Salim's Fate

The next morning. As soon as I got up, Roger delivered a message from Richard-sama.

"Early this morning, soldiers entered the Voclair Trading Company and apparently arrested Salim. They're currently searching his home for contracts and other documents, but the prospects of finding anything seem slim. Since Salim himself refuses to admit guilt, it appears he'll be released with no more than a fine."

"So that's how it turned out after all. I wonder how Salim's parents are taking it?"

"According to the soldiers, when his father heard what had happened, he immediately began saying that Salim wasn't his son. His mother did the same. They presumably want to make it clear that Salim isn't family so they can reduce, even slightly, the chance of incurring the ducal family's displeasure. Therefore, Salim will almost certainly be cast out."

I see... Somehow, I was starting to feel sorry for Salim. He was someone I truly hated—he looked down on me and had wrecked the stall—but I still couldn't help feeling sorry for him if even his parents treated him like a stranger.

Now that I thought about it, asking Alban-san to handle this might have been for the best. Salim probably wouldn't want to work in a household where I was present, even though he hated me.

Well, I suppose we could call it protection meant to prevent any more of his misplaced resentment, with a little revenge mixed in.

"Do you think you'll be able to secure Salim?"

"They say everything is ready."

"That's good, then. In that case, we can leave the rest to them."

So the problem with the stall was resolved for now.

Yaaawn... I was sleepy and tired because I'd stayed up so late last night, but I had to go to the Royal School today too.

I rubbed my sleepy eyes as I got ready, then headed for the carriage as usual. It was only after I climbed in that I noticed him.

Ronnie's here!!

Right. Ronnie had stayed in a guest room yesterday too. I'd completely forgotten because I was half-asleep... I wondered if everything had gone all right while I stayed at the ducal residence for the first time.

"Good morning, Ronnie. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, but I was nervous, so I may have slept more lightly than usual. The room was too big, the bed was too big, and, more than anything, I never expected to have a servant assigned to me too. I never imagined I'd be in a position like that, so I was tense the whole time..."

It really was hard to relax in an environment so different from what you were used to.

Wait... But when I first came to the ducal residence, hadn't I adapted surprisingly quickly too...? I feel like I'd slept soundly...?

Well, that was because I had memories of Japan. It definitely wasn't because I was insensitive.

"It's only natural at first. After you've stayed a few times, you'll get used to it and start thinking, 'I'm lucky I get to sleep in such a big bed.'"

"But I don't plan on staying here repeatedly!?"

"But Ronnie, you're going to be coming to the ducal residence regularly, right?"

"Huh? What's this about? No one's told me anything!"

Huh...? Come to think of it, I might not have told him amid everything else that had happened.

"Richard-sama sent word that, since you'll be a central figure at the shop backed by the ducal family, he'd like you to come to the ducal residence regularly. So I guess you'll be coming to give reports about the shop and things like that. Oh, right, we're going to look at potential shop locations next time, aren't we? We'll stop by the ducal residence before we go look at them that day."

"Leon, I always tell you this, but you need to tell me about important things like that sooner!!"

"S-sorry, but this time Richard-sama told me while so many other things were happening. I usually try to tell you right away."

"Make sure you do! Phew... So if we're going to look at shop locations, that's on the next Recovery Day, right? What are we going to talk about?"

"Probably just small talk, or something along those lines. You've already met Richard-sama several times... You met him yesterday too."

From the ducal family's perspective, the important thing was probably simply the fact that a talented commoner had ties to the ducal family, so the content of their conversations shouldn't matter.

"That's it?"

"They might ask you about the shop, too. But that will probably be after we've made a little more progress on it. I don't think you need to feel so pressured."

"I see. That's a little reassuring."

Ronnie seemed to relax after learning that there was nothing important to discuss. He used to get so tense just from meeting nobles, but now he wasn't even that nervous about meeting this country's prime minister. Ronnie's sense of what was normal was gradually becoming warped too. ...Somehow, I was happy to have found a kindred spirit.

As Ronnie and I were talking about that, Lucien came to the carriage too.

"Good morning, Lucien."

"Good morning, Leon and Ronnie."

"Good morning, Lucien-sama."

Lucien was always so bright and alert, but today he looked pretty sleepy.

"You look sleepy, Lucien."

"Yeah. I don't usually stay up late..."

"You were really fired up yesterday, Lucien. Your eyes were sparkling. What was it again? You said, 'We'll definitely catch him! Yeah!' didn't you?"

I teased him as I said this, raising my fist in the air when I got to the "Yeah!"

Lucien's face immediately turned bright red. Wow, this was an incredibly rare sight—a bright-red Lucien. If only I could take a picture!

"U-uh, be quiet! I didn't say anything like 'Yeah!'"

"Was that so? But you said something similar, didn't you? You looked like you were having a lot of fun."

"N-no, that's not true. I was simply taking it seriously."

Lucien said that and turned his face away. Even his ears were bright red.

I wanted to tease him more by pressing the point, but it would probably be cruel to go any further. So I decided to humor Lucien by accepting his excuse.

"You're right. Thanks for helping yesterday."

"Of course. You're my friend, Leon."

"Thanks. It looks like we succeeded because of your help. Did you hear about what happened this morning too?"

When I asked that, Lucien nodded, but Ronnie tilted his head. Apparently, Ronnie hadn't heard the news yet.

"You haven't heard what happened to Salim?"

"This morning was full of so many first-time experiences that I was overwhelmed, and I didn't have time to talk about it."

"I see. Then I'll tell you now. Salim was arrested by soldiers. They're searching his house, but it doesn't look like they'll find a contract or anything, and Salim apparently isn't budging from his claim that he had nothing to do with it, so he'll probably be released with no more than a fine."

"I see. Does that mean Salim will be cast out?"

"Yeah. Judging by his father's attitude after hearing what happened, it sounds like there's a good chance he'll be cast out."

"I see... From our perspective, we'd be better off if Salim were cast out, since then we wouldn't have to worry about him bullying us anymore, and if the ducal family protects him, we won't have anything to worry about. But I might still feel a little sorry for him. It is his own fault, but being abandoned by your parents must be painful."

I knew Ronnie would feel the same way. I understood that feeling all too well. But this was his own fault, and there was nothing we could do.

I hope Salim can go on to live a good life...

But from here on, that was Salim's own problem, and if we interfered, it would only make things more complicated.

"I understand. But it is his own fault, and there isn't anything we can do. If Salim reforms and we happen to speak in the future, then maybe we should just treat him normally."

"Yeah. I'll do that."

The fact that Salim had been the mastermind left a slightly bad taste in my mouth, but the problem with the stall had been resolved, and the plan had gone extremely well.

"Now that the problem is resolved, we can start running the stall again. We can also move forward with the shop without worrying. It's all thanks to your plan, Ronnie. Thank you."

"No, that's because I had your help, Leon. Thank you too."

"No, I hardly did anything. Your plan really was incredible, Ronnie."

"Yes, I heard about the plan, and you came up with all of it, didn't you? You have a real talent, Ronnie."

Ronnie hadn't quite believed me when I said that, but after Lucien praised him too, he seemed to recognize his own abilities a little more and smiled happily.

"Thank you very much."

And so, the three of us talked about various things as we rode in the carriage to the Royal School. There were plenty of other things I had to do, but I needed to work hard at my studies too.