Chapter 236
Chapter 236
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Wisdom of Royalty (1)
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After having a strange dream.
I headed back out to Noston Square with Lea.
“So, what are you thinking for dinner? If push comes to shove, we could head west and enjoy a feast.”
The girl in her school uniform walked alongside me.
Her outfit was utterly ordinary, but the scale of her words was anything but.
“Since it’s a rare day off, shouldn’t we eat our fill at the imperial palace?”
I held my head high and gazed up at the darkening Noston sky.
Then, just like Lea, I clasped my hands behind my back and smiled with my eyes.
“Well… There’s a place I’ve always wanted to visit here in Noston today.”
“If it’s something you planned for your vacation, it must be something pretty impressive.”
Her words left me momentarily speechless, my lips parted.
Lydia certainly loved it with her girlish tastes..., but I wondered about Lea….
“Let’s head there anyway. It’s the best spot in our neighborhood.”
As we emerged into the square again, I spotted the petite girl who’d been waiting for me from afar.
Lydia, with her black twin tails and both hands clutching large shopping bags.
She stood in front of the pizza place where we’d had our first meal out together.
“Veil, you’re here? You’re late.”
Lydia, masked up, greeted us with a heavy breath.
Her hands were full of something.
She’d only just arrived here herself, but she gave me that adorable scolding anyway.
“Haha… Sorry about that. Did you get a look at everything?”
I scratched the back of my head as I approached her.
And the moment I glanced curiously into her shopping bags….
“Y-Yeah. I saw everything…!”
Lydia hurriedly hid the bags behind her back.
“What’s wrong? What’s in there…?”
“This is….”
As if voicing her inner turmoil, her twin tails shook anxiously.
Her nose flushed red as she rolled her crimson eyes frantically.
“So, they said it’s newly developed sparring gear…!!”
‘Sparring gear…?’
Who buys knights’ gear in the entertainment district?
Still, the Third Imperial Princess had an active personality but a kind and intellectual image, so I figured she had her reasons.
“Hmm. That gear they tested first in unstable areas, right, Lydia?”
Lea chimed in, matching Lydia’s vibe.
Thanks to her, I nodded along slowly in agreement.
“How’d it turn out? We asked for samples for our side too, didn’t we?”
“Oh, yeah. Finding your size was a real hassle.”
Lydia handed one of the bags in her hand to Lea.
I watched warmly as the two, now on such good terms they even went on joint outings, interacted.
Where else would you find imperial royals running around like this for the empire?
This nation’s future looked bright indeed.
Thinking that, I took the lead and guided the two into the pizza place.
“You’ve all worked hard today. Come on in—I’m treating for dinner!”
The pizza joint stood proudly in front of the square’s fountain.
With the Torrman clan gone, the place had regained its活力, packed with customers.
“Hehe… To think I’d live to enjoy a feast hosted by you.”
“It’s not my usual crowded vibe, but since you picked it, I trust it.”
The two princesses stared up at me intently as I entered first.
They glanced at their shopping bags, then both lifted their lips in sly smirks.
“This should be fun.”
“Yeah.”
While they entered, I took a look around inside.
In the old days, it had been full of shabby raw wood tables and empty seats.
But after the Torrman clan vanished and Princess Christina visited Noston.
The place buzzed with life again, the pizza joint now a landmark.
“Oh, isn’t that Lord Veil…!!”
A middle-aged man bustled out from the kitchen, delivering freshly baked pizzas.
He broke into a wide smile at the sight of me entering.
“Good heavens… If I’d known you were coming, I would’ve cleared the place out ahead of time!!”
To turn away paying customers for a private meal? His jokes were over the top.
“No, no. Seeing your place thriving like this is a real treat.”
I smiled contentedly, hands behind my back.
“Please wait just a moment. I’ll get you seated right away.”
The owner scanned the room, pizzas in hand, for an empty spot for me.
He soon spotted a window table where the diners were finishing up.
“If you and your group wait a sec, I’ll escort you right over.”
“Thanks.”
Soon the two schoolgirls entered.
I led them to the spot the owner had pointed out.
“This way—they said they’ll clear it quick.”
Lea, hands behind her back, stared fixedly at the customers slowly rising from their seats.
