Chapter 195: Keeping Watch

How many exits did the hut have? Only two — the door and a back kitchen entrance? There was one window on each of the sides without a door. If we were attacked through the door, escaping through the back window might be best? More importantly, we had to escape before we were surrounded. I didn’t think enough people would come this deep into the forest to surround us. But assumptions were forbidden.

I went outside and walked a full circle around the hut. The walls were made of flimsy boards. I could see outside through the gaps. With something like this, if a Beast Bear came, these walls would never stop it. One charge and they would be broken through. I couldn’t imagine sleeping with any peace of mind in a place like this, but it was still better than a tent. Perhaps there was something placed in the hut that kept magical beasts away? There might be something. There was probably hunter’s or woodcutter’s wisdom I didn’t know.

When I entered the hut, Lily was breathing the peaceful "kuu kuu" of sleep on the straw. Stevie’s eyes as she looked at Lily were gentle.

"Robby-sama, let us take turns standing watch — me and Robby-sama. Sister Lily, no, Lily, let’s leave her sleeping like this."

Stevie proposed.

"Yeah. Let’s eat first. We can feed Lily when she wakes up."

"Yes, understood. But I think we should refrain from using fire, so would you like to eat the food we put in the mana bags? Bread and soup and..."

"No, you don’t need to take out that much. Bread and soup is fine. There are ingredients in the soup, right?"

"Yes, plenty. It’s a vegetable stew with a little meat as well."

"Oh! Then that’s more than enough. Thanks."

Stevie took a large pot out of her mana bag and ladled soup into a dish for me. Then she simply watched me eat.

"What is it? Stevie, eat with me too."

"Eh? I couldn’t possibly do that!"

"What? Are you saying that because you’re a maid you can’t eat with your master? It’s fine now. This is an emergency, so let’s save time. Eat with me — that’s an order."

"...Yes. Then I’ll have some."

"Stevie, we don’t know how many more days it will take until we enter the Mainz Kingdom. If things go well, tomorrow; if things go badly, the day after or three days later. In that case even meal times become precious. When that happens we can’t worry about manners. So when we can eat, we’ll eat together. All right?"

"Fai."

Stevie answered with bread still in her mouth.

"Robby-sama, then where will you stand watch?"

Stevie asked. Umm, where would be good? For a place with a good view, the roof, maybe?

"Stevie, shall we watch from the roof? It’s not raining."

"Yes. In that case how about I also climb onto the roof and we take turns staying awake? I can lie down and sleep even on the roof."

Umm, that might be good. But my mood might rise and I might end up doing something improper. Besides,

"If Lily wakes up and finds no one inside the hut she’ll be surprised, right?"

"That’s right, ehe."

Honestly!

"Robby-sama."

Stevie said.

"What?"

When I asked back, she said a little hesitantly,

"Actually, my birthday is soon. On my next birthday I’ll turn seventeen."

She told me. Heeh, that was the first I’d heard of it. I’d never paid attention.

"I see. What day?"

"Eight days from now. By then we’ll be in the Mainz Kingdom, right?"

"Yeah. Then shall the three of us celebrate the birthday?"

I wanted to buy Stevie some kind of present! I wanted to consult with Lily and give it as a surprise. I wanted to see her surprised and happy face.

"Yes!"

Stevie answered happily. She twisted a strand of hair around her finger, let it go, twisted it again, and let it go. It was Stevie’s habit when she was happy. At that moment Stevie seemed to notice something and said,

"Um, when is Robby-sama’s birthday? I don’t know, so could you tell me?"

Ah? When Stevie asked, it suddenly hit me. Huh? When was I born? Neither Mother nor Cass had ever told me my birthday. Normally a person turning ten couldn’t possibly not know! That was probably why no one had said anything.

What should I do, me who didn’t know my own birthday? Ahh, I had no choice but to decide it arbitrarily. I could only hope Lily didn’t know — she probably didn’t! Yes, she shouldn’t know!

"My birthday is two days after Stevie’s."

Hearing my words, Stevie looked both surprised and happy.

"Is that so! Wow, it’s so close — a miracle, isn’t it? I’m so happy! Robby-sama, if you don’t mind, would you celebrate your birthday together with me? It’s improper for a prince and a maid to celebrate a birthday together, but since it’s only us it’s fine, right? Is it all right? Ah, but maybe it’s still no good?"

Was having birthdays close something that made her that happy? It was unexpected but pleasant that Stevie would be happy about something like this. And for Stevie to speak such a long sentence was rare.

"Sure, of course. Let’s celebrate with Lily, the three of us."

"Really!? It’s a promise, all right!"

She peered into my face.

"I got it. Look forward to it!"

