Accessory Shop
Lux’s Side
After placing my luggage in the room assigned to me within the mansion we were staying at, I took a look around.
Everything in the room looked expensive, but it had a proper bed and sofa, so it seemed like a place where I could relax.
Just as I was about to try lying on the bed to test it out, there was a knock at the door.
“Yes!”
I raised my voice loud enough for the person outside to hear and immediately opened the door. Then…
“Master! May I have a moment of your time?”
Standing there was Siana.
“Siana, is something wrong?”
“If you are not busy, Master, I was hoping to accompany you on a walk around the city. That is why I came to your room.”
“Ah, if that’s what this is about, of course that’s fine. But if we’re going out, maybe we should let Florence-san know first?”
When I asked, Siana paused for a moment and then answered with a smile.
“Since Florence-sama arranged this lodging for us, she may have other matters to attend to afterward. To avoid troubling her, I believe it would be best to leave a note informing her of our plans.”
“You’re right. Let’s do that.”
I took out a sheet of paper and wrote a short message explaining that Siana and I were going out into the city. With the note in hand, I stepped into the hallway with Siana and slipped it into the box attached to Florence-san’s door.
“Shall we go, Siana?”
“Yes!”
And so, Siana and I began exploring together for the first time since arriving in this country. We decided to start with the main street.
“Please look, Master. Over there, they’re selling accessories.”
“You’re right. Want to take a look?”
“Yes!”
When I asked, Siana answered cheerfully, so we headed over to the accessory shop together.
The shop was lined with all kinds of accessories made from jewels and gold. Seeing the unfamiliar display, I commented in surprise,
“T-There are so many expensive-looking items.”
“They certainly are…”
Siana responded, then continued speaking with a smile.
“If I ever become able to give these kinds of things to Master as gifts, I’ll give you as many as I can!”
I figured what she meant was that one day she hoped to have the kind of money that would allow her to do that.
“I really appreciate the thought, Siana. But rather than having you give me expensive gifts, I’d be happier if you used that money to eat what you like, enjoy yourself, and stay smiling.”
“Ah… Master…!”
When I said that, Siana’s eyes widened.
Then, her gaze filled with light as she spoke again.
“If you are smiling, Master, that alone brings me so much joy. So for me, true happiness is seeing you happy. If your happiness required it, I would even give you land or an entire country if I could!”
I hadn’t heard her say anything so grandiose in a while, but now she was talking in such grand terms again. Even so…
“Those kinds of things might be important too, but just having you by my side makes me happy, Siana. So…”
“Hey, you there in the maid outfit.”
“…Yes?”
Suddenly, a slightly overweight man in fancy clothes, covered in what looked like expensive accessories, approached Siana from behind and called out to her. He was probably a noble. Hearing his voice, Siana turned around and replied with a puzzled look.
At that moment, I stepped between them and spoke up.
“She is my attendant, so if you have something to say, please speak to me…”
Just as I was finishing my sentence, the man suddenly clenched his fist and tried to punch me. I dodged and said,
“Please stop with the violence. Let’s talk calmly.”
“Shut up! I came to talk to that maid girl, not you. I don’t care about you at all!”
As he shouted, he swung his fists at me over and over.
He was clearly an amateur when it came to fighting, and since I’d trained in swordsmanship to some extent, I was able to dodge easily.
“Stop dodging, damn it!”
The man yelled furiously and swung even more aggressively.
I could still avoid his attacks, since his movements were full of openings. But then I noticed that if he continued swinging at full force, one of his blows might end up hitting Siana. So I quickly moved to shield her with my arms.
“M-Master…!”
As a result, I turned my back to the man and took a hit squarely between the shoulders. But right after that…
I looked at Siana, who seemed on the verge of tears, and said,
“Siana… are you okay?”