Chapter 363 An Incognito Date in the Capital ③
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”I… I almost fell for it again.”
”Giggle. Don’t let it get to you, Roland. No one expects them to hawk fakes so brazenly. Honestly, if my father and brother hadn’t warned me, I might have been fooled too,” Lady Unia said.
”Your father and… your brother?” Roland asked.
”Yes. They told me, ‘Commoners are a hardy, crafty lot, so keep your wits about you.’”
It was a secret date between Prince Roland of Canaria and Lady Unia Greter. Roland, having lost his confidence after a brush with a street swindler, was currently being consoled by Unia.
Their promising start had hit a sudden snag, but there was still plenty of time for a comeback. Hang in there, kid! I cheered silently from the darkness. As I watched from within the veil of my “Concealment Magic¹,” the maid beside me, Muse, spoke up.
”Is the shopping district our next stop?” Muse asked.
”Yeah. Unia wanted to see it. She said she wanted to see the wares of the Canaria Kingdom and get a glimpse of how the ordinary people live,” I replied.
”This sounds less like a shopping date and more like a market survey,” Muse remarked.
For the record, we had planned to hit a trendy cafe in the district for lunch. I had consulted the palace maids and the women on my staff to pick the spot, so it was a solid choice. Still, it felt a little too common for a Duke’s daughter.
As the two walked ahead, hand-in-hand and looking quite close, we followed suit – also hand-in-hand – within the shadows. Muse whispered something about “us being on a date, too ♡,” which made me wonder if this was really okay in various senses.
”This is the main street,” Roland explained as they walked. “It’s technically a back street compared to the boulevard, but there’s an even deeper network of alleys behind this one, so people just call this the ‘front’.”
Outside the shadows, Roland was doing his best to play guide. It was a simple observation, but Unia nodded with genuine fascination. She was likely comparing it to the capital of Ferguson or the Greter heartland. Or so I thought, until…
”Back alleys? That sounds fascinating! Can we go there today?” Unia asked excitedly.
”Eh?! No, I – I can’t take you there, Uni,” Roland stammered.
”Oh, really? That’s a shame…”
Clearly, her natural curiosity was getting the better of her. I couldn’t blame her; there’s a certain allure to the phrase “back alleys.” However, the security headache it would cause was something I’d rather avoid.
”Has Roland never been, then?” Unia asked.
”Well, actually, I have. Kento’s shop is tucked away in the back alleys. He let me visit once,” Roland replied.
”Lord Harvest’s…? So he really does run a magic circuit shop in the city,” Unia mused.
Unia was practically vibrating with interest, but thankfully, she didn’t push him to take her there immediately. For several reasons, I was grateful for that.
They continued their tour of the storefronts. Between the boulevard stalls and this street, they were following the exact same route as the “Social Studies Field Trip²” I had taken Roland on before. Back then, he had been wide-eyed and lost, but now he was navigating with confidence, pointing out shops for her. Unia, meanwhile, was busy comparing goods – noting what was unique to Canaria and what was common in Ferguson.
”Is this okay? I mean… are you actually having fun, Uni?” Roland asked tentatively.
”Oh, immensely! Just look – goods harvested from a dozen lands, transported across borders, processed or sold raw, all given a price and laid out for people to claim… Don’t you think the sheer scale of it is incredible?”
”…Yeah. You’re right,” Roland said softly.
Roland nodded, looking genuinely struck by her perspective. The Roland of a few months ago wouldn’t have grasped the weight of those words. I felt a surge of pride; that was the result of Old Man Haruma’s tutoring, and maybe a little bit of my own influence, too.
But Unia understood it on a much deeper level. Roland looked at her with eyes full of a mix of respect, longing, and pure adoration – the look of someone staring at something far too bright.
”He’s got it bad,” I whispered.
”He certainly does,” Muse agreed. “The first woman he’s ever truly seen as a romantic interest… it’s a pity she isn’t a bit more ordinary.”
”I don’t know. Roland seems like the type who finds strength when he has someone to fight for.”
”Perhaps. But it’ll make the heartbreak – or the ‘next’ woman – that much harder to handle,” Muse replied.
Despite the ominous commentary, we kept watch. Being royalty is a rough gig. Even a guy like me couldn’t help but offer a silent, out-of-character prayer for the two of them to find some happiness.
”Oh! Look, Roland! Those are spices from the Western Islands! I can’t believe they have them here!” Unia cried.
