Belle Poupée_ARCHIVE_C4:CHAPTER 4: THE CARING MAN
4. The Caring Man
"Sorry, Belle-sama. This child is a little bit foolish."
"Ugh, but Belle-sama is just too adorable!"
Ah, I had suspected as much. I can’t really say, "Don’t worry about it"—so, for now, I just smile.
It can’t be helped. This is Gilbert's regular spot. Assuming it’s safe, I should focus on gathering information for now.
"Laura-sama, please, tell me about Gilbert-sama."
"Oh, my apologies! Well then, where should I start? Belle-sama, are you familiar with the mercenary knight system?"
Leticia nodded.
Mercenary knights. As the name suggests, they aren’t knights contracted directly by the nation, but rather freelance knights who make individual contracts. Unlike regular knights, their jobs are diverse, ranging from gathering materials, slaying monsters, to providing escort services. The tasks they can take on are determined by their rank, with the lowest being F and the highest being SS.
Only a few individuals in the entire country reach SS rank, and when war breaks out, even the commanders of knight orders will bow their heads and request assistance from them.
"Ah, thank goodness! In that case, let me skip ahead!"
"Laura?"
"Ah, um, let me explain right away!"
Behind Ari-chan’s motherly smile, there was a subtle, almost imperceptible frown, revealing the power dynamics in their relationship. It was quite clear. Interesting.
"Our shop originally became a gathering place for lower-ranked mercenary knights. The lower the rank, the worse their manners. It was really tough back then. But then Gilbert-sama came!"
Laura's eyes sparkled, and her voice grew more animated as she eagerly told the story.
Ari-chan tried to interrupt, but Laura’s enthusiasm didn’t wane. She continued to praise Gilbert and recount his wonderful qualities.
"With Gilbert-sama’s patronage, the rumors started spreading, and eventually, higher-ranked individuals began visiting. The royal brand really works, doesn’t it? Of course, if the substance doesn’t match the brand, that boost becomes meaningless. But we had Ari-nee with us!"
"Well."
"Ari-nee was the one who handled the first round of customer service and could tell who would be a good fit and who would be lenient enough to accept minor mistakes. It was hard back then, but also fun! At the same time, we were thoroughly trained in etiquette and conversational skills, gradually improving! Our customers began to look forward to our growth! Oh, and really difficult customers? Gilbert-sama took care of them all and even personally trained us!"
"Laura, be quiet for a moment..."
Ari-chan, looking tired, quickly covered Leticia's ears, but it was too late. Gilbert had clearly heard all about the "training" part.
If she understood what kind of place this shop was, she would realize how poorly she had chosen her words.
Not realizing what the problem was, Laura, still with bright eyes, followed Ari-chan’s instruction to wait patiently. Her innocence was probably what made her so charming. Even without being told, Leticia understood that by "training," Ari-nee only meant etiquette and conversational skills. It wasn’t anything inappropriate. She certainly wasn’t involved in any intimate activities.
Leticia smiled at Ari-chan, reassuring her with a gentle look, as she silently nodded that everything was fine.
More than the details of the shop, it was more pleasant that Ari-chan had decided to let Laura sit at the table. That fact alone was the real victory.
「It seems I was quickly seen as someone with the tolerance to overlook minor mistakes. How embarrassing! Haha!」
Ari-chan didn’t pick up on Leticia’s true feelings as she quietly basked in her own delight. After offering an apology, Ari-chan reassured Leticia with a smile, adding, "Although he’s misunderstood, Gilbert-sama is a kind and serious man."
Having them say that much only solidified Leticia’s view of Gilbert. No more doubts could arise about his character.
"Now, let me take over the rest."
"Eh, then what should I do?"
"Well, how about helping with the meal service, Belle-sama?"
Leticia nodded at Ari-chan’s suggestion. Laura, happy to oblige, grabbed a plate of cookies, smiling brightly.
Although she was starting to crave something more substantial, Leticia decided it would be impolite to interfere with the playful behavior of a child-like Laura. It would be rude to interrupt, so she smiled and let her enjoy the moment.
The cookies, as Laura brought them to Leticia’s mouth with a gleam in her eye, were light and crunchy. The sweetness, with a hint of honey, lingered delicately, and they were absolutely delicious. This was a famous brand, favored by nobility. They certainly sourced the best ingredients.
"Really, this child..."
"She’s adorable."
"Hehe, thank you, Belle-sama. Now, as for the rest—I won’t take long. The quality of the establishment is crucial. As the shop’s reputation improved, those with poor conduct gradually found it difficult to stay, and their visits became less frequent. Gilbert-sama and the higher-ranked patrons helped us with that."
Leticia closed her eyes quietly, absorbing this information.
The rumors of Gilbert visiting brothels? Most likely, his kindness extended beyond mere patronage. He probably kept an eye out for troublesome customers while visiting, ensuring that troublemakers didn’t spoil the place. When Gilbert visited, no one would dare cause a scene.
He seemed like he would make a good husband. It wouldn’t hurt to grab hold of him and rush toward marriage.
Leticia nodded with satisfaction.
"Hey. Stop recommending only sweets. Are you trying to fatten up the doll princess?"
At that moment, Gilbert returned, almost as if on cue.
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