Episode 90

Chapter 90. I’d Like You to Focus on Me Right Now

After stepping into the restaurant…

Once seated, I muttered with a serious expression,

“Something’s not right.”

“What do you mean, My Lady?”

Leonard asked.

I peeked around the menu, scanning the surroundings.

It felt like someone might be secretly watching us.

I whispered in a hushed voice,

“Everyone’s being way too nice to us!”

Right then, a restaurant staff member approached our table.

“A special dish from the chef. Please enjoy.”

“Huh? But we haven’t even ordered yet?”

“Hahaha, congratulations! You happen to be our 100th guest today. It’s a complimentary service.”

What? Just like that?

“Wooooow!”

“Congratulations!”

Even the people around us clapped and cheered.

Meanwhile, the staff quickly placed the dish down and disappeared.

In the blink of an eye, our table was covered in a spread of extravagant food.

Raising an eyebrow, I asked again,

“See? And you still don’t think this is weird?”

But the response came from an unexpected source.

“Seems like you’re a beloved lady.”

Karssen chuckled softly.

Excuse me, Young Master.

Now’s really not the time for jokes!

People might’ve recognized us—how can he be so amused?

“I think our identities have been exposed. Could it be that the magic wore off?”

“There’s no need to worry.”

Leonard reassured me as he handed over a glass of water.

My reflection shimmered in the clear glass.

Plain brown hair and pale blue eyes.

The glamorous blonde hair and violet eyes I’d seen so many times in the mirror were nowhere to be found.

So the magic hasn’t worn off…

Then why do I feel so unsettled? I fell into thought.

As if this situation were nothing more than entertainment, Karssen leisurely placed an order.

“Your strongest liquor, please.”

“You’re drinking now?”

And not just any drink—the strongest one?

“Calus is famous for its liquor. It’s common to have a drink with your meal.”

Ah.

Now that he mentioned it, he had a point.

So I didn’t try to stop him.

But when the drink was finally brought out—

“Here.”

Karssen passed the glass to Moritz.

“…?”

What the heck? He’s not drinking it himself?

Moritz looked equally confused.

He asked suspiciously,

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“You said earlier you wanted to drink it.”

“Huh? When did I—!”

Moritz never finished that sentence.

With lips tightly shut, he looked like he was suppressing a pained groan.

“Hmm? What was that?”

“Y-yes, you’re right. As expected, you’re so thoughtful, Young Master.”

Under Karssen’s expectant gaze, Moritz obediently accepted the glass.

There was something in his eyes—a glint like he was staring down a lifelong enemy.

Karssen grinned in satisfaction.

“I know. Go ahead, drink up.”

“Y-yes, of course.”

“How is it?”

“Wo. Won. Der. Ful. Taste.”

His voice sounded like a broken machine, strained and unnatural.

“Glad you’re happy. Makes it worth ordering.”

Karssen just kept on smiling.

At first, I was worried the two of them might have had a fight—but now I realized this was just… how they played.

Meanwhile, Leonard sliced the meat into bite-sized pieces and offered me a plate.

“My Lady, please try this.”

“Thank you.”

I stabbed a piece with my fork and popped it into my mouth.

It melted on my tongue. No wonder this place was so popular.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes. You should try it too—it tastes oddly familiar for some reason…”

And then—

“Agh! Now what?!”

Moritz suddenly sprang up from his seat.

I vaguely heard Karssen say something about a painting.

“Is something wrong?”

I asked with a worried look.

After downing the rest of his drink in one gulp, Moritz stood up.

“Hahaha! I left something in the carriage!”

“You left something?”

“Yes. I’ll have to step out for a moment.”

“Right now? Can’t you grab it after we finish eating?”

“No, it’s something I really need right now.”

“Oh. In that case, I guess you’d better go.”

Not long after Moritz left…

CRASH!

“What the heck?!”

A commotion broke out in the distance.

I turned my head swiftly, mid-bite.

Sir Moritz?

I spotted him bowing apologetically to someone.

“I’m so sorry, truly.”

“If you’re going to pass by, do it properly! Why come crashing into me?!”

The man, clearly annoyed, had soup splattered all over his chest.

Looked like Moritz had bumped into him and spilled it.

“I’m so ashamed. I’m not good with alcohol, but today I just really felt like drinking… I couldn’t help myself.”

…You’re bad with alcohol, but you downed the strongest drink in one shot?

“If you can’t handle your liquor, drink alone at home! What kind of drunk behavior is this?!”

