I Was Reincarnated as a Duke as a Matter of Course, So I Bought a Slave on a Whim and Now There’s No Turning Back - 37

Chapter 37: Shadows Lurking in Everyday Life

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Even though today was a day off from the academy, I had unusually woken up a bit early.

“…Do we really have to go?”

Across the table, Fia asked quietly. Her pale pink hair was neatly arranged, and she wore a dress meant for going out. Maybe she was still a little nervous, her fingertips wouldn’t stay still.

“We’re going. You already decided on it too, didn’t you, Fia?”

When I said that, Fia nodded softly. Yuka made a final check.

“I will have Tarinuka standby in the rear as an escort. If the crowd becomes too dense, we will return immediately.”

“Isn’t that an overkill? We’re just going out for a bit.”

Yuka and Mom could be a bit excessive. But then again, I had gotten lost and ended up in a back alley dealing with shady people over a slave trade… yeah, that one was on me. This time Fia was with me, so being overly cautious was fine.

“…With Master, together.”

Fia murmured quietly and took my hand. I squeezed her small hand back.

“Yeah, let’s both try not to get lost this time.”

Just that alone made something warm stir deep in my chest. We rode in a carriage toward the central district of the royal capital. Since it was a holiday, the city was lively. 

The sweet scent of baked goods. Vendors calling out. Colorful fabrics and accessories lined the streets.

“…Amazing.”

Fia’s eyes sparkled. Seeing her reaction reassured me a little. She wasn’t trembling like before, and she was properly looking around, showing interest in the outside world.

“Want to look at clothes first?”

“…Clothes?”

Yuka quietly interjected.

“…Luka-sama, are you sure?”

“…Can I choose?”

“Of course.”

After hesitating a little, Fia tugged lightly on my sleeve.

“…Together.”

“Yeah.”

When we entered a small shop, soft light streamed inside. The shopkeeper greeted us with a warm smile. Yuka stayed with Fia, helping her choose clothes. Tarinuka and I watched over them.

“This is peaceful. Honestly, it’s kind of precious.”

“I understand, young master.”

A truly uneventful day off.

…Or at least, it should have been. From the back of the shop, through the reflection in a mirror, for just a moment, I felt our eyes meet. A strange man wearing a black robe. It might be rude to say, but he felt out of place, like his very presence didn’t belong in a clothing shop. He quickly averted his gaze and left the store, disappearing into the street.

…Was it just my imagination? A faint thorn pricked at the back of my mind.

“Master?”

Fia peered at me worriedly.

“…No, it’s nothing.”

I smiled it off. Today was a day off, a happy day where Fia could go out shopping.

…Right?

Beyond the window, past the crowd, the man from earlier was nowhere to be seen. In the end, Fia tried on several outfits, but she shook her head.

“…I don’t need them.”

She muttered that in front of the mirror. It wasn’t that they didn’t suit her. If anything, she looked unbelievably cute. But compared to her usual maid outfit, she seemed unsettled.

“You don’t have to force yourself to pick anything.”

When I said that, Fia returned to me looking relieved.

“I like what I always wear.”

“…Yeah, I agree with that.”

Tarinuka laughed at my words.

What’s wrong with that, maid outfits are cute.

We left the shop and returned to the lively street. As we walked past the rows of stalls, Fia suddenly stopped.

“…?”

Ahead of her gaze was a small accessory stall. Various colorful hair ties and ornaments were displayed. They weren’t anything as extravagant as jewels. But at the ends of carefully braided cords, small silver ornaments swayed.

Fia said nothing. She just stared at them.

…This is what I’d been waiting for.

“Fia?”

“…Pretty.”

She murmured softly. Her voice sounded hesitant. She didn’t say she wanted it. She didn’t reach out either. She just kept looking. She could’ve wanted it more openly, though.

“Wait here a second.”

I stepped closer to the stall.

“Could I see that one?”

The shopkeeper smiled and handed it to me. A pale pink cord, with a small silver flower ornament. It shimmered modestly in the light. It wasn’t too flashy, and the design was beautiful. At her age, having this kind of taste… her future looked promising.

I thought it would suit Fia’s hair perfectly.

“I’ll take this.”

“Thank you for your business!”

When I returned, Fia’s eyes widened.

“…?”

“Here, sit down.”

I had her sit on the edge of a nearby fountain. Yuka stepped back, quietly watching. With slightly clumsy hands, I gathered Fia’s hair. It was soft and fine, slipping through my fingers.

“Stay still, okay?”

“…Okay.”

I tied the cord. It might not have been perfect. I had never done something like this before, so it couldn’t be helped. But I made sure it was secure so it wouldn’t come undone. At the end, the silver ornament swayed gently.

“Alright, done.”

Fia slowly lifted her face. Her pink hair swayed and there, blooming within it, was a small silver flower.

“…Is it pretty?”

“Yeah. Very.”

For a moment, Fia looked blank. Then she slowly smiled. It was a much more natural smile than before.

Good news, there is an angel right beside me.

“…Thank you, Master.”

Her voice echoed strangely deep in my chest. It made me want to protect that smile. Not some grand resolve or anything, but I didn’t want that smile to ever cloud over. Then, at the edge of my vision, on the other side of the street, I caught sight of that same black shadow again. From between the crowd, it felt like he was watching us. The next moment, he disappeared behind someone.

…Yeah, this wasn’t just my imagination. I didn’t sign up for horror in my isekai life.

“Luka-sama?”

Yuka called out. I looked away and smiled.

“…Let’s head back. It’s getting crowded.”

Fia nodded innocently. The silver flower swayed in the sunlight. It was beautiful, and carried a fragile quality, as if it might break at any moment.

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