Chapter 159
The Wigentra shopping district was said to be the busiest placee in the continent.
It was such a busy and prosperous place, and any rumour would spread in a mere second there.
The shopping wouldn’t be as packed in the morning, but in the afternoon when most shops started operating, it would be packed.
Adrian looked around astonished, as if it was his first time there.
It wasn’t his first time coming here. He also had many chances to go there.
The reason the child was surprised was because I was leading to a shabby road that commoners would go through.
“I didn’t know this road exist.”
He said in a murmur as he looked around the dark alley.
“You’ve only been to the main street?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
‘Well, there’s no way a prince would go down an alley like this.’
The main street is where the noble go.
The back street is a place where travelers, or people with money, go.
And this dark alley is where the commoners go.
I also didn’t know of this place in my first and second life. I became aware of this place in my third life.
“There’s a place around that corner that sells really delicious cakes. It’s better than the cake on main street. You can trust me.”
When I said so, Adrian smiled slightly and nodded, “Yes.”
I walked more confidently thanks to his response.
Soon after, I saw a very shabby shop with a dilapidated sign.
<Johnny Bakery>
This is the store where I used to get bread as a beggar.
Johnny, the bakery owner, looks cranky, but he’s actually soft-hearted. So when hungry beggars reached out their hands, he would throw bread while shouting.
“You really can’t leave this place huh! ……Here, take the bread!”
When I opened the door, I heard the sound of jingle, and a familiar scenery.
“Welcome.”
Christie!
Christie helps around the bakery and she’s also a generous woman. Without Johnny knowing, she used to give almonds or peanuts to beggars.
“Oh my, little guests! May I take your order?”
“Well, um…!”
I was excited and grabbed Adrian’s sleeve.
“What do you want to eat? What do you like? Chocolate cake is delicious, and raspberry pie is delicious. Oh! It’s a Buttercream cake. This is really good!”
“I’ll take anything.”
I raised my hand and put coins on the counter.
“Buttercream cake please.”
“Would you like a piece?”
“No, the whole thing!”
“It’s an excellent choice.”
“Ah, and…….”
Christie nodded, grinning as I whispered something in her ear. She soon showed us to our seats.
‘Wow, what a worn-out chair.’
Nothing has changed, when I sit on the chair it still make a squeaky noise.
“Hmm, hmm. Hmm.”
My legs swung back and forth as I hummed due to excitement, Christie brought a cake, two glasses of milk, and a long envelope.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
There was a candle in the envelope that I asked Christie for.
I took out the candles, and stuck them in the cake. Christie skillfully lit the candles and then went back to the checkout counter.
“What are you doing? Make a wish.”
“Wish…”
“You make a wish and blow a candle on your birthday.”
He hesitated for a moment as I waited for Adrian to open his mouth.
“You don’t have a wish?”
“Yes….”
“Huh?”
How can we not have a wish at our age!
I looked at him with a shocked face.
“Wanting to manifest auror, or get good grades in exams. Wishes like that.”
“You can wish for it if you want to.”
Adrian spoke and I was bewildered. For some reason, I remember what my beggar friend said back then said,
“We, beggars don’t have the privilege to wish…”
I almost frowned, but I realized when I saw Adrian’s scarred hands and cuffs fluttering like his cufflinks were about to fall off.
That child doesn’t have a caregiver. There were people around me who worked hard everyday not to die.
I also knew well what it feels like when I couldn’t even afford a wish. I felt pity when he made me remember my past life.
“Then let’s think about it. What should you wish for? Well, why don’t you wish to grow two meters tall?”
“…….”
“Or wish so that you can grow up to be incredibly handsome.”
“…….”
“Or maybe be rich.”
“…….”
“Or you can be a little greedy. Birthday is a good day to be greedy. Why don’t you wish to become a super-handsome rich man who is so tall that you can have the cutest girlfriend in the world?”
“……do you like it?”
“Huh?”
“A super handsome, rich and tall man.”
