The Doll Princess of Hildeburg
A few days later.
“Manager~! Manager~! A carriage is coming~!!”
Aris shouted, pointing out the window.
“They're really back again?”
Just as Irit had said, the Hildeburg family had truly returned to the restaurant. After all the hardship they endured last time because of the rough road, for them to drag a carriage all the way here again—nobles sure had some stubborn pride.
“I'll get ready to greet the customers~!”
Aris stationed herself right by the restaurant door, waiting eagerly for them to arrive.
A moment later, the sound of a carriage pulling up outside echoed, followed by the footsteps of quite a few people. They must have prepared extra wheels this time, or maybe they just got lucky—no breakdowns on the way, apparently.
Ding-a-ling—ding-a-ling—
The cheerful bell rang as the door swung open. Soon enough, a familiar face appeared—one I already knew all too well.
“Welcome~!”
“……Hmph.”
Aris greeted them energetically, but Hirel just snorted lightly and strode in. Then the guards started pouring into the restaurant in a rush. Good thing this wasn't your average eatery with other patrons around; if it were, this crew would have cleared the place out in seconds.
Hirel was still as arrogant as ever, completely oblivious to how much of a nuisance he was being. Even knowing I was friends with the hero Irit, he refused to bend his pride. Looked like I'd never get along with this guy.
“Are you here to order as a customer? Or to cause a scene with your soldiers in tow?”
“Hmph, what do you take me for? I'm a customer.”
“Then how about pulling back a bit on those soldiers packing the place? They could wait outside, you know.”
“It just means I need that level of protection.”
Hirel gestured toward the open door, and moments later, a woman entered, flanked by soldiers.
“Oh……”
I'd never seen her before, but I knew exactly who she was at first glance. Or rather, I had to. The legendary beauty straight out of the rumors. Rosaria Hildeburg, the Doll Princess, so called because her porcelain-perfect features made her look like a masterfully crafted doll.
She wore a dazzlingly white noble gown that hurt the eyes with its purity, stepping lightly and slowly into the restaurant. I'd seen her portrait before, but it captured maybe half her real allure—if that. Her skin was as white as her dress, her large green eyes sparkled, her pink lips were like ripe cherries, and her cute, slightly rounded button nose added an endearing touch. Staring at her in a daze, it almost felt like the world around her blurred into a hazy dream as she approached.
No wonder her family treated her like a treasure. How good must it feel to marry someone like that……?
Me, who only cared about cooking and magic, found myself utterly captivated.
“Manager… doesn't she kinda look like me?”
Aris sidled up and whispered in my ear.
“What are you talking about? She's worlds apart from you.”
“Nooo, she has zero life in her.”
Ah, that. Yeah, Princess Rosaria had no color in her cheeks at all. Gaunt, maybe? A little more meat on her bones might enhance her beauty even further. She was stunning as is, but she looked like she might collapse any second—worrying, to say the least.
“Rosaria suddenly stopped eating more than a single bite of anything. Not even our head chef's finest dishes, or the top cooks from the Royal Capital, could bring back her appetite.”
Hirel explained it to me.
“If you're truly the skilled chef Hero Irit vouched for, you can make something to revive Rosaria's appetite. Succeed, and you can take anything from our family vault. More than fair payment for a meal.”
His tone was as haughty as ever, his expression screaming, Can you really pull it off?
“An item from the family vault, huh…… That'd certainly cover the bill.”
“Exactly. So, let's see what you've got.”
Hirel crossed his arms and glared at me. He still hadn't grasped our restaurant's rules.
“Sorry, but you need to make a reservation along with your order first. We tailor dishes to the customer, so prep time is essential.”
“You can't serve food right now?”
“Are you saying you can whip up whatever the customer wants on the spot? If they asked for dragon tail steak, could you deliver instantly? You'd need time to source the dragon tail, right? This place makes anything the customer desires.”
I wanted to add, Use your brain if you've got one, but held back. Last visit taught me provoking Hirel unnecessarily just led to headaches.
