New chapter of Control Engineer is out! (1/2 chapters)

 

 

Date

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

I boarded the horse-drawn carriage and moved toward the rear.

There!

I had waited for a few horse-drawn carriages, confirmed, and then boarded.

It was winter, so people wore thicker clothes, but the posture was excellent, and the outstanding figure could not be completely hidden.

“Adele-san.” (Leon)

“Huh?” (Adele)

After opening her large eyes even wider, she glanced around quietly. Then her voice became soft.

“Leon-chan. What are you doing?” (Adele)

“I was waiting at the station just now. When I went to the branch yesterday, Kaa-sama was there.” (Leon)

“Eh, really?” (Adele)

The carriage stopped at the station closest to my boarding house, but I let it pass without getting off.

“I do not think she will come. But just in case, perhaps it is better to avoid the boarding house today.” (Leon)

“Y-yes, you are right.” (Adele)

In the end, we missed the stop in front of the university as well and got off at the station three sections further along. This place was the transfer point for the route heading toward the central part of the southern district.

After walking slightly west, we entered a café that Adele-san often visited. Usually, she would sit at the table along the street, but today it was a quiet, secluded table. We ordered tea and something called a soufflé omelette, which Adele-san recommended, though I had never heard of it before.

Oh!

When the waiter stepped back, Adele-san took my hand and enclosed it with both of hers.

“Leon-chan. Thank you for coming to the young performers’ performance. I was very, very happy.” (Adele)

“Eh, yes. I was also happy to see Adele-san on stage. At first, the makeup seemed a little unusual, but gradually I got used to it…” (Leon)

“Ufufufu.” (Adele)

She laughed in a slightly high voice.

“Yes. On stage, the theater last time was still small, but at the Gustave Grand Theater, it is hard to see from the back. So, I end up wearing that kind of makeup.” (Adele)

“But Adele-san’s singing voice was amazing.” (Leon)

“Hm?” (Adele)

“Even though it was lower than usual, it sounded very natural, and it was wonderful.” (Leon)

“I see. That makes me happy.” (Adele)

She twisted slightly with a smile. From her smooth hands, warmth was transmitted. Being stared at by her very well-shaped eyes caused my heartbeat to rise.

Eh?

Suddenly, her hands were released.

“I apologize for the wait.” (Waiter)

It could have been slower, but the waiter returned after placing a pot, cups, and saucers for two. Adele-san poured a little into her own cup, examined it slightly, and then poured mine with the cup tipped upward.

“Leon-chan, do you take sugar?” (Adele)

“Yes. A little.” (Leon)

I scooped about half a spoonful, stirred gently, and handed it back.

“Here you go.” (Adele)

“Thank you.” (Leon)

“You are too formal, Leon-chan.” (Adele)

“Is that so? Ah, it is delicious.” (Leon)

The tea at the branch was good, but this felt even better.

“The sugar ratio is just right.” (Leon)

“It is the tea leaves, the tea leaves. Fufu.” (Adele)

She added sugar to her cup as well, and in high spirits brought it to her lips.

“Now then. At that performance, there were many first-year students at the training school.” (Adele)

“Yes.” (Leon)

“You were called ‘Onee-sama’ and were very popular, weren’t you?” (Adele)

“Oh, that. Male roles generally end up like that. It is not that I am displeased, but being popular among juniors is meaningless. Still, the director and production staff had a good impression of me.” (Adele)

Adele-san looked happy.

“Then, I can look forward to the next one.” (Leon)

“Well, yes.” (Adele)

“And among those first-years, there was a girl named Eiru. After the performance, she spoke to me.” (Leon)

“Eh? Why?” (Adele)

“Eiru is also from Emilia, like me.” (Leon)

“Then, she is your childhood friend, right? Are you close?” (Adele)

“Well, in a way. We talk when we meet.” (Leon)

Adele-san seemed quite intrigued by Eiru.

