Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Bennetsa Merchant 3
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-“Chirp chirp chirp!”-
“Mm...”
Kazeros slowly began to open her eyes to the sound of birds chirping outside the window.
“!..Gasp!..”
The next moment, she bolted upright in mild alarm and immediately checked her body.
Her clothes were exactly as they’d been right before she fell asleep last night—no signs of them being removed or anything like that.
And there were no other issues she could spot.
“Phew...”
As that realization sank in, Kazeros let out a soft sigh without even meaning to.
She then recalled yesterday’s events and gingerly cupped her modest chest, which always made her feel a bit lacking.
‘Nothing happened after all. I was pretty tense just in case, though...’
Last night, to dry her damp clothes, Kazeros had no choice but to take off her outer layers and stay in her undergarments.
But unlike her outwardly calm appearance at the time, she’d been feeling all sorts of complicated emotions deep down.
Right now, she was alone in a room with a man.
Two young people in the prime of their lives, both dressed in the lightest of clothing.
Objectively speaking, it was the perfect setup for something to happen.
And Kazeros already had some knowledge about what that “something” could be.
‘Father always said... men are wolves you can never trust, no matter what...’
No matter how gentlemanly or polite they seemed on the surface, men could turn into ravenous beasts the moment they were alone with a woman.
She’d heard warnings like that constantly since childhood, so being stuck sharing a room with Santana in this state filled her with deep tension on multiple levels.
But to be honest...
That tension she’d felt wasn’t just from fear.
‘It’s a little scary. But... it might be okay...? If it’s with Lord Santana...’
A man who’d clearly stated he’d take responsibility for her no matter what.
She’d decided to follow him and come all this way.
And Kazeros knew full well what a man’s declaration to “take responsibility” for a woman traditionally implied.
Sure, the situation made her nervous and a bit scared.
But if it was this man... maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to give him her first time.
That’s what she’d thought.
However...
Separate from Kazeros’s own resolve, Santana had simply nodded off midway through and gently tucked the sleeping girl into bed without incident. Even now, he was curled up uncomfortably in the far corner of the opposite bed, still fast asleep.
‘Even so, Lord Santana really is different. Well... even as a man, someone like him wouldn’t do anything I’d hate or fear without permission...’
Watching him sleep so innocently, Kazeros felt trust and relief well up in her once more.
But at that moment, along with those emotions, a faint pang of bittersweet regret began to creep in.
‘Still... am I really not all that attractive? If only I had a better figure... maybe then...’
Lost in such thoughts, Kazeros gently caressed her chest, which sadly took after her mother’s in all the wrong ways.
That was when it happened.
“Mm...”
The next moment, Santana slowly opened his eyes, a weary expression on his face.
Catching herself, Kazeros blushed faintly and greeted him first.
“G-good morning, Lord Santana? Did you sleep well?”
“Yawn... Yes. And you, Kazeros? No discomfort anywhere?”
“Yes... Thanks to you, Lord Santana, I slept comfortably.”
It wasn’t empty flattery. Right now, Kazeros was sprawled across nearly two-thirds of the bed with plenty of room to spare, while Santana—with his large frame—had squeezed into just the remaining third, huddled in the corner.
Yet he simply smiled at the fact and said to her,
“I’m glad to hear that. Well then, shall we get ready to head out? The weather’s nice, so travel shouldn’t be an issue.”
“Understood. I’ll get ready.”
With that, he rose and donned his clothes, which had dried neatly overnight.
Watching him, Kazeros blushed a little before starting to dress herself as well.
*
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Language and writing...
These formed the foundation of all human social activity and were the most basic elements in the advancement of civilization itself.
The power they held was immense, their importance self-evident.
And in that regard... commerce, which fundamentally begins and ends with communication, was inextricably linked to language.
The most basic bartering had relatively little influence from it.
Spot trades right there on the scene didn’t require complicated talk.
But...
As commercial techniques evolved, introducing diverse transaction methods... in drafting and executing contracts, the power of words could turn someone into a billionaire with a single sentence or word—or reduce them to a penniless beggar overnight.
Thus, merchants had no choice but to pay utmost attention to the phrasing and wording in contracts.
A single trivial expression could land them in unjust trouble.
And in that sense, he...
Was now deeply regretting the contract he’d entered into so carelessly.
‘They say a person’s life can plummet to ruin in an instant. How true that is...’
For the past few decades, he’d stood firm as one of Bennetsa’s renowned magnates.
But now, he was jailed for a crime he hadn’t committed, awaiting trial.
Coldly speaking, the reason was utterly absurd, but its very sloppiness had allowed a seasoned merchant like him to fall so helplessly into their trap.
Regretting his minor but fatal mistake from the depths of his heart, he quietly bowed his head in the cell, abandoning all hope.
*
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Vast harbors filled with countless ships.
Canals spanning the entire city, elegant buildings rising from the water.
This place...
The continent’s largest port city. The Queen of the Adriatic Sea—Bennetsa, the mercantile metropolis.
Though its influence had waned compared to its heyday, it still wielded undeniable power and wealth, naturally inspiring awe and admiration in first-time visitors.
“Incredible. So this is Bennetsa... I’d heard stories, but this is my first time seeing it for myself.”
The beautiful, vibrant cityscape unfolding before her eyes.
Kazeros couldn’t help but gape in pure wonder,
and watching her, I started to feel anew just how endearing she could be.
‘What is it about her...? The more I look, the more I want to pop a candy in her mouth or something?’
Like a child visiting a big city for the first time, Kazeros stared wide-eyed, mouth agape.
Her stunning beauty mixed with a touch of girlish innocence.
I couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
‘Really... in moments like this, it feels like everything I’ve done wasn’t for nothing.’
I hadn’t achieved my grand goal, but rescuing a lovely girl like her with my own hands was something worth boasting about in my heart.
With those thoughts, I felt a bit exhilarated and turned my gaze forward again.
We were almost at Shylock’s mansion, our destination.
Before gathering info, I wanted to rest up there and shake off the travel fatigue, so I urged the carriage onward a little faster.