"Please forgive us, Your Ladyship, Yume Valenz of Snowcrest Dukedom." The owner of the restaurant Meadow Inn pleaded.

Yume and her servants went to a restaurant for lunch. However, a problem seemingly occurred with the reservation Yiyi made with them the previous months.

Meadow Inn is one of the oldest restaurants in Central Town City. History said it was named when the surroundings were still filled with grasslands, giving it an excellent reputation.

Knowing this baffled everyone when the restaurant suddenly denied them. "Our inn reservation list doesn't have Lady Yume's name."

Hearing those words, Yiyi gritted her teeth while pointing to one servant. "What do you mean?! I remember talking to that silver-haired guy, and he confirmed it. Why don't you ask him?!"

The owner immediately looked at his servant with a questioning stare. "Grayman, is that true?"

"N-No, Sir. I don't remember her at all."

"—You liar!"

In reality, the appointment is just used for formality. Even without a reservation, a restaurant like this wouldn't dare go against a high-ranking noble. But for some reason, Yume noticed they had an unwavering determination. Her instinct didn't fail when a familiar voice interrupted unwantedly.

"My... who do we have here? Isn't this Lady Yume?"

Yume was surprised but still able to hold herself, greeting them elegantly. "Lady Rosie, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

The people who heard her were shocked, not knowing what to do, so instead, they imitated her, bowing their heads together to show respect.

"Tch!" Even with a perfect greeting, Shin replied by showing irritation. However, he needed to uphold his reputation as the crown prince. "All of you may raise your heads."

After Shin commanded, Rosie interfered, showing everyone as the second in authority by addressing Yume courteously. "Greetings, Lady Yume. Is the Lady also here to eat?"

"Yes. I hope Lady Rosie didn't think we are here to dance instea—"

"Stop it! Is this how you answer someone who greeted you graciously?" said Shin, stretching his arm sideways in front of Rosie, protecting her from Yume's intense gaze.

Yume sighed and felt her day ruined. "Ha, I just learned it from you, Your Highness." She was having a good day until these people showed themselves.

"What?" Shin took quite some time to understand. When he realized her words, he looked at her with contempt.

"How dare you! To a royalty—"

"Stop it, dear." Before the argument escalated, Rosie clung her hands to Shin like an innocent child. Then she smiled and looked at Yume. "We're all here to enjoy the festival. Why don't we go inside and eat? Even when His Highness shaded me all day with a parasol, the sunlight still made me tired. Oh, dear."

"My love, is that why you're becoming pale? Then we should hurry inside!" Shin said with wide eyes.

"We had a change of plan, so we will be leaving now, Your Highness," Yume said, giving farewell while urging her maid to leave. "Yiyi, let's go."

However, Rosie noticed her immediate retreat and quickly said, "Oh my, did Lady Yume encounter some problem? We can let you share with our table."

"W-We did not—"

"Enough, Yiyi."

"But... Milady."

"It's not your fault, Yiyi. It seems someone deliberately sabotaged our reservation." Yume looked at Rosie, whose eyes gleamed with pleasure. The eyes of someone who just succeeded in her plan. It was rather obvious. "We haven't even told her our problem, but it seems she already knows."

"Are you accusing my beloved Rosie? Aren't you just a sore loser for your maid's failure?" Shin rebuked.

"Alright, we're in the wrong. Please pardon my words. I admit that what I said is wrong, so we will be going if the Royal Highness Shin doesn't need anything." Yume replied, looking like someone who gave up reasoning and just wanted to leave.

"Stop! I'm still not done talking with you!"

"Do you still need anything, Your Highness?"

"I'm sorry, Lady Yume—"

Sniff! Rosie cried while wiping her tears.

"—I just wanted to offer you to share with our table since I thought the Lady was having a problem. I didn't know it would offend you."

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Murmur... Murmur... Murmur...

The audience started to gossip with each other.

"That Lady with the black hair is too harsh."

"I heard she's a daughter of a duke. Is that why she looked down on other people?"

"The lad with the green hair is the Crown Prince."

"Wow, really?! The Crown Prince... And a daughter of dukedom... Then does it mean she's his fiancee?"

"Yes, it seems they know each other, though the Lady with golden hair crying is together with the Crown Prince."

"So the Lady with black hair is the mistress?"

"Oh, so that's why she was mad at her."

"She's jealous. Because the Crown Prince didn't choose her."

"Stop it! Enough!" Yiyi screamed her lungs out. It seemed she couldn't control her anger anymore.

"It was this servant Grayman who didn't list Milady's name in the reservation. But we didn't blame him anymore, and we were about to leave!"

"Is this true?" Shin said, asking the owner of the Meadow Inn.

"No, Your Highness, my servant said the maid didn't make a reservation."

With this statement, Shin looked at Yume and Yiyi with disgust. "Rosie even offered our table, but you accused her instead?!"

"I didn't even accuse her. Did you hear me speak about her name?" Yume said.

The crowd continued.

"Isn't the Lady with the black hair too ungrateful?"

"Yea, that's how nobles in high positions act. It's not new."

"Shhh! Don't let her hear you; your head might roll on the ground."

"I don't care! We have the Crown Prince to protect us!"

