“But why didn’t you act like you knew? You could’ve told Father.”
“So what do I get out of that?”
Camilla lightly shook her head.
“If you’d personally held a grudge against me and plotted it yourself, then sure. I would’ve done that.”
But you didn’t.
Of course, if she’d taken even a small hit back then, she wouldn’t be letting it slide this easily now. She was a very polite person—if someone gave her something, she always gave it back.
But thanks to Duke Kais Escra, she hadn’t really suffered any damage. She hadn’t gotten hurt, and she hadn’t taken any material loss.
“And I don’t like making enemies for no reason.”
“For someone who says that, you’ve got quite a few people who hold grudges against you.”
“...You’ve got it wrong.”
A few faces immediately came to mind, but Camilla forced herself to pretend she didn’t know.
Jainer, who’d been laughing nonstop at her, suddenly said something unexpected.
“Do me one favor.”
“A favor?”
A smile that looked a little tired formed at the corner of his mouth.
*****
“Ugh! What is this taste? What kind of garbage is this?”
“It’s fucking sweet.”
“People actually eat this?”
“Tell the owner to come out! The owner!”
The dessert café that was usually packed with customers was strangely empty today.
Just now, two customers had opened the door and stepped in—only to bolt right back out as if they were fleeing.
Because of the men sitting blatantly at the entrance, shouting at the top of their lungs.
“M-Manager, those guys are here again.”
“I’m going insane, seriously! What the hell is wrong with them?”
“It’s been four days now.”
Five men had been coming in for days and causing trouble.
They’d order a few desserts, then start screaming that it tasted bad, driving every customer out of the shop.
“Huh? Manager!”
“Where are you going?”
After watching them silently for a long while, Laila strode straight toward them. The other employees rushed to grab her, but it was useless.
“What?”
“You the owner?”
As Laila appeared, the men’s faces twisted even harsher, like they meant to intimidate her.
“Is there a problem with the desserts?”
“Too many problems.”
“You’re selling this and telling people to eat it?”
“I’m sorry.”
Laila bowed her head politely.
“I’ll refund the full price of the desserts.”
“What?”
“Money makes it all okay?”
“Fuck! You think we’re beggars?!”
“You think we’re doing this for money?!”
The men all stood at once and pressed in on Laila.
“Will you leave now?”
But Laila didn’t even blink. If anything, she kept smiling and pointed at the entrance.
“The exit is that way. Next time, I’ll treat you to desserts that satisfy you more.”
That only seemed to irritate them further.
“You think this is a joke?!”
The hand of the man standing closest shot up.
But even as she watched the hand fly toward her face, Laila didn’t close her eyes.
Camilla had told her before leaving—protect this shop.
For the friend who trusted her, she didn’t want to become weak. If they hit her, she’d take it, and then report it.
The Guard Corps never acted like they heard a thing when it was “just” disruption of business, but if violence was added, wouldn’t it be different?
So Chris was right?
With the repeated harassment, Laila had gone to Chris Miller of the Ghost Trading House yesterday to talk it through.
Before Camilla left for the Gracia Empire, she’d told Laila to discuss things with Chris if anything happened at the shop.
And she’d heard something unexpected from him.
‘Do you know Dorald Dessert Shop?’
‘Dorald Dessert Shop? Oh—at the entrance to the shopping district?’
‘That’s right. Until recently, it was the biggest shop around here. And the most profitable.’
‘What about it?’
‘I hear their sales have dropped sharply lately.’
‘Why would that— Ah. Is it because of our shop?’
‘Yes. So it seems the owner has developed a bit of a grudge. You remember how the hygiene office suddenly came to inspect you?’
‘Yes, but there wasn’t anything serious, so they just left.’
‘The owner of Dorald Dessert Shop reported you. Hoping they’d find something—anything.’
‘Oh my god...’
‘This situation might be related as well. I’ll look into it.’
It really did seem like that was the truth. If they weren’t after money, there was no reason to keep doing this.
“AAAAAGH!”
“......!”
While Laila’s mind drifted for just a moment, a huge scream burst from the man’s mouth.
Because the hand he’d raised to strike her had been wrenched sharply the other way.
“What the hell? Who the fuck are you.”
The one who’d grabbed and twisted the man’s hand spoke with open annoyance. Relief lit Laila’s face.
“Why are you acting out in someone else’s shop?”
“Lord Arsian!”
“Arsian!”
At Arsian’s appearance, relief spread across the other employees’ faces too.