I turned my gaze back to the Doll Princess. She seemed utterly detached from everything happening around her. Even as Hirel talked about her meal, her eyes were elsewhere.
“Anyway, isn't the one eating the princess here?”
“Huh? Well… yeah.”
“Then I'll take the order from her directly.”
“Fine by me, as long as it's something that restores my sister's appetite and gets her eating properly.”
“The one eating is the princess. Your order won't cut it in her place.”
“This…… unnecessarily picky.”
Hirel scowled, clearly annoyed. But unlike last time, he didn't draw his sword or hurl insults. The conversation teetered like a tightrope, held together only by my connection to the hero.
“It's fine, brother. I'm really okay.”
Then the Doll Princess, who'd been silent, finally spoke. Her voice was as delicate and soft as her fragile beauty. Hard to believe she shared blood with that brute Hirel.
“Okay? Your wedding's right around the corner, and you're ruining your health by not eating properly. If there's anything you want, just say it.”
“I don't want anything.”
“They say this place makes anything you desire. Why not throw out whatever comes to mind?”
“…….”
He coaxed her gently—totally different from how he spoke to me—but Rosaria just quietly shook her head, showing zero interest in ordering.
“Lord Hirel, why not leave it to me?”
Watching their exchange sparked an idea, so I chimed in.
“What do you mean?”
“Let me talk to the princess alone and take her order.”
“You……?”
“Persuading her to want even one bite is part of reviving her appetite, isn't it?”
I glanced at the soldiers filling the restaurant, then proposed to Hirel.
“Give us a moment alone. So she can speak freely about what she wants.”
“Nonsense. How do I know you won't try something shady……”
“Forgot? I'm Irit's old friend. If you're worried, watch through the window from outside.”
To Hirel, who wasn't budging, I added,
“No one could muster an appetite in this atmosphere. Or are you not serious about helping her recover?”
Coming back after the embarrassment last time meant her appetite issue was dire. They'd probably tried every renowned chef already. Then they heard about our quirky reservation-only spot, Misikdang Slow, and came grasping at straws—especially with Hero Irit's endorsement. The family had no choice but to beg me.
“Brother, do as he says. Nothing's worked elsewhere anyway…… and we came all this way.”
Rosaria's sudden words drained the color from Hirel's face. He glared at me like he wanted to tear me apart, then whirled around, cloak billowing.
“Hmph, do what you can. Fail to restore my sister's appetite, and I'll spread word across the continent about your rude, talentless chef and his unfriendly dump.”
What a childish threat. I just shrugged instead of replying.
Soon, Hirel led his soldiers out, and the door closed with another ding-a-ling—ding-a-ling—
Peace returned to the restaurant in an instant. Hirel might be watching through the window, but our conversation wouldn't leak outside.
“Have a seat for now.”
I pulled out a chair, and Princess Rosaria sat without a word. Up close, her skin truly looked like the finest artisan's porcelain doll.
“……It's true. I don't want anything.”
“But you sent your brother outside just to hear me out.”
“That's……”
“Let's have some tea first and talk slowly.”
I filled a kettle from the kitchen, added hillsgrass leaves, and lit the fire. Hillsgrass was a calming herb I grew on the roof. No idea if she'd drink, given her near-total rejection of food, but even a sip was better than nothing.
“Aris, serve the tea.”
“NeeEEE~”
The seaweed-ghost Aris brewed the hillsgrass tea perfectly and served it in a pretty cup and saucer. Even with it right in front of her, Rosaria showed no sign of touching it.
“You're under tremendous pressure.”
“……!”
I spoke directly to her. Her expression stayed blank, but I caught that split-second flinch.
“The Hildeburg family…… a major ducal house, from what I've heard. It was even in the papers—the Doll Princess's marriage finally arranged. And your loss of appetite started around the same time as that announcement. Am I off base? Sorry if I'm overstepping.”
People don't refuse food for no reason. There are two main causes for self-imposed starvation: severe illness where you physically can't eat, or overwhelming psychological stress.
Hirel's arrogance, the family's prestige, the recent betrothal to another prominent house. Considering it all, this wasn't a palate problem.
This was a mental one.