🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 72
“Lynette, let’s go on a long date tomorrow.”
After falling asleep on Lynette’s lap pillow with tears of frustration in his eyes, Sian waited until her next day off to say it. He knew that unless it was the day before her rest day, she rarely stayed long at his house. So his plan was to bring her over the evening before, spend the night relaxing together, and let her rest comfortably.
But when Lynette heard his words, she shook her head.
“I don’t think I can tomorrow. Or, more precisely… starting this evening.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
“I already have plans tonight.”
“Are you going to your family home?”
There was only Katrin at her family’s place—hardly a reason to call it an ‘appointment.’ So Sian asked cautiously, but Lynette shook her head again.
“I’m not sure how you’ll take this, but please don’t misunderstand.”
Sitting Sian down in front of her, Lynette began to explain about a regular customer who only came by when Sian was away on business trips. As she spoke, Sian’s expression grew complicated.
“There’s an old lady there. Whenever I see her, it feels like I’m meeting my own grandmother again, and… it just makes me happy.”
“So what you’re saying is—you’re ditching me to go sleep over at some regular customer’s house?”
“Yes. I know that sounds suspicious, but please understand. I swear I’m not meeting any other men.”
Listening to Lynette’s earnest story, Sian didn’t know how to react. He had only asked her to help him by keeping away the men who came to bother her at the café. But during his trip, she’d ended up staying at someone else’s home.
That, he could tolerate—it was safer that way. Keeping Lynette indoors meant no strange men could hover around her.
But the real problem began when that family continued inviting her over even after his trip was done. He barely got any time to go on dates with her as it was!
“I understand how you feel, Lynette. Having an elderly woman there must make you want to do things you couldn’t for your own grandmother. Of course I understand that.”
No decent grandson would stop someone from visiting a grandmotherly figure. But even so, Sian could see right through what his parents were up to.
Their son was finally trying to settle down—and instead of helping, they were sabotaging him. He had introduced Lynette to The Allure café so she could stay safe for two years until things settled down. But his parents? They’d fallen head over heels for her themselves!
“But Lynette,” he said, “going too often might be a bit much. You could be a burden to them—”
“A burden? Oh no, nothing like that,” came a voice behind him.
Sian turned to see Cloud himself entering. Both he and Lynette quickly stood.
“Lynette,” Cloud said kindly, “let’s get going. My wife and mother have been waiting anxiously for you.”
“One moment! Oh—can I bring Cheese along again today?”
“Of course, absolutely.”
As Lynette hurried to finish closing up and gather her cat, Sian stepped outside with Cloud.
“I’ll be borrowing your sweetheart for a while,” Cloud said cheerfully. “You can see her tomorrow evening. Or… you could just come to our house instead.”
“If I could do that, Father, I already would have,” Sian muttered. “But Lynette said she dislikes the company of high-born nobles.”
Glancing at her busily moving inside, Sian lowered his voice. Cloud rolled his eyes.
“Then make her like nobles. How long are you going to keep hiding? I’m bringing her home under the pretext of my mother’s request so she can get used to us.”
“I want to tell her the truth,” Sian said, “but if she finds out who I really am, she’ll probably stop seeing me altogether. That’s why I’m keeping it secret.”
“She won’t see you again?” Cloud chuckled. “That’s actually not such a bad outcome. That way, we get to keep her for ourselves.”
“Father—! …ahem.”
Sian stopped himself as the door opened and Lynette emerged. She looked at the two men curiously.
“Do you two know each other?”
“We’ve crossed paths here and there,” Cloud replied smoothly.
“Ah, that makes sense.”
Lynette nodded right away. She could tell Cloud wasn’t a simple merchant running a small business—he carried himself like a noble. It wasn’t strange that he’d have met someone who worked at the palace like Sian.
“You don’t really look alike,” she said thoughtfully, “but somehow the air around you feels similar. I thought maybe you were related. You’re both so handsome.”
“Ahem, well,” Cloud said proudly, “if he resembles me, of course he’d be handsome.”
Sian shook his head. “People do say I’m the better-looking one, though. After all, Father, you’re getting old.”
“You think you’ll stay young forever?”
“Unlike you, I have a youthful face.”
Sian’s tone sharpened, eyes wary as if guarding Lynette from being stolen.
Just then, a carriage rolled up. It was a fine one—expensive, with the family crest and flags discreetly removed. The coachman, Alex, quickly dismounted.
“Y—ah, ahem, miss,” he said, correcting himself when he noticed Sian. “Please get in. The madam and the grand lady are waiting for you.”
He had almost greeted Sian by title, but one glance from him was enough to redirect the butler’s tongue.
“Lynette,” Cloud said, “let’s be off. The ladies at home are not the most patient sorts. Oh—and Cordelia might be there as well.”
He offered his hand gallantly, and Lynette placed hers atop it.
