“Well, that child should be fine if we leave them alone. We have work to do now.”
Margaret said, and then began to attend to the next customer.
“Welcome.”
“Thank you for waiting.”
“Thank you very much.”
No one would have imagined that the Queen of this country would be standing at the register, and both Margaret and the customers were making normal exchanges.
“This is quite interesting. I think I could do this every day.”
“Is that so?”
Kent said, watching Margaret work with a smile.
“Hey, Kent. I came to buy some bread for a late-night snack since I’m on the night shift today. Hmm, this might be too ordinary.”
“Hii, Kent~, I’m here. Hmm, this doesn’t suit my character.”
“I want to buy some bread. Isn’t this like challenging a dojo somewhere?”
In front of Marie’s Bakery, a woman was standing, muttering to herself and looking distressed. She was clad in white armor, clutching a bag of money in her hand.
“What is she doing?”
“Eek!”
Catherine, holding a broom, spoke to the suspicious woman.
“You don’t have to be so surprised.”
“Oh, it’s you, Saintess.”
“Hmph, wrong answer. I’m a baker’s daughter right now!”
Otsupain seemed to calm down when she recognized Catherine.
“That’s right. Um, you asked what I was doing, didn’t you? I came to buy bread for my late-night snack since I’m on the night shift today.”
“Hmm, I thought the Sanctuary had a dining hall and served dinner too.”
“Wha, what? Please don’t look at me like that.”
Catherine looked at Otsupain with eyes that seemed to have found something amusing.
“You came to see Kent, didn’t you? He’s working the register right now.”
“Is that so? I felt I couldn’t easily approach you while you were working in the back, but if you’re at the register, I can talk to you more casually.”
“Yes. I’m cleaning outside, so feel free to come inside without worrying about me.”
“Then, excuse me. *Sigh*… Otsupain, here I go.”
With that, Otsupain took a deep breath, psyched herself up, and opened the shop door to enter.
“Well now, I think I’m about to see something interesting, so I’ll head inside too.”
Catherine propped her broom against a nearby wall and followed Otsupain into the store.
“Welcome. Ah, Otsupain, welcome!”
“Oh, uh. I, I came to buy some bread.”
The shop door opened, and a new customer entered. It was Otsupain, whom Kent knew. When Kent recognized her face, he greeted her with a customer-service smile. Otsupain’s face was flushed red, and her white armor seemed to amplify the heat on her face.
“Oh, isn’t that Otsupain? What’s up? Did you come here for Kent? Heh~”
“Wha, what is this old woman saying? How rude to a noble like me!”
“Hmph, a noble, you say.”
Otsupain said to the old woman standing next to Kent.
“I have a feeling something interesting is about to happen.”
“Rachel, you’re supposed to be working now.”
Sensing that something interesting might happen, Rachel came out from the back with Caro.
“What is it? Some kind of trouble?”
“Is something wrong?”
Hearing Rachel and Caro, Elnet and Josette also stopped their work and came out from the kitchen.
“Is something wrong?”
“Gordon, you shouldn’t be a bystander.”
Gordon, who found the gathering of employees suspicious, joined them, followed by Patty.
“Gordon? There’s someone with the same name as the 2nd Prince… I see.”
Otsupain’s movements stopped the moment she saw Gordon, who had approached.
“G-G-Gordon, why are you here?”
“Well, my fiancée works here. I’d at least come to see her.”
Gordon glanced at Patty and said to Otsupain.
“Come to think of it, her name is Patty… the same name. No way, I never realized it before.”
Fortunately, there were no other customers at the moment, so Otsupain’s loud exclamation didn’t cause any issues, but she looked quite surprised.
“So, and, the one who spoke rudely to you earlier was everyone’s idol, Margaret-chan~!”
“Hey, hey.”
All the employees present retorted to Margaret’s statement.
“Oh, Queen. I, I am terribly sorry. P-please, forgive me.”
Otsupain, realizing that the old woman next to Kent was Queen Margaret, prostrated herself with such force that her forehead seemed to be scraping the floor.
“This child is quite amusing to tease.”
Margaret said to Kent in a voice only he could hear.
“She’s a serious person, so please don’t bully her too much.”
“Oh, Kent, you’re so kind.”
When Kent said this to Margaret, she smiled kindly and replied.
“Otsupain, lift your head. As you can see, I’m an apprentice baker right now.”
“But, I did say something rude. For the disrespect I have shown, whatever punishment…”
“Well then. How about you try standing here?”
“Huh?”
Otsupain was trying to atone for her actions, but Margaret had no intention of blaming her and offered an alternative.
“Rachel, can you prepare a uniform for her?”
“Fu, fu, fu. Actually, I have one ready. Ta-da!”
Rachel then produced the shop’s uniform from somewhere.
“Otsupai… I mean, Otsupain’s measurements were already taken when I made her dress before. I made this just in case.”
Rachel said, puffing out her chest, which was slightly smaller than average.
“As expected of Rachel. Here, go change.”
“But, I have work to do…”
Margaret urged Otsupain to change, but she was reluctant because she had work.
“Work? Catherine, what do you think?”
“You’re not guarding alone, and it’s only for a little while until closing time. I don’t think it’s a problem to take a short leave from work.”
“That’s what she said, you know?”
Margaret asked Catherine, who was Otsupain’s superior. Having obtained permission, she had cleared the way for Otsupain.
“Understood. I’ll go change.”
“It’ll be tough changing all by yourself, won’t it? Kent, why don’t you help her?”
“Eh? Me?”
Margaret said to Kent with a grin.
“But, someone needs to stay by the Queen’s side.”
“There are plenty of people. Anyone will do.”
“Hmm, then I’ll do it.”
“Eek!”
Since Kent would be occupied with Otsupain, a substitute was needed. Margaret had suggested it, but when Hanako volunteered, her expression changed.
“Alright then, Otsupain, let’s go.”
“Y-yes.”
Kent said to Otsupain, who replied nervously.
“Ah, older brother, the women’s locker room is off-limits to men, so you can’t use it.”
“Is th-that so? Then, how about we change at my house?”
Rachel told him not to use the employee locker room for women, so Kent, taking a set of clothes, decided to have Otsupain change at his house.
The third volume of the comic adaptation will be released on January 13th.
As with the previous volumes, it will be available in both paperback and digital formats. We would be delighted if you could pick up the version that best suits your lifestyle. Thank you in advance for your support.
