I did not even realize the precise moment I had teleported and nearly thrown myself on Albert.
One instant, I had been walking timidly amongst several unfamiliar guards, surrounded by foul-smelling meat.
The next instant, however, I had become a small maid practically launching herself toward one of Westwond's personal guards.
"Albert!"
The guards behind us widened their eyes at my sudden outburst, clearly taken aback by the sight.
Albert himself appeared equally surprised for a brief moment, he stared down at me though the expression quickly disappeared beneath an amused smile.
Before I could retreat from my embarrassing display of affection, his hand came down gently upon my head.
My entire body froze.
I, a fully grown woman—in a teenage body—who had supposedly lived through two entire lifetimes, had herself being pet in the arms of a teenage boy.
My face immediately burned with embarrassment.
I coughed lightly and took a hurried step backward, and, with what little pride I could gather, I shoved Albert's hand away from my head.
"Do not touch me." I muttered.
Though my voice lacked any true irritation. In truth, despite the humiliation threatening to consume me whole, I was incredibly relieved to see him.
Albert merely smiled.
I had spent the entirety of yesterday and the better part of this morning searching for Albert, hoping desperately that I might find him before I was delivered into the depths of this dreadful underground dungeon.
And then suddenly—
There he was.
Standing before me as though he had descended from the heavens at precisely the moment I prayed saving.
Had he somehow learned of my dreadful punishment and come searching for me?
Had news reached him that I, Clare, had been sentenced to feed creatures that resembled hounds only in the same manner a dragon resembled a lizard?
Had he heard of my downfall and come here willingly to become my knight in shining armor?
If that were the case, then I fear I had already fallen in love with him.
Again.
I was beginning to think my heart was far too easily won.
However, my foolish thoughts quickly faded when I noticed Albert staring at me strangely.
I frowned.
Why was he looking at me like that?
His eyes slowly travelled across my face, and I furrowed my brows in confusion. Had something happened? Was there dirt on my cheek?
Considering the manner in which I had been dragged through half the estate underground neither possibility seemed impossible.
Then— Ah.
The bruises.
I suddenly remembered.
My hand immediately rose toward my face.
How could I possibly have forgotten about them?
Was it the reason the guards always had their eyes gouged at me?
I had assumed they were simply bewildered by the sight of someone as small as myself wandering through a place like this.
So, turns out that was not the case.
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
I scratched my head awkwardly and lowered my gaze, suddenly finding the stone floor far more interesting than Albert's increasingly dark expression.
It was embarrassing enough to have been punished into this place.
Explaining that I had been beaten up by a group of foolish girls was even worse.
I had not even won with sufficient glory to make the injuries worthwhile.
Albert stepped closer.
Before I could retreat, he lowered his head and gently caught my chin with his fingers.
He gently turned my face from side to side, examining the bruises with an expression that gradually lost its earlier amusement.
His brows furrowed with enough seriousness.
"What happened?"
I swallowed. Ah, where do I start from?
"It was nothing," I said lightly.
"It was merely a disagreement amongst servants."
"A disagreement?"
"Yes." I nodded.
His gaze remained fixed on my bruised face. "One that left your cheek like this?"
I hesitated. "Well…"
I had no answer so the silence stretched between us.
I quickly pushed his hand away and stepped backward. "More importantly, what are you doing here?" I asked, changing the subject.
"I have been searching everywhere for you since yesterday."
The question successfully shifted his attention. Somewhat.
The guards behind us had been quietly observing our exchange, and I suddenly became aware of just how familiar Albert and I must have appeared.
One of the men stepped forward, greeting Albert with what suggested they know one another very well.
The two exchanged several words.
And I just watched quietly.
So Albert was acquainted with them.
Wonderful.
Then one of them glanced toward me.
"Is this the little maid?"
My head turned in surprise.
Little maid? My brows lowered and I gave him a displeased look.
He merely shrugged, completely unaffected by my glare.
The audacity.
I was not that little.
Well—
Perhaps compared to everyone in this underground dungeon, I was.
That was beside the point.
Albert, however, nodded calmly.
"Thank you, Joan, for looking after her," he said. "I will take it from here."
I blinked.
Looking after me?
My gaze immediately moved toward Joan, the guard who had escorted me through the underground passages. Then I looked back at Albert.
Had Albert instructed him to watch over me?
Was that why Joan had not abandoned me despite the fact that I had practically clung to his side when he attempted to leave?
My heart warmed unexpectedly.
I had believed myself entirely alone in this matter. I truly had someone I could rely upon.
That was a pleasant feeling.
Then again—
If Albert had truly instructed Joan to protect me, I intended to complain later.
The man had done a terrible job.
I had nearly died of fear three separate times.
Joan shook his head lightly. "It was not much trouble."
Albert nodded, though Joan's expression grew more serious afterward.
"I am passing the duty to you only because we are acquainted," he continued. "But we cannot forget that this is her punishment. She should not receive assistance through every part of it."
My expression immediately fell.
There it was. Reality had returned.
