Chapter 60

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 60

Chapter Title: Sweet Indulgences and Sound Advice

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"Haaah..."

This had to be the umpteenth sigh.

I let out another deep breath, fully aware of what I was doing but unable to stop myself.

"Miss, would you like some cookies?"

"Yeah, thanks... Bonita."

I nodded weakly, utterly drained, and soon a plate piled high with cookies appeared on the table.

The moment I caught the scent, I knew it. These had to be those ridiculously delicious chocolate chip cookies again.

But somehow... they're getting closer and closer to my exact taste.

Right then, a memory flashed by—me casually mentioning to Bonita how much I loved cookies loaded with huge chocolate chips.

Lately, it felt like the chips were getting more generous. Was that just my imagination?

"Delicious."

"I brought some vanilla ice cream too. Try it."

Steam rose gently from the ice cream, dotted with whole vanilla beans.

I spooned it up in a daze, and a rich flavor flooded my mouth.

Her skills seem to be improving by leaps and bounds.

When I first arrived at the duke's residence, I didn't recall desserts this good.

When did it start? It felt like things changed big-time after I raved about those treats during my last trip to the capital.

The duke was like that, and honestly, everyone here seemed like hard workers with a workaholic streak.

But going this far for a mere guest like me...?

Coincidence, right?

The ice cream was gone before I knew it. I set down my spoon with a pang of regret and turned to Bonita.

"Make sure to tell the head chef how grateful I am."

"Oh, this wasn't made by the head chef."

"Huh? Then who...?"

"Remember when you went to the imperial palace and went on and on about that ice cream?"

"Yeah... I did."

What was this? A bad feeling crept in.

And sure enough, Bonita's next words left me speechless.

"So Liam recruited him—the main patissier from the shop that sold it!"

"...For real?"

"Yes! Oh, and the duke said to give you this."

Bonita handed me something after she finished speaking.

"This is..."

It was a neatly folded note, the kind that would look pretty even if you stood on your head to read it.

With trembling hands, I unfolded it. Inside was a short message.

<Long Bakery> Main Patissier Mr. Briol—New Hire

- Additional Labor Cost: 3.2 million Tri per month

*Retractable within one week

I couldn't help but burst into hollow laughter at the sight.

"Ha, haha..."

At least it wasn't a yearly salary.

My eyes started to mist up, so I squeezed them shut and hurriedly crumpled the paper, stuffing it into my pocket.

It said I could retract it, whether as a joke or seriously, but after tasting those desserts once, backing out didn't sit right.

Just pay up. And ask for daily desserts.

They say happiness can't be bought, but this made me question that. Still...

"Hold on."

Come to think of it, that patissier wasn't making desserts just for me, right?

They'd probably end up on the duke's table too.

Unfair deal.

A wave of injustice washed over me late, as usual.

"M-Miss?"

"I need to see the duke."

Bonita's eyes went wide at my firm declaration.

"I-If you're going, let me send word first...!"

Of course, I knew proper etiquette meant notifying him ahead of a visit.

But considering everything—the duke popping in unannounced plenty of times himself—this was the moment to storm in and vent my outrage with my whole body.

"No, I'll go alone."

I popped the last cookies into my mouth and barged straight to the duke's office.

Knock knock knock!

...Well, "barged" might be a stretch—I ended up knocking without thinking.

"Ahem."

"Enter."

The duke's voice came soon after.

I steeled my softening expression and pushed open the door.

What really got under my skin was how perfectly composed he looked, even for an abrupt visit like this—no disarray whatsoever.

The blackout curtains ensured solid sleep, and the deal with the Embrose Trading Company had sorted the comic distribution issue. He radiated leisure now.

...His looks were back to peak form, too.

"What brings you here?"

I'd been staring at his face in a daze when his puzzled voice snapped me out.

I'd expected a remark about showing up unannounced, but he acted like he'd seen it coming.

I planted my hands on my hips and barked in a sulky tone.

"That's too much!"

"Too much what?"

"This."

I whipped out the crumpled paper from my pocket like I'd been waiting for this. The duke shrugged nonchalantly.

"Didn't I ask you before?"

"Ask what...?"

"If you liked the desserts Liam bought."

"W-Well..."

It was true.

I couldn't deny a fact.

I nodded stiffly, my throat tight.

"And if you'd want to eat them every day here at the duke's residence."

True again.

But who would've thought that meant hiring the guy—and that I'd foot the bill?

"Still, this is way too expensive."

3.2 million Tri.

Even for a pro patissier, it was low pay monthly, but yearly? No joke.

The duke crossed his arms loosely at my response.

"The full hiring cost is 35 million Tri. What you're covering is just a tenth."

His attitude screamed "generous discount," leaving me dumbfounded.

Wait, was that how it worked?

Not as unfair as I'd thought?

Sure, as a guest (slash lodger), paying for the duke's hired patissier's wages felt off, but since my tastes dominated the desserts, arguing further was tough.

"If it still bothers you, I'll make sure no more of those desserts go to the princess."

"Pardon?"

"Can't fire him now, so I'll ban the princess from accessing them."

I couldn't believe my ears.

He's serious?

Petty enough to actually do it?

I wanted to call him out, but his smug leisure and readiness to issue the order stopped me.

Did he get a kick out of seeing me fume? Some weird rule like that?

Or was the duke cursed to thrive on ruining moods?

...I cut off that train of thought with a soft sigh.

"Sigh, forget it. I've got a mountain of other worries right now."

"Worries?"

He latched onto the word instantly.

"Oh, no, it's nothing."

"Tell me."

"It's personal."

"Bringing it up then playing dumb is the pettiest move."

"No, it's not that petty...!"

Petty was his side.

But locking eyes with him, I sensed relentless persistence. If I clammed up, I wouldn't leave without spilling.

Ehh, fine.

I dragged a small chair near his desk and plopped down.

"Well, you see..."

My dilemma started with the Marchioness Embrose and the Baron Pavron couple.

But with the duke, I couldn't breathe a word of the original story—only vague anonymity and tweaks.

"It's this obvious situation right in front of me, but jumping in directly feels tricky. What should I do?"

"Be more specific."

"So, A and B could get close, but a misunderstanding has them avoiding each other now. I feel like a little nudge from me could fix it..."

Blood's thicker than water.

Especially since I knew how much the marchioness cherished Baron Pavron.

"Anyway, I'm worried meddling rashly could shake not just them, but the whole situation."

The duke listened calmly, then broke the silence.

"What would put the princess's mind at ease?"

"Me? I'd..."

I tilted my head, lost in thought.

Obviously, better than them dying from poverty and the marchioness ending up miserable too...

"I want to bring them back together."

"Then do it. Your peace of mind comes first, whatever it takes."

"Ah...?"

"If you don't look after your own heart, who will?"

I stared at him, eyes wide. This deep advice, from someone I'd never expected it from, hit home.

But suddenly, one of his eyebrows arched sharply.

"Hold on. Are these A and B connected to the princess?"

Not entirely unconnected...? I knew both.

I nodded.

"In a way."

"A and B are a man and a woman?"

Mother and son, so yeah.

"Yes, that's right."

"...You've been meeting a lot of people lately with your work."

"Mm, all ages and genders, yeah."

"All ages... and genders."

The emphasis on "men" felt pointed, but I brushed it off as imagination and replied casually.

"Yes, that's right."

His face twisted like crumpled paper right then.

What the...?

His sudden shift made my heart shrink to pea-size.

But he just grumbled to himself without a word. Watching him, I quietly swallowed a sigh.

Well, still.

Looking after my heart came first.

Getting such sincere, unexpected advice... didn't feel bad at all.