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Chapter 10
The customer described the café latte as tasting like first love. Though his eyes were hidden, Linette caught sight of the faint curve at his lips. If another man had said such a thing, it would have felt like harassment.
But the man’s voice dispelled any such unease. He cradled the cup gently in his large hands, as though genuinely recalling his first love.
Seeing this, Linette tilted her head again. He looked familiar somehow. But since the customer said nothing more, she didn’t press it.
“How long are you open?”
“We’re open from eleven to six. If you like the coffee, please come often—and spread the word if you can.”
When the man, who had kindly returned the empty cup himself, asked, Linette answered with a bright smile. But he shook his head.
“Apologies. I’ll come often, but I can’t spread the word.”
She thought maybe he wasn’t good with words, but she was relieved enough to have secured at least one regular customer. Since there were no other guests, Linette walked him to the door herself, waving goodbye. The man turned back, bowed, and immediately walked away.
“If he takes off that hat, I bet he’s very handsome. And with that build… maybe he’s a knight? Though he does look smaller than Young Master.”
At Katrin’s words, Linette pictured the man again. His frame was lean and agile.
“That idiot only bulked up his muscles. Compared to him, this man’s physique was well-proportioned.”
Not overly large, but with broad shoulders and a strong chest—enough to set any woman’s heart fluttering.
By contrast, Edgar had grown massive. Years ago, when he was infatuated with Lady Riano, he heard she liked muscular men. Like a foolish pup wagging his tail, he’d gone mad with training. His body grew bigger, but Lady Riano turned away, calling it grotesque.
“He was like a lunatic, obsessed with building muscle. Anyway, enough of that. Let’s close up shop.”
There hadn’t been many customers, so there wasn’t much to clean. They tidied up and counted the day’s earnings. If things continued this way, going under was only a matter of time. Yet Linette felt joy in a different way.
“Look! I earned money today, for the first time. Can you believe it?”
Overwhelmed, she hugged the coins to her chest. Katrin embraced her warmly.
“Congratulations. Tomorrow, I bet twice as many customers will come.”
“They’d better.”
Beaming with the first money she’d ever made in this world, Linette’s smile spread to Katrin too, who laughed as though her own child had earned her first wage.
“Here, Katrin, this is for you.”
“What? No, miss. This is your first earnings, you should keep it.”
Katrin tried to return the coin, but Linette firmly refused.
“They say the first money you earn should go to your parents. So this belongs to you.”
After locking up, Linette strolled home. Watching her back, Katrin bit her lip hard, tears threatening to spill.
“What are you doing? If you don’t hurry, I’ll go on without you.”
“Yes, I’m coming, miss.”
Clutching the coin tightly in both hands—the money given by the child she’d raised from her breast—Katrin ran after her.
“Let’s have something delicious tonight. Running the shop was more tiring than I thought.”
“Yes! I’ll make you a tasty, easy-to-digest meat dish, my precious young lady.”
My daughter, born of my heart, though I can never call you so aloud…
The next day, Linette expected a little more after yesterday’s customer. But Attraction remained empty. Yawning lazily and swatting at flies, she roasted beans.
The rich aroma filled the room inside and out. Smiling softly, she inhaled the unique fragrance only this place had.
Since she wasn’t planning to give up after a day or two, she tried to stay relaxed. Katrin, meanwhile, she kept home today—no point in having her worry while pacing around an empty shop.
“Let’s have a coffee myself.”
She brewed a Sepiano from the fresh roast and, pleased with the taste, lifted the corners of her lips.
“Yes, that’s it… hmm!”
It was satisfying, but felt just a bit incomplete. Thinking of what was missing, Linette locked the door and headed to the local bakery.
“Sir! I opened a tea shop nearby called Attraction, and I need cookies. Could I sample a few before buying?”
Business was slow at the bakery, so when she mentioned cookies for a tea shop, owner Anderson nodded happily.
“I hope your shop lasts. These days, many open, but two out of three close quickly.”
“True. Wow—these are really good!”
After tasting, Linette chose almond and butter cookies.
“Thanks for the samples. If my shop does well, I’ll be back often.”
“I wish your business success.”
Speaking formally despite her youth, Anderson even added a few extra cookies as a gift. Chewing on one, Linette returned to her shop smiling.
“Can’t believe I forgot—coffee and cookies go so well. Cakes would be nice too, but if they don’t sell, it’s just a loss.”
