Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 72

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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This café is run by the Heir to the Dark Guild.
Chapter 72
Once we stepped outside, Bidler folded his arms and stared at me intently.
“Have you thought about the proposal?”
I’d expected him to ask the moment I saw his face, so I nodded calmly.
“The engagement, yes?”
Since returning from the party, I’d spent every spare moment wrestling with it.
That I, who had lived my entire life as the Heir to the Dark Guild, would become the Fiancée of a prince—even if only in name—made no sense.
Not even if Bidler wasn’t born of the Empress.
If Reilly and Sophia found out, I’d be their favorite joke forever.
Though perhaps more than a joke.
Reilly, with all his worries, might haul me back to Headquarters with endless lectures.
Since the engagement wouldn’t last long, I decided to keep it hidden from them for now.
“Are you truly certain there’s no other option?”
“If you refuse, I’ll find someone else. But I can’t trust an outsider, so I’d have to disguise a member of the Guild.”
He muttered something about dressing one of them as a woman, and I frowned.
“That’s overstepping.”
“I’m joking.”
Either way, there was no real alternative. I made my decision.
‘I’ve saved Seniel’s life more than once,’ I thought.
Part of being able to spend time with Seniel like this was thanks to Bidler.
While I couldn’t be at Seniel’s side, Bidler was there, pulling him forward and even saving his life.
“I’ll do it. I’ll be your Fiancée.”
“Really?”
Bidler’s eyes widened for a moment, then he broke into a brilliant smile.
It was just a business arrangement—why was he so pleased?
‘Anyone watching would misunderstand.’
Like he’d just made a real proposal and I’d accepted.
“Yes. But in exchange, let’s consider any debt Seniel owes you settled.”
“Debt? Ah… you remember what I said back then.”
“If Seniel ever says he wants to rest or leave your side, let him do as he wishes.”
……
Bidler’s expression hardened. The care he held for Seniel was evident in the conflict crossing his face.
“Do you lack confidence? Afraid he’ll leave if you don’t hold him like this?”
“…Fine. I agree.”
Whether my provocation had won him over or he truly was confident, our arrangement was sealed.
“What should I do, and how?”
“Nothing. Just be as you are. Though we may need some acting from you—a few times, perhaps.”
“Like at the party?”
“More difficult than that. There may be occasions when you meet the Emperor.”
“How long does this last?”
“Until we bring down the Empress.”
I’d anticipated all of this from the moment I agreed to the role, so I consented readily.
“But will the Emperor permit a commoner to be your Fiancée?”
“He won’t like it, but he won’t be able to stop it. If worse comes to worst, we can use it as an excuse to leave the Imperial Palace.”
Bidler smiled gently and extended his hand to me.
“I’m counting on you. My Fiancée.”
I reached out, running my fingers past his large, smooth hand.
Bidler stepped closer and took my hand. A cool sensation spread through my palm.
I lifted my gaze to meet his eyes, and I noticed his expression was different from usual.
I was wondering why he looked at me with such longing when, suddenly, the café door swung open.
“What are you doing?”
Cayden called out loudly as he came outside.
I pulled my gaze from Bidler and looked at him.
“I disliked him from the moment I first saw him. Should a Priest be wandering about like this?”
“Let’s go inside.”
I left Bidler to his muttering and followed Cayden back in.
But then.
“Come here. Hurry!”
“If it were you, would you stop? Ha ha, look at this.”
Seniel and Orbis were tearing around like madmen, and I furrowed my brow.
Both of them were covered head to toe in cake, their clothes a complete mess.
“Are you both still children?”
When I raised my voice, Seniel slid past Orbis while talking back.
“Orbis started it.”
“No! It was him first!”
They just kept blaming each other, and all I could do was sigh.
“Stop right now. Otherwise, you’ll be eating what I cook for dinner.”
The moment I spoke calmly, both Seniel and Orbis froze.
“Sister… that’s a bit much…”
“I have something to do, so I’ll head out first.”
I supposed I had to appreciate that they obeyed, however I had to make them obey.
I pulled out a handkerchief and gestured to Seniel.
“Come here. Let me clean you up.”
Seniel flashed a triumphant smile at Orbis and trotted over to me.
“How old are you exactly?”
The sticky cream quickly ruined the handkerchief, so I had to bring out napkins and scrub for quite a while.
“It feels good when you do it. Just like when I was little.”
“If it feels good, then clean up diligently. Orbis, you too.”
“Yes.”
