Chapter 100: Let’s Go Eat - 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 100: Let’s Go Eat - 2
“I’m counting on you.”
“Understood. In exchange, make sure you remember this favor.”
“Yes, I know.”
In exchange for a future favor, Delbaheim agreed to fill in for Sera at the Mounted Goat Inn for the evening.
Since the Northeast was a high-end district where land and labor prices rivaled the Northwest, I used the connections of Delbaheim—a long-lived half-elf—to rent a carriage and head straight for the Southwest.
Just before arriving at the Mounted Goat Inn, I hopped out of the carriage, climbed through my second-floor window, and changed into the clothes Theodora had given me.
While I couldn't do much about my hair, dressing sharply was a necessity. My plan was to freshen up and board the carriage while Delbaheim distracted Sera downstairs, but...
Oh, no! She’s already out there.
As I climbed back out the window and headed toward the carriage, I saw Sera already knocking on its door.
Well, there was no helping it now. I’d just have to play it cool.
“Please, get in, Sera.”
“Eek?!”
I slipped up behind her and spoke as if nothing were out of the ordinary—as naturally and calmly as possible.
“Y-Yoo Eon?!”
“Let’s go have dinner.”
* * *
“Ah, um... that is...”
“Yes, Sera. Go ahead.”
“Y-Yoo Eon. Where exactly are we going...?”
“To the restaurant, of course.”
“But, you see... I actually had an outfit prepared...”
“Ah.”
Now that I thought about it, she was right. Sera was currently wearing her usual dirndl. Considering the atmosphere of Ristorante Oro, her current attire might be a bit out of place.
“Hmm... Just a moment, Sera.”
It wasn't part of the plan, but what could I do? I pressed the rubber button on the right wall. Air rushed through a tube, letting out a sound from a trumpet-like device attached to the exterior. Apparently, the coachman would hear this and stop the carriage.
It felt a bit like a whoopee cushion.
—Poof!
Shortly after the sound, the carriage came to a halt. I heard the coachman step down, followed by a knock.
“Young Master, did you call?”
“Yes. Please head to Blanc Noir. There’s been a change of plans.”
“Understood.”
Sera was beautiful in anything, but she would undoubtedly be even more stunning in a proper dress. I was terrified of how much this would set me back, but so be it. Money was meant to be spent, even if I wasn't the type of rich man who indulged in luxuries.
Besides, Blanc Noir was the only clothing shop I knew.
“Yoo Eon, what is Blanc Noir?”
“It’s a clothing shop I know. I thought we’d pick out an outfit there first.”
“I-I’m fine, really! If we just go back to the inn for a second... I have the dress I prepared...”
“No, Sera. Today, we’re going where I want to go.”
“O-Okay...”
We rode in silence for a while until we arrived in front of Blanc Noir. The coachman kindly opened the door, and I stepped out first to help Sera down.
As soon as she stepped out, her eyes went wide, and she clung to my side. Perhaps it was because this was one of the most expensive streets in the Northwest, but her nervousness was palpable.
“It’s okay, Sera. Let’s go inside.”
“Yoo Eon...! Is it really okay to be here?! A-A place this expensive is too much...!”
“Well... don't worry about that part.”
I told the carriage to wait. Delbaheim had said she’d help until the end of the night, so there was no need to rush. We could take our time looking around.
* * *
“M-Madam!! We have a situation!!”
“What is it now?”
“Aven! That man who came before is here!”
“Really? Tell him to come in.”
“B-But!! He’s not with Lady Theodora! He’s with another woman?!”
“...What?”
Ariel, who had been leisurely browsing through cabinets of fabric, was struck by the news.
The 'excellent male' brought in by the precious youngest daughter of the Lymain family—a long-time regular of Blanc Noir. Even to Ariel, who had watched over Theodora for years, Yoo Eon was a man who seemed quite impressive at first glance.
Having managed Theodora’s wardrobe since she was a child, Ariel felt a certain affection for her. Even in her eyes, Yoo Eon’s score as a potential husband was quite high.
But what was this?
“L-Look over there!”
“It’s true...”
Peering out the third-floor window, she saw Yoo Eon wearing the clothes she had made for him. Beside him was a woman in a simple dirndl with her long brown hair tied in a ponytail.
For some reason, they were bickering in the street instead of coming inside. Since she was looking straight down from the third floor, she couldn't see the woman's face clearly.
A love triangle...!
Ariel instinctively sensed that this nameless woman Yoo Eon had brought would be Theodora’s arch-rival.