“But to enter the training school, she must be cute.” (Adele)

“Cute…? Hmm. In Emilia, she is indeed quite cute. I have known her since childhood, so I never really thought about it specially.” (Leon)

“Oh my! You have known her since you were so little?” (Adele)

Adele-san’s beautiful eyebrows furrowed. She seemed to be in a bad mood.

“She is a relative.” (Leon)

“Relative? Haa… I see. You should have said that earlier.” (Adele)

“Sorry.” (Leon)

I had intended to explain, but Adele-san had fired a series of questions at me. Yet saying she was a relative seemed to reassure her for some reason. I could not quite understand her reaction.

“Hm?” (Adele)

Adele-san blinked several times.

“Wait a moment. If she is Leon-chan’s relative, that means she is also my relative?” (Adele)

Though by marriage, Adele-san and I were cousins.

“Yes. Her grandmother’s brother was married to my grandfather’s sister.” (Leon)

“Hmm, I do not really understand, but in any case, she is not a very close relative.” (Adele)

“Yes. Emilia is a small town, so relatives are strongly connected.” (Leon)

“Uuuu. I am sorry for interrupting the story. And then?” (Adele)

“Since I did not hear she would come to the royal capital, I was surprised.” (Leon)

“To take the entrance exam for the training school as well?” (Adele)

“Yes. I knew she liked theater somehow.” (Leon)

“Hmmm. Then we are truly not very close.” (Adele)

I had said that from the beginning, but perhaps she doubted me.

“Yes. Meeting a young woman alone, ah, this is also the first time.” (Leon)

“Y-yes.” (Adele)

Adele-san somehow turned red.

“Thank you for waiting. The soufflé omelette is here.”

The waiter brought the plates. It seemed to be a dish of baked eggs, folded in two. The outside was slightly browned, but inside it was fluffy. Visually, it seemed more like a dessert than a dish.

I cut a piece and brought it to my mouth. It was not sweet. The butter’s flavor mixed with salt and pepper, and it disappeared smoothly in my mouth.

“It is delicious, isn’t it?” (Leon)

“Indeed!” (Adele)

“Now, the problem begins here.” (Leon)

“Eh?” (Adele)

“They teased me saying I went to that theater because I liked Adele-san.” (Leon)

“Ah, eh. Um?” (Adele)

Hmm. Something about her behavior seems suspicious.

“When I tried to explain, Adele-san and Lotte-san already knew I was their cousin.” (Leon)

“I see.” (Adele)

“What should I do?” (Leon)

“What do you mean?” (Adele)

“Well, I do not think Eiru would do anything strange.” (Leon)

“It seems possible that she might approach me or Lotte.” (Adele)

“I feel like I should tell Lotte-san too, but then it would bring up where I met Eiru.” (Leon)

“I see. Hmmm.” (Adele)

Adele-san pinched her slightly pointed chin.

“That is right. Leon-chan came to see the performance. That alone can be explained as simply wanting to support me.” (Adele)

“Is that so?” (Leon)

“You will come to my house at the end of the year, right?” (Adele)

“Yes, Oji-san invited me, so I will go.” (Leon)

“At that time…” (Adele)

 

—

 

After the meal, we strolled through town together and decided to return today. When I returned to the boarding house and opened the door, Leah-san was there.

“I am back.” (Leon)

“Welcome back. Leon, where have you been?” (Leah)

“Huh? The Adventurer Guild, actually.” (Leon)

After parting from Adele-san, I had stopped by.

“Your mother had come just a little while ago.” (Leah)

“Eh?” (Leon)

Was it my room?

I looked up, but there was no presence.

“Oh, no, she left about 10 minutes ago.” (Leah)

“I see. Yesterday at the trading company, she did not mention that.” (Leon)

I was glad I had avoided meeting Adele-san there. Though I avoided a direct encounter, my spine shivered.

“So, you met her yesterday?” (Leah)

“Yes.” (Leon)

“Hm. For that, she asked quite a lot about you, Leon.” (Leah)

Muu. That mother of mine!

 

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