Chapter 35: The Exiled Marquise is Devout 2
The Solntsalri House has an Alias.
Normally, even for nobility or royalty, an Alias is something attached to an individual.
Like “King of Judgment” Tullia Faltar or “Western Gale” Cortas Bambanir.
But only the Solntsalri House has an Alias attached to the house itself.
That’s because the entire family acts in a way befitting that Alias, almost like a tradition.
The Solntsalri House is called this:
“Guardian of Orphans,” the Solntsalri House.
“Yes, Tepe repairs broken ironware for the Orphanage free of charge.”
“If we make a good impression on the church, we can get work from them, you see.”
Shara answered Erica’s question, proudly boasting about her friend, while Tepe didn’t accept the praise straightforwardly.
Their easy exchange revealed their relationship; they must indeed be friends.
“What kind of place is that Orphanage?”
Erica asked, now clearly restless.
What on earth is this strange passion the Solntsalri House has for orphanages?
It’s not particularly rare for nobles to support orphanages, but the Solntsalri House’s involvement is often said to go too far.
“It’s an Orphanage run by the Adventurers Guild. We at the church also help out.”
An Orphanage run by the Adventurers Guild seems very typical of Hecate, the city of adventurers.
In other cities, it’s common for the church to run them.
Since it’s rare for a city to have so many adventurers for whom death is a familiar part of daily life, it’s probably not strange for the Adventurers Guild to run the Orphanage in Hecate.
“Does that Orphanage accept things like donations?”
One might think it’s natural for an orphanage to accept donations, but some orphanages don’t.
Orphanages effectively run by nobles, for example.
In those cases, the noble’s pride is involved, so they might not accept donations.
Ordinary commoners wouldn’t know such things, so Erica’s question was quite aristocratic, but Shara didn’t seem to find it particularly strange.
“Of course, we accept them anytime, from anyone.”
Shall I show you the way there now, if you like?
Shara probably said that half-jokingly, but she said it to the wrong person.
“I would very much like to, but we were just thinking of hunting some suitable Monsters to check our equipment.”
I wondered when that became the plan, but I had no objection since I did want to check our newly acquired equipment sooner rather than later.
“Therefore, could I entrust this to you to deliver to the Orphanage?”
Saying that, Erica handed Shara the leather pouch containing the money from selling the Golden Ogre Magic Stone.
Although we’d used quite a bit, the pouch still had plenty left, and since most of the contents were gold coins, it was heavier than it looked.
“Eh?”
Shara, who had naturally accepted it due to Erica’s fluid movements, let out a bewildered sound at the pouch’s weight.
“Well then, we shall take our leave. We leave the rest to you.”
“Eh? Eh? Eh?”
After saying that, Erica ignored Shara—whose gaze wandered between the deceptively heavy leather pouch and Erica—and left.
Isn’t she a bit too free-spirited?
Seeing Shara, who looked more confused than bewildered, I felt sympathy.
“Well, uh, be careful on your way when you take it.”
Suppressing a wry smile, I said that to Shara and followed after Erica.
＊
“I’ve done it now.”
Erica said to me in a serious voice when I caught up.
“Donating all the money we earned together without your permission… Doesn’t this disqualify me as a wife?”
The very act of trying to donate that amount without hesitation isn’t normal, even before considering the ‘wife’ aspect, so I felt she was worrying about the wrong thing, but I shook my head.
“We’re not struggling for living expenses, and it seems just like you. Isn’t that fine?”
“That’s not the issue, is it?”
She seemed genuinely troubled; unusually, her face was dark.
Could it be that she’s feeling down?
The obvious fact that even that Erika Solntsalri could feel down made me happy.
Probably because it was a side of her she didn’t normally show people.
“People have certain dispositions, for better or worse, that they can’t help. In your case, it just happens to be the Solntsalri House’s family precept.”
I ignored her murmur of “It’s not exactly a family precept…” because I wouldn’t have been able to say it without momentum.
“I find that disposition of yours quite endearing.”
After moving her mouth as if trying to say something for just a moment, Erica looked down and said.
“If you say so.”
I nodded, satisfied with those words.
I want Erika Solntsalri to stay true to herself, like Erika Solntsalri.
For that sake, I wouldn’t spare any effort.