Volume 3 Chapter 20 Detective Fox Mask
I rushed over to where Sir Roxas and Sir Stefan were lying on the floor, and there were white lines drawn around their bodies.
"Don't worry, princess. Keeping the scene intact is basic for crime investigation. You shouldn't step inside the white outline."
"What is this line...?"
"Oh, that was drawn by Ciel to create a magic circle, so don't worry. It can be erased quickly."
"By Sir Ciel?"
"Yes. Sir Rail asked him to do it. We can't actually draw lines in your restaurant."
Sir Ciel came over next to me and said that.
Ms. Famine was lounging by the window, wagging her tail.
It seemed like she didn't want to come over.
Sir Stefan was face down, and Sir Roxas was lying on his back.
Sir Roxas's glasses were on the floor, surrounded by the white line.
"Um... what happened?"
"Well, princess... we were just talking about how you got a little drunk and fell over yesterday."
"Y-yes, I... someone carried me, right? I'm sorry for causing trouble."
"That's okay. It's an honor to carry the princess."
"You don't need to worry. You must have stayed up late with me even though you were tired."
"Honestly, I should have made you go to bed earlier. I pushed you too hard last night."
On the other side of the counter, Mr. Lucian was moving sausages and fried eggs onto a plate.
He placed one sausage on a small plate and set it in front of Arjuna, who was sitting on a round stool by the cooking counter, saying, "It's hot, so let it cool before you eat.".
"I want beer."
"You can't have it because you're a dog."
"I'm not your father."
"Lydia's father is also my father."
"Don't try to dig a hole for yourself."
"...Just kidding, I like dogs. Maybe you're not a dog, but you look like one."
"I'm not a dog; I'm Lydia's dad."
"Well, anyway, it's probably hot, so let it cool, Dad. Do you want some milk too?"
"I want beer, Lydia."
"No way."
I looked away from the heartwarming exchange between Mr. Lucian and my dad and looked up at Sir Ciel next to me.
"I really had fun yesterday. So, I'm not pushing myself."
"Is that so? I'm glad. But from now on, we can all gather anytime, so there's no need to push yourself when you're tired."
"It feels like... every day is precious and important. I've never had so many people around me before."
"Don't worry, princess. If you call us, we'll always come running, and even if you don't call, we'll be here. This is a restaurant where you can enjoy delicious meals made by the princess."
Sir Rail crossed his legs elegantly and smiled gently.
A warm feeling blossomed in my chest, like a small flower.
Even though Sir Stefan and Sir Roxas were somehow lying down, I still had fun yesterday.
"Yes, thank you. ...But why did this happen? Also, someone carried me, but I don't remember..."
"That's the thing, princess. What do you think happened?"
"I have no idea..."
I shook my head.
Mr. Lucian, who had finished cooking, came over and sighed softly.
"Sir Rail, breakfast is ready. Lydia can't rest with us here. I'm sorry to interrupt the fun, but let's finish quickly and take the two of them home."
"I thought I'd add a little thrill and suspense to the princess's daily life... Well, then──this mystery will be solved by the Fox Mask...!"
With his arms crossed and a finger on his forehead, Sir Rail said.
Eir-Eir, who had been watching curiously, wiggled around happily in my arms and shouted, "Pumpkin!".
Ms. Famine by the window is tapping the windowsill with her tail, looking really annoyed, saying, "Tart, Tatin...".
"Actually, princess, it was Ciel who picked you up when you collapsed yesterday, just like everyone expected."
"I was right next to you."
Sir Ciel nodded.
I remember that Sir Ciel and Sir Roxas were next to me.
"Then, a really ugly fight broke out... well, I guess everyone was drunk."
"Not everyone, Sir Rail. I stopped it."
"Lucian, you pretend to be an adult."
"I pretend... well, I'm actually an adult."
Mr. Lucian looks down, seeming troubled.
He's wearing a black apron around his waist.
A white shirt and a black apron.
Even though it's a simple outfit, he looks great because he's tall and muscular.
If I have Mr. Lucian make breakfast for me, the women who like him might get jealous.
While I think about this and look up at Mr. Lucian, he notices my gaze and smiles at me.
The term "adult man" really fits him.
I shifted my gaze back to Sir Rail.
I'm worried about Sir Stefan and Sir Roxas, but I don't want my fried egg and sausage to get cold.
"Sir Rail, what was the fight about...?"
"Well, it started as a competition to see who was worthy to carry the princess."
"Competition?"
"To put it simply, it was a strength contest. Arm wrestling."
"I didn't participate. I was lifting you, Ms. Lydia."
"Oh, I see..."
I don't remember, but it's a bit embarrassing to think I was being carried by Sir Ciel the whole time.
I wonder if he was annoyed to carry me when I was passed out.
Or did I embarrass myself in some way? I'm worried about a lot of things.
"So, His Highness and Roxas ended up fighting because they both insisted on carrying the princess."
"Insisted...?"
"Yes, insisted. His Highness was acting like a guardian, saying he couldn't let a young single man into the princess's bedroom, and Roxas insisted he didn't want Ciel to carry her. So, they ended up arm wrestling."
"If they arm wrestled, did they fall?"
"No, they couldn't decide a winner, so it turned into a drinking contest. The scene of His Highness and Roxas crying after drinking too much was a disaster, and in the end, both of them ended up passed out."
"Passed out...?"
"Yeah. They were shoulder to shoulder, giving a thumbs up, and then they just sank down. In short, they got really drunk. So, we had to lay them down here."
"...I see."
"Once they fell asleep, it got quiet."
After Mr. Lucian's words, Sir Ciel continued.
"Ms. Lydia was carried by me, Lucian, and Sir Rail. It's not good for a man to go into a woman's room alone."
"I was there too."
"Yes. Your father was there as well."
"Oh, I see. Thank you, dad..."
"Let's have breakfast, princess. We'll take responsibility for bringing His Highness and Roxas back, so don't worry."
"Y-yes..."
Sir Stefan, it seems like you have a lot on your mind.
From my memories 5 years ago, he always seemed kind, calm, and mature.
I didn't know Sir Stefan could cry.
Sir Roxas too.
Everyone is just like me.
Thinking about that made me feel happy.
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