Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 133

On that day when I went outside to prepare for the afternoon opening as always, I found an unusual person in the queue.

"Huh? If it isn't Master. Why are you lining up like that? You could just come from the back as always"

―――― Master. No, perhaps it would be easier to understand if I said Duke Vivoir's daughter.
She's the great benefactor who saved my shop that had been crushed by a certain baron's harassment with her own original recipe.
With her social position she only visits this place once in a blue moon now, still all staff members adore her.
It's only recently that I've heard that Master got engaged.
Her partner is His Highness the Crown Prince of this country.
Although such were the rumors from the start, I never thought they'd really get engaged.
Master had always hated it, and it's her. I was convinced she'd somehow avoid it.
And yet they got engaged. Then afterwards I've heard nonsensical rumors.
His Highness the Crown Prince is infatuated with his fiancée, I doubted what my ears heard.
His Highness is infatuated? With Master?
How the hell did Master fool him. I could do nothing but tilt my head at the unthinkable story.
Still, I understood Master probably doesn't dislike it. Otherwise such rumors wouldn't spread, to begin with Master wouldn't stay silent about them.
But I thought it's a pity.
Master will have even higher status as the Crown Princess. She won't be allowed to aimlessly visit such a restaurant in town.
When I discovered Master's figure while thinking that, I was honestly happy.
Even though I thought she came here again, I was suspicious of why she lined up, but when I heard the explanation I was convinced, and at the same time taken aback.
Who Master brought was none other than her fiancé, His Highness the Crown Prince.

Seeing His Highness the Crown Prince for the first time, incognito with his hair dyed black, even from the perspective of a man he had tremendously well-featured looks. I think the Magician Division Commander is also quite a beauty, but he's well above that.
Furthermore, as he showed off brisk movements of a soldier, I had no choice but to recall the talk of him being the kingdom's strongest Crown Prince.
But rather than the Crown Prince's figure, I was surprised by his attitude towards Master.

'Infatuated' - I laughed it off whenever I heard it, but I never would have thought it'd take place before my eyes.

His Highness the Crown Prince, who bears the title of the strongest, for the whole time has been gazing at Master with an expression that makes even me embarrassed.
When I thoughtlessly tried grabbing Master's arm, a frighteningly cold look pierced through me, honestly I thought my lifespan would shorten.
Seeing such an unabashed behavior I intuitively understood
Ah, it's hopeless.
Probably Master can't escape. He won't let her go.
I don't know what led to that, but Master is that deeply loved by His Highness the Crown Prince.
I worried whether Master would be fed up having such heavy feelings directed at her, but thankfully it ended up as a completely needless anxiety.
Master's figure as she talked with His Highness the Crown Prince was of a woman head over heels in love.
Always easy-going, without noticing it Master brushed aside the affection of the Magician Division Commander, who she occasionally brought under the pretext of an escort, but this time she's unexpectedly in love. I can't help but be dumbfounded.
The atmosphere hanging between them is sweet like sugar, even the expressions they use while talking to each other are different.
It's a way of talking we've never heard before. His Highness the Crown Princess tone is also soft, it's obvious how close they are.
But, as one would expect it's unbearable how they're flirting in the middle of the shop.
The sweetness between them was too much for me, so under the desperately thought up pretext of opening the shop I chased them away to counter seats.

… I already feel like my energy has been exhausted.

Embarrassed by the sweet atmosphere between them, I returned to the kitchen feeling strangely weary.
Right away I was surrounded by the whole staff. From their eyes full of expectation I knew too well what everybody wanted to hear, but it was tiresome putting it into words.
One of the juniors gingerly asked.

"There was a man with Master. He was incredibly intimate with Master, who is he?"

They've been leaking an intimate, or rather sweet aura big time.
Everybody's eyes gathered one me. I can't escape, huh, thus I breathed out.

"… He's her fiancé"

The kitchen got excited right away.

"Uwa! After all it was true! I've heard the rumors! That means the black haired man is His Highness the Crown Prince? Uwaa, His Highness the Crown Prince has come to our shop!?"
"Hold on! We will be making something for His Highness the Crown Prince to eat? Is that really okay?"
"T, that's right. Manager! … There's no problem, is there?"

Listening to the justified doubts I nodded.
Master approved of bringing him here. That alone should be enough for us.

"Don't worry above what's necessary. Master is with him, nothing will happen"

Informed of the obvious fact, all juniors nodded as if convinced.

"That's right. It's okay if we show Master fruits of our usual labor"
"Exactly. Now, get to work!"

There's no time to mess about. Orders from the dining area staff come one after another. Among them is the one from Master. While I nimbly did preparations and gave orders to set tables in the dining area, from behind I heard juniors happily talking about Master. After all it seems to be on their minds.

