Chapter 28

While Lord Zain was on his expedition, I spent my days going back and forth to Mirel, making preparations for the restaurant.

Today, I worked from morning till evening, and before leaving, I took a moment to look at the building again, feeling overwhelmed with emotion.

"Wow, it's starting to look like a real restaurant...!"

In my previous life, no matter how hard I tried, I would never have been able to save up enough money to open a restaurant in my entire life. I resolved to make the most of this rare opportunity.

"The menu is almost finalized, and the supply of ingredients seems to be fine, so the next step is to find employees."

It seems like everything is going smoothly, and it's about time to start recruiting employees.

For a place of this size, a relatively small number of staff should be sufficient. Of course, after parting ways with Lord Zain, I plan to work there regularly, either in disguise or some other way.

"Wow, you're serious about this. I thought the restaurant was just a joke."

"I wouldn't joke about something like that."

Next to me and Evan, a strangely persistent handsome boy was staring intently at the store.

I'm no longer surprised that he followed me all the way here.

"I plan to cook on the pre-opening day. It will be free, so bring your friends along."

"Hmm. I'll come with some acquaintances."

"Sure, thanks! I'll be waiting."

When I said "friends," he replied with "acquaintances," which made me worry that he might not have any friends.

Feeling a pang of concern that he might not be able to grasp the right distance with others, I was suddenly glared at.

"You must be thinking something rude, right?"

"N-no, I'm not."

"Are you really friendless?"

"Shut up."

As I tried to calm the boy who was about to attack, straight-shooting Evan, two children holding hands approached. From the looks of it, they seemed to be sisters.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"I'm making a restaurant. It's a place to eat."

"Wow, that's amazing! I can't wait!"

Their big eyes lit up, and they nodded enthusiastically, making me smile.

"Thanks! Invite your friends to come by."

"Sure! ...But recently, everyone has been disappearing."

"Huh?"

Surprised by the words "everyone has been disappearing," a mother who seemed to be in a hurry called out to the children, and they left with a "See you later!"

I waved to them and looked up at Evan.

"What do you mean by 'disappearing'?"

"Maybe it's moving season?"

"Is that it? It must be sad to lose friends."

I had heard that Mirel has a lot of children, which is why I chose this town.

I returned to the capital, hoping to make as many people as possible happy.

◇◇◇

"Grace, you look cute today."

"Actually, we don't need to act yet. It's just the two of us here."

"No, I'm being honest."

A week later, I was in a carriage with Ranhart, heading to the city. We decided to go to a crowded place to start spreading rumors.

Lord Zain should have returned to the capital two days ago. I was relieved that he was safe, but there wasn't much time left before the ball, so we started our plan.

Ranhart, dressed in a dazzling white jacket, was so blindingly beautiful that it hurt my eyes.

In the novel, Grace's lovers changed daily, but having just one person, Ranhart, would be more noticeable and make the affair seem more real.

I also chose one of the most flamboyant dresses from Grace's past, and Yana styled me to look like a villainess.

"Let's drop the formalities. There's no difference in status."

"There is an age difference."

"The villainess Grace Sentsberry doesn't seem to care about such things."

"Y-Yeah... I understand."

Following the advice that dropping formalities and using first names would make us seem closer, I decided to put it into practice immediately. Ranhart was smiling at my awkwardness.

He was taking this more seriously than I imagined, and my opinion of him was rising. However, I was also getting nervous about what his "request" might be.

"Where are we going now?"

"I thought we'd go to the theater. It's a place where gossips gather, and it's where the Duke and you first became a topic of conversation."

"I see...!"

As I thought, he was reliable. He pinched my cheek with his finger, adorned with a large gemstone.

"You can't look like that. It shows guilt."

"Am I really looking like that?"

"Yeah, definitely."

I quickly forced a smile and was told, "Yeah, you're cute." I had to become a villainess who enjoyed the affair with Ranhart without feeling any guilt.

"It's really interesting. I can't understand how you can cheat with me and then dump the Duke."

"It's for my life and world peace."

"Ahaha, that makes me feel responsible too."

We arrived at the theater, and as we entered the lobby arm in arm, I could feel the gazes of everyone around us. The reaction was even stronger than when I came with Lord Zain.

"Oh, it's Lord Ranhart this time?"

"Did the Duke abandon her?"

I could hear such conversations from all around, and I was certain that the news would spread not just by tomorrow but by the end of the day.

I put on the evil smile I had practiced with Evan in front of a mirror and linked my arm with Ranhart's.

"Being able to monopolize such a beautiful woman is like a dream."

"Yes, I'm happy to spend time with Ranhart."

Focusing on my expression and attitude, I felt like a terrible actor, and Ranhart looked down and chuckled.

Thinking that I might blow my cover, Ranhart pulled me closer by the waist.

"I don't want any other men to see such a cute Grace. Let's go somewhere we can be alone?"

I was grateful for his quick thinking, but the intensity of the situation made it hard for me to do anything but smile. We moved through the increasingly noisy hall and were led to a familiar seat.

"Hey, this is—"

"Right, the same seat where you and the Duke sat last time. I was in a different seat on the same floor, but I found the distance between you two amusing."

"...I didn't know that."

When I said I had hit my head and had a bit of memory loss, he seemed to accept it with "Ah, that's right."

"Come on, sit down."

This time, we sat side by side in a two-seater, and he casually put his arm around my shoulder, making me break out in a cold sweat.

"The performance today is a tragic love story."

"Ah... That might be a bit problematic..."

"Why?"

"It might interfere with our plan..."

I thought the content of the opera wouldn't register in my mind given the situation.

"...Ugh... Sniff..."

After the opera ended, I was sobbing uncontrollably, overwhelmed by the sadness and tragedy. I had forgotten about Ranhart and was completely focused on the stage.

The story of two people who loved each other but couldn't be together was heart-wrenching.

The entire audience was in tears, but Ranhart seemed unfazed.

"Ahaha, we can't go out like this."

"S-Sorry..."

"Don't worry. Honestly, your crying face, despite your strong appearance, is really attractive."

"......!?"

Surprised, my tears stopped, and Ranhart wiped my eyes with a fragrant handkerchief, saying, "Good, they've stopped."

I thanked him and took a deep breath, then went to freshen up my makeup.

"...Pretending to be a man-loving villainess is hard."

As I thought this, I turned the corner in the hallway and accidentally bumped into someone. A tinkling voice reached my ears.

"Sorry, are you okay?"

I almost apologized, but then I remembered that the current Grace would have snapped, so I quickly glared up and was taken aback.

"Sorry, are you okay?"

"......"

—Having read the novel countless times, there was no way I could mistake him. The same feeling I had when I first met Lord Zain made me unable to move a single finger.

Standing there was undoubtedly the heroine of "The Fated Knight and the Holy Maiden," Charlotte.