It was probably her first time waiting at someone else’s table for a meal.
That sight made me inwardly anxious.
Lea always preferred quiet, tidy atmospheres.
That’s why she lived in that cozy manor in the gardens.
Her office had been utterly serene too.
But contrary to my worries, her response was unexpected.
“This is fun.”
“What is?”
I tilted my head, and the princess pointed at the table the owner was vigorously wiping down.
“Sitting right where someone else ate. It’s novel.”
Luckily, she showed no discomfort.
More relaxed than before, she seemed to respect commoner culture as she slowly took her seat.
Even in disguise with her school uniform, a First Imperial Princess at a neighborhood pizza joint?
It felt as awkward as a politician hitting the market only during election season.
“Kuhehe….”
Lydia, by contrast, was utterly at ease.
Having been here with me before, she plopped boldly into her chair.
“See, our First Imperial Princess still finds places like this awkward.”
Lydia sat beside me and patted my shoulder familiarly.
“I’ve already come here with Veil.”
The empire’s Third Imperial Princess.
She greeted the owner bringing bread, flaunting our closeness.
“Long time no see, chef.”
“Oh, isn’t this the lady from the east? An honor to see you again.”
The owner, who hadn’t recognized her at first in her mask and uniform.
He greeted her warmly, amused by her calling him “chef.”
“Glad to see the place booming. Hit us with some tasty ‘pizza’ today too.”
“Right away, milady.”
The Third Imperial Princess, still a bit clumsy but trying to blend with the masses.
Her effort brought a fatherly smile to my face.
“Hehe… See? This place is full of our memories.”
“You’re right. I never dreamed you’d remember.”
“How could I forget? I’ve craved this pizza back at the eastern palace plenty of times.”
Lea stared fixedly at Lydia and me chatting shoulder to shoulder.
Then she replied with the eldest daughter’s signature leisurely smile.
“Yeah, looks like you ate that ‘pizza’ you raved about enough to get sick of it here.”
She nodded as if acknowledging Lydia’s feat.
True to her big-sister poise, she leisurely tore into the bread.
By the time the bread plate emptied completely.
The old man arrived at our table with a fresh-baked pizza.
“Here you go—your usual order.”
Golden crust topped with tomato sauce and thick cheese.
The generous toppings made my eyes sparkle more than usual.
“Whoa, this much cheese?”
I chuckled and asked the owner.
He scratched his head in response.
“Can’t skimp on a VIP guest. Plus, you young folks these days love that stretchy pizza.”
He even knew his customers’ preferences.
No wonder the place was doing so well.
“Hmm. Shall we dig in then?”
Lydia eyed her staring big sister with mischievous glee.
It was obvious she had no clue how to eat it.
So Lydia grinned like a playful little devil.
“Lea, you probably don’t even know how to eat it, so just watch first.”
The youngest princess grabbed a slice with her bare hands.
And with graceful poise….
“Mm.”
She took a big bite.
Chewy, soft cheese filled her mouth.
Lydia cradled her puffed cheek with one hand, savoring it.
“Delicious as ever.”
Her sharp fangs snapped the cheese cleanly as she ate heartily.
Hard to believe she was a princess—it was pure cuteness.
“Fascinating.”
Lea watched Lydia eat with her hands, intrigued by the novelty.
Her intellectual curiosity piqued, she followed suit and picked up a slice.
“Hm….”
Crispy crust with cheese stretching long.
Lea elegantly brushed back her radiant bangs.
Then, half-closing her eyes….
She brought the pizza to her soft lips.
“…”
I stared blankly.
Just eating a bite of pizza, yet Lea looked utterly alluring.
“Ahem.”
Lydia pulled a sour face at this pizza debut so different from her own.
But her subtle discomfort was just beginning.
“Oh my.”
As Lea chewed the stringy pizza, stretching it long.
The cheese trailed down and landed on her ample cleavage.
“That must be hot.”
I swiftly grabbed a napkin and handed it to her.
Lea thanked me with a leisurely smile.
“Thanks, Veil.”
Lydia stared as Lea dabbed at her generous curves with the napkin.
She tried ignoring it and took another bite herself.
Unlike Lea, she tried not to let the cheese dangle in her mouth.
But when a strand didn’t snap fully and stretched….
