I Was Confessed to by the Person I Was Admiring

Chapter 87: Hidden in a piece of paper

I thanked the butler and immediately asked Dennis.

“Hey…”

“I understand what you want to say. If that’s all, I’ll investigate it today… However, there may be some places where I cannot take you.”

She already understood what I wanted to say and firmly pointed out that fact. I couldn’t say anything.

And, I thought she was right.

I didn’t want to worry Jeremiah by doing something unnecessary.

“Okay, then please.”

“Yes, understood. I will take care of this.”

Dennis smoothly took the piece of paper from my finger. To be honest, I thought I might not get it back, but I remembered the address written on it. If I write it down somewhere while I still remember it, I should be able to manage.

The only other thing that worries me is…

“Denny, be careful.”

After all, it’s an address I don’t know at all. There are dangerous places in this capital city. Normally, it’s just a matter of not getting too close, but this time it can’t be helped. No matter how strong Dennis is, I’m a little worried.

“Thank you. I’ll make sure to find out what kind of place it is and come back. Please wait for me for a while. And please don’t think about going outside the mansion alone.”

“That’s rude. I’ve never done anything like that before.”

She was so persistent that she couldn’t trust me a little, and I couldn’t help but get annoyed. Then she smiled wryly and said, “I’m just worried. I’m sorry.”

With that, she headed to the door with the piece of paper in her hand.

“Well then, excuse me.”

I nodded back at Dennis as she left the room and watched her back. Probably, that address is somewhere in the capital city, so she should be able to find out today. Anyway, I decided to write down the address I remembered and headed to the room where I had something to write with. 

◇

As the sun began to set, Dennis returned.

It was shortly after I had finished changing into my evening dress. When Dennis came to me and returned the piece of paper, he looked puzzled and said, “It seems like a place where commoners eat. I’ve been watching for a while, but I didn’t see Paolo Hübner.”

“Ah, thank you. A place where commoners eat, huh?”

Those words struck a chord with me. He had mentioned having a restaurant where he was allowed to serve his prototype Japanese cuisine. He had also been persistent about wanting me to come there recently.

If that’s the case, this restaurant might be the one.

“Hey, is this place a restaurant that serves something different?”

“Oh, yes. I talked to some customers and they said they serve dishes that seem foreign.”

“What kind of dishes?”

When I asked her out of curiosity, Dennis thought for a moment before answering, “It’s something like a stew with a lot of spices poured over grains boiled without being ground into powder. Depending on the type of meat used, it’s supposed to be very delicious.”

——Curry!

That’s the only thing I could think of. I was itching to go try it out. Besides, even if Paolo wasn’t involved, I wanted to try curry. Unaware of my thoughts, Dennis continued on. 

“Besides, there is also something where they boil and elongate it without baking any powder, and then soak it in soup made from bones and eat it.”

——Isn’t that ramen?

The more I heard the report, the more I wanted to go. Even Dennis, who had been focused on the report, noticed my expression. She immediately made a stern face and shook her head.

“No, that place is in the downtown area. It’s not a place where I can take Lorraine-sama.”

“B-But, that dish…maybe.”

“In that case, we can call the chef from that restaurant here. Then you can eat it, right?”

Certainly. That would be safer. However…

“But if we do that, won’t we be taking away the enjoyment of the customers who are enjoying the food at that restaurant?”

“Doesn’t matter for just one day, does it?”

Dennis said as if it were obvious, but I couldn’t nod my head. I felt bad for the head chef who worked at Duke’s mansion.

That’s not all.

I looked at the piece of paper again.

I couldn’t feel anything from the plain writing, but I thought about Paolo’s feelings when he entrusted this to me. I didn’t know why he stopped, but he seemed to want me to visit him no matter what.

“No, I have to go after all.” 

“Lorraine-sama!”

“I’m going even if you try to stop me. After all, he’s an important friend.”

Looking at Dennis pleadingly, she looked at me with a face full of anguish and eventually dropped her shoulders.

“I had a feeling you would say that. That place is relatively bright and healthy even in the downtown area, so I would not stop you unless you are in such a situation.

“Okay then.”

“My job is just to protect you, Lorraine-sama. But what about Jeremiah-sama? He will surely be furious, won’t he?”

“Ugh.”

I groaned as she hit a sore spot.

It’s sad that I can vividly imagine that scene. But I’m not going to do anything wrong.

“But, we’re just going to eat…”

“I will report what I see.”

Although she said it in a somewhat dismissive tone, I still had no intention of giving up on going. Of course, Dennis will accompany me and we’ll come back right after eating.

Above all, the dangerous place is where the upper class gathers, not some diner in the downtown area.

I really wanted to go.

“Okay, I understand. I’m prepared to be scolded to death. So, I’m going.” 

When I firmly declared this, a big sigh came back. Dennis looked troubled and bowed her head.

“I understand. Then, I will make arrangements to ensure that there is no danger and we will head there with utmost care.”

“…Thank you, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s my job.”

Dennis said that and quietly left the room. She was probably preparing to fulfill my selfish request.

Feelings of guilt and a sense of responsibility were strongly conflicting in my heart. To calm myself down, I gently placed my hand on my chest and exhaled.