TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 13
It’s been a while since people have gathered in the restaurant.
Though the dining table was luxurious for just three people, the sight of everyone huddled around the round table brought back memories.
Olivia and the Head of the Household.
The Deputy Head of the Household and the Lady of the Household.
Back then, we would sit together, often arguing but still spending harmonious times. It had been a long time since we sat at the table, facing each other while eating.
It’s been about a year.
Since eating at the dining table.
I usually had meals with the Young Lady in the bedroom, but sitting at the table and eating after so long felt nice.
With a fluttering heart, I asked the Master of the House.
“How do you feel about coming out after such a long time?”
The Young Lady had a sullen expression.
The Young Lady looked displeased. I hadn’t even woken her from a nap, so why the sour face? I thought she’d be glad to see a guest.
Olivia’s gaze turned toward Hanna.
To be precise, her eyes were fixed on Hanna’s sky-blue pajamas.
“Isn’t that mine?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Then why is she wearing it?”
Hanna shrank under the Young Lady’s gaze, as if she’d taken her cherished clothes.
Thinking I had upset the Master of the House, Hanna hesitated, unsure whether to change into her damp clothes. I spoke honestly to the Young Lady.
“I stole it.”
“Ah.”
The Young Lady nodded as if satisfied.
“At least give her something pretty.”
The Young Lady wasn’t upset about losing the dress but about giving away an unattractive one.
Hanna looked at Olivia, who seemed to understand, and then at me, who proudly admitted the theft, wearing an incredulous expression.
This was just our daily life.
Seeing the Young Lady’s anger subside, I repeated the question I had asked earlier.
“How do you feel about being in the restaurant after so long?”
“I don’t like it. It’s bothersome.”
“If you keep that up, you’ll turn into a pig.”
Olivia wore a confident expression.
“A pig?”
With her shoulders squared, Olivia proudly flaunted her chest. It was rather brazen for an adult, especially in front of a guest, and it made me want to flick her forehead.
The triumphant look on her face was no different.
“When I eat, it all goes to my chest.”
“Don’t lie. Then what about the fat on your stomach? Is that just greed?”
Teasing her, I pointed at the belly fat peeking out from Olivia’s side.
Olivia, fuming, threw a fork at me, but it didn’t even come close.
“Too slow.”
“Ugh….”
The Young Lady grabbed the back of her neck.
This is why I don’t give her chocolate. If she eats too much, she’ll get hypertension. What if she collapses while I’m teasing her?
I undermined her boastfulness with a mocking grin.
“Pig.”
Though Olivia’s scream of frustration echoed, I ignored it and focused on preparing the meal.
Hanna wore a bewildered expression, as if unable to adapt to our antics.
Could a Butler and Master have such a relationship? A Butler Who Teases the Master—Hanna looked at us as if she’d seen a wild owl.
While placing the fork and knife on the table, I said.
“Don’t worry, we’re not crazy.”
“No….”
Hanna thought to herself that we probably were crazy.
From the time she saw me crying with a fist in my mouth the last time we met, she thought I was insane.
Both the Butler who teased the rumored Villainess and the Villainess who threw a fork at the Butler seemed impossible to adjust to.
Of course, they were kind people, but they didn’t seem normal.
I noticed Hanna’s bewildered expression and let out a small laugh.
“We’re just excited, that’s all. Both the Young Lady and I.”
“Excited? About what? I don’t understand at all.”
“Just.”
Looking at the Young Lady’s expression as she stared intently at Hanna, I spoke.
“It’s been a while since someone came by.”
Hanna said nothing.
What was this feeling?
Her chest suddenly felt heavy.
It had been a long time since she’d felt welcomed.
In her memory, birthdays had always been days of tears.
Crying her eyes out due to her Father’s neglect.
Blowing out her candles alone in a room where no one celebrated her.
It felt like the first time she was truly welcomed by someone.
“Are you happy that I came?”
Hanna asked me.
Her voice sounding a bit heavy.
As a Butler, I was glad to have work to do after so long, and it made me happy that she came to the estate because she remembered the green tea I prepared.
We’d only known each other for two weeks, so her attention felt excessive.
It was also nice that her visit helped me progress quickly with the Quest.
Though it was a self-serving thought, I could answer her question sincerely.
“Yes, I’m happy.”
“Really?”
“Of course. In that sense, would you mind keeping the Young Lady company after the meal?”
For a moment, Hanna fell silent.
At my request, the Young Lady exhaled through her nose, pretending not to care yet clearly looking forward to it. Excited at the prospect of having a woman-to-woman conversation for the first time in a while, she seemed to already be planning what to talk about in her head.
I, on the other hand, was working hard to meet the Young Lady’s expectations.
Hanna didn’t respond.
I wasn’t expecting her answer anyway.
Even if she refused, I’d make her do it.
