Side Story: The Best Morning and the Worst Night (Salim's Perspective)

Today is a pleasant morning. By now, someone has probably noticed that the stall was destroyed and reported it to the soldiers, and word should be reaching Leon around now. Just imagining Leon's frustrated expression makes my heart dance.

Hmph, it's his fault for standing out more than me. I was supposed to be the most privileged commoner, but he somehow ingratiated himself with the ducal family—I don't know what kind of underhanded trick he pulled—and even made a huge success of his stall. There's no way I can accept that!

He's nothing but the son of a restaurant owner on the outskirts of the Royal Capital, and a commoner at that!? I'm the son of the Voclair Trading Company, a major firm that even does business with nobles. We were different from the moment we were born!

Most likely, he only succeeded with that stall because he stole some idea from the ducal family or something like that. The ducal family ought to be thanking me for getting rid of Leon.

Well, perhaps I should go to the Royal School and get a look at Leon's face. Whether he's dejected, angry, or frustrated, any expression on his face will be amusing. I have to etch it firmly into my memory.

Just as I was thinking that and about to leave my room, I heard the sound of someone running noisily down the hall.

Who's that noisy fool? Looks like I have an incompetent servant around.

"Hey, who's the servant running in the hall right now? Making his master uncomfortable like that proves he's incompetent as a servant. Fire him immediately."

When I said that, my attendant bowed and said,

"Certainly."

This fellow obeys me and is a capable attendant. Perhaps I should reward him sometime. I'm considerate toward my servants and absolutely perfect.

So, after leaving my room in a good mood, I saw the servant who had been making all that noise rush straight toward me.

"S-Salim-sama! There's been a terrible problem!"

"You're making too much noise."

"I-I'm sorry. But this is no time for that! Soldiers—soldiers have come to arrest you, Salim-sama!"

Soldiers have come to arrest me? Why? Did the men from yesterday get caught and tell them about me!?

Honestly, they were useless despite the fact that I had hired them. Still, there was no doubt that my word would be trusted over theirs. It had only been a verbal contract, so it wouldn't amount to a serious offense.

The ducal family wouldn't show itself over a mere commoner's stall, either, and they might even be grateful to me by now. If that were true, I might not even receive a minor punishment.

There was absolutely no need to worry.

"Calm down. It must be some kind of mistake, surely. Someone who was jealous of me must have lied."

"Y-Yes, that is certainly possible..."

At that point, soldiers entered the house and came straight over to me.

"You are Salim of the Voclair Trading Company, correct? Orders have been issued for your arrest on suspicion of property damage. Tie him up and take him away!"

"Yes, sir!"

There were three soldiers. At the command of the haughty-looking one, two of them tied my hands. Then I was taken straight to the soldiers' station.

What a rough lot. I'll ask Father to punish them later.

After that, I was questioned at the soldiers' station, but it would all be over if I simply kept answering, "I don't know."

As expected, it was nothing after all. I was given a small fine, but Father would surely pay it immediately. If this was all it cost to bring Leon down, it was practically a bargain!

But would Father scold me? No, if a letter of thanks arrived from the ducal family, he might praise me instead.

Thinking that, I left the soldiers' station with a spring in my step, exhilarated that my plan had succeeded. But then I stopped.

Why hasn't anyone come to pick me up? Normally, they should have been waiting in a carriage until I came out! I thought that attendant was obedient and useful, but it seems he has no initiative.

Sigh... I'm surrounded by nothing but incompetents. I'll fire him too.

Besides, how am I supposed to get home? I could ask the soldiers to send a message, but they were the ones who had treated me like a criminal until a moment ago. I don't want to rely on them.

In that case, I have no choice but to walk home. Making me walk all the way home—the attendant really is incompetent! I won't just fire him; I'll punish him first and then fire him!

I spent several dozen minutes walking while considering what punishment to give my attendant, and finally arrived home.

