Chapter 24.1 Rachel

A delicious scent filled the street. It's sweet…

Rachel wondered if it came from that stall over there.

When she moved her eyes around, what reflected in her eyes was the scenery of the town.

A little girl held her money, pointing at a single gerbera to the flower shop clerk.

On the other side was a young couple looking at the accessories in the open stalls. Their shoulders pressed against each other.

Further to the back was a sight of an older woman coming out from a bakery. She was holding a paper bag of the baguettes.

Rachel was reminded once again that all she knew before was the aristocracy society. She was the fiancée of the crown prince, yet she was clueless about how the citizens live. What kind of people live in this country? What were their troubles? What were their wishes?

Obviously, everyone here had various feelings.

Rachel could feel the life of the people of this town just by standing here. It was a very comfortable feeling.

And then, Louis, who sauntered to match Rachel's pace, stopped his legs in front of a cafeteria.

"It's here."

The cafeteria Louis guided her was nearby from their parked carriage position, just as he said before.

Rachel wasn't sure if she could walk for a long time, so she was very grateful for his consideration.

The cafeteria had a brick, orange roof, and a small blackboard with 'today's recommendation' written in front of the store.

When Louis opened the cafeteria's door energetically, Rachel heard a bright and lively voice from the store, saying, "Welcome!"

The cafeteria was bustling with customers. The five counter seats and the ten table seats were almost all occupied.

The woman who was wiping the table with a cloth called Louis with a grin, "Oh? Luke! This seat is empty, so sit here!"

"Thanks, Ma'am."

Louis pointed to the vacant seat to Rachel. Rachel followed him and sat down there, facing Louis.

"How unusual! Are you with a girl today? Oh my, your girlfriend?"

"Don't tease her too much. I finally managed to have a date with her today, y' know."

"Haha. Then I'll go now. Call me when you are ready to order."

Another customer called the woman with a bright personality, so she immediately went to welcome them.

"This cafeteria is pretty popular, right?"

"Yes. I was surprised."

"Everything is delicious here. Do you have anything you want to eat?"

Louis didn't sit gracefully as usual. His legs were open, and his back was slouched. He didn't look like a person of noble birth.

Then Louis took out the menu table placed beside the table and presented it to Rachel.

From a glance at the menu, Rachel could see the list of delicious dishes such as 'grilled chicken with herbs,' beef bourguignon,' and 'potato au gratin.' But she had no idea what she should order.

Rachel's eyes wandered around the letters on the menu up and down repeatedly, but then Louis suddenly took away the menu in her hand.

"How about I choose it for you? I'll recommend the most delicious ones."

"Ah, then please. Lu… Luke."

"Hahaha, that's good. Ma'am! We want to order."

Rachel stared at Louis. Louis consciously spoke using informal speech when he was going incognito. And his tone changed into a casual one.

Even when Rachel looked around, the current Louis didn't look that out of place here.

On the contrary, she was the one who stood out. She could feel a glance from here and there since a while ago. Most likely, that wasn't just her imagination.

(Hmm. Just where does His Highness hide his elegance?)

Rachel wanted to learn the secrets of his incognito skill.

Also, it seemed like Louis frequently went to this place, seeing how he didn't even look at the menu when ordering.

Perhaps Rachel stared at Louis too much. After the landlady took their order and left, Louis tilted his head and asked her, "What's wrong?"

"No, you look like you're used to this, so…"

"Well, I've been coming here for three years already."

"Three years!?"

"Haha. That's because I'm the type of guy who wholeheartedly devoted myself to whatever I like."

Louis put his elbows on the table and rested his chin there. Then he grinned and looked at her with a meaningful expression.

"Uu…" Rachel muttered, losing her words. At that, Louis laughed again.

"You're teasing me again!"

"That's not true. What I said is the truth."

Looking at how Louis didn't stop laughing, Rachel frowned and pretended to sulk.

Then Louis panicked and hurriedly said, "It's really the truth!!"

This time, it was Rachel's turn to chuckle at him.

"My. You guys sure are close." When Rachel raised her face at the sudden voice, she saw the landlady holding the dish plate in her hand with an amiable smile. "Here you go, this is quiche. The rest is soup and sandwiches made from homemade bread."

"Oh, it looks delicious as usual!"

"I hope they suit this lady's tongue."

"It looks very delicious! Thank you."

In front of them were sandwiches, which were fresh vegetables and ham between the freshly baked and fragrant bread. There was also warm soup with bacon and onions on a platter Rachel usually couldn't find in her residence and quiche with mushrooms and plenty of vegetables.

As Rachel was fascinated by the food, Louis served the dishes in the plates. Then he put it in front of her.

"Thank you very much."

"Come on, eat it before it gets cold."

Rachel's fork first went to the crunchy quiche puff pastry. She cut it into one-bite size and put it into her mouth.

"It's delicious!"

"I know, right?"

Right after she bit it, the mellow taste of white sauce spread inside her mouth. Not only that. It also had a warm, relieving taste. This should be 'the taste of home' Sarah told her before.

Rachel wanted to try the sandwich next, but she had never eaten a dish like that before. She didn't know how she should eat it.

After looking at Louis in front of her, the prince grabbed the sandwich with one hand and bit it.

Eh, just like that?

Upon noticing Rachel's widened eyes, Louis understood her confusion. "Ah. You eat it like this. Chomp it."

(Chomp? Eh, that's really how you eat it? It's quite thick… Is this really okay?)

Rachel was surprised by this new way of eating, but she followed Louis and took the sandwich with both hands, hesitating for a moment.

(Alright, let's eat it!)

Rachel opened her mouth and bit into it. The crispy fresh vegetables sandwiched between the bread and the smoked scent of the ham harmonized.

"... It's delicious," Rachel unconsciously muttered, but Louis heard it. He gazed into her face and squinted his eyes in joy.

"I'm glad that you like it."

Rachel knew that she reflexively blushed at Louis' expression. Embarrassed that he showed her such a face, Rachel turned down and took another bite of the sandwich.

After that, they talked about the town. Rachel had many questions; What kind of products did the stalls she saw previously sell? What would they see in the road ahead of this location? Louis didn't seem to be bothered by them, telling her patiently, sometimes mixed with jokes.

And before they knew it, they already finished their meal.

"Let's go home now."

"...Yes."

Louis shouted, "The bill, please!" And the landlady approached their table and replied, "Yes!"

Louis efficiently took out a small bag of money from his pocket to pay.

"Luke, send my regards to the blacksmith."

"Got it."

"Take care of this lady well too, okay?"

While receiving the change, Louis nodded and replied appropriately, "Yes, yes."

"Miss, come to eat with him again later!"

"Yes! It was delicious. Thank you for the meal."

"Hahaha, thanks. I'll tell that to my husband. He's the cook." The landlady laughed heartily at Rachel's words and sent them out with a loud voice, "Thank you very much!"

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