Episode 9

“This is the blacksmith’s workshop inside the manor. This is the blacksmith’s workshop prepared for the use of Lady Alicia’s husband.”

“I see…”

I took another look at the blacksmith’s workshop Refy had shown me.

That said, there wasn’t anything particularly novel—just an environment properly set up for smithing.

If anything was unusual, it was that the furnaces and the like were properly provided.

Modern blacksmiths can smith without using those tools. Because of such special magical talents, it had been a long time since I’d seen the real things.

“If there’s anything you need, please let me know. I will prepare it.”

I nodded once at Refy’s words.

For now, the tools seemed fine. The materials were also securely stored in boxes placed in the corner.

“For the time being, there’s no problem.”

“Is that so. Then next, I’ll show you Lord Faik’s private room. We’ve also prepared a livable space on the second floor of this blacksmith’s workshop, so please feel free to use that as well.”

“Understood.”

From the blacksmith’s workshop I returned once more to the main residence.

Walking along a corridor covered with what looked like a high-grade carpet, Refy stopped in front of a room.

“This is Lord Faik’s room. As before, please let us know if there is anything you need.”

“…Got it.”

I entered the room I had been shown.

The room was of a size incomparable to the one I had been using until then.

The equally high-end bed even had a canopy… I’d never used a bed like that. I looked around the room thinking I might be too intimidated by the luxury to fall asleep.

Through the window glass I could see outside. Knights were training with swords there at that moment.

That wasn’t any of my concern right now. I returned my gaze to Refy.

“There doesn’t seem to be anything that would make daily life immediately difficult.”

“Is that so. That’s good to hear. If anything comes up, please tell us at any time.”

“Understood.”

That night I was looking at the sky from the window of the room that had been prepared for me.

In just these few days, my situation had truly changed drastically.

…Even though I had been working in conditions where dying at any time wouldn’t have been odd.

After all, even if it was only a fake marriage, there was nothing bad about it for me.

I could call such a beautiful, cute, and kind girl my wife, even if only outwardly.

Just this alone was probably worth taking the job.

Above all… I stretched my back deeply and then collapsed onto the bed.

“…That’s the situation, isn’t it.”

The sense of relief from not having to work was the biggest thing inside me right now.

Having to finish something by the next morning, or the like.

Whether I’d be able to get two hours of sleep, or things like that.

Those worries were gone.

Here I could even rest every day. Of course, if I actually did that, not only would the fake marriage become difficult, but my reputation might sink to the bottom, so I wouldn’t do that.

Rolling around on the bed… this time the sense of unease at doing nothing at all grew larger.

Because I had been working every day, I couldn’t help but feel anxious about this time of doing nothing.

“…Being allowed to do nothing, having no work at all, is kind of strange too.”

I stared at the ceiling absentmindedly. Everything was different from when I had stared at the ceiling as an escape from the feeling that work would never end.

I spent time thinking carefully about what to do from here on.

For now, maybe I should start smithing from tomorrow…. I hadn’t done any smithing recently, after all.

Thinking that, I closed my eyes.