~Chapter 8~
“That’s the last one.”
After finishing the wrapping on the last madeleine, I checked the number of cookies neatly placed inside the box.
Thud.
Just then, I heard something drop behind me.
“Cuuustooomer…”
“Omok?”
I turned around to see Omok sprawled out on the table.
It had been a while since I last saw him, and his once-chubby body had shrunk to half its size. On top of that, somehow even his tiny eyes had dark circles beneath them.
“Have you been sick or something?”
“My body and heart hurt… I cried while writing reports of fault, then had to work overtime to clean things up.”
“So that’s why you lost so much weight…”
“But at least I wasn’t fired!”
When I asked in concern, Omok suddenly sprang up, eyes sparkling.
Even after going through such misery, he still got excited at the mention of his company. His obsession was beyond normal.
“I was busy, but in the meantime, Customer, you still haven’t achieved a single hidden achievement, have you?”
“You think making a couple is easy? And that male lead kept interfering!”
“Seems you chose too difficult a target for your first strategy.”
“It wasn’t easy. But! Now the chances have gone up, so it feels possible. Sir Claire also had a heart emoji above her head.”
After hearing the truth from Sir Harbor, the first thing I did was check Sir Claire’s worries.
To be honest, I had been worried—Claire always stuck to Lysa like glue.
But when I turned on the worry-emojis, a big heart popped up over her head.
“Just because a heart emoji showed up doesn’t mean it’s mutual.”
“It’s not just that. I did a fortune.”
“…Fortune?”
“Yes. A latte fortune.”
I gave Omok a wide grin.
Before I possessed this world, I had one special “skill”—I could read fortunes from latte art.
One time, while listening to a customer’s love troubles, I made latte art that came out perfectly. Somehow I felt she and the guy would end up together, so I said so.
‘And later, I heard they really did start dating.’
After that, whenever my latte art came out clear, couples formed. If not, problems appeared and they drifted apart.
It spread by word of mouth, and soon customers came to the café just for my “latte fortunes.”
Which meant—it had some credibility.
“Anyway, I read it several times. And each time, it said the two of them would be together.”
“…That sounds unscientific and illogical.”
“And me possessing a novel—is that scientific and logical?”
The most impossible thing I had ever gone through was talking about science and logic now. Ridiculous.
Still, I wasn’t blindly trusting the latte fortune either.
“I’m just curious if it works here too. If it does, it’ll help me a lot in the future.”
“Hearing you say that, I guess it makes sense.”
“Right? I did a lot while you were gone, you know.”
Feeling proud, I handed Omok a madeleine.
“Is this also part of your plan?”
Chewing the madeleine, Omok tilted his head.
“This one’s for long-term strategy. Building good relationships with the people around me—it can’t hurt.”
“You’re really making good use of your past skills.”
“It’s my only skill. I’ll use it all the way.”
If there was one thing I was confident in, it was surviving with what I had.
I grew up in an orphanage and even managed to become a café owner. There was nothing I couldn’t do.
“Alright, let’s finish the checks.”
I closed the box of madeleines and went over the receipt and supplies.
Apple mint, lime, and even carbonated water—all ready in the right amounts.
It had been hard to get, but luckily I managed to secure carbonated water. It was the essential ingredient for tomorrow’s drink.
“I hope my plan keeps running smoothly—without any ‘sweet potatoes’ and only refreshing cider moments.”
“Amelie, you don’t have to come tomorrow.”
“…Huh?”
I stopped in the middle of crushing limes and looked at Lysa.
‘You tell me that while I’m making you a mojito?’
I had been squeezing lime juice for her third mojito, but her sudden words made me freeze.
“Why? Am I getting in the way of training?”
That would be bad.
I already checked with my latte fortune. The only thing left was to find out who Sir Claire’s heart was aimed at.
I planned to approach her more, talk more, and get closer.
But now Lysa was telling me not to come?
I knew training was important, but for me, this was like thunder from a clear sky.
“No, Amelie! You’ve been cheering us every day, and thanks to you, our knights’ training results improved so much!”
“Then… why not tomorrow?”
Thankfully, Lysa denied it right away. I quickly tried squeezing out some fake tears.
No tears came, but at least my eyes felt a little moist.
“Tomorrow, we don’t have daytime training. It’s the ‘Night of Duels’!”
“…Night of Duels?”
“Yes. It’s our knight order’s annual event. During the day we have duels among ourselves, and at night we hold a small festival.”
“Ah, a festival.”
At once, memories of café customers’ love stories flashed in my head.
Festival means? Alcohol! And with alcohol? Romantic stories bloom!
This was a golden chance from heaven.
“Can’t I come and watch tomorrow? It sounds fun—I want to see.”
I pulled my lips downward, trying my best pitiful and desperate look.
Now was the time for a full method-acting performance.
“Normally outsiders aren’t allowed… but you’re important to our order. I’ll ask the commander for permission!”
“Thanks! Lysa, you’re the best.”
“Really? For me, you’re the best too, Amelie.”
Lysa smiled brighter than ever.
‘With that smile, of course I’d offer tribute.’
If she had been born in the real world, she’d have become an idol for sure, a top-tier member. That’s how much she stirred my heart.
So, my job was clear. Even if I had to crush every lime, I would make her the best mojito.
I started moving my hands again.
“Vice-captain. The 1st Knight Order’s commander proposed an exhibition duel with us. What should we do?”
Just as I finished another mojito, Sir Claire approached.
Normally she would have exchanged a few words, but now she seemed busy, only giving a quick greeting.
Still, in my eyes, she was the key to unlocking my hidden achievement, so even that was good.
“Accept it. But no one should get hurt before tomorrow’s event, so no deciding victory or defeat.”
“Yes, understood.”
The happiness of seeing Sir Claire didn’t last long. Her mention of the 1st Knight Order made me frown.
Sure enough, when she saluted and ran off, I saw Richard standing there.
No matter what kind of novel male lead he was, did he have to be so curt when receiving messages?
‘Now that I think of it, isn’t he always like that with women other than Lysa?’
From noble ladies who came to watch training to female knights, Richard never smiled or spoke first.
For a male lead, usually the default is to treat other women politely but focus on the heroine.
But Richard seemed closer to outright avoiding them.
“Lysa, has Richard ever had a bad experience with women?”
“…What? Bad experience?”
“Well, he’s fine with male knights, but when it comes to female knights, he seems… awkward.”
“Ah.”
Hearing me, Lysa made a troubled face.
That reaction made my heart sink. Something had happened.
Could it have been because of the original Amelie?
The suspicion grew heavy in my chest—until Lysa suddenly pulled me closer.
“Amelie, let’s go somewhere else to talk.”
“Uh? If it’s hard to say, you don’t have to tell me! I’m not that curious after all…”
“No. I think you should know.”
No, I really don’t need to!
But no matter how I resisted, the strength of a knight who had held a sword for years easily overpowered me.
In the end, Lysa dragged me off to a quiet corner with no one around.
