Chapter 29.2

A voice as cold and as sharp as his blade continued.

“I am trying my best to maintain courtesy to you all here. But if things that run counter to the nature of society* continue to happen, I am at leave to enforce my duty and my rights as I have received them from His Majesty.” (*as in going against the given rank.)

“But of course, how could I be unaware of that?”

“I explain myself because you act as if you are. There is a limit to how much patience I can bestow to a village woman in the countryside.”

“Oh, yes, do let me engrave that into my bumpkin brain, as late as I am. And while I do so, I also have something I’d like to say to you. Please do something about the way you use that oh-so-superior face of yours only on women you think you can get information out of. If there emerges a single person from this village who falls for you one day, Sir Knight….”

Franz didn’t bother listening further: he cut in with a smile.

“My features have been granted from the gods above—how can I ever do anything about that? If you’d like to avoid being pierced by the arrow of love, then offer up your prayers.”

While Carla was beginning to lose her mind, Franz left their spot in light loping steps.

And, as if to show her explicitly, he went as far as to greet ‘Good morning!’ to a young lady from the village who was happening to cross past the restaurant. While smiling sweetly with that nasty pretty face, of course.

Only because that very young lady responded with ‘Eek, you’re definitely a scammer!’ and ran off was Carla able to crack a small smile once more.

After everyone was finished with their meal, the chief showed his face.

“Did you all have a good night, men! From what I’ve heard, you’ve offered so generously to help us in the village?”

“Exactly right,” answered the eldest soldier.

Franz did not move a single muscle, as if to signal that this had nothing to do with himself.

“We thought we should pay you all back for all your cooperation, you see. Even if it’s for a short time, please call for us for anything you need extra hands for.”

“I’m beyond grateful. Then could I ask you men to chase off some wolves for us? There have been wolves lurking near our public farm that’s been quite a pain.”

“That reminds me, we saw a hefty amount of wolves on our way here, too. We even chased a couple of them away, hahaha!”

At those tactless words, the chief and Carla grit their teeth in synch.

‘Was it you guys who provoked the wolves and brought them to our farm, then?!’

Irritation was broiling inside the chief’s wrinkled eyes, but his mouth soon curved up benevolently.

That was the grin of someone who was made happy at the thought of making those very men clean up the area to the very last wolf.

“It seems living as a country bumpkin has its perks. We humbly ask that you who’ve come from the capital may allow us your bravery at this time.”

Soon, the soldiers collected their weapons and headed outside.

Franz, too, was amidst the leaving bunch, even though he had looked like he would stay back with his arms crossed and whatnot.

Carla spoke up, as if surprised.

“You’re going too, Your Knighthood? I thought you wouldn’t bother yourself with anything troublesome.”

“We’ll have to use our weapons. Even if our opponent are wolves, I cannot let my soldiers move without my orders. Why, did you want me to stay?”

“The onions.”

“Excuse me?”

“…it’s nothing.”

‘If that b*st*rd said he wouldn’t go, I was going to make him peel onions in Bertram’s place.’

Seeing that oh-so-perfect face bawling at onions would’ve been quite a sight to perceive.

With not a single idea of what Carla was imagining—

Franz, who’d failed at provoking her, clicked his tongue and mounted his horse, riding off immediately.

The restaurant was finally empty from the noise it had been filled with from early morning. The only thing that awaited Carla now was the washing of dishes that the men had used.

“Ugh, that’s annoying. I would’ve only had to deal with three people’s worth on a normal…”

Carla let herself go that far before she shut her mouth, surprised.

Before the words ‘on a normal day’ came out, she should’ve said ‘two people’s worth.’

But before she’d known it, one more person had been added on to their corner of a restaurant.

The fellow that would swallow up even the crumbs of whatever breakfast menu her clumsy daughter may burn to a crisp, then thank them for the good meal.

The fellow that would take a rag the size of his palm and wipe the restaurant tables clean while Carla did the dishes.

“…I had a sack of onions to assign you and a bag of flour to feed you, you fool.”

Carla faced outside the restaurant, looking doleful…

…when someone suddenly entered the restaurant.

It was Dieter.

Her gloom immediately dissipated.

“Good thing you came! Hey you, go do the dishes!”

“What’s this so suddenly, mother!”

“When did I give birth to you!”

“If you’re not my mother, why would you make me…. Wait!”

Lowering his head, Dieter whispered to Carla.

“The knights who came from the capital, where did they go?”

“To catch wolves.”

“….ugh, wolves. Okay.”

“Are you the only one who gets answers? Now you tell me why you came here. And then do the dishes.”

“I, I can just come here to hang out, can’t I? Please let me go!”

Dieter wrestled mightily in order to peel off Carla’s hand from his shirt.

But Carla did not let go of him, and soon she found out why Dieter had come looking for the knights as soon as he’d come in.

Behind him, Bertram had also come into the restaurant.

Seemingly flustered, Dieter flapped his hands wildly to tell him to go back out, but Bertram only came to ask Carla.

“Mrs. Carla, you asked for me?”

“…is that what Dieter told you?”

“Yes.”

“Haha, hahahaha. Haha.”

Carla momentarily appeared to be letting go of Dieter’s shirt, but then—

“Ugeh!”

She immediately squeezed Dieter’s neck in with her arm.

This time, Carla whispered into Dieter’s ear.

“Let’s talk about you. You heard those people were looking for Bertram and brought him here on purpose, didn’t you? Told him I was calling for him, hmm?”

“Gnn, urk, i-it’s a misunder… eck!”

“You calling me your mother is what you call a misunderstanding! You enormous fool, don’t live like this!”

“But…. But you also find him uncomfortable, mother!”

“I’m more uncomfortable with the possibility that I might have a dullard like you for a son-in-law!”

Blue in the face now, Dieter pounded on the floor a couple times to show his will to surrender. Letting him go, Carla also kicked him in the butt and pushed him towards the kitchen.

“Go peel potatoes! And don’t you think I’ll let you go until you’ve peeled an entire sack! And Mr. Bertram.”

“Yes.”

“…have you had breakfast?”

Now that she was face-to-face with him, that was the only thing she could think of asking.

To Carla, however, that was the most important question in the world.