Chapter 102
“I see you like this place.”
“Yes. I really, absolutely love it.”
Alice, who had been admiring the garden, turned to Kylus with a satisfied smile.
A faint smile touched Kylus’s lips, as if he found it endearing how Alice’s previously sullen face had brightened considerably since stepping out of the carriage.
“I’m glad you like it. I think you’ll enjoy the desserts here as well. The owner is as skilled in cooking as they are in creating this beautiful scenery.”
“Then let’s go in,” Kylus added softly.
He had been patiently waiting for Alice as she admired the garden outside the shop.
And to hear that the cooking was as wonderful as the pretty garden—this was quite enticing.
“Let’s hurry, Duke,” Alice said, her golden eyes sparkling as she took Kylus’s hand and headed toward the shop.
Ding-a-ling—
As the clear bell sound rang out, we were greeted not by a person but by a gray cat.
Meow—
“It’s been a while, Selly.”
Kylus called the cat by name with familiar ease.
“You know this cat?”
“It belongs to the owner. I used to come here quite often before I lost consciousness, so naturally I know the cat.”
“I see…”
Kylus gently stroked the cat that was rubbing its head against his leg.
As if such skinship was familiar to him.
Alice felt somewhat strange watching this.
Kylus’s demeanor seemed slightly more relaxed than usual.
It was as if she was seeing not the Duke of Dearrut, but Kylus the person himself.
Like glimpsing an intimate part of him that shouldn’t be seen.
Of course, she had already experienced seeing his true self before, but still, he was different from his usual self right now.
Feeling oddly unsettled, Alice shifted her gaze from Kylus petting the cat to the interior of the shop.
The spacious interior was generally circular in shape, furnished with wooden tables and seats.
It had the atmosphere of an Eastern tea house that didn’t quite match this world.
Alice felt a sense of comfort in the familiar-looking interior that contrasted with the exterior, but then she paused.
But why isn’t there anyone here?
The large shop contained only tables and chairs, no people.
While it was one thing for there to be no customers, the complete absence of staff was rather strange.
Especially since this was Vicente, the residential area for nobles.
The shops in Vicente that catered to nobility all employed many staff members.
To attend to the nobles, of course.
But… not only were there no employees, the shop owner was nowhere to be seen either.
There was only the one cat.
Are they closed today?
Just as Alice was about to say something to Kylus, he got up, withdrawing his hand from the cat.
“Alice, let’s go over there.”
Then, very naturally, he took her hand and walked toward the back of the shop.
The place he led Alice to was a window seat with a clear view of the fountain outside.
Kylus pulled out a chair for Alice.
“Please sit.”
“Um, but is it okay for us to just sit like this? There are no employees… it doesn’t seem like they’re open today.”
As Alice hesitated without sitting down, Kylus let out a small “Ah” and chuckled as if he found it amusing.
“I forgot to mention. The owner here is a bit peculiar. He’s skilled, but he runs his business as he pleases. He may be eccentric, but he sells me proper food, so don’t worry. Please, make yourself comfortable.”
Eccentric? As he pleases?
Alice was puzzled by these unclear descriptions, but she sat down hesitantly at Kylus’s repeated invitation.
If he said it was fine… then it must be fine.
Once she was seated, Kylus took his place across from her.
Unlike Alice, who still felt awkward, Kylus was the picture of serenity.
Alice glanced around the quiet shop, but Kylus merely maintained a slight smile.
This feels like we’ve barged into someone’s shop without permission.
Just as Alice was beginning to feel uncomfortable despite Kylus’s relaxed demeanor, finally, the sound of footsteps approached.
Alice turned her head toward the welcome sound.
And saw a man coming toward them.
The smile that had naturally begun to form on Alice’s lips froze.
A shiny bald head was the first thing that entered her field of vision.
She had seen all sorts of hair colors since coming to this world, but this was her first time seeing a bald head.
But as surprising as the baldness was the man’s physique.
A towering height that nearly reached the ceiling and a massive body that seemed built entirely of muscle.