“W-What should we do, Madam?!”
“What are you talking about?”
“I feel so bad for Lady Theodora...! No wonder he was so handsome! He’s a two-timer!”
“No, not yet.”
Given their long history, it was natural for her heart to lean toward Theodora. However, from what Ariel had heard, even Theodora herself wasn't in a proper relationship with him yet.
In fact, there was a possibility that this nameless woman was the primary partner.
“Hmm...”
“Oh, what are we going to do...!”
Dizzy from the employee hopping around and making a fuss beside her, Ariel made a decision.
“I’ll have to hear the details and judge for myself.”
Ariel was a dressmaker, not someone who settled romantic disputes or took sides. However, she couldn't just stand by and watch a dear regular be played by a scandalous man.
I need to find out what their relationship is.
Was she Theodora’s rival, or just a plaything for a one-night stand while he kept a main partner elsewhere?
Here they come...!
Heavy footsteps echoed from the second-floor stairs. When Yoo Eon finally appeared, he was carrying a girl in his arms—her ears were bright red, and her face was buried in his chest.
“Welcome, Aven.”
“Ms. Ariel. It’s been a while.”
“What’s with the state of your clothes? You should dress more neatly.”
“Ahaha... I’m no expert. I guess just throwing them on isn't enough.”
Yoo Eon gave a sly smile with that devastatingly handsome face. Ariel pressed her fingers to her brow and took a deep breath to calm herself.
“And who is this young lady? I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“Ah, Sera. We’re already here. You can stop resisting now.”
“Yoo Eon...! I told you I don’t need new clothes...!”
She was being carried like a princess, her small fists lightly thumping his chest as she protested.
It doesn't look like a relationship built on money.
Ariel watched as Sera finally, reluctantly, let herself be set down on the tiled floor. She had a tiny face that could be covered by two hands, and soft brown hair that wasn't too plain, yet didn't look frivolous either.
This is...!
Despite the simple dirndl, the outline of the corset tied tightly around her waist revealed a slender frame. To have a waist that thin without even pulling the laces tight... Ariel clicked her tongue inwardly.
Furthermore, the fullness of her hips and chest connected to that thin waist revealed her to be 'top-tier material' the more Ariel evaluated her. Ariel crossed her legs and listened intently to Yoo Eon.
“Ah, Ms. Ariel. This is Sera Otmarie. She’s the daughter of the innkeeper where I’m staying.”
“So... she helps out at the inn?”
“Well, yes. Sera does most of the work, actually.”
Unbelievable...
She was an unpolished gemstone. Despite helping with the grueling work of an inn, she had a slender waist and pale, delicate skin. Even the backs of her hands were fair, leading to slender fingers. Her arms, which any woman who spent her life holding nothing but a pen would envy, were thin yet full of vitality and elasticity, without a hint of flab.
She’s young...! She’s firm...!
She was valuable enough to make Ariel subconsciously salivate. The employee watching from the side realized Ariel was losing her composure and leaned in to whisper.
“Ahem! Madam?”
“Ah, ah... right. The reason you’re at Blanc Noir is... well, for clothes, I assume?”
“U-Um...! I’m sorry! I don’t really need clothes...”
“Sera, I told you it’s fine.”
Ariel noticed the faint stains of daily life on the front of her skirt. She looked like a pitiful heroine trapped in a stepmother’s scheme.
“Could you come here for a moment? Your name was... Miss Sera Otmarie?”
“Go on.”
“Okay...”
Now that she was closer, Ariel knew for sure.
This will work.
Sera was within arm's reach. Ariel stood up, walked behind her, and slowly took her in from every angle, savoring the sight.
“Aven? Why don't you go down to the second floor and get some styling advice?”
“Ah... again?”
“Try to maintain yourself enough so you don't insult the clothes.”
“Haha. Yes, ma'am...”
After sending Yoo Eon down to the second floor, Ariel took Sera’s hand, led her into the storage room, and locked the door.
—Click.
The storytelling began like a storm.
“Miss Sera? What is your relationship with Aven?”
“I’m... just...”
“Hmm?”
Sera’s hesitation, her flushed cheeks and ears—even the way she fanned herself with her thin hands because of the heat—was a masterpiece.
Whew, stay calm.
“Yoo Eon is... a long-term guest at our inn. He’s been with us for three months...”
“Three months, I see.”
It wasn't a short enough time to be a heat-of-the-moment fling. In fact, considering her reaction, three months was quite a long time. To still react this way after seeing him for three months... it was incredibly fresh.
