Volume 13 Chapter 291 Yukishiro Emily, From Today, I Too Am the Master of My Own Castle!!
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I stood there, staring at the little shop I had built within the Shirogane Kingdom, and tears welled up in my eyes. My shop. My very own.
”Finally… finally, I made it this far! Everyone… thank you so, so much!!” I cried.
When I turned around, Kanon, Kaede-senpai, and Nee-san applauded warmly. Not only had they invested in me, but they had also helped with the exhausting work of setting everything up. From my days of scraping by with endless part-time jobs, I had now become—at last—the proud owner of my own place.
”Emily-san, once again, congratulations,” said Nee-san.
”Nee-san…!”
I hugged her lightly, only to notice something. Wait a second… was her chest bigger? Pregnancy? I must have made a suspicious face, because Nee-san’s glare sharpened immediately. I straightened up in an instant.
”Emily, you better not wreck this place on the very first day.”
”You mean like Kaede-senpai, who accidentally broke the shop door during filming?” I teased.
Kaede-senpai just laughed. Of all the seniors I knew, none had a bigger heart. No matter how far I pushed, I had never once seen her angry.
”Emily-senpai, you’re still pregnant, so don’t overdo it,” Kanon said gently.
”I know, I know. I already put up job postings for part-timers, so I’ll be fine.”
Honestly, she was the one who had just given birth. She shouldn’t be pushing herself either. I nudged my chin toward the neon-lit rest station nearby. “See? There’s a spot glowing right there. Let’s go rest for two hours together.”
Kanon’s eyes turned into judgmental slits. I whistled innocently and looked away.
”So, you’ve got interviews now, right? Good luck, Emily-senpai,” Kanon added.
”We’ll head back. Don’t do anything reckless,” Kaede said.
”And we’ll come by regularly to check on you,” Nee-san promised.
Their kindness broke me down again, and tears spilled out.
”Thank you, all of you!” I waved both hands as they left.
Alone again, I looked up at the sign hanging over my entrance.
[Emily’s Eatery]
At first, I thought of “Ramen Emily” or “Yukishiro Ramen,” but I decided on a casual diner instead—somewhere I could cook many different dishes, drawing on all my past part-time experience. A place where people could drop by, relax, and feel at home.
”Which means… I should hire someone soothing. Comforting.”
I marched inside, my mind running wild with the image of my future staff. Yes, soothing meant… a big-hearted, big-busted older sister type. Customers would feel relaxed, and so would I. Ideally, someone who wouldn’t mind if I… poked a little. I chuckled to myself. Just imagining it made my heart race. Was that a presence at the door already? Could it be?
I flung the entrance open with a smile.
”Well, well. So this is your shop? Don’t mind if I barge in.”
”Wha—!”
The intruder was none other than the glamorous actress, Kohina Yukari-senpai. She strolled in like she owned the place. No way could I tell her to leave. Only Aqua-sama had that kind of power.
”Uh… Kohina-senpai, what brings you here? I’ve got, um, interviews soon, so…” I rubbed my hands nervously.
”What else? I’m here for the interview. You’re hiring, right?”
What? No way. My dreamy, busty, kind onee-san image shattered into dust.
”Wait, is this some kind of prank?” I asked.
”Of course not! You’re pregnant, it’s tough on you, so I came to help. And… I’m bored.”
Ah. So basically she was here to kill time. Got it.
”Alright then… motivation: boredom,” I muttered, scribbling in my imaginary notes.
”Hey! Don’t call it that!” she snapped.
”Oh, that reminds me—’bored’ sounds like ‘cold dish.’ I left a test dish in the fridge. Want to try?”
”Sure.”
We split a pair of chopsticks and picked at the chilled Japanese-style tomato caprese. Normally, it’s mozzarella, basil, and olive oil, but mine had icy tomato slices layered with fresh shiso instead of basil, silky tofu instead of cheese, and ponzu with grated daikon in place of oil.
T/N: Shiso is a fragrant Japanese herb from the mint family, often used in sushi and salads. Ponzu is a citrus-based soy sauce, light and tangy, commonly paired with cold dishes. Daikon is a mild white radish that’s often grated and used as a refreshing garnish.
”Mmm, refreshing. This would be great with beer or sake,” Yukari said.
The shiso I’d plucked from the hillside gave it just the right kick. It wasn’t quite seasonal, but with the lingering heat of the day, I figured it would make the perfect companion for an ice-cold beer after work.
”Got anything else? I’m starving,” she added.
”Give me a second,” I said.
I opened the fridge—and froze. Wait. What was I about to do again? Never mind. I wasn’t the type to fuss over details. I pulled out ingredients and took my place at the counter.
”Alright, I’ll whip something up fast.”
I thinly sliced Kagawa-grown Kintoki carrots, simmered burdock from Aomori’s rich black soil, added potatoes from Iki Island, and tossed in seasonal mushrooms and myoga. Each piece got a dusting of my homemade tempura batter before I dropped them into hot oil.
”Here you go. A vegetable tempura platter.”
”Hm. Now I really wish I had some alcohol,” Yukari said.
Knew it. I cracked open a Seijo beer, brewed with local hops, and poured it into a chilled glass.
”These carrot ribbons are amazing—like candy, melting in my mouth. The burdock is seasoned perfectly. And wait—this potato isn’t sweet potato? It’s so fluffy and sweet, I can’t stop drinking!”
I beamed. “That’s the secret. Careful prep. Boiling the potatoes before peeling brings out the fluff. The burdock is simmered until flavor seeps to the core. Of course, where they’re grown and who grows them matters too—vegetables change completely with soil and hands.”
