Chapter 101
“Duchess, I apologize for keeping you waiting. Here are the two chocolate tarts I’ve packaged for you.”
Alice turned her head toward Hans.
“Ah, all ready. Thank you.”
“Not at all. We’re the ones who should be grateful that the Duke and Duchess have visited us. By the way, Duke, what do you need?”
Hans asked Kylus, who had arrived at the bakery a bit late.
Alice let out a small gasp.
She had forgotten Kylus’s reason for visiting because of Prion.
Come to think of it, why is Kylus here?
Alice looked up at Kylus and asked, “What brings you here, Duke? Did you come to buy dessert?”
She had never seen or heard of him enjoying sweet desserts.
Kylus looked at Alice with a curious gaze before turning to Hans.
“It seems my wife has already purchased what I needed.”
Huh?
I bought what Kylus needed?
All I bought was chocolate tart…
Alice was perplexed, but Kylus remained unshaken.
As if he truly had come to buy chocolate tarts.
“Ah, I see. Then I’ll take my leave.”
Hans handed the tart boxes to Ruyd and bowed politely.
After Hans left, Kylus drew in a breath that somehow conveyed a hint of disappointment, then turned to face Alice.
As soon as their eyes met, Alice spoke.
“Duke, I only bought chocolate tarts. Is that really what you needed?”
She wondered if he might be mistaken.
Kylus and chocolate tarts seemed like a completely mismatched combination.
She didn’t know his tastes exactly, but this didn’t seem right.
Contrary to Alice’s assumption, however, Kylus calmly nodded.
“That’s correct. I came to buy chocolate tarts.”
“…You came for chocolate… oh…”
While Alice was still processing this unexpected revelation, Kylus quickly continued.
“Of course, I didn’t come because I wanted to eat them myself.”
“Then why?”
“I came to buy them for Alice. You’ve seemed to be having a hard time lately with Sienna and His Highness, so I thought I’d bring a gift. This is your favorite dessert, isn’t it?”
“…Yes, it is.”
“Then I was right about what you needed, just a little late.”
Kylus said with a faint smile. Alice felt her heart flutter slightly.
The reason Kylus had visited this dessert shop that didn’t suit him at all was because of her.
To buy the dessert she loved.
Oh, why is he being so thoughtful?
How am I supposed to react when he’s this considerate?
But her fluttering heart was short-lived as Alice blinked slowly at Kylus’s next words.
“But I’m surprised you knew about this place. Having grown up in the countryside, you didn’t seem to know much about the capital’s famous spots.”
Kylus tilted his head slightly as he looked at her.
His eyes seemed to be questioning whether she had some hidden agenda.
Why is he suspicious? What have I done here?
Of course, incidents had occurred everywhere she went until now, but still.
She really had only come here to buy dessert.
Alice quickly spoke before his suspicion could deepen.
“Oh, I learned about this place from the Third Prince. His Highness mentioned that the chocolate tart here was extremely delicious and that he wanted to try it again sometime.”
For some reason, Kylus’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
“…Because of His Highness. Come to think of it, Alice seems to care a great deal about His Highness. You haven’t even known him for that long…”
What is this… he seems to be subtly mocking me.
“Now that I look at you, perhaps because His Highness is staying at the ducal residence, your face seems to have brightened in the past few days.”
Kylus was no longer suspicious of her, but his tone and expression were quite peculiar.
Beneath his elegant exterior, his meaning seemed to be something like, ‘Do you like the Third Prince that much?’
Almost as if he were… jealous.
Jealous… no, that can’t be.
I can’t have these romantic thoughts.
I’ve barely regained my senses after three days; I can’t waver again.
Alice silenced the warning alarm ringing in her head and pushed aside her thoughts about him.
The moment she recognized any different feelings for him, the emotional dam she had so precariously maintained would burst.
Trying not to think too deeply, Alice looked at Kylus.
She spoke with slightly exaggerated gestures, cupping her cheeks as if surprised, attempting to change the atmosphere.
“My, what do you mean my complexion looks better? I’ve been so worried that His Highness and Sienna might fight these past few days.”
“…Is that so.”
