“As for what His Excellency likes to eat... I’m not sure.”
At the chef’s remark, Del’s expression hardened. Having served Kainel for so long, it struck him again that he didn’t really know what the man liked or disliked.
He’s not someone who ever shows such things.
A long sigh slipped out from both Del and the chef at once.
“Um...”
At that moment, a maid who had been quietly standing to the side spoke up with hesitation.
“There’s a place my younger brother goes to often.”
“A place?”
Unlike Del, who looked puzzled, the chef frowned. Was she suggesting they bring in outside food for the Grand Duke?
Noticing his reaction, the maid quickly continued.
“M-my brother once regained his strength after eating the stew sold there when he was unwell... I’m sorry.”
“No matter what, how could we possibly serve street food to His Excellency...”
“Did you say stew?”
“Mr. Del?”
The chef’s eyes widened as he stopped mid-scolding. Paying him no mind, Del stepped closer to the maid and smiled gently.
“You’re saying it helps restore one’s strength?”
“Yes. My brother was trapped in the Black Forest. When he returned, his body was in terrible condition, though he had no visible injuries.”
“I see.”
“Surely... Mr. Del, you aren’t really planning to bring street food, right?”
“Yes.”
“Pardon?”
“If it means he will eat, I would do anything.”
What did it matter if it was street food or something cheap? If it helped the Grand Duke find something he could eat, Del would bring it without hesitation.
“Where is this place?”
***
“I apologize for keeping you waiting, miss.”
With a polite smile, the insurance clerk handed a bracelet to Ceres, who was seated across from her.
“The treatment insurance payout of 879 gold and 95 silver has been deposited.”
What the woman returned was Ceres’s bracelet, or more precisely, one connected to the Drow family’s bank account. All financial transactions were conducted through this single piece.
879 gold.
It wasn’t a bad amount, though the fact that it came from Agne’s scheme left a slight discomfort.
To think she even took out insurance.
The policy was under Julia’s name, something neither Ceres nor the rest of the family had known.
Only recently did they discover that Agne had secretly arranged life insurance before Julia’s condition worsened. In other words, before Agne began feeding the child that medicine.
So she planned to claim this as well.
After confirming it, Ceres seriously considered whether she should sneak into the prison and beat Agne herself.
It’s not exactly money gained in good faith.
Still, it wasn’t like she were receiving it directly from her criminal aunt. Refusing it when the insurance company was offering it would be rather absurd.
It was thanks to the butler Colin’s efforts that this came to light. Convinced that someone like Agne would never have been satisfied with just this much, he had persistently dug through her past expenditures.
“There was a time when Agne took Young Miss Julia’s seal. Just in case, may I look into it?”
When given permission, he uncovered the insurance she had secretly taken out.
“You must collect it.”
Colin pressed the insurance documents firmly into Ceres’s hands, his gaze sharp as he urged her to retrieve the medical payout immediately.
Under that intensity, Ceres could only nod obediently.
“Is there anything else you need, miss?”
“No, there isn’t.”
“Then please take care. We look forward to seeing you again.”
Leaving the employee, who maintained her polite smile to the very end, Ceres slowly rose from her seat.
Hm?
She was just about to step out of the office when she spotted a familiar face. Her gaze stopped abruptly.
That man is...
Wasn’t he Dave’s father? The one she had seen at the bookstore with Julia?
The man whose wife had run off with their son after having an affair.
“Here are the insurance records under your wife and son’s names.”
“Yes. Um, but...”
“Yes?”
“I’m asking just in case... how long does it take for someone to be declared dead after they go missing?”
“If the disappearance occurred in the Black Forest, it’s one year. Otherwise, it’s typically five years. In either case, our company will dispatch personnel to conduct an investigation.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Do you have any other questions?”
...Insurance?
Hearing part of the conversation, Ceres cast him a puzzled glance.
Why would he suddenly be checking the insurance records of a wife and son who had supposedly run away?
Ceres lingered a moment longer, half-listening to the exchange before losing interest. Soon, she turned away and left.
***
“Haah... how long has it been?”
“Thirty minutes.”
“D*mn it, if they went in already, they should eat and get out.”
“Want me to drag them out?”
“Don’t. If the owner catches you, we’re done for.”
Delasi First Street was lively as ever today. Among the bustling crowd, one place stood out with a long line of people waiting in front of a small and shabby building.
<Where Your Steps Come to Rest>
Passersby glanced at the customers grumbling and swearing in line, but quickly lost interest and moved on.
It was nothing new, after all.
Step.
“Hm?”
It happened then. Someone walked straight past the line and headed directly for the entrance.
“What’s with that guy?”
“No idea. Has he lost his mind?”
The eyes of those who had been idly yawning as they waited sharpened in an instant.
A lunatic had the nerve to try cutting in line this early in the morning. He was doing it with shocking confidence, no less.
“Oi. You.”
“...Me?”
The man heading toward the shop with light steps, Tower Master Cheion, turned his head at the sharp call from the waiting customers.
“You don’t see the line here?”
“The hell do you think you’re doing cutting in?”
“Get in line before you get yourself beaten.”
Cheion shook his head as if there was a misunderstanding.
“I know the owner here.”
“So?”
“...Pardon?”
“So what?”
“We know the owner too!”
At that, the crowd scoffed.
“People here have been regulars for at least five years. You look like you just showed up, so where are you getting this ‘connection’ nonsense?”
“No, I didn’t come as a customer...”
“Oh yeah? Then what, you’re not even going to eat the stew?”
“....”
...Well, that wasn’t true. Even now, the rhythmic sound of chopping and the warm scent of food drifted over, making him curious about what she was serving.
As Cheion hesitated, unable to answer properly, the people around him all raised their hands and pointed behind him.
“Go stand in line!”
“....”
In the end, Cheion trudged to the very back and took his place.
I should’ve just slipped in with magic.
Staring at the seemingly endless line, he pouted.
“Aren’t they eating way too slow?”
“Exactly.”
“Hey, did you see that? He just ordered again. Eating two bowls at once is cheating!”
“Wow, that b*stard’s at it again.”
“Did he sell off his conscience? Can’t he see the line out here?”
“That guy’s always like that. Sometimes he orders three bowls.”
“Want me to go punch him real quick?”
Before long, Cheion fell into rhythm with the people around him, passing the time by complaining together about those eating inside.
“Is this where I line up?”
At that moment, someone approached from behind and spoke to him.
“Yeah.”
Without even turning around, Cheion answered briefly, prompting a small smile from Del, Kainel’s aide.
This was the place the maid had recommended earlier, <Where Your Steps Come to Rest>.
It has quite a crowd.
From the outside, it was a rather shabby little shop. Perhaps it looked even worse because the surrounding stores were so flashy.
Still, when Del saw the people eating inside, he couldn’t help but smile.
They all look happy.
Their expressions made it obvious. Despite it being nothing more than a bowl of stew, their faces were full of satisfaction. That alone made the long wait feel worthwhile.
If the food here suited Lord Kainel’s taste even a little, and brought that same expression to his face...
...Lord Kainel smiling.
The thought alone sent a chill down his spine. Best not to dwell on it.
Thud thud thud.
At that moment, a small figure darted past the crowd and ran straight toward the front of the shop.
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