“You’re absolutely right. It must be the weather—it’s such a fine day today.”

Apology after apology.

Of course, everyone in the restaurant was now staring at them.

“Sir Leonard. Can you…?”

Please go take care of him.

Catching my drift, Leonard nodded and got up.

Soon, Moritz spotted Leonard and called out brightly,

“Hey! Isn’t this my buddy!”

…Sir Moritz. You really can’t hold your liquor, huh?

He normally spoke to Leonard with such polite formality. Now he was completely unfiltered.

“Pull yourself together.”

“You with him?”

“…Yes.”

Leonard’s reluctant reply carried the weight of his mood.

“Ahh, I’m hurt. Go easy on me.”

“Let’s just go back to our seats.”

“No! I have to check the carriage!”

“You’re in no condition to do that right now.”

“Hmph! I must retrieve something important!”

“……”

“Come, help me out, friend.”

“Since when are we friends…”

“Hahaha! What are we, not friends? Come on now—let’s leave this place and head to the carriage!”

“Wait! Where do you think you’re going? What about my clothes? You have to take responsibility for this mess!”

Things were descending into chaos fast.

Leonard…

Hang in there.

I silently rooted for him.

Across the table, Karssen was still laughing.

I turned to him.

“Is this really the time to be laughing?”

“Why not? I think it’s a perfectly hilarious situation.”

“Sir Leonard is doing your job right now.”

“I’ll thank him when he gets back.”

Surprisingly, Karssen gave in without protest.

He pulled a few gold coins from his pocket, tossed them onto the table, and stood up.

“Let’s go.”

A large hand closed firmly around mine.

“Huh? What about the others?”

There was no reply.

Instead, he gave my hand a strong tug and began to lead the way forward—

As if this was the moment he had been waiting for.

Meanwhile, the maids of the Empress’s palace were dragging a chef out of the kitchen.

“Ah—ow! What are you doing?!”

A man in an ordinary cook’s uniform, wearing a suspicious-looking fake mustache.

Without hesitation, Mary ripped the mustache right off his face.

“Ack!”

The chef yelped in pain.

As the mustache came off, a familiar face was revealed.

Mary tossed the fake mustache aside with a snap.

“See? I told you so.”

The mysterious chef was none other than Max, the Empress’s personal palace chef.

“Seriously, Sir Max! How could you go and serve the special dish right now?”

“Yeah! What are we supposed to do now that Her Majesty has clearly caught on?”

The maids scolded him for ruining their plan.

Max knelt on the floor like a guilty criminal.

“B-but… what if Her Majesty eats food from outside the palace and it makes her sick?”

Insisting that he was the only one who should prepare food for Her Majesty, he wiped away a tear.

“Emergency! Emergency!”

Just then, Conrad came shouting in a panic.

“Her Majesty is being kidnapped!”

“What?! Kidnapped?!”

All the maids turned their heads at once.

In the distance, they saw a thief (or something close to it) running off with the Empress.

Conrad immediately took off in pursuit—dragging Felix behind him with one hand.

As they exited the dining hall, the streets were overflowing with people.

“Excuse me! Coming through!”

Conrad pushed his way through the crowd as fast as he could.

Please.

He didn’t stop for a moment.

But unfortunately, Helena’s figure was growing smaller and smaller in the distance.

And when she finally vanished from view entirely—

Conrad ran a hand roughly through his hair.

“Ah, damn it.”

He’d lost her.

How long had we been running?

After weaving past countless street vendors, Karssen finally came to a stop. “Hah… Huff.” I gasped for air, breathing heavily. Why is he so fast? His unnecessarily long legs were the real problem; I had to practically sprint just to keep up with his stride.

“Are you all right?” Karssen, by contrast, didn’t even seem winded, which only made him more annoying.

“Wow… asking me now?”

“What can I say? I’m just naturally considerate.”

“Oh, sure. Of course you are.” I half ignored his smug response.

“More importantly, why did you suddenly take off like that? Sir Moritz and Sir Leonard are probably looking for us right now.”

He tilted his head slightly, as if the question were ridiculous. “There were too many intruders.”

“Intruders?”

“Weren’t you supposed to show me around the city today?”

“…I guess?” Not that I had agreed willingly.

Still, Karssen seemed satisfied with my answer. He smiled, a warm expression that reminded me of the sun overhead. His red—no, now silver—hair shimmered in the light.

“So I’d appreciate it if you focused on me for now.” With a faint upward curve of his lips, he added, “Hm? My lady.”