Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Eastern Knight Order (7)
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There’s one restaurant in Noston famous for its pizza.
Toulouz, located in the market square.
Its great location and delicious food draw crowds from all walks of life, regardless of status.
However, that wasn’t the only reason I chose this place.
With so many customers and such an open layout, it was safe for Lydia too.
It was a kind of consideration for the Eastern Knights watching her from afar.
“This way.”
With that in mind, I confidently pushed open the restaurant door.
But...
Contrary to my expectations, the place was dead silent.
Eerily so.
“It’s awfully quiet for a popular spot, isn’t it?”
Lydia looked around with her hands clasped behind her back.
I had to agree.
“Yeah, it used to be packed just a few weeks ago...”
I stepped inside first and checked the tables.
It didn’t take long to figure out why there were no customers.
Eight rough-looking men occupied the center of the dining area.
They were nursing beers without any snacks, their faces grim.
‘The Thorman clan...?’
A fierce minority tribe I’d encountered during a past subjugation.
And here they were, drinking in the heart of the imperial capital.
Of course, there was nothing wrong with the Thorman clan drinking in the empire.
The real issue...
Was that they were members of the loan shark gang currently squeezing Noston dry.
They hadn’t broken any laws outright, so we’d let them slide, but I hadn’t expected them to be this persistent.
“Your Highness, it looks like we’ll have to eat somewhere else.”
“What? You drag me all the way here and now you want to move again?”
Lydia glared up at me, visibly annoyed.
She stood there with her arms crossed.
Her sulky expression made it clear she had no intention of going any further.
“No way. Didn’t I come all this way trusting you? I’m too tired for more walking.”
Lydia glanced toward the terrace seating.
It was nicely shaded and far from the Thorman mercenaries.
She strolled over leisurely.
“No customers means it’s quiet and nice. Let’s eat here.”
She plopped down confidently in a chair.
Perhaps because she was used to rough Eastern Knights, she didn’t flinch at the sight of the Thorman clan.
It should be fine. They might just be here for a meal.
I could be overreacting because the princess was with me.
In the end, I let out a deep sigh and joined her at the table.
The owner approached from a distance.
He looked haggard compared to a few weeks ago.
“Would you like to order...?”
“Yes. Herb pizza and apple-infused sparkling water, please.”
“I’m sorry, but those items aren’t available. We’re out of ingredients...”
Out of ingredients?
It was still lunchtime.
The most popular dish on the menu was already sold out.
That was strange.
“What do you have available, then?”
“...”
The old man pondered for a long time, right in front of his customers.
Finally, he forced a smile.
“Plain pizza without toppings should be possible.”
“Fine, we’ll take that.”
The owner shuffled into the kitchen.
Soon, he returned with a freshly baked pizza.
Steam rose invitingly from it.
Lydia’s red eyes widened at the sight.
“What kind of food is this...?”
“They call it pizza.”
“Do commoners eat stuff like this all the time?”
The princess poked the dough with her finger.
She yanked her hand back with a yelp—it was hot.
“Yes, you pick it up and eat it with your hands.”
Lydia’s mouth fell open as I demonstrated by grabbing a slice.
She recoiled in shock, frowning deeply.
“You eat food with your hands like some barbarian?”
“This is the most delicious way.”
Even my persuasion didn’t sway her. She kept up her sullen look.
Stubbornly, she tried to cut the pizza with fork and knife, treating it like steak.
“I can’t show such vulgar manners in a place like this.”
But no matter how much she sawed, the cheese wouldn’t slice cleanly.
“Fine, eat it however you like, Your Highness.”
I smirked at her struggling.
Then I took a big bite, letting the cheese stretch dramatically.
“I’ll eat like a proper commoner—vulgarly.”
Lydia stared at the stretching cheese.
She’d never seen my usually stoic face light up with enjoyment.
Intrigued, her eyes sparkled as she watched.
“I-is it... good...?”
“Of course. It’s not Noston’s top spot for nothing.”
Lydia gazed down at the pizza in front of her.
Tentatively, she lifted a slice with her slender fingers.
“...”
Our eyes met.
With a gruff voice, she started rambling.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just fully committing to the commoner experience!”
The princess brought the slice slowly to her lips.
The cheese stretched long.
When it threatened to drip onto the plate, she hurriedly chased it with eager bites.
I nearly burst out laughing at the sight.
One moment she was a ruthless sovereign, the next a girl her age.
What a fascinating royal.
“W-what? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing. Your commoner disguise is just too perfect.”
Pleased by the compliment, Lydia beamed proudly, slice in hand.
“As the lord of the East, is there anything I can’t do?”
Emboldened, she dug in.
For her small frame, she packed away an astonishing amount.
She polished off three slices single-handedly.
Soon, her throat felt parched.
She looked around for the sparkling water that hadn’t arrived yet.
“Hey, where’s the drink?”
At my call, the owner hurried over.
