Of all people, this catastrophe had to happen right in front of the precious, sheltered Crown Prince!
Lionel’s long eyelashes trembled, and his golden eyes shook with visible shock. It was a look of pure disbelief. Watching him, I broke into a cold sweat and practically shrieked in desperation.
“I’ll make it again! I am so sorry! My part-timer is still a bit clumsy with the serving!”
Even with the Crown Prince’s gaze burning into me, I snatched the tray from Damian’s hands, recovered the earthenware pot and rice bowl with lightning speed, and grabbed Damian’s sleeve with my other hand.
“Get over here, now!”
Damian looked down at me inquisitively but allowed himself to be dragged away quietly.
Thud.
The moment the kitchen door slammed shut, I set the tray down with a clatter and planted my hands on my hips. Even though he couldn't see my eyes through my hair, I narrowed my brows and spoke with absolute sternness.
“Listen, in a restaurant, taste and kindness are important, but the most important thing is hygiene! Hy-giene!”
“……”
“First is hygiene, and second is hygiene! Being tasteless or unkind just ruins a business, but being dirty is a crime!”
“……”
“A fingernail topping?! That’s a declaration that you’re closing shop! It’s a matter of basic human decency!”
Damian, who had been looking down at me in silence, slowly tilted his head. As those coldly glowing red eyes reflected my determined face, a chill ran down my spine.
Then, a low voice dropped a single question.
“Didn’t you say it was heavy?”
“…Huh?”
For a moment, I didn't understand what he meant, but then it hit me.
Right. I had just been whining to Damian about how heavy the pots were, hadn't I?
…But come to think of it, I just snatched that 'heavy' tray with one arm and dragged Damian along with the other.
As the realization sank in, I started sweating even more profusely than before. I opened my mouth to explain, but before I could make an excuse, Damian’s red eyes glowed quietly.
“Humans even lie about such trivial things, I see.”
Damn it. This monster is way too sharp.
But Damian didn't stop there.
“The human race never changes, no matter how much time passes. Drunk on your own fabrications, you always turn away from the truth.”
…Hey, why are we jumping to such grand conclusions?
Next to me, Damian began rambling as if he were submitting a philosophy thesis, muttering about how humans are a species that comforts themselves with lies and creates illusions because they cannot endure reality.
Human introspection? Playing philosopher?
Honestly, I didn't give a damn. He should go start a fire in the middle of the Monster Forest and discuss that with his own kind all night.
…And yet, my throat felt dry and I swallowed hard.
Why? Because right now, Damian was starting to see me as a "typical human."
Why does that matter? It matters a lot.
Until now, he probably saw me as a "peculiar human doing strange things to seduce him" or a "biological specimen worth observing." That’s why he at least pretended to listen or humored me occasionally.
But look at those eyes. Those are the eyes of someone who has lost all trust.
It reminded me of a dog I once teased by pretending to give it a treat when I went to help harvest sweet potatoes. That cold stare, the dog wouldn't look at me even when called and wouldn't wag its tail.
Yeah, that was the problem.
I have so much work for him to do in the future, if trust is broken, I won't even be able to get my money's worth out of his labor. Damian is the only manpower I have in this inn besides myself.
And with that look? The moment I tell him to work, he’ll go on strike.
My neck was damp with sweat. I wiped it off quickly with my sleeve and cautiously checked his mood.
“That… that wasn’t really a lie. It was more like… an exaggeration. Let’s call it freedom of expression…?”
“Exaggeration is no different from a lie.”
Augh, I'm screwed. He’s being much firmer than I expected.
I was speechless for a moment, but eventually, I forced a smile and waved my hand dismissively.
“No, really! A few are fine. But when the shop is packed, my arms really do shake!”
This time, I was being somewhat sincere. There were actually times when I had to go to sleep with bandages wrapped around my wrists.
Damian narrowed his eyes and slowly scanned my body. When his gaze landed on my pathetic-looking forearms, I intentionally let my arms hang limp to look even more miserable.
Then, as expected, a short snort mixed with mockery escaped him.
“Hmph.”
Did he soften up a bit? The icy expression from earlier relaxed slightly, it seemed my pitiful arms were convincing enough evidence for him.
Anyway, enough with Damian. I have to focus on the VIP now.
What’s the best part about Gukbap (soup with rice)? It comes out fast.
