It was now lunchtime. Yotsuba was eating porridge-like food in the inn’s dining hall.
Nancy-san was feeding her.
Nell was making soup for the guests.
However, it was just a matter of putting the vegetables and meat that Nancy-san had cut up beforehand into a pot and cooking them.
She was standing on a footstool, slowly stirring the pot.
It was too dangerous to let her handle the knife yet.
As for me, I am afraid to leave the fire and the pot to her.
Despite my concerns, the soup is ready, seasoned with seasonings, and served with rye bread.
“Here you go!”
“Thank you, Nell-chan!”
“Enjoy your meal!”
“Mhmm.”
“This is yours!”
“Thanks.”
After serving lunch to the guests, the fire is put out.
Beforehand, I told Nell I didn’t need the soup because I had my skewers of roasted meat.
Looking at it this way, it may not be long before Nell stands in the kitchen in Nancy-san’s place.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
“Nico, is the guy outside your room your boyfriend?”
“Huh? No, he’s my bodyguard.”
Mac-kun calmly answers Nell’s question.
Still no progress, huh?
“I didn’t know there was someone out there stalking me.
Do you want to see it, Neko-san? The stalker sent this letter.”
I looked at the letter Mac-kun showed me and froze.
That letter was the one I had sent to the soldier.
“Aww. It’s not nice to be watched by people.
Wouldn’t you agree, Neko-san?”
It would be easy to clarify the misunderstanding by stating that I’m the letter’s writer.
But I dare not reveal it.
After all, this is a chance for Mac-kun and the soldier to get close to each other.
It would be fun for them both if I dared to take on the dirty role of a stalker.
“Stalker? That’s disgusting!”
Nell’s unforgiving comment pierces through me.
No, I’m not your stalker.
…I’ll wait a while; I apologise if there’s no progress.
In the meantime, you’ll have to make a move, soldier.