Setting: Market
(Y/N is hanging out in the streets at night when she spots a group of young men leaving Siebold's restaurant.)
Waiter 1: Hey, dude... Chef Siebold had been giving us a really scary look earlier, hasn't he?
Waiter 2: Yeah! He looked like he could tear a hole right through us with that piercing gaze!
Waiter 3: I swear, I was almost certain he was going to snap at me after tasting the soup that I had prepared!
Waiter 1: ...Oh, hey. If it isn't the lady Siebold brought into the kitchen the other day.
...You heard everything we had been saying?
I'm begging you, don't tell Chef Siebold about this, okay?
[Choice selection]
⁃ I can't promise that.
Waiter 1: Hey, I'm begging you, okay? I don't want to lose my job.
⁃ I promise I won't tell him.
Waiter 2: Yeah, we're counting on you! I don't want to get told off by the Head Chef at work tomorrow... he can be pretty fearsome when he's mad.
[Choice selection]
⁃ I'm sure he's not that kind of person...
⁃ I don't think so...
Waiter 3: He might be nice to you because you're his significant other, but you haven't seen what he's like when he's with us.
...What? You went quiet all of a sudden.
Waiter 2: Either way, Chef Siebold just seems like the high-up and unapproachable type. He seems to be part of an entirely different class from us.
None of us dare to get too close to him. We can't deny that he's a great chef, though, and that he possess great skill and is obsessed about perfectionism.
Waiter 3: Yeah, none of us can ever understand what Chef Siebold is thinking.
I heard he's from a noble family, and he has a butler back in his home country. He doesn't seem to be the type who would want to mix with ordinary people like us.
Anyway, shall we make our leave now, gentlemen?
(The trio leaves Y/N behind with those words, and she stood there alone.
Suddenly, she hears a rustling sound coming from a bush behind her. Turning around, she sees Siebold coming out of the bush, still dressed in his Chef attire.)
[Choice selection]
⁃ What are you doing here?
⁃ Why were you hiding in that bush?
Siebold: ...I do apologize for surprising you, Y/N. I had merely wanted to find out what my staff thought of me, and decided to conceal myself in there to listen in on their conversations.
...As I had expected. My staff think of me as a cold and unapproachable boss.
While it is true that I came from a noble family, it does not mean that I look down on people from the lower classes or would not socialize with them.
It is most regrettable that my own staff have that impression of me. If only there was something I could do about it...
(Y/N approaches Siebold and helps him dust off the twigs and leaves that have been caught on his clothes and apron.
She couldn't help but notice that a corner of his apron had been torn from being caught in the branches. She then gives him a hug.)
Siebold: ...! Y/N...? Are you trying to cheer me up?
...
...I express my deepest gratitude.
Hmmm... this is pretty effective... I don't feel as burdened after being hugged by you.
...Oh, it is getting late now. I need to shop for ingredients tomorrow afternoon. Would you like to accompany me then?
[Choice selection]
⁃ Definitely!
⁃ Sure!
Siebold: Excellent. I will meet you here again tomorrow afternoon in that case, young miss.
(The next day, Y/N shows up at the same location, and spots Siebold already there.)
Siebold: Good afternoon, Y/N. Thank you for coming here today.
We are short on vegetables, so I am here to shop for them.
This is just like the last time we visited the market to shop for vegetables before...
I will look for the onions, mushrooms and carrots. Y/N, please help me gather the garlic, leek and cabbage.
[Chocke selection]
⁃ No problem!
⁃ You can count on me!
Siebold: You have my gratitude, young lady.
(Y/N and Siebold were able to gather all of the ingredients Siebold needed in an instance, with their combined efforts.)
Siebold: Wonderful. Just like the last time, we were able to gather all of the ingredients in record time.
Soon, with the expert touch of my chef's knife, these fresh, crisp vegetables will be reborn!
What is it? You got me something personally while shopping for the vegetables?
A new apron? My deepest gratitudes. So you noticed that my apron had a tear in it last night.
Oh my. Are you helping me to put it on right away?
(Y/N unfastens Siebold's apron, sets it aside, and wraps the new apron around his waist, tying it carefully. Siebold's face immediately flushed red.)
Siebold: T-thank you, young lady. T-this is the first time someone has ever done this to me before.
You even got me the exact same apron that I'm wearing right now...
What? You want to help me sew up my old apron? I-I express my deepest gratitudes, miss.
I love your attention to detail. You really have what it takes to be a chef. Speaking of which, I am still awaiting the answer to the question I had posed to you before.
...Y/N, I hate to change the subject so abruptly, but last night's events are still weighing heavily on my mind.
I feel like a failure as the head chef, not being sensitive enough to my own staff...
I do indeed caution my staff whenever required, but never more than necessary. I could never have imagined that they would take those cautionings the wrong way.
What do you think I should do, Y/N?
[Choice selection]
⁃ How about inviting them to a dinner party?
⁃ How about cooking something up for them?
Siebold: That is a fine idea, but would that really be enough to make them feel comfortable with me?
[Choice selection]
⁃ How about speaking more casually with them?
⁃ How about being casual with them?
Siebold: ...! I could never imagine myself doing anything of that sort, especially not with my status as a duke.
But you do have a point, young miss. Speaking formally all the time would only reinforce their image of me as a stern and distant superior.
If you do not mind, may I practice speaking causally with you?
[Choice selection]
⁃ Sure!
⁃ Of course!
Siebold: My deepest gratitudes. I shall try my very best.
Er-hem...I mean, thanks! I'll try to speak more casually from now on.
Thanks for your suggestion! I hope tomorrow's party will be a great success!
...As expected, I'm not used to speaking like this at all.
I shall see you tomorrow, Y/N. Of course, you are invited to the dinner party, too.
If you would like to help me with the preparations, please head over to my restaurant tomorrow afternoon. Have a good day, miss.
(Siebold bows to Y/N in an elegant and refined manner and heads off to his restaurant.)