There’s no such thing as a free meal.
While I was at it, I planned to ask her for other favors too.
“Aren’t you feeling uncomfortable from being soaked in the rain?”
“A little, yes.”
“Then after the meal, you can take a bath with the Young Lady.”
Hmph.
The Young Lady exhaled through her nose even more forcefully this time. She seemed thrilled.
“Ah…?”
Hanna’s face twisted into an incredulous expression.
I liked what I saw.
“You look a bit better now.”
“What?”
“Your expression looks much better than before.”
Hanna touched her face. The corners of her mouth had subtly lifted. It was definitely an unwelcome favor, and she was annoyed about being ordered around, but her lips were betraying her true feelings.
Why am I smiling?
Laughing on her birthday felt like something she hadn’t done in a long time.
A subtle atmosphere lingered briefly.
The Young Lady’s voice, known as the Atmosphere Slayer, was heard.
“Ricardo, I’m hungry.”
“As expected. Gluttonous Fairy.”
“Is that an insult?”
Olivia had a Question Mark on the Head.
I chuckled softly and passed it off as Praise.
“No, it means you’re as beautiful as a fairy.”
“Well, I am a fairy.”
“That’s correct. Although you eat much more than a fairy, you’re still a fairy.”
Whoosh. A fork flew at me, but I dodged it easily again.
With an innocent expression, Olivia asked me.
“What’s for dinner tonight?”
“What do you want to eat?”
The Correct Answer was written in Olivia’s eyes. She always gave the same answer.
“Meat?”
As always, I gave the opposite answer. The reason she asked about tonight’s menu wasn’t because she cared about my opinion. It was more like a kind of Telepathy game to see if what I planned to cook matched what she wanted to eat.
If they didn’t match, she’d be disappointed.
If they matched, she’d be pleased.
That’s how it was.
“No.”
“Hng.”
As I had told Miss Hanna earlier, tonight’s menu was Fresh Cream Cake.
A cake with plenty of fresh cream piled on top.
My hobby in my Previous Life had been cooking and baking, so I was fairly confident in my baking skills. I was sure it wouldn’t fail.
The dessert would be Fresh Cream Cake.
For the sides, something simple like Seasoned Fried Chicken would do.
And for the main dish, I thought of the food that women in my Previous Life went crazy for. Whether they were sad, happy, or upset, this dish always drove them wild.
I figured this obsession-worthy food might help lift Hanna’s gloomy mood, despite its surprising fixation-inducing quality.
I gave Olivia a satisfied Smile.
“It’s something the Young Lady likes.”
Turning to Hanna, I also gave her a satisfied Smile.
“Miss Hanna, it’s also something you’ll like. It’s probably your first time trying it. Just eat it. Guests are supposed to accept what they’re given.”
Hanna wore an incredulous expression.
So what? If I feel like doing it, then that’s how it will be.
I headed into the Kitchen.
Soon, a spicy aroma began to waft through the Restaurant.
***
“Hng…. Haang….”
“Haaaang…. Haah.”
“Ssshh… Haa.”
Erotic-sounding moans echoed through the Restaurant.
I adjusted my posture. This wasn’t the kind of scene I was aiming for. Did I make it too spicy?
On the contrary, it was good.
If anyone heard it, they might mistake it for something scandalous happening.
Even the Young Lady, who was fairly used to spicy food, was struggling with this dish, fanning her skirt to cool down.
Watching Olivia’s indecent behavior, I said.
“Young Lady, you’re being too vulgar. Please stop.”
“Why! It’s too hot!”
“Even so, it’s too inappropriate.”
Clicking her tongue, Olivia glanced at me but gave up fanning her skirt under my continued Nagging and focused on eating.
In the center of the Table was a red dish.
One of the dishes I was best at making in my Previous Life—Tteokbokki.
I had experimented with this spicy dish on Olivia since she was young to see if it would appeal to the people of this world, and to my surprise, she ate it well. So I figured it would suit Miss Hanna too.
As expected, Hanna was eating it well.
“It’s spicy, but it’s delicious. My tongue hurts, but…. Ssshh. It’s strangely addictive.”
It seemed to suit her taste.
I couldn’t help but Smile.
“Is it good?”
“It’s really good!”
Watching her sweat while eating reminded me of myself at the orphanage, always picking out only the fish cakes.
She knows how to eat.
Since this world lacked fish cakes, I had substituted them with ham, and it seemed to work quite well.
Hanna was diligently picking out the ham from the Tteokbokki, and I felt rather touched.
Of course, Olivia’s Favorability toward Hanna was dropping in real-time.
“Eeeek! Stop just picking out the ham!”
“Young Lady, you’re also only eating the ham.”
“This is my house!”
“I’m a Guest!”
“Eeeek.”
Seeing Olivia on the verge of collapsing from Hypertension, I picked out some ham and placed it on her Plate to calm her down.
