CH 88

“Alright, next carriage…”

The soldier said unenthusiastically. And the carriage started to move again. It was quite late in the afternoon now, and the entrance was busy with people either preparing to leave the town or enter.

The clothes here were similar to what they had seen Chouze wearing. Inlanders had not been influenced by the saintesses much in terms of fashion, and the clothing was quite western. The men tended to wear dark pants and plain, undyed shirts and vests. As for the women, they generally preferred one-piece dresses with fluffy skirts. Maki and Chiharu watched a man, who had rolled up his sleeves since it was summer, talk to the soldier.

“How long is this going to continue?”

“At least until Princess Chouze arrives.”

“But it wasn’t like this last year. And there were many more members of the royal family last time.”

“We lowly guards don’t know anything about that. Anyway, are you carrying anything suspicious?”

“Of course, not. What are you trying to say? Even dwarves wander around in this town. The only people you should be suspicious of are elves and beastkin.”

The soldier and the man started laughing. Apparently, they knew each other quite well. It seemed like they felt this couldn’t be helped if it was for Princess Chouze. It reminded Chiharu and Maki of how Edwy and Arthur were adored in the town of Tram. However, that didn’t match with their impression of the proud royal family. And Chiharu tilted her head with a puzzled expression.

However, they were also curious about this talk of dwarves. And it sounded like it was not unusual for them to be around here.

“Alright, next. Hmm, now here’s an unfamiliar face.”

“Yes. We’re merchants from Lowland.”

“Ah. You’re the most suspicious person of the day.”

The soldier said happily. The townspeople that were nearby started to laugh.

“Now that I think about it, your hair and eyes do seem like they are from Lowland.”

“Yes, that’s where I was born.”

The soldier must have been incredibly bored, because he now looked at Aaron with interest. Then he looked at Edwy and whistled.

“Well, I’ll be. Your brother is quite handsome. You better keep him away and hope that Princess Chouze doesn’t see him. She’ll force him to talk with her, and he won’t have any time to conduct your business.”

“You make it sound he’s the only one of us who is handsome.”

Aaron said with annoyance. Everyone laughed.

“Yes, of course. So, what will you be selling or buying? I must warn you, we have no fish to sell now.”

“No, we’ll just be selling. We have lots of rare Soluna oranges. Also, I want to show my younger siblings Highland while we’re here.”

Aaron gestured toward the carriage. Maki and Chiharu poked their heads out from under the tarp and bowed. The soldier saw them and nodded. Then he took a look at the cargo and put a hand on his chin.

“I see. Soluna oranges, huh? That’s mighty thoughtful of you. Are you going to sell them at a specific store?”

“No, we have no connections. I was thinking about selling them at the market, if there is one.”

“Ah, then you should go to the merchant guild.”

“I see. Thank you. And by the way…”

Aaron suddenly thought of something.

“Why are you doing this? Is there a criminal lurking about?”

“Oh, not at all. Though, there have recently been some odd stories. Something about the merfolk and other things like that. We’re just being extra cautious for Princess Chouze’s sake.”

“Merfolk? So deep in the mountains?”

“That’s what they say. Oh, also, some Midland folk came a few days ago to sell merfolk scales.”

Should he really be saying all of this? Chiharu wondered. Weren’t soldiers supposed to be a little more tight-lipped?

“Huh, merfolk scales? You almost never see them in Lowland.”

“In Highland as well. And the person who was selling them had hair that was a rare ash-color.”

“That is unusual.”

“Well, don’t cause too much of a commotion while you’re here.”

“Of course.”

The soldier said as if a final warning, but he then let them go right through and even gave directions to the merchant guild. Chiharu waved at the soldier as he saw them off, and he smiled and waved back. Then Maki stretched her hand out to the cargo and called out.

“Old man!”

And then she threw two of the oranges at him. The soldier caught them.

“Consider it a bribe!”

Maki shouted, and everyone laughed. The soldier smiled and waved the oranges in the air. Maki waved back and then muttered,

“This sure is a nice place.”

Yes. It’s no different from Midland.”

While the people who walked around the town looked busy, they also looked calm and friendly.

“But the miasma is still thick.”

“And there are apparently merfolk.”

Maki and Chiharu looked at each other and nodded.

“We better be careful.”

“Yes.”

They had not come here to sightsee, so they tried to stay focused.

After spending the night in an inn, the group was welcomed at the market the next day, where a spot had been made for their carriage.

“People who sell vegetables have to deal with a lot of heavy cargo, so it will be easier if you can park the carriage right behind your stall.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. As it’s summer, there aren’t many people selling root vegetables now. Well, I might come and buy from you later.”

The market manager said as he left them.

“Hey. Ed, Norfe, Chouze. Let’s sell some Soluna oranges!”

“Aye.”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

The town’s people had already gathered with glimmering expectation in their eyes. And so it was necessary to start selling them soon. The crowd murmured restlessly as Aaron and Edwy took the boxes down. Then they lined up in front of their stall.

That being said, it was 300 gil for 1 orange, which was hardly cheap.

“Little boy, I’ll take one.”

“Yes, that will be 300 gil.”

“Little girl, I’ll have three.”

“Okay, that’s 900 gil.”

These oranges were quite a luxury for the common folk. Most people only bought one. And at most they would buy five. Regardless, they all seemed happy as they left. They would probably share them with their family.

The customers kept coming, and so Maki and Chiharu continued to sell them.

“Those two are pretty useful.”

“You’re right.”

After taking the boxes down, the two of them just stared and watched Maki and Chiharu work. Then Maki shouted at them.

“Ed! Aaron! Why don’t you go peddling if you have nothing better to do!”

“Peddling?”

They looked dumbfounded. Maki was so annoyed that she left Chiharu alone and walked over to them.

“We’re so busy that we don’t have time to talk to anyone! Put some oranges in a box and go around the market so you can listen to rumors and gather information!”

“Oh. Ohh…”

“Edwy, you should try talking to the young ladies!”

“Uh. What…”

Then she returned to the stall.

“That’s right. We didn’t come here to sell oranges.”

“Yes. Let’s go.”

The two of them picked up some smaller boxes and filled them with oranges. Then they went around to the other stalls so they could sell the oranges to people who couldn’t leave their spot. Maki saw them talking and also accepting things, and she sighed with relief.

“While it was us who was asked to do this, we might as well make use of any help that we can get.”

“Look at Edwy. He’s surrounded by women.”

“I knew he would be.”

They were so distracted that they forgot about their customers.

“Are you worried about your brother?”

An old lady who had bought three oranges asked them with an amused expression.

“No. I was just thinking about how he is popular no matter where he goes.”

Maki answered.

“Oh, you’ll know what that’s like in about three years. See, you’re already starting to draw attention.”

The old lady said as she looked to the side. Maki and Chiharu looked as well. There was a small group of girls who appeared to be around 15 years old. They were looking at them and giggling to each other. Well, to be precise, they were looking at Maki.

“That…”

“You have a very unusual eye color. They’re already talking about the Lowland youth who is cool but has a face like a girl’s.”

“Whaaat.”

Maki looked awkward. Chiharu burst into laughter.

“Norfe, in a way, you are popular with all kinds of people.”

“Be quiet. That was pretty traumatic…”

Maki said as her head dropped. Well, at least this time it was just young girls. It would be fine.