The maid, apparently called Arisa, gave me one of her dresses, I felt uncomfortable with it, I would prefer men's clothes a thousand times, but I appreciate the gesture, at least now I am dry, I also dress my torso, apparently the baron's pig did fracture a rib which made it hard for me to walk or stand up straight, but at least sitting down it didn't bother me so much.
Despite all the help neither of them had said much of anything, apart from their orders and my thanks, even though she was good to me, and the Duke seemed to be a decent man I didn't trust them.
Besides, I still didn't understand why they were dressed like this, even in the castle there were no electric lights, everything was lit with torches or candles.
Arisa put a bowl of soup on the kitchen table, and a glass of water, water that looked as if it had been taken from a dirty puddle, the colour of the water instead of being transparent was light brown.
The idea that gnawed at me now was to ask what year we were in, it sounds laughable, but something here didn't add up, nothing has made sense since Gran and I entered the damn forest, I just hope my Gran is alright... if I don't ask I won't get any information.
When I was about to speak the Duke entered the scene, I mean he came to the kitchen.
-Arisa, serve me a plate of food... eat it with us, Arisa.
-As you say, master.
The Duke dropped his weight on the chair.
-Before you speak, my dear, could you tell me your name?
-My name is Ali... Yume Yasume.
No, I wasn't lying, Yume was my name before my father, Mr Ackerman adopted me.
-What a strange name, Yume, it sounds like... I have no idea what the hell it sounds like.
Arisa served the duke and sat down to eat with us.
-It sounds like a mare, sir.
Hey what does this shitty maid think she's doing.
It wasn't long before both the duke and the maid who was trying her hardest not to laugh burst out laughing.
-She doesn't even look like a mare... I could piss in my trousers... look how little Yume looks at you with hatred, no seriously I pissed myself.
-It's a joke girl, don't take it so seriously, if you keep looking at me like that you'll scare me.
-My eyes are this way, so get used to it, pair of clowns.
Arisa put on a serious face, I was sure that I had annoyed her, which pleased me, but she was annoyed for another reason that I had not imagined.
-Miss Yume, I have no problem with the way you talk to me, but you must respect the duke.
Her gaze was penetrating, but she didn't intimidate me, but it made me distrust them more.
-Arisa, don't be so uptight, the girl has character, that's good, besides I think your dress is too big for her because of the neckline.
I felt self-conscious, it wasn't that I didn't have breasts, I did, and from the times I caught Gran looking at them, I was sure that even though they weren't big, I had enough for him to be delighted.
Even so, Arisa's dress was tight around my waist and big around my chest, and the duke kept looking at me, so I covered myself with my arms.
-No, no girl, don't misunderstand me, I'm not like my son, even if I wanted to do something I couldn't, this old man hasn't been able to get his little bird up for a long time....
The duke got up from his chair, then knelt down with the help of the table.
-I apologise for the behaviour of the animal I have for a son.
Arisa was furious, she certainly didn't like what the Duke was doing.
-Argus, you are the Duke, you must not prostrate yourself before anyone, get up now!
I have a name... wait a minute Argus Creyback, it's the same name as an Irish generator who also happened to be a Duke from the 1300's or thereabouts.
-I didn't ask for your opinion Arisa, besides the demon I have for a son is my responsibility.
-But Argus...
-Arisa, don't go on.
It was clear that it hurt Arisa to see the Duke prostrating himself, but she did not look at him with the eyes of a maid seeing her master, but as... a face that knew very well those of looking at the person you like.
-Mr. Argus, if I may say so, do not apologise for your son's swine, you have done nothing wrong, on the contrary, please stand up.
The duke listened to me.
-You know, child, your look is very different from what you tell me.
-Lord Argus...
Arisa didn't like to be told that way.
-As I was saying, my eyes are like that by nature, they are slanted because I come from foreign lands, from Japan to be exact, there it is common to have the shape of these eyes, so I ask you, without trying to disrespect you, to get used to it.
-That's no way to talk to the Duke.
The Duke slapped his face and rubbed his face.
-Arisa, for the love of Dagda and your Christian God, let her speak freely.
