A Close Call, Apparently

It had been several days since I was thrown in jail following the merchants' joint protest.

I was still locked up. A few other merchants had been arrested too, but they'd all been released quickly.

I was the only one still being held. What the hell.

The guards ignored every question. Between the barely edible slop and the scant rations of water, I was wasting away.

What had happened to the slaves?

They should have been back by now…

And the shop. I was worried about the shop.

Then I came face to face with the man responsible for putting me here: the lord's son himself.

"Oi, shopkeep."

I kept my head down. A young man flanked by several men called out from the other side of the bars.

When I looked up, a thoroughly self-important young man met my gaze.

"I hear you're the one who rallied the merchants to protest. Be grateful I didn't have you executed on the spot."

"Please, I was only—"

"Silence!"

I'd barely started my defense before being cut off.

A short fuse… not good.

"I came up with the most brilliant idea for Father's illness and the welfare of our people: building a Sun God statue! And yet all I get are misers who refuse to pay. Outrageous."

"Now, now, Kein-dono. Lofty ideas are difficult for common folk to appreciate."

The one placating him was a priest on the cusp of old age.

He wore a Sun God rosary around his neck and radiated gentle warmth. But men like him always had pitch-black hearts underneath.

"Indeed. Quite right. Father's grown senile and won't listen to me, either."

Kein… the lord's son settled right down once the priest soothed him.

Awfully compliant, wasn't he.

The other men were knights, judging by their garb.

But they didn't look like knights in service to the lord.

The lord's crest was nowhere on their armor.

What was engraved on their breastplates was the Sun God's emblem.

Temple Knights.

In other words, everyone surrounding the lord's son Kein was Sun God Church.

Had the lord's household been taken over?

"Tch. Shopkeep. I hear business has been good for you lately. Stirring up merchants to dodge their contributions is a serious crime. Yes, your assets shall be—"

Before he could finish, a messenger arrived and whispered something in Kein's ear.

Whatever it was, Kein clearly hadn't expected it. He glared at me.

"You… How did you manage a meeting with His Eminence the Cardinal? Even I can barely get an audience."

I had no idea what he was talking about.

And what was he about to do with my assets?

Kein kicked the bars in frustration.

"Rejoice. You're being released. His Eminence the Cardinal has shown you mercy."

The cell was unlocked and I was hauled out, utterly bewildered.

Apparently, a Sun God Church cardinal had ordered my release.

I had no connections to the Sun God Church.

A cardinal was an extremely senior figure in the Sun God Church. There were only a handful, and I'd obviously never had dealings with any of them.

The guards dragged me out roughly.

Kein was glaring, of course, but the old priest was watching me too.

Stroking his beard, eyeing me like prey.

"Out."

My restraints were removed and I was shoved out of the lord's estate.

The guards slammed the gates shut behind me the instant I was through.

Awfully dismissive.

I stood there for a moment, too drained to make sense of anything.

The exhaustion was terrible. Nothing about the situation made sense.

Why had I been released…?

"There you are. Right on schedule."

The voice that found me belonged to Alexia.

"You look terrible."

"You're back."

"We are. The other two are fine as well. You've got stubble."

Alexia leaned in close to check my complexion.

That sculpted face, right up close.

"Your color's not great. Let's go home."

"What's going on? Was this your doing?"

"Explanations later. Staying here any longer will only invite suspicion."

I followed Alexia's lead.

Sensing I was too weak to walk properly, she lent me her shoulder.

… She seemed different, somehow.

Confidence, maybe. Or vitality. Something like that was radiating from Alexia.

Her hair smelled nice.

We made it back to the house somehow.

The tool shop out front was running without a hitch.

My employees really were excellent.

Stock was running low, though. I'd need to place some orders.

Azu and Elza were inside.

Azu lunged to hug me, but stopped just short when the smell hit her.

Hadn't been able to change clothes, after all.

And don't you pinch your nose.

That actually stung a little.

"I drew a bath, so go clean up."

Not a trace of deference, but I could at least sense concern from my nominal slave Alexia.

I took her up on it. Bathed, shaved, got myself presentable.

When I came back to the room, Elza and a freshly changed Alexia were waiting.

A moment later, Azu came in carrying warm porridge.

"Um, here you go."

"Did you make this?"

"Y-yes. I tried my best."

I ruffled Azu's hair.

The porridge was just a touch too hot.

The sausage on the side was excellent.

The porridge itself had just a hint of salt, and after days without a decent meal, I inhaled the whole bowl.

Elza brought me lemon water afterward.

Finally, I felt human again.

The lemons were from the garden. Superb tartness.

"I can tell you completed the quest and made it back safely. But what's going on?"

Alexia waggled her index finger side to side at me.

Hey now, don't treat me like a child.

"I'll explain. From your slave to you, Master."