"They've been hugging each other just now. They're seriously as close as the rumors say"
"I thought it's unlike Master. But being shown that there's nothing but to believe them"
"That means… Uwaa, Commander is pitiful… Was he rejected after all. I thought it was possible for him"
"Did you? I thought he was no good. No matter how you look at it, Master didn't see him this way. Thought it was amusing to see Master completely ignore it, unaware"
"But if you think about it, Master is amazing. She ignored the heir to a ducal house who's the Magician Division Commander and got engaged with His Highness the Crown Prince"
"And thinking back on what we've just seen, the rumors that she's incredibly loved seem true. I was surprised"
"Aren't such great people weak to women like Master. You wouldn't think Master is a duke's daughter"
"Well of course, but there's no such women other than Master. But that's troubling. Since she's one of a kind, conflict may be inevitable"
"The country's higher-ups fighting for Master, huh. It's no joke even imaging it"
"No joke ya say. It goes beyond big-shots. His Highness the Crown Prince, Magician Division Leader. If there's an opportunity, won't she receive marriage proposals from foreign princes?"
"It's possible. No matter who it is, it won't be strange for Master"

Wahahaha, while talking as they please they laughed.
When I moved my gaze onto the counter seats, I heard the conversation they were having sitting next to each other.
They seem to have just had curry served, and appear to be talking about it. I knew it's wrong, but before I noticed I was pricking up my ears.

"Look, this is curry. It's your first time so I tried ordering the standard one, but how is it?"

I could tell His Highness the Crown Prince was just a little wide-eyed at the words Master said somewhat proudly.

"Hee? … I've heard about it before, but it sure is a strange food"
"The appearance might be tough for the first-timers. What will you do? Want to stop?"

As Master's eyes slackened in obvious delight despite her faraway look, His Highness the Crown Prince returned a smile.

"No, haven't I said it earlier. There's no way I wouldn't eat something Lidi developed. I'm digging in"
"… You don't have to force yourself"

Master seemed happy as she said that. They faced each other and giggled.
The sweet exchange of the couple with wastefully good looks stood out awfully. Actually, the eyes all over the store were focused on them, however they completely ignored them. They don't mind at all.
Truly His Highness the Crown Prince and a duke's daughter.
To be used to it, they are so durable it feels like I'll cry. For heaven's sake, restrain yourselves.
Bringing curry to his mouth, His Highness the Crown Prince slowly chewed to ascertain the taste.

"Hee? It's an unusual taste. But strangely it doesn't stimulate my appetite… Yup, I may prefer it slightly spicier"
"Do you? I meant to order it quite spicy… Give it to me for a moment. Nn, I see. If this is bland, it may be alright to go quite spicy. Let's try making it a little spicier next time?"

Master smoothly took the spoon from His Highness the Crown Prince and tasted the roux. His Highness the Crown Prince said nothing.
I could only look at them acting as if this was natural amazed.

"That makes me happy. Will Lidi make it?"
"Yup. I haven't taught the castle cooks the curry recipe. I also want to try experimenting to see how spicy I can go with Freed"
"Experiment you say. What's that, how cruel, Lidi"
"Isn't it fine. You'll go along with it, right?"

Having returned the spoon, Master said while scooping her curry this time.
His Highness the Crown Prince made a move on such her.
When she raised her spoon, he bit into it and held it in his mouth.

"… Nn"
"Wait a moment, what are you doing?"

It must've taken her by surprise, as with her face flushed she glared at him slightly.
Not looking like he minds, His Highness the Crown Prince laughed and said.

"No, I wondered about Lidi's taste. Hmm, I guess it's a bit sweet…"
"Spicy things aren't my strong point… Rather, jeez, don't do it in such a place, idiot"
"Sorry… fufu"

With her face flushed, Master struck His Highness the Crown Prince with her elbow. His Highness the Crown Prince who gladly received it seemed extremely happy.
I could tell he absolutely did it on purpose to see Master's reaction.
Sweet… Too sweet.

"… Somebody, go bring me salt"

I heard whispers behind me. When I looked back, the juniors were groaning with indescribable faces.

"Too sweet… Rather, was Master such a person?"
"Her face flushed… How nice, she seems happy"
"It's painful when they're so lovey-dovey… Eeeh? Is His Highness the Crown Prince such a person? It's completely different from my image of him"
"Indeed…"

I understand those feelings.
When I shifted my gaze onto Master again after a while, they were just standing up, seeming to have finished eating.
Master tried settling the bill. But His Highness the Crown Prince stopped it, and said something to Master.
I didn't hear the contents, but in response Master's face reddened again.
While Master stiffened, His Highness the Crown Prince smoothly paid for the two. Surely enough there's no fault to be seen.
Then they finally left the shop but… I wonder if Master noticed everything they were doing until the very end could only be seen as flirting. No, it's that extremely dull Master. There's no way she'd notice.

"Somehow… I'm tired"

When somebody muttered, other juniors nodded.
Come to think of it, one of them asked me.

"… Manager, will Master not come here anymore?"

In a few months she'll become the Crown Princess. They too know that.
So while it makes me sad, I won't complain. Dispirited, I spoke to comfort them.

"No, doesn't seem like it"
"Eh, is that so?"

I nodded at the juniors who raised their faces.

"Yeah, His Highness too said there's no need to stop, so she'll probably come again, won't she? That's why if you have something to ask of Master, you can ask her directly then. Let's see… For example, how her romance with His Highness the Crown Prince started…"

I laughed suggestively.
I recalled the ring put on the fourth finger of Master's left hand.
The turquoise gold ring had the very colors of His Highness the Crown Prince I've heard about. Probably she got it from His Highness the Crown Prince. It might be interesting to ask about it.

"I look forward to meeting Master the next time"

When I talked about the ring, everybody laughed that they'd certainly like to ask about it.

Chapter end