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Chapter 52
“Hian? His?”
I was debating whether to have tart or macarons when our eyes met, and in an instant, we recognized each other.
“Wow! I didn’t expect to run into you here.”
“Did you come alone? Without guards or attendants?”
The two of them, sitting by the window in a slouched, casual posture, were eating tarts in a way that didn’t quite fit the place. Suddenly, they sprang up and strode toward me.
Although it had been a while since we last met, their friendly demeanor felt like I had seen them just yesterday, and I reflexively waved.
“Want to eat together?”
Hian gestured toward their seats.
“There’s probably no space right now, so you’d have to wait quite a while.”
“Oh, you’re not thinking of taking it to go, are you?”
I shook my head at His’s question.
“No… not really.”
“Then let’s eat together.”
It was a tempting offer, and I eventually agreed.
‘Well, it’s better than waiting too long.’
Lately, I’ve been a little restless, and meetings like this—almost like a small rebellion—don’t really give me a reason to refuse.
“You didn’t actually come alone, did you?”
His sat down on the chair pulled out for him and studied the menu, which listed a variety of items.
“Yes. I came out briefly for work, but circumstances changed.”
“So you really came alone? You’re brave.”
“They changed their hair color, but maybe someone like us could recognize them, right?”
Even if I said it was fine, they probably wouldn’t believe me, so I decided to give a vague reply.
“Alright. I’ll be more careful next time.”
“What… what if you end up in danger?”
Since we had shared secrets last time, they seemed to treat me a bit more comfortably than expected.
I held the menu in my hand and rested my chin on it, not exactly in a position to lecture anyone.
“The tarts here are good.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that.”
“I’ve also heard the macarons are good.”
“Exactly why I’m debating.”
“Debating what?”
“Whether to order tarts or macarons.”
For my careful pondering, they offered a very simple solution.
“Why not order both?”
Blinking, they asked, but with an expression that seemed to say, isn’t that obvious? I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
“What are we supposed to do with the leftovers? Throw them away?”
“Then that’s not allowed?”
“No, it’s wasteful.”
Food is precious, after all.
His leaned over the table and chuckled.
“I’ve never heard anyone say that before.”
Probably not.
Hian pressed His’s head down and told me:
“Don’t worry about that. Order whatever you want. We’ll eat the leftovers.”
“But what I want to eat is literally everything listed on this menu from start to finish.”
His shrank under Hian’s hand, flapping his hands helplessly.
“We actually eat quite a lot. It’s possible.”
“You like desserts so much you’re willing to stand in line for them?”
In the end, tempted, I ordered everything on the menu.
They even moved us to a table hidden further inside the hall.
“Wait, did just the two of you come here?”
“We like this sort of thing a lot.”
“I can’t believe it.”
I’ve rarely seen a noble wandering around eating like this—at least not in Ilia.
Of course, I don’t know many nobles, but still, they generally have a sense of propriety.
His retorted immediately.
“It’s not about hiding our status to stand in line; we just love desserts.”
“Really?”
“Really! We’re always happy with sweets. And you too.”
He bit into a small biscuit already on the table, letting out a catlike mew as he widened his eyes.
“We don’t refuse girls or anything sweet.”
Right… I see.
I nodded reluctantly, and His straightened his posture immediately.
“Is that all the reaction you’re giving?”
“Do you expect me to give a specific reaction?”
“No… no, it’s fine.”
He soon slouched again, sulking.
I know from experience that no woman in the social scene resisted him with that face and those seductive manners, so I wasn’t going to give him the reaction he wanted.
Meanwhile, desserts began piling up on the table one by one.
Hian handed me a fork.
“Take a bite. We’ll eat the rest.”
And indeed, they neatly polished off whatever I offered.
Given the imperial sensibilities, I wondered why two young men of the Jeppino family, of all people, were behaving like this—but apparently, they just really wanted dessert.
It smelled faintly of peach, though I had probably eaten so much sweet food that it wasn’t really the scent.
“About that proposal we suggested last time… are you really going to answer during your birthday party?”
His waved his fork arrogantly in the air.
I quietly grabbed his wrist and pressed the fork into the untouched cake.
Hian seemed to share my sentiment, tossing out:
“There’s still plenty of time until your birthday.”
“We feel like our blood is drying up every day.”
“Since we can see your face, can’t you just tell us now?”
I shook my head firmly, pausing mid-spoon.
Well, I could answer about the alliance now, but…
‘I haven’t confirmed the forbidden book that’s supposedly in the duke’s basement yet.’
I had postponed it due to the chaos but planned to give a definite answer after confirming the book the emperor was looking for.
Anticipating more questions, I changed the topic.
“I didn’t expect you two to come here hiding your identities just for this.”
“Huh?”
“Honestly, if you said you were nobles, they’d let you in immediately and even treat you well. But you’re here enjoying tea like regular people—it’s surprising.”
Even though they changed their hair color, someone might still recognize them.
Hian seemed to ponder this, then tilted his head and asked curiously:
“When we came, the shop had just opened, so there weren’t many customers. If more people were here, we might have revealed our status to get a table, like you said.”
Curious, I asked further.
“Then why not go somewhere else?”
“We came because we wanted the desserts here today. No reason to go elsewhere, no reason to wait for others.”
“The fact that we came here ourselves should be considered an honor.”
Their noble attitude left me speechless, so I just continued savoring the desserts.
The taste didn’t even need words—each bite was incredible, and the aftertaste brought a wave of delight.
Afterward, we went outside to explore, and the twins followed.
Even when I told them to go back, they insisted on accompanying me, so I let them.
The problem arose elsewhere.
“No! I only have you, you know that!”
“Where’s the lie in that?”
“Ahhh!”
Hearing a commotion nearby, I peeked over to see Hian blocking my view with his body.
“Come on! Let’s go over there.”
I tiptoed and peeked over his shoulder.
A woman was being hit by a man who seemed to be her husband.
People hesitated but didn’t want to get involved.
“….”
As I stepped out from Hian’s embrace, both of them grabbed one of my wrists.
“What?”
“Where are you going?”
“To help.”
“Were they bothering you that much? Then why come out here with your hair changed?”
“It means I want to avoid revealing my status unnecessarily. Just come along.”
“I won’t reveal my status.”
They pulled me from both sides, and I resisted.
Hian pressed his lips into a straight line.
His said with a firm expression:
“If you don’t reveal your status, you’re just an ordinary passerby. What do you intend to do?”
“If you insist on going, I won’t stop you—but then we can’t help.”
“It’s fine if you don’t help.”
Their raised eyebrows made mountains on their faces, clearly confused.
“So we’re just supposed to watch a lady get caught in danger?”
“I’m not a lady; I’m a duke, so it doesn’t concern me.”
“You said you wouldn’t reveal your status just now, so what’s this about being a duke? Dangerous. Don’t go.”
“I hate getting involved in such commotion.”
Though we were from families of similar rank, our lives had been different.
I couldn’t understand them, and they couldn’t understand me.
