A Family-Like Homecoming

After handing over the pouch of medicine, we were all but kicked out of the governor's manor.

It seemed he was going to deliver the medicine to the castle in the Royal Capital right away.

No complaints there.

Ramiza-san parted ways with us here, saying she'd head back to her shop and begin preparing for mass production.

I'd managed to get her to cut us a break on labor costs, but all material expenses would come out of my pocket.

That was only fair.

Still, if the Second Princess was involved, I wondered whether the treasury might cover those expenses. But that was probably wishful thinking.

Making such a request would be presumptuous beyond measure.

The duke's daughter Anatia was still a figure far above my station, but she was a noble, not royalty. Combined with her approachable manner, negotiating with her was at least within the realm of possibility.

But thinking of royalty in the same terms was dangerous.

I'd been thrown in a cell once before over a dispute with a nobleman's son. Cross royalty, and it wouldn't end so gently.

Beheading was a real possibility. They had that kind of power.

I rubbed my neck.

Between the cold outside and that thought, the chill felt especially unpleasant.

"The rest is up to them. Let's go home and rest. We took a few breaks, but you can't have recovered from the fatigue."

"You're… right."

Elza was right.

Nothing was resolved yet, and running myself ragged now would only cause problems later.

The real fight was still ahead.

I needed to be at full strength.

Finn cracked her neck with a satisfying pop.

"Agreed. All this time in disguise has given me stiff shoulders. Looks like I won't need the disguise from here on, so I'll focus on my actual job."

Finn's actual job.

Assassin… no, I shouldn't call her that, or she'd get angry. Operating in the shadows, presumably.

"Don't they have any underlings left?"

The advance team from Partilgar, the group they'd hired, had been decimated by Finn.

I'd heard the main force had been cornered by the Kingdom's army and couldn't move.

"Groups that work for money aren't limited to them. It wouldn't be strange if they'd hired a lesser outfit."

"How enviable. No, wait. Maybe they've sunk so much gold into this they can't afford to pull out."

"I've seen employers like that. They usually end up floundering deeper and deeper into the mire."

I had a rough picture of Luido's financial situation.

It wasn't a wealthy place. And the taxes there weren't particularly harsh, either.

Whatever passed for powerbrokers and big merchants in a place like that wouldn't have much wealth.

If they'd given up by now, reluctant to throw good money after bad, things would be easy, but…

A merchant always planned for the worst case.

Prepare thoroughly, then act.

"I'll leave that side of things to you. If it gets out of hand, regroup with us."

"I'd normally say mind your own business, but I know what Azu and the others are capable of. I'll take you up on that."

When we arrived home, Finn removed her wig.

Her black hair cascaded down in a smooth flow.

"That look suits you better."

"Flattery gets you nowhere. This color draws too much attention, which is why I don't like it. Useful at night, though. Anyway, I'm going to rest. I'll handle my own prep, so don't worry about me."

With that, Finn disappeared inside.

"Good work today."

"You too, Elza."

Elza helped me out of my winter coat.

She hung it on the coat rack.

The house was at a comfortable temperature.

Azu and Alexia must have kept the fireplace going.

As I loosened my clothes a bit, I heard two sets of footsteps approaching.

Azu and Alexia.

The slightly hurried ones would be Azu.

Sure enough, Azu was the one who opened the door.

Alexia followed behind.

"Master! Welcome home!"

"Whoa—"

She threw herself at me with all her momentum.

I barely caught her, stumbling a little.

I thought she'd been more childlike when I bought her from the slave merchant, but Azu was growing.

Time passed unbelievably fast.

Her body heat was almost too warm, like a hot water bottle thawing out my chilled body.

"You're too excited, Azu."

Alexia said with mild exasperation, welcoming me home in her own way.

She was wearing a cardigan over a dress, a more subdued look than usual.

She held a mug in each hand, steam rising from both.

"This will warm you up. Here."

I accepted one of them.

A dark liquid was visible inside.

I'd thought it was coffee at first, but when I tilted it, it had a thick consistency.

It was chocolate. From the stash I'd hidden in the cupboard.

"You found the cupboard stash."

"You're the one who said we could use things freely, Master."

I shot Alexia a look of protest, and she replied with a smile.

I had said she could practice cooking. But I hadn't expected her to break out the good chocolate.

Then again, on a day this cold, hot chocolate was perfect.

Sweet, warming, and nutritious too.

If only the supply were more stable, I'd sell it in the shop right away, but it was hard to come by. Growing the raw materials myself was worth considering.

Elza was beaming at her hot chocolate.

"By the way, the cookies are gone."

"Those? I grabbed them when I was preparing food to bring along."

"… I see. And? How were they?"

Alexia asked, turning her face away slightly.

Unusually for her, she was fidgeting with her hair, stealing glances in my direction.

"Too sweet. But delicious. Tone down the sweetness a bit and most people would love them."

"Oh. Hm. Well, that's good then."

"Really? I'm glad."

I meant it. The baking itself had been excellent.

I pried Azu off my waist and stifled a yawn.

"Oh, you must be tired. I got things ready so you can go right to sleep."

"That's… appreciated."

The meeting with Jacob had taken more out of me than I'd realized.

All I wanted was to collapse into bed and sleep like the dead.

"You can't sleep here. Come on."

"I know. I know."

Azu took my hand and led me.

I was drowsy, so I let her.

She opened the door, and true to her word, the bed was made and waiting.

The blankets seemed to beckon me over.

"Almost there… Eek—"

Unable to hold out any longer, I toppled onto the bed with Azu's hand still in mine.

Naturally, Azu tumbled onto the bed as well.

She started to say something, but before the words left her mouth, consciousness faded.

"Um, Master? … He's asleep, right? Then I can't help it if I'm stuck like this for a while, can I?"

Azu's face had gone bright red. Her heart was pounding, and if anyone had been nearby, they might have heard it.

She made no move to free her hand from Yohane's grip. She simply lay there beside him.

"Good work today. Sleep well."

He thought he heard Azu's voice.