Normally, he sat there with an icy aura, picking at desserts, and he was terrifying in his own way—but today, his arrival felt like a blessing.
“What are these assholes.”
“They say the desserts taste bad.”
“They’re right.”
At the way he nodded like he understood without a second of hesitation, Laila let out a long sigh inside.
She already knew he hated sweet desserts more than death.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“They keep coming even though they hate it.”
“...What?”
The irritation on Arsian’s face froze into something instantly colder.
“They hate desserts... and they come here ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ every day?”
Like me?
GRIND.
“AAAAAGH!”
The man’s wrist, still in Arsian’s grip, twisted again with a grotesque sound.
“You. What are you to Camilla?”
At his voice, cold dripping from it, the other men nearby stiffened on the spot.
The feeling hit them all at once—they’d snagged the wrong person.
“I asked what you are to her.”
“W-What are we—!”
Camilla? Who the hell is that?!
“You keep coming even though the desserts taste bad. You’re not coming here to see her?”
“N-No!”
“Then what—are you trying to boost sales while she’s gone and score points with the staff?”
Like me?
GRIND!
“AAAAAGH!”
Watching the men get crushed by Arsian in a completely different sense, Laila’s head started to ache again, and she pressed her fingers hard into her brow.
No—why does your conclusion go there? Why do you think Camilla is at the center of everything?!
More importantly, what do I do?
Camilla wasn’t even here. How was she supposed to stop this man?
Laila, who’d been happy to see him just moments ago, kept letting out sigh after sigh.
WUUUUNG— WUUUUNG—!
“.......”
TAP.
“Kgh.”
Then it happened. Without anyone stopping him, Arsian released the man’s hand in a sharp motion.
He pulled something out from inside his clothes and immediately moved to another table. Then, extremely carefully, he set what he was holding down.
It was a communication orb.
When he connected the call, a voice flowed out—one that was very familiar.
The moment that voice appeared, the chilly air that had filled the café vanished in an instant.
“Camilla.”
Just from Arsian saying her name, it felt like a warm breeze swept around him.
“You picked up fast.”
“A communication orb happened to be nearby.”
“So you’re at the estate.”
“Well... yeah.”
Arsian swept his gaze around, as if anyone who made a sound from now on wouldn’t be spared.
“Are you done being busy?”
“Yeah. Almost.”
The last time she’d contacted him, he’d sounded so frantically busy that she hadn’t been able to reach out first after that.
“Arsian.”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
At her sudden words, Arsian couldn’t say anything for a moment.
“...For what?”
“Khan.”
“.......”
“You’re not hurt, right?”
Hearing the worry in her voice, Arsian’s lips curved upward slightly.
...He’s smiling.
S-Scary.
Everyone stared in horror.
“How did you know?”
“That’s not what matters right now... Arsian.”
“Tell me.”
“I’d like it if you didn’t touch that anymore.”
“...Did they show up in front of you again? Did they threaten you?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then why?”
“Um... because I don’t want you getting hurt. I want you to stop doing dangerous things.”
“.......”
Mom! He’s smiling again! It’s terrifying!
Unlike everyone else, who were horrified all over again, the air around Arsian grew even softer.
“Okay.”
“You’re promising.”
“Yeah. Anything else—”
“Ah! Dive! You’ll get hurt like that! Arsian, I’ll call you again.”
“Wai—!”
The call cut off.
“.......”
Arsian stared at the communication orb for a long moment, then sat down right in front of it.
He folded his arms and didn’t take his eyes off it.
Everyone around watched him in silence.
Ten minutes passed. Then twenty.
In the end, Laila couldn’t stand it anymore and approached him.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m waiting.”
“...Pardon?”
“I said I’m waiting.”
No way.
“She said she’d call again.”
“No, that’s...”
It didn’t sound like she meant right away. Laila swallowed the rest of her words.
With him staring so intently at the communication orb, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Forcing an awkward smile, Laila quietly retreated, almost as if she were fleeing.
*****
“Does it hurt?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Fine, my ass—your skin is peeled off.
The child running around with King had fallen, scraping his knee raw. But Dive didn’t cry. He said he was fine and even resisted showing the wound.
Seeing a child so used to enduring made heat surge up in Camilla all over again. Her anger at Lady Sebinne boiled back up from deep inside.
Should she go find that woman right now and yank her by the hair?
Watching Dive leave with an attendant to get the wound treated, Camilla let out a short sigh.
Then she noticed the communication orb she’d tossed off to one side.
Come to think of it, I talked to Arsian for the first time in a while... did I hang up too fast?