"She doesn't deserve to be his fiancee!"

"Yea! The Lady who was crying is better."

"That's correct!"

"True!"

"How's that Milady's fault?!"

"Stop, Yiyi. I had enough. I want to go back and rest, now."

"Ha! You don't deserve to have this reservation in the first place! I applaud the servant for doing the right thing!" Shin bantered as Yume hurriedly tried to leave.

"Don't come back, Lady!" The crowd added. "I hope she won't go to my store!"

"Yea, mine too! I felt like she'll bring me bad luck!"

"No one should serve her anymore! Let's do this for our Crown Prince!"

"Alright, I will tell it to the other shop owners!"

"But, can we really reject the daughter of a duke?"

"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, the Crown Prince, she won't be able to harm anyone."

'It seems we can no longer enjoy the festival.' Yume thought and made her heart heavy. All she wanted was to enjoy her time with Yiyi. But wherever she went and whatever she did, some people were bound to make her day worse. She would even believe it if someone said she was some kind of a character in a story. Where people just keep popping out, interrupting her, ruining her life. She sighed.

"Milady, I... I'm sorry. Huhu..."

"It's alright." Yume patted Yiyi's head and smiled. "We can just come back after my academy expedition. If I finish it quickly, we can go as early as next year, alright?"

"Mm! T-Then, next year... I would wait for you, Milady."

"Of course, there will be next year, the year after that, and year after year after that!"

"Haha! I love you, Milady!"

"Huh? What's with that?"

The crowd didn't stop the talk and gossip, so Yume had no choice but to ride the carriage to leave since no shop wouldn't want to entertain them anymore.

Shin and Rosie were satisfied only until one gentleman approached Yume.

"Greetings, Ladies." The gentleman bowed his head. "I was looking for a Lady named Yume."

Yume's knights reacted defensively, but Yume motioned her hand for them to halt, calming them down.

"I am who you are looking for, Sir. How may I help you?"

"That's great." The gentleman said. He rejoiced and smiled like his burden was lifted.

"My Master, the owner of YFC business, asked me to invite the beautiful ladies with black and orange hair to our restaurant."

"Orange hair? Me? B-Beautiful? Kyaa—" Yiyi said, blushing.

"What?!" Hearing their conversation, Shin twitched his brows and engaged in their conversation.

"Isn't that the restaurant that declined my reservation, saying they were already fully booked? What's the meaning of this?!"

The crowd murmured once again. "Does it mean the Crown Prince was rejected by YFC? But invited Lady Yume?"

"I know that man! He's indeed the general manager of YFC restaurant." Another business owner said.

"The general manager even went to see the Lady in person?"

With all the commotion, the general manager explained, "Pardon me, Your Highness. Our restaurant was indeed full, but we have the fifth floor, which is for my Master's personal use."

"Fifth floor?!"

"Oh wow, isn't the restaurant only have four floors available?"

"Yes, and you must reserve the fourth floor in half a year if you want to dine there during the festival."

"And that Lady was invited by the owner itself?! On the highest floor?!"

"It seems she had a good connection with YFC. I don't want to mess with her anymore!"

"You're right. My business might get bankrupt if I offend YFC."

"I-I'm out of here!"

"Me too! I'm sorry, Meadow Inn Owner! You're on your own!"

"Wait, where are you guys going?!"

With just the reputation of YFC, the people withdrew and ran with their tails between their legs. It was too much that even the presence of the Crown Prince didn't make them think twice.

But Yume thought of a question. How did the owner of YFC even know about them? So she asked, "Are you not mistaken?"

"Beautiful with gorgeous black hair and eyes. A Lady called Yume Valenz with a pretty maid with orange hair, is it not?"

"W-What's with that description?" Yume said, her face flushed red.

"Yes, Milady is indeed beautiful! So you didn't make a mistake." Yiyi pushed Yume without a second thought while whispering to her. "Milady, let's not waste this opportunity to clear your name."

Shin said in a panic, "Wait! Stop!"

"Is there anything more Your Highness needs?" The YFC General Manager, who was escorting Yume, responded.

"No, but—"

"Since I already answered your question, please forgive me for not entertaining the Crown Prince. I was asked by my Master to complete this task without fault. I hope you have a good day."

The YFC General Manager bowed. He glanced at Yume, hinting that they should leave.

However, Shin didn't want to end it this way. "Then, how about meeting with your master—"

"The Crown Prince can send an official request to my Master. Thank you for understanding." Suddenly cutting off Shin, the YFC General Manager bowed for the last time.

"What?!" Shin couldn't believe it, raising his eyebrows.

Yiyi laughed and screamed internally. While Yume thought that the owner of YFC was brave enough to anger royalty. But with how composed the General Manager was, she considered they had a plan and could manage.

"Alright, I'm quite curious about the newest restaurant owner in Central Town. Please lead the way, Sir."

"My pleasure. Please just call me Gordon, my Lady."

"Alright, Sir Gordon."

Once again, Yume gave her farewell to Shin and Rosie. But this time, she could see their furious gazes as they left.

Somehow, Yume realized she had never felt this good since studying in the academy. The only memory Yume remembered having a good time without worry was when she was still little and played snow with her mother.