Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)-Chapter 191 - Forgotten Rituals Of Greeting

While he only gives me a subtle nod of acknowledgment, Reina seemed to finally open up with a bright smile and looser posture.

"He and my grandmother opened Tsukisushi together when they first came to Vossden. She... passed several years ago, but her spirit still lives in the help on recipes and her touches on the interior of this place. I love it very much."

"Your grandmother sounds like she was a remarkable woman."

I offer sincerely to keep the conversation flowing. Knowing mine mostly through pages in a diary, my sense of connection is limited. But speaking well of someone’s loved ones is rarely an incorrect social move.

"She was! She taught me that food is just one way to take care of people. There are many others, but I still want to take over someday."

"You know how to speak to an old man’s heart."

Old eyes crinkle with pleasure and - while I’ve met none of the other family that may exist - it’s clear who the inheritance is intended for. However, as I realize all that I have to force myself to keep a straight face.

> None of that is going to matter. The ingredients they use will be unavailable, won’t they? She won’t be getting this restaurant... she’ll be inheriting a struggle to find a new way. <

"Grandfather, you have forgotten again."

Seeing the old man slap his forehead when Reina whispers this, Anise laughs without covering her mouth. Her hand waves down at both of them before she speaks.

"I was hoping to see how long it would take. That’s why I told her your name earlier."

"...Well then what is the problem, you startled me..."

Both of them titter at his grumbling as I feel left out of the ’inside-joke’. He bows his head forward deeply from across the table at me as his strong voice rolls out.

"My name is Hamada Ginzaburo. Pleased to meet you. Looking forward to our acquaintance."

Something comes over me and my hands come together under my chin, palms pressed and fingers upward. With a small bow, I return the integrity of his ritual with one of my own.

"Namaste. In the stillness of the night and the glow of the day, I am always Citra Lomdi."

All three of them stare quietly after I return to a resting posture... and it makes me feel awkward. I even went out of my way to give my name and not the usual greeting - which would refuse to give my name and refer to myself only by title.

> If my mother knew how much I’ve just been going around and talking to people without referencing my royal nature, she would have a seizure. <

"...Would I have gotten a greeting like that if I gave you my family name as well?"

The seamstress eventually breaks the ice, asking that while pulling out her phone and snapping a photo of me. I know there is a stone lantern behind me at the angle she just took it, so I am dying to see the result.

"No phones out in my garden, little one."

"Woopsie daisy. You should stop serving me alcohol in your establishment if you want me to remember things like that."

Waving the device provocatively before stuffing it back in her pocket, our hostess giggles and turns her face away from her. But I can still see the amusement and even a mischievous glint in the set of her eyes.

"The last time he did, you called the house drunk late that night and left him a message."

"Please don’t-"

"That’s right... something about how much you hate my ’stupid stingy face’."

Backing away from the table, she lowers her forehead to the ground with her hands out in a deeply servile gesture.

"I deeply apologize for my actions. However, if you could stop making me look so untrustworthy under the gaze of my mark - I mean, my dinner companion... I would be in your debt."

"Are you saying you intend to trick me into something?"

The tone of my voice is a little chillier than the surrounding conversation had been, but she looks at my uncertain glare and raised chin with those pale blue eyes... and grins wildly.

"I’m saying I already did. But I don’t think you want me to talk about your private life in front of them, right? I know the other person would probably like to keep things-"

"Thank you for the dinner, I’m glad you invited me. It was nice to meet everyone."

Standing up and beginning to walk away, the woman wails from behind my back before I even take three steps. As I expected her to do.

"You invited me! Wait, the bill still... you ate like eight times as much as me!"

"Citra, if I may?"

The other woman’s voice speaks and I stop. Turning over my shoulder, I see her whispering something to her grandfather who smirks the entire time. Some sort of affirmative was given in his native tongue, as Reina stands and wanders away with a bow.

"Your portion of the bill is covered."

I don’t really like the idea of leaving without paying... I was going to wait for one of them to follow me out and then do so in the first place. But the way he said it was not to be argued with.

"Then I will eat twice as much next time so you never think to allow me to eat freely again."

My statement sends a bellowing laugh that ends in a coughing fit that concerns me. Anise scrambled up to rub and pat on his back. Eventually he settled down and was able to take a sip of his cooling tea.

"Deepest apologies. Whatever Anise is planning and no matter how she might call it tricks... consider it carefully. She has good instincts and good connections to steer you with. But more importantly, she cares greatly about the people she works with... and the people she is willing to let me meet."

"...Yes, she is a lovely person. Thank you for the advice."

In a way, it felt like he was giving his daughter away to me - and such a thought was amusing, if only for the way Vrika growls in my heart. My wolf still seems to have a strange idea about me and my proclivities... because of what I’ve admitted to already.

Plodding around in circles around the larger beast in my old fox form, I try to share more of my reasonings and beliefs.

> I took no servants given into my personal service to bed, nor am I attracted to her in this form. You do not have to keep me ’in line’ with your impressions, friend. I was far more choosy than I ever made it sound. <

At least, I was more selective when the choice was not seeming to be made for me - and when my wants were not aimed so firmly that nothing else seems like an option. Damned fated mate bonds...

"Well, this was a mistake, you people are giving away all of my mystique..."

Anise complains clearly with a trailing whine, but the woman still leans over and kisses his cheek affectionately. Overall... the blonde seems like she belongs as ’found family’ with these people.

> Say what she will. Even if I understand her a lot more than I expected to after this dinner... there is clearly so much more to her story. <

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