Chapter 27 - The Church and the Children
While I panicked over the crying girl, Roger, who had been standing silently behind me, stepped forward and hoisted her up with ease. He settled her right onto his shoulders.
I wasn't the only one stunned by his sudden action. The girl sat atop Roger's shoulders with her mouth agape, looking completely bewildered. However, her tears stopped instantly, replaced by a look of delight. "Big brother, thank you! It's so high!"
"Hey there, who did you come here with?" Roger asked.
"Um, my big sister and big brother."
"And where did they go?"
"They were looking at sweets in front of the candy shop!"
"I see. So you were looking at candy?"
"Yes!"
"Were you by yourself?"
"No, we were all together. But then I saw a giant fish and ran to see it."
"So you went from the candy shop to the fishmonger?"
"Yes. And then I was all alone. I was so sad."
The girl's eyebrows drooped sorrowfully. It seemed she had wandered off from her siblings at the candy shop and gotten lost. I was genuinely surprised to see how well Roger handled such a small child.
"Don't worry, we'll help you find them. You can see everything from up here, right?"
"Yeah!"
Perhaps because she had been so frightened, the girl became increasingly talkative as she grew comfortable with us. When she finally spotted the candy shop where they had been, she chirped, "Oh! There! Big brother, put me down!"
I quickly took her hand. "Let's walk there together." The girl gave me a bright, happy smile and nodded.
From a distance, I could see a young man and several children shouting desperately. As I squinted to see better, the girl beside me pointed and cried out, "It's the Master Priest!"
"Do you know him?"
"Yes, the Master Priest!"
A priest would be someone from the Holy Church. I wondered what their relationship was. As the thought crossed my mind, the group noticed us. "Mina!" the young man shouted as they ran toward us. The girl—Mina—let go of my hand and dashed into the young man's arms.
The Master Priest then turned his attention to us.
"Did you look after Mina?"
"So her name is Mina. She seemed to have lost her way."
"I see. Thank you so much, truly."
The Master Priest had dark blond hair and gentle, slightly drooping violet eyes. He explained that he was from the church located just beside the market square.
"Could you head back first?" he said to the oldest boy in the group, who looked to be about twelve. The boy nodded and led the other children back toward the church. As Mina left, she turned back to Roger and me, waving with a bright "Thank you!"
"Um, those children..."
"Yes, they are from the orphanage attached to the church."
"Then Mina is also..."
"Yes. She is an orphan as well."
Oh no...
Is that why she cried so hard? Because I had carelessly asked, 'Where is your mother?'
"I... I must have hurt her. I asked her where her mother was."
The Master Priest's expression softened into one of slight melancholy.
"Mina is likely beginning to realize that her family situation is different from others. Coming to places like this, she sees children her age with their fathers and mothers."
"I suppose so..."
"But it is something they must overcome."
"Overcome... such small children?"
"That is the reality they face. That is why I strive to shower them with affection, teach them wisdom, and help them find their own strength so they can stand on their own."
His words struck a chord in my heart. It was easy to pity them or lament their circumstances, but they likely didn't want that. Looking at the children's bright smiles and healthy appearances, it was clear the Master Priest and his staff raised them with immense love.
"Um, if it's alright, may I visit the church sometime?"
"Of course. Mina and the others would be delighted."
The Master Priest nodded, his eyes crinkling gently. "I must be getting back now. Thank you again for today."
As I watched him walk away, I turned to Roger. "He seems like a very kind person." Roger nodded silently.
"By the way, you're surprisingly good with children! Mina took to you immediately."
"Well, I grew up in a church orphanage myself. Looking after the younger ones is the job of the seniors," he said matter-of-factly.
I stared at him in shock. I knew the Holy Church often ran orphanages, but I hadn't realized Roger was one of those children.
"I was raised by kind priests and sisters, much like that man. I don't really mind my upbringing. In this kingdom's knighthood, orphans might be looked down upon, but you can make a name for yourself with a single sword."
His words surprised me yet again. "I see. Thank you for sharing that, Roger."
"It was nothing."
While the Holy Church managed the orphanages, their funding came from the state and noble donations. In territories where the lords were diligent about donations and visits, the children were well-fed, clothed, and educated. In other places, where everything was left to the church, the environment was often far from ideal.
I had been considering visiting the church for some time. However, given that my current situation was a matter between the crown and the church, I had hesitated to get involved. Today's encounter felt like a significant step forward.
"Shall we head back to Theodore-sama and the others?"
"Yes, Ojou-sama."
I had completely forgotten about Samuel.
When we returned to the shop, Theodore-sama was standing there alone.
"Oh, where is Samuel?"
"That guy... he started worshiping those beans like they were gods. I told the shopkeeper to deliver every single bag they had to the manor. As soon as he heard that, Samuel sprinted back to the house to 'prepare.'"
"He sprinted?!"
"Sigh... I'm exhausted. Let's go home."
"Yes. Thank you for your hard work."
It seemed Samuel had experienced a fateful encounter of his own. This event would soon begin to change my daily life—and my diet—one step at a time.