Edited by Iseul

Julian took a second or two to feign his shock and embarrassment. It was only after an awkward moment passed that he cleared his throat, once more approaching Mrs. Reed with a charming smile. 

“Forgive me,” he even went as far as pulling a bashful expression, “I’ve been stressed of late, having a patient as brutish as this one living in my house. Truly, he means no harm, though…he can be a little annoying.”

“Anyone would become annoying with company like yours,” Leonel retorted.

Mrs. Reed shook her head, maintaining her pleasant smile. “As long as you’re not causing too much trouble…” She still kept a wary eye on the inquisitor but Julian was pleased to see that she was much more relaxed than before. “What can I get you today?”

Julian decided to further quell her anxiety. He chose his words carefully while maintaining an air of nonchalance. "Three loaves of your freshest batch. This big guy here eats as much as a mammoth even though he spends hours sitting in front of my radiator doing nothing."

“I don’t do that,” Leonel retorted with a disgruntled snort but didn’t say anything beyond that. Despite his rampant complaints the inquisitor stood patiently behind Julian, holding his suitcase in wait like some sort of servant. Or perhaps a very terrifying butler, or even a strikingly handsome guard.

Mrs. Reed blinked. It took a moment for the words to sink and realization to dawn. Julian’s radiator was bluestone powered. If this inquisitor had truly been staying over at the doctor's, it seemed that he was rather impartial to illegal wares…right? She relaxed a little further and nodded. “I see… Ah! Where are my manners? Let me get you boys our biggest loaves!”

Several months back, Mrs. Reed had gotten her hands on a bluestone oven and Julian could hardly blame for relying on the machine, being not only reliable but industrious as well. And to think that a little woman in a backwater village such as Gotsven could still get ahold of a bluestone device, despite their ban, was truly astounding.

“Anything else I can get you?” Mrs. Reed chirped as she handed over a large paper bag. 

Julian smirked, an idea sparking in his mind as he looked around her stall. “How about I get one of those sweets for you, kid?” The doctor pointed at one of the cinnamon and sugar-coated rolls.

Leonel’s reaction was delayed, not having realized he was being the one addressed at first. He was not impressed. “I’m not a kid.”

The baker only laughed at their banter. “You don’t need to be a child to enjoy these babies. I’ll sell you a second one for a discount.”

Julian chuckled pleasantly, reaching into his wallet. “Mrs. Reed sure knows how to do business, huh? Alright, you got me. Give me two.”

Bread successfully acquired. Now there were only about another fifty items on the list, and then about fifty patients to see. Perfect.

Julian whistled, going about the market merrily. "Don't dawdle!" he barked, "there is much to be done and I don't have all day."

That was a lie. He had all the time in the world. 

And thus the doctor went about his merry way, dragging the inquisitor around as he pleased. Leonel was reduced to a convenient manservant and before long he was drowning beneath piles and piles of grocery bags… and other mysterious things. For Julian was an impulsive spender and accumulated not only fruits and vegetables but also strange and odd trinkets alike.

“What do you think about this, Leonel?” the doctor pointed toward what looked like an obnoxiously large paperweight. Or something. Who even knew what the ugly donkey carving was actually supposed to be meant for.

"A fine eye you got there, Doctor!" the merchant chirped cheerfully, waving Julian over. 

Leonel had bags on his arms, in his arms, and also dangling from his arms. If a walking coat hanger could champion groceries then Julian would name it Leonel. The poor guy could hardly see a thing over all the things he had in hand. Still, he replied dryly, “Looks useless.”

“Don’t be a spoilsport! So how much for this…thing?” Even Julian wasn’t really sure what to call it.

A ridiculous number was named and the doctor didn't even bother to bargain for it before exchanging money.

"You…" Leonel growled as an additional weight was added to the things in his arms. He wasn't as annoyed with the weight, as much as he was annoyed with just the large quantity of items. They made it difficult for him to move around and see where he was going. "Are you done yet?"

"How could I possibly be done?" Julian was as content and pleased as ever.

