Searching in the Dark (1)

[Waiting time expired, a new Scenario Note has been assigned.]

Take 1. Inn (Night/Interior). Leonardo, looking into a mirror. 

Leonardo: (sighs) "Just the look of a plain thief." 

The innkeeper laughs. Leonardo secretly slips out through the window.

Take 2. Baron Roald's Manor (Night/Exterior). A shadow moving beneath the wall, illuminated by moonlight. The guest room in the eastern annex. Leonardo approaches the window of Viscount Lopez' room. Through the curtains, the silhouette of the lord can be seen moving. Then, the screen goes dark.

Take 3. Baron Roald's Manor Annex (Night/Interior). The guest study in the annex. While rummaging through the study, Leonardo finds something in a drawer.

Leonardo: (inner voice, confused) "This is from the Count of Bermont's family… Why would the Count of Bermont order the retrieval of my corpse? Is there someone behind him?"

Viscount Lopez shifts in his bed. Soon, Leonardo quietly slips out of the annex.

Main Characters: Leonardo, Lord Lopez

Scenario Clear Condition: [Leonardo searches the guest room where Viscount Lopez is staying and discovers Viscount Lopez' plan.][Viewing Personal Information]

Rank: Minor Character (Scenario Weight 5.11%)

Role: Suspicious Innkeeper of Sinistra

Script: [Conveys the structure of the Baron's manor to Leonardo], [Sneaks into the Baron's annex with Leonardo], [Notices the movement of Viscount Lopez as he tosses and turns.]

Dialogue: "Are you awake?" / "Let's get out of here."

He unintentionally covered his mouth and smiled.

Done. Though not everything I intended was fully reflected, this is still a success. A few casual words I dropped made the scenario move in the direction I wanted.

It stung a bit that I wasn't included in the 'main characters,' but… 

Oh well. With the thought that things will get easier from here on out, I smiled in satisfaction. However, through the translucent scenario note, Leonardo's unreadable gaze met mine. In his gray eyes, a vague emotion swirled.

'Why is that?'

Leonardo asked. As I stared at him with a puzzled expression, Leonardo hesitated slightly before speaking again.

"For me, I don't understand why you're so concerned with matters related to Leovald."

Ah. That part.

Now that I think about it, it could seem strange that the innkeeper is so fixated on Leovald's affairs.

I paused for a moment, thinking about how to explain myself, then smiled faintly and replied.

"And what about you, young master? With all the rumours about you being a reckless fool, falling out of favour with the head of the family, and even running away. Suddenly, you're so concerned with these matters? I wonder why."

Deflecting a question with another question. The most annoying way to argue, but nothing beats it for avoidance.

Without the option to blatantly say, "I'm really Leovald, and it's my body, so of course I'd be concerned," Leonardo couldn't come up with a proper answer.

I smiled and gave his back a light tap.

"What's so complicated? Sometimes, on a whim, you just want to do a good deed for no reason. Of course, the fact that Viscount Lopez bothers me plays a part too."

Leonardo knew this wasn't a real answer, but since he couldn't come up with anything better himself, he didn't press further. I easily shut down his doubts, humming to myself as I walked past him. He was so easy to handle.

"We're back."

When we arrived at the inn, Vittorio spotted us and hurried out to open the door. While Leonardo carried the basket full of herring to the kitchen, I gestured for Vittorio to come closer. Vittorio gave a quick glance at Leonardo before approaching quietly.

"What is it?"

"Are any of the chimney sweeps here ever been to Baron Roald's manor?"

"Yeah. At the Baron's place, they usually give the dirty work like chimney cleaning to the kids. One of the kids always gets on the housekeeper's good side and goes there all the time." 

Understanding the layout of the manor wouldn't be too hard. Since the script already includes instructions to get and deliver the map of the Baron's manor, there was no need to go around in circles.

I unwrapped a candy and popped it into Vittorio's mouth. He had gotten used to it by now, accepting it quietly and rolling his eyes a bit.

"Can we meet him?"

"Yeah… I'll call him."

With his cheeks puffed up from the candy, Vittorio answered and headed out through the back door. Watching him walk, it seemed his legs were healing well. While that was good news, there was a hint of regret. Recently, I'd been loosening my guard, starting to feel a bit of affection for him.

Just then, Leonardo returned after moving all the herring, washing his hands carefully, and approached from behind.

This guy, too, was clearly becoming quite the servant. I don't know if I have a talent for bossing people around, or if it's just that Leonardo naturally has a submissive side. I unwrapped another candy and, as a sign of appreciation for his hard work, slipped it into his mouth as well.