Plop….
The cheese dropped straight onto the table.
“Oh dear.”
Lea witnessed it head-on.
With a sensual eye-smile, she handed her sister a napkin.
“Lydia. Can’t you eat without spilling?”
“…”
The youngest princess stared fixedly at her big sister handing over the napkin.
Then she took it with unfocused crimson eyes.
“Haha….”
I handed Lydia her apple soda.
But she stayed grumpy, mood unsoured.
――――――.
And as if pouring oil on the fire, an unexpected situation unfolded for her.
“Hey, owner! Come here a sec!”
Maybe because the place was so packed.
A picky customer’s complaint pierced her ears.
“Oh dear—what’s wrong…?”
The old man hurried over from shuttling plates to the young man.
The man shoved a glass at him with an irritated tone.
“There’s a bug in this soda—what’re you gonna do about it?”
The cheerful restaurant vibe chilled at his loud voice.
“How am I supposed to drink this?!”
Lydia looked up at the grating noise.
I swallowed hard at the sight.
I quickly scanned around for eastern knights on standby.
‘Not dragging him into the alley again…?!’
But her next move was nothing like I expected.
Instead of calling knights, Lydia grabbed an empty soda bottle.
‘What’s she planning…? She’s not gonna smash his head with it…?’
The princess silently pulled a fancy leather pouch from her bag.
And indifferently….
――――――.
She filled the soda bottle with gold coins.
Then the youngest princess rose.
She approached between the complaining man and the pizza owner.
“You there.”
“What?”
The man scowled at the petite schoolgirl approaching him.
But his frown smoothed out like all the world’s worries were solved.
“Here—take this and pipe down.”
“…?”
A soda bottle brimming with gold coins before his eyes.
He alternated glances between the coins and the noble-looking Lydia….
“I’ll just drink it.”
He became the mildest youth alive, cradling the bottle.
“Man, apples bugs love too—organic stuff. Organic!”
Lydia impassively watched him pluck out the bug and chug it down.
Then she muttered to herself and returned to her seat.
“Ruining a nice night out with all that noise….”
I blinked in awe at Lydia resolving it in a flash.
Lea nodded approvingly at her sister quelling the ruckus with royal grace.
The shop regained its harmonious vibe.
But.
Where there are people, mishaps multiply.
As night deepened, square-goers called carriages home first.
Traffic jammed the roads badly.
“Owner, tell that carriage to move!!”
A loud middle-aged man bellowed at the counter.
Even Lea, who preferred quiet vibes, furrowed her brow slightly.
“Who parks a huge carriage like that in front of the square?! Blocking my building!!”
He looked like the owner next door.
His building was inconvenienced by the waiting carriage out front.
“Oh no, sorry. Anyone here with a two-white-horse carriage…?”
The pizza owner called out urgently.
The neighbor seemed to yell at him often.
“It’s mine.”
This time, the quietly seated Lea responded.
As the sensual-eyed schoolgirl raised her hand, the neighbor stomped over.
“Move it quick. Can’t park in front of someone’s building.”
His voice boomed louder up close.
Lea scowled deeply and snapped.
“Quiet down.”
I gulped at Lea’s icy tone.
I started rising to mediate them.
“I’m in the middle of something important, so take that carriage.”
“Yes…?”
The man, much older, unwittingly used polite speech to the young girl.
He gaped, speechless.
“Didn’t you hear? Coachman’s eating here too— just take it.”
The middle-aged man gawked between me and Lea, mouth agape.
Then he bowed deeply at once.
“Thank you. I’ll move it from the road right away.”
With the noisy neighbor gone, Lea leisurely dabbed her lips with a napkin.
I stared at her blankly.
Lea was always calculating, never taking a loss.
But right now, she wasn’t acting like herself.
Lea noticed my gaze and tilted her head slightly.
She took in my face carefully and said.
“To me, this meal is worth more than any carriage.”
The First Imperial Princess picked up the napkin she’d used on her lips.
With elegant fingers, she wiped the tomato sauce from mine.
“Hehe… Agreed.”
Lydia nodded, eyes closed as she chewed pizza.
The two hid their shopping bags beside them and beamed at me.
Unaware of what was inside, I couldn’t help but laugh at these noble ladies.