The Prince Doesn't Cry From Mere Onions

Carla looked at the sleeping figure of her daughter, sprawled in a carefree position. ‘What grown woman slept like that,’ or so she wanted to say; but perhaps because of her small build, she only looked like a small troublemaker child was sleeping.

A child who’d been so small from the day she was born, that she had always worried she might die.

But that child, as small as she was, had grown into adulthood, brought in young folks twice her size and fed them, raised them into workers, and sent them back home.

Though she literally did not listen at all, she was a daughter to be proud of wherever she went.

Carla gathered her two hands together and prayed.

“Hans….. Please. I don’t know what debt that bear has to you, but give me the strength to safely chase that man off today.”

***

It was a good morning.

As soon as Anna opened her eyes, that was what she thought.

‘It’s cause I had a lot of fun last night eating and playing…. which isn’t the point! Mom, why didn’t she wake me up?’

When Carla did not wake Anna up, it meant that she was that busy.

If she enjoyed this time for any longer, she was sure to hear a scolding: ‘Your mom is working so hard she could die, but you can’t wake up until someone wakes you up?’

Anna hastily ran out to the yard where Carla was, and then immediately realized what had been occupying her mom since early morning.

Carla spoke to Bertram in the yard.

“It must have been so sudden in the morning, but thank you for accepting. Please be healthy there as well. I’ll also bring you the laundry soon.”

The village chief also pounded on Bertram’s shoulder as he talked.

“Good work until now. Though I can’t give you any money, I can take you to the nearest city.”

It was at that moment that Anna intervened.

“Wa-iiit! What, what is this? Mr. Bertram, he’s leaving? Right now today?”

“Ugh, child. Anna! Where are you running out without even washing your face? Were you asleep until now?”

“Don’t change the subject, Mom! I asked why Mr. Bertram was leaving.”

“Then should he stay here for a thousand years to come? I’ve decided that he’s repaid all his debts to us, from how much he helped our restaurant to how he caught the wolf. We can’t keep a perfectly capable young man and make him peel onions forever. Mr. Bertram also agreed.”

 “….But still.”

“Or what? Did you want to see him for longer?”

“It’s not like that!” Anna yelled, flustered.

Though she had fallen for Carla’s provocation, she couldn’t make any excuses now.

The village chief chortled.

“Goodness, my ears almost fell off. Anyway, I’ve agreed to take Bertram when I go down to sell the wolf pelt today.”

“You’re selling the pelt already? When it hasn’t even been refined?”

“It’s because we have done nothing to it that we have to sell it before it rots. We’re not pelt-handling people. Ehehe, we’ll get the price for the wolf pelt anyhow, and I’ll show Bertram what a proper city restaurant tastes like with it!”

“Chief! You sure speak like somebody’s place isn’t a restaurant!”

“Bahaha! Did I say anything wrong? Anna. You should please stock up on beer someday. Your apple wine is way too sweet.”

“As if there’s anyone else in the village who likes beer except for you, Chief. Are you going to buy all of them off of us?”

While Anna and the chief familiarly nagged at each other, Bertram interrupted with an especially heavy voice.

“Village Chief, sir. This restaurant is also an excellent restaurant.”

“…A-ahem. Hey, it’s just a joke between two close people!”

“The closer a relationship, the more you should not treat them carelessly.”

“Geh, and here I’ve come to live a day where I’ve been told off by a complete youngster. Fine!”

The chief sulked visibly. But the words ‘Bertram’s stare is burdensome’ were written all over his face.

“Then I’ll ready the carriage and bring it over. All of you should eat some breakfast and be prepared.”

“….Um, Chief.”

“Hm?”

Anna grabbed onto the chief.

And there, Anna spoke, with a very, very big resolve.

“L-let me go too! We just happen to have some blood sausages that have aged really well. I’ll go to sell those!”

“Though there’s no reason not to, we’re going to have to stay a night there? I know you don’t like paying for food at another person’s restaurant.”

“I’m thinking of trying to like that beer you always talk about. To see what charm it has that our chief singsongs about it all the time.”

“…or so your daughter says, Carla. What do you think? I do prefer to bring as many people as possible on a single excursion.”

The three people turned to Carla simultaneously.

The pressure coming from each of their different gazes is immense.

Bertram’s heavy and indecipherable stare….. was so high up that she could avoid it if she lowered her head.

But if she lowered her head, there she found her daughter’s pleading eyes.

If she looked straight instead, the village chief’s eyes seemed to say ‘I also am uncomfortable being alone with Bertram, so please lend me Anna’……..

Caught in the net of looks, Carla ultimately nodded her head.

“……Be good.”

“Okay! I’ll sell it for a high price!”

“But Chief, please bring someone other than Anna, too.”

“Of course! An empty spot on the carriage is too precious to lose; we’ll have to go completely packed!”

The village chief headed out of the restaurant, saying that he would prep the carriage.

After they managed to wrap up the conversation somehow, Anna looked up at Bertram.

An end that had found them so suddenly.

At that moment, there was only one thing Anna could say.

“Mr. Bertram….. Do you…have anything you want to eat for breakfast?”

“Anything you would like to make, please.”

“Got it.”

Anna made off for the kitchen.

Seeing her daughter respond more calmly than she had expected, Carla quelled her strangely uncomfortable feelings.

This was truly the end now.

The village would be peaceful once more.