077. Intersection (5)
As Owen’s eyes wavered, Kyle added, seemingly bewildered, “Wasn’t that how you wanted it to be?”
“Well, yes, but…”
“Congratulations. Everyone knew it.”
“…”
Owen blushed at the tip of his ears, lips barely moving.
Watching him, Kyle clicked his tongue in amusement.
“Shall I call Lady Edelt? She’d probably like to see your face.”
“…Forget it.”
Rejecting Kyle’s suggestion, Owen stood up from his seat.
He carefully placed the hologram back in its box, cradling it gently in his arms.
“I’ll go. See you next time.”
“Sure, I’ll contact you as soon as I find the ancient spellbook.”
“Okay.”
After a brief farewell, Owen left Kyle’s study.
Walking down the corridor, he reached the elevator and pressed the button, waiting.
The fascination he felt when he first saw the elevator, likening it to an elevator, was now gone.
With a ding, the elevator arrived, and the doors opened.
Owen stepped into the transparent elevator and pressed the button for the first floor.
When he first came to the Tower, the sorcerers guided him directly.
Not the first time, but it felt like it happened several times.
However, as Owen started frequenting the Tower and memorizing the paths, Kyle had informed the sorcerers that there was no need for them to guide him anymore.
Having memorized the path and not needing Kyle’s permission to visit, Owen didn’t express any dissatisfaction. He didn’t want to bother the workers.
“I’ll see you next time, Your Excellency.”
The greetings from the wizards waiting at the entrance of the tower had also changed.
Just like the knights guarding the mansion, the wizards took turns guarding the tower’s door. Initially surprised, they now exchanged farewells.
“Sure.”
After briefly replying, Owen headed towards the carriage that was waiting.
The coachman, who seemed to be resting, leaned up from dozing off and opened the carriage door for Owen.
As Owen got in and took his seat, the carriage soon started moving.
He quietly gazed beyond the window at the scenery passing by as the carriage began to move.
The trees, embracing early autumn, were gradually turning their green leaves into shades of red and yellow.
“It’s been six months already.”
Since arriving in this world in April, six months had swiftly passed.
Considering the seasons, two had come and gone, now ushering in the third.
Likewise, it had been about three seasons since he had been with Lucia.
“If we spend winter together, we’ll have experienced all four seasons.”
The thought crossed his mind suddenly.
If they spent this winter together, they would have spent a full year with Lucia.
Of course, he intended to be with her in the future as well, but inevitably, his thoughts grew more complex.
A nostalgic and tender feeling washed over him, causing a sense of excitement for no reason.
“Engagement in October, so… Marriage around next year would be appropriate.”
Having a wedding in winter wasn’t suitable.
It was necessary to allow some time between engagement and marriage, and winter was too cold.
If they held the wedding on a cold day, Lucia and many others would shiver in the cold.
The options for a honeymoon destination would also be limited.
“Spring might be nice. No, perhaps summer would be better.”
Since the engagement was set quickly, there were limitations on what could be prepared.
As the Duke of Verdin and the Count of Edelt, they had decided to do everything they could in a short amount of time.
However, with more time, they could have undoubtedly made it much more splendid.
So, there was a sense of regret.
It also led him to decide that the wedding would be much grander.
“There will be plenty of time until summer.”
Alone with his thoughts, Owen glanced out the window.
The carriage had already passed through the city gates and entered the city.
The atmosphere inside the city was completely different from outside.
It was quite fascinating.
Even though it was just a few steps away, the population density and the number of shops were different.
Passing through the bustling streets, Owen continued to observe the outside before gently tapping the carriage wall.
“Please stop here.”
As he tapped the carriage wall and spoke, the carriage softly came to a halt on a side street.
The coachman hurriedly got down from his seat and opened the door.
“Please wait for a moment.”
“Yes, understood.”
After instructing the coachman to wait, Owen immediately changed his steps.
He was heading towards the “White Bakery.”
A shop selling bread and various desserts, a place Bella from “The Empire’s Flower” had frequented.
The bakery had become famous as she visited it.
Owned by a commoner, it was a place where nobles didn’t visit, only commoners and the wealthy, but it had gained fame in social circles.
“It seems like it wasn’t here before. It looks like it’s been recently established.”
The reason Owen suddenly stopped the carriage was simple.
He had discovered the “White Bakery” he had seen in the original work for the first time.
“Well, Bella lived outside the capital for a long time before coming here, so it makes sense for her to discover this place after arriving in the capital.”
Thinking about it, Bella had lived outside the capital for a long time before becoming a saint and stepping foot in the capital.
For someone like her, even if she had a regular shop, it was entirely possible for it to be a newly established place.
“Right now, Bella doesn’t seem particularly interested.”
Of course, that was all part of the original story.
The current Bella wasn’t the same as “Bella.”
She might not even remember the “White Bakery.”
Even if she did remember, the likelihood of her having any interest was low.
“Welcome. Oh, Sir… Duke.”