Leonel gritted his teeth as he adjusted the bags. "I believe all the necessities have been acquired."

"Perhaps you’re right. But what's the danger of stocking up more? Especially with an eater as ravenous as yourself," Julian cackled evilly.

"I know you're just trying to get back at me. It's working. Are you happy now? If so, let's leave."

Julian quirked a brow. "Admitting defeat so soon?" he teased. But he did suppose that he'd spent a hefty sum of money already and it was probably time he stopped going overboard with the teasing and petty revenge.

And just in time for Nana to be running toward him down the streets. She was one of many village lassies that he saw rather regularly. But it wasn’t her that needed his help, rather her father’s failing knees.

"Doctor, we cannot wait much longer, please. I need you to have a look at him before the sun sets today," she pleaded with misty eyes.

Joint pain was an inevitability of age and Julian honestly didn’t think it warranted such dramatics on Nana’s part. Of course, he still gave her his best service smile and said, "Don't fret lassie, I'll be with you soon."

A relieved expression graced her features. Julian turned back to his newly acquired manservant and grinned. "Alright, it's time for me to see my patients. You may accompany me through my rounds. And once I am done with my work, we can then finally return home."

"I can just go back by myself." Leonel shuffled the things in his hold again. Despite his complaining, he was following Julian to Nana's home.

"As if I'd trust you out of my sight. You'd just steal all my food and run away! I had just spent a small fortune on those supplies, do you really think I’d let you at them freely?"

"..." Leonel said nothing in response. Julian was slowly learning to grow concerned when he was answered with silence instead of sass.

Alas, the inquisitor was reasonably obedient, waiting outside the homes of Julian’s patients while he did his routine checkups. There were many villagers that begged for his attention, whether it be purchasing remedies for a common cold, or consulting about the settling of arthritis in their joints. 

His visits were taking longer than usual and Julian blamed Leonel. The inquisitor invited way too much curiosity and Julian was bombarded with questions at almost every residence. The doctor’s smile strained and twitched, but he answered their inquiries with a pleasant tone, unafraid to make up ridiculous tales about the man that stood quietly outside.

"Is it true he's an inquisitor? I heard that there was a man that died at the old creek. Guess he ain't quite as dead as they say he was," one of his elderly patients asked.

Another villager, a married woman, showed her concern; "Will you be alright, Doctor? After all you’re…" her voice trailed off into an indiscernible mumble.

By the end of his rounds, Julian was honestly growing exhausted with the same inquiries over and over again. And the same concerns.

So Julian had to soothe them with an easy answer. His eyes pulled into crescent shapes in hopes of making his smile look more genuine. "So long as no one utters a word, I'll be perfectly fine, just as I've always been."

By the time that Julian was counting his last patients, a full day had come and gone. Daylight dimmed to herald dusk. And Leonel's arms were going numb even with half the items discarded on the ground. He was quiet in his suffering and glared at anyone who dared look at him with starry, curious eyes.

It deterred some, but not all.

Some children still came up to him with a barrage of stupid questions.

And women were still measuring their nonexistent prospects. Leonel wanted to sneer at all of them but he kept his cool. He wasn’t planning on staying in the village for long. There was no reason to get attached or cause too much trouble. All he needed to do was take advantage of the doctor’s goodwill, let his wounds heal before going on his way.

He couldn’t afford to stick around. Leonel had no idea how things were going down in Fauster, but if there was one thing that was certain, it was that he had messed up. Trouble was stirred and he got involved for better or for worse.

Leonel was livid just thinking about the mess.

Despite the doctor’s irritating personality, Leonel knew that he owed the man. If not for Julian then…

Caught up in thoughts, Leonel hadn’t been paying attention to the woman that approached him.

She was unlike the others who shyly tucked stray strands of hair behind their ears, or looked him up and down with nefarious intentions.

Leonel could tell by her sharp gaze that she was sizing him up. Instead of a dress, she wore trousers coupled with knee-high boots and had a sword strapped to her hip.

"Who are you?" she asked, like a pointed interrogation, her posture tense, ready for a fight.