Sigh... Even though I've returned, no one has come out to greet me. Are there really only incompetent people here?

"I'm home. I'm back! Is anyone there? What do you mean, no one came to greet me when I returned!?"

When I said that, I heard heavy footsteps coming from inside the house. Finally, someone was coming. Perhaps I should punish all the servants.

Still, I would go easy on the servant who was hurrying to me now. As I waited to see who would appear, it turned out to be Father.

"Father? What happened?"

"Salim, you—you... What have you done!?"

Father wore an enraged expression, as if he had lost his mind, and shouted so loudly that it seemed his throat would give out.

"W-What are you talking about?"

"You had men destroy the stall backed by the ducal family, didn't you!?"

"Th-The men are just saying that on their own... I was able to come home with only a fine, after all..."

"I'm not asking about that excuse!! You were the one who ordered them to do it, weren't you!?"

"I-I did, yes... But I only had them destroy a commoner's stall. It shouldn't be that serious..."

"It wasn't a commoner's stall!! It was a stall backed by the ducal family!! Don't you dare say you don't understand the difference!!"

Why was Father so angry? It was supposed to be the stall Leon ran after somehow using some underhanded trick to get in with the ducal family, not one that was truly backed by them. Even if he was affiliated with the family, he was probably nothing more than a servant...

There was no way the ducal family would get involved over a servant's problem.

"It is Leon's stall, yes, but even if Leon is affiliated with the ducal family, he should only be a menial servant or something. It shouldn't become such a serious problem."

"Then why was this sent to me!?"

"What is that...?"

"A letter from the ducal family!! It says that this attack on the stall may be regarded as an attack against the ducal family!!"

"Wha... I had no such intention!"

"Whether you intended it or not, it becomes so if the ducal family sees it that way!! I am casting you out of the Voclair Trading Company. Never show your face before me again!!"

Cast out...? Cast out!? Why should I be treated this way!?

"Father, why!?"

"Enough! If the ducal family has taken notice of us, the company faces a crisis that could destroy it! I have no time to concern myself with you. Get out, now! You—throw him outside the grounds and never let him in again."

"Understood."

The attendant who had been accompanying Father grabbed me by the arm and dragged me outside the estate.

No matter how many times I called out to him, Father no longer looked at me. How had this happened...? Why, why...?

I was thrown out of the mansion and stood there dazed for some time, with no idea where I should go.

I don't know how long I remained there. After several hours of being ignored by everyone, my thirst became unbearable, and I tried to enter the house again so I could apologize to Father.

However, the entrance had been completely closed off, and soldiers were even standing guard. When I spoke to them, they ignored me as if I didn't exist... No... Could I really never go home again?

I cried and screamed, then wandered around aimlessly while sobbing until I finally collapsed in some alley I didn't recognize. It was completely dark by then.

I should have been eating delicious food and sleeping in a soft bed... Why had this happened...? Where had I gone wrong...?

As I sat on the hard ground thinking that, a man came over to me. He was wearing a fine servant's uniform.

Was he the servant of some noble? Perhaps he was a butler. I was so exhausted that I could barely think, and I was beginning to feel sleepy...

As I sat there in a daze, the man suddenly spoke to me.

"Have you reflected on your actions?"

"Reflected...?"

"Do you want me to help you?"

Yes, I wanted him to help me. My throat was parched, I was exhausted, and I had reached my limit.

"Help me..."

"Then follow me."

The unknown man pulled me up by the arm, forcing me to stand, and put me into a nearby carriage.

"From now on, I will educate you myself. I will beat that rotten nature of yours out of you, so be prepared. Even if you whine, I won't let you run away."

That was the last thing I heard before I lost consciousness. As a result, I never heard what the man said afterward.

"I cannot possibly forgive the way you looked down on Leon-sama and his friend, nor what you did this time. However, this child is still only a child. It is also true that his educator was at fault. If he starts now, he should still be able to begin his life anew."