Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: After the Raid
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It was when he had eaten about half of the dried fish he'd received as a gift. The noble and the official who had gone into the shop came back out.
Lander focused on the mouths of the two men as they walked away. The surrounding noise faded, and only their conversation reached his ears.
“Got it. I'll come by with my daughter.”
From the conversation, it seemed the noble and the official were quite close. Was he dragging his heavy frame out of sympathy for his noble friend who'd been snubbed?
He peeled his back off the wall and walked toward the shop. Through the open door, he could see the staff cleaning up.
The pristine white tablecloths were now crumpled messily, and the porcelain decorations that had adorned the walls lay scattered on the floor.
Some were broken, and the staff were sweeping up the shards.
The official had said he’d be back a couple more times. Under the pretext of proper procedures, they’d tear the place apart again.
“Come inside and rest.”
“I can handle this much. And opening time’s not far off anyway.”
He spotted the Million couple. Pulling open the door, he stepped inside.
One of the staff startled at the sound and looked over. Her wary gaze softened into an awkward smile—she must have mistaken him for a noble.
“Did you leave something behind, sir?”
She asked politely right away. He shook his head and looked toward the Million couple.
Million met his eyes with a complicated expression. It started with bewilderment at ‘why’s he back here’ and ended in shame at ‘you’ve seen us like this.’
“I figured you could use a hand.”
He said while picking up a fork from the floor. Million declined at first, saying it was fine, then headed to the kitchen, asking the staff to handle the dining area.
“Should we start with the big stuff?”
He pushed the displaced tables back to their original spots.
Since he’d scoped out the restaurant’s layout while eating, it wasn’t difficult. The staff reset the decorations and cleared the glass shards.
Once the tidying was mostly done, he headed to the kitchen. The dining area was a mess, but the kitchen was worse. Cooking utensils crawled across the floor. The stoves that should have been roaring spewed only acrid smoke.
Million emerged from what looked like the ingredient storage, hands full of foodstuffs—some crushed, others spoiled.
“Isn’t this too much? They should know when to stop, seriously!”
A man who seemed to be the chef said while inspecting the ruined ingredients.
“No time to get mad. Sort out what’s usable and gather it up. If it looks like we can’t make opening on schedule, we’ll close for today.”
He said, gripping the kitchen doorframe.
“The dining area’s roughly sorted.”
“Thanks.”
“Anything else I can help with?”
“This place is fine, but could you talk to my stubborn wife?”
Lander said he would and returned to the dining area. He approached Ena, who was sitting in a chair resting.
“The cleanup’s mostly done. Why not head home and rest?”
“Did my husband say that? Tell that stubborn guy outside waiting it out to come home.”
“Pretty much.”
He sat across from her.
“When I first saw you, I thought you were my husband’s colleague. He had visitors like that sometimes. But after seeing how he treated you earlier, I get it now. You’re his superior. Lander, right?”
“Yes.”
“It’s embarrassing to let you see us like this. If I feel this way, how must my husband feel? He’s got more pride than he lets on.”
“Million looks like the prideful type.”
Ena stared at him for a moment, then smiled faintly.
“Well, a timid guy with that burly face would be even funnier. Of course, up close, he’s got plenty of cute sides.”
“You’re probably the only one who could call Million cute.”
“Ena’s fine. I don’t like ‘wife’ or those formal titles.”
“Then Ena it is.”
“Right, Lander.”
Ena, who had rested her hand gently on her belly and smiled, turned her head toward the kitchen. The smile vanished from her lips, replaced by a devastated look.
But when she turned back to him, she wore a kind smile again.
She was a thoughtful woman, tending to a guest even in the chaos.
“It was the first time. My husband inviting an unscheduled guest to eat here.”
Ena said.
“He’d never done that even for colleagues he knew. Well, thinking back, they didn’t seem that close anyway.”
“I see.”
“Once I suggested it. That you were an old acquaintance who came from afar—why not treat you to a meal? He didn’t even hesitate. If you’d come to our home, he’d have welcomed you warmly and insisted, but since it was the shop, he couldn’t. So rigid, right?”
“He’s had that nickname forever: ‘The blockhead with no give.’”
“Exactly. My husband’s got no give. At first, I thought he lived such a tough life. A little flexibility, treating good as good and giving a bit of leeway, could smooth things over. But he never did. Everything by the rules, by his iron principles.”
“And you married that blockhead.”
“By the time I realized, I was hooked on that rigid charm. He’s unyielding to others, but so tender with family.
