“Well done!”

“What do you know.”

Edelle grumbled at her brother Durant, who always praised her first before anything else.

The siblings were on their way to Jo’s Sandwich Shop. They were going to hang a new sign engraved with the ribbon.

Durant, who had heard about what happened in the reception room a few days ago, grinned while carrying the new sign under his arm.

“Why wouldn’t I know? You’re feeling regretful right now, Eddie. You rejected the offer, but you still have lingering attachment.”

“……”

“Truthfully, no one could do that job better than you!”

Durant’s words weren’t wrong, but Edelle’s feelings were a bit more complicated.

In Fonete, Edelle Michelin was undeniably the best in that field. This meant she could hold her head high and be a little arrogant even in front of the Grand Duke.

‘I’m the top in this field—who else would he entrust it to?’

However, she had a strong feeling that she shouldn’t get involved with that handsome Grand Duke.

Most attendees at a party held at the grand ducal residence would be territorial nobles, so the motive behind entrusting the party preparations to the “vulgar Michelin family” was suspicious.

‘Delicious and mood-enhancing food, he says. The words sound pretty, but he must have some other motive.’

If something went wrong at that party, no one would ever listen to Edelle’s restaurant recommendations or menu consultations again. Ten years of effort would go to waste.

But being able to make delicious food freely with someone else’s money?

‘Honestly, that sounds amazing……’

In truth, she was already doing this abundantly with the Michelin family’s money. Still, spending someone else’s money—a complete stranger’s money—was always more satisfying.

‘No, I’d just end up dying from overwork again.’

When enjoying fine cuisine with her father’s money, she only needed to consider her own taste, but she couldn’t do that when receiving payment for consulting. Taking on a commission was completely different from giving advice to Jo’s Sandwich Shop.

As Edelle pursed her lips and remained silent, Durant gently tousled his adorable sister’s hair with his large hand. His thick, chestnut-brown ponytail swayed along.

“You were right to refuse. We don’t know what the Grand Duke was thinking with such an offer.”

“You think so too, right?”

“Well, if he really needs someone, he’ll probably find someone else.”

“Who else?”

Edelle’s eyes gleamed sharply as she probed. Durant unconsciously gulped. He didn’t want to upset his most beloved sister in the world.

“They might be somewhat lacking, but perhaps the Flint ducal family……”

“Hmm.”

“The grand ducal residence must have its own chefs, and they could source ingredients through Atwood……”

The Flint ducal family, who owned logging grounds, operated several restaurants, while the Atwood marquis territory produced wheat, the staple food, and quality vegetables from its vast plains.

It was a rational answer worthy of the heir of Michelin, but Edelle wasn’t pleased at all.

“Couldn’t I at least advise them on ingredients?”

“Then you’d want to decide the menu too, so no.”

Durant, who knew everything about his sister, smiled and dissuaded her again.

“There are already rumors about you and Lucas, and we don’t need to add the Grand Duke to that mix.”

“What about Lucas?”

Lucas, the heir to the Flint ducal family, was Edelle’s longtime friend and business partner. There was no reason for rumors to circulate about them.

Edelle was puzzled by the sudden mention of his name. Seeing Durant’s expression of having made a mistake, she asked again.

“What is it? Tell me.”

“No, the Coach Builder employees…… No, never mind.”

“If there’s a rumor about me, I should know. Tell me, Durant.”

Finally, Edelle blocked Durant’s path. Only then did Durant hesitantly begin to explain.

“Well, we’re opening a restaurant with the Flint ducal family, right?”

“That’s right.”

〈Fonete Grill House〉, a restaurant where the Michelin family was responsible for ingredients and menus while the Flint ducal family provided tableware, furniture, and firewood, was soon to open in the shopping district. Edelle had spent the entire year preparing for it.

“You said we could try opening it before the festival. What about it? Did something happen to Lucas?”

“That’s not it……”

After hesitating, Durant closed his eyes tightly as if he’d made up his mind.

“People are saying you and Lucas are getting engaged!”

An awkward silence fell between the siblings who had been chattering endlessly. Edelle, who had been blinking in confusion, tilted her head oddly.