A guard would accompany me, yes. But I was not to expect assistance, and I could not simply stand aside whilst everyone else completed my duties for me.
If they were discovered helping me too much, the consequences would likely not fall upon me alone.
Albert understood as well.
"Do not worry," he replied. "I know where the line stands. I will see that she performs her duties herself."
I nodded slowly. That was reasonable.
I stared at Albert.
He looked at me.
I sighed. Of course.
My knight in shining armor apparently intended to make certain I still suffered.
How romantic.
Joan glanced toward the heavy metal buckets nearby.
"Let us return the meat to the beasts' enclosure."
Beasts' enclosure.
Hm.. I preferred that name.
It sounded considerably more truthful than hounds' cage.
Calling those creatures hounds was deeply misleading. Hounds were supposed to possess floppy ears, pleasant faces, and perhaps a fortunate habit of flapping their tails sideways.
Those things had teeth large enough to tear through bone. Definitely not a hound.
Albert nodded.
Then he turned toward me.
His eyes silently indicated that I should move.
Albert nodded and looked toward me, silently indicating that I should follow.
I nodded back.
Then, without a single ounce of shame, I immediately wrapped my arm around his.
If I had someone familiar beside me, why should I pretend otherwise?
I had spent enough time trembling alone.
The guards behind us blinked. I felt their surprise without even looking.
A few of them exchanged glances before directing knowing looks toward Albert. He cleared his throat lightly and continued walking as though nothing unusual had occurred.
I looked between them.
What?
I watched their expressions with confusion, but no one explained themselves. I eventually decided that whatever strange conversation was occurring silently between them was none of my concern.
I tightened my hold around his arm.
The journey back toward the beasts felt considerably less dreadful.
Certainly not pleasant still.
We soon returned to the beasts' enclosure.
The moment I saw the familiar iron gates, my steps slowed.
Inside, the creatures immediately noticed our arrival.
The moment the creatures saw me, their enormous heads lifted.
And then—
Grrrrrrrr.
My lips pressed together.
Oh? They still remembered me.
Wonderful.
Still. Albert was standing beside me now. Therefore, I slowly lifted my chin.
Then, before my better judgment could intervene, I pulled a mocking expression.
Because they were trapped behind iron bars and they could do nothing.
I mentally folded my arms, nearly laughing aloud at my own delusion.
It seemed as though they understood my provoking stance, because the snarling grew louder.
I immediately stepped behind Albert completely.
When I peeked around his side and saw the creatures still staring.
I immediately disappeared again. How intelligent were these things? That was deeply concerning.
What exactly was wrong with the Westwond family?
Why were they keeping creatures like this beneath their estate?
And underground, of all places?
What if one day they became tired of their chains? And suddenly decided that the meat provided by the estate was no longer satisfying?
What if they awoke one morning and thought—
Fresh human meat sounds delightful.
Would the servants not become the first victims?
Naturally, we would.
The nobles possessed guards and the guards possessed weapons.
And we servants? We possessed nothing. Albert stepped forward suddenly.
"Quiet!"
His voice struck through the underground chamber.
I jumped, frightened.
The beasts immediately fell silent and slowly seated themselves.
How obedient.
As though they had not been growling at me with murder in their eyes moments ago.
I slowly turned my gaze toward Albert.
Albert looked down at me, his expression softened slightly.
I looked back at the creatures.
Then at Albert again.
I was astonished.
"Do not worry," he said. "They will not harm you without reason."
I stared at the beasts suspiciously.
"They understand boundaries?"
"Yes."
I remembered how they had apparently understood my mocking expression moments ago.
That was not comforting.
Albert continued, "But do not provoke them either."
I slowly nodded.
Perhaps mocking the enormous creatures with teeth capable of separating my head from my shoulders had not been my wisest decision.
I sighed.
Well. I had been foolish again.
The guards began arranging the metal buckets near the enclosure, and immediately the horrible stench of raw meat filled the air once more.
My face twisted.
Good heavens.
How could something smell so terrible?
I quickly covered my nose.
I had encountered many unpleasant smells throughout my life. Rotten vegetables, spoiled milk, including the most trenching swamp.
But this?
This was beyond ordinary unpleasantness.
This smelled like death itself had been sealed inside a bucket.
I fought desperately against the urge to gag.
The guards exchanged several words with Albert afterward.
I could not properly hear what they discussed, though I soon understood the result. They agreed that one of the guards would remain nearby with us.
Not to assist me of course not.
Merely in case of emergencies. Oh how that was reassuring.
The other guards soon departed.
Their footsteps gradually disappeared through the underground passages until only Albert, myself, and the additional guard remained.
The chamber suddenly felt quieter.
Albert turned toward me.
Then he gave me a reassuring nod. I swallowed nervously.
Did I truly have to enter that cage?
My eyes slowly moved toward the iron gates. The beasts stared back.
I looked at Albert. Then at the beasts. Then back at Albert.
Could he not simply assist me throughout the entire task? Maybe to feed them?
No.
That would be selfish.
And besides, this was my punishment.
I could not expect him to save me from every unpleasant situation.
Even so—I wished he would.