Seniel and Orbis bickered as they began tidying up the mess.
Meanwhile, Bidler sat cross-legged with a displeased expression, doing nothing.
“Sister, I won’t be able to come for a while. I have to go through an apprenticeship at the Imperial Palace.”
“You’ll be training with Orbis then?”
“Yes. I’ll visit once I get leave.”
Even as they finished cleaning and left, Bidler kept his jaw clenched, glaring only at Cayden the whole time.
“Aren’t you leaving?”
After everyone had gone, I stood before Cayden, who was settling naturally onto the sofa.
“Dinner tonight is salad.”
Cayden looked up at me with a discontented tone.
“Right.”
“It’s nothing but vegetables.”
“That’s fine.”
When I didn’t react much, Cayden pouted.
“What were you talking about with the prince earlier?”
“Nothing much.”
“Still curious.”
“I agreed to be his Fiancée for a while.”
“What?”
Cayden sprang up from the sofa.
Shocked as he was, his lips trembled and he couldn’t speak for a moment.
“A Fiancée… since when were you two like that?”
“It’s not real. I’m just playing the role.”
“Do you like him?”
The strange question made me laugh despite myself.
“No.”
“Then don’t do it, even fake. That prince is dangerous—no one knows when he’ll be cast out.”
Apparently, even a Priest living deep in the mountains knew that Bidler had fallen in the succession order.
“I have a debt. I’m repaying it.”
“I object. I don’t like that Rosia’s in danger.”
“Don’t worry. I can protect myself.”
When I spoke coldly, making it clear the conversation was over, Cayden bowed his head and muttered quietly.
“There’s no dinner tonight. Eat alone.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
With that, he got up abruptly and left the café.
He left so quickly that he bumped into the paper door, setting it off with loud rattling.
A few hours later.
Knock, knock. There was a sound at the door.
Tilting my head curiously, I opened it to find a salad sitting there alone.
Like some kind of protest.
Chuckle.
I smiled and brought the salad inside, setting it on the table.
Then I added more wood to the fireplace, which was nearly burning out.
Crack, crack.
Listening to the wood burn, I pulled up a rocking chair and sat.
“What a loud day it’s been.”
Just thinking about it brought a smile to my lips. Even though only hours had passed, it already felt distant, like it happened long ago.
Meow.
A cat leaped onto my lap. I stroked its fluffy fur, and it made a contented sound.
“I used to hate loud, crowded places. But sometimes… it’s not so bad.”
Come to think of it, even the cat, who rarely stayed at the café, had followed me around all day.
“I think I’ll remember this for a long time.”
Meow.
“…You’re heavy.”
My lap grew warm with the cat’s solid weight, but I didn’t put her down.
I’d first decided to return here to revive memories from childhood.
Happy times with my mother and father.
But those childhood memories were gradually being covered over by new ones being made in the present.
“It’s okay, isn’t it? Don’t be too disappointed,” I murmured to their memory.
I closed my eyes, thinking of my mother and father.
***
The next day.
I opened the café and served customers as usual. After a few came and went, two tables were now occupied.
Ding.
The door opened, and a new customer in a fedora entered.
At a glance, they seemed ordinary, but after reading the menu, they read the very small writing at the bottom.
“Leek Juice, please.”
At this unusual order, I looked up with a start.
“How spicy?”
“Sweet, please.”
If it had been an overly curious customer, I would have turned them away, but I was relieved to confirm this was no simple guest.
“Since I have to harvest the leeks myself, why don’t we choose together?”
“Pardon? Ah, yes.”
I led them outside.
The leeks that I’d received as seedlings from Cayden and planted myself were growing thick and healthy in one corner of the yard.
While pretending to pull some, I extended my hand to the customer.
“Your name?”
“Chen. I’m new.”
A face I’d never seen before—clearly a rookie. Despite trying to look stern, the telltale nervousness of a greenhorn shone through.
Only high-ranking officers knew my face, so this one had no idea I was the Prince.
Chen dropped a piece of folded paper among the leeks and quickly disappeared.
“What mission could it be?”
In fact, ever since I started growing leeks, Reilly and I had made this our code.
He said to use it when assigning me tasks, but he hadn’t sent anything my way until now.
With so many female customers coming through, the information I’d gathered was only about social gossip, the movements of nobles, and current fashion trends.
Apart from capturing remnants of Seyling’s faction early on, I hadn’t been of use to Raven at all.
Relieved to finally have something to do, I squatted down and unfolded the paper.

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