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Chapter 67
The atmosphere of the capital was certainly different from that of the North.
The sound of carriage wheels rolling smoothly over well-paved stone roads, the laughter springing from all directions, and even the sunlight scattering off the decorations of buildings—
Everything was dazzling and splendid.
The carriage, which had been gliding along softly for some time, came to a stop in front of a certain shop.
A silver signboard read: <Marronbell>.
The most famous dessert shop in the entire capital, located on Arno Street, said to be the most glamorous street of all.
The three girls alighted from the carriage, hearts fluttering in anticipation.
Ding—. As Lucillea pushed open Marronbell’s door, the bell hanging there rang brightly.
At that moment, a storm of sweet aromas rushed in, wrapping the children completely.
The buttery scent of freshly baked pies, the sweet caramel of melted sugar, and the tangy freshness of ripe fruits blended together until it was almost overwhelming.
‘Is… is this heaven?!’
Lucillea was completely entranced by the sight before her.
If a candy house from a fairy tale ever came to life, it would look exactly like this.
The shop was already bustling with noble young ladies and gentlemen.
Children around Serdian’s age and fresh-faced nobles who seemed just newly of age sat at tables, busily chatting.
‘It would’ve been nice if Serdian had come too…’
But Serdian had no interest in such sweet treats. On top of that, he had to accompany Elbadin to the palace, so there was no chance of him joining them today.
At that moment—
[Lucy! Look, look! A lollipop! It’s bigger than my head!]
‘Where? Where?!’
At Cookie’s shout, Lucillea whipped her head around. One wall was filled with giant lollipops, dazzling in a rainbow of colors.
Lucillea unconsciously gulped, her mouth watering.
Led by a clerk, the girls sat at the best spot by the window. Before long, the table was filled, as if by magic, with dazzling desserts.
Just as promised, Irnel looked ready to order the entire menu.
“Big sis, is this okay? Won’t your monthly allowance all disappear at once?”
Irnel chuckled as if amused.
“Don’t be silly. Do you think the Grand Duke’s household would even notice this? This much won’t even make a scratch.”
“What? Really?”
“What, you mean you still don’t know how much allowance we get?”
Lucillea shook her head.
“Nope. They haven’t given it to me yet.”
Irnel let out a short sigh.
“Ah, that’s because it overlapped with the field training period.”
Lucillea nodded.
“Yeah, they said it’ll be given after the training ends, along with the prize money.”
Of course, that prize would only come if she completed the special ops mission successfully with good results.
Still, once the training was over, Lucillea would have so much waiting for her back at the Grand Duke’s estate.
A private garden, a research lab she could request support for, allowance and prize money too.
Her longing to return to the estate grew even stronger.
Just then, Irnel scooped up a piece of cheesecake and placed it on Lucillea’s plate.
“Anyway, don’t worry about me. Eat lots. Today, Kailyn’s paying.”
“Huh?”
Kailyn?
Lucillea turned to look at Kailyn, who had been sitting quietly beside Irnel.
Perhaps because of the incident during training, where she panicked and fled on her own, Kailyn had spent the entire day with her hat pulled low, lips tightly pressed shut.
She hadn’t looked Lucillea in the eye, nor had she joined in the conversation.
Lucillea gazed at her.
‘So she does have some shame after all.’
Her effort to save Kailyn hadn’t been in vain, Lucillea thought.
She decided to speak first.
“Thanks, Kailyn! I’ll enjoy it.”
Kailyn turned her head toward the window, sneaking only her eyes sideways to glance at Lucillea.
“Well… compared to you saving me, this is nothing.”
It was awkward, but it was still an expression of gratitude.
‘How cute.’
Yes, apologies and thank-yous could feel awkward.
They were still young, at an age where lessons and guidance were necessary.
‘As their older sister, I’ll just let it slide.’
Lucillea smiled warmly and popped the forkful of cake into her mouth.
Just then—
Ding—! The sound of the shop door opening rang out.
Lucillea, busy with her cake, didn’t see who had come in.
She didn’t care, either.
But everyone else in the shop turned their eyes toward the group that had just entered.
A whisper rose from one table.
“Isn’t that Lady Chloe of House Rozemus?”
“Huh? It does look like her…”
At that, Lucillea looked up.
‘Rozemus?!’
Her eyes widened.
Chloe Rozemus. A name all too familiar.
‘One of the five villainesses from the original story—other than me!’
In the original, Chloe had loved Serdian so desperately that she had even tried to kill the heroine, Cynthia.
‘Oh… good thing I didn’t bring Serdian today!’
Nothing good could come from crossing paths with her.
Lucillea lowered her head, focusing on cake and cookies.
‘Come on, Cookie. Eat lots too. I even asked May to pack some Latche especially for you.’
[As expected! Lucy, you’re the best!]
Cookie grabbed a bright red Latche in one claw and devoured it greedily.
At that moment, though Chloe’s group seemed to be heading elsewhere, they veered toward Lucillea’s table by the window instead.
They sat down at the table right behind her, leaving only a little space between.
Chloe’s group ordered tea and cake, then began to chat while waiting.
“Marronbell’s desserts really are the best.”
“Right? That’s why, for my mother’s birthday banquet the other day, Father invited Marronbell’s pâtissier directly. That day’s special five-tier cake was a masterpiece!”
“Really? I’m so jealous, Chloe! The Count is so thoughtful.”
“But… don’t you think there’s a foul smell today?”
“Hm? A smell?”
“Yes. Like the stench of an alleyway gutter in the slums.”
“……”
“……”
At Chloe’s words, the air in the shop fell still.
Except for Lucillea—who was still busily shoving cake into her mouth—both Irnel and Kailyn’s expressions stiffened noticeably.
“Mmm, this is so good. You two, eat up.”
“…Yeah…”
Lucillea, as if Chloe’s voice hadn’t even reached her ears, pushed the dessert plate toward Irnel and Kailyn.
“There’s too much for me. Right? It’s like my tongue is soaking in sugar! Let’s get the leftovers wrapped up to take home.”
“Yeah, let’s do that…” Irnel nodded uncomfortably.
Lucillea observed their expressions.
‘Oh dear, my little ones. With hearts this soft, how will you survive this harsh world?’
To Lucillea, Chloe’s words didn’t sting at all.
She had heard it all before—her entire past life, and even in this life until she entered the Grand Duke’s estate.
If anything, Chloe’s jab felt tame compared to what she had endured.
[If she’d grown up listening to that bastard Shred—your foster father—she’d just snort at this like you do, Lucy!]
‘Exactly.’
Lucillea popped another macaron into her mouth and turned to call for the waiter.
That was when—
Chloe, as if she’d been waiting for the moment, rose from her seat and walked over toward Lucillea, speaking as she did.
“You can wash a sewer rat and dress it in fine clothes, but the stench of the gutter clinging to its body will never fade for life.”
Let’s see—
Chloe walked all the way up to their table, inhaled sharply as if to test the air, then pinched her nose with her fingers and curled her lips into a mocking smirk.
“The smell’s coming from here. The stench of the sewer.”
