It was a very clear day. There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky, and the occasional cool breeze made me feel better. So, I decided to enjoy a picnic in the garden with the kids. We sat under the biggest tree in Duke Street and chatted and read books. I stroked Jasmine’s sleeping head and watched the children playing. Jasmine must have woken up at that time, rubbing her eyes and looking up at me.
“Princess, I’m hungry…”
After hearing her words, I gathered the children together.
“Guys, let’s eat!”
Everyone must have been hungry, so they stopped playing and immediately ran over. After confirming that all the children were gathered, a basket containing lunch was brought. It was exactly the type of basket that comes to mind when you think of picnic baskets in movies. When it comes to lunchboxes, of course kimbap is mentioned, but unfortunately, there are no ingredients to make kimbap here, so the only way to make it is sandwiches. I gave the children sandwiches that Peter made using the recipe I gave him.
I wish it would fit my mouth. I was a little worried that it might not suit the children’s tastes.
“Thank you for this food!”
The children shouted together and took the sandwiches one by one and started eating them. At that time, Lima’s eyes widened as she took a mouthful of the sandwich.
“Delicious.”
All the children nodded at her words. The outside of the bread was crispy with sugar coated with eggs, and the ham, strawberry jam, and cheese blended smoothly. What I made was one of the most famous sandwiches, the Montecristo sandwich. Sugar is a bonus for kids with a sweet tooth. The kids ate the sandwiches in an instant, as if they were delicious, and I smiled in satisfaction.
“I think you can sell it.”
I burst out laughing at Thoma’s sincere words.
“I’m glad it fits your taste.”
Next time, I’ll have to find fried tofu or seaweed to make kimbap. No matter how delicious the sandwich is, kimbap is the best for a picnic.
Just as I was taking a bite of my sandwich, Lorna approached me.
“This is a letter from the Duke.”
“A letter? Thank you Lorna.”
‘Let me just say, why did you write the letter?’
Come to think of it, Baridas seemed to be quite busy with various tasks recently. It’s already been over a week since I haven’t seen him in the mansion. Was something going on? I opened the letter with concern. It has been a while since we last met. I’ve been so busy with work that I haven’t been able to stay at the mansion often.
…So it was actually better? Fortunately, it didn’t seem like the letter was sent for some other serious matter. After feeling relaxed, I shifted my attention to the next sentence. Below that were useless aristocratic sentences, such as asking how I was doing. Did he just write a yes costume letter to his fiancee?
I lost interest and started reading the letter while chewing on my sandwich.
[This evening, a spring festival is held in the city. It’s a famous tourist attraction, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go there once. If you have time, would you like to go together? ]
I guess he is not a male lead for nothing. He seemed like a rude person. Did he just want to come along? He could do it. What was he explaining in detail? Well, it was still a kind letter from him.
I think the kids will like it, and we can all go together. Then the last line of the letter caught my eye.
[If possible, please do not bring children.]
Why! Why on earth don’t you bring them here? Didn’t you become closer with your younger siblings?
I didn’t really want to go if it meant I couldn’t go with my kids. Still, he thought of me and asked me to go with him. I was sorry to even refuse.
I closed the letter and made a decision… Okay, I wanted to go to the city again, so why not listen to it at least once.
“Tell the Duke that you found out.”
If you’re wandering around the city, it’ll find you on its own. As I got up to prepare to meet him, Lima and Greenly approached me.
“Where are you going, princess?”
“I am coming?”
Should I just not go? When I saw the children looking at me as if they were sad that I was leaving, I felt weak. But I already said I was going.
“I think I need to go downtown.”
Lima, whose eyes sparkled at my words, shouted.
“When you come, please buy me some chocolate!”
Didn’t you feel regretful just now? I felt like something was pushing me towards the chocolate, but I guess I’m glad I didn’t hold on to it. When I answered that I knew, Lima smiled brightly and ran to Ren. At that time, Greenly, who saw that Lima had moved away, opened her mouth.
“Are you going to the Spring Festival with our brother?”
Having hit the nail on the head, I looked at Greenly. He must have noticed my expression and opened his mouth with a smile.
“I’ll keep it a secret from my younger siblings, so have a good time.”
It’s not like that. But before I had time to explain, Greenly had already run to the children. When I made eye contact with Greenly, who was far away, narrowed his eyes at me.
No, it’s not like that?
* * *
When I entered the mansion, Chantz was waiting, as if he had heard that I was leaving for the city. It would take quite some time to get ready, but he was sweating as if he had just run without even knowing it. I felt sorry because I felt like I had ripped off a child. I took a sandwich out of the basket and gave it to him to tell him to wait while eating.
After getting ready, I went outside and the children were waiting, and there was sugar powder all over their mouths.
‘Looks like you enjoyed it.’
I took the remaining sandwich and gave it to him in the basket.
“Would you like some more?”
The children’s expressions brightened at my words. He accepted the basket and bent down to thank me.
“I will accept it gratefully.”
