Still, Louise and her husband chose to remain in their country that was relatively safe and regarded as a world power rather than starting from scratch in a foreign nation. Besides, living in the capital made things a little easier than living in the country. People’s lives only got worse the farther they were from the capital. Both Louise and her husband disliked nobles and any government officials. It seemed like taxes were being raised every day to diminish their already meager earnings, while they had to lower their prices to sell any product, driving their profits down further. Diligently paying their taxes all these years had never once improved their lives. They, and most commoners of this country, blamed this on the incompetence of their political leaders. As though to drive the point home, any noble that occasionally walked through the streets of the castle town was clad in expensive outfits, paying no mind to the suffering of the working class.
But he’s different, somehow. Louise recalled the appearance of her little helper. He was a child beautiful enough to be mistaken for a girl, with silky light blond locks, fair but healthy skin, and blue eyes that made her think of a gentle spring breeze. He was smart and energetic. One moment, he would say something far wiser than his age would suggest, then the next he would be overcome with joy at some childish insignificance. He charged head-on into anything he didn’t understand.
His clothes and manners are too good for him not to be some noble’s kid...
Louise’s heart ached at the thought of him growing up just to be like any other noble, walking down this street like he owned it. On the other hand, she didn’t think this particular noble would turn out that way. Much to her own surprise, she was hoping that he could change this world for the better by using his status.
“Hey, let’s close up,” her husband called.
“Okay,” she absent-mindedly answered, emerging from her thoughts.
Even her man of few words seemed to have taken a liking to this child. Louise knew that her husband had secretly bought a stuffed bear to give to “Ryoko,” before realizing that he was a boy. He was still contemplating whether or not to give him the bear, wondering if the boy would take offense to the gift of a stuffed animal. She married him for the adorable contrast between his stoic expression and genuine actions.
Maybe I’ll bake some pastries for tomorrow. Imagining the overjoyed reaction of their little helper, Louise couldn’t help but smile, too.
When her husband gave her an inquisitive look, Louise rushed to pack up the rest of the store.
The couple returned the next day to open their fruit stand as usual, but “Ryoko” never showed.
Louise kept glancing in the direction Herscherik would usually come from. “I’m telling you, hon. Something’s up.” She could hardly concentrate on running the stand. Louise turned to the back of the stand where they had prepared some pastries to surprise Herscherik. She let out a sigh. “He’s never not shown up when he said he would.” She kept mumbling out of nervousness.
Herscherik had always told the couple beforehand when there were days that he couldn’t make it. When he wasn’t sure if he could come the next day, he would make that clear. He had never once pulled a no-show after making a definitive promise the day before. Even Louise’s husband wore a very subtle frown out of concern, not anger.
“Maybe I should talk to a constable...?” But what should I say? Louise contemplated. “The noble’s son who always helps out at our fruit stand didn’t show today”? After a few moments, Louise sighed again. Not a chance. They wouldn’t take me seriously.
Louise heard a clunk and looked up to find her husband walking away from the fruit stand, looking like he was about to kill someone. “Where do you think you’re going!?”
“...Constabulary.”
“You’ll get arrested with a face like that!” You look like a murderer or kidnapper! Louise silently added a detail that might have made her husband cry and clung to his muscled arms. She desperately tried to pull her husband back with all of her might, to not much of an effect.
“Is something wrong?” a voice suddenly called to Louise.
Her husband stopped, and they both turned to find a young man. He stood slightly shorter than Louise’s husband but had a slender build of about half the width. He had shimmering black hair and eyes like a deep ruby. His unique sensuality would have made most girls his age swoon.
He took a quick look around the fruit stand. “That blond-haired little boy isn’t in today... Something about him?”
“Yes, we’re a little worried...” Louise poured out, seeing the concerned look on the young man’s face. “He said he’d come today, but he’s never been this late... With all the crime lately...”
“...I hope he’s all right.”
“Me too. I just hope that nothing’s happened to him...”
The young man nodded along and purchased a few pieces of fruit before disappearing around the corner.
When Louise rested her head on her husband’s shoulder, a thought came to her mind.
I’m surprised he could tell that Ryoko was a boy.
Herscherik was adorable enough to be mistaken for a girl, especially from afar. Still, the young man had called him a “blond-haired little boy.” At first, Louise had just thought that the man had shopped at their stand before, but she was sure she would have remembered such an attractive young man. As far she remembered, she had never seen that man before. Her conundrum, however, slipped her mind as she had to focus on stopping her husband when he decided to go to the constabulary again.