Adrian’s eyes somehow became serious. I answered with a tilt of my head.
“Everyone would like them, no?”
“Then I like it.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll wish for it.”
“…….”
“I want to be a super handsome rich man who is so tall.”
I felt strange for some reason.
‘Hey, don’t tell me…….’
I stared at Adrian.
Adrian’s eyes were so sweet. It’s sweeter than any other cake in this bakery. And I became very pleased.
‘It’s already time for that huh.’
Yes, yes, it’s time to have your first love. Oh, my prince. He’s all grown up.
I felt like a proud older sister watching her younger siblings growth.
I nodded my head with a friendly expression.
“Yes, yes. Make a wish.”
Adrian clumsily followed me and he made a wish with a very serious expression.
‘He’s very cute.’
After he blew out the candle, I took the candles out, put it on a tray and grabbed the bread knife. When I carefully cut, the moist sponge which was covered by the savory butter cream was revealed. I tried to lift the biggest piece, but it keeps slipping off the bread knife.
“No, why is this…….”
Adrian grabbed my hand lightly.
Then he took the knife instead, picked up the cake at once and put it down on my plate.
“I was going to give the biggest one to you.”
“I like the second biggest one.”
“But it’s your birthday…….”
“I always like the second biggest one.”
“…….”
“I really like it.”
I felt touched for some reason.
“……you, don’t be so nice to people or they’ll take advantage of you.”
“It’s okay. I’m only nice to you.”
“Lies. You need to be very mean to other people.”
This kid is too nice.
It wasn’t just about giving up the cake.
People might think that I don’t want to get involved with the prince, who is checked constantly by Empress Yvonne, that we went to a place where there are few people, but he seemed happy to have come to the cake shop with me.
“Let’s go get some presents after this.”
“Present?”
“Yes. Birthday present.”
Adrian smiled brightly.
***
Isaac stared menacingly at Dubbled’s carriage waiting at the entrance of the shopping street.
“What?”
The coachman clenched his hat and asked again.
“Huh?”
“Where’s the kid?”
All the escorts he gave her were in the carriage. Even Zachary is standing by here.
Henry whispered to Zachary,
“Did Leblaine come to the mercenary guild alone?”
It was no wonder if she moved alone, as only her family and closest friends knew about her circumstances.
However it was weird that she didn’t bring Zachary.
Leblaine is a cautious child and won’t really move by herself unless urgent.
Zachary glanced at him.
“I don’t think she went there.”
“What do you mean? Then where did she go?”
Isaac asked while frowning. Henry, Johann and Duke Dubbled also looked at Zachary.
When Zachary was silent, the Duke of Dubbled stepped forward.
“Answer me, where is my daughter?”
“I didn’t know her destination.”
“How are you sure she didn’t go to the guild?”
“……I don’t think she’ll go there because she was with someone else.”
“Who dares?”
“She’s with the second prince, Adrian.”
The coachman who was standing far away, stepped even further back.
Even though it is the beginning of late summer and autumn, the atmosphere becomes cold. It was because the faces of the men with the surname Dubbled became very menacing.
“……Adrian Louerg.”
Johann murmured and Isaac frowned at once.
“He’s getting on my nerves.”
“The prince Leblaine chose…….”
Henry murmured coldly. Johann looked at his father and opened his mouth.
“Right, that guy…… he also held Leblaine in his arms in godmother Camilla’s mansion.”
“What?”
“What!? Why would you say that now? Did you decide to have hislimbs amputated? Why is he hugging someone else’s sister?”
Isaac became wild,as Henry and Johann’s expressions became grim.
The Duke of Dubbled looked at the escorts and said.
“I’ll give you ten minutes. Find them.”
The guard’s eyes trembled.
Ten minutes.
Is it possible?
In the crowded shopping district?
“T, ten minutes is too-”
“Hurry up, in ten minutes.”
The guards ran frantically.
“Emergency!”
“Emergency! Emergency!”