I’m the Future Crazy Male Lead’s Mother Chapter 53

Is it really okay for us to meet like this?

As I got out of the carriage, I worried about Leticia.

There had already been quite a commotion recently because Miar had stopped growing, and just the other day, she had left the imperial palace separately with me and even been attacked by some suspicious men.

Of course, she said that was because she had deliberately set a trap.

But surely this isn’t another trap, right?

With those thoughts in mind, I slowly made my way forward. The place I was heading to was a very small café where I had arranged to meet Leticia.

The café, located in a corner of an alley, was so old and run-down that it was almost embarrassing to even call it a café.

“Is anyone here…?”

Creeeeak.

When I opened the door, the unoiled hinges let out a scream.

The address and shop name Leticia had given me were definitely correct.

Though the sign was so faded that I could barely make out the name.

Café Muna. Unlike its exterior, the inside of the café had a cozy and warm atmosphere. It felt much more like a home than a café.

Pretty curtains hung in what appeared to be the kitchen, and beyond them came the clinking of teacups and the sound of water boiling.

Am I here first?

I looked around, but there was no one sitting at the tables. As I headed toward a seat in the corner, the floorboards creaked beneath my feet.

And just as I was about to lower myself into the chair—

“Over here!”

A small whisper came from somewhere.

That voice was definitely Leticia’s.

I turned my head toward the sound and saw that what I had thought was simply a wall had been slightly pulled open. A white hand was poking out through the gap.

It fluttered toward me as if telling me to hurry over.

“…Leticia?”

“Yeah. That’s right. It’s me.”

It seemed to be some kind of secret room in the café. Is this what it means to be an emperor after all? I thought as I quickly slipped inside.

“Uh.”

“Ah.”

And then I came face-to-face with an unexpected person.

“It’s nice to see you again, Lady Evanroar.”

“Uh… Morocanil?”

“Yes.”

It was Morocanil, the Angel of the Continent who seemed to shine brightly.

He was sitting demurely in the chair right beside Leticia, giving me a pleasant smile. It almost looked as though a halo were shining behind him.

Ugh. He’s dazzling.

Feeling as though the invisible light was blinding me, I rubbed my eyes.

Just then, Leticia’s voice rang in my ears.

“Cilia!”

Her voice was overflowing with unmistakable delight.

“It’s been a long time, Leticia!”

Just like the last time we met, Leticia had a yellow cloth wrapped around her head, and her face was difficult to make out behind her enormous glasses.

“Ahem. Yes. It has been a long time. Cilia!”

As Leticia and I eagerly clasped each other’s hands, Morocanil’s hand, which had been resting on the table, trembled slightly. He stared at Leticia with an expression of surprise and bewilderment.

It seemed he was taken aback by the fact that she, the Emperor, was casually holding hands with the daughter of some mere viscount.

Considering the dignity of an emperor and her personal safety, she probably shouldn’t be doing that.

But…

I don’t know. I don’t know that Leticia is the Emperor!

What did I care if he was flustered?

As far as I was concerned, I didn’t know she was the Emperor. We had decided to become female friends, after all!

While Leticia and I giggled and basked in our friendship, Morocanil watched us for a moment, looking completely at a loss for what to do.

Then, Leticia suddenly asked,

“Do you two know each other?”

After stepping slightly away from me, Leticia looked back and forth between us curiously.

Before I could answer, Morocanil spoke.

“Yes. We have a bit of a connection.”

“Hmm. Is that so? That’s good.”

What exactly is good about it?

I figured I’d find out soon enough and cautiously asked Leticia a question.

For now, this was more important.

“Is it really okay for us to meet outside like this? What if strange people show up again like they did that time?”

At my worried question, Leticia wiggled her index finger as if telling me not to worry.

“Don’t worry. This time, I brought two guards with me.”

“Guards?”

I looked around, but the only person who looked like he could be called a guard was Morocanil. Using a Transcendent as a guard… The Emperor really is something else.

But…

If there were two of them, and Morocanil was here, that meant there was one more.

Who was it?

As I tilted my head in confusion, a teacup and teapot were placed on the table.

A fragrant tea aroma followed…

“Damn it. I have no idea what I’m doing here.”

A curse filled with irritation followed.

It was a very familiar voice.

I slowly raised my head and saw Dazar standing there crookedly, a tray casually tucked under one arm.

The small, cute pink apron hanging from his solid upper body was…

rather intimidating.

“…What are you doing here?”

