Herscherik (Reincarnated Prince Series) - Volume 1 Chapter 6 part1

Chapter 6: Smiling face, Grief, and Black dog I

Herscherik grew with each change of the seasons, from spring to summer, and now autumn.
It had been about half a year since Herscherik had first decided to sneak out to the castle town. On the afternoon when his studies, swordsmanship and horsemanship training, weren’t scheduled, taking the secret path to go outside became his routine for the day.

“Thank you very much!”

Herscherik handed the paper bag containing a pear-like fruit to the customer and put on a sweet smile.

“On the days when little Ryouko is here, the number of customers and sales increases; you’re so helpful.”

The proprietress of the fruit store, Louise, said in a good mood. Today’s sales had already greatly exceeded that of the previous day.

“Hey, honey!”

Louise called out to a giant man, who seemed twice as tall and four times as wide as she was. He also had a beard, making him look more like a woodcutter than a fruit seller, and it seemed that everyone agreed.
The man didn’t respond to Louise’s words as he carried a box of fruits. He glanced at Herscherik but immediately averted his gaze and returned to his work.

(Just like Beauty and the Beast…)

“Honey, you’re so antisocial. Little Ryouko being here has been a big help, so say some thanks, will ya!”

At Louise’s words, he once again glanced at the boy, but silently looked away and began to delicately polish the fruit with a cloth. For some reason, his appearance from behind looked cute.

“Really, you’re so shy.”

Herscherik couldn’t figure out where and how he felt embarrassed by this, but convinced himself that it was probably due to the love-filled interactions between this married wife and husband.

“Which reminds me, Little Ryouko, are you alright? You’re helping us out so much, but do your parents not say anything?”

“My mother passed away when I was born, and since my father is always busy, I only see him occasionally, so it’s not a problem.”

He had told them the truth, but the two adults still had on uncomfortable faces. Though to be fair, the husband always had  a frown on his face anyway. As a result, Herscherik couldn’t catch the subtleties of this change in expression very well, but he could feel that the mood wasn’t good and quickly added in a panic.

“But my father said that it’s okay for me to do what I want, so it’s alright!”

(Huh, their eyes are looking at me like I’m an even more pitiful child…..)

Even though Herscherik was merely talking about his own circumstances, somewhere along the line, it seemed that he had dug his own grave.
Herscherik was troubled by the current mood, so he held out the pear-like fruit in front of him. As Herscherik looked up, the husband looked down at the boy, timidly accepted the fruit, and returned to his work.

“Sorry for bringing up such an insensitive topic. It’s almost time for you to go back though, right? Will you come and play tomorrow?”

Herscherik looked up at the sky. Before he had realized it, the sunset had spread across the horizon. Although he had been concentrating on helping out, there was also the fact that sunset was much earlier due to it being winter, like in his previous world’s Japan.

(On that subject, it also feels like the climate resembles that of Japan.)

While thinking so, Herscherik looked at his pocket watch. It was much later than he expected. Recently, being here was so much fun that  he unintentionally ended up overstaying.

“I will head home. I’ll come here again tomorrow!”

Herscherik rushed to prepare for his trip back. Suddenly, Louise clapped her hands as if she had just remembered something.

“Lately, there’s been people I haven’t seen around here……maybe they’re people from the countryside. Anyways, they’re increasing in numbers. And it looks like there’s some trouble between them and the Patrol. As the public order has gotten bad, be careful on your way back, okay? If you don’t mind, I can let my husband escort you back.”

At her words, her husband sluggishly stood up. He looked like he was ready to escort him, but as much as Herscherik was thankful for their care, it would be too troublesome.

“I’m fine. I’ll be careful on my way back. And thank you for the fruit!”

Herscherik said as he gave a quick bow to the husband who had stood up. He then ran out of the store. Louise watched his figure from behind until she could no longer see it.

“Today was also fun.”

She and her husband still hadn’t had any children yet. Since they couldn’t afford to raise one, she had held off on that. However, since that young boy who called himself Ryouko showed up, the married couple had become a bit brighter and felt like they wanted to have a child.

The country right now wasn’t in a good place. The king was partial to his aristocrats, and those aristocrats and government officials were operating only for their own benefits. Even the lower government officials were ignoring the citizens’ needs.

This was a country that was difficult to live in for a member of the general public. However, the reason why they hadn’t left this country yet was that they preferred remaining in this country whose security and stability persisted, rather than restarting from zero in a foreign country. Besides, the imperial capital was much better than the countryside. One’s livelihood becomes more severe the farther away one was from the imperial capital.
Both Louise and her husband hated those aristocrats and government officials. The taxes that increased day after day cut into their living expenses; they would be unable to sell anything unless they lower the price, yet if they reduce the price to sell, then their living standards would become strained. And even though they pay their taxes, it was not like their lives had become better.

The citizens believed that it was because of the negligence of each and every one of those who hold onto the government’s center. Every now and then, an aristocrat would appear, dressed in gaudy outfits and not a bit concerned about their citizens’ troubles.

(But that child seems somewhat different, hum.)

Ryouko came up in Louise’s mind.
He was a young boy with straight, silky, blonde hair; blue eyes that made you think of a gentle spring season, and features that resemble a healthy-looking girl with white skin. His words were ambitious for his age, and as soon as he realized that he had said something adult-like, he would act delighted at something childish and dive headfirst with curiosity into the things he didn’t know about.

(His attire and manners are excellent, making me wonder who’s son he is…..)

It would be a disappointment if he grew up to be like the other aristocrats in the future, walking around like they owned the place. But, he didn’t look like he would become someone like that. Instead, she held some kind of hope that he would do something that would change the aristocrats for people like her.

“Hey, I’ll be closing up shop.”
“Ok~ay.”

It looks like even her unsociable husband was fond of Ryouko.

Louise knew. Her husband had secretly bought a stuffed teddy bear in hopes of giving it to Ryouko having mistaken him for a girl somehow, but finding out later he worried, “To give a stuffed animal to a boy is…..” and ended up not giving it.

She fell in love with the “gap