OCOB 30

Chapter : 30

Her eyes darted busily.

Once to look at the young lady who had come to visit.
And once more to look at the quest window that had appeared.

Her eyes, which had been rolling around nonstop, soon fixed on one spot.

“If this is what changed here right now…”

There was only one thing I could do.

I clasped my hands together and greeted her warmly.

“Welcome, miss. You came yesterday too, didn’t you?”

“…You saw me?”

“Of course! You ordered ice cream. Since it’s rare to have such a young lady as a customer, I remembered you.”

“…Mm.”

The girl shyly lowered her head. Then, clasping her hands together, she spoke softly.

“I’m Ash Viola. I’m happy that you remembered me.”

“And I’m Bill, Miss Ash’s coachman. I work for the Viola baron family.”

Her voice trembled.

It was so quiet that I might not have heard her name properly if it weren’t for the coachman standing behind her.

More importantly—

“She really is a noble.”

I had already guessed from her clothes, speech, gestures, and demeanor. Even the system had subtly hinted that she was a noble.

Still, hearing her introduce herself as one felt a bit strange.

It was like directly confronting an unbridgeable gap in status.

Wasn’t there that word that had been trending for a while?

“Gold spoon…”

You had to be born with it.

In other words, a lifelong advantage decided by fate.

“I’m just someone who lacked that damn luck.”

I had struggled quite a bit.

That said, I didn’t consider my life unhappy. If I had thought that way, I wouldn’t have been able to live normally.

“Still… envy is envy.”

Even here, I was just a commoner.

Feeling a strange mix of emotions, I looked at Ash.

When I didn’t respond right away, she fidgeted with her hands. I cleared my throat briefly and replied.

“I’m happy to see you again too. Um… how should I address you?”

“Oh! Just call me Ash comfortably! I don’t mind that kind of thing.”

“Then… may I call you Miss Ash?”

“Yes!”

Ash bounced lightly in place. She seemed so happy just hearing her name called that her cheeks flushed.

Seeing her like that, she was unmistakably just a child.

Well, nobles were people too. I briefly reflected on the unconscious prejudice I’d had.

I bent down to meet her at eye level. The girl’s eyes widened, and she took a small step back.

Round and round, her big eyes spun.

Then they stopped, filled completely with my image.

“Then… what should I call you? You? Boss?”

“Just call me Layla.”

“Really? I can call you by your name?”

“Of course. We’re going to become very close now. After all, you’re going to be a regular at Yonggari Café, Miss Ash.”

The girl nodded vigorously. She was so enthusiastic that Bill the coachman cleared his throat awkwardly. Ash finally calmed down and straightened her posture.

“Then I’ll show you to a seat first. Ah, will you have the same ice cream as yesterday?”

“Yes! And please give Bill a cup of coffee.”

“Got it. It’ll be ready soon, so please wait a moment.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Ash trotted over to an empty table—before I could even guide her.

Seeing her sit with her back perfectly straight, I smiled faintly.

“A kid is still a kid.”

She was cute.

She reminded me of a younger sibling. With a fond smile, I headed into the kitchen.

My expression turned serious in an instant.

“So… right now, my only hope is Miss Ash?”

Just one week.

Within that time, I had to invite three nobles.

And run the café at the same time.

“…I really do need to hire someone.”

I needed someone to make drinks in my place.

Right now, I was the only one who could prepare beverages. If I left the café, business would stop.

But I couldn’t leave either. The café had only officially opened yesterday—how could I abandon it already?

A drop in reputation would be better.

You could somehow raise a damaged reputation again, but a café on the outskirts that lost customers… would head straight toward closure.

“I’ll write a hiring notice and put it on the counter today.”

For now, I needed to focus on Ash.

“If I could just invite her family, wouldn’t that fill the three nobles requirement?”

Unless there were unfortunate circumstances, her parents were probably alive…?

I’d have to ask subtly while giving her the ice cream. What else should I ask?

Organizing questions in my head, I neatly placed the ice cream into a teacup.

“At least she came during the quieter lunch hours.”

Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been time to talk.

Ever since opening at 10 a.m., customers had been flooding in. Even when there were no seats, people spread mats outside in the yard, insisting on drinking there—giving me headaches.

But since the café didn’t sell meals, many had to leave.

Even now, several customers filled the hall. But the only order I had to handle at the moment was Ash’s.

Which meant I had some time.

Holding the ice cream in one hand and coffee for Bill in the other, I stepped into the hall.

“Hoo really likes kids, huh?”

Hoo was performing little tricks on the table where Ash sat. It chattered away as if playing with her.

I approached and set the teacups down.

Ash, who had already tasted the ice cream before, swallowed eagerly. Bill also looked at the coffee with anticipation.

“Enjoy!”

The moment I finished speaking, they both took a bite and a sip. Ash looked blissful; Bill looked relaxed.

I shrugged and casually joined them.

“By the way… is it okay for you to come this far?”

“Ah, um… my father doesn’t know yet. But! He’s going to come here.”

“…Huh?”

Who was coming?

My eyes shook violently. Only Hoo seemed to notice, quietly climbing onto my hand.

But Ash, unaware of my reaction, said cheerfully,

“I ran away from home. My father scolded me for coming here yesterday. He said people would talk…”

“…People would talk?”

“Mm… actually…”

Ash carefully told me what her father had said.

About Yonggari Café’s reputation in high society.

“So… half the people like it, half hate it…”

But the people who hated it had stronger influence?

And that’s why her father was in a difficult position?

“…But Ash is here anyway?”

What do I do—did I ruin my first impression already? I blinked rapidly, racking my brain for solutions, but nothing came to mind.

I could already imagine how Ash’s father would see me.

“What am I going to do…”

This was awkward.

Just moments ago, I had been thinking of inviting Ash and her family to a tea party. But if things were this complicated… I had to change my plan.

Convince her father and raise Yonggari Café’s reputation!

Yes—this was the only option left.

If this failed too, clearing the main quest would become unlikely.

The only nobles I could invite otherwise were High Priest Farhan, Sir Walter, and Sir Rev…

“When I met them before to receive the congratulatory wreath message, they looked extremely busy.”

They said they’d be busy for a while.

So asking them for time would be difficult. And I couldn’t rely on the same people forever.

“This is the moment I need new connections…”

I was truly doomed.

I bit my lip anxiously while Ash happily finished her ice cream.

She looked regretfully at the empty teacup, then turned to me.

“Can I order something else, Layla?”

“…Of course!”

“Wow! If it’s okay with you, I want to spend the whole day here today!”

Her voice was full of excitement.

And behind that voice—

“Ash Viola… what are you doing here?”

A restrained, low voice followed.