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 21

“Are you starting to feel hungry?”

“Yes, I am.”

I told a half-truth.

If I said I wasn’t hungry yet, I didn’t know where we would go next, and he might end up spending even more money.

But it seemed like Sir Julite could see right through me.

“A husband and wife shouldn’t keep secrets or hide things from each other.”

“I-I’m sorry! But how did you know?”

“I can tell just by looking at your face, Reina.”

This might make him spend even more money.

I really wanted to avoid that.

Sir Julite smiled softly.

“I like how modest you are, Reina. Well, I don’t want to make you worry anymore, so how about we take a little walk?”

“Yes!”

Sir Julite is always so kind and considerate of my feelings.

I’m really happy that he listens to me.

“Now, may I have your hand?”

“Wha—!?”

His left hand gently took hold of my right hand.

His hand was so warm and strong.

Walking hand in hand like this was so embarrassing that I felt like I might faint.

“It’s dangerous outside. You mustn’t let go.”

“It’s okay. If anything happens, I will protect you, even if it costs me my life.”

“Haha, but I’m the one who should be protecting you, Reina.”

Sir Julite is the son of a duke, so he must be well known.

There might be dangers because of that.

If something happened, I would act as a shield so he could escape.

I would be fine.

After all, I have healing magic.

I was somewhat prepared, but our walk remained peaceful.

By the time I actually started feeling hungry, we arrived at a restaurant.

“This is the place.”

Looking at the restaurant, I thought it might be a hidden gem.

It seemed like a place where older people could relax and enjoy lunch or dinner.

After visiting all those fancy shops for dresses and rings, I felt relieved to be here.

When we stepped inside, I saw a man around my age, maybe a little younger, working in the kitchen.

“Oh my, Sir Julite! We’ve been expecting you.”

“It’s been a while, Bettom. I brought my fiancée with me today.”

“Thank you for the introduction! My apologies for the late greeting. I am Belard Bettom, the third son of Baron Bettom.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Reina Falrune.”

I had a habit of introducing myself simply, avoiding my father’s name.

If possible, I wished I could cut ties with him completely.

When I said my name, I thought I saw Bettom’s expression darken for a moment.

“Are you related to Lady Almia…?”

“Y-yes…”

This might be bad.

I couldn’t help but wonder if Almia had caused some trouble here as well.

“You don’t need to worry. Reina is not like her.”

“My apologies. I didn’t mean to compare the two of you…”

“It’s okay, don’t worry about it.”

“This restaurant is reserved for you today, so please take your time and enjoy.”

Hearing that it was reserved, I glanced at Sir Julite.

“You don’t need to worry. I also wanted a quiet place to relax. Bettom’s restaurant is perfect for that. And the food here is amazing.”

“Whenever Sir Julite visits, I reserve the place in advance. Otherwise, it might cause a commotion inside the restaurant.”

Since Bettom also said so, I had no choice but to accept it.

“Shall I prepare the usual course for you?”

“Yes, please. I brought Reina here because I wanted her to try the restaurant’s special dishes.”

“Understood. Please wait a moment.”

Special dishes?

I was curious about what kind of food would be served.

Before long, a wonderful aroma started coming from the kitchen.

“Thank you for waiting. I hope you enjoy your meal.”

“Bettom makes a type of food called ‘Washoku’—traditional Eastern cuisine. It’s full of rare dishes we don’t usually get to eat. And they have a gentle, delicious taste.”

Everything on the table looked unfamiliar.

The dishes were simple, yet they smelled amazing.

Also, instead of a fork or knife, we had to use a tool called ‘chopsticks’ to eat.

I was curious to try them.

“Thank you for the meal.”

Using chopsticks was difficult, but I managed to pick up some food and put it in my mouth.

The flavor was light, yet it felt like it was healing my whole body.

There was almost no fatty meat, making it seem very healthy.

“It’s really delicious!”

“I knew you would like it, Reina.”

“Thank you for the kind words.”

It was simply delicious.

I struggled with the chopsticks at first, but I gradually got used to them and could eat more smoothly.

“Thank you for the meal. I’m completely satisfied.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Thank you so much for your kind words. Actually, I was considering closing the restaurant for a while, so I’m grateful you came today.”

Hearing that, Sir Julite immediately looked concerned.

“Did something happen?”

“…No, it’s nothing serious. Someone said some hurtful things about the restaurant. But seeing you both enjoy the meal has lifted my spirits. Thank you for coming today.”

Maybe Sir Julite had brought me here at just the right time.

I felt relieved and took my time finishing my tea.

It was made from tea leaves imported from a distant Eastern country.

It had a slight bitterness, but it was very good.

“If you’d like, would you like to take some tea leaves home as a gift?”

“Really!? Tea leaves from another country must be hard to get, right?”

“It’s fine. I’m lucky to have connections with people from that region. They bring the tea leaves whenever they visit this country.”

“Thank you so much!”

Sir Julite’s acquaintances were all so kind.

I happily accepted the gift.

But just receiving things made me feel guilty.

I wanted to repay the kindness somehow.

Since my healing magic was a secret, I wondered if there was anything else I could do.

I daydreamed about that for a while.