I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 87

After arriving at Etrelle, Ronan was sighing a lot more than usual.

He generally didn’t have much of a rollercoaster of emotions.

In other words, he rarely got swept up in the moods of those around him.

Thanks to that, he often maintained a rational attitude without being swayed by others, earning him some praise for it.

But the problem was that there was nothing worse for him than when someone around him was causing a commotion on their own.

“Here, they shouldn’t be able to see us, right?”

“Maybe.”

The two followed Edgar and Ariel into a restaurant.

Just so you know, this was one of the restaurants Shuri had recommended to her master in advance.

It was also a place he had come to with Ronan previously.

Worried that if they sat in a conspicuous spot they might be spotted by Ariel, the two chose a seat hidden behind some potted plants.

Since they had to eat, Ronan discreetly scanned the menu in front of him, while Shuri’s gaze was fixed solely on one spot.

Ultimately deciding to use shock therapy, Ronan raised a hand that had been holding the menu and—

Crack!

“Wha—!?”

He smacked Shuri on the head.

“Why did you hit me…!?”

“Just stop staring at the lady and pick something to eat.”

“Geez, you could’ve told me!”

“If you had looked like you were about to listen to words, I would have.”

Usually decent and calm, Shuri tended to be so engrossed in her own business that she would completely zone out on her surroundings.

So Ronan knew better than anyone that if he didn’t hit the brakes on her occasionally, it would be a problem.

“Then, I’ll have this one.”

“Is that enough?”

“Well, how about this too….”

Shuri chose the same menu she had had last time and, after also picking out a drink to go with it, Ronan called over one of the waitstaff to place their order.

Once the waiter wrote down the orders and respectfully bowed out, Shuri suddenly broke into a wide smile.

“What’s got you so cheerful?”

“Because it’s nice to be out with you again after a long time.”

“…You know how to say that well.”

Ronan chuckled in disbelief, but he could definitely relate to her words.

Lately, they had both been busy with their own affairs, and especially since Shuri had a master to serve, it had been harder to find time to meet, so they hadn’t been able to enjoy any leisurely moments together.

Maybe that’s why, even though the reason they were in Etrelle was separate, it felt nice to share some time together like this.

Apart from chasing after the couple sitting over there, the two enjoyed a normal sightseeing and relished a warm moment.

“How’s it feel? Isn’t it nice to be out?”

“It is nice. Just wish it wasn’t for such a weird reason.”

“Don’t you think this could be a memory of sorts?”

“Memory?”

Ronan repeated the word as if questioning if he had misheard.

Shuri shyly nodded, sporting a silly smile, and then muttered, “Oh, maybe not…?” while avoiding eye contact, making her look like a little creature getting scolded by its owner.

‘If we’re talking about memories, I guess that could be one.’

Looking back, some say even nightmares can be considered memories, so it wasn’t completely off. Ronan nodded in agreement.

With his positivity, Shuri beamed and gulped down the fruit drink that had just arrived.

Ronan couldn’t help but think she looked like a squirrel who hadn’t had water for a month.

Soon, food was served after a little chat between the two.

Since Ronan was quite the big eater, and Shuri also tended to eat a lot on occasions, the table was filled with an ample amount of food.

“Did I order too much?”

“I think it’ll be just fine since I’m here.”

“Okay, I’m counting on you.”

With a bright smile, Shuri dove right into her meal, and Ronan followed suit, brandishing his fork and knife as if readying for battle.

The speed and style with which he ate were so aggressive that others who had finished their meals turned to stare at him.

Of course, this was nothing new for Shuri, who promptly continued eating at her own pace, glancing over at Ronan with a gentle smile every now and then.

The food was just as satisfying as he had remembered from their last visit.

Especially for Shuri, who surprisingly enjoyed meat, the juicy steak complemented with sauce was the best choice.

“You’ve made quite a mess while eating.”

Meanwhile, Ronan had polished off his plate and picked up a napkin to wipe the food off Shuri’s mouth, who was quickly devouring her meal.

He had absolutely no idea how someone so clumsy could assist and stay by someone else’s side like this.

It just meant that when it came to work, she was incredibly thorough, but it was always fascinating to see her like this.

Once Ronan finished eating and helped Shuri a bit more with her meal, their attention was drawn to a couple of individuals who had risen from obscurity.

“R-Roan…! We’ve gotta go…!”

In the midst of chewing on her steak, Shuri quickly shouted, her mouth full.

Ronan wondered how she had noticed despite being focused on her food but chose not to address it and just nodded.

“…Got it, finish chewing and stand up.”

After that brief lull in their meal, a sudden chase began again.