“Sian, I’ll see you next time. I’ll make sure to clear my schedule next week, okay? So don’t sulk—just wait quietly like a good boy, all right?”
Alex nearly burst out laughing. If anyone else had said that to the cold, imperious young master, they’d have been called insane. Even the coachman’s eyes went wide as he froze in disbelief.
“My dearest Lynette…” Sian said earnestly. “I’ll wait at home like an obedient puppy—so please, come back as soon as you can.”
Lynette nodded lightly, amused by his dramatic expression. The woman who could tame Sian—the man who never listened even to his parents—suddenly seemed worthy of admiration.
He lifted her hand, kissed the ring on her finger, then turned to Cloud.
“Please see that she returns safely—and as soon as possible.”
“I’ll make sure she’s safe,” Cloud said with a sly smile, “but ‘as soon as possible’ may be a stretch. You, meanwhile, can wag your tail at home and wait like a good little dog.”
Escorting Lynette to the carriage, Cloud shot Sian a victorious grin before turning smartly away. As head of the Knight Academy, he rarely left home, let alone for errands like this.
Sian clenched his jaw. He never imagined his father—who normally sent servants and carriages in his place—would personally come to fetch her.
“Before we head home,” Cloud said to Lynette, “why don’t we go for a little carriage drive? They’ll be waiting, but… they can wait a bit longer, don’t you think?”
“Carriage drive?” she tilted her head. “What’s that?”
Glancing sidelong at Sian, Cloud replied, “Just riding around in the carriage, sightseeing. We’ll circle the city of Indigo. How does that sound?”
“I’d love that! I was born and raised here, but there are still so many places I’ve never seen.”
“Perfect,” Cloud said warmly. “Then today, a little carriage tour—then home for dinner and a chat with the ladies of our house.”
“Thank you for the thought. I’ve never been on a carriage drive before, so I can’t help feeling excited.”
Cloud’s grin widened. Stealing the experience of a first from his son gave him a smug sense of triumph. He helped Lynette into the carriage, then looked back at Sian and shrugged.
“Go practice your cooking or something. A proper gentleman should at least manage that much.”
With a light chuckle, Cloud climbed in after the cat, Cheese, who leapt inside and made himself comfortable. The doors shut.
Once everyone was aboard, Alex and the coachman both bowed to Sian before taking off.
“This is unbelievable!” Sian shouted as the carriage disappeared down the road. He’d been counting the days for this moment—and now his own father had stolen it from him. Letting out a long, defeated sigh, he muttered,
“They’re not parents—they’re my sworn enemies. How could they get in the way when their son’s just trying to get married?!”
❅
The café, The Allure, was packed—so busy Lynette could barely think straight. Even Angela was breathing hard from exhaustion. They were so overwhelmed that hiring more help crossed her mind, but it wasn’t that simple.
Meow.
While the humans worked themselves to death, Cheese stretched lazily and curled back up in his little box. Watching the carefree cat, Lynette shook her head.
“Lynette, one sweet potato latte and one milk tea!”
“Got it!”
She quickly made the drinks and handed them over. Glancing out at the tables, she saw the bustle finally dying down a bit. The murmur of conversation softened, and she exhaled in relief.
Too busy or too quiet—both were problems in their own way. Still, she couldn’t show irritation. She bit into a cookie instead, the crunch echoing softly.
At once, Cheese’s ears perked up. He popped his head out of the box expectantly, but Lynette stuffed the rest of the cookie into her mouth before he could beg.
“No! You only get what I give you. Otherwise, no food for you at all.”
Meow!
Sulking, the cat dove back into his box.
“Lynette, two Sepianos and one pumpkin latte!” Angela called.
“Right away!”
She hurried to make the drinks, but froze when she saw the next customer.
The woman staring back at her looked just as surprised. The person beside her nudged her side, silently asking what was wrong.
“…It’s been a while, Lynette.”
“It really has, Kanna.”
Once, they had been inseparable. Kanna’s red hair was tied back neatly, and she wore a sharp, impressive knight’s uniform.
“I didn’t know you worked here.”
“And you… became a knight, huh?”
“Yeah.”
Kanna sat with two companions, glancing Lynette’s way now and then, whispering among themselves. Lynette pretended not to notice.
After some time, one of Kanna’s colleagues stood and approached the counter.
“I heard you dropped out after getting injured,” he said.
Lynette simply nodded once. It wasn’t something she liked to talk about.
“Well, judging from what Kanna’s told me, it was probably for the best,” he continued. “You were barely scraping by as it was, right? Your grades were below passing.”
Lynette’s eyes flashed like sharpened blades as she turned toward Kanna.
She had half-expected to run into a former classmate someday—but she hadn’t expected to be slandered.
“I didn’t think you’d be so bold about telling your own story, Kanna,” Lynette said with a faint, cutting smile. “But I suppose it suits you—so brash and fiery. Very knight-like indeed.”
