My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 176

“Where is this…?”

“This is a restaurant run by a renowned chef from the Todiah family. The lamb here is truly delicious.”

The building was large with a sign that said ‘Restaurant.’

In this world, restaurants were primarily visited by the nobility, with commoners coming about once a month. The main reason was the high prices.

The quality of the food was incomparable to that of inns or markets, but for commoners struggling with poverty, the prices were a significant burden.

“My father wanted to invite this chef to the Duke’s Residence. But the chef refused, saying he wishes for many people to enjoy his cuisine. My father respected that.”

“I see.”

“Now, let’s go inside.”

I followed Ella’s lead as we entered.

“Don’t we usually need a reservation for places like this? It seems like it’d be crowded.”

“Who do you think is the owner of this territory?”

Thinking about it, that was true. Glair was the master of this territory. Since he opened a shop in Todiah, he held absolute authority here. And since Ella was Glair’s daughter, it made sense that she’d receive special treatment.

“Oh, but I’m not trying to force anything. If there’s no seat, we can just leave. There are dozens of restaurants I know in Todiah, right? I tried several places in advance to eat with Lord Praus! Do you know how disappointed I was when you didn’t say anything?”

“You must have gone through some trouble.”

“That’s not why I said it!”

“…Thank you.”

“Just acknowledging it is enough!”

I offered a subtle thank you. She beamed at me and leaned in closer. Onlookers would surely think we were a couple.

We entered the restaurant. Despite it being daytime, the interior was dim. There weren’t many windows, and most were covered with curtains. The restaurant was well-lit solely by the indoors.

Even though they could have used fire magic to illuminate the space, they intentionally replaced it with lamps, candles, and a hearth. I wished I had a phone to capture the interior.

“Excuse me. Is there a seat available?”

“Welcome…”

The host, startled by the distinctive light-colored hair of the Todiah family, bowed deeply.

“We welcome Lady Todiah’s visit!”

His tone completely changed. As the host bowed deeper, others dining also stood to greet Ella.

“We are honored to meet Lady Todiah.”

Watching that scene made me acutely aware of the rigid class system in this world.

“Oh, oh…! You don’t have to do that. Please continue your meal.”

I relaxed the arms I had crossed, which had felt like they would never be released. As I dismissed them, I caught a few glances towards me. Why were they looking at me?

Ella finally calmed the crowd and let out an exasperated sigh. Others were equally puzzled by her reaction. Normally, she would have casually greeted them, but it seemed my presence made it awkward.

“Is there a seat available?”

“Yes, there is. I’ll show you to a private table where you can talk comfortably.”

Following the host, we reached a secluded corner of the restaurant.

“What will you order?”

The host handed us the menu. I browsed its contents.

The prices were surprisingly reasonable compared to the restaurants I had in mind. The chef’s wish for many people to enjoy his cuisine must have been genuine.

“Lord Praus.”

“Yes?”

“Would you like to trust my recommendation here?”

“…Alright.”

I closed the menu and passed it to her. She pointed at the menu and chatted with the host, quickly placing the order. The host asked us to wait a moment and then left. A light silence fell between us.

“…Lord Praus, your gaze is so innocent.”

“Is it?”

“You’ve been looking around since we got here, haven’t you?”

“The decor caught my eye.”

It was an ambiance hard to experience even abroad in my previous world.

“And the prices aren’t too burdensome for commoners.”

It was within a price range that one could afford to enjoy weekly.

“Really! I’m so glad to hear that! It’s such a relief it meets your approval!”

She smiled broadly with relief and suddenly clapped her hands.

“Umm… and what you saw earlier wasn’t me throwing my weight around. Since my father is the lord of this territory, the residents tend to greet members of our family. You wouldn’t like this kind of thing, would you, Lord Praus?”

“No, it doesn’t really bother me.”

“Really?”

Ella looked at me in surprise. Her fidgeting hands stopped abruptly.

“It’s only natural to be treated with respect because of your high status. I don’t see why it would be something to show off. Why should I feel awkward about it?”

Could one really feel embarrassed when the residents recognized their lord and bowed? While such a thing would be unthinkable in modern society, within the context of this world, it was quite normal. My filtering was going haywire.

“I thought you disliked the nobles.”

Ella’s eyebrows furrowed as her previously stiff expression softened into a smile.

“I don’t dislike them. I just wanted to see the end of the oppression against other races. I may have acted somewhat hostile toward the royals and nobility during that process, but I don’t hate the class system. Moreover…”

I looked at Ella as I muttered softly.

“I know your privileges aren’t free. I understand how hard you work.”

“…Knowing that without me saying it is… surprisingly nice. Hehe.”

