As the sun began to set, I returned to the town and carried Mr. Gilbert into a room I had borrowed in Lord Lionel’s mansion. Mr. Dolf, the Holy Cleric, and the mercenaries were all nearby, keeping a watchful eye.
While I longed to stay by Mr. Gilbert’s side until he awoke, I had to prioritize preparing the dinner I had promised him. His words from earlier had surprised me, but they felt like a promise that he would surely return, which filled me with joy. I borrowed the kitchen of the largest tavern in town, enlisting the help of the cooks and staff to gather several large pots and prepare a hearty stew.
Before long, the sound of multiple horse hooves echoed outside, and the atmosphere grew a bit lively.
Peeking through the doorway, I saw a well-built man in armor, holding a shield painted black, dismounting from his horse. It seemed that Lord Lionel and his party had returned. From the looks of it, their containment mission had concluded without incident. The expression on Lord Lionel’s face as he listened to the report revealed a sense of relief.
“Mr. Gilbert is here…?”
I heard a voice filled with surprise and confusion, followed by the sight of a hurried figure rushing toward the mansion. It must have been Mr. Dolf heading to see Mr. Gilbert. After a deep sigh, Lord Lionel walked over to us, his demeanor somewhat troubled as he spoke to no one in particular.
“Sir Lionel’s shield was painted over… He has become a Black Knight. I was too distracted during the day to notice…”
At his words, the residents and the mercenaries around us lowered their heads, their expressions heavy with unspoken thoughts.
In this kingdom and the surrounding areas, a knight’s shield bears the crest of their lord. A shield painted black signifies that the knight has no lord to pledge their loyalty to, hence the title of Black Knight.
I was aware of the circumstances from Mr. Gilbert’s account, but for the townsfolk, the meaning of Sir Lionel coming to their aid shifted dramatically.
Lord Lionel raised his head, clapped his hands, and forced a smile.
“Now, we must restore our spirits! Everyone, let’s make tonight’s dinner a grand feast! We should eat well while we can!”
With his determined command, which was clearly an effort to uplift the mood, we returned to preparing the meal.
While I was busy with the stew, Ms. Barbara was toasting barley and almonds in butter, then binding them with syrup made from malt sugar. It seemed she was preparing a snack to distribute to the children of the town.
“Flora-chan, once you finish the prep, could you take some tea and snacks to Mr. Gilbert and the others?” she asked.
“Yes! I’ll bring some of the leftover bagels from earlier as well, since many might be feeling peckish.”
I prepared a kettle of brewed tea and some light snacks before heading toward Lord Lionel’s mansion.
Upon entering the room where Mr. Gilbert lay sleeping, I spotted Lord Lionel seated in a chair beside the bed, while Mr. Dolf sat across from him, arms crossed.
“Excuse me. I’ve brought some tea,” I announced softly as I stepped inside.
Lord Lionel turned to me.
“Oh, thank you… Could you be Miss Flora?”
“…! Yes, that’s me.”
I was taken aback by his sudden recognition. I wondered if Mr. Dolf had mentioned me, but judging by his expression, it seemed not.
“I apologize for the abruptness. This fellow has been calling your name in his sleep,” he explained.
“Eh…!?”
Despite my surprise, I placed the basket of tea and snacks on the table beside the bed, but my face began to heat up at his words. Mr. Gilbert was peacefully breathing in his slumber, and Lord Lionel returned his gaze to him.
“By the way, you’ve been called by name eight times, while I’ve only been called twice…”
“Are you counting!?”
I couldn’t help but raise my voice slightly, quickly covering my mouth with my hand in embarrassment. Lord Lionel wore a bemused smile, pressing a hand to his forehead. Though he was a bit larger in stature, his face bore a striking resemblance to Mr. Gilbert’s.
“…Ah. I was looking forward to being called ‘brother.’ Who would have thought I’d hear it first in his sleep…?”
Lord Lionel’s tone was somewhat dejected, a stark contrast to the stern demeanor I had observed from afar previously. He appeared quite amiable now. In the background, Mr. Dolf was chuckling softly, clearly entertained by the situation.