Volume 1 Chapter 40 The Hero And The Princess
I'm staring intently at Sir Roxas, but our eyes just won't meet.
"Sir Roxas, you were worried about me, weren't you? Thank you."
"N-no..."
"...I didn't think you did anything wrong, but it seems like people thought I looked down on Francois because of her background and treated her badly. So, I thought you hated me too, Sir Roxas."
"That was just that woman spreading lies. At the Rest priest's house, you weren't even given enough food, and you wore clothes like a servant. You weren't allowed to sit at the dining table with everyone else... The Head Priest treated you like you didn't exist, and that woman's pitying words were just insults in disguise."
"...I feel a little relieved. I was worried that everyone thought I was a bad woman."
"Why would anyone think a lovely princess like you is a bad woman?"
Sir Rail looks at me with genuine curiosity.
His golden eyes, framed by long white eyelashes, shine as if he didn't hear the words I just said.
"Sir Rail... um, please stop calling me princess..."
It's so embarrassing.
Right now, I'm just a cook at a restaurant, and with my current outfit, I look like a servant of the Girard family.
"You are a princess. My dream was to become a hero one day and save the princess from the evil witch."
"--Brother, you can't do that. If you get better, you'll inherit the Girard family."
"Well then, let's pretend I'm still sick. Roxas, you would probably rather stay here than go back to the Duke's house. Just a little longer. You want to see the princess's face too, right?"
"Uh, that's not really true..."
"I want to see her. Look, I've gotten better, but I've lost weight and my strength hasn't fully returned. I think I need the princess's cooking."
Sir Rail raised his hand to the sky.
His wrist was thin, and his fingers looked bony.
"I used to think about wanting to die, but now, thanks to Roxas and the princess, I don't feel that way anymore. If I can, I want to live. I want to get stronger, stronger than anyone, so that I can protect the princess this time."
"Um, I'm just a restaurant cook, so I don't think I need protecting that much..."
"It's the 'Diner of the Villainous Lady,' right? I know about it."
"It's Lobelia Diner House!"
Even Sir Rail had heard my bad reputation.
I couldn't help but raise my voice.
It's not good to shout in front of someone who's recovering. But my restaurant, Lobelia Diner House, is cute!
"...I asked the people in town about the restaurant to find your location. Everyone kept calling it the 'Diner of the Villainous Lady.' I thought it was a bit self-deprecating to name it that."
Sir Roxas said this with a slightly troubled expression.
"Ugh, the unflattering name is spreading..."
"Still, the princess is cute, so I think the Villainous Lady's diner is cute too."
"It's Lobelia Diner House, and it's cute..."
"It is cute. So, princess, will you cook for me again? If I keep going to your restaurant, I believe I can become strong and tough like before. Then, I think I'll become an adventurer."
Sir Rail said cheerfully.
Sir Roxas shook his head quietly.
"Brother, that's not possible. I'll say it again, you have the role of inheriting the Duke family..."
"Even if I get better, no one would want to have a child with someone who once had the White Moon disease, and I don't even know if I can have children. No one welcomes me inheriting the Duke family. There might be a disease factor in my blood."
"But...!"
"For a while, I can just say I'm still sick, and eventually, I can be said to have died. That would be better for the Duke family. Roxas, you are excellent. Much more than I am. ...I don't think it's a good family, but there are the people of the territory. An heir is needed."
After saying that, Sir Rail looked down at the town as if he were seeing a distant world.
"Living here, just listening to your stories... it feels so strange. You fell for a woman with a poodle-like name, Francois, didn't you? You even abandoned this lovely princess for her."
Sir Rail said something similar to what Sir Roxas had said.
When I try to remember Francois's face, I end up thinking of a poodle.
"Ah, right... Is His Highness being deceived by that woman? I mean, His Majesty King Zeere, is a saint who can make fair and just decisions for everyone. His Highness has inherited that bloodline and is an excellent person. But still, could he really be fooled? Could he be tricked by a woman that Roxas found ugly?"
"I don't know. It's possible that His Highness hasn't seen that woman's true self in the Rest priest family."
"Well, even so, it's already too late. The engagement has been made, and once the marriage vows are taken, Francois will officially be the queen. When that happens, will this country be able to stay normal?"
I felt a cold shiver run down my back at Sir Rail's words.
I remembered Sir Ciel's story.
Once, the people of this country discriminated against the gem people, capturing them to harvest their gems and even piercing their bodies.
That doesn't happen now, but... Just like my father's words in the Rest priest family were absolute.
In this country, the words of His Majesty the King are absolute.
If Francois were to advise Sir Stefan, what if the era of discrimination returned?
"...I'm sorry for scaring you, princess. I hope nothing bad happens, but the Duke Girard family is in a position to speak to His Majesty the King. Power can sometimes become a great force."
"That's why, inherit the Duke family for me, brother."
"However, in the current situation, that's the best option. I've been bedridden for 5 years and couldn't even attend school. In the Duke family, I'm considered dead, and I think that's fine. I want to travel around this country, see various things, and help you."
"Brother..."
"Well, that's a story for a bit later. I still need more time. Roxas, you probably don't want to say goodbye to the princess like this either."
"...Um, um..."
I had been quietly listening to the two of them, but I started to worry and looked up at Sir Rail.
"I think Sir Rail is a wonderful person... So, because of your illness, you can't get married? That's just..."
"Thank you, princess. So, will you bear my child?"
"Eh, um, that, uh..."
"I'm just joking. I can't hurt the princess while I'm supposed to protect her. But, a hero is supposed to marry the princess and live happily ever after... someday, right?"
"I'm a chef at a restaurant, so... Sir Rail's princess is probably somewhere else."
"I like Lydia."
"...Ugh."
I felt a bit embarrassed and looked down.
It's so embarrassing.
Really, very embarrassing.
Sir Rail has been recovering in his room since he was 15, so his feelings are very pure.
It's painful to receive such straightforward affection.
He just got better because he happened to eat my food.
"Brother... it's about time you go back to the room. The sun will set soon. I want to send Lydia home before it gets dark."
"Princess should just stay over."
"Ciel Vermilion is a friend of Lydia. If he notices her absence and realizes I've taken her, it could lead to trouble."
"Yeah. That would be a big deal. Princess, thank you for today. I really appreciate it. I will definitely take you out for a meal."
"Y-yes...!"
With that, I said goodbye to Sir Rail and returned to the south district in the Girard family's carriage, just like when I came.
I carried the remaining food in a backpack, still wearing the maid outfit.
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