Chapter 213

Clael and Reina were having lunch in the courtyard.

Just as they finished eating, Clael suddenly began to speak, as if remembering something.

"Come to think of it... the other day, an old friend invited me out to dinner at a restaurant."

"......A restaurant?"

"Yes, a restaurant...?"

Why, I wonder.

The moment he brought up the topic, it felt like the temperature around them dropped slightly.

Still, stopping the story now would be strange. Clael decided to continue.

"It was a place with a dress code, so I usually wouldn't go, but... it was quite elegant and delicious."

"Is that so? More than my cooking?"

"Haha... it's not something to compare. Your cooking is home-style, Reina. It's the kind of food I could eat every day without getting tired of it. But restaurant food like that is different."

It's nice for special occasions, but not the kind of place one would go to frequently.

It wasn't about which tasted better—there was no real way to compare it to Reina's home cooking.

"It was delicious, but... honestly, there were a lot of things I couldn't identify. Delicacies aren't meant to be eaten regularly. Just because something is extravagant doesn't mean it's always good."

"......I see."

For some reason, Reina's expression clouded.

He thought she'd be interested since she liked cooking.

"Shall we go eat together next time?"

"!"

"Of course, if you're not interested..."

"I'll go!"

"Wha—!"

Reina suddenly closed the distance between them.

Just moments ago, she'd looked gloomy, but now her face was bright with joy.

"You really are Clael-sama... I'm so happy you kept your promise."

"Promise... did I make one?"

"Yes, you did! Today... well, we probably don't have time, so let's go on your day off, Clael-sama!!"

"Y-yeah............ promise?"

Did he really promise to go to a fancy restaurant with her?

Clael tilted his head, but Reina looked so genuinely happy. It felt wrong to ruin the mood.

(...Well, I guess it's fine. Maybe I really just forgot.)

They'd known each other a long time.

It was entirely possible Clael had forgotten a promise he had actually made.

"Hehe, I'm looking forward to it. The course meals, the dessert. Let's try one of those chef's special courses."

"Ah... yeah?"

"Oh, right!"

As Clael looked puzzled, Reina clapped her hands together.

"Since there's a dress code, we'll need proper clothes, right? Clael-sama, please come shopping with me!"

"Ah... clothes, yeah, we'll definitely need some."

Clael nodded at Reina's request.

Indeed, to enter a fancy restaurant, they'd need to buy dresses and such.

"Ah, I'm so excited! We'll go clothes shopping together, then have a meal... it's going to be the perfect day off!"

Reina was grinning from ear to ear as she planned their day off.

Watching her smiling face fondly... Clael suddenly realized something.

"Ah..."

(Wait, couldn't we just wear our uniforms instead of buying new clothes?)

The uniform was a versatile outfit suitable for formal occasions of all kinds.

Especially the Royal Academy uniform.

The academy was overseen by the king himself and attended by many nobles. That uniform should be perfectly acceptable even at a place with a dress code.

"Um... Reina."

"Ah, I'm so excited. Shopping with Clael-sama. Shopping with Clael-sama~"

"............"

Clael swallowed the words that were about to come out of his mouth.

It would be tactless to spoil Reina's excitement.

"...Well, I guess it's fine."

He could at least accompany her for some clothes shopping.

Smiling at Reina's joy, Clael took a sip of tea from his canteen.

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