I quickly threw the ingredients together, finished a bowl in no time, and headed toward Lionel.
“I am so sorry! I’ve given you a double portion!”
I carefully placed the pot on the table, wearing my most sincere smile. Lionel watched me with a strange look before picking up his spoon and taking a sip of the broth.
…Whew, thank goodness.
It seems this Crown Prince is the type of man who has the magnanimity to overlook a "fingernail topping incident" as mere clumsiness. He truly has the makings of a wise ruler.
I was breathing a sigh of relief and quietly backing away when it happened.
“Wait.”
“……!”
My heart dropped at that one word.
You see, a regular customer calling you over is much scarier than a first-timer asking for a freebie or a refund. In business, the scariest thing is losing a regular. A regular is someone whose patronage alone can keep the daily revenue afloat.
Just look at the situation now. Everyone left for the subjugation, and the only reason my sales are staying steady is thanks to Lionel.
So, when a regular calls you over seriously, it feels like a death sentence to a business owner.
I pressed down on my thumping chest, plastered on a stiff smile, and turned my neck. My movements were so rigid you could almost hear a creak-creak sound.
“Yes? Do you need anything else?”
Lionel stared at me in silence for a moment before pulling his hood down deeper and muttering quietly.
“…That……”
“Pardon?”
“That… add that, too.”
“……?”
Add what?
When I tilted my head, unable to understand, Lionel’s face suddenly turned bright red, and he practically gasped out a shout.
“That! That thing you do with the strange hand gestures!”
The moment that near-desperate shout erupted, the tips of his ears visible under the hood turned red first. It started as a faint flush but quickly flared up like a spreading fire.
Soon after, his cheeks… honestly, even a well-ripened peach wouldn’t be that red. His tightly pressed lips were trembling, and his eyes darted hectically between the soup and my face. His restless hands even fidgeted with the spoon, clutching at empty air.
I stared blankly at Lionel’s real-time "death by embarrassment" before a giggle started to leak out.
Look at this guy. He ran away like that back then, but it turns out he actually liked the service?
I didn't hide my grin as I spoke playfully.
“Hehe, that? I’ll do it as a special service today.”
I raised both hands and formed a heart.
“Fill a bowl of soup with happiness, go for it, earthen pot! With the power of love, Kyung!”
Lionel’s expression began to crumble.
As I continued, his face grew even more flushed. The redness that started at his ears had now reached his eyes, and his gaze wandered aimlessly.
Was it because he liked it, or because he was embarrassed, or because he was appalled? It was probably a mix of all three.
Of course, I didn't stop there. Since I was at it, I decided to give him the full service.
Normally, I would have just aimed the heart at the soup and finished, but this time I made a circle in front of me, mimicked taking a bite, and then presented the heart.
“With the power of love, Kyun!”
The legendary "Bite Heart"!
Lionel stared at me as if he were about to hyperventilate from my novel heart gesture, then hurriedly turned his head away. He buried his face in the pot and began shoveling the soup into his mouth.
I smiled satisfyingly, fired off three more hand-hearts, and headed back to the kitchen so as not to disturb his meal.
However, Lionel, who I thought would turn away in disgust, lifted his head again.
“Are you not participating in the subjugation?”
“Pardon?”
Is he asking an innkeeper why she isn't going on a monster hunt?
I looked at him blankly but soon nodded. Come to think of it, it wasn't that surprising. Even Gilbert had volunteered. And if even the Crown Prince is talking like this, people must be swarming in from all over the country.
Of course, I had absolutely no intention of going.
I shrugged my shoulders and joked lightheartedly.
“How could a plain innkeeper like me go? I’d be lucky if I wasn't just a nuisance.”
As I held up my "weak" arms, Damian, who was standing nearby, nodded in agreement.
…Hey, I appreciate the empathy, but you know.
Self-deprecating humor is only funny when you’re the one doing it. Don't you know the atmosphere turns cold the moment someone else seriously agrees with you?
I rolled my eyes and glared at Damian. Meanwhile, Lionel, who had been watching us, glanced at my arms and then down at his soup, muttering to himself.
“That is a shame. There are many who miss the food of this inn. If it were known that you were coming, morale would surely soar.”
No, like I said, I don't want the "hidden-pro-chef-supporting-character" role!
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