I checked the grill. “And now… autumn’s specialty. Fresh Pacific saury, caught off Sanriku, grilled with salt over charcoal.”
Another perfect dish for beer.
When the shop opened, I decided to serve a seasonal lunch: a full grilled pacific saury set.
”Mmm, the fat is rich and the salt is just right. I suddenly want some rice,” she said.
”Hold on a moment,” I replied.
Of course I’d anticipated that. I had already prepared rice in a clay pot. Heh heh… a considerate woman like Yukishiro Emily—yes, that was me.
”This rice is a brand from the Shonai region of Yamagata. It’s so delicious you could eat it plain, just rice with rice.”
”Emily-chan, what you’re saying makes no sense, but it really is tasty,” she said.
Oh, I thought it made sense. When Aqua-sama tasted it, he had tears in his eyes as he refilled his bowl three times. And that was with just plain rice, no side dishes. Maybe only people who actually cook understand how special that is.
”Phew… dessert?” she asked.
”Yes, yes, just a moment,” I said.
I pulled out my homemade warabi mochi from the fridge and rinsed it in ice water. Store-bought ones too—if you rinse before adding kinako or kuromitsu, the texture becomes so smooth and the mouthfeel incredible. Not the ones that already come dusted, of course, but the plain ones. That’s the trick.
”Mmm, cold and silky. Delicious.”
”I focus on mouthfeel. Even the chopsticks feel good, don’t they?” I asked.
The truth was, good chopsticks could make food taste twice as good. Kohina-paisen looked doubtful, but it was true.
”Phew… I’m stuffed. Thanks for the meal.”
She left, satisfied. I slumped. Finally, she’d gone home.
”Thank you very much!!” I shouted.
Oops, I needed to fix that. After working so long at Ramen Takeko, the ramen shop Emily in me sometimes slipped out.
”Hm?”
Wait—why had Kohina-paisen come here again? I tilted my head.
…
……
………Well, whatever. Better to think about the shop. Oh, right, I had a part-time job interview scheduled. Huh, time had passed faster than I thought. Why…?
As I pondered, the sliding door creaked open.
”Excuse me,” a voice said.
”Ah, Victoria-sama.”
Victoria-sama fidgeted as she linked hands behind her back. Strange—seeing her shy was rare.
Wait. Could this be… a confession!?
’Emily-san, the truth is, I…’
’Vi–Victoria-sama!? Is that really okay!?’
In my head, both of us stood naked, embraced in a field of lilies. My breath grew heavy, and Victoria-sama shot me a flat stare. Damn, my fantasies had leaked onto my face. I straightened quickly.
”Um, actually, I…” she began.
Holy—was she really embarrassed!? This had to be it! My wild daydreams were about to become reality—
”I came because I’d like to work here. Are you still hiring?”
”Of course! Yukishiro Emily—boyfriend: Aqua-sama only, but girlfriends? Always hiring!!”
…Wait. She meant a job, not… that kind of girlfriend?
”Eh?”
”Eh?”
We both froze, staring at each other. I exhaled and forced a kind smile.
”Oh, a job application. Yes, we’re still accepting.”
”Staaare…”
Hey, Victoria-sama!? That withering stare was Kanon’s trademark!
”This is your fault for getting the wrong idea!” she snapped.
”I’m sorry!!” I yelped.
Honestly, it wasn’t my fault. Seeing Victoria-sama shy like that had made me lose all rationality. These sisters sometimes revealed sides that drove my heart wild.
”But Victoria-sama, why a part-time job?” I asked.
”Being pampered in the palace has grown dull. We princesses can’t work outside—it’s a diplomatic issue. But inside the Shirogane Kingdom, it’s fine. When I heard you were opening a shop, I thought it was my chance. And with you, I don’t have to be so formal.”
”Ah, I see.” Aqua-sama was busy, rarely at the palace. And the only ones lazing around there were that senpai running from work and that teacher dodging his manuscripts.
”Besides, the other princesses are interested too. If I start first, it’ll make it easier for them.”
”In that case, as someone already working here, I’d be glad to help,” I said proudly.
Come to think of it, Suu-chan once mentioned wanting to try a part-time job too. I’d have to bring this up with Kohina-paisen, head of the palace.
”Then, could you change into this uniform?” I asked.
”The staff outfit? Certainly.”
Victoria-sama took the clothes and slipped into the break room. Naturally, I peered through the cracked door.
Oh-ho! Today’s underwear was passionate red. Magnificent.
”How do I look?” she asked.
”Perfect!!” I shouted.
At first, I’d doubted her extravagant drill curls would match a kimono, but once styled up, she looked stunning.
”This pattern is adorable. I like it,” she said.
”Right? Kanon and I picked it together,” I bragged.
When I told her, she smiled radiantly. That smile alone could make me eat another bowl of rice.
”All right, let’s try a bit of customer service.”
”Understood.”
Heh heh… from here, it was my turn. I role-played as a lecherous customer, but Kanon happened to check in right then and glared daggers.
”Honestly! What are you doing to my sister!?”
”Just a teaching method—sorry!!” I groveled.
At least we had secured one part-time worker. Claire and Inko-san had already agreed to help. That should be enough staff.
”Hm?”
Wait, wasn’t there supposed to be one more interview today…?
Well, whatever! It must’ve just been my imagination. Yeah, definitely just my imagination!
Since I wasn’t the type to fuss over small things, I erased Kohina-paisen from my head completely.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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