Chapter 74

The day after next, Al visited the Revi Trading Company as scheduled, but instead of being led to the usual reception room, he was taken to the guard post where he had been called by Barbara before. There, instead of Luella and Patricia, he found the head of the Revi Company and Desmond.

"What's going on?"

"Well, I'm sorry to trouble you, but there's something I'd like to ask you before you meet Lady Patricia."

The head of the Revi Company gestured for Al to take one of the chairs in the guard post. Seeing Al nod, he began to speak.

"In fact, we have security magic devices installed here for protection. This morning, when Lady Patricia arrived, one of them reacted."

The magic device the head of the Revi Company referred to was likely the one Eric had mentioned before, which could detect invisibility, illusions, and magic. It was said to be quite expensive, but it was fitting for the Revi Company. This meant that Patricia might be in some kind of danger. Seeing Al's worried expression, Desmond reassured him that there was no need to panic.

"The reaction was from the magic detection device. It often reacts to magic devices. I suspect Lady Patricia is carrying some kind of magic device. However, the problem is that all the guards who can use magic are out, so we can't investigate further. Lady Patricia's existence is a secret, so we can't just ask anyone. So, when you meet Lady Patricia, could you check which magic device she has, if any?"

Magic devices can react to this... Al tilted his head slightly. Al himself had magic devices. The button he had obtained recently, the crystal where Grii resided, and the crystal he had received from Patricia should have reacted.

"I know you have magic devices, but I trust you, so I don't see it as a problem. Skilled people often carry light magic devices. That's why I'm not too worried this time. Still, just in case, I'd like to confirm."

The head of the Revi Company spoke as if it wasn't a big deal, but Al wasn't sure if that was really the case. It seemed best to proceed cautiously.

"Understood. I'll use a magic detection spell to check and let you know."

Al's response was met with a nod from the head of the Revi Company.

"Thank you. Lady Patricia should be in the courtyard with Luella. I'll have someone show you."

-----

In the courtyard where Al was led, there was a pavilion. At the table inside, Luella, Patricia, and Patricia's female knight, Joanna, were seated. Behind Patricia stood two female servants he had seen at the lord's mansion. One looked to be in her late forties, the other in her early twenties. Both had stern expressions, indicating they were focused on their work, though their relationship with Patricia didn't seem particularly warm.

As Al approached, Patricia, noticing him, stood up lightly. Her blonde hair fluttered in the breeze.

"Lord Al, how have you been?"

"Thank you, I'm well."

Al couldn't help but smile.

"I heard you did a great job helping Lord Nareesh. You must have defeated many barbarians."

"No, not really. Lord Nareesh was the one who was amazing. The way he charged with his spear and pierced the Goblin Slayer was truly impressive."

Al shook his head slightly at Patricia's words. While he had indeed killed many barbarians with his magic tornado, it was too brutal to explain to a 13-year-old girl. Nareesh, on the other hand, was more heroic. Al recounted the story of how he had helped Nareesh defeat the Goblin Slayer. Luella smiled happily at Nareesh's bravery. The conversation continued, with Al deliberately making the story of Nareesh's heroics and the challenges of the expedition more amusing. Meanwhile, Al subtly checked Patricia's attire, looking for anything that might react to a magic detection spell. The only thing that reacted was a hair ornament in her blonde, braided hair. It was quite elaborate and likely not something she had worn when she fled.

"That hair ornament suits you."

When Al said this, Patricia smiled and replied that Lady Agnes had given it to her, saying it suited her. Luella, who had been watching, almost dropped her cup in surprise.

"Lady Agnes?"

When Al asked, Luella, quickly regaining her composure, explained that Lady Agnes was the second wife of Viscount Lester. This meant she was the mother of Nareesh's half-brother and heir, Sanjay. It made sense that she would know Patricia, as they lived in the same lord's mansion. However, Luella's surprised reaction was noticeable. Still, at least the identity of the magic device's giver was clear, so Al considered the head of the Revi Company's request fulfilled.

"What have you been up to since we last met? It must have been difficult in the heat."

At Al's question, Patricia blushed and looked down. Joanna whispered something in her ear. Patricia glanced at Al a few times before accepting a folded piece of fabric from Joanna.

"Um... What is it?"

Al couldn't help but ask. Patricia fidgeted for a while but finally mustered the courage to look up and offer the folded white fabric to Al.

"Actually, I embroidered a handkerchief for you..."

She managed to say this much before blushing and looking down again.

"Wow, thank you. Can I open it?"

Al took it with a smile. It was a white silk handkerchief with a delicate rose pattern and Patricia's name embroidered in blue thread.

"I heard you travel a lot, so I thought this handkerchief could be with you in my place..."

Patricia said in a barely audible voice.

"Lady Patricia is very skilled at embroidery. She put her heart into every stitch."

Joanna added. Even Al, who knew little about embroidery, could tell it was meticulously made. Al smiled at Patricia and promised to take good care of it.

As they were talking, one of Luella's servants brought a wagon with something on it.

"Alfred's soup has arrived. It seems to be a different kind of dish..."

Luella said, watching the two of them with a smile. Her servant set plates and cutlery on the table for the four of them and began to serve a thick, white liquid.

"It's a soggy bread soup. It's a home dish from the Kingdom of Tempest. A friend who went to the border city of Parker said it was delicious, so I prepared it. I hope it will cheer up Lady Patricia and Lady Joanna, as it's a taste from their hometown."

"Oh... How nostalgic..."

Patricia and Joanna were about to try it, but the older servant behind Patricia hurriedly stopped them.

"This dish is... in this area..."

The servant looked worried. Al smiled reassuringly.

"Don't worry, it's safe. The cook at the inn where I'm staying knew about this soup. Gazpacho is made without cooking, so if you make it with bad water in Lester, it can cause stomach problems. To avoid that, I went to a town with a ferry this morning to get water. The water there comes from the Sipley Mountains, so it's safe."

"Oh... So it's really safe to eat... Gazpacho..."

The servant seemed close to tears, perhaps from nostalgia.

"Did you come here with Lady Tara?"

At Luella's question, the older servant nodded.

"Yes, I came with Lady Tara when she married into this family."

Al hadn't realized, but the servants who came with Tara had also left their hometown. Perhaps their circumstances were not so different from Patricia's. Al nodded to Luella, who also nodded in agreement.

"I would like to invite you to join us, but since Lady Patricia is here, everyone might be hesitant. There's plenty, so why don't you take it back to the lord's mansion? It's a home dish, and Lady Tara might have tried it before. There might be others in a similar situation who would enjoy it. Please, feel free to share. The cook recommends chilling it with well water."

The older servant nodded happily at Luella's words, a stark contrast to her earlier reaction. This might be a good start to improving the relationship between Patricia and Tara's servants. Al and Luella felt hopeful.

*Note: The gazpacho mentioned here is not the modern version but a cold soup made with bread, garlic, salt, vinegar, and water, which likely existed in medieval Europe. It is not red.*

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