander, he seed resolved and began to speak.
“…How is she?”
“Do you an Sister Johanna? Or perhaps you’re referring to Sister Amalthea?”
Father Benedict fell silent for a few seconds before saying, “The one who is always with you.”
“Amal, or rather Sister Amalthea? She’s kind, diligent, and a woman worthy of respect. She’s been very good to a foreigner like .”
“…Is that so? That’s good to hear.”
Father Benedict averted his gaze, then started to say sothing, only to stop himself several tis. He repeatedly stroked his aquiline nose as if it were a habit, muttering as though convincing himself.
“However, try not to get too involved. Understand?”
With that, Father Benedict quickly glanced around to make sure no one was present and without waiting for a response, he hurried away as if he hadn’t sought an answer in the first place.
“What was that about…?”
Father Benedict’s deanor seed more like he was offering advice than reproaching . And he also seed terribly frightened.
—Of what, exactly?
I put my hand to my chin, deep in thought.
The priest’s words, the warning, the fear.
The glances around him.
It’s as if he’s suggesting there’s so terrifying monster lurking here—
“Hey, Kuro-dono!”
“Whoa! You scared ! What’s up, Francesco? Don’t sneak up on
like that.”
“How rude, I’ve been calling out to you several tis. It’s your fault for not noticing.”
Suddenly, Francesco’s face popped up in front of , and I couldn’t help but raise my voice. Ruffling his curly brown hair, Francesco spoke briskly, using rough language uncommon for a monk.
“Sorry about that. By the way, Francesco, what about the matter I consulted you on before? Is it still looking difficult?”
“Ah, the one about wanting to visit the city?”
I nodded vigorously.
“If it’s kuru-dono’s request, leave it to , Francesco! …or so I wish I could say. Unfortunately, there are so complicated circumstances preventing it from being so simple.”
“…I see. I don’t know much beyond this place, and I wanted to go for the sake of my education.”
I slumped my shoulders in disappointnt, and Francesco scratched his head apologetically.
“Well, don’t be too disheartened. If it’s okay with you, I can tell you about the city and the outside world.”
“Thanks. I’d like to learn more about the outside from you.”
“…Andy-sama?”
A voice, unrestrained and even chilling, made my heart skip a beat.
Turning around, I saw Amal, her hood drawn deep over her eyes, standing quietly down the corridor.
Footsteps echoed in the silent hallway.
Amal approached and whispered close to my ear.
“Andy-sama, what do you an by ‘outside’? What exactly are you discussing?”
“Ah, Amal…”
Amal’s hand crept across my chest, her tone enticing as she asked again. Her seductive gesture made my throat dry.
“It’s just chit-chat, you know. Right, Francesco!”
“Uh, ahaha… Kuro-dono, I need to go!”
“Hey, wait, Francesco!”
Francesco ran off as if tumbling forward. His escape was remarkable. Despite his round figure, I wondered where such agility ca from. I watched his retreating figure, then dropped my outstretched hand and sighed.
“Andy-sama…”
“Um, Amal, is the prayer over?”
“Yes, just finished. …But more importantly, what were you really talking about?”
“Like I said before, just small talk.”
I pulled the still skeptical Amal close and stroked her head. I had learned that this would calm her down.
This exchange was not new.
Amal had always reacted this way whenever I showed the slightest sign of leaving the monastery or interest in the outside. She would change her expression and press for answers.
I wasn’t that oblivious.
I supposed she had feelings for .
But the emotion Amal directed at
seed to be too complex to be described simply as affection or love. It felt more like a deep, unfathomable swamp.
“…Is that so?”
Amal hesitantly put her arms around my back and leaned into .
Feeling guilty about her lonely murmur, I turned to face her, smiling deliberately to dispel the sentint.
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