Chapter 689

I See Right Through You!
“Ah, that gave me a fright. I never expected Pri… Kaldor-sama to show up here.”

“Really, it was surprising, wasn’t it? But his motive—or should I say, his purpose—is pretty obvious, isn’t it?”

Mariel-chan answered with a grin in response to my honest impression.

Just as Mariel-chan pointed out, though Prince Kaldor said his goal was to expand the fruit trade routes, like Tika-san hinted, his real target was probably me.

… You want a new recipe using spices soon, don’t you? I already know.
I see right through you!

But you see, I think these new recipes could serve as diplomatic cards for the future, so I can’t just hand them out lightly.

When I explained that, looking for agreement, Mariel-chan gave me a withering chibisuna face.

“… Cristea-san, isn’t it about time you stopped playing the oblivious character?”

“How rude. Who are you calling an oblivious character? That was sharp reasoning—like ‘a child’s body, but an adult’s mind!’”

“No, that’s not it. This is more like… how should I put it… not ‘There’s always only one truth,’ but more like… ugh, is this what happens when a woman grows up without romance? I’d better be careful myself.”

She muttered something under her breath, but I’m pretty sure she just said something terribly rude.

While that was going on, we arrived in front of the Basutéa Trading Company’s building.

“Oh my, Cristea-sama, welcome. Have you already finished your business?”

As we entered the shop, Suzaku-sama, who seemed to be watching the counter, greeted me.

“Suzaku-sama! Yes, I’ve already placed the order, so I’ll come pick it up when I get word it’s ready.”

“I see. My master has finished his errands here as well, so we can return anytime. I’ll go inform him.”

With that, Suzaku-sama called to another clerk inside and disappeared into the back of the shop.

Meanwhile, we wandered through the store, buying up foodstuffs.

Conveniently, the shipment of red beans I had ordered for making anko had just arrived, so I picked it up and decided to take it back with me.

I was nearly out of stock, so the timing was perfect!

“Miss Cristea, Miss Mariel. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

From the back strode Sei, flanked gallantly by Suzaku-sama and Byakko-sama.

“Not at all. It was fun to shop at the Bastea main store for the first time in a while. As I thought, the main store’s selection is better than in the capital.”

I chose to ignore the little store signs imitating the Mayor Company’s “endorsed by” pop-ups in the royal capital—things like “The favorite of Ellisfeed Household’s Cristea-sama” or “A Cristea-sama essential”—attached to some items. Yep, didn’t see a thing.

Noticing how I deliberately averted my gaze, Sei apologized, looking troubled.

“Sorry. In Ellisfeed territory, if we do that, it seems to especially attract chefs as customers…”

“I was the one who told them, ‘Hey, this is what’s trending in the capital.’ Plus, if you put the Ojou’s name on it, it’s guaranteed to sell, right?”

“… Since we’re always indebted to Beasta Company, I’ll just let it slide.”

“… My apologies.”

With Byakko-sama boasting beside him, Sei sighed, while the staff in the background nodded furiously in agreement. With that much enthusiasm, there was no way I could tell them, “Remove those immediately.”

Later, I heard from the head chef of the estate that the Bastea Company’s main store had become revered among certain chefs as the “holy ground” of Cristea’s gourmet roots.

… Why though?!

Still, if this helps spread Japanese cuisine—Yahatul cuisine—and increases the number of delicious dishes, then it’s all good in the end.
… It has to be, or I can’t deal with it!

As a bit of an apology, they gave me plenty of freebies before we left the Bastea Company. Outside, the carriage was already waiting.

“Tea, let’s go home.”

“Oniisama! … What about Prince Kaldor?”

“Ah, apparently he’s taking a ship tonight back to the Samonar Kingdom, so we parted ways there. I’ve brought the carriage around, so let’s avoid the stalls and head straight home.”

Since there were two carriages, I thought maybe they had invited Prince Kaldor to our house, but apparently not.

“… Oblivious type and possessive type… or no, yandere type? That mix is just asking for a messy love triangle. Definitely a dangerous combination.”

Yes, Mariel-chan, over there, please don’t murmur ominous commentary under your breath.

I’m not an oblivious type, and my Oniisama is not possessive—or yandere… probably. Right? He’s not… right?

Feeling just the tiniest twinge of unease, the two carriages carrying my brother and me, Sei and Mariel-chan, and all the sacred beasts, rolled smoothly onward.

I would have preferred riding with the girls—Mariel-chan, Suzaku-sama, and Miria—for some carefree girl talk, but for the sake of security, they said it was better to keep the Ellisfeed siblings together so the escorts could protect us more easily. Boo.

Even with the Sacred Beasts present, if a carriage carried only girls, it might draw the wrong kind of attention from unsavory people. So I couldn’t really argue.

Back at the estate, before teleporting home, we took a little break for tea. During that time, the head chef kindly began the preliminary boiling of red beans for anko.

That saved me a lot of trouble—since the de-bittering and skimming steps mean you can’t leave the pot, it’s kind of a pain.

I received the boiled beans before sugar was added, still piping hot, and stashed them in my inventory.
I’ll finish them up once I return to the special dormitory.

What do you think about this chapter?