The Pseudo-Date In The Royal Capital Begins

We were at the villa in the royal capital.

I had asked the shop owner, “Please make the hall into a temporary shop space. Somehow make it look like a shop,” but the result was better than I had imagined.

They had not been able to bring the display case, but a signboard with the shop name written on it was hung on the wall, and every type of cake was lined up on the tablecloths. Above all, there was the scent the moment we entered the room. What lightly tickled the tip of my nose was “sweetness,” but mixed into it were various fragrances like vanilla and cinnamon, giving it the feeling of “this is what a confectionery shop should be.”

In fact, Shitoen smiled as soon as she entered the room and said, “It feels like I came to a shop.”

Mail seemed very pleased with the server’s business smile.

Raul had checked his identity just in case, but I had seen his face many times when Shitoen and I had been on secret dates.

I knew he was not a temporary employee, so I felt relieved.

“Well… To think you were a prince. I still can’t believe it.”

While Shitoen, Mail, and Crown Prince Arios were cheerfully choosing from the cakes lined up, I was by the wall discussing security with Raul, when the shop owner approached and spoke to me that way.

“Would it have been better if I had come openly as a prince?”

When I smiled wryly, the shop owner in a cook’s suit shook his head.

“I probably still would’ve thought you were an impostor.”

When I laughed aloud, the shop owner pointed toward Shitoen with an upright thumb.

“As for her, I did think she must be a noble young lady, you know?”

After all, when this guy first saw me and Shitoen, he said something like, “Do you have some weakness being held against you, young lady?”…

“Sorry for making such an unreasonable request today. I will buy all the products here, and as for the temporary shop fee…”

When I glanced at Raul, he smoothly approached the shop owner and whispered the payment amount into his ear. After that, he handed him a paper bag. The shop owner furrowed his brow suspiciously at the amount.

“Huh. …Is it really all right to take this much?”

“Yes. In exchange, hush money is included too. Keep secret who came here today. Of course, that includes the structure of this building as well.”

When I raised my index finger, the shop owner nodded fearfully.

“…I’m not going to be killed the moment I leave here, right?”

“We will protect you so you do not get killed.”

I laughed.

“Once you serve the products to the guests, go home. My knightly order will escort you to your shop. You do not need to clean up, and assume you cannot return here again.”

It would be a problem if we left unnecessary people here and they got caught up in something strange. There was no telling what might leak from there. The first serving would be done by the employees, and after that, I had left it to Eaton.

“In that case, can I take the signboard with me when I leave?”

“Of course. Just leave all the products behind.”

I did not think there was poison in them, but just in case, we would keep a portion as samples, and the rest would be responsibly eaten by the members of the order.

“Then once the customers choose the products, we’ll start withdrawing.”

The shop owner lightly raised a hand and moved away from me.

Beside the table where the cakes were lined up, Mail was asking the server something. A little farther away, the chancellor was looking over the sweets one by one with interest.

Shitoen and Crown Prince Arios had probably already decided on their orders. They were going along with Mail’s conversation and smiling.

“I really hate that woman.”

At the bitter voice, I turned my face with a “Hm?” and found Roze standing there before I knew it.

“Oh, Roro. I’m counting on you today too.”

“That’s the worst! What is that supposed to be, a dog’s name!?”

Her official cap was pulled low over her eyes, and the part that looked like a newsboy cap today seemed about to burst upward with anger.

“Monmon has no sense at all. Well, I wasn’t expecting that from a bear man.”

Mone crossed her arms and glared at me. Since her official cap was worn at an angle, only one eye was visible, and its sharp glare was terrifying.

“I should have decided on fake names for you first. Should I give you some now?”

“John and George would have been fine.”

Raul was curt.

“You will be eating cake too, commander, right? What would you like?”

“Anything is fine. Ah! For Shitoen, peaches and apples…”

“Of course they have been removed.”

Raul said that, then called over the server and told him, “Mont Blanc for this person.”

“You two are standing by indoors today too, right? Eat some cake in turns.”

When I said that to Roze and Mone, my voice must have been heard just a little.

Mail turned her face toward us and waved to Roze and Mone.

Roze and Mone pretended not to notice and hid behind me.

“It’s nice that we can protect Lady Shitoen up close, but! That woman is creepy!”

“Hey. Do not call a royal fiancée ‘creepy,’ even provisionally.”

I warned Roze, who looked ready to bare her fangs, but Mone also looked fed up.

“She seriously thinks everyone loves her. What a happy little head she has.”

“I told you not to insult her.”

“Prince Saryu has an eye for people, one way or another. That crown prince over there rejected Lady Shitoen and chose that woman, right? Haa. No way.”

Roze sighed with a theatrical gesture. I answered while tilting my head too.

“I do not understand it, but Crown Prince Arios is madly in love with her. If you understood what the key point is, you would probably fall in love with her too.”

“What is that, scary. It is fine if all humanity never notices it for the rest of time.”

Roze cut it down with one stroke.

“Come on, come on. Back to your positions. Commander, to the conservatory.”

While I was thinking about that, Raul returned. He briskly gave instructions to Roze and Mone, then pushed me toward Shitoen and the others.

It seemed they had already finished choosing the products.

The group was guided by a knight and moved from the hall to the conservatory.