Learning How to Build your Reputation

After my meeting with the king, I went to the town to check on Anastasia. I wanted to know if she was up to anything or if Alex was spending his time with her.

I still don't know what I should do, I don't mind being the future queen of this kingdom like the king wanted me too, but do I really have to marry Alex? If there was another option.....

According to the rules of the kingdom, Alex is the next successor since there are no direct relatives from the royal family.

'Hahhh...', I let out a big sigh.

My carriage arrived at the café and I saw that I was wrong, Alex was not here with Anastasia at the moment. She was serving some tea and snacks to customers.

I walked off my carriage and towards the café, I sat down on one of the chairs on the front porch. Sitting down properly, I raised my hand to get Anastasia's attention. 

She was setting down the tea of a customer when she looked my way and at the sight of me her shoulders sagged the tiniest bit. Well, well. She wasn't always the high-spirited girl who likes everyone is she?

She put down the tray she was holding on one of the empty tables and walked my way.

'Elaine, how are you?', she said in a small voice. I could tell she was intimidated by me, good. She should be.

'It's Lady Elaine to you.' At this she started to sweat, I could even see a sweat drop down her forehead.

Perhaps she had gained some shame finally realizing that she shouldn't go after someone else's fiancé. I smirked at the thought, I bet she would still want to get close to Alex in the name of love. They are the main characters of this book after all. 

'Y-yes of course,' her little voice squeaked out.

I felt a little happy that she is intimidated by me, it means I still have some power. I wonder if the male leads heard about our meeting today, would they come to me angry saying that I bullied Anastasia?

I will have to see about that.

'Could you get me a snack and some green tea?', I gave her a small smile. I didn't know that my face looked threatening, but after I said those words Anastasia started shaking a little and went off to get the items I ordered.

Maybe I was giving off a little of my angry aura, I was still annoyed by her actions. I mean...

I saved her from some kidnappers and what did she do? She pushed me off the stairs during my own party.

As I was remembering what happened in the party, the person I least expected to meet here showed up.

'Well, hello there Lady Elaine. It's a pleasure to meet you.'

It was Anthony. That white hair and red eyes could not belong to any other person. I was not expecting to see him so soon after the party. I wonder what he was doing here?

He took a seat on the other side of my little white table.

'And to you Sir Anthony. To what do I owe the pleasure?'

He chuckled at my question, 'Straight to the point I like it. Nevertheless, I was just passing by-'

'This food sucks!', some guys sitting inside the store shouted. I looked his way to see what the commotion was about.

The person who shouted was a merchant by the looks of him, he had a huge belly and wore high-end clothing. He threw the cake that he was eating to the floor creating a mess of frosting and ceramic from the destroyed plate.

'Isn't there anything here that you sell that is good?' he slammed his fists against the white table.

This isn't good, people started to whisper to one another, even those outside the café on the street heard the shouting and started gossiping. If this went on then there will be bad word of mouth about my café.

I do own 50% of this place after all, I need to take this matter into my own hands. A person wearing a tux was bowing down profusely to the huge-bellied man, I assume he was the manager of The Little Bell.

I walked inside the store leaving Anthony alone in our table on the porch and towards the scene of the crime where the cake was splattered to the floor. Carefully I walked around the area of the mess.

'Sir why are you bowing to this man?' I was looking down at the mess that was on the floor.

'W-well. I uh-' the manager stuttered. Maybe there is a need for re-training. Even though the customer is always right is a good motto, but the store shouldn't apologize for something they did not do wrong.

'Exactly. There is no reason to apologize, you did nothing wrong.'

'R-really?' His eyes widened and he stood a little straighter.

'Of course.' I gave him a smile and he calmed down, no longer bowing to the rude customer.

'Excuse me?! Who do you think you are?', The huge-bellied man stood up and wobbled a little.

'I am Elaine Castelle, co-owner of this café.'

We were gathering the attention of many people, they were starting to look at us. I need to make sure that this does not become a scandal for the store.

'Hah! So you're the owner of this awful café! What do you have to say for your awful food?' Honestly I don't know what he was talking about. The food here was decent, I know because I have had some of it. If he didn't like the food then he should just leave instead of making such a scene.

But this could be a good opportunity for me to raise the store's reputation.

I am of course good at cooking. Maybe I can make a desert that no one has invented her before. Hmm..... what desert, what desert...

I got it!