Kays Translations

Chapter 427: Nothing Happened

We had lunch at a restaurant that had recently opened in the territorial capital. A familiar, nostalgic aroma drifted from the building.

“This smell is…”

“The spices are powerful, aren’t they? Apparently, they blend many different kinds together.”

It was curry. There was no mistaking that scent. I wondered whether Mira’s sensitive nose would dislike it, but they sat with their eyes closed, quietly savouring the aroma. Mira might have been more of a gourmet than I realised.

Someone had apparently made a reservation for us, because we were shown to our seats as soon as we entered.

We had dressed inconspicuously, but our disguises did not seem especially effective. Even so, it was pleasant not to have to queue outside. The menu offered not only curry but also several rice-bowl dishes. Unfortunately, there was no sushi. Perhaps it had never become popular here.

“The recommended dish is the curry. I’ve eaten it before, and it’s delicious.”

“Then I’ll have that.”

“I’ll order the same.”

“Me too.”

“Kyuu!”

“I’ll share mine with you, Mira.”

“Kyuu!”

In the end, all of us ordered curry. The greatest danger when eating curry was staining one’s clothes, so I tied a bib around Fabienne before the food arrived.

Axel laughed at my overprotectiveness, but I warned him that he would regret refusing and made everyone wear one. Naturally, that included Mira.

“It suits you, Mira-chan.”

“Kyuu…”

The bib I had fastened around Mira covered them from the neck to halfway down their body. They clearly disliked it and looked rather sulky. Fabienne tried to soothe them, so I hoped we could finish eating while Mira was distracted.

The curry arrived. No matter how I looked at it, this was ordinary, familiar curry. Had another reincarnated person introduced the recipe? My heart leapt at seeing it again after so long.

“This is… a little spicy.”

“Yes, but it’s delicious. The flavour is surprisingly complex.”

“That must be the spices. Apparently, the recipe is a closely guarded secret.”

“I can believe it. This is excellent.”

I carefully fed Mira so that none of the sauce would get into their fur. Judging by the way they pressed both paws to their cheeks and beamed, they loved it. Their earlier displeasure vanished completely. Curry truly was powerful.

As expected, everyone splashed curry onto their bibs. People might have stared at us, but I was still glad I had insisted. Even when one had spare clothes, possessions should be treated carefully. After lunch, we went elsewhere for dessert—to a shop famous for cream puffs.

“Hmm. I wish Ijidol could have tried these too.”

“Let’s buy some to take back for him.”

“Yes, let’s.”

Fabienne happily ate her cream puff, unaware that cream had smeared across her cheek. I could not simply leave it there, so I wiped it away with my finger and licked it off. Fabienne’s face turned bright red. Ah, youth.

Meanwhile, Mira had cream all around their mouth. What a mess. The cream puff must have been irresistible, because they had devoured it. The custard really was exquisite.

I wiped Mira’s mouth clean and ordered a box of cream puffs to take away.

Cream puffs spoiled quickly, so we could not remain out for too long. We had already visited the place I most wanted to show Fabienne, so we decided to return to the estate. The territorial capital was vast; there would be plenty of opportunities to visit another destination.

Something felt different when we returned to House Mulan. Everyone seemed brighter—relieved, perhaps. Even the servants wore lighter expressions.

After I announced that we had brought souvenirs and asked for tea in the salon, Ijidol hurried in almost immediately.

“Julius, have you heard?”

“Did something happen?”

“A messenger arrived from the Eastern Margrave’s army. The dangerous monster believed to have caused the outbreak in the eastern magical zone has been defeated. They think the forest should be safe now.”

“Really? Is that true?”

Caro cried out in delight. She covered her mouth with both hands, and her eyes glistened. She must have been terribly worried. Axel gently placed an arm around her shoulders. How effortlessly handsome. There was, however, something I needed to confirm.

“Ijidol, you didn’t say anything unnecessary, did you?”

“Unnecessary? Ah!”

As though suddenly remembering something, Ijidol clapped both hands over his mouth. That reaction only made matters worse. Fabienne was already narrowing her eyes at me. How was I supposed to escape this? Nero’s expression had gone perfectly blank. Ijidol should learn from him.

“Julius-sama, what was that reaction just now? Don’t tell me something happened that I know nothing about.”

“No. Nothing happened.”

“That’s a lie.”

“Yes, definitely a lie.”

Caro and Axel joined in, regarding me with identical crescent-eyed suspicion. Caro immediately summoned a servant and asked exactly what the report had said. Apparently, it had been only an urgent preliminary message: the monster believed to be responsible for the outbreak had been defeated.

“I brought you a souvenir, Ijidol. Cream puffs.”

“Wonderful. Thank you.”

Ijidol delivered the words in a conspicuously flat voice and sat down. I took Mira into my lap and joined him, while a servant promptly poured the tea. Tea was pleasant, but for once I wanted coffee. It did not seem to exist in this world yet.

“You changed the subject.”

“You absolutely changed the subject.”

“You’re definitely hiding something.”

Ignoring the three suspicious faces, I began eating one of the cream puffs. Delicious. I had eaten only a short while ago, yet there was always room for another.

“What is this? It’s absurdly good!”

“One each, Ijidol. Don’t eat anyone else’s share.”

Axel finally gave up and took a seat. Fabienne and Caro followed his example.

Good. It seemed I had successfully swept the entire matter under the rug.

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