Dressed like that, no less. Ugh.

“That is what I should be asking you. I heard you were secretly meeting an important person, so I dropped everything and followed you. And what is this?”

He gave his apron an irritated snap.

“Dazar. Surely you need to dress like the owner so people won’t realize this is actually a disguised café.”

Leticia spoke in a dignified voice, but even to me, it sounded completely ridiculous. Unfortunately for Dazar, judging by Leticia’s serious expression, she genuinely meant it.

At that moment, Morocanil narrowed his eyes slightly and asked,

“Does Lady Evanroar know what Lady Letic… ia occupa…tion is?”

“Ahem! She doesn’t. But the two of us decided to become friends, beyond such things.”

At Leticia’s answer, Morocanil looked blank for a moment before slowly nodding.

So, he was basically asking whether I knew that Leticia was the Emperor.

Come to think of it, did he receive the stone I returned?

As I watched Morocanil’s reaction, he didn’t seem to acknowledge it at all.

Either he hasn’t gone to the shop yet.

Or maybe it wasn’t particularly important to him.

Well, whatever.

This wasn’t the time to worry about that.

It was better to worry about my current situation.

Somehow, I had ended up sitting across from an Emperor and two Transcendents, drinking tea.

And this is tea made by Dazar.

I rarely saw him drink tea, considering how much he hated doing bothersome things. And he had certainly never served me tea before.

Feeling a little strange about it, I took a sip.

…It was actually quite good.

Leticia said with a laugh,

“Dazar really has always been good at making tea. Even when we were young.”

“Of course. Even if we look the same age on the outside, that wasn’t actually the case. Unlike some people, I never had the luxury of being clumsy.”

At Dazar’s curt reply, Leticia shrugged.

“Still, that doesn’t change the fact that we’re childhood friends.”

Her voice was incredibly accepting.

No matter what kind of person you are, we’re still friends… Is that what she means?

Dazar didn’t seem to dislike Leticia’s words. At least, judging by the fact that he sat down beside me with a sullen expression.

Hmm?

Wait.

Why is he sitting next to me?

“Excuse me. There are plenty of seats over there, so why are you sitting here?”

Leticia was sitting at least one chair away from Morocanil, too. Yet somehow, Dazar and I were the only ones sitting practically glued together.

Dazar answered shamelessly,

“I’m cold. It’s almost winter.”

“…”

As if. What’s cold about this?

He was obviously planning to bother me again. As my expression began to sour, Dazar finally grinned.

See? See?

He was definitely provoking me on purpose just to make himself feel better.

Just then, Morocanil asked blankly without even touching the tea Dazar had prepared.

“I felt this last time as well, but you two seem to be quite close. How do the two of you know each other? I must admit, I’m a little surprised that Dazar has an… acquaintance like this.”

No. Angel, what do you mean, we seem close?

I opened my mouth in utter disbelief and frantically shook my head to indicate that absolutely was not the case, but Dazar simply crossed his arms and replied flatly,

“What are you going to do with that information? Mind your own business.”

Ah. Their meeting had only been quite recent. I’d almost forgotten.

Those two weren’t on good terms.

It seemed to go all the way back to their previous lives, too.

When I looked at Leticia’s expression, she didn’t seem particularly surprised by their confrontation, as though she were already accustomed to it. Which meant she already knew that the two of them weren’t on good terms.

But then why deliberately call both of them here as guards?

My mind began turning over the possibilities despite myself.

Perhaps Leticia wanted the conflict between the two of them to be resolved.

Though judging by Dazar’s reaction, it seemed to be having the opposite effect.

“Does this guy really need to be here? I think I should be more than enough as your sole guard.”

Dazar’s expression hardened as he spoke, and Morocanil’s eyebrows twitched slightly in response. In an instant, a chilly atmosphere filled the space between them.

Hmm. I came here to see Leticia.

But things have gotten very uncomfortable.

I had no desire to watch the two of them confront each other like last time, so I was looking for an opportunity to intervene when—

“I thought it would be good to share what we’re currently working on with Morocanil as well, so I called him here. And we can share what Morocanil is working on, too.”

Leticia continued in a composed voice.

“Besides, there are things we need to discuss together.”

At her words, Dazar and Morocanil, who had been glaring at each other, turned their serious gazes toward Leticia.

And me…

Does anyone know why I’m sitting in a discussion between the Emperor and Transcendents?

I seriously began wondering if, unbeknownst even to me, I was actually some overpowered character who played a major role in this empire.