Chapter 12: The Princess’s Visit

The chicken shop turned out to be far more successful than I anticipated.

Despite setting slightly higher prices due to the liberal use of spices, we were running out of chicken every day.

“Hey, boss! Six chickens and six beers here!”

“Sorry, we’re out of chicken. All that’s left is some pork.”

“Then fry that for us! Fried pork or chicken, it’s all the same, right?”

“No, it’s not the same at all.”

Anyway, since we were out of chicken, I fried up some sweet and sour pork instead, and that turned out to be a hit as well.

“Huh? This looks different from chicken. What’s this sauce on top?”

“It’s called tangsuyuk. Try it.”

“Let’s see… Oh! This is delicious!”

“It’s not chicken, but I actually like this better!”

With ingredients running out, I kept improvising and creating new dishes. New menus brought in more customers, which used up more ingredients, and the cycle continued.

Before I knew it, our menu and customer base had both expanded, and the shop became incredibly busy.

To be honest, I was a bit overwhelmed.

I had hoped the shop would do well, but this was…

“Too successful, isn’t it?”

What I wanted was just a small chicken shop that adventurers could enjoy.

For about a week after opening, it had that vibe. I thought, Ah, so this is the fun of running a business!

But somewhere along the line, rumors spread, and by the time I realized it, our chicken shop had become a famous hotspot in the city.

It even got featured in the newspaper.

“Hey, boss! Look at this!”

“A newspaper? What’s going on? Did the war end?”

“Our shop is in the newspaper!”

“What?”

Wait, what? Why is our shop in the newspaper?

At first, I thought it must be a mistake, but no, it was true.

[The Best Restaurant in Hilton: ‘Party House’!]

And it wasn’t just a small mention in the corner—it was splashed across the front page.

The article was filled with detailed descriptions of the unique dishes available only at our restaurant and how extraordinary they were.

It even recommended our place as a must-visit for travelers passing through the city!

The writing was so passionate that I actually checked the journalist’s name, wondering if I’d bribed anyone other than the city officials.

Of course, I hadn’t. The name was unfamiliar, and the organization they were associated with was something I’d never heard of either.

‘Kingdom Gourmet Association’? Was that even a real group?

Whatever it was, the name “Kingdom” made it sound prestigious.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who thought so, because after the article came out, the shop became absurdly crowded.

Having a full house became the norm!

The waiting line stretched so far that other shopkeepers complained about their entrances being blocked, and there were even people stealing our food to resell it.

Oh, and of course, I immediately dealt with the resellers. Reselling is a societal evil. I won’t tolerate it!

However, I couldn’t do much about the waiting line and the commotion it caused. Even the city guards who came for meals started grumbling.

“Look, boss, I know it’s not your fault, but… isn’t there any way to fix this? All the daily commotion out front is adding to my workload, and I’m about ready to collapse.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been trying to manage it somehow, but it’s not easy. Here, take this. It’s on the house.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to ask for this,” the guard said, though he grinned and eagerly accepted the fries I handed over.

Maybe I should stop by the city guard station soon and drop off some snacks for them.

Or should I go straight to the adventurer’s guild for help?

If I explain it well to the guild leader, I might be able to get some assistance.

But that wasn’t the only issue.

The shop’s success had Selly practically groaning in exhaustion.

“Boss, we need more staff. I’m going to collapse at this rate…”

“You’re right. This is too much for the two of us to handle.”

With the hall being as spacious as it is and packed with people, just serving is exhausting. Adding table cleaning and organizing to the mix makes it even harder.

I had extended our break times to give Selly some rest, but ultimately, the root problem could only be solved by hiring more people.

But where would I even find workers? Is there something like an employment office around here? Or should I just ask Selly’s friends to help for now…

One day, amidst the chaos of our sudden fame, an unexpected event occurred.

We had just finished another hectic day of work and were cleaning up when—

Knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock. Knock.

The sound of knocking echoed through the quiet shop.

Selly, who was half-reclined in a chair, lazily turned her head toward the door.

“Who could it be at this hour?”

“…No idea. Selly, why don’t you head upstairs and rest? I’ll handle whoever it is.”

“Alright.”

I waited until Selly had completely disappeared upstairs, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

Standing there was someone I had half-expected but hoped not to see.

“It’s been a while, Kyle. How have you been?”

Her radiant golden hair and fiery red eyes couldn’t be hidden, even beneath the heavy hood.

Barely suppressing a sigh, I knelt on one knee.

“…It is an honor to see you again, Your Highness.”

“My, my. You’re not calling me Mar anymore?”

“I’ve never called you that… No, wait. Please, come in.”

“Alright, I’ll accept your escort.”

Before me stood the second princess of the kingdom, Martina El Cartesia.

She set aside her playful tone and flashed a mischievous smile.