But in his hands was water, not the drink.
“Sorry, we’re short on apples too... Can’t make the drink.”
He bowed his head apologetically.
“Is something wrong with the shop?”
When the princess asked, the owner glanced nervously at the men at the other table.
“They’ve been blocking our ingredient deliveries...”
“Who are they to interfere with your business?”
Lydia thumped her chest as she demanded answers. The old man replied quietly.
“For the past few weeks, they’ve been loan sharks threatening to buy out the place.”
Loan sharks.
Lydia furrowed her brow at the word.
“They plan to take over, demolish it, and build something new...”
In the end, Lydia drank the water on the table.
Once settled, she asked again.
“Why haven’t you reported them to the knights here?”
Lydia stared at me pointedly. I answered flatly.
“It’s not illegal.”
“That’s right. They skirt the law just enough while tormenting us...”
The owner eyed the single beers and basic snacks the men had ordered, with pity.
“As you can see, they order the bare minimum and hog the seats for hours.”
The owner sighed deeply.
Lydia rested her chin on her hand and spoke calmly.
“They’re so persistent about taking the building—what do they plan to open?”
“Probably a gambling den.”
I answered matter-of-factly, knowing their type.
“Hah, entertainment districts have always been the East’s domain. They dare open a rival spot?”
Lydia placed her hands on her hips, incredulous.
I eyed her dubiously.
‘She’s mad about something oddly specific...?’
Lydia narrowed her eyes at the owner.
“Owner, come here.”
“Yes...”
Called over by a girl far younger than him, he approached without prejudice.
“You said you have no intention of selling the shop?”
“That’s right.”
“Because you don’t want to close the doors handed down through generations?”
“Exactly.”
Lydia propped her chin on her hand.
A mischievous glint entered her eyes as an idea struck.
“What if you sold the building but kept the shop running?”
The old owner furrowed his brow in thought, then nodded.
“It doesn’t matter who owns the building, as long as my shop stays intact...”
“Reaaally~?”
Lydia grinned.
She pulled out a necklace she’d set aside earlier when leaving laundry.
“Would something like this buy this shabby, smelly old building?”
A stunning red ruby.
Surrounded by dazzling diamonds.
Not just any imperial treasure—it was the princess’s own necklace.
“Th-this... this is...”
Even a commoner could tell it was priceless.
The owner gaped in disbelief.
The mercenaries watching from afar were stunned too.
Their prized target slipping to some girl widened their eyes.
Lydia turned to the rough men.
Red light gleamed in her eyes as she smirked.
“Here—as a deposit before the deal. Keep it safe.”
She tossed the precious gem onto the table casually.
The Thorman mercenaries’ gazes dropped to it.
“Why go so far as to buy the building?”
I asked seriously.
The princess gave a nonchalant smile.
“Who knows? Isn’t this your favorite eatery?”
The girl tilted her head, chin on hand.
She winked at me playfully.
“Now every lunch you eat here, you’ll owe me. Big win for me.”
Lydia truly thought differently from everyone else.
I was left dumbfounded by her.
“R-really? You’ll buy the building and let us keep the shop?”
“Yes. I, Lydi—er, a noble lady of the empire, promise you.”
The owner bowed so deeply it seemed he’d drill into the floor, expressing his gratitude.
“Th-thank you... miss!”
“Yeah, yeah. My secretary will come later to hash out the contract details.”
The owner snapped his head up.
His face alive with energy, he declared confidently.
“O-of course! Is there anything else you need? I’ll go buy ingredients from the nearby market myself.”
“Then the apple-infused sparkling water from earlier, please.”
Revitalized, the owner headed down from the terrace.
He vanished toward a nearby fruit stall.
“This Noston neighborhood has nothing proper. It’s all a mess—.”
Lydia yawned, gazing at the street outside.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve paid more attention.”
“No, no. How could a mere commoner knight handle this? Leave it to the capable me—.”
Lydia grinned at me sunnily.
But her smile froze abruptly.
The Thorman mercenaries who’d been watching us rose from their seats.
Somehow they’d made contact—a red-haired man, clearly their leader, strode in from inside.
He approached Lydia with a displeased scowl.
“Mind if I join you for a bit?”
We didn’t respond, just stared up at him blankly.
The leader grabbed a chair from the next table.
He planted it boldly in front of ours.
“Bale, is this another commoner custom?”
Lydia kept her composure even facing the brute.
She even tilted her head curiously at his actions.
“No, even among commoners, demanding to join with such a menacing face is rude.”
I chimed in flatly.
“Judging by the hair, you’re from the eastern continent.”
The leader’s lips parted.
His beastly fangs snarled into view.
“You’re from the boonies, so you might not know, but we have decorum here.”
Boonies.
Lydia’s smile vanished at him calling the eastern capital that.
“Did you just call my homeland the boonies...?”
She stared at the clan leader stone-faced.