“But, you called him Yoo Eon?”
“Ah. Aven. Right... Yoo Eon is his real name...”
“Wait, does that mean... 'Aven' is a pseudonym?”
“Pardon? Oh, yes. That’s right. Aven is... a fake name I came up with for him.”
Ariel was shocked.
Sera was casually revealing facts Ariel hadn't known. His real name was Yoo Eon, and Aven was an alias. Even Theodora had been calling him by a fake name!
Furthermore, that name, Aven, was one that Sera had 'personally' created at Yoo Eon’s own 'request.'
This was more than enough information to realize that the relationship between Sera and Yoo Eon was anything but shallow.
“Whew...”
Ariel wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead and asked Sera.
“Alright, what kind of clothes do you want?”
“Ah... I’m sorry. I don’t really know much about clothes...”
“Then, usually...?”
“I-I just wear this...”
This was a fabric warehouse filled with all sorts of luxury materials. Naturally intimidated, Sera placed her hands on her skirt and gave it a little shake.
Approved.
Ariel placed a hand on Sera’s shoulder and spoke.
“You can’t let another woman steal Aven away, can you?”
“Pardon?! T-That! W-W-What do you mean by that...?”
This foolishly innocent reaction was also good. Ariel felt bad for Theodora, but her mind was made up.
You’ll have to work hard, Theodora.
Ariel took measurements, placing her hands on Sera’s shoulders, waist, and various other points. Then she asked:
“How much are you willing to show?”
“Huh...?”
“To Aven, I mean. How much... no, that was the wrong question.”
Ariel paused to compose herself and rephrased.
“How desperate are you? On a scale of one to ten.”
“T-That is...”
Sera agonized over the question for a long time, her face growing redder by the second. Finally, her face as crimson as an autumn leaf, she turned her head away and slowly raised her hands.
“...Perfect.”
Ten fingers, spread wide. Ariel tied her loose hair up firmly and spoke.
“I’ll turn you into a weapon.”
* * *
“Was all this really necessary?”
“It is, Young Master. This is a matter of etiquette.”
“Etiquette? What etiquette...?”
“You might not know, but a lady’s grooming takes much longer than a man’s.”
“Ah, well... I figured as much.”
It seemed making Sera’s outfit was taking longer than expected. The staff had already finished styling my hair back to how it was before. Suddenly, one employee set up a chessboard and told me I couldn't leave until I beat them—clearly stalling for time.
Eventually, another employee approached my opponent and whispered.
“The Madam says she’s ready...!”
“Really? Got it. Young Master? You may leave now.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
The reservation at Oro was flexible, so it didn't matter much, but I hadn't expected it to take this long. I draped my pressed coat over my shoulders and secured it with a newly attached gold cape chain.
But when I looked around, the carriage was nowhere to be found.
“What? Where’d the carriage go?”
The carriage I had parked next to Blanc Noir had vanished. An employee who had followed me out tapped me on the shoulder.
“Young Master, the carriage will arrive shortly. Please wait a moment.”
“Pardon? Where did you send the carriage...?”
“Yes.”
Wait, I asked where they sent it, and the answer was 'yes'? Delbaheim was the one who called that carriage. The employee gave me that unsatisfactory answer and zipped back into Blanc Noir.
“Well, I’ll be.”
Still, they said it would be here soon.
“Whew...”
It was almost the end of May. The final stretch of time where one could still feel a hint of chill in the air. Despite the sun having set, the spring weather was warm, and the night air felt unusually gentle, carrying a faint scent of flowers.
Several carriages passed by, but none stopped in front of Blanc Noir. Just as I was starting to feel stood up...
Is that...
An exceptionally bright-colored carriage turned the corner at the end of the street. It was an open Vis-a-Vis carriage where passengers sat facing each other. It was colored in green and gold and pulled by a magnificent white horse—it looked like something out of a fairy tale.
And on it sat a woman, facing away so her face wasn't visible.
No way.
I felt a sense of déjà vu from the brown hair, but the attire was completely unfamiliar.
—Screech.
They say 'no way' usually means 'yes way.'
“Haha, Sera... is that you?”
“...”
The woman in the carriage didn't say a word. She slowly turned her head toward me and...
“...Please, get in. Yoo Eon.”
“Unbelievable...”
Dressed like a noblewoman I had never seen before, her cheeks flushed bright red, Sera spoke.
“Let’s go... have dinner.”