"So, what's the plan?"

Leonardo seemed to find the lemon candy a bit too sour, as he rolled it around in his mouth and slightly furrowed his brows. Maybe I should switch to plum candy instead. I reached out and pressed gently between his eyebrows, slowly massaging it.

"You'll get wrinkles."

Since taking care of one's face was important, I often did this for the people around me as well.

"Mm."

"That's right."

Only then did Leonardo seem to relax, his furrowed brows softening. His face, which usually carried the look of a thug, regained a bit of its gentleness. Just a little, though.

Smiling subtly, I explained the plan to him. Since not everything I had in mind was reflected in the scenario notes, I added more details, fleshing it out as I went.

Soon after, Vittorio returned, leading the little chimney sweep boy with him.

He said he had found him in the square, looking for work, and brought him over quickly. Since I had called him, the boy might have missed out on earning his daily wage, so I asked him how much he would've been paid and handed him the equivalent amount.

"There's a fireplace in the guest room, too."

It wasn't too difficult to figure out the layout of the Baron's manor. After sending the child away, I tousled Vittorio's hair lightly and then smoothed it back into place.

If I had asked directly, I probably wouldn't have gotten the manor's layout so easily. The little cleaner seemed to hold some gratitude toward the Baron for always giving him work, and I doubt he would have wanted to do anything that might cause harm to the Baron.

But since it was Vittorio, the leader of the street kids, who brought him, I trusted him and told him the truth. I couldn't help but praise him for that. If he had said he didn't want to, I would've stopped immediately, but Vittorio remained silent while I tidied his hair.

"We're going out for a bit tonight, Leonardo and I. Can you watch the inn for us?"

"What for?"

At Vittorio's question, Leonardo and I exchanged a glance. I pulled the corners of my mouth into a careless smile and replied.

"Umm… to enforce justice?"

That was the only answer that seemed fitting. Vittorio gave me a confused look, clearly puzzled by the response, but then simply shook his head.

For dinner, we used the herring the captain had given us. Salted herring, with its thick fatty layers, tasted great whether grilled over fire or deep-fried crispy in oil, so the cooking wasn't too complicated.

The preparation was a bit of a hassle, though, but fortunately, this inn had a fine worker like Leonardo. His knife skills, clearly improving day by day, became almost remarkable as he deftly separated the fish's bones from the flesh.

I watched him work for a moment before asking,

"If you were to fight someone who could take on six grown men alone, do you think you could win? Oh, assuming they were armed."

Leonardo paused in the middle of gutting the fish, awkwardly freezing his arm at an odd angle. He raised an eyebrow and responded with a question of his own.

"Why that question… at least with this kitchen knife, it would be difficult."

"If you had a sword?"

"Possible."

His response was matter-of-fact. Hmm, I drew out a long hum and gave his arm a playful poke.

"Seems like it's gotten a bit bigger. Well, the muscles, I mean."

"I've been working every day without rest, so that's probably why."

"Hm, strange. The rumours say your swordsmanship is devastating. Does that mean there's martial blood flowing in you after all?"

"Hmm."

Leonardo chose to remain silent on that difficult question.

Anyway, this should ease some of the worries I might have about potential threats to my safety. If anything were to happen, I could just hide behind this guy. Though I've pushed him hard, I trust he won't turn his back on me, right? The favours of feeding, clothing, and sheltering him should be repaid, don't you think?

Regardless of the situation, the salted herring, evenly soaked in brine, was delicious. The crispy, salty skin and the soft, cheese-like tender flesh melted in my mouth.

After dinner, we received guests as usual. Of course, there were no lodgers that night, and, as per routine, I closed the inn's door sometime after midnight.

I shook the black cloak that I had packed away and put it back on. I carefully wrapped the hood around my head. The fabric was all black, and the size of the clothes—both in width and height—were so loose that it was impossible to tell who had worn it before. I threw it on casually. It wasn't like it was my undergarment, so who cares?

Leonardo sighed briefly as he looked at our suspicious appearance in the mirror.

"Just the look of a plain thief."

"We're going to do something similar, so it fits."

Ah, and this was something I couldn't forget. I fumbled and pulled out what I had prepared earlier. It was a moonstone necklace, one I had bought from a merchant. I had been waiting for the right moment to use it.

I gestured for Leonardo to lower his head, and I draped the necklace around his neck. The rough black cord held a gray-brown stone, swaying lightly against his chest. I took out a bracelet, made in a similar style, and put it on myself.

"What's this for?"

What else? It's just a fun little disguise game.