Chapter 38
“Is this kid seriously out of her mind?!”
“Shh.”
I quickly clamped my hand over Pepe’s mouth. When I looked up, Dante was frowning at me.
“…”
“Haha…”
Wait—he doesn’t think I just cursed at him, does he?
I watched Dante nervously, terrified he might question me. But after studying me for a moment, he turned away and asked calmly,
“Was there something in particular you wanted to see?”
It seemed he had decided I’d just heard wrong. I beamed and fell into step beside him.
“Well, I don’t really know much, so…”
“Things like your favorite food—or something you want to see in the capital?”
“Um…”
Honestly, I had never once imagined I’d ever come to the capital, so nothing came to mind right away. As I hesitated, Pepe spoke up again in his usual snappish tone.
「See? That guy’s useless. If you invite someone to go somewhere, shouldn’t you already have plans on where to take them?」
“Oh, come on!”
I shouted before I could stop myself, afraid Dante might hear Pepe’s voice. Then I quickly bowed to him.
“Just one moment, Your Grace.”
This wouldn’t do. I dragged Pepe to a quiet corner where no one was around and whispered sharply,
“Pepe! Are you trying to get us caught? Why do you keep talking out loud? And saying rude things, at that!”
「I just…」
At my scolding, Pepe drooped his round head, looking dejected.
「I just wanted to go out alone with you, but that interloper tagged along. It’s annoying.」
My heart softened a little, but I forced myself to sound stern. If I let this slide, he’d never stop.
“Even if we were alone, you still shouldn’t talk! What would people think if they saw me talking to a doll all by myself?”
「They’d think you’re a ventriloquist.」
“Pepe!”
When I refused to budge, Pepe sighed and flicked my skirt with his tail, clearly irritated.
「Fine, fine. I’ll really be careful this time.」
“I’m trusting you, okay?”
If he kept speaking up like that, I’d have no choice but to come out alone next time.
After our little promise, Pepe mumbled under his breath,
「Ugh, I shouldn’t have made that promise in the first place.」
…What promise?
I waited for him to explain, but he clammed up. I couldn’t push him, because Dante was peeking around the corner, looking for me.
I hurried back and smiled awkwardly.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“It’s fine.”
Dante turned away and started walking again, long strides eating up the road.
“I heard from someone that there’s a dessert shop nearby. Are you interested in that sort of thing?”
“Like cake or cookies? I love those.”
“Then let’s go there.”
Had he asked around while I was talking to Pepe? My heart thudded for no reason.
‘He really is a good person.’
So gruff yet kind, so blunt yet thoughtful.
‘Honestly, I’d be happy anywhere, as long as it’s with him.’
While lost in that thought, I accidentally bumped my forehead hard against his back—he had suddenly stopped walking.
As I rubbed my sore forehead, his large hand brushed the side of my face.
“Keep your hood up.”
He tugged my hood back over my head until it completely covered me. Oddly enough, he wasn’t even wearing his own hood. I blinked.
“But… there are plenty of people not wearing them.”
“It’s better not to stand out.”
“What do you mean by stand out…?”
I wanted to ask, but before I could, he had already started walking again with those long, confident strides. I scurried after him. Pepe muttered softly,
「He’s right. You stand out too much—you’re too pretty.」
That made it sound like Dante had pulled up my hood because he thought I was pretty. My cheeks flushed, and I lightly slapped them to calm down.
‘Ugh, at this rate I’ll start imagining things…’
Even so, my heart pounded wildly again, refusing to listen.
✦ ✦ ✦
The dessert shop a passerby had recommended turned out to be quite famous. Inside, elegant ladies in refined dresses sipped tea and chatted in little groups.
‘This place looks expensive…’
I didn’t know much about prices, but it was far fancier than anything in the Count of Kline’s territory. I automatically hunched my shoulders.
Still, the cupcakes and shortcakes displayed looked so cute and delicious that I couldn’t stop staring.
‘Come on, I got my first salary! It’s fine to splurge a little.’
Even if it was pricey, spending a bit of my very first paycheck felt justified. So I ordered a few more items. Dante raised an eyebrow.
“You’re buying quite a lot.”
He sounded surprised—he’d seen me eat so little before. I smiled proudly.
“I’m planning to share them with everyone back at the mansion.”
“Everyone?”
“Oh, should I not call them that? I mean my coworkers?”
But that word didn’t sound right either. I fidgeted with my eyes before Dante clarified,
“The issue isn’t what you call them—it’s why you’re buying for them. They earn more than you.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
That made me falter. Was it weird to buy gifts for others with my first paycheck?
While I hesitated, Dante snatched the bill the clerk handed me and said evenly,
“In that case, I’ll pay.”
“What? Wait—”
Before I could stop him, he had already paid. I opened and closed my mouth like a fish. Pepe grumbled quietly,
「He could just say he wants to treat you, instead of pretending it’s practical.」
✦ ✦ ✦
It felt awkward to eat inside while wearing robes, so after paying, we sat by the fountain outside and ate shortcake.
Despite looking like someone who’d hate sweets, Dante ate every bite I offered without hesitation.
‘…Kind of cute, actually.’
Watching him chew like that made me chuckle softly.
After we finished one slice, Dante licked a bit of cream from his fingertip and asked,
“Is there anything else you need to buy?”
My eyes accidentally followed the motion of his bright red tongue, and I jerked my head down, face burning.
Then I noticed my shoes.
“Oh! Shoes!”
Clothes could be adjusted to fit, but shoes couldn’t. The only pair I owned was the one I’d worn when leaving Kline.
‘I’ve been walking through dirt and the mansion gardens with these—no wonder the heels feel wobbly.’
“I’d like something I can wear while walking in the garden.”
Dante rubbed his chin. “Don’t you need clothes too?”
“My wardrobe’s full. The butler said since there’s no mistress, I can wear whatever I like.”
“Still…”
He hesitated for a moment, then stood up.
“Understood.”
The next place he took me was a shoe store. It looked luxurious from the outside, and sure enough, as soon as we stepped in, the owner recognized him.
“Duke Christopher…!”
Dante didn’t seem like the type to frequently shop for shoes, so clearly he was remembered not from habit but from importance. The owner’s face was full of curiosity.
“What brings you here today?”
“She said she needed new shoes.” Dante pointed his chin at me.
“Oh my, oh my.”
The owner’s face turned bright red as she glanced between us, lips twitching. She was clearly getting the wrong idea.
‘No, ma’am, whatever you’re thinking—it’s not that.’
But explaining would just make it weirder, so I tugged my hood tighter instead.
Inside, the shop was full of beautiful shoes. I hadn’t expected to find my size immediately, but luck was on my side—a perfect pair of mid-length boots caught my eye.
“These! These are just what I needed.”
“Oh my, and they fit perfectly!”
Apparently, all the display shoes were my size.
‘What a stroke of luck.’
Maybe my shoe size was common, but either way, I was delighted. As I tried walking to test the fit, Dante frowned slightly and pointed elsewhere.
“Those over there are prettier.”
