𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟐: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧
Today, I have no plans, so I have plenty of time to go to the market. I’m dressed as a town girl, but apparently, anyone who looks can tell I’m a noble’s daughter. That’s why Stephan, who has changed into casual clothes, is with me.
“I hope I can get that seaweed today.”
The seaweed I’m looking for works well for people with a certain fatigue-prone disease. The disease is difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to other diseases, but I was good at distinguishing it.
We had left our carriage at the market’s carriage deposit and were walking.
On the way to the dried goods store we were aiming for, several pairs of men and women were walking happily. It’s a bit depressing. I shake off my self-deprecating thoughts, thinking, “What did I do to be so disliked, when so many people are walking together so happily?” (No, no, let’s look ahead).
Speaking of which, I wonder if Stephan, who always accompanies me, actually goes out on his days off. I try not to interfere in personal matters, but Stephan is twenty-six and single. I wonder if he has any fun on his days off. But I can’t ask because he probably doesn’t want his employer, me, to interfere.
After buying the seaweed I was looking for, I was looking around other stores. On the way, I saw Samuel drinking at a seat near the entrance of a cheap bar we passed by.
Samuel seemed quite drunk, slumping sloppily with his elbows on the table. I thought I should leave quickly, but my legs wouldn’t move as I wanted them to.
“Excuse me.”
Stephan said that and put his hand on my back, pushing me forward to walk.
“I’m sorry. I was very surprised.”
“I don’t want to sympathize with that man, but I think he wouldn’t want to be seen like that by Ojou-sama. Besides, it’s safer not to get involved.”
After walking like that for a while, I calmed down quite a bit.
Don’t be upset. Don’t feel sorry for him now. Don’t forget that I cut him off by my own will. I tell myself that as I walk.
Seeing me like this, Stephan seemed to take pity on me and spoke to me.
“Ojou-sama, there’s a shop I often go to. It’s very common, but they serve delicious food. They also have alcohol, so how about a drink for a change of mood?”
“Let’s go. I want to go. Take me there.”
The place he took me to was a small shop one block off the main street. The shop was crowded, filled with the savory smell of burning meat and fat and the sound of conversation.
Stephan chose a seat in the corner with a familiar attitude and asked me what I liked, but I decided to leave everything to Stephan. After ordering several dishes, he asked me about drinks.
“Ojou-sama, what would you like to drink?”
“Call me Ellen. I don’t want to make the people around me uncomfortable.”
“Understood. What will you drink?”
“Something strong and sweet.”
Stephan ordered two drinks from the shop.
The food was served with the drinks, bang! bang! bang! I was a little surprised, but the waiter didn’t seem to be in a bad mood.
“It’s sausage grilled over charcoal, beef tongue stew, and a chunk of lamb slowly grilled over charcoal. The lamb is said to be grilled for half a day.”
Stephan, who seemed to be a regular, was knowledgeable. Except for the sausage, it was my first time eating these dishes.
For drinks, Stephan had ale, and I was handed something like orange juice in a large, thick glass.
When I toasted and took a sip, the orange juice-like drink had plenty of distilled liquor in it and was quite strong. Stephan only sipped his ale because he was working.
I ate and drank heartily. I thought that delicious food is delicious no matter when. The sausage with a crispy burnt surface, I bit into it with a fork without cutting it, following Stephan’s example. The juice from the meat splashed out from the crispy skin and flew onto the chest of my dress.
“If my manners teacher saw this, she would faint.”
“Please keep it a secret that I brought you to this kind of shop.”
“Of course. Thank you for bringing me.”
It was my first time coming to a place like this, and my first time eating such savory and hot food. I was having so much fun that I ordered a second round of the distilled juice, which made Stephan panic.
The man at the next table worried, “Are you okay, Ojou-san? That’ll hit you later.” But the man with him teased, “Isn’t that what you’re aiming for, brother?” Stephan was laughing with a troubled face.
I appreciate the concern, but I don’t get drunk that easily. I was born with a high detoxification ability and have trained my body and brain to handle it. After all, alcohol is one type of poison to the body.
By the time I had drunk four glasses of juice in a row, the staff and other customers were watching in surprise. After finishing the fifth glass, I felt quite good. Stephan clearly looked troubled. He must regret inviting me. I’m sorry, even though you invited me for just one drink, but I’m having fun.
“I want to come here again.”
“You’re drunk. This is the first time I’ve seen you drunk.”
“I’m not drunk.”
“That’s what a drunk person would say.”
“I’m not drunk at all.”
“I understand.”
The beef tongue stew is simmered until the meat falls apart, and when alternated with cold alcohol, it seems like I could eat it endlessly. The lamb with bone may be burnt here and there on the surface, but it was so tender and juicy that the meat came off easily when I pulled the bone.
“Everything is delicious.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Your way of speaking has become childlike.”
“I’m still a child anyway. I don’t have a big chest like Melanie.”
“Are you drunk?”
“No, I’m not.”
I finished an amount of food I thought I couldn’t possibly eat, and drank six glasses of juice. I wanted to stay longer, but Stephan said, “Let’s really stop now,” so I decided to go home.
Stephan paid for me,
“I’ll take care of this.”
he said. Stephan, even though he only had one sip. Even though I drank a lot. I wonder how much the bill was. I feel bad. I’ll give him a gift later. I didn’t have any personal money today.
The staff and customers were surprised to see me walking without staggering.
“Ojou-san, come again.” “You have a good drink.”
I left the store, smiling at the voices coming from all around. I felt a little drunk while walking to the carriage, but I was in a good mood.
“Thank you. It was delicious and fun.”
“Me too. I got to see Ojou-sama drunk.”
“You can forget about that. Will you take me again?”
“If Danna-sama or Oku-sama find out, I might lose my job. I can’t promise, but is it okay if I say ‘someday’?”
“I won’t let you lose your job. You can rest assured. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
It felt like I had replenished my [fun]. I can work hard again.
Later, as a thank you for treating me, I gave Stephan a silver pendant.
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