Our Cafe is Open as Usual - Chapter 41

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 41

 

The party’s main character had disappeared!

 

And without even telling Frizia!

 

I, who had been preparing a party without Iliyana knowing she was the main character, was flustered.

 

‘Oh no, this can’t be happening…’

 

This is terrible…

 

The schedule at the Viola Estate had taken too long because of the matter with Hese.

 

The tea party was just two days away, so there were too many things to prepare.

 

There were many new things to prepare, and time had passed by while planning them and ordering supplies.

 

I had said I’d return before lunch, but now it was past dinner time.

 

I thought it was strange that Hese wasn’t interfering from the side… but he had just been working diligently.

 

So I wrapped up my work as much as possible and returned to the cafe.

 

Frizia, whom I had contacted in advance through Millen, was already at the cafe. She was doing very well at following my request not to give away that we were planning a surprise party.

 

Frizia had even gone further than what I had asked of her.

 

She was already someone overflowing with mischief.

 

For such a person, a surprise party for Iliyana… would be a stage where she’d want to give her absolute best.

 

Perhaps because of that, Iliyana seemed to be more seriously hurt than expected.

 

How could anyone not notice when it showed so obviously on her face?

 

So I went up to the 2nd floor, wanting to prepare the party as quickly as possible.

 

Even without a cake, I prettily arranged the dessert bundle that Hese had packed for the party on plates.

 

For drinks, I planned to preview what would be featured at the tea party once the party started.

 

But when I came back down.

 

“Frizia, where’s Iliyana?”

 

“Iliyana’s not here?”

 

“I don’t see her?”

 

The main character had already disappeared.

 

Focused on the surprise party for her, none of us had seen her leave the cafe.

 

We could only search helplessly for the person who had disappeared too late.

 

Frizia’s eyes shook faster than an aspen tree swaying in the wind.

 

“L-Lailah? What do we do now?”

 

“I know, right. We’ve become the worst bosses now…”

 

“I-I’ve never seen Iliyana act like this before. Was I really too harsh?”

 

“…Hmm.”

 

Since I hadn’t seen how Frizia had behaved toward Iliyana, I just kept my words to myself.

 

At times like this, it’s best to keep quiet.

 

I stayed silent with my mouth shut, then turned my head toward Hyu.

 

Hyu looked like his soul had disappeared. Where had he gotten wet again… he even looked pitiful.

 

‘Hmm, this has become the worst party.’

 

They say surprise parties are done well by those who have experience. Me planning a surprise party for the first time, Frizia doing it for the first time as well, and the hamster Hyu. Now that I thought about it properly, it was the worst combination.

 

‘I should have just told her.’

 

That we were throwing a party to show our gratitude for everything so far.

 

I squeezed my eyes shut. The situation had already happened, so I had to resolve it… but there were too many immediate concerns.

 

‘If you don’t resolve things like this right away, they just build up in your heart.’

 

I let out a deep sigh. Then Frizia suddenly stood up from her seat.

 

“I’ll go find Iliyana first. She must be at my shop.”

 

“Really?”

 

“She wouldn’t have gone all the way h-home, right? Iliyana has been living with me the entire time we’ve worked together. It’s been three years already.”

 

“If it’s been that long, wouldn’t she be at the shop?”

 

“Right? Then I’ll go check now. Rumi, let’s go!”

 

Frizia nodded with a determined expression. Rumi, who had been sitting beside her, shook her head.

 

“Rumi will talk things out well with big sister!”

 

“Yes, Rumi. You’re the most reliable.”

 

“Hehe!”

 

Rumi smiled brightly and stood up, taking Frizia’s hand. The two of them quickly left the cafe.

 

I just watched their retreating figures and prayed inwardly.

 

‘Please let them resolve things well with Iliyana.’

 

* * *

 

However, the next day, in the early hours when the sun was faintly showing itself.

 

It was a time when everyone was still asleep, but someone urgently pounded on the entrance of Yonggari Cafe.

 

Awakened by that sound, I groggily greeted the visitor.

