𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞
The carriage rattled along the cobblestones until it arrived at a patisserie favored by the aristocracy. There might be people who recognize Edgardo’s face. If it comes to it, I’ll just pretend that I was being petulant about wanting to eat cake.
As we were escorted into a private room, Edgardo quickly cleared the area of people. A teapot, coffee, and an assortment of cakes were swiftly brought to our table. Even the servers have been sent away; it’s just the two of us now.
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“Edgardo-sama, could you pass the teapot this way? I will make the tea.”
“I can handle it myself. Miss Alice, please enjoy the cake as well.”
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Whether it’s his knight training or his habit of enjoying cake and tea alone on his days off, Edgardo seems accustomed to doing things for himself. He enjoys a nearby cake along with coffee filled generously with milk. The sponge cake is delicate, dissolving softly in the mouth, perfectly complemented by the lightness of the whipped cream.
While I eat one cake, Edgardo eats three, rapidly diminishing the cake supply. As he gracefully cuts and eats a tart loaded with fruit, he sips on his tea.
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“Actually, I’ve ended up serving someone I secretly admired. I want to be useful to them. But I’m still inexperienced both as a knight and as the heir to Marquis Valka. . .At the very least, I wanted to do what I could. Thanks to Miss Alice, I’ve come to realize that a man can enjoy sweets without being judged. Looking back, there were men enjoying sweets at parties, but I convinced myself it was different because they were not heirs.”
“I’ve heard Marquis Valka is a strict person.”
“Yes, that’s right. Marquis Valka has set ways, and stepping even slightly out of line results in punishment. I used to think it had to be that way, but not anymore. I think it’s important to inherit the necessary things, but aligning every little preference like food and clothing with my ancestors seems unnecessary.”
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I’m not sure what to say. I can’t answer lightly, and I don’t think I can resolve this dilemma. I’m just an inconspicuous impoverished noble after all.
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“Rebelling against the family, doing what I can, what I want to do, sweets. . .It all got mixed up, and I impulsively said I would make donuts. It seems it was too abrupt.”
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Edgardo seems deflated. I almost envision large dog ears drooping.
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“I was told that changes require planning and preparation.”
“I was happy that Edgardo-sama offered to help. There’s joy in having the food you made eaten without leftovers, and there’s also fun in cooking together.”
“Thank you. . .Rolf has always been able to do anything. What I struggled with or couldn’t do, he would accomplish effortlessly. He’s good with people and makes friends easily. Even in swordsmanship, I can’t match Rolf.”
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I feel a familiar emotion constricting me. There are always those above you; I’d resigned myself to thinking that this is all I’m capable of. It overlaps with my own experiences.
But that’s where it ends. Edgardo and I are different.
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“Even so, you like Rolf-sama, don’t you, Edgardo-sama?”
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Strangely enough, jealousy and affection can coexist. After a few seconds, Edgardo nods.
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“I won’t tell you to get along just because I like you. It’s okay to like and dislike at the same time, isn’t it?”
“Is that okay? To harbor such conflicting feelings towards Rolf, what a disgraceful person I must be. . .”
“It’s normal to have multiple feelings for a single person. I like them but find them difficult, want to talk but also want to keep my distance. I, too, have conflicting thoughts.”
“Miss Alice too?”
“Yes. I don’t think you have to forcibly convey your feelings to Rolf-sama, but it’s also okay if you decide to. Especially if that’s the conclusion Edgardo-sama has come to.”
“I will think and arrive at an answer. . .”
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Edgardo pondered for a while but eventually broke into a soft smile.
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“Since coming to the Knights, and being away from home for the first time, I realized how little I’ve been thinking for myself. I’ve had many first-time experiences. Not all of them are good, and I’m not virtuous enough to see them all as good experiences, but being able to face forward every day is thanks to the people who support me. Plus, I can enjoy sweets.”
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In the end, Edgardo added playfully, revealing an unusually tender smile. An honest, straightforward, yet slightly inflexible Edgardo, who’s like a younger brother.
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“Please consult with others as well. Listening to only one opinion might bias your thinking. What I said is just my opinion, and it’s not something that Edgardo-sama has to agree with.”
“Yes. While your opinion alone will be proof of my trust in Miss Alice, if Miss Alice says so, then so be it.”
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Edgardo blushes slightly, emitting an awkward atmosphere as he looks up. Even if I tried, I couldn’t be this cute. Edgardo is amazing.
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“I’ve heard that going out together as a man and a woman is considered a date.”
“It seems to be the case among the nobility.”
“Well, initially, we went to a place I like, but next, I’d like to go to a place Miss Alice likes.”
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A place I like? My family home?
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“In that case, how about the garden near the royal castle? There’s a big fountain and lots of blooming flowers. It’s beautiful.”
“Have you never been there, Miss Alice?”
“I have, but it’s a dating spot, so it’s awkward going there just with women. I can’t really enjoy the beautiful scenery.”
“Then let’s go there. Miss Alice, give me your hand.”
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Knowing this is how escorting works, there won’t be a mistake like the time with Roa-sama. I gently lay my hand over his as we leave the shop. It doesn’t seem like we’re going to sample various foods today, so I made sure to bring a proper parasol. If I have the parasol up, it’s harder to see my face, so even if people make a fuss over who Edgardo is with, it shouldn’t cause any trouble.
We board a carriage just the two of us, Edgardo and me, off to the nation’s finest garden!
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