”Whoa, wait up!” Roland called out.
Presumably, these were goods her own family traded in. Unia dashed over, a bright smile on her face, and addressed the shopkeeper.
”Excuse me! These are from the West, aren’t they?” Unia asked.
”Hm? Oh, aye. Been a devil of a time getting stock lately, but we finally got a batch in. Pricey, though,” the merchant replied.
”They’re so small,” Roland noted, leaning in. “You eat these?”
”Yes! These tiny seeds are incredibly fragrant. You can crush them for soups or rub them onto meat,” Unia explained.
To my eyes, they looked a lot like black pepper. I’d always assumed the spice trade came from the South in this world, but I guess I was wrong – they were coming from the West.
”Heh, you know your stuff, little lady. You a cook at one of the big estates?” the merchant asked.
”Something like that,” she replied with a wink.
As she looked over the quality, she turned to Roland. “These were in our dinner last night, you know. Don’t you recognize the scent?”
”You’re right… I see. So even the food links us together. From now on, I’ll think of you every time I eat this,” Roland said.
”Hehe, I’d like that. Oh, look, Ferguson herbs! And these… I don’t recognize these. From the East, perhaps?” Unia continued.
The two shared a lively conversation over the wares. Roland asked the price for the ‘pepper’ and nearly choked – it was way beyond his royal allowance – settling instead for some herbs Unia recommended. They looked like they were having a blast.
Including the shopping district in the plan had been a masterstroke. It wasn’t just fun for Unia; it was an education for Roland. By the time they finished their rounds, they were walking so close their shoulders touched, seemingly forgetting they were even holding hands.
”Uni, are you getting hungry?” Roland asked.
”Oh! Is it that time already? I got completely carried away,” Unia replied.
”There’s a popular spot nearby. If you’d like, we could head there?”
”Well…”
The sun was high now – lunchtime. Roland tried to steer her toward the fancy cafe we’d picked, but Unia seemed hesitant.
”That sounds lovely, but… can I be a little selfish?” Unia asked.
”I… if it’s within my power,” Roland said, instinctively checking his wallet.
Unia gave him a look – one that suggested she was fully aware of exactly how charming she was. Man, whether this works out or not, he’s in for a life of hard work, I thought.
”I want to go to the Adventurer’s Guild! The cafeteria you told me about, Roland!”
”The… the Guild? But that’s…”
Great. Just when I thought I was off the hook, the sparks landed right on me. Roland looked around frantically for help. Muse, sensing the shift, tightened her grip on my hand.
”I’ll go coordinate the guards,” Muse whispered. “Wait here.”
”Right…”
And so, I was left alone in the shadows for a bit, feeling a little exposed. But then I remembered how Muse had to scramble back when I was the one dragging Roland on his “Social Studies” trips, and I couldn’t find it in me to complain.
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Summary:
Roland and Unia continue their date through the shopping district of the castle town. Unia shows a surprising depth of economic knowledge and curiosity, while Roland falls deeper in love. The chapter ends with Unia requesting a visit to the Adventurer’s Guild cafeteria, disrupting the carefully planned itinerary.
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Trivia:
- The narrator (Kento) and Muse are physically holding hands while hidden in the shadows.
- Unia’s family (the Greters) is involved in international spice trade.
- Roland’s growth is measured against a previous ‘field trip’ Kento took him on.
- The spices in this world follow a West-to-East trade route, contrary to Kento’s Earth-based assumptions
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Character Insight:
Unia is revealed to be more than just a sheltered noble; she is a keen observer of systems and commerce. Roland is transitioning from a passive student to an active, albeit nervous, suitor.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Social Studies Field Trip’ is a recurring gag highlighting Kento’s modern-world educational methods being applied to fantasy royalty.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Roland – he younger brother of Queen Cecile and the heir apparent to the Canaria throne. Clean, golden-blonde hair, same color as the Queen, innocent, beautiful face that could be mistaken for a girl but dressed in a boy’s formal wear.
• Unia – The third daughter of the house of Duke Greiter. Has blonde hair tied in an intricate style, dol-like beauty, and expressionless face.
• Muse – Cecile’s trusted attendant and chief maid, Muse handles sensitive, discreet tasks like espionage and product acquisition. Have sharp, black eyes, wearing maid uniform, and have expressionless face.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
• Haruma – A kindly old man with a full beard and a bald head.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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