Cakes spoiled quickly, but cookies kept longer. Plus, she had invested in an ice-box with cold stones.
“When the shop grows, I’ll sell cakes too. Maybe I’ll have the baker make them from my recipe, so I don’t have to.”
She still had plenty of her dowry money left, so she considered installing a glass display case with cold stones.
While she mused, the door opened. Rising quickly, Linette froze at the sight of the newcomers. Not strangers, but people she couldn’t ignore.
“So this is Linette’s shop? Very neat and nice.”
“Yes, Father. It’s cute too, just like our little Linette decorated it.”
Few people spoke so fondly. Kenneth doted only on Esther. Edgar, meanwhile, clashed with her constantly.
Hearing such words after so long, Linette frowned.
“What are you doing here?”
Her tone was curt, but the two men didn’t take offense.
“Linette, I’m sorry. We were so shocked back then…”
She knew it was a shocking situation, but still, her heart was slow to soften.
“Look here. We brought you a gift we knew you’d like.”
“What’s this?”
“Why, the dried persimmons you always loved whenever you came to the house.”
At the sight of the half-dried persimmons kept in an ice-box, Linette swallowed unconsciously.
“Let’s see.”
Her cousin, quick to catch her interest, opened the lid. Before long, Linette was eating one.
“Don’t get me wrong. It’s not like I like these. And eating them doesn’t mean I forgive Uncle or you, Casper.”
“Of course, of course! Our Linette, like a true lady, can take her time forgiving.”
Uncle Conrad Florence, the count, and cousin Casper Florence watched her eat with satisfied smiles.
“Is it good? I specially peeled them myself, thinking of you.”
“Don’t lie. You can’t handle sharp things. We lived together for seven years—you think I wouldn’t know?”
“It’s true. Father braved his fear just for you. So maybe they taste a bit salty, from the nerves.”
At Casper’s joke, Linette paused mid-bite, eyeing Conrad suspiciously. He shook his head vigorously.
“Casper’s just teasing. He’s jealous I didn’t make any for him.”
“Father! I’m already full just seeing Linette eat.”
Their banter felt warm. With a sigh, Linette popped the rest into her mouth.
“So why are you here? How did you even know about this place?”
She frowned at them. Long ago, when she wanted to visit the Florence estate, Conrad had refused. Since then, she’d cut ties, even rejecting Casper’s requests to meet.
“Word got around.”
“Liar. I only opened days ago. Who told you—was it Edgar?”
Since Casper was a royal knight, he was bound to meet Edgar often.
“Edgar wouldn’t say such a thing. Anyway, Linette, could you make us something simple, something even beginners can drink?”
Thirteen years had passed since she last visited her mother’s family. She’d thought that bond severed. Yet here they were in her shop. Reluctantly, Linette served them café lattes.
“Mmm, delicious. Bitter yet smooth and sweet.”
Conrad smiled with a cookie.
“As expected, nothing beats what our Linette makes.”
Hearing them call her our Linette again stirred a lonely ache. She had tried to forget, but seeing them made her think of her mother.
The mother who left them. Her lips trembled as she turned away.
After that scandal, both the Pruna and Florence families’ reputations had plummeted. Shocked, Count Florence locked himself away in seclusion.
When her mother was still there, Linette’s world had been full of happiness. But once she vanished, it turned to misery.
Kenneth lavished all his love on Esther, who looked just like his late wife. Conrad, who had once cherished Linette, fell silent at his sister’s betrayal.
“Uncle… how have you been these thirteen years?”
Back then, he would always greet her first with hugs and kisses. Casper too would drop whatever he was doing to play with her. She had been so loved.
Now, after all that seclusion, Conrad looked at her with guilt.
“Not seeing you was so hard.”
“Then how did you endure for thirteen years?”
“Well, I had your portrait.”
He’d once commissioned a painting of young Linette, and gazed at it daily. Seeing her now, all grown, he felt those years wasted.
“I take after Father, not Mother.”
“And that’s even better. You know, I once liked Countess Pruna myself.”
“Father wouldn’t like hearing that. But… Uncle, do you know anything about Mother?”
She didn’t yearn for her, only wanted to know if she lived or died.
“I don’t. And I don’t care to.”
At the memory of the woman who disgraced both families, Linette’s face hardened.
“Forget her. She abandoned her husband and children to run away with her lover.”
Yes. Their mother, Countess Marsha of Pruna, had vanished one day with some knight—leaving behind her three children.