“What nonsense is that?”

“I know! It’s complete nonsense!”

Durant raised his voice, feeling wronged. He had already expressed his outrage more than anyone when he first heard the rumor spreading among Michelin Coach Builder employees.

“Our Eddie with a guy like that……”

“Who’s spreading such rumors? Did our employees start it?”

“I asked around, and apparently it’s already widespread throughout Fonete……”

The Michelin siblings, who didn’t enjoy social activities, had no way of knowing the latest news or gossip in Fonete.

Still, someone should have at least tipped off the person concerned.

“Huh, me? With Lucas?”

It was an increasingly absurd rumor.

To Edelle, Lucas was much more of a fledgling than Durant. If she had to describe him, he was like a disobedient cousin.

“That’s complete b*llshit, really.”

“What’s ‘b*llshit’?”

“It’s just a thing.”

Edelle sighed deeply and started walking again.

She thought she had made the right decision to reveal the ribbon’s owner as advised by her master, Hilda. Since she couldn’t avoid gossip due to her status anyway, she might as well enjoy fine dining proudly.

While Edelle was contemplating how to handle the false rumors, Durant noticed people lined up in front of the sandwich shop.

“Eddie, there are a lot of people in front of the shop?”

“Uncle’s shop is always crowded.”

She was the one who had made that shop worth lining up for. Edelle approached the crowd with a satisfied expression.

However, unlike usual when people would be excited about eating delicious sandwiches, the atmosphere was quite serious.

“What are those knights doing here?”

“Joseph must have done something wrong again!”

The people surrounding the shop were busy whispering rather than trying to enter. Their attitude was more like watching a spectacle than waiting in line.

“I heard he made another weird sandwich, and that’s why a noble lord barged in.”

“Oh my, is that so? But that sandwich was quite tasty……”

“Really? Hmm, I guess we can’t eat here today?”

“How can we go in with them standing guard like that?”

“Right? Ah well, let’s go.”

Seeing several people turn away, Edelle frowned deeply. Something was clearly wrong with Joseph and his shop.

As Edelle strode past the knights guarding the door, she heard Joseph desperately pleading with someone.

“Please leave now.”

“Are you telling a customer to leave?”

“That’s not it…… If you insist, at least move your knights further away. Other customers can’t come in.”

“I explained that this shop needs protection.”

“Oh my……”

The rumor about a noble barging in was true—Joseph could only sigh, unable even to call the patrol guards. Edelle gladly stepped in to help him.

“Having knights standing like this in broad daylight seems more like interference than protection, doesn’t it?”

“Eddie……!”

“Even a noble shouldn’t ruin someone’s business…… Your Highness?”

Edelle couldn’t hide her surprise when she saw which noble lord was ruining someone’s business. Grand Duke Norton was sitting at a small wooden table, hunched over, eating a sandwich of all things.

His gaze briefly shifted to Durant standing behind Edelle. However, Edelle didn’t notice and sighed deeply before sitting down across from him.

“This isn’t necessary, Your Highness. Please withdraw your knights immediately.”

“But since yesterday’s attempt failed, they’ll try to steal again.”

“Even if they come back, they won’t do it in broad daylight like this!”

Edelle raised her voice in exasperation.

“And now stealing ribbons would be meaningless anyway. They won’t even be able to steal them.”

“Why is that?”

“Because from now on, we’ll be hanging signs engraved with ribbons.”

As soon as Edelle finished speaking, Durant handed Joseph the new sign. Joseph, who had received the new sign in the confusion, discovered the three ribbons engraved below the shop name and burst into laughter.

“Wow, this really can’t be stolen!”

“Eddie drew these ribbons herself, Uncle.”

“Is that so? I always said Eddie was talented!”

Watching Joseph and Durant converse so freely, Eli hit the nail on the head.

“If you personally deliver signs, everyone will know that you’re the one hanging the ribbons.”

Edelle’s round eyes turned toward him. Eli, not avoiding her gaze, added a question.

“Didn’t you want to keep that hidden?”