He didn’t look like the owner of a dessert shop at all.
More like a bouncer guarding the door of a dessert shop.
Actually, if such a bouncer were guarding the shop, probably no one would come in.
Alice unconsciously gulped at the sight of the man who looked more likely to wield a club than a dessert plate.
The man stopped in front of their table.
Up close… he was even bigger.
Alice looked up at the enormous man, and her eyes met his brown ones.
She quickly lowered her gaze from his intimidating look.
Out of fear, naturally.
Probably even if Alice stood on her tiptoes, she wouldn’t reach the man’s chest.
Like a Lilliputian meeting a giant.
That was exactly how Alice felt right now.
Just as Alice lowered her gaze, overwhelmed by the difference in size, a gruff voice sounded.
“Well, well, you really did come back to life. Duke, you certainly have a long lifeline.”
-Thwack!
A short impact sound followed.
The large man had given Kylus a friendly smack on the arm.
Wait, what did I just see and hear…?
Alice was so surprised that she forgot her fear and looked up sharply.
“Hakun, you’re still fearless enough to lay hands on a duke’s body. It’s been a while, but you haven’t changed at all.”
The words might have sounded menacing, but Alice didn’t feel any tension in Kylus’s voice.
No, it wasn’t that she didn’t feel tension—she was even more surprised.
Kylus was speaking with a casual smile.
He wasn’t upset at all by the man’s rudeness.
If anything, he seemed to be enjoying it.
“Oh, Duke. When people change, they die. I’m just so happy to see you after such a long time. When you collapsed, everyone said there was no hope, so even when I heard you’d awakened, honestly, I couldn’t believe it.”
Hakun laughed heartily, but Alice didn’t laugh.
No, she couldn’t laugh.
The situation before her eyes felt unreal.
“But seeing you looking so well makes it real. Haha, I guess I don’t need to prepare that walnut pie for your coffin anymore. Hahaha.”
Hakun boldly talking about a walnut pie for Kylus’s coffin, and Kylus not killing him for it.
The Kylus she knew would have drawn his sword before Hakun’s hand could even touch him.
And Hakun’s hand would probably have fallen to the floor.
But such a cruel scene didn’t unfold.
Kylus was simply looking at Hakun with a faint smile.
“You won’t need a walnut pie for my coffin, so bake one for us to eat now. And before that, greet the Duchess, Hakun.”
“Oh my, how rude of me. I was so happy to see the Duke after so long that I delayed my greeting. I am Hakun, the chef and owner of this walnut pie shop, Duchess.”
Hakun, who had been laughing heartily while looking at Kylus, turned to Alice.
Alice snapped out of her daze as Hakun bent at the waist to bow to her.
Unlike his rude behavior toward Kylus, Hakun bowed deeply to her, folding his massive body nearly in half.
Alice responded slowly.
“…Pleased to meet you.”
“The honor is all mine. I had heard that the Duke had married, but to meet such a beautiful Duchess—I look forward to serving you in the future, Duchess.”
As Hakun flashed a playful grin that made Alice flustered, Kylus cleanly drew the line.
“Hakun. Stop with the unnecessary talk. If you want to impress the Duchess, hurry and make some desserts. If you make us wait too long, we’ll leave.”
“Understood. I can’t let such precious guests leave. I’ll bring delicious desserts right away. Please wait just a moment.”
Hakun clapped his hands together and turned away with a determined expression.
Only after the large man had completely disappeared did Alice turn to Kylus.
“You seem quite surprised.”
Kylus slightly furrowed his brows as he looked at Alice’s bewildered face.
“Um… yes. It’s quite different from what I expected…”
“His appearance is certainly striking for a dessert shop owner. I know it doesn’t suit him at all. When he first told me his dream was to open a dessert shop, I thought he was talking nonsense.”
There was laughter in his voice, as if recalling an amusing memory.
Alice stared at Kylus for a moment before asking.
“You’ve known Hakun for a long time, haven’t you?”
