OBSERVING ONE ANOTHER

Leticia quickly adjusted to the life where another person accompanied her in the house that she lived in.

"I really don't know what's going on in his mind…" Leticia mumbled as she watched the children play in the backyard of the orphanage while she recalled the days she experienced ever since she met Hugh.

"What are you thinking?" Suddenly, Sister Annie, one of the nuns in the orphanage asked Leticia as she accompanied her while she sat on the stairs where Leticia could see and overlook the children while they played.

"Oh… Sister Annie, you finished baking snacks? Should I tell the children to go in now?"

"I already told Sister Lucy to call the children when the last batch of bread is finished so let them play a little while. So what are you thinking so deeply about?"

Leticia turned her head to look at Sister Annie whose wrinkles on the corner of her eyes unfold as she smiled while looking at the children playfully playing tag by themselves.

"I was just thinking about the person who I saved… the one I told you about before." Leticia said as she fiddled the tip of her chocolate hair. "Oh! The one you said that almost ruined your garden?" Sister Annie chuckled as she recalled Leticia's shocked face when she told her what occurred the night that she saved the mysterious man that suddenly appeared in her garden.

"Ahem…! That's right, that story…" Leticia became embarrassed as she also remembered how she overreacted when she told Sister Annie about Hugh but in her defense, she really cared for her garden that she painstakingly raised to become a little farm.

"I think he's kind at the same time cold… he always smiles and greets me back which I never really expected from him since he's a mercenary and the mercenaries that I saw are always on edge and act with ego. I still think that he's nice although his stern face seems to always make you back off so sometimes I just mind myself and ignore him but when I do I always felt like someone was staring at me so, one time, when I turn around I caught him looking my way while he lightly smile at me which makes me assumption true, I mean don't get me wrong it's fine for me that a handsome man was looking at me its just that sometimes I feel like he's observing me too much." Leticia continued as she thinks back to the piercing gaze that she felt every now and then whenever she's doing some chores around the house.

"What do you mean? Is he watching you like a creep? Should I visit your home and scold that man? or should I tell Sir Lucio about it? What do you want to do?"

Leticia was flustered at the enthusiastic reply that Sister Annie gave her, it was as if she was ready to punch Hugh in the face if ever he really bothered her or if he was being a nuisance to her.

Sister Annie clenched her hand into a fist and punched the air as if Hugh was in front of her. Leticia couldn't help but laugh when she saw what she was doing.

"Sister Annie… It's fine. I was just wondering why he was looking at me like that. Besides, I also told Sir Lucio about it and he said he'll visit later, that's why I'll be going home a little earlier than usual today."

"I see… If Sir Lucio will be with you then I guess I can be assured that man would not do something to you…" Annie heaved a sigh of relief before she touched Leticia's hand and held it close to her chest as she continued her words. "...but in case something occurred while you're alone with that man just aim at his thing between his legs then run, okay?!"

"Oh my… Sister!" Flustered at how straight-forward Sister Annie gives advice, Leticia unconsciously let out a loud scream.

"Promise me, okay?!" Annie's purple orbs that always fold like a half moon and shine brightly under the sky darkened as she looked straight at Leticia's eyes which made her nod in response. She knew full well that Sister Annie was worried about her since she looks after her like a little sister and acts strict towards her safety ever since she started to live alone.

"Don't worry, Sister Annie. I'll make sure to aim straight between his legs if he does something suspicious!" Leticia cheerfully said as she could only reassure Sister Annie as she knows that the twenty-seven years old nun has a tendency to overthink.

"Sister Annie, Miss Leti, and the kids! The snacks are ready!" Lucy appeared as the conversation ended and the two stood up and went inside the orphanage while smiling.

***

Hugh has been observing Leticia for a week now after he woke up, she leaves the house early and will come back before sunsets. Before she gets out she will prepare food for two and will leave after saying that she will come back later or that she's home. There's not much of a communication unless he asks first which makes him think if she sometimes sees him as a nuisance.

Furthermore, Hugh was getting anxiously suspicious as to what Leticia really was because whenever she was around he always felt that his familiars calmed down inside his body and the hotness that he felt because of his constitution magically lessened and subside.

"So… when will you leave this house? You're becoming different, smiling at the landlady while shamelessly staying at her house while you just lie around at home while she goes out to work!" Hugh's thoughts were suddenly cut off as he heard Aquila, his eagle familiar, asked him while the bird was looking down at him from above as Aquila stood by the window sill that was located at the living area where Hugh was cramped up lying on the sofa.

"Look who's talking… If I'm shameless then what are you? What do you even know? Just tell me what you learned when you visited the camp."

Hugh sat up while he rested head at the edge of the sofa and watched the rays of the sun paint the ceiling orange as it was almost ready to set and announced that it was the end of the day.

"Tsk! You're not cute at all. Well… that kid Austin is doing fine with instructing the rest of your knights."

Hugh opened his palm indicating Aquila to hand the reply that came from Austin.

Reading the report was enough for Hugh to understand what was happening at the camp and Austin the vice-leader of the Black Stallion Knights agreeing to what he proposed for the meantime.

When Hugh reached the end of the report he then saw Austin's postscript and read it nonchalantly as if it was a bother.

[P.S. I made sure that no one will notice your absence while you're away, Commander. Furthermore, I already dispatched Mike before I got your letter so if you meet along the way then please come back together!]

"Hmmm… I don't really understand." Aquila stated as he observed Hugh while he was setting the letter on fire using magic.

"You can easily travel with that shallow wound but you're not leaving this place… is it because of the landlady?" Aquila continued.

"You're so noisy…"

"What do you-"

Before Aquila could complain and continue his inquisition, Hugh already dismissed the summoning and Aquila vanished in the air with black smoke and went to his left wrist encircling it like a tattoo.

Hugh felt peace and quiet and when it was time for Leticia to arrive he recalled what his stupid familiar said to him earlier...

["...You're becoming shameless staying at a her house while you just lie around at home while she goes out to work!"]

He didn't want to admit it but it bothered him a little that what Aquila said was actually true. Ever since he woke up all the chores were done by Leticia and she didn't let him help at all.

So, Hugh decided that he will ask Leticia to let him help her around the house. He then heard the familiar footsteps and thought that she was on time again like always but Hugh scowled when he also heard a different stride that was following Leticia.

Hugh's eyes glowed differently as he thought that his benefactor was with someone.

Creaaak!

In time, the door opened and Hugh was about to greet her when he saw a huge silhouette behind Leticia.

"Oh! I'm home, Hugh." Leticia smiled like she always does after she arrived home.

"Yes, welcome back, Leticia."

She saw the usual smile that Hugh always gave her before she went inside and put down the basket at the table.

'I thought he would be shocked to see someone like Sir Lucio but I guess someone like him who's also huge would not be intimidated.' Leticia thought.

Meanwhile, Sir Lucio who was still standing at the front door was quietly observing Hugh who was obstructing the way and was not letting him in while looking at him with a sharp gaze that made Sir Lucio shiver.

"Oh right before I forgot… What are you doing Sir Lucio? Come in! Hugh stepped aside and let Sir Lucio inside." Leticia said as she watched the two stare at each other like they were sizing up one another.

"Come… I'll introduce you to one another!"