Chapter 98
Vicente Street, lined with shops.
Befitting the residential area of nobles, Vicente Street was showcasing its quiet and elegant charm today as well.
However, among the shops on Vicente Street, only one place was quite bustling.
With an endless line of carriages around the shop and a constant stream of customers coming and going.
This place was none other than Mont Blanc Bakery, the most famous pastry shop in the capital.
And Alice was now standing in front of Mont Blanc Bakery.
“Wow, there really are a lot of people.”
Alice held onto her wide-brimmed hat as she looked up at the large four-story building.
The bakery’s four floors were all made of glass, allowing a clear view of the interior.
The first and second floors selling bread and desserts.
The third and fourth floors decorated like a cafe.
Not a single floor looked uncrowded.
As if proving its reputation as the most famous dessert bakery in the capital.
In fact, Alice hadn’t known such a bakery existed.
She wasn’t someone who frequented Vicente Street, after all.
The only time she had been here recently was when she went to Madame Rosewell’s dress salon with Kylus, and that was it.
The Temple was located on the opposite side of Mont Blanc Bakery, so she couldn’t even see it when going to the Temple.
Alice came to know about this bakery thanks to the Third Prince.
‘You seem to like chocolate tart, Your Highness.’
‘Yes. When I was young, I had the chance to taste Mont Blanc Bakery’s chocolate tart just once by chance.’
The Third Prince had said with a smile while having tea and snacks with Alice.
‘That tart was so delicious. Even though I’m not particularly fond of desserts, since then, I’ve always found myself reaching for chocolate tart for some reason. Perhaps I want to experience that taste again.’
The Third Prince had been surprised when Alice said she was hearing about Mont Blanc Bakery for the first time, and he explained about the bakery’s fame.
Especially about how the chocolate tart they sell there is truly fantastic.
Ever since hearing that, she had thought she should visit this place sometime, and today she finally came.
Chocolate tart, her favorite dessert.
How could she not come when she heard this place makes it the best?
She had been craving something sweet after being fed up with Sienna and the Third Prince’s bickering.
Moreover, the Third Prince also wanted to eat the chocolate tart from this place again.
So she had come here today for everyone’s sake.
But surely they haven’t sold out, right?
According to Aileen, the bakery was so popular that it was common to be unable to buy desserts if you came too late.
“Lord Ostein, let’s hurry inside.”
Alice quickened her steps towards the bakery’s interior, feeling anxious as she saw the bustling crowd.
Ding-a-ling-
A clear bell sound rang from the door.
“Welcome, customer.”
As Alice entered the bakery, a cute girl with braided hair approached her. The girl was wearing something like a uniform similar to a maid’s dress.
Alice looked at the tongs and wooden tray the girl was holding. They seemed to be for holding bread.
Behind the girl, a display case filled with various types of bread could be seen.
The girl carefully asked Alice:
“Um, did your maid not come with you?”
“Ah, no. She didn’t come with me.”
“Oh, I see…”
The girl trailed off, looking troubled.
It seemed that using those trays and tongs to pick up bread was the role of the servants that nobles brought with them.
Glancing at the display case, indeed, servants and maids standing next to nobles were holding trays.
But Alice hadn’t brought Aileen today. She had left her behind in the party hall to stand in for her, in case Sienna and the Third Prince started fighting.
After a brief moment of looking troubled, the girl quickly composed herself and said to Alice:
“Then I’ll help you pick out the bread.”
“Ah, but I didn’t come to buy bread, I came to buy chocolate tart. I don’t see any tarts… are they on the upper floors?”
“Oh my, you came for chocolate tart. I’m sorry, but we only sell a limited quantity of chocolate tarts, and they’ve already sold out. I’m truly sorry.”
The girl furrowed her brows as if deeply regretful and bowed her head.
Just as Aileen had said, it really did happen that you couldn’t buy if you came late.
“Ah…”
Alice let out a disappointed sigh.
She had wanted to try it.
Somehow, being told it was sold out made her want to eat it even more.
Human psychology.
Maybe she should make a reservation.
As Alice was about to ask if reservations were possible, feeling disappointed, Ruyd, who had been standing silently behind her, spoke to the girl.
“This is the Duchess of Dearrut.”
Alice turned to look at Ruyd with a surprised expression as he suddenly introduced her to the unknown girl.
Oh my, what is he saying now?
What does me being the Duchess of Dearrut have to do with the tarts being sold out?
Just as Alice was feeling embarrassed, it seemed there was some connection, as the girl showed a shocked reaction.