Hanna looked at me with passionate eyes.
“It’s my first time trying it, but it’s delicious.”
“It’s a dish that costs quite a bit.”
“Pardon?”
Miss Hanna looked momentarily startled.
I joked as I spoke to her.
“It’s 100,000 Gold.”
Clang. Olivia dropped her fork.
“Hieeek!”
Why are you the one surprised?
“How much have I eaten so far?! One hundred thousand, one million, ten million?!”
“No.”
“Ricardo…. Have I really become a money-eating Pig?”
I looked at Olivia with an incredulous expression, and Olivia looked at me with disbelief.
Of course, Hanna remained composed.
She seemed to understand it was a Joke.
I corrected myself, worrying about the overly shocked Young Lady.
“That was a Lie. It didn’t even cost 10 Shillings.”
“Phew. I almost had to go on a forced Diet.”
The Young Lady returned her focus to eating.
Hanna nodded.
“What’s this dish called?”
“Tteokbokki.”
“Tteokbokki.”
“Yes, I made it especially for you. It’s a dish made with my special recipe, so no one else can make it.”
“Is it okay to make such a dish for me?”
Hanna’s eyes widened. She seemed touched that I had made a one-of-a-kind dish for her.
I spoke to her as if it were obvious.
“It’s your Birthday, after all.”
“…”
Hanna tightly gripped the Fork.
“That’s right. Today is my Birthday.”
Hanna, silently eating the Tteokbokki, was breathing heavily.
“Gulp… What’s happening? Is it too spicy?”
“That’s correct. I made it spicy.”
“This isn’t usually like me. Sniff… What’s happening? Haha… It’s so delicious…”
I placed a Water Cup beside her and spoke again.
“Happy Birthday.”
“Sniff… Thank you.”
It seemed Hanna was quite prone to tears.
***
Night had fallen.
I ended up staying overnight at someone else’s house.
It had been a long time since I spent a night away from home. Apart from training in Swordsmanship, I didn’t have Friends, and the only times I ever stayed out were due to Camping Outdoors for work.
Sleeping at someone else’s house.
It felt awkward.
But it didn’t feel bad.
I had eaten food that melted my stress away and heard words of welcome. Although I had come to this house like an intruder, the Butler treated me as a Guest, and I was sincerely grateful.
Of course, the Young Miss was still scary.
A lot happened today.
I resented my family for ignoring my Birthday.
I hated my Father for his Neglect, so I ran away.
And I ended up crying while eating.
“Haah… Idiot, why did you cry there?”
Hanna kicked at the Blanket with determination.
‘Still, it was truly nice.’
It felt like the most enjoyable Birthday I’d ever had.
On past Birthdays, my Father would watch my Older Brother practice Swordsmanship, and no one cared to greet me. But today, I felt Emotions I hadn’t in a long time, leaving me strangely excited.
By tomorrow, I’ll shake it off and get back up.
I think I’ve gained the strength to face what’s ahead.
Until a while ago, I wanted to give up on everything, including Swordsmanship. But it seems I made the right call coming here.
Yet, a part of me feared the Morning Sun. I dreaded returning to that suffocating house. They probably wouldn’t even notice I was gone.
My Father was entirely consumed by my Older Brother.
My Older Brother was said to be on the verge of becoming a Sword Expert. That’s why Father was so desperate to teach him more.
“…I really hate it.”
As loneliness crept in, so did melancholy. Hanna clutched the Blanket tightly and curled up.
“I should’ve just slept next to the Young Miss.”
I had asked for a separate room, thinking the Young Miss might chatter all night if I stayed near her. Now, I regretted it.
Just as I thought I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight—
-Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Are you awake?”
A familiar Voice called out.
Hanna cautiously got up and opened the door.
“Haha…”
Ricardo stood there with an awkward Smile.
In his hands were snacks and Green Tea.
“I realized I forgot something.”
“Come in.”
“Thank you.”
As I closed the door and looked at Ricardo’s face, Hanna’s face instantly heated up.
I had completely forgotten that we were a grown man and woman in a room with a roof and walls enclosing us.
Strange thoughts crept in.
Sensual thoughts clouded my mind.
We weren’t in that kind of relationship, yet countless fantasies seemed to play out in my head.
When Ricardo took a step closer to me, Hanna shut her eyes tightly and shouted.
“I’m sorry! I’m not ready yet…”
“Huh? Ready for what?”
“I mean, we’re not like that…”
Ricardo laughed heartily.
He quietly thanked me for not shouting and explained he hadn’t come with such intentions, leaving Hanna’s face burning as if it would explode.
“Then why…?”
“Ah…”
Ricardo spoke with a gentle Smile.
“I felt like I hadn’t given you your Birthday Gift.”
Hanna wished she could just disappear into a hole.