Chapter 79

"Ah, I see..."

After responding, Celeste was surprised to find herself more dejected than she had expected.

What was the point of coming all the way from La Parisia? She had almost reached her goal, but now everything had gone awry.

However, this was not the time to be disheartened.

Even though the maid was doing her best, it would eventually be discovered that she had slipped out. Before that happened, she needed to find something delicious to eat.

But what should she order? According to Jean-François's report, the salad was also recommended, but it felt like a defeat to come all this way and only eat a salad. She wanted something memorable.

"Shinobu, please serve this to the young lady as well."

The silver-haired woman sitting next to her called out to the waitress. It was hard to tell her age, but she had an aura reminiscent of a witch from a knight's tale. She was holding what appeared to be a pie.

"Of course, as an apology," the waitress named Shinobu murmured, then brought a plate with a pie from the kitchen.

"I can't prepare the skewer for you, so please accept this pie as an apology."

"But, I..."

Celeste feigned confusion, but her eyes were fixed on the pie. During the journey to the ancient city, she had been fed potatoes, sauerkraut, and sausages to the point of boredom. She hadn't tasted any sweets since leaving La Parisia.

"Please don't hesitate. This is a gesture of apology from our establishment. There will be no charge."

Celeste's mind rapidly analyzed the situation. If she refused, would the staff and customers become suspicious? The old monk-like man behind the counter was one thing, but the silver-haired woman seemed to have a keen eye.

The fact that Princess Regent Celestine de Orlia was in the ancient city was a closely guarded secret, but there were already those who had figured it out. In that case, the best course of action would be to accept the pie as a common girl named Celeste. No, it was the best course of action. This was not a defeat to her appetite but a result of high-level political consideration. Accepting the pie was the only best and most excellent choice left.

Swallowing her saliva, Celeste smiled at Shinobu.

"If that's the case, I'll accept it."

"Please enjoy it. It's an apple pie. I hope it meets your taste."

The pie, placed in front of her with a clatter, had a glossy surface.

Apple pies were a recent trend in La Parisia. Pastry chefs competed to create new desserts using pie crusts, and these desserts now adorned the parties of discerning nobles, becoming an essential part of social gatherings.

The apple pie reminded her of Jargey.

It was made by arranging cooked apples on a tart crust and then baking it with a pie crust on top. It was said that no noblewoman in the Eastern Kingdom could resist this masterpiece.

However, the apple pie in front of her seemed different.

The faint aroma of wine wafted from the apples wrapped in the pie crust, tickling her nose. Indeed, the apples were cooked in wine, not apple juice. This was not a dessert for children but a sophisticated treat for adults.

She cut into the pie with a fork, enjoying the crispy texture. The apples were as soft as expected, but the aroma was sweeter than she had anticipated.

Not only wine but also a generous amount of sugar had been used. Most of the sugar production and trade routes were controlled by the Eastern Kingdom, so where had this tavern obtained it?

No, no, Celeste scolded herself.

She was not Celestine de Orlia but just Celeste. A common girl wouldn't think about trade routes or trade caravans. She should focus on the apple pie in front of her. That's what a girl does.

"Let's start with a bite."

She lifted a strand of hair with her finger and took a large bite of the pie. In the castle, such behavior would never be allowed, but as a common girl, it was the proper way to eat.

"It's so sweet!"

She placed her hand on her cheek and exclaimed without caring about the others' gazes.

The apples, cooked in plenty of sugar and wine, were as expected, but the glossy crust was coated with a syrup made from cooked fruit.

It was sweet. Devastatingly sweet. But it was not a simple sweetness; it was a sweetness accompanied by a rich flavor.

The texture was also excellent. The crispy crust, still warm, gave way to the soft, tender apples, which were incredibly gentle.

"Does it meet your taste?"

"Yes, it's very delicious!"

Her heartfelt praise made Shinobu, the cook, the silver-haired woman, and the old monk-like man smile knowingly.

"Shinobu, isn't it time for that now?"

"Right."

Shinobu's lips twisted into a sinister smile. A malicious grin lurking beneath her innocent smile. What was about to happen? As she braced herself, a white lump was placed on top of the apple pie.

"Please eat it while it's still cold."

Cold? The apple pie was supposed to be warm, but the white substance began to melt in front of her, like a snowball dropped into a river.

Ice dessert!

It was a supreme delicacy that even Princess Regent Celestine de Orlia had only tasted once in her life. She didn't think it would be here, but she quickly switched to a slender spoon and quickly brought it to her mouth.

At that moment, the taste of happiness melted in her mouth.

How this ultimate dessert, made by cooling cheese in a special way, ended up here was a question she didn't want to ask. She just wanted to be grateful for this encounter. She never thought that tasting something delicious could be so blissful.

Perhaps it was for the best that there were no skewers. If there were, she might not have had the ice dessert.

As she pondered, the white, happy lump gradually changed shape. No, she had to eat it quickly. But why did Shinobu put the ice dessert on top of the apple pie?

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning shot through Celeste's mind.

She switched back to the fork and then...

"This is meant to be eaten together, right?"

The four people around her nodded with a grin.

She scooped up the ice dessert and roughly cut the pie crust and the apples underneath.

Crunch.

It was a soft, tender, and incredibly delicious combination! Despite her extensive education, Celeste, who was fluent in several languages, couldn't find a word to describe this taste succinctly.

She took two more bites, and before she knew it, the plate was empty.

A mix of satisfaction and loneliness welled up inside her, and she spoke.

"It was delicious."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Smiling, Shinobu said, and Celeste stood up quietly.

"Are you done?"

"Yes, if I stay too long, I might lose my resolve."

With that, Celeste took off her glasses and opened the glass door. On the now dark <Stable Inn> street, several disguised royal guards were waiting.

Celeste called out to the most trusted old knight among them.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"No, I apologize for the trouble in finding you."

"Don't blame the maid. It was all my command."

"Understood."

She wondered how they found her, but since she was in the ancient city, someone must have realized she would visit the place mentioned in the report. The bureaucrats left behind in the capital were excellent, but those she brought with her were also skilled. La Catan, a high-ranking baron and a secret fan of Jean-François's reports, might be stomping his feet in frustration right now.

"Let's go. We have a mountain of work to do."

"Have you had enough of your break? If you'd like, La Catan has been instructed to turn a blind eye to a few more places."

"It's enough. Time is precious now."

"Understood."

They walked down the dark road, crunching the snow under their feet.

The sweet, melting days were ending today. Celeste, the girl, deeply thanked the new moon for the last delicious treat.