“Um, you would be Ms. Maria... I take it?”
“Yes, that’s me. So... who are you?” Charlotte’s eyes widened as the girl got straight to the point.
“That reaction tells me something is up.”
“...Why would you assume that?” Considering she had seen that she was obviously shaken, excuses weren’t going to prove very effective. It took all Charlotte had within her to even reply with that question aimed back at Maria.
“...Reason? It was... by chance?”
“‘By chance’...”
She was nervous, thinking that the vague reason she gave had trapped her.
“You know, the former director forced me into selling a delicate flower of mine.”
“A delicate flower? What do flowers have to do with... Oh, God, you don’t mean...?!” Picking up on the context and realizing the worst possible possibility, Charlotte took a second look at Maria. Her second look put that same captivating aura of Maria that was disproportionate to her stature into a different light.
“It means what you think it means. But I’m just fine now. Director Ristia saved me from that life.”
“Yes, but...” Charlotte started, still trying to argue her point, but Maria held out her hand and cut her off.
“I’m really fine. But it’s all because of Director Ristia coming here. That’s why I may not know who you are, but if you plan on doing anything to Director Ristia, then...” ...Then you’re going to regret it, Maria’s look up at Charlotte communicated, finishing her sentence for her. The wordless pressure emanating from the young girl caused Charlotte to take a huge gulp that rang from her throat.
“...I will take your warning to heart.”
“I see. In that case, I have nothing to say. Oh, right, I will answer any questions you may have about the kitchen, though.”
“No, I will be taking my leave. Please tell Ms. Ristia that I will be back.” Charlotte paid her price for the meal, along with a little extra, before leaving the cafeteria.
Afterward, the orphanage and Ristia both stayed on her mind. She made her way back home, thinking about what she could do in the best interests of not only the House of Count Warren, but the people of the territory as well.
──3──
About a month had passed since the cafeteria’s grand opening, and its popularity instantly spread through word of mouth, which started a boom for the establishment. One day, before sundown, Ristia was teaching Maria how to make crepes in the kitchen.
“...Um, like this?”
“Uh-huh. You’re a very quick learner.”
“...Compliments will get you nowhere,” Maria said in a blunt manner, looking slightly bashful. It was an adorable sight, which brought a grin to Ristia’s face, but that moment of bliss was interrupted by a boorish voice. From the direction of the floor echoed the pushy-sounding calls of a man.
“I’ll go check on what’s going on.”
“Okay, just try not to overdo it, Manager Ristia.”
“...I won’t~” No faith in me at all... Ristia flopped in disappointment as she headed to the floor. That was when she ran into Mew, who came running. Mew rushed straight to Ristia as soon as she spotted her.
“Waah... Sniffle!” Slightly teary-eyed, she clung to Ristia. Her normally perky, wagging dog ears were flopped down and drooping.
“What’s the matter, Mew?”
“...Is it bad that I’m here?”
“Most certainly not.”
“...Really?”
“Yup, really really. Why would you ask something like that?” she asked, gently patting her blue-tinted hair and peering into her jade-like eyes.
“They told me that beast-people being around makes human towns filthy and told me to get out of town,” she replied in a hushed tone with a sad expression.
“Oh, did they now? There’s someone who said that... is there?” she said as a tremor rocked the town for some unexplained reason—the less said about that the better. Ristia stifled her groundshakingly violent emotions and consoled Mew, saying, “You don’t have to worry; I would never dream of saying anything so ignorant to you.”
“...Really?”
“Of course. I would never ever dream of kicking you out, my dear Mew.”
“...Thank you, Manager Ristia.” That instilled the girl with a bit of relief. Ristia left Maria to take care of Mew while she headed to the cafe floor to confirm the identity of the rude customer who brought Mew to tears. When she arrived, the normally packed floor was empty, aside from a single middle-aged man with two soldiers in tow. He had a rather built physique that suggested he was trained in battle, but his clothing seemed to be quite high-quality—going by human standards of the current era, naturally.
“Manager, those guys showed up and kicked all the other customers out.” Ayane ran over to Ristia once she realized she was there.
“I see... But they didn’t do anything bad to you, did they, Ayane?”
“Mm-mm, I’m okay. But they did say some bad things to Mew, which made Allen ready to go fight them...”
“Aah... So that’s why.” She then realized why Allen was in the corner of the cafeteria, with Luc and the others restraining him in a full nelson. “Ayane, take the others and wait in the kitchen.”
“But...”
“It’ll be okay. I’ll protect everyone. You all just wait in the back,” Ristia said, giving Ayane a smile which helped relieve her some. Once Ristia saw that Ayane and the others retreated with relatively little protest, she turned her attention toward the group of men. “Now then, who might you three be? You don’t seem to be customers.”
“...A maid? I told them to go bring me the director of the orphanage.”
“I am Ristia, the new director at the orphanage.”
“Oh-ho. So you’re Ristia, eh? You’re as much of a looker as the rumors made you out to be.”
“...As I asked, who are all of you?”
“I’m Jein, and I rule this town.”
“Is that so? Then, before I ask you what I can help you with, may I ask you one thing?” Ristia asked, flashing a serene smile while trying to contain her silent rage. The unknown sense of pressure made Jein take a huge gulp.
“...What? Go ahead, spit it out.”
“One of my girls came to me crying just a moment ago... Was that your handiwork?”
“—Hahah! That brat ran off crying?!” The one who let out that chortle was a soldier standing behind Jein.
“...Were you the one that made her cry?”
“So what if I was?”
“I demand an apology.”
“Hah! And I decline.”
“...I see.” Ristia had expected him to react that way, and she now pondered over what course of action she should take. She had the option of making him regret ever saying anything derogatory to Mew without Mew finding out about it—Mew or anyone else, for that matter. But she knew that would only serve as self-satisfaction. Alternatively, it would be a simple task for Ristia to make him apologize to Mew with her powers. In fact, it would be a simple task to make him tearfully beg for a chance to let him apologize. But doing that wouldn’t help heal the wounds left on Mew’s heart.
Either way, it might be necessary to make him regret he was ever born just so he never does something like this again, Ristia thought, but Jein spoke up.
“Alright, hold on.”
“Geiz, this is an orphanage, so there’s nothing odd about seeing a beast person around. In fact, it’s appropriate that a bunch of tribes would be here. You’ve got it all wrong telling them ‘get out.’”
“—Sir! You are absolutely right. My sincerest apologies!” The soldier accused of disparaging remarks against Mew, apparently named Geiz, quickly backtracked on his statements and apologized. But there was still a smirk stuck on his face, making it clear that his apology was superficial at best. It didn’t help that Jein’s word choice was pretty suspicious to begin with. But she was sure that delving any deeper into the matter wouldn’t end up pleasing Mew.