Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 335

"Haaaa… Finally, there's only one week until opening… Time sure flies."
"Princess, you've been working like a demon. Everybody is worried."
"Yup… Even if I say so myself, I did my best."

I deeply exhaled while checking the interior design. Cain, who was at my side as an escort, said in exasperation.

"Interior design, food, uniforms, you decided on everything alone. Princess, I'm astonished by what's going on in your head. How did you come up with them?"
"Ehehe, it's a secret."

I can't tell they're from my previous life, even to Cain.
As I lightly glossed over it, Cain shrugged his shoulders saying, "Well, whatever."
I briefly looked around the store. In addition to me and Cain, there were ten staff members (who usually work in the castle) busy working.
Freed isn't here today. Freed comes with me whenever he has some time, but he couldn't skip work today, so he reluctantly went to the office. I had hardly any plans, so I came in the morning to prepare for the store's opening.

"Ah, there. Please put the menu signboard a little higher."
"Yes, I understand!"

A man (probably one of the Royal Guards) was adjusting a signboard inside the store.
About Cain, everybody helping with the café recognizes him. When the whole staff was gathered, Freed introduced Cain as my escort .
For a moment the place became noisy about such a young man being my escort, but when Freed said, "I decided. I think he's a perfect fit," they quieted down.
"If His Highness says that…" Everybody reluctantly nodded, but the people who could fight seemed to understand his strength was as Freed said, so they obediently recognized him.

"Come to think of it, another store seems to be opening just across the street. The renovation work began last week, but it looks almost finished."

"Yeah," I nodded to Cain who told me like he just remembered.
It seems the owner of the store across the street abruptly changed last week, and construction work began surprisingly quickly. I heard that from the townsfolk.
Even though everybody learned that I'm the Crown Princess, they treat me the same as before. This time it was the spice store owner, Mrs. Marietta, who taught me, "Lidi, dear, the owner of the store in front of yours changed. I don't think it was a fair exchange, so be careful."
Mrs. Marietta is good natured and likes rumors, and whenever I visit her store, she gives me freebies.
During my time as fiancée, she perfectly witnessed my date with Freed.
When I visited her store to stock up recently, she laughed, "It might be rude to give Crown Princess Lidi a freebie. But we're close, so that doesn't matter, right?" and gave me a jar of salt. I was somehow very happy about those words, so I spontaneously hugged Mrs. Marietta.
Everybody living in Wilhelm is a very good person.
I must be nothing but a bother for them after becoming the Crown Princess. I was resigned to being kept at a distance, yet everyone treats me same as before. I'm really grateful for that.
I want to protect these people together with Freed. It was an event that once again strengthened my conviction as the Crown Princess.

"From what I've heard, it seems to be another café. But we might be better off not getting close. The new owner doesn't seem particularly respectable."
"Ooh, is that so? However Princess, what's with your information network? Sometimes it's faster than me."
"Everyone is kind and teaches me various things."

I answered while laughing.
Then I checked the time. It was about time for everyone to take an afternoon break. Suddenly, an outsider's voice resounded.

"Oh? I came to see what kind of café it is, but it has some strange decorations. This doesn't even warrant reconnaissance! They should follow my example a little."
"…"

Hahahaha, together with a loud laughter a man appeared. Seeing that man, I reflexively tensed up.
Bald, ugly, fat figure. Poor, nouveau-riche taste. And the peculiar way of talking. All those were more than enough to recognize him.

"… Former Baron Wire."

The man who bankrupted the store that belonged to Lars, the storekeeper of the curry store, via underhanded means. Eventually, he was charged with crimes (having mistresses, smuggling, embezzlement, fraud) and lost his peerage and had his property seized, so he should've withdrawn from restaurant business. Why is he here?
Moreover, at a glance he looks quite prosperous. The clothes he's wearing and his accessories in poor taste are all expensive, they aren't something you could readily obtain.

―― What does it mean?

Moreover, reconnaissance?
I completely didn't understand what he was talking about, but I decided to ignore him, not wanting to get involved. However, it was already too late. When he saw me, his eyes widened in surprise.

"You're the lass from that time!"
"… Mr. Wire."

When I addressed him as 'Mr.' because he was no longer a baron, Wire's eyes angrily opened wide.

"What a misfortune to meet you here! You're the Vivoir lass, right!? Why are you here!?"

Why is Wire making a face like my parents are his enemies?
I haven't done anything.
Despite thinking so, I answered Wire's question.

"Why? Would you understand if I said I was this store's owner? I wish outsiders would leave."
"Hah! You are the owner of this store? First the curry store, now this, you always, always get in my way…!"
"Get in your way?"

When I frowned wondering what he meant, Wire pointed outside with his plump finger.

"The store across the street! The new store that will open in a week is mine! I was thinking of opening a store in a good location, and yet I heard there was another store opening at the same time, so I came to check…"
"Aah…"

No way, the store across the street is Wire's.
But he should've had his property seized, so how can he run a new store?
Finding it strange, I asked.

"… Mr. Wire, I heard you went broke though."
"Indeed, lass! Because of you!"
"Eh? Me?"

Nothing came to my mind. Wire's plump body shook as though it was irritating to recall it.

"You look as if you don't know! Ultimately, it's all your fault. If not for you, that damned Vivoir little brat wouldn't attack me!"
"Little brat… Are you talking about my elder brother?"
"Who else!! Because of that little brat, my small crimes got exposed… and as a result I… was separated from my adorable mistresses!"
"Wow…"

I can only say that I'm glad about that.
Wire is an irredeemable lecher who unhindered by his old age made full use of his money to trap any young woman he wanted. And he's an idiot who tried to make me one of his mistresses.
However, I see…
I found it strange that Baron Wire was quickly disposed of, but it was Brother's doing, huh.
And the fact that's he's shouting that it was my fault means he learned from talking with Brother than I'm his little sister.

―― I see, the curry store matter got completely exposed to Older Brother.

Brother dealing with Wire means he probably somehow learned of my conversation with Wire. And so that things wouldn't become serious, he moved first.
In the worst case, Brother overheard from the very beginning that I was planning to open the curry store.

―― Hmm. That's quite lame.

And I felt sorry when I realized Brother had helped in the shadows.
The next time I meet Brother, I'll thank him for it.
Wire's matter was truly irritating, so I seriously wanted to crush him with Father's power.

―― But well.

I looked at Wire who continued yapping at me.
He understands that I'm the daughter of Vivoir ducal house, but he doesn't seem to know that I've become the Crown Princess.
I'm not a mere noble daughter. I'm already royalty. He's been spitting so many insults at me that you could call it lèse-majesté. No matter how much he hates me, I don't think he'd do that if he knew.
In fact, all the staff around us are scowling at Wire menacingly. It wasn't just one or two of them who asked me with their eyes if they can arrest him. Cain, who is of course next to me, asked first, "Princess, can I silence him?" with a frightening smile.
I silenced them all saying, "It's fine, so stay put," and boldly faced Wire.
I felt safe, since we had a complete control over situation in case something happened. Per Freed's advice, all the staff members are people working in the castle, and I have nothing but thanks for that.

"And? Could you explain why you can run a new store despite going broke?"
"I'm the man who rose in the world in a single generation! Since I lost money, I just had to make more. I went alone to the southern country Irvine, amassed a fortune in the casino there, and came back last week!"
"Wow… Powerful…"

I'm impressed by his energy despite his appearance of an old man.
However, Wire really seems to have a knack for making money. It was only two years ago that he went broke. I'm really surprised.

Chapter end