Chapter 26 - The Scent of the Sea and a Fateful Encounter
The lord's manor in the Marcel Territory sat perched upon a hill, overlooking the vast expanse of the ocean. Whenever I opened the windows, the sea breeze carried the sharp, salty scent of the tide. The sight of the blue sky meeting the horizon never failed to lift my spirits; a sense of excitement bubbled within me.
Ah, how refreshing. To wake up to such a view every morning is true happiness.
Between the idyllic environment, the daily mana control lessons from Theodore-sama, and the fresh seafood dishes prepared by Samuel, my health had improved remarkably.
As I stood by the window cradling Kuro, a rhythmic knock sounded at the door.
"Yes?" I called out.
"It's me," a voice replied.
'It's me'? Who exactly is 'me'?
Well, there was only one person who would answer so casually. I set Kuro down, and he immediately scampered to the door, scratching at the wood as if demanding it be opened. With a wry smile, I called out, "Coming," and pulled the door open.
Theodore-sama stood there, exactly as expected.
Kuro rubbed against Theodore-sama's legs with his usual affection. When the man scooped him up, the cat let out a soft meow as if sharing a secret. Theodore-sama responded with a gentle, sweet tone. "Ah, good morning to you too."
Their bond was as stable as ever. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.
"Good morning, Theodore-sama."
"Morning."
Since arriving here, Theodore-sama had traded his usual black robes for more casual attire. Today, he wore a crisp white shirt paired with a loop tie featuring a polished onyx stone. He claimed that his robes were too conspicuous and might spark unwanted rumors. Personally, I thought his long silver hair was far more eye-catching, but he didn't seem to mind that in the slightest.
"Are you ready, Lady Rachel?"
"I am. Oh? Where is Samuel?"
"He's with Roger, confirming today's route."
For the first few days after our arrival, I had been too exhausted to leave the manor. After a week, however, I began venturing out in small increments. We started with the nearby park, then the beach, and eventually the town, gradually increasing the distance and duration of our walks. Since coming to the territory, I hadn't suffered a single relapse. Every sight was new and vibrant; my days felt truly fulfilling.
Today, we planned to visit the market. Theodore-sama, Roger, and Samuel were to accompany me. Apparently, a special morning market was being held, featuring rare imports alongside the usual fresh seafood, so we decided to see it for ourselves.
"I'm heading out now, Sarah."
"Yes, Ojou-sama. Have a wonderful time," Sarah replied with a bright smile.
This was Sarah's first time in the Marcel Territory as well, and she seemed deeply moved by her first sight of the ocean. Indeed, simply gazing at the sea brought peace to the soul.
During the day, the waves sparkled under the sunlight; in the evening, the setting sun dyed the sky and sea a brilliant orange as it sank beneath the water. At night, the darkness stretched into infinity, punctuated by stars that twinkled like scattered diamonds.
Every moment was a masterpiece. Beyond this horizon lay other countries where different people lived their lives. The thought filled me with a strange, wondrous sensation.
♢
At the market, rows of tents displayed a vibrant array of vegetables, seafood, and spices.
"Samuel, see anything good?" Theodore-sama asked.
"Let's see. For starters, I'll need some salmon and sardines."
"Hey, Samuel. Don't forget the shellfish. Shellfish!"
"I know, I know. You really do love your shellfish, Theodore-sama."
"They have to be fresh, or they'll wreck your stomach. Shellfish are serious business."
Theodore-sama and Samuel, walking at the head of our group, had become quite close since arriving in the territory. The sight of them heading to the market together every day had left the manor servants wide-eyed. The fact that Viscount Frion, the future Marquis, was doing the grocery shopping was a shock to everyone. However, the kingdom's knights and mages valued merit above all else; even an elite like Theodore-sama apparently handled his own supplies when deployed to the provinces. He even mentioned being perfectly capable of camping out and cooking for himself, which surprised me even further.
