Bread
Lux’s Side
The second day of our trip to another country.
Yesterday, I explored the main streets of the Katiswear Empire with Florence-san and Siana, but today, starting around midday, I decided to walk alone through areas of the city that weren’t part of the main streets.
“There was a little trouble when I went to the accessory shop with Siana, but after that, we had a great time strolling along the main street. It was really fun…”
Muttering that as I happily recalled yesterday, I left the bustling main street and entered a more ordinary part of the city.
“As I thought, the buildings are all so beautiful and impressive…”
Compared to the main street, there were far fewer people, which made the beauty of the surrounding buildings stand out even more. I could not help but let those words slip out.
And even though this was not the main street, it seemed there were a few shops here and there.
“Such a nice smell… maybe from that shop.”
For the time being, I decided to enter the shop from which that pleasant aroma was coming. Inside, many kinds of bread were lined up.
So that smell was from the bread at the bakery.
It really is such a nice aroma…
“…”
As I looked around the shop, I noticed there was one other customer besides me… and I could not help but be captivated by her.
Long, glossy wine-red hair, sharp red eyes, a straight nose, and lustrous lips.
Her face was unbelievably well-proportioned and beautiful, and on top of that, her body was toned, making her an incredibly attractive woman.
That stunning woman with the wine-red hair was staring intently at a certain piece of bread with a sharp gaze.
…She is wearing clothes that look very expensive. Could she be a noble of this country? From her presence alone, she looks so beautiful and dignified.
But why is she staring so sharply at the bread?
While I was wondering about that, the woman with the wine-red hair seemed to notice my gaze and started walking toward me.
C-Could it be that she is angry because I stared at her for a while?
While I was thinking that, the woman with the wine-red hair came right up to me. No matter what she says, I will apologize first.
As I thought that, the woman with the wine-red hair spoke.
“Sorry, do you have a moment?” “I am sorr… Huh?”
I was about to apologize when her words turned out to be completely different from what I expected, leaving me a bit confused. But I quickly spoke without pausing.
“Yes… is something wrong?”
“Ah… forgive me, but come with me.”
Saying that, the woman with the wine-red hair returned to where she had been.
…I did not really understand, but for now, I decided to follow her as she said.
What I saw there was bread with vegetables and seasonings sandwiched inside.
And in front of that, the woman with the wine-red hair spoke.
“I do not know how one is supposed to eat this food called bread, but do you?”
“…Huh?”
This bread… she means this one right in front of us, right?
I did not understand why she would ask such a thing, but for now, I decided to answer.
“I think the usual way is to hold the bread part, the part made of wheat, with your hands and eat it, rather than the vegetable part.”
“With your hands…? You do not use a knife or fork?”
“I think it is very rare to eat bread using a knife or fork.”
“I-I see.”
The woman with the wine-red hair averted her eyes from me as she said that.
She must be someone who has never eaten bread before… Even so, it is very unusual for someone to not know how to eat bread, but I cannot just abandon someone who is troubled right in front of me.
“Um, if you like, shall I show you how I eat bread in practice?”
When I made that suggestion, the woman with the wine-red hair looked back at me and said,
“Would you?”
“Yes!”
“I am grateful. As thanks, it may be insufficient, but use this to buy bread you like.”
Saying that, the woman with the wine-red hair offered me money… but the amount was not what you would prepare to buy bread. It was the kind of amount you would prepare to buy a full set of expensive clothes from top to bottom.
I could not accept such an amount, and I had not even intended to be paid in the first place, so as I looked at that sum and felt a bit flustered, I waved my hands side to side and said,
“N-No, no! It is true that bread is expensive compared to ordinary food, but it is not something that needs that much money. And more importantly, I did not make that suggestion to receive a reward, so it is really fine.”
“That will not do. Advance payment is the iron rule when making a contract. Will you not accept it?”
“This is not a contract or anything like that! Anyway, it really is fine!!”
“…I see.”
The woman with the wine-red hair did not look convinced, but for the time being, she put the large amount of money back into her pocket.
Then, after buying the bread together with the woman with the wine-red hair, we sat on a bench near a fountain where we could see the water and ate the bread together.