Chapter 71
“……”
In front of me sat Bella, humming a tune.
It wasn’t unusual for us to have a meal together, just the two of us. But…
“This is my first time here…”
“Fufu… I thought so. I came here with Blanshe last time, and it’s a total gem. Here.”
Bella answered as if she had been waiting for the question. She had suddenly shown up at my office and insisted on treating me to a meal, bringing me to the student cafeteria at Meikhael University.
A place designed for students with light pockets, offering affordable meals.
You might wonder why such a cafeteria exists in a school where most students are from noble families, but even nobles and commoners can face financial difficulties. A budget-friendly cafeteria is a must.
True to its reputation as the Empire’s top prestigious university, this place boasted high satisfaction for its price. As a result, it was now the most popular spot among students, regardless of their wealth. Naturally, the funds to run this cafeteria came entirely from the Ruelberta family. No wonder it was so popular.
Even though lunchtime had passed, quite a few students were still here for a meal. There was no rule preventing the chairman or faculty from eating here, but the students’ gazes were particularly sharp.
We stood out, to say the least.
One was the notorious head of the Ruelberta family and the school’s chairman. The other was the belle of the prestigious Izakhel family and the story’s most beautiful woman. To make matters worse, we were former fiancés. Seeing the two of us eating together like this was anything but ordinary, especially in the student cafeteria.
“It should be coming out soon~.”
Regardless, Bella seemed to be enjoying the situation, humming away. And just then, a large shadow loomed between us.
“Excuse me…!”
“Oh?”
It was the muscular chef of the cafeteria, wearing an apron. He stiffly served the dishes we had ordered.
“Ugh, here’s your food! It’s made with pride at our cafeteria. I hope it suits your tastes…!”
“Huh? Last time, you didn’t serve us personally… And there’s so much food…”
“It’s on the house! Please enjoy without any worries…!”
The chef’s shoulders were tense with effort.
Probably because of me.
As the chairman, and given my notorious reputation, my sudden appearance here must have been a shock. Depending on my mood, the fate of this cafeteria could swing either way. For the chef, this was the crisis of a lifetime.
He was nervously glancing at me, his large frame betraying his anxiety. I spoke up.
“I’ll enjoy the meal.”
“Yes, yes! Thank you!”
“But.”
“…Yes?!”
The chef, who had been about to leave, froze. His back, visible for a moment, was drenched in sweat, whether from work or nerves.
“…I’ve noticed the cafeteria has been running at a loss.”
“…Huh?! That, that’s…”
The chef looked like he knew this was coming.
“Since last year, ingredient costs have risen sharply… But we couldn’t raise the prices…”
“I’m aware of that.”
“Yes?”
I asked the chef with a blank expression.
“What I want to know is why you didn’t report it.”
The chef’s face turned pale.
“I’m sorry…! I couldn’t bring up budget matters carelessly…”
“Not only that, but starting this month, you and the other cooks have had your salaries cut. How long did you think you could last with such shallow methods?”
“……”
I had learned this yesterday while reviewing the school’s financial status.
The chef looked like he couldn’t believe I knew even that, unable to say a word.
“I’m not blind.”
“I’m truly sorry… It’s entirely my fault…”
I looked at the dishes on the table. Each one was made with care. Despite the financial difficulties, they had maintained the quality of the food. I quietly murmured.
“This cafeteria wasn’t meant to run at a profit. Yet, until recently, it was in the black. That speaks to the skill of the chef and the cooks.”
I spoke to the chef, who was bowing his head, awaiting his fate.
“I’ll increase the budget.”
“Yes…?”
“Submit a budget request to the foundation today for the necessary amount.”
I acknowledged their efforts. I intended to reward them fully, in the best way I could.
“Then I’ll double that amount.”
“…D-Double?!”
“Yes. Use that budget to run the place as you see fit. Make it so more students can come here.”
I might get an earful from Arthur, but it didn’t matter. This place was worth it.
“Thank you… Thank you…”
The muscular chef, overcome with emotion, knelt down. Ignoring the surrounding gazes, he bowed his head and sobbed, his large shoulders shaking. His struggles must have been greater than I had imagined.
