My Second Engagement: Loved by the Duke’s Son and Thanked for My Healing Magic ~ My Selfish Sister Took My Fiancé, but Gave Him Back Because She Didn’t Want Him Anymore~ - Episode 13

I stepped inside the restaurant.

The outside looked common, and the inside felt the same—just like a place for ordinary people.

I wondered how such a shabby and poor-looking restaurant could stay in business.

“Why did you design the restaurant like this?”

“I wanted a quiet and relaxing place where people could enjoy their meals at ease.”

“Wouldn’t that make it hard to earn money?”

“Haha….”

He avoided the question.

If the food was bad, I would leave right away.

At least, that was my plan…

“Mmm! So good!”

“I’m honored to hear that.”

The way the meat was cooked, the flavor of the soup—everything was perfect.

My heart was captured through my stomach.

If I could eat such delicious food every day, marrying Bettom might not be a bad idea.

As I continued eating as usual…

“Lady Almia, your way of using the fork and knife is quite unique.”

I was right-handed.

So, I held my fork in my right hand and my knife in my left.

“And? Is that a problem?”

“No, I apologize….”

I stabbed my steak with my knife and pulled at it with my fork.

The meat tore apart on its own.

Bettom’s eyes widened.

“Lady Almia, you never cease to surprise me.”

“Thank you~!”

Was he surprised by me?

Then I should surprise him even more.

“If you want to make more money, you should add more tables. There’s still space for more customers.”

“Huh?”

“And the interior is so plain. Oh! I know! Let’s ask a designer to paint some floral patterns. I love flowers. Don’t worry, I have money.”

“I-I’ll think about it….”

He listened to my ideas.

He respected my way of eating, so he would surely listen to my other requests too.

“I can serve you coffee or tea. If you’d like something else, I can check.”

“Tea, please.”

“Please wait a moment.”

He placed a cup of tea in front of me.

In front of Bettom, there was a small amount of an unfamiliar drink.

“What is that?”

“This is espresso, a type of coffee.”

“Ugh….”

My father liked coffee, but this smelled even stronger.

I didn’t understand what was so good about it.

Bettom drank it all in one gulp.

“Is it really that good?”

“If you’re interested, I can prepare some for you. But don’t force yourself.”

“Hmm… I’ll try it.”

It was a small amount, so even if it tasted bad, I could handle it.

I took a sip out of curiosity…

“BLEHH!!”

The taste was so strong that I spat it out all over Bettom’s face and clothes.

W-Well, it’s fine, right?

He loves me, so this much should be okay…

Bettom silently wiped his face and clothes with a handkerchief.

It got a little dirty, but he wouldn’t mind something this small, right?

Since the mood turned awkward, I needed to lighten the atmosphere.

“By the way, does this restaurant serve octopus-shaped sausages?”

“…Excuse me?”

“I love octopus sausages! My sister Reina always shares them with me.”

Bettom’s face seemed troubled.

“We do have chorizo sausages, but not octopus ones….”

“I really want to eat octopus sausages! I’ll let it go for today, but make sure to have them next time!”

“…I’ll consider it.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it!”

Good! Now, my favorite menu item would be added!

But for some reason, Bettom’s expression became even more serious.

Since he went silent again, I focused on enjoying my meal.

“I have something I’d like to tell you after thinking things over.”

“Oh, sure, go ahead.”

I assumed he had been thinking about the octopus sausages.

That made me like Bettom even more.

I was already excited at the thought of living with him.

“I’m sorry, but I would like to cancel this engagement.”

“…Huh!?”

“For Lady Almia’s sake, I will be direct. I have been reconsidering our engagement ever since you insulted my restaurant. I cannot tolerate anyone looking down on the place that my family and customers love. However, I hesitated because I thought you were simply concerned about my business.”

“What do you mean? I only said that it must be hard to make money in a place like this.”

“Yes. And because of that, I realized that our values do not match. I apologize, but I must refuse this engagement.”

“…Wait. I thought the proposal came from your side?”

“Not at all. It was Lord Falrune who approached us first.”

What was going on?

More importantly, I was furious at Bettom—no, at this Bettom.

He was just like Julite.

What a selfish man!

Even if he had a handsome face, his personality was terrible.

“Fine! I don’t care anymore! A man who works in some commoner’s restaurant isn’t worthy of me!”

“That’s a relief. I also wouldn’t want to live with someone like you.”

“Ughh!! I’m leaving!!”

I shouted in anger for the first time in a while.

I had thought that since he was handsome, marrying him might be fine…

But his personality was the worst.

He must have been lying about my father making the proposal.

He was just trying to act important.

My father already said he wouldn’t force me into a marriage.

Surely, a handsome prince who would listen to all my wishes would appear someday.

As the carriage rocked gently, I started daydreaming about my next fiancé candidate.

“Hehehehehe~”

I wished my next engagement would be with a handsome and reasonable man.

Oh!

To cheer myself up, I should buy new clothes and accessories!

It’s fine.

After all, we had received the engagement money, and I was rich now.