"Wow! Thank you so much! This will be the first time anyone has celebrated my birthday since my parents died! And since my brother is also gone, I thought no one would ever celebrate it for me again..."

It was getting a little melancholic, so since it was about birthdays I brought up the classic item.

"Is that so? Then shall we prepare a birthday cake?"

"Eh! A birthday cake? Do royalty eat that kind of thing?"

"Huh? What did Stevie’s family eat for birthdays?"

"Yes, the soup with meat that Mother made!"

"Soup with meat was a feast?"

"Yes! Soup with meat was only for days of thanks to the gods and for family birthdays. So when I started working at the Royal Palace and meat dishes appeared for lunch, I was so happy I cried."

Stevie was talkative. She must have been truly happy; she was speaking a lot.

"I’ve never eaten cake. Please, by all means!"

"I see. Then shall I order one? But since you were a maid, didn’t leftover cake from festivals or ceremonies in the Rear Palace or Royal Palace get given to you?"

At my words Stevie made a sad face and said,

"I was never used for those guest occasions. Cuter maids who could do their work properly were valued and chosen. At those times I was always put to work in the garden maintenance section."

"...I see. Then this time let’s celebrate properly!"

"Yes! I’m so happy! Oh, I’m so happy my eyes are a little... "

Stevie wiped her tears with a finger. If she was that happy I would absolutely make it happen. The three of us would safely reach the Mainz Kingdom!!

Setting the birthday promise aside, we had to know if enemies were approaching before the enemies knew about us.

Then, for reconnaissance, I first climbed onto the roof and stood watch. The forest was about to be wrapped in darkness. During the night I switched places with Stevie several times, and just when I thought dawn might not be far off, I thought I saw a flicker of light far away. I tapped the roof — ton ton ton! — to alert Stevie inside the hut. I felt Stevie waking up. With this she would wake Lily. Was Lily still so bad she couldn’t move?

The distant light became visible as a faint flicker. Then it disappeared. No — that was deliberately extinguished. If those were hunters or woodcutters they would not extinguish the light until they reached the hut. The fact that they extinguished it meant they knew we were here, approached, and put out the light so we would not notice. That meant they were enemies — the pursuers. Should we meet them in battle, or run?

But it was strange! How did they know we were here? Even if they knew the direction we fled, it felt as if they knew we were exactly here, as if a point had been marked on a map, and they were heading straight for this place without getting lost. Why? Why? What was there? It felt as if they had used something as a landmark and come here without hesitation. Yet at this distance the hut should still not be visible.

"Robby-sama."

Lily and Stevie climbed up onto the roof. Lily had recovered enough to climb onto the roof. Her breathing was not labored; she seemed no different from usual.

"I saw a flicker of light over there. It’s gone now, but it flickered."

"I see. Then those are the pursuers."

Stevie declared.

Lily said in a somewhat weak voice,

"Robby-sama, I caused you trouble. I’m better now. Today I’ll be all right."

It was still dark so I could not see her complexion, but her voice did not seem to have much strength. Her body had recovered some power, but she seemed to have become weak-spirited. Still, this was no time to say such things. We had to flee and enter the Mainz Kingdom quickly.

"Lily, don’t become weak! The three of us will definitely reach the Mainz Kingdom! I will absolutely take Lily with us! I will not leave you behind!"

"Uh... thank you very much."

Lily conveyed her thanks in a weak voice.

"I wonder how many have come?"

I muttered, and Stevie answered,

"Five people. Ah, one has separated. He seems to be going back. Why? How strange."

she said. Umm, I couldn’t tell.

"If there are four left, shall we meet them in battle?"

"But they may be stronger."

Lily worried. That was true, but,

"Even so, if we run they might catch up. Let’s attack before they attack us. I don’t think the enemy knows we are on the roof. We meet them."

I declared.

""Understood.""

The two agreed, but they were waiting for my next words. I had to say what we would do.

"Stevie and I will go down and ambush them. Lily, wait here."

"That’s... I can do it too!"

Lily appealed in a voice that sounded ready to cry, but,

"No. Wait here. Your body still isn’t at full strength, is it?"

When I said that Stevie also said strongly,

"That’s right. It’s still too much! Please stay here."

Lily also seemed to understand her own physical condition well and said with a frustrated look,

"If only I could use a bow I could be of use..."

Lily said. Hmm? A bow?

"Lily, if you had a bow and arrows could you use them?"

"Ah, no, that’s not it. I have a bow and arrows, but because I don’t have the ability I can’t use them..."

she said.

Oh, if she has a bow and arrows, can I use them? I certainly have the skill, don’t I? This is exactly the time to show off a cheat ability!