“Yes. And truthfully, I came here today under the pretext of buying dessert to avoid those two. Today as well, His Highness and Sienna were practicing dancing in the party hall so intensely… I mean, diligently. Anyway, I absolutely did not come all this way for His Highness.”
“Hmm…”
Kylus exhaled a low breath with an unreadable meaning.
But shortly after, when Alice blinked with feigned innocence, Kylus’s displeased expression softened slightly.
Seeing Kylus’s mellowed demeanor, Alice smiled and subtly avoided his gaze.
And so Alice didn’t see it.
The way his eyes darkened as he looked at her.
Kylus glanced at the chocolate tart boxes in Ruyd’s hands while observing Alice with her lowered gaze.
Leaving like this felt disappointing.
He had come all this way wanting to see her face light up when she received his gift.
But that opportunity had been taken by Alice herself.
Of course, he was pleased to see her here, but that was one thing and this was another.
If he returned now, Sienna and the Third Prince would likely stick close to Alice.
He’d already lost the chance to give her the gift, and he didn’t want to lose Alice to those two as well.
He wanted to spend more time alone with her.
At that moment, an excellent idea occurred to Kylus.
A perfect place to spend time with her.
Just as a meaningful smile formed at the corners of his lips, Alice raised her eyes.
Alice was about to suggest they return to the ducal residence.
It seemed they had finished their business.
But Kylus spoke first.
“I like walnut pie.”
“…Pardon?”
What’s with the sudden mention of walnut pie?
When Alice tilted her head in momentary confusion, Kylus casually repeated himself.
“I meant that just as Alice likes chocolate tart, I like walnut pie.”
So Kylus was now telling her about his favorite dessert.
Very abruptly.
Alice was confused by the sudden change in conversation but tried to understand his meaning.
Is he asking me to remember his favorite dessert…?
Based on her social experiences from her previous life, when a superior suddenly revealed their preference, it usually meant they wanted you to remember it and offer it to them later.
Of course, this world wasn’t the one she had lived in, and Kylus wasn’t her superior, but if she had to make a comparison, it was somewhat similar.
Alice nodded with a faint smile.
“So you like walnut pie, Duke. Haha.”
“Shall we go eat some now?”
Just as she was about to say ‘I’ll remember that well,’ Alice’s eyes widened at Kylus’s words.
“What?”
“This place is famous too, but I know another place. I’d like to go there with Alice.”
First, he suddenly mentioned liking walnut pie, and now he wanted to go eat some.
Alice couldn’t keep up with his train of thought.
“You mean right now?”
“Yes. Didn’t you say you came out to avoid His Highness and Sienna anyway?”
His face was not just calm but serious.
He was sincere.
“Well, that’s true, but…”
“Even if we return quickly, all we’ll see is those two arguing. So come with me to eat walnut pie instead. I’ll properly cheer you up.”
Kylus firmly took Alice’s hand, who couldn’t hide her bewilderment.
“Wait, just a moment…”
“Let’s go.”
As if her answer was already decided, Kylus took Alice’s hand and left the bakery.
What is this about suddenly going to eat walnut pie?
It felt so unreal she wondered if she might be dreaming.
But proving it wasn’t a dream, a gentle breeze stirred her hair as they left the bakery.
And Kylus’s soft smile as they faced each other.
It was truly bizarre, but faced with his strange yet perfect demeanor, Alice ultimately followed him without saying a word.
“Wow… it’s beautiful.”
Upon arriving at the walnut pie shop, Alice let out a small exclamation as she took in the store’s appearance.
The place Kylus had abruptly brought her to was much prettier and more charming than she had expected.
A small mansion, just one story tall.
In front of the mansion was a small fountain with an angel statue and a small garden blooming with various unidentifiable flowers in all colors.
Opening the waist-high wooden door that looked handmade, Alice was greeted by the fragrant scent of flowers.
If one glanced at it in passing, it would seem like a remarkably pretty home, with its quaint atmosphere.
Neither too flashy nor too modest, the shop looked exactly like the countryside cottage Alice had always dreamed of.
She had followed him on a whim, but unexpectedly found herself charmed by the place.
Hearing Alice’s exclamation, Kylus spoke.