The idea that a mere adventurer like me could know a princess is something most people would find unbelievable.

After all, we are hardly of the same social standing.

So how did I come to know the princess? Well, that story goes back quite a bit…

But I’d rather not delve into every detail of the past, so here’s the short version:

Isel’s party was once invited to a royal banquet. That’s where we met.

At the time, I didn’t know she was a princess. I got drunk and ended up chatting with her about all sorts of random things.

For some reason, she took a liking to me, and that’s how our connection began.

And that’s it.

Since then, I’ve done her a few personal favors and received some kindness in return, but it’s nothing beyond that basic framework.

As I looked at the princess’s face after so long, I felt a mix of nostalgia and unease.

As an adventurer, I’ve seen far too many people entangled with nobility meet unfortunate ends.

Now, I’m not even an adventurer anymore—I’m a simple chicken shop owner.

With that in mind, I asked in a tone that even I found a bit stiff:
“What brings Your Highness here?”

“I heard my dear friend retired from adventuring and started a new life, so I came to see for myself. Who knew you could cook?”

“I manage, to some extent.”

“That’s not what I’ve heard. They say you’re the best chef in this city.”

“Newspapers are always exaggerated. They’ll print anything that sells.”

“True, but you know my ears are sharper than any newspaper, don’t you?”

“That I do. So, what’s the real reason you came here?”

At my persistent questioning, the princess put on a sorrowful expression.

Her look was so heartfelt it made my chest tighten with a pang of guilt.

“You’re being so cold to an old friend. Did you not miss me at all?”

“That’s a difficult question to answer.”

“The correct answer is, ‘I missed you, Mar.’ Now, say it after me.”

“I did wonder how you were doing.”

“So you’re saying my answer wasn’t needed? That’s so like you.”

I averted my gaze from her radiant smile.

Feeling like I might get drawn into her pace if I said another word, I forcibly changed the topic.

“So, have you eaten yet?”

“If I say no, will you treat me to a meal?”

“You came to see the restaurant, so I’ll at least treat you to that much.”

“Fair enough. And what about you? Have you eaten? If not, let’s eat together. After all, we’ve known each other for so long but never shared a meal.”

The thought of eating with her made me feel like I might lose my appetite.

But if I said that aloud, she’d be genuinely hurt, so I shook my head.

“I’m not sure if what I eat would suit Your Highness’s taste.”

“Nonsense. If it’s a meal shared with a friend, taste hardly matters.”

“Then, please wait a moment. I have something prepared already.”

I headed to the kitchen to get things ready.

Tonight’s dinner wasn’t fried food but a grilled dish.

Rachel had finally finished creating an oven equipped with a timer.

The meal was also something I’d made to cheer up Selly, who had been feeling down lately—

Sorry, Selly.

But with no time to prepare something new right now, I didn’t have much choice.

I’ll make it up to her with something fresh tomorrow.

I opened the oven at just the right moment, its timer emitting a soft ding, and plated the dish.

The aroma wafting from the finished meal filled the entire kitchen.

Perfectly cooked.

Tonight’s dish was roast chicken.

The dish was a roasted chicken stuffed and cooked in the oven.

For those familiar with Korean cuisine, it’s akin to electric rotisserie chicken, while for others, it might remind them of dishes like tandoori chicken.

However, the dish I prepared today was inspired by a renowned British chef’s style of roast chicken.

The stuffing was a mix of sautéed chorizo, onion, garlic, thyme, and beans, seasoned with pepper and dried tomatoes, and then filled into the chicken.

The opening was sealed with a lemon, and the chicken was coated with olive oil, salt, pepper, and paprika powder.

Finally, it was roasted with white wine and thyme.

While the recipe is relatively straightforward, the variety of ingredients makes it a challenging dish to execute perfectly.

But with such a medley of flavors, the taste is undoubtedly worth it.

Martina El Cartesia, upon seeing the roast chicken, was surprised at first and then amazed again when she tasted it.

“Magnificent. I’ve had chicken dishes a few times before, but never one that suited my palate this well.”

“Chicken dishes aren’t common in the royal palace, I presume?”

“Royal cuisine is designed to impress the nobility. Common ingredients are often shunned as they’re seen as lowering the prestige of the dish.”

As we conversed, we enjoyed the roast chicken together.

When the chicken had been picked clean to the bone and the stuffing emptied, Martina set her utensils down, dabbed her mouth, and got to the point.

“Since I’ve been treated to such a meal, I must offer a gift in return as your guest.”

“A gift?”

“Yes, I’ve brought something I believe you’ll appreciate.”

A gift I’d like?

She didn’t appear to have brought anything with her.

As I let my doubt show, she looked me straight in the eyes and spoke.

“The Demon King is dead. The war will soon be over.”

Her words sent my heart racing.