When Owen opened the bakery door and stepped in, the staff inside looked startled and frightened.
It seemed they immediately recognized him by just his hair and eye color.
“Uh, what brings you to our bakery?”
“I came to buy a cake.”
“A c-cake? Cakes are over here.”
The staff stuttered nervously, their voice trembling with tension.
Even now, many people were still afraid of him, so Owen was used to this kind of reaction.
There was even a time when, despite not doing anything wrong, someone gasped in fear and apologized before hurrying away.
Recalling the memory of Kyle teasing him with a laugh, Owen said, “Strawberry cake, please.”
The reason Owen had entered Bella’s favorite bakery, not Lucia’s usual spot, was simple.
White Bakery had gained fame in social circles for its strawberry cake.
Being renowned for a more delicious strawberry cake than any other bakery, they had expanded their store to a larger space and hired more staff.
The crucial point was that White Bakery was known for their tasty strawberry cake.
And Lucia loved strawberries.
So, the thought of buying a cake for Lucia popped into his mind.
“Yes, um, let me pay…”
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Owen took out cash from his pocket.
Noble establishments required only a signature for payment, but it wasn’t the case for commoners like Owen; they had to pay in cash.
Fortunately, Owen always carried some cash for unexpected situations.
However, there was one problem…
“I-I can’t give change if you pay with gold.”
The issue was that all of Owen’s cash was in gold.
Seeing the staff shakily offer the coins back, Owen added shortly, “You don’t have to give change.”
“I can’t do that. It goes against our policy…”
Despite Owen’s insistence, the staff adamantly refused.
They were truly conscientious and honest employees.
Helplessly, Owen glanced at the cake display.
Inside the refrigerated showcase, there were seven cakes left.
“Let’s buy all of these.”
“But you still don’t have enough money…”
Yet, it seemed his funds were still insufficient.
Furrowing his brows in a dilemma, Owen quickly turned around to select some other pastries.
From simple bread and baguettes to sandwiches and desserts like tarts and waffles, the counter was full.
“Let’s add those items over there to the bill as well.”
“A-all of them?”
“Yes, all of them. Is there an issue with the payment?”
“No! It should be about right now. But what are you planning to do with those…?”
The kind staff seemed concerned that Owen might discard the bread.
After all, it would be awkward for a pastry chef to see their hard work end up in the trash.
The staff in front of him was not just a pastry chef but also the owner of the shop, working diligently with their spouse, which added to the concern.
“Shall we donate them to an orphanage? I heard there are three orphanages in the city. I plan to distribute them there.”
“Oh! That sounds great!”
As soon as the orphanage idea came up, the staff’s expression brightened instantly.
The worry of upsetting their spouse vanished, and they were pleased at the thought that the bread would help the children.
“We’ll make sure to deliver them to the orphanages!”
The staff said cheerfully.
“Isn’t it troublesome?”
“Not at all. Business is done for the day, and it’s a good deed. It’s not a bother at all, is it?”
“In that case…”
Owen nodded without further objection.
The staff hummed a tune, counted the gold on the counter, wrapped the strawberry cake, and handed it over.
“As for the remaining cakes, you’ll send them to the orphanage, right? But it seems the count is off by one…”
Pointing to the cream cake, Owen said, “I’ll take that one too.”
“Will you be doing that? By the way, your fiancée seems to like it. To personally buy a cake and bring it.”
“…Has the rumor spread this far?”
“hahahaha, of course. Who wouldn’t know the Duke of Verdin and the Countess Edelt? If you’re a citizen of the empire, you know them all.”
In various ways, it was uncomfortable.
One could tell just by appearance, and the rumors had spread throughout the country.
‘Anyone would think I’m some kind of celebrity…’
Owen sighed inwardly, regretting his situation.
But there was no other way.
He had to continue like this in the future anyway.
“Rumors spread fast.”
“Rumors are like words that run without feet.”
The employee replied and handed over two packaged cakes.
Owen carefully examined which one was the strawberry cake and which one was just the cream cake before accepting the cake box.
Exiting White Bakery, Owen approached the waiting carriage once again.
He then handed the packaged cream cake to the coachman.
“Take it.”
“Huh? Oh, thank you. But this is…”
“A cake. Your wife mentioned she likes it.”
“You remembered that…?”
The coachman looked surprised.
Owen casually nodded his head.
This coachman had been Owen’s personal coachman and had naturally become close as they traveled together. Over time, he had started sharing his stories, unlike in the beginning when he kept his distance out of fear.
Perhaps the coachman brought up stories to break the silence since Owen was reticent, but knowing that Owen listened attentively may have been another reason.
In any case, the coachman had once shared such a story.
On his wife’s birthday, he had bought the famous cream cake from a bakery frequented only by nobles.
“She will be pleased. I will convey your words.”
“Good. If I say it, it doesn’t mean much. It matters when you say it.”
That was how the story ended.
-Is my wife very happy? She says she has never had such a delicious cream cake before.