Chapter 68

Thank you for always reading.

Diana, who was carefully looking at the menu shown by Dismaier, found it difficult to choose as all the names were unfamiliar to her. She moved her gaze back and forth, flipping through the pages, and pondered, "What is this one? What is that one?"

Dismaier, watching her with a smile, called the waiter and ordered one of each cake listed on the menu.

An additional table was brought over, and over a dozen cakes were lined up in front of Diana. A teacup was placed in front of Dismaier. Seeing the array of cakes, Diana's eyes sparkled with excitement as she pointed at each one, asking the waiter, "What is this? What is this?" and repeating the names.

After hearing all the names and trying to decide which to eat, Diana began to look worried as she couldn't make up her mind.

"If you eat cake before lunch, you won't be able to eat lunch," Dismaier said.

Tilting her head, Diana looked at Dismaier with a troubled expression. Dismaier showed a mischievous smile, put a finger to his lips, and whispered, "It's a secret."

"Let's pretend we've had lunch and eat the cake. No one will know if we keep quiet."

"Is that okay?"

"Sure it is!"

Encouraged by Dismaier's approval, Diana first placed a strawberry cake in front of her. She started with her favorite, eating the strawberry first because if she finished and there was no strawberry left, Cain would give her the one he had saved. Today, she stabbed the strawberry with a fork and opened her mouth wide to eat it whole. Breathing heavily, she finished the white cream cake and then looked at the other cakes on the table, wondering which to try next.

"You'll be full, so you can't eat all of them."

"Then, I'll just have a bite of each."

"Will Father eat the ones you can't finish?"

"You can leave the ones you can't finish. We've already paid for them, so don't worry about leaving them."

Dismaier smiled gently, but Diana frowned, looking troubled. Cain had always told her, in a strange dialect, "No leftovers allowed!" This meant not only that she shouldn't be picky, but also that she shouldn't start new things if she couldn't finish them. If she hadn't touched the food, someone else could eat it. At the manor, the cook knew how much Diana could eat, so she always finished her meals and was praised by Cain. During tea parties for her mother's guests, when she left half-eaten scones and cookies, Cain gently reminded her that untouched leftovers could be saved for the servants or for her next day's snack, but half-eaten ones had to be thrown away.

But now, her father Dismaier said it was okay to leave them, since they had paid for them. Was this really all right? Diana wondered.

"Father, can I take the ones I can't finish home?"

"Uh..."

Diana decided to follow Cain's advice that "untouched leftovers can be saved for tomorrow's snack." If she ate as much as she could here and took the rest home, she could enjoy the cakes tomorrow and share them with Cain and Ilvaleno. Imagining Cain's happy face, she felt excited. However, Dismaier looked displeased.

"If you take the cakes home, it will be obvious that you ate cake instead of having lunch... Cain will be angry."

"Ah!"

Diana remembered that the plan to skip lunch and eat cake was supposed to be a secret from Cain. She opened her eyes wide and looked as if she might cry, having just recalled Cain's troubled and angry face. She thought hard, trying to find a way to eat all the cakes without leaving any and without making Cain angry... and then she had an idea.

"I've got it!"

Diana called out, smiled brightly, and ate three more cakes before asking the waiter to wrap up the rest.

The carriage, loaded with stones, clothes, and cakes, slowly made its way toward the western part of the capital. Eventually, it arrived at a temple that also housed an orphanage. The driver opened the door, and Diana jumped out and ran into the temple. Dismaier followed, looking around curiously.

"Ah, Lady Diana. Good afternoon."

"Hello, Temple Master!"

"Where are Lord Cain and Ilvaleno today?"

Although not as often as Cain and Ilvaleno, Diana had started visiting the orphanage more frequently and had become familiar with the Temple Master. However, it was unusual for her to come alone, so the Temple Master noticed the absence of her brothers and mother. Diana pointed behind her.

"It's Father!"

Upon hearing this, the Temple Master, who had been smiling like someone looking at a grandchild, straightened up and bowed deeply.

"It's an honor to meet you. I am Simons, the master of the Western Temple. Welcome."

"Uh-huh."

Dismaier nodded lightly in response to the Temple Master's formal greeting, but when Diana patted his thigh and said sternly, "When someone says 'welcome,' you should say 'I'm here to visit,' " Dismaier replied, "Oh... uh... I'm here to visit."

The Temple Master tried to lead them to the reception room, but Diana stopped him by pulling on his sleeve. Turning to him, she said with a bright smile, "I have a gift!"

In the orphanage's dining hall, everyone lined up to eat the cakes. Dismaier was served tea, but the children were all drinking water, making him feel a bit uncomfortable. Sitting on the narrow bench, he was worried about his clothes getting dirty from the child next to him. On the other side, Diana was happily eating her fifth cake of the day, chatting with the child next to her and exchanging bites of different cakes. Dismaier felt so uncomfortable that he couldn't stay.

"Diana, I'll go back to the carriage. When you're done, ask the Temple Master to bring you to the carriage."

"Okay!"

Dismaier left Diana behind and returned to the carriage.

"I've heard that Prince Alundirano also played with the orphans... But today, Diana's behavior was not something a noble should be proud of..."

Picking up stones from the ground is not something a lady should do, but since Diana is still young, it might be forgivable. Cakes are a treat. Eating as much as she wants and leaving the rest is not something to be ashamed of. Dismaier found it more embarrassing that she took the leftovers home. Giving cakes to orphans is considered charity by nobles. Eating with them is inappropriate, in Dismaier's view. The Elgrandeur family, as nobles, are the ruling class, and orphans and the Temple Master are the commoners to be ruled. A nod is enough to acknowledge their greetings.

"Is this due to Cain's influence...?"

Cain rarely goes out except to visit the castle. All his tutors are of noble birth, though some have peculiar personalities. Where did this sense of empathy come from?

Dismaier began to reconsider the children's future, thinking it was time to do so.

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