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　The hand tightened on Fitch's arm, drawing him closer. "Since Nike heels you were rushing to the brewer, down on the lower level, and then right back to the kitchen, on the first floor, you must be a hardworking young man. I would have no reason to recall seeing you up here on the third floor." He released Fitch's arm. "I suppose I recall seeing you downstairs, rushing back to the kitchen from the brewer? Without wandering off anywhere along the way?"
　Fitch's concern for Beata turned to a Jordan heels focused hope to keep himself from being thrown out of the house, or worse.
　"Yes, sir. I'm on my way right back to the kitchen."
　Dalton Campbell draped his hand over the hilt of his sword. "You've been working, and haven't seen a thing, have you?"
　Fitch swallowed his terror. "No, sir. Nothing. I swear. Just that Minister Chanboor smiled at me. He's a great man, the Minister. I'm thankful that a man so great as he would give Ugg Boots Clearance work to a worthless Haken such as myself."
　The corners of Dalton Campbell's mouth turned up just enough that Fitch thought the aide might be pleased by what he'd heard. His fingers drummed along the length of the brass crossguard of his sword. Fitch stared at the lordly weapon. He felt driven to speak into the silence.
　"I want to be good and be a worthy member of the household. To work hard. To earn my keep."
　The smile Jordan Heels widened. "That is indeed good to know. You seem a fine young man. Perhaps, since you are so earnest in your desire, I could count on you?"
　Fitch wasn't sure exactly what he was to be counted on for, but he gave a "Yes, sir" anyway, and without hesitation.
　"Since you swear you didn't see anything on your way back to the kitchen, you are proving to me that you are a lad of potential. Perhaps one who UGG boots clearance could be entrusted with more responsibility."
　"Responsibility, sir?"
　Dalton Campbell's dark eyes gleamed with a terrifying, incomprehensible intelligence, the kind Fitch imagined the mice must see in the eyes of the house cats.
　"We sometimes have need of people desiring to move up in the household. We will see. Keep yourself vigilant against the lies of people wishing to bring disrepute to the Minister, and we will see."