“Oh my. I’m so sorry for not recognizing you, Duchess. I made a mistake. If you could wait just a moment, I’ll prepare a chocolate tart for you right away.”
Huh? Didn’t she just say they were sold out…?
The girl bowed deeply and hurried off towards what appeared to be the kitchen.
“What’s going on…”
“This is when power is quite nice, isn’t it? Nothing is impossible.”
As Alice looked puzzled, Ruyd whispered quietly.
Only then did Alice understand what had just happened.
So, the chocolate tart, Mont Blanc Bakery’s most famous dessert, becomes sold out depending on who the customer is.
Alice, or rather, the Dearrut ducal family, wasn’t included in the limited quantity range.
The true taste of power.
As she was savoring the sweetness of power, the girl approached Alice again.
Along with someone else.
A man with neatly combed brown hair, who seemed to be a high-ranking person in the bakery, was wearing a suit.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Hans Mont Blanc, the general manager of Mont Blanc Bakery.”
So Mont Blanc was the surname.
Alice gave a faint smile.
“Nice to meet you.”
“I apologize for greeting you only now. We weren’t prepared as we didn’t know you were coming.”
Hans bowed politely.
It wasn’t just because she was a noble that he was being so polite, as all the other customers here were nobles too.
It meant that the Dearrut ducal family was in a different league from other nobles.
Enough for the person in charge of Mont Blanc to come out and bow personally.
Alice suddenly realized the authority of the Dearrut ducal family.
From the newspapers she read today as well… Kylus’s power seemed far more impressive than she had thought.
Alice straightened her back even more.
Somehow, she felt she should show the image of a dignified lady of the prestigious Dearrut ducal family.
It wouldn’t do to tarnish Kylus’s reputation because of her, would it?
“No, it’s alright. It’s my fault for not contacting you in advance. And that young lady kindly guided me, so I didn’t feel any inconvenience at all.”
Alice spoke kindly, and only then did Hans straighten up from his bow.
“It seems Cherry did her job well. Thank you for your generosity.”
Her name is… Cherry.
Alice looked at the girl again, intrigued by the fruit name.
With her reddish-brown hair tied in two bunches, she did look just like a cherry.
It’s a fitting name.
Alice gave a warm smile to the delighted Cherry, then turned back to Hans.
Hans said to her:
“Please wait in the VIP room while the tart is being prepared. We’ll prepare other desserts and tea for you.”
“VIP room…”
“The fourth floor is set up as a VIP room for high-ranking nobles to rest comfortably.”
The fourth floor… when she had looked from outside earlier, it was quite crowded.
Are all those people high-ranking nobles…?
Alice suddenly remembered Lady Chestain, whom she had met at Madame Rosewell’s salon.
It would be tiring if there were more people like her on the fourth floor.
Considering Kylus’s striking appearance, it would be strange if there was only one such lady.
Ah, I don’t want to go.
She was already tired enough from looking after Sienna and the Third Prince, so she didn’t want to engage in another battle of nerves today.
I came here to relax today.
Alice shook her head at Hans with a bright smile.
“No, that’s alright. I came to buy tarts in the midst of a busy schedule today, so I think I’ll have to leave as soon as the tarts are ready. I’ll wait here on the first floor.”
There were seats available on the first floor too.
As Alice glanced at a table while speaking, Hans didn’t insist further and immediately withdrew.
“Then we’ll prepare it as quickly as possible for you.”
She liked his clean-cut attitude.
After Hans and Cherry left, Alice took a seat at an empty table on the first floor.
“Why don’t you sit down too, Lord Ostein?”
“You know I won’t be sitting, don’t you?”
“I still thought I’d ask.”
Ruyd smiled slightly and stood a step behind her.
After spending so much time together with Ruyd, they had become more comfortable with each other.
Especially Ruyd.
When he first started as her guard, he never spoke this much.
It was always just ‘yes’ and ‘no’ on repeat.
Alice took off her hat and leaned back comfortably in her chair. She could feel glances occasionally directed at her.
But today, rather than whispers of “I heard that person is the Duchess of Dearrut,” she heard more talk about other things.
They were whispering more about the news that had appeared in today’s newspapers, such as “Did you hear that Duke Dearrut has become the Third Prince’s mentor?”
As if they had immediately thought of that news upon recognizing her identity.
It seemed that the hottest gossip related to the Dearrut ducal family had shifted from Alice to the Third Prince.
That should be a good thing… right?
After all, it meant the Third Prince was receiving a lot of attention from people.
Thinking it was a good thing, Alice was listening to people’s conversations when she saw someone coming down from the second floor and her eyes widened.
