Prin Dagon

Tap, tap.

"Wow, that looks delicious."

Espin approached the campfire with a face like she was about to drool any second.

A whole roast wild boar was cooking golden brown over the fire.
Bastian asked,

"Evan! Doesn't it look just about done?"

I picked up the sword standing next to me.

Espin flinched and shrank back.

Slash.

With one swipe, one of the front legs came off cleanly.

I caught the severed limb with my left hand.

"It's cooked well."

Immediately, Bastian lunged toward the meat.

"Bastian. Lady first. If you want to be a proper soldier, you should at least learn that much."

"... Ah, really?"

At the mention of being a soldier, he suddenly straightened up and gestured for Espin to have the meat.

Putting on an unusually deep voice,

"Lady first."

I offered the well-cooked front leg to Espin.

"Here, Espin."

"... Thanks. What did you say your name was again? Eva?"

"No, Evan."

Espin took the meat with her hands and immediately brought it to her mouth.

"Ow, hot."

Definitely,
she doesn't look like a noble lady.

"What's your relationship with the baron?"

Chewing a big bite of meat, Espin eyed me warily again.

"I'm just asking. We're only going to take our reward and leave, so you don't need to worry."

"......"

After thinking for a bit, Espin spoke.

"Yeah. It was pretty much forced, but... you did save me from the bandits and gave me food."

Chomp.

Espin took another huge bite of the wild boar meat.

Definitely,
she doesn't look like a noble lady.

"I'm an adopted daughter. Baron Prin Dagon adopted me. I was originally a tenant farmer's daughter."

Bastian, who was diligently pulling apart his own portion, spoke up.

"Oh, must be nice."

"What's nice about it?"

"You were adopted into a noble family, so you became a noble, right?"

"And that's good?"

"Isn't it? Better to have noble parents than tenant farmer parents, right?"

"You're an orphan."

Bastian asked, looking shocked.

"Huh? How did you know?"

Espin took another big bite of meat.

"I said I was originally a tenant farmer's daughter, didn't I? Do you know what that means? I was adopted even though my parents are alive. It means I was sold for money."

"Oh......"

It happens often.

An old noble adopts a young girl for money.

Either because he wants a plaything
or for a political marriage.

"Which are you, Espin?"

"Which what, Evan?"

"A plaything, or a political marriage?"

Espin stared straight into my eyes. After a moment...

"... You're really direct, aren't you?"

"That's the way I am."

I don't get why humans talk in such roundabout ways.

I wonder which fool started spreading such inefficient manners of conversation.

"It's a political marriage. I'm getting engaged next month. Probably married by next year?"

Bastian, who had just swallowed a mouthful of meat, asked,

"With who?"

"A man over forty."

"Gasp. Why?"

Espin looked back and forth between Bastian and me.

"One of you is sharp and blunt, and the other is naïve and dumb, huh?"

"I'm not dumb! Evan's just smart."

"Let's go with that."

So that's why she said she wouldn't go home.

No wonder.

She doesn't even look fifteen yet.

"So what does the baron get out of it?"

"What else? A good political connection with his in-laws."

"So he's a greedy man."

"Baron Prin Dagon? Are you asking because you don't know?"

"I don't really know. The only thing I considered was whether to kill him for talking with someone else when he said he'd come to rescue you. That's all I know."

"What? Kill who? What are you suddenly saying?"

"You don't need to know."

"Well, you're leaving soon anyway. No reason to know much about the baron."

That's true.

I was just curious about Espin and the baron's relationship.

I have no interest in what he's like.

"What about you, Evan? Are you an orphan too?"

I am.

A very fresh one, at that.

If that makes sense.

"Yeah."

"... Sorry to hear that."

You're not much better off yourself, Espin.

After that, the three of us finished our meal in silence, eating until we were full.

* * *

The next day.

From behind, Espin's weak voice reached me.

"So I ended up coming back after all..."

Up ahead, baron Prin Dagon's castle came into view.

"Espin."

"Yeah?"

"If you really hate it, run away. Ah, not right now. Only after we hand you over to the baron."

"I'll just get caught right away. And even if I did manage to escape... the baron would never leave my parents alone."

"If you keep hesitating and worrying about everything, you'll never get to live the life you want."

"......."

"Well, the choice is yours."

The more desperate the situation, the more foolish the choices—that's just human nature.

"My choice, huh..."

As we spoke, we arrived at the castle gate.

"Huh? Who are you?"

"We've brought back Lady Espin."

"W-wait a moment!"