Since I didn’t particularly like crowds of people, I only brought along the children who would act as escorts, excluding Lorna and Lerna. It wasn’t long before we arrived downtown. When I got off the carriage, the atmosphere was more lively than before, perhaps because it was a festival day, and people dressed in fancy clothes were walking around the streets. After buying the chocolate that Lima requested, I headed to the nearest cafe with the intention of sightseeing the city with people until Baridas arrived. There was a small terrace on the second floor, and I was able to buy the chocolate that Lima requested, so it was the perfect place to comfortably look around the city without moving any more. As I went inside, various cakes and chocolates in glass bottles caught my eye. Among them, I chose the layered crepe cake and the largest bottle of chocolate. After loading the chocolate into the carriage, I sat down on the terrace and started looking out.
Chantz looked boring, but for me, who was a possessor, watching the people here was quite fun. How much time had passed, I was starting to get bored of waiting. I looked at the clock and saw that there was still quite a bit of time left until 6 o’clock. When the appointed time came, Baridas would probably come find me on his own. I deliberately sat on the balcony where I was easy to be found.
Now that I think about it, what kind of festival was it? Baridas told me it was a spring festival, so I guess it was a flower festival. As I looked around the city, I saw many different types of flowers decorated everywhere, but cherry blossoms stood out the most. Of course, in spring it was cherry blossoms. Come to think of it, I think I read about it in the original when it comes to festivals held in spring… Surely, it won’t be that festival. In the original work, the place where Baridas confessed to Leria was a festival held in spring. I remembered the scene of the confession under a tree full of cherry blossoms because it was quite exciting. I looked at the tree where cherry blossom leaves were falling. What did Baridas confess at that time?
“Fiora.”
Yes, he called my name.
“How have you been doing?”
Uh? When I finally came to my senses and turned around in surprise, I saw Baridas looking at me.
“Baridas?”
I called his name without thinking and covered my mouth with one hand. He opened his mouth, staring at me alone, as if he didn’t mind that I called his name.
“It is your freedom, but I think it would be better if you bring at least one maid with you. I remember I gave you two maids. If you need another maid, I can send you one.”
As for other maids, there were already two. And I didn’t bring many people with me because I felt uncomfortable. I shouted, getting annoyed just thinking about having more maids here.
“No! It’s fine!”
He suddenly shouted so loudly that he looked at me with wide eyes, perhaps a little surprised, and then nodded his head. Then he naturally sat in front of me. I was momentarily taken aback by his actions.
‘What, weren’t we going right away?’
He handed me a chocolate-coated madeleine as if he had ordered it at some point and opened his mouth when I took it.
“Name is… Well, you can call me whatever you want. I’m doing the same, Fiora.”
He said that and smiled. He was definitely handsome. In my past life, I sometimes told celebrities that their daily life was like a pictorial, and it was a phrase that suited him perfectly. It felt like there was a filter on his very existence.
‘But didn’t you say Fiora before? Why are you suddenly asking me that?’
When I looked at Baridas, I made eye contact with him, probably because he was still staring at me. Then I couldn’t think any more.
‘…I looked at him because he is handsome.’
Madeleine frowned, her blushing face subsiding at his smile.
‘I didn’t say you should seduce people with your face, male lead.’
When I finished eating the madeleine he gave me, he smiled with satisfaction and held out his hand.
“Then let’s go, Fiora.”
‘No, can you please stop calling that damn name? If you call me that name with that face, you’re guilty.’
He held out his hand to me to escort me, and I smiled awkwardly and placed my hand on top of his. He tried to leave the store and I, who hadn’t paid yet, caught him.
“Wait. I have to calculate it.”
“I just finished it.”
‘Why are you counting mine?’ I looked at Baridas with my mind full of question marks. Baridas said, perhaps realizing the meaning of my eyes.
“Anyway, now my money is your money and your money is mine, so there’s no need to decline.”
‘If I get divorced, my money will be my money and your money will be yours. Can’t I decline it?’
Of course, I couldn’t say those words out loud. Still, I have to return it. This cafe was only used by nobles, so everything I ordered was expensive. I feel burdened when I receive something like this from my parents.
“No, Duke, but…”
But I was stopped before I could finish speaking.
“I wish you could call me by my name.”
His name had already been called, and when he said it was okay to call him by his name, he missed the right time to refuse, so he couldn’t think of any reason to refuse. Seeing his determined expression, I pursed my lips and then opened my mouth.
“…Baridas.”
When I called him by his name, he smiled in satisfaction. This is the main character. It was a bright smile that seemed to say.
“Why are you doing that?”
I was almost captivated by his smile for just a moment. However, perhaps I had become more resistant to his facial attacks, and I immediately came to my senses and opened my mouth.
“Thank you, but it’s okay.”
“You don’t have to decline.”
I thought as I looked at Baridas smiling. No, please stop laughing. Because that’s so harmful. If you keep tempting me like that, I will have no choice but to become the original Fiora.
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Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
If you like my work please support me with Ko-fi or Patreon. Next post will be released on February, 23.
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