 

“Hmm, Frizia!?”

 

It was Frizia.

 

She spoke very urgently.

 

“…This is terrible, Lailah. Iliyana wasn’t at home.

 

I waited all night but she didn’t come home… What do we do now?”

 

…I squeezed my eyes shut.

 

I hoped this entire situation was a dream. I even pinched my cheek, but the pain was vivid.

 

‘…This is chaos.’

 

It was a situation that completely woke me up.

 

I held my throbbing head from the headache and let her into the shop.

 

As soon as she entered, she slumped down in the nearest chair.

 

Her hair was disheveled, and her clothes were the same ones from yesterday. Dark circles were thick under her eyes, and her face was full of worry.

 

I patted her shoulder a couple of times.

 

“Wait just a moment, Frizia.”

 

In this state, even conversation seemed difficult. I went straight into the kitchen. Then I took out the lemon preserve I had portioned and brought yesterday.

 

‘For mental stability, warm tea is the way to go.’

 

Chamomile tea or lavender tea would have been better! But since all I had was lemon preserve, there was no choice.

 

I immediately prepared hot water and made lemon tea in a teacup decorated with lily of the valley.

 

The refreshing scent unique to lemons spread warmly.

 

I immediately took the lemon tea and approached Frizia. I set the tea down in front of her and sat across from her.

 

“Let’s calm down first and then talk. Drinking warm tea will make you feel better, Frizia.”

 

“…Sorry, I showed you such an unsightly appearance from dawn.”

 

“Not at all. If it were me and Millen left home… no wait, if Hyu left home, I’d be putting up ‘Looking for Hyu’ posters in the town square and stopping people to ask about him, wouldn’t I?”

 

“Pfft, what’s that?”

 

She took a sip of lemon tea and let out a faint laugh.

 

That was only momentary. Worry settled on her face again.

 

“Iliyana has nowhere to go right now… Did she sleep properly? She told me the reason she started working with me was because she left home.”

 

“Iliyana left home?”

 

“Yes, she came to me saying she wanted to work together. I happened to need someone at the time, so I took her in. Rumi was very sick then.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“We’ve been working and living together for three years since then. But seeing how she didn’t come home without telling me, she must be really angry, right?”

 

Frizia’s shoulders, usually overflowing with energy, were drooping. Worry and concern filled her expression and voice.

 

She gripped the teacup with both hands and murmured.

 

“She’s a child who was raised preciously, so she absolutely can’t sleep in unfamiliar places… She only eats food I make for her and gets cold easily too…”

 

Ah.

 

Listening to her worries, I squeezed my eyes shut. This is all my fault. Yes, why did I try to throw a party I’d never done before… This made me start doubting whether I could even successfully pull off the tea party.

 

I patted Frizia’s shoulder.

 

“She’ll return soon. Iliyana really looks up to you, Frizia. So… won’t she come back soon?”

 

“…Do you think so?”

 

“Of course. Before then, I’ll look for Iliyana.”

 

“No, leave that to me. Lailah is busy right now.”

 

“…Mmm.”

 

Since I really was busy, I kept my mouth shut tight. I had a feeling I might collapse again from failing to manage my energy properly.

 

I nodded my head slowly.

 

“Then I’ll ask you to handle it just until the tea party ends. If Iliyana still hasn’t returned after that, I’ll help search for her too.”

 

With my words finished, Frizia returned to the furniture shop. It was about time for Rumi to wake up.

 

I quickly checked the time and then started stretching.

 

Going back to sleep was already out of the question. So since I was up early, I figured I might as well work.

 

‘There’s a mountain of things to do.’

 

Starting today, there was no one to watch the hall… so there was even more work.

 

At least it was fortunate that Antonio said he’d send someone to help me.

 

‘I feel bad for that person, but I’ll have to put them in charge of the hall.’

 

I pressed firmly on my neck muscles with my hands as I entered the kitchen.

 

* * *

 

And so, two days later.

 

“…Huh?”

 

I spotted a familiar person.

 

And at the rose garden tea party, no less!

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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