Episode 3

“…Talk to me.”

“N-no, it’s nothing—”

“If you won’t talk, I won’t let go.”

Saying that, Lady Alicia grabbed my body tightly. Various soft things were pressing against me.

Lady Alicia puffed her cheeks adorably and stared at me.

“I-it’s nothing. The tears, uh, came out to wash dirt in my eyes.”

“Ordinary people don’t cry.”

“Because that blacksmith excels at Water magic.”

“Talk.”

Lady Alicia moved even closer and pressed in.

…I couldn’t withstand her pressure and—told her about my pathetic past.

Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I had no one I could consult until now.

Lady Alicia is the daughter of a duke.

I wondered if it was proper to spill such complaints to someone like her—would it be rude?—but once I began, I couldn’t stop.

“It’s my fault. I have no talent. Everyone says it’s to train me—”

“That’s ridiculous.”

Lady Alicia said that plainly and hugged my body.

Then she slowly stroked my head.

…As though it were imbued with some sleep-inducing magic, drowsiness overtook me.

“I’m sorry I didn’t notice.”

“N-no… I’m sorry. I was the one talking selfishly too much.”

Because Lady Alicia gently stroked my head, I was on the verge of crying again.

Even now I felt pathetic; I didn’t want her to see me look any more pitiful.

It was while I was thinking that that this happened.

The door to the blacksmith division was flung open.

“Hey! You useless blacksmith! Enchant my sword right now!!”

The one who stormed into the workshop shouting was a knight.

His name was Argos. He seemed to know Morgan and sometimes joined in the bullying.

He had come in with that momentum, but when he saw Lady Alicia he widened his eyes in surprise.

“L-Lady Alicia!? Y-you’re here…!”

Argos bowed repeatedly to Lady Alicia.

I’d never seen him like that before; maybe he behaved like that toward his superiors and I just hadn’t noticed.

Normally I’d have taken a punch, but thanks to Lady Alicia, I seemed to be spared.

Lady Alicia glanced at Argos, then looked at his sword.

“Faik, perform the Enchantment for him.”

“Eh? Y-yes… excuse me.”

I bowed to Argos and took the sword from him.

Then I drew his sword from its scabbard to check its condition.

…He must have been using it recklessly.

I had Enchanted Argos’s sword about two days ago, but it was already on the verge of breaking.

“Argos, be careful not to infuse too much mana. The Enchantment’s condition has deteriorated considerably.”

“That’s ‘cause you’re talentless, isn’t it!? …No, I mean, can’t you make the Enchantments a bit more robust?”

In front of Lady Alicia, his tone was calmer than usual.

“I do make them quite robust. However, the swords issued to ordinary knights like Argos are not made of good materials. There are limits to what an Enchantments can do. If you keep fighting recklessly, the Enchantment will break. Please be careful.”

Normally he’d shout ‘Shut up!’ and hit me, but thanks to Lady Alicia’s presence, that didn’t happen.

I repaired the Enchantment and returned the sword.

Argos glanced at me with displeasure, then bowed to Lady Alicia.

“How about it, Lady Alicia? Shall we take a little walk around the court… I’ll guide you.”

“I’m fine. Do your work as a knight diligently.”

Lady Alicia smiled sweetly and waved.

Argos bowed again and left the room.

Then Lady Alicia’s gaze turned toward me.

“…Are you always bullied like that?”

“Umm… well.”

She had seen me at my most pathetic. I let out a small sigh and looked at Lady Alicia.

“…You should quit being a blacksmith.”

“B-but… someone talentless like me can’t work elsewhere. Besides, I might lose my blacksmith qualifications.”

If I quit, I’d lose my blacksmith qualification. If that happened, no blacksmithing could be done in this country.

When I told her that, Lady Alicia squeezed my hand tightly.

The soft touch made my cheeks burn. Having had almost no contact with women, this sensation was overwhelmingly strong.

When I looked intently at Lady Alicia’s face, her cheeks were slightly flushed. Her beautiful eyes stared at my face.

“Th-then… w-would you marry me?”

“Marry you!?”

The unexpected words left my mind blank for a moment.