A Chance Encounter
Mr. Abe had also returned from the weapon shop and was strolling through the market when two women approached from the front. One of them had a yellow stole wrapped around her head.
"Hmm?"
"What's the matter?"
"Hmm? She looks like someone I know..."
"Someone you know, Joan?"
As Anny and I were talking about that, the woman’s eyes met mine. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Ahhh~~ Joan-chan. Long time no see~"
"... I knew it. What are you doing here?"
"Ehehe, just sneaking around. So what about you, Joan-chan? When did you get here?"
"This morning. I'm here to buy spices."
"Spices?"
"M-Missy... could it be, this person is...?"
"Yes, the Que—ugh..."
"Joan-chan, not here. There's a place I go to often nearby. Let's talk there. Everyone, come along."
She brought us to a humble eatery.
"Hey old man, is the back room free?"
"Yeah, go right in."
We entered a private room in the back, big enough for about ten people.
As I sensed that same Fon-like air movement as last time, the woman took off her stole. Immediately, Mr. Abe and Mr. Ken dropped to one knee and bowed their heads. Anny, confused by the scene, also knelt.
"Aah, enough with the formality. It's soundproof here, and right now I'm just Amy."
"““As you wish.””"
Looking sheepish, the three somehow managed to sit down.
"So, Joan-chan, why are you in the capital?"
"I came to buy spices."
"Ah, right. But why spices?"
"For curry—"
"Curry!? Seriously? I wanna eat it, I wanna eat it!!"
"Ahaha, I’ll bring some once I make it."
"Yaaay!"
"Um, why are you so close with Missy?"
"Huh? Oh, we’re from the same hometown in our previous lives…. Huh? Abe? You were in the Monster Subjugation Unit, right?"
"Y-Yes. That’s right. You… you remember me?"
"Of course. Suzy was—ugh..."
"Lady Amy, you mustn’t say that."
One of the red-faced maid trio covered the Queen’s mouth.
"Hey, Suzy, I can't breathe! … Ahaha, you're all red~"
"Wait, could it be… could it really be?"
"As expected of Joan-chan. Bingo~!!"
"Y-Young lady Joan, please, keep it a secret..."
"But you're curious, aren’t you?"
"... Yes."
"Then ask him! Even if things seem fine now, you’ll only think about it more once you miss your shot, you know?"
"... Maybe, but..."
"Come on, Suzy! Women need guts!"
"Yes! U-Um… Captain Abe… I… I’ve… I can’t…”
Oh my, how utterly adorable Suzy is!
And Mr. Abe just kept his head bowed the whole time when his name was called... Ah, Mr. Ken and Anny seem to have noticed something too. With their gentle smiles—no wait, they're totally smirking.
"Hey, come to think of it, Mr. Abe, do you have a girlfriend?"
"W-wha? M-missy, you really asking this in front of the Q—I mean, Lady Amy...?"
"Well, I've never heard anything about it, so I was just wondering~"
"N-no way! Someone like me could never be popular!"
"Then what's your type?"
"Hah? Well, I dunno... I guess someone who looks like they really enjoy eating? Like, even if they have perfect table manners, if they just eat with a blank face, you can't tell if the food's actually good, right? Makes even delicious stuff seem tasteless."
"Ahh, as someone who cooks, I totally get that. It makes you happy when people eat what you made and smile, right~?"
"Yeah. You really are a cook at heart, Missy."
"No no, I'm a noble lady, okay? … Right, Suzy?"
"Ehh!?"
Both Mr. Abe and Suzy gasped in shock.
"See, Suzy? Joan-chan set this all up for you..."
"B-but... Um, Captain Abe... I-I've... always... admired you... gulp... S-sorry, excuse me, Your Highness..."
SLAM!
Ahh—she messed up her once-in-a-lifetime confession and ran off in tears!
"M-Missy, sorry—I gotta go too."
SLAM!
“””"......”””"
"Wait... was that a yes or...?"
"Ah~ Missy... Actually, Abe has known about Suzy for a while. Ever since his monster-hunting days. He'd always talk about this maid at the palace cafeteria who ate so happily, but since she was a noble lady, he never dared speak to her. Pretty sure it was Suzy."
"Seriously?"
"Yes. He recognized her immediately earlier but seemed too embarrassed, so he just kept his head down the whole time."
"L-lady A-Amy? … Why are you crying?"
"Sniff... B-because... Suzy's liked him for so long, all bottled up... sob... I'm so happy~!"
"There there, don't cry. Don't rub your eyes—here's a handkerchief."
"Thaaank yooou~ Joaaan-chwaaan~"
"Mr. Ken, could you go order some drinks and light snacks?"
"Understood… Might take a while."
"Thanks."
Mr. Ken is such a gentleman~
He probably realized Amy wouldn't want anyone seeing her cry, so he made up an excuse to leave. He totally understood what I was hinting at.
"Anny, I'm gonna pop back to the manor to borrow some makeup from Martha. Can you hold down the fort here?"
"Eh? I'll go—"
"It's fine, I can teleport this distance. It's okay, right, Lady Amy?"
"Y-yeah... Sorry for the trouble."
"Anny, I'm counting on you." Poof!
Poof!
"Eek!"
"Ah, sorry Martha, didn't mean to startle you. I need a quick favor—can I borrow some makeup?"
"Of course... Is it for yourself, Young lady?"
"No no, someone's, uh... had a makeup emergency..."
"Shall I come assist with the touch-up?"
"Ah, really? That'd be perfect! Here, hold my hand—let's teleport." Poof!
What do you think about this chapter?