Eventually, the chef bowed several times and left. Just as his immense gratitude had fully reached me…
“Hmm…”
A familiar sound reached my ears.
Turning my gaze, I met Bella’s eyes. She had been watching the entire situation, her eyes curved like crescent moons.
“You’ve really changed.”
“…Just eat.”
“Fufufu… Are you embarrassed?”
“Eat.”
“Okay~.”
Bella, smiling cutely, picked up her fork and started eating. Perhaps it was the influence of the original work, but the food on the table was all familiar to me.
“I really like this tteokbokki. I had it here for the first time, and the sweet yet spicy flavor is really… fascinating.”
I felt the same.
Watching the silver-haired foreigner blowing on the tteokbokki and repeatedly saying “It’s good” was amusing. Not just tteokbokki, but also ramen, kimbap, sundae, and dumplings—typical Korean street food—filled the table.
“Oops… Would this not suit the Count’s taste?”
“No. It’s fine.”
In fact, I might even miss it.
I never expected to have Korean food here.
“Fufu… You’re more frugal than I thought. Maybe I’ve been misunderstanding you all this time.”
Bella, licking the sauce off her fork, began scrutinizing my face.
“Hmm… Just looking at your face, it seems like you might return to your old self soon.”
“Is that so?”
As she said, I had lost a lot of weight. Consistent exercise and life-threatening situations had caused my weight to drop rapidly. The stigma of being called the “Pig Count” was now a thing of the past.
“Well… Either way, I don’t mind…”
“What did you say…?”
“Nothing. Fufu… I just miss it. The old you.”
Bella rested her chin on her hand and looked at me. Her transparent eyes, framed by silver lashes, stared at me, as if piercing through my very soul. I quietly opened my mouth.
“…Do you have something to say to me?”
“Huh? How did you know?”
“You’ve been unusually talkative.”
I figured there must be a reason she invited me to this meal.
“So if you have something to say, say it now.”
“Tch… It’s not just that… Ahem… Anyway, since you asked, I’ll say it. Will you take responsibility for me?”
“Responsibility?”
“Yes. As my former fiancé.”
Here she goes again with her unreasonable demands…
As my gaze turned cold, Bella sighed.
“Lately, after the engagement with the Count was called off, marriage proposals have been coming from all over. It’s exhausting.”
“…Isn’t that a good thing?”
“Hmph. Good? All the men are ones I don’t like. Don’t you know how picky I am?”
Ah, right.
Bella’s princess-like personality was still intact.
“Anyway! At this rate, the only solution is for you to take responsibility.”
“…How on earth did you come to that conclusion?”
Bella cleared her throat.
“Ahem… Maybe I didn’t explain well enough. As I said, there are many men proposing to me lately. But what I dislike the most is… the fact that none of them dared to approach me when I was engaged. So I have no intention of marrying any of them.”
I see… Now I understood the situation.
When Tristan was her fiancé, no man dared to approach Bella. Now that he was gone, they were swarming her like flies, and she found it distasteful.
“I get what you’re saying. But I have no reason to take responsibility.”
“Why not? Don’t you feel sorry for me?”
Bella leaned forward, her eyes sparkling at me. Under the table, her slender leg brushed against my knee.
“You’re not pitiful.”
“Hmph. You’re such a cold man.”
Then, I frowned.
“…Your table manners are lacking.”
“…You’re just noticing now?”
Bella’s toes were provocatively grazing the hem of my pants.
“Fufu…”
Her mischievous eyes were fixed on me. She was hoping to rattle me. But…
‘Not a chance.’
My reason, tempered by ‘patience,’ remained perfectly calm. Even as her foot touched my skin, I simply looked at her with a ‘prideful’ attitude. If anything, it was Bella who started to blush.
“Hmm… Why aren’t you changing your expression?”
“Why should I?”
“Aren’t you embarrassed? A beautiful woman like me doing this…”
“I should be asking you. Aren’t you embarrassed doing this?”
“Hmph…”
Finally, unable to endure it, Bella withdrew her foot.
“In the past, you would’ve fallen for it.”
“I never did, even back then.”
“Fine. Then just grant me one request.”
“A request?”
After making sure no one was listening, Bella cautiously spoke.
“Count. Will you come with me to the Seven Stars Union?”
