Sightseeing in the Royal Capital (2)
The café was located along a large river, with terrace seating built over the water—a charming, floating veranda.
I ordered ripple pie with cream and tea, while Gene went for cheesecake and tea.
"Huh~ You know such a fancy place? Do you come here often for dates?"
"D-dumbass! No way! Gray told me about it when we decided to come to the capital. He said, ‘Take Young lady Joan here.’ Apparently, he and Nancy used to come on dates."
"Ohhh! Then I have to tell them what I thought of it later!"
As we chatted and enjoyed our desserts, a boy around Gene’s age and a girl about my size approached.
"Huh? Wait, it is Gene! Didn’t you go back home?"
"Oh, Eric? Nah, just tagging along for Father’s business. What about you—on a date?"
"No, same deal. Mother dragged me to some social thing. Father and my brother were busy with territory work, so ‘You go instead.’ And this isn’t a date—she’s my cousin. More importantly, who’s the cute girl with you?"
"Oh, my little sister. It’s her first time in the capital, so I’m showing her around."
"Huh~ Wait, the sister who’s crazy good at cooking? Oh—uh, nice to meet you! I’m Eric Adams. Gene’s classmate and roommate. I’ve had your sweets before—they’re insanely good. Keep ’em coming, okay?"
(Gene’s friend? Aside from Martin, this is my first time meeting one!)
Eric had auburn hair, green eyes, and refined features. His tone was casual, but if Gene—who instinctively avoided shady people—was friends with him, he had to be trustworthy.
"Nice to meet you! I’m Joan Lampail. I’m six. Thank you for looking after my brother, Young master Eric. If you like my sweets, I’ll make more!"
"Whoa, Joan, he doesn’t look after me, and I’m the one who gets your sweets—"
"Hah?! You do owe me! And I want more too! Ah—yeah, introduce yourself too.”
"U-um… I-I’m… Belle Burst… I’m also six…"
So adorable~!!
She looked like a princess straight out of a fairy tale!
Like Eric, she had auburn hair, but her sharp, deep-green eyes gave her a strong-willed impression—yet right now, she was trembling like a startled rabbit.
(I wonder if we can be friends?)
"Young lady Belle, is it? Since we’re the same age, could we get along?"
"Ah… y-yes… p-please… take care of me…"
"Sorry, she’s shy. Once she warms up, she’s the complete opposite. Oof—!"
“”Eh?””
(Huh? Did Eric just take a lightning-fast body blow?!)
"You okay?"
"Y-yeah… used to it…"
"... Right. Wanna join us?"
"S-sure, thanks. Belle, sit with Joan. We’ve got stuff to talk about. Right?"
"Eh?! M-me… next to Young lady Joan…? I-is that okay?"
"Of course! Oh, what’ll you have? The ripple pie was delicious!"
"Ah… then… that…"
"Gene, can I get seconds too?"
"Hah? Father’ll yell if you skip dinner."
"It’s fine! We’ll run home after!"
"Seriously?! It’s far, and there’s that hill at the end!"
“I will be fine!!”
After securing my second slice of pie, Belle and I dug in.
"How is it, Belle?"
"Mm… delicious…"
"I’m glad! So, what do you like to do? I enjoy reading and cooking."
"…… Tr… training…"
"Hm? Sorry, I didn’t catch that."
"Training… I like… training."
"Wait, really?"
"I-is that… weird?"
"Why?"
"The other noble girls… laugh at me for it."
"Then let them laugh. I train too."
"Eh?! R-really?"
"Yep! So don’t worry. People can think and do whatever they want, right? There’s no right way to be. Even twins are different!"
"… Heh… You’re right. I’ll… try not to care."
"If they bother you again, just think: ‘Don’t mind, don’t mind. Take a break, take a break.’"
"‘Don’t mind… take a break’?"
"Yep! It means relax and don’t let it get to you."
I tweaked the famous line from that little monk anime, but words have power, so it’s fine, right?
"… Okay. I think… I can relax now."
"Ehehe, good! … Um, this might be sudden, but…"
"… Yes?"
"Will you be my friend?"
"Eh?! M-me?"
"Yes… Is that okay?"
"N-no… if you’ll have me… I’d love to."
"Yay~! You’re my first noble friend!"
"R-really?"
"Mhm! Today’s my first time in the capital… So you’re my very first noble friend."
"… And I’m good enough?"
"Ah-ah! Saying stuff like ‘good enough’ just puts yourself down. Confidence matters! And I think you’re great. So just call me Joan, okay?"
"… Then, please call me Belle."
"Okay, Belle! Let’s get along!"
"J-Joan… thank you… I’ll do my best."
My first noble friend~
Maybe we can train together someday? So exciting~
After tea, we parted ways with Eric and Belle at the café entrance. Then, as promised—we ran all the way home…
What do you think about this chapter?