Of course, he stuck to what needed upholding. That’s the man he is. That’s why I loved him. But with you, it was different. Very different. Inviting an unreserved guest here—it’s the first time since he opened this place. He’d probably turn away the Imperial Emperor, but he welcomed you.”
A staff member brought water. It was warm. Ena thanked her.
“Did my husband borrow money from you, Lander? Or commit some big offense?”
Ena spoke casually, mindful not to make him uncomfortable amid the disorder.
Million must have fallen for her considerate nature.
“If anything, I owe him. A huge debt I can’t repay.”
As he said that, he glanced right. Million was approaching, dusting off his hands.
“First I’ve heard of it. You owing me?”
Ena started to rise from her chair. Million took her hand and supported her back.
“How are you feeling?”
“We’re closing for the day. The reserved guests are at nearby inns, so we’ll have to apologize. Can’t push all reservations, so we’ll add two sittings tomorrow. Advance opening and delay closing.”
See you soon, Million kissed Ena’s forehead and headed out with the staff. The chefs grouped up separately—probably to procure ingredients.
“It’ll work out somehow.”
Ena sat back down. She scanned the empty shop and let out a small sigh.
“I hoped more than anyone for the shop to succeed, but now that it has, I miss the old days.”
“Must happen often.”
“A few times. First time officials came and turned the place upside down, though. Usually, it’s just rejected nobles storming in to complain. A dish or two broken at most.”
“Nobles with no manners.”
“Not all nobles. Our place is pricey, honestly. Only the well-off can afford it, so naturally more nobles. Most keep up appearances and stay polite. But like anywhere, a few cause headaches.”
Ena smoothed the wrinkles in the tablecloth as she continued.
“I’d have accommodated them. But this is my husband’s shop. It’s his vision. I respect that, so I laughed off the tantrums. It’s fine—storms pass quickly.
But today was awful. My husband and I couldn’t do a thing. Threaten legal judgment if we interfere—what could we do?”
“Do you know what grounds the official had for searching the shop?”
“If I did, I’d feel better. They say nothing. Normally, we’d demand answers. But Dun’s in no state for that. Whatever’s going on, we have to cooperate fully. My neighbor who mouthed off to an official recently got dragged away. Hasn’t come home yet.”
Ena covered her face with both hands. Her way of composing herself, it seemed. When she lowered them, her expression was calmer.
“I don’t want my husband seeing me struggle. He’s hurting most over the shop—can’t add to his worries.”
He gripped his glass and said.
“If it’s tough, you can say so. He’s not that fragile.”
“You’re right. Solid husband. But this is my pride. Marriage isn’t just leaning on each other. Endure what you can. He probably thinks the same.”
“Couples start to resemble each other.”
Ena clasped her hands carefully and said.
“I’ve shared all this with a stranger. Since we’re talking, one request?”
“Go ahead.”
“Could you visit the shop sometimes, when you have time?”
“The shop?”
“Yes. First time I’ve seen him relax like that. He’s always tense, knowingly or not. I heard it’s an old military habit, but it breaks my heart watching. After meeting you, he looked more at ease than ever. Like finding a tree to rest under.”
“I was just a nasty superior.”
“He must’ve liked that nasty superior. Too much to ask?”
He looked into Ena’s eyes, then briefly at her swollen belly. His life was aimless beyond finding his wife’s hometown.
If easing an old subordinate’s burden with his fleeting life wasn’t a loss, then.
“Once things wrap up, I’ll stop by.”
“Thank you.”
One of the staff who’d gone out returned. Her basket was piled with ingredients.
The staff asked Ena. Sous-chef, what do we do with these?
“Excuse me a moment. I need to handle the kitchen.”
“You sure you’re okay?”
Ena straightened, supporting her belly as if to say not to worry.
“I’m not an invalid—just a bit heavy. Wait a little. Husband’ll be back soon.”
“I should head out too. Don’t want to get in the way of prep.”
“He’ll be disappointed.”
“Tell him I’ll visit before leaving Dun.”
He draped his cloak and left the shop. On the way back to the inn, he mulled a few things.
The Million couple and their shop, Dun’s special circumstances, and the officials exploiting them.
Ignoring the law out of sight was unavoidable. Breaking it in plain view was ugly, but not his business. But if an old subordinate suffered from that ugliness…
“Catch up okay?”
Guchi, waiting on the inn’s first floor, spoke up.
“Guchi.”
“Hm?”
“Need to change plans. That alright?”
“I’m just following you, so no issue. What’s up?”
“Someone I need to meet.”
“Someone to meet? Who?”
He thought of a man’s face and said.
“A cheerful fellow whose work is anything but.”
(To be continued)