A gatekeeper rushed inside and before long—

"You really did it!"

Kaye, the captain of soldiers, came out.

"Yes, sir."

"Well done, well done! You're both safe, huh? Not hurt anywhere?"

Even though the baron's daughter has returned, he checks on us first.

Kaye, did you really get attached to us in that short time?

Is that even possible?

"No, we're fine. But you should check on the lady first."

"Ah! Where's my head at. My lady, are you alright?"

"... Yes, I'm fine."

"Please come inside. You kids too, come along."

Espin was taken away by the attendants.

Kaye led Bastian and me to the lord's audience chamber.

On the way, kaye kept chattering.

"So, how in the world did you escape?"

"The rumors haven't reached here yet, have they?"

"What rumors?"

"You'll see soon enough. About what happened to the Black Wolf bandit group."

Once we arrived at the audience chamber, a short while later, baron Prin Dagon entered with a benevolent expression and sat down.

"Impressive. Well done."

"We simply completed the request as agreed."

"When I sent you, I wasn't sure, but you truly brought her back. Now, let's discuss your reward."

"As I told you before, please make us the children of your deceased younger brother—one as a hidden son, one as an adopted child."

The baron laughed heartily.

"You thought that far ahead."

"We're the same age, so we can't pretend to be real siblings, and we don't look alike."

"What a bright boy. What did you say your name was again?"

"Evan."

"Evan, huh. When you take our family's name, you'll be Evan Dagon."

Evan Dagon.

That will be my new name soon.

"Yes. Evan Dagon. I like it."

"Good. You rescued my daughter—of course I'll grant you any request. It shall be done."

"Thank you."

"Just, to handle this perfectly I'll need some time. There's paperwork to forge and people to inform."

"I understand."

"Stay in our castle for now. Within a week, I'll make sure your new identities are ready."

"Thank you."

"I've told the servants to prepare lodging for you. It'll be much better than before."

After saying goodbye to the baron, we found a servant waiting for us outside.

He seemed to be in his mid to late twenties.

"Hello. I'm Billy. Follow me, I'll show you to your lodging. The baron prepared an awesome room for you two. How old are you?"

"Twelve."

"Twelve?! I thought you were at least fifteen. Amazing. What was I doing at twelve..."

What else? He was a servant.

We followed Billy for a while, passing through the inner castle, out some buildings, and nearly to the north edge of the estate.

"It's far."

"Maybe the baron wanted you two to rest comfortably and quietly after rescuing the lady. You'll be surprised when you see the room."

Right in front of a thick forest, there was a moderately sized villa.

"This is it."

Billy opened the door.

"Whoa."

Bastian gasped.

"This place used to be the reading villa of the former Dagon family head. It's quiet, cool, and cozy—perfect."

"Are we really staying here?"

"Yeah. While you're here, I'll be in that hut over there."

A small hut wasn't far from our villa.

"If you need anything, just come see me. Meals will be brought over separately."

Bastian bowed deeply.

"Wow. Thank you!"

"No need, it's all the baron's hospitality. I'm just a servant. Rest well, okay?"

"Yes."

After Billy left—

"Wow, Evan! After succeeding in our mission, we're getting totally different treatment, right?"

Getting different treatment...

This was business—a commission and payment exchanged.

This level of welcome is excessive for a couple of obvious street orphans.

Even if the baron was truly grateful, there's no need for our quarters to be this far out.

Surely there are plenty of fine rooms inside the castle.

"Wow! The villa is so big and quiet! Totally different atmosphere compared to the noisy castle."

"Yeah. Quiet enough that if two people died here, no one would ever know."

"Huh? Why say that all of a sudden?"

"Bastian. I'm going out for a bit."

"Out? Where? To see Espin? Then I'll come too. She seemed strange at first, but she's pretty nice. And she's pretty, too."

"I'm not going to see Espin."

"Then?"

"I think the baron is plotting something. I'm going to find out what."

"Really?!"

Bastian was shocked.

Ordinarily he'd ask what I meant, but now he just believes whatever I say.

"T-then I'll go too! We're partners!"

"No. I need to move quietly, and you'd only be in the way. Plus, if we want to pretend we're staying here, you need to keep watch."

"Oh, really? Okay!"

He really does listen well.

"Just do what you were planning—rest, ask Billy for food if you get hungry."

"Okay."

"If anyone comes looking for me, just say I'm passed out in my room."

"Okay!"

"I'll be back soon."

"Okay!"

Bastian,
my obedient, lovable companion.

I'll give you a present soon.