Chapter 8

Three days after starting school, I rushed to town after receiving a report from Syd. Wearing a crimson dress and a wide-brimmed hat, I probably didn’t look like a duchess’s daughter.

Syd was dressed as usual but had taken off her purple brooch and was wearing glasses.

Stop it.

Stop directly stimulating my maiden heart!

The handsome black-rimmed glasses have infinite attack power!

Syd, who was too cool to look at, led me down the main street to a place where commoners gathered to eat.

My heart was pounding as I was subtly holding hands.

I’m going to die today.

But Syd, who didn’t notice my tension at all, started secretly monitoring the target bento shop from an alley when we got close to it.

“There she is, that girl.”

I peeked out from behind the wall, grabbing Syd’s arm with both hands and staring at the bento shop.

“That girl...?”

A beautiful blonde girl with her hair tied up in a cheap ribbon, but she was serving customers with a bright and lively smile.

There she was.

“It’s definitely her, Kukurika, the Baroness Lally...!”

Unbelievable.

The heroine is selling bentos!!!

According to the report from Syd, the heroine had married her childhood friend (a commoner) at the age of fifteen and was running a bento shop with him. The Lally family did have debts and wasn’t living a noble lifestyle, so it wasn’t strange for their daughter to work.

But!

But, but!!

Not attending school and opening a bento shop with her childhood friend, what’s going on!?

“Could she also be a reincarnated person?”

She must have known that if she attended school, the prince would take notice of her...

This is the only way to avoid it.

“It hurts! Miss, it hurts!”

“Ah, sorry.”

I had been squeezing Syd’s arm so hard that I almost crushed it. When I let go, Syd started rubbing the spot I had grabbed, looking like it really hurt.

“Hey, can we buy a bento from that shop?”

“That’s fine.”

Syd said that and gave me a few copper coins. I realized I only had silver coins, enough to buy out the entire shop.

“See you later!”

“I’m coming too!”

Syd hurriedly followed me as I ran out. My heart skipped a beat again when she grabbed my hand.

“What if you get lost or kidnapped and end up killing the kidnapper!?”

Wait a minute. Why is killing the kidnapper the default scenario!?

That’s a harsh way to put it.

But I’m happy to hold hands, so I’ll let it slide.

In a good mood, I bought a bento directly from the heroine.

The bento was just a wooden box filled with side dishes and bread. The box wasn’t disposable; you had to bring it back washed for the next purchase to get it refilled.

Since it was my first time, I bought the box with the side dishes.

“Thank you!!”

“It looks delicious.”

“Yes! I made it!”

So cute.

The blonde, blue-eyed heroine looked like a doll and was so cute.

Most of all, her bright and lively smile was beautiful.

Not only is she kind, but she can make bentos too...!

I’m a little envious.

I opened the bento near a fountain where I could see Kukurika.

And then.

I was shocked by the contents.

“T-this is nikujaga and tamagoyaki!?”

I was stunned by the taste of Japanese food I had never seen before in this world.

Kukurika Lally must definitely be a reincarnated person!

“An unusual dish. Is it from a foreign country?”

Syd also looked interested as she peered in.

I pierced the tamagoyaki with a fork and gently brought it to my mouth.

“Mmmmm!!!”

It’s a tamagoyaki!?

The mild taste of the kelp broth... it’s so delicious it’s driving my brain crazy.

“I’ll buy some dried kelp.”

The famous one is from the northern Laussu. It’s expensive, but the Marcus duchy can buy as much as they want.

Okay, I’ll definitely buy some on the way back.

The nikujaga was also delicious.

I thought, “Do we really need this mysterious green stem instead of green beans?” but the broth made me so happy.

Syd also seemed to like it, saying, “It’s delicious,” as she ate.

I wish our cook could recreate this taste. I decided to buy another one on the way back.

After finishing the bento, I watched Kukurika work in a daze.

Kukurika was loved by everyone, young and old, and worked energetically.

Her husband, a young man, also seemed kind, and it was clear they loved each other deeply.

“She’s a very good girl...”

“What do you want to do?”

Syd asked, just in case.

She was probably asking what to do about my request to transfer Kukurika to the school.

I sighed deeply, hanging my head.

“There’s no way I can destroy such happiness. But... I can’t just let it go like this!”

I stood up and headed back to the bento shop.

It’s unfair for her to escape this fate alone, before me! Why didn’t she invite me?!

Even though we’re not friends, I got angry.

“Hey? Miss, is something wrong?”

Kukurika smiled at me, unaware of anything, and didn’t recognize me as the villainess.

Gripping the coins in my hand, I told Kukurika:

“I want ten more bentos.”

“Thank you!”

Syd looked at us curiously and took the ten bentos.

I smiled wickedly and placed a silver coin in her hand.

It’s a petty act, but it’s the best I can do right now.

“Customer!?”

Hehe, she’s flustered.

Of course, she is, receiving ten times the amount.

She should cry in frustration at the rich person’s charity!

“I don’t need change!”

I said and walked away confidently.

The pure heroine will surely be troubled by the excessive payment.

Take my envy and jealousy!

“Customer!”

Hearing Kukurika’s confused voice, I ran away, swearing never to come back here.

“The tamagoyaki was delicious…”

From tomorrow, I’ll have the driver buy it for me.