She bit her lip.
-As you command.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, like Dagda the god who makes it all right, how can anyone in the mid 2020's believe in... the clothing, that there is no electricity, that they speak Old Irish, the Duke's name granting.... don't tell me we're in the... no, that definitely can't be.
-I'm intrigued by this Japan you come from, I've never heard of it before, what's it like?
I totally ignored Argus' question.
-Mr. Argus, excuse me, I'm still a bit confused, the question may sound strange to you, but could you tell me what year it is?
Both of them looked at me in surprise and a bit worried, the Duke made a gesture to Arisa so that she could answer.
-It is the year of our Lord 1295 AD.
I had a mini heart attack inside, how did I travel back in time, was it because of that fog, yes I will definitely choose Gran's favourite insult for this one.... Fuck it.
-I see, I see, I get it, that's what I thought, the situation with your son still got me, I'm sorry for the weird question, but can I have another one?
-Yes go ahead... it was Yume right?
-Yes right, thank you...
I got up from my seat, the whole thing made me forget about my broken rib, so when I got up all of a sudden it hurt like hell, I still put my hands on the table.
-You haven't seen or heard, of a man dressed strangely like me, he has a scar on his chin, blond hair, I'd say in his eyes would be that of an Englishman mixed with those of a foreigner, his name is Big Venture.
-Quiet girl, don't talk so fast but in short answer no, who is this Venture?
-He is my brother... he is a very important person for me, there was a fog near the castle of Leap and we got separated, then his son kidnapped me, I beg you to help me to find him.
Both the Duke and Arisa looked each other in the eye.
-Yume, in compensation I will let you stay as long as you wish in my castle, I will make sure that my son does not bother you, I will also look for that Gran, it will be my way of repaying you for the unpleasant time that my people made you spend, if you don't mind that, I would like you to help Arisa in her work.
-If you promise to reunite me with Gran, yes I agree, but if his son comes near me again, this time I'll kill him, and I'm quite serious about that last one.
-How dare you threaten the....
The Duke interrupted her with a pure gesture of his hand.
-So it's a deal, Yume?
He stretched out his arm, I did the same, though I had to hold my side with my other arm because of the pain, he grabbed my forearm and I did the same.
-Well, it's a deal, Mr. Argus.
Mr. Argus banged the table with glee.
-Let's continue our conversation in my office, this kitchen is colder than Arisa's heart.
The duke winked at me.
Maybe my heart is cold, but at least I don't have erectile dysfunction like you, Master.
-I forbid you to mess with Junior.
I couldn't help it his silly conversation made me laugh, something that having a broken rib made it hurt.
-Look Arisa, two old men like us can still make the young ones laugh.
Argus grabbed Arisa by the waist.
-Argus...
She rested her face on Duke's chest.
I'd like to get to that age with Gran.
Come on girl to my Despecho, Arisa make us some hot brew to warm up the night... for the three of us.
-Yes Argus.
The Duke smiled, he wasted no time in lending me his arm for support and leading me straight into his office, the room had a fireplace that was already lit, a beautiful wooden table in the middle of the room like a desk, with a matching chair covered in bearskin, the walls were adorned with bookcases full of books and two pictures, one of which I suppose was him with his wife and children, The walls were adorned with bookcases full of books and two pictures, one I suppose was of him with his wife and children, the other was of a red-haired girl in a leather suit, next to her was a sword in its sheath.
-Duke, who is she?
That red-haired flower-picker, you know her, that's Arisa when she was young, one as the Romans called her... a muse, a Venus.
No doubt Arisa was very beautiful in the past, although it was hard to imagine her as in the painting, the wrinkles and her ashen hair didn't help the comparison... I stared at the sword, how silly, it's the same sword that the Duke carries in his belt now.
-Duke, I'm afraid I must ask you for something else, your son took a knife from me that is very important to me, I want it back.
-As I commanded... with that look you have made even I the Duke obey you.
He laughed mockingly, but I was sure he was going to get it back for me.
Wow, this old man made me let my guard down, maybe I can trust him.