Ella revealed her teeth in a genuine smile.

“Really.”

“Oh, then do you know what I’m thinking right now?”

Pointing at herself, she asked. I gazed at her closely before replying.

“…How should I punish the territory residents who greeted me without realizing it?”

“Not at all?!”

Ella exclaimed and inadvertently raised her voice.

“Really…! I wonder if you know or don’t know…”

The awkward air melted away completely, allowing us to continue chatting in silence until our food arrived. Most of the conversation flowed from Ella, while I merely responded.

“Excuse me, Lady Todiah.”

The server approached, laying down the dishes Ella had ordered.

Starting with lamb, there were mashed potatoes, salad, pasta, pie, and an extravagant amount for just two people. To top it off, a bottle of wine was placed on the table.

Drinking during the day…?

Oh, I recalled that in medieval times, people drank more than water, so having a glass of wine was not so strange considering children also drank at that time.

“Well then, enjoy your meal.”

After the server bowed deeply, they left. Once the presence of others faded, Ella gestured towards me.

“I’ll cover the bill. So please, enjoy.”

“No, I can’t let you. We’ll do a Dutch pay.”

“Dutch pay…?”

“It means we split it equally.”

“Oh… is that what it means? But it’s fine. I’ve eaten your cooking several times before, so it’s my turn to treat you this time. Would that be a burden for you?”

“Not at all. But… next time you have to make something even tastier.”

“Yes, I’ll look forward to it. Now, please eat quickly.”

I picked up the knife and fork, slicing the lamb into more manageable pieces. Each cut released succulent, pink juices.

After cutting it nicely, I swapped it with the piece in front of Ella.

“Eat.”

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing.”

Ella gazed down at the lamb in front of her, lost in thought.

“Um, by any chance, have you had much experience dating?”

“None. Why do you ask?”

In this world, beyond romance, I had been busy just trying to survive day by day. Reflecting on my previous world, I hardly interacted with girls, so I had no experience worth mentioning.

“More like… I feel a consideration in your every action… It seems quite different from the Lord Praus I imagined.”

“What did you imagine me to be like?”

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s just that you usually appear indifferent, and you speak a lot like your father… Honestly, I thought I’d have to really push myself to make this outing happen… But it’s way more comfortable than I anticipated. You’re really different from other noblemen. Ah, the noblemen I’ve met were all because my father kept trying to set me up with engagements! I only spoke to those people. Don’t get me wrong.”

“I didn’t say anything. Do I look like the type to misinterpret things?”

“Not really.”

Seeing my calm demeanor, Ella felt like a fool for rambling and chuckled.

She immediately opened the wine bottle, pouring it into two glasses. Compared to the red wine I knew, this was much lighter in color, leaning closer to orange.

“Shall we toast?”

“Sure.”

When our glasses clinked, a crisp sound echoed. I took a sip of the wine, swirling it around in my mouth. They say it enhances the flavor; honestly, I couldn’t tell. To me, it simply tasted a bit astringent and bitter.

“Since you held the knife, I could tell… your way of eating doesn’t seem very common for a commoner.”

“Is that so?”

“Perhaps it’s due to your father working as the butler for the Marquis Medis House?”

She knew that too? I figured it was natural for her to investigate my background.

By the way, I wondered how my father was doing? It would be troubling if he faced any repercussions from the mess I made… If he were expelled or something, I’d have to compensate him with enough money to live off for life as an apology.

With those thoughts, I began eating more seriously.

“Did you enjoy it?”

“It was delicious. Definitely worth recommending.”

It felt salty, but the flavor of the grilled lamb was exceptional. While other dishes also leaned to the salty side, that was likely due to the setting specifics, so nitpicking wouldn’t be worth it.

“Really?!”

Ella’s anxiousness visibly dissipated with my answer.

“Now that we’re full, shall we move on to the next place?”

“Sure.”

As I stood, a slight dizziness hit me. I felt a bit tipsy but not to the point that I couldn’t handle it. But was I tipsy from just one bottle of wine?

I shook my head to clear my mind and followed Ella out.

“Lady Todiah, thank you for visiting. Our restaurant’s sustainability is all thanks to the Todiah family.”

The restaurant owner bowed deeply at the entrance, dressed in a white chef’s coat.

“It’s not just our family but your exceptional culinary skills that keep this place running. Humility is commendable, but don’t undervalue yourself too much.”

“I will take that advice to heart. I hope to welcome you again soon.”

Ella waved happily, smiling. I gave a brief nod to the owner and then followed Ella outside.

“Where are we going next?”

“We’re going to see a play.”

Ella spoke as if she had been waiting for this moment.