I followed closely behind them to avoid getting lost in the crowd, while Roger trailed us, his eyes scanning our surroundings with a knight's vigilance. Suddenly, my gaze fell upon a peculiar shop that radiated an exotic atmosphere. It sold rice, various seasonings in jars, and beans I had never seen before.
"Oh, I wonder what they're selling over there?"
"Hmm? Where... Ah, that must be today's highlight. I heard they brought in rare ingredients from somewhere in the East. Right, Samuel?"
I pointed toward the shop while addressing Theodore-sama. He turned to Samuel for confirmation, but there was no response.
That's strange.
I looked toward Samuel and found him standing frozen, his expression one of pure shock.
"Samuel? Is something wrong?"
My voice didn't reach him. Samuel began to stumble toward the shop, nearly bumping into other shoppers in his daze. Theodore-sama and I exchanged a confused glance.
"Let's follow him for now."
"Yes, let's."
We caught up to Samuel and stood behind him at the tent. He was busy inspecting several types of beans. Suddenly, his strength seemed to fail him, and he collapsed to his knees, bracing himself with his hands on the ground.
"Oh!" The sudden movement startled me, making my shoulders jump.
"Hey, Samuel!"
"Are you alright?" I asked, leaning in with concern. Samuel's lips were moving, whispering something under his breath.
"What is it? I can't hear you."
"...zu... izu... finally..."
"Pardon?"
"Daizu! Azuki!"
"What?"
"Why are they here... finally... I finally found you... at last..."
Theodore-sama and I exchanged another look.
"Daizu?"
"Azuki? What on earth is that?"
"He's acting like he's reunited with long-lost siblings," I remarked.
"His shoulders are shaking. Is he actually crying?"
"He must have missed them terribly... whatever they are."
Samuel's intense reaction was so unsettling that I instinctively took a step back. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Roger retreat half a step as well.
What does this mean? I have no idea what Daizu or Azuki are, but are they the names of these products?
"Um... I suppose he wants to buy them?"
"Sigh... Lady Rachel, I'll stay here and keep an eye on him. Why don't you take Roger and look around for a bit?"
Theodore-sama let out a deep sigh, watching Samuel with distant eyes as the man continued to mutter to himself. "Koji... I need Koji next... Miso? Is it possible? Really? Wait, Anko?... Is this real?" Samuel was even pinching his own cheek.
Yes, it looked like he would be occupied for quite a while. Leaving him in this state was worrying, but a large group loitering in front of the shop would only bother the owner.
"Are you sure?"
"At this rate, he won't be moving anytime soon. Let's just meet back here once you've finished your rounds."
"Very well."
"Roger, look after Lady Rachel."
"Yes, I shall protect her with my life."
Roger gave a firm nod to Theodore-sama's command. I turned to him and smiled.
"Shall we walk around for a bit then, Roger? Please, lead the way."
"As you wish."
Though I felt a bit guilty leaving them, a tea shop we had passed earlier had piqued my interest. Accepting Theodore-sama's kind offer, I set off with Roger.
Ah, there it is!
I found a shop lined with various tins of black tea and colorful jars of jam. It was absolutely charming. I wondered if Sarah would like a gift from here.
As I moved toward the shop, I felt a sharp tug on my skirt.
Oh? Did I get caught on something?
I glanced down and saw a little girl, perhaps four or five years old, clutching my skirt. Her brown hair was tied in pigtails, and her eyes were brimming with tears as she desperately tried to hold back a sob.
"What's the matter?"
I knelt to match her height, careful not to frighten her. The girl bit her lip hard and remained silent, but her grip on my skirt tightened.
"Are you lost?"
"..."
"Who did you come with? Your mother?"
The moment I asked, her lip trembled, and the tears she had been holding back finally overflowed.
"Waaaaah!"
She burst into a loud wail.
Wait, me? I made her cry? What do I do?!
"I-It's okay! It's alright, everything will be fine!"
I had no idea what 'everything' was, but in my panic, those were the only words that came to mind.