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Volume 2, Chapter 18: Risa takes a detour.

The light began to filter into the room from the crack in the curtain. It was early morning. Risa opened her eyes, but she didn’t move from her bed.

… What am I doing…

Two days after Zeke’s pseudo-confession. Risa told Zeke and Helena she decided to return to work at the café starting the next day. Before that, she visited the royal palace in order to solve a lot of her own problems.

Fortunately, she received a letter from His Highness Edgar the day before, detailing that he wanted to meet with her to talk before the engagement was made official.

As she was meeting with nobility, she wore a dress and headed to the royal palace slightly earlier than the agreed upon time. She had somewhere to go before she met with His Highness Edgar—the royal kitchen.

She wanted to thank them for lending the café Keith.

“Hm, Lady Risa? What’s up with the makeup?”

Keith raised his hand in greeting from his leaning position against the wall right outside the kitchen, probably taking a break. It was the regular holiday for the café today, so he was back in the royal palace as usual.

“Keith! Ah… Well… Anyways, thank you so much for helping out at the café.”

“Nah, don’t worry about it. It was a new and enlightening experience for me, too.”

“It’s great that you got something out of it. Still, I’m sorry we had to bother you for help.”

“Hey, you scratch my back, I scratch yours, yeah? We were saved by your cooking during the royal conference, so it’s only fair I repay the debt. Moreover, how are you feeling?”

“I’m okay now. Thank you for asking.”

“What a relief. Zeke was probably the most worried about you, too.”

The second his name was mentioned, Risa’s heart skipped a beat and she shivered.

“Hm? What’s wrong Lady Risa? … Ohh, I know. He finally confessed, eh?”

“C-c-c-conf-f-fess?”

She panicked at his hitting the mark and frantically looked elsewhere to feign innocence.

“So he did. He’s an open book, Zeke.”

“Eh, no way… I never noticed…”

“There’s no way you couldn’t have not noticed. You know, that’s probably why he was so hostile towards me. So, what’s going on? Are you going out with him now?”

“U-uh, that’s… I’m thinking about that…”

Risa squeezed out, to which Keith sighed.

“Well, do what you want but don’t overthink it. Can’t have you collapsing on us again.”

He said worriedly and patted Risa’s head.

“Speaking of which, what are you up to Lady Risa?”

“Oh, right! I have to go. Ah, could you please send Head Chef McKinnies my regards and thanks?”

“Sure. Take care,” Keith said as he waved, and Risa left the kitchen.

_______________________________________________________________

Risa thought about Zeke while she walked.

Honestly, she was happy to hear him ask her to pick him instead of His Highness the crown prince. For the first time, she saw Zeke as a man.

On the other hand, she couldn’t figure out the meaning behind Zeke’s words. When he implored her to pick him, did he mean as a man? After all, Zeke had nothing but respect and admiration for Risa, who could make food and desserts never seen before… right?

What if Risa wasn’t able to cook? It was difficult to think that Zeke would like her as a woman, regardless of whether she could cook. Risa’s culinary skill was only slightly above the average amateur in her previous world. There were droves of professional chefs with better skills than her.

Not only that, Risa was an exceptionally normal woman if one looked past her culinary skill. As someone with no unique quirks, she couldn’t believe a talented and handsome hunk like Zeke would like her.

But, if he really did like her…

She slowly began to hope, and her heartbeat quickened.