IWCVF 08

Chapter 8

The line slowly got shorter, and soon it was our turn.

The cake shop owner recognized me.

“Lady Celia!”

“Hello!”

“It’s good to see you. And the person next to you?”

“He is my fiancé, Raiden Pellis.”

“He’s very handsome.”

At the owner’s praise, Raiden lowered his head shyly.

“Will you take the whipped cream cake like before?”

“Yes. And I’m planning to hold a whipped cream cake party in a few days. I’d like to order two whole cakes.”

Shiran and Majin both ate a lot of cake.

But since the number of guests was small, two whole cakes should be enough.

The owner thought for a moment and asked something important.

“When is the party?”

“In three days.”

He let out a breath.

“Will Her Highness the Princess be coming?”

“Yes. And His Highness the Crown Prince too.”

“Then that amount is no problem at all.”

The owner agreed.

I smiled brightly.

“Please make them delicious. People will come to pick them up on the morning of the third day. For today, I’ll just take three slices.”

“I hope you enjoy them.”

“Your cakes are always delicious, so I’m not worried.”

“We make them every day, so we don’t really notice, haha!”

The owner packed the cake slices.

“One for Raiden, one for me, and one for Artern.”

Each slice was quite large.

“Maybe it would be better to buy a whole cake instead.”

I shook my head.

“It’s more than it looks. And whipped cream cake tastes best when fresh. If we buy a whole one, it will be too much.”

I had bought a whole cake before.

But it was too much, and the leftovers didn’t taste as good the next day.

So I believed it was better to buy less and eat it fresh.

“And I don’t know how much Raiden and Artern will eat.”

We returned to the mansion by carriage.

Luten came out to greet us.

“Welcome back.”

“We’re back. Is Artern home?”

“He just returned.”

I handed one slice of cake to Luten.

“Give this to Artern.”

Luten bowed.

“Raiden, you have a class soon.”

I already knew his schedule.

“Eat the cake while you’re in class.”

“Thank you. It looks delicious.”

But he didn’t seem energetic.

“We should have had tea together… I’m sorry.”

Just as I observed him, he also observed me.

He probably wanted to learn more about me during tea time.

But schedules couldn’t be helped.

“It’s okay.”

I comforted him and returned to my room.

I brewed tea myself and ate the cake.

With tea, it tasted even sweeter.

Being a private tutor was a well-paying job and one of the few jobs women could do.

If my family truly collapsed, I planned to become one.

That’s why I studied hard.

“I’m glad I graduated from the academy.”

Thinking about the future, I let out a sigh.

In exchange for my engagement, my father agreed not to expand his business anymore.

So the family shouldn’t collapse.

‘But…’

If he could give up so easily, it wouldn’t have come to this.

Why couldn’t he admit he had no talent for business?

The duke’s wealth alone was enough to live comfortably.

But he kept chasing business ventures, even refusing a position from the Emperor.

Because of that, our family declined.

“I just hope Father comes to his senses.”

After that, I looked at the letter again.

Shiran’s letters were always fun to read.

She openly said she was curious about my fiancé.

I had bragged that he was handsome, which must have made her curious.

Majin also said he was looking forward to meeting him.

As I expected, Majin was interested in Raiden.

‘Come to think of it…’

Both of them preferred coffee over tea.

“I should tell them to prepare coffee instead of tea.”

Since I thought of it, I wrote a letter.

I could have told Artern directly, but it wasn’t urgent.

So a letter was enough.

After my letter was delivered, Artern ordered high-quality coffee the next day.

Luten worked hard to prepare the party venue.

And after three days, the day of the party arrived.

Elise was styling my hair.

Today, she tied half of it and curled the ends.

I didn’t need to prepare a dress since I had already bought one from Pell’s shop.

The cake party would be held at lunchtime.

Shiran and Majin said they would arrive around noon.

“What are the Princess and Crown Prince like?”

Elise looked curious and admiring.

What should I say?

I didn’t want to ruin her image of them.

“The Princess likes to talk. The Crown Prince is calm, but sometimes says sharp things.”

“Oh, they must be very perceptive.”

“Yes. And neither of them cares about others’ opinions.”

They only cared about people they were interested in.

“They seem comfortable with you, Lady Celia.”

“That’s because we’re friends.”

Sometimes, they showed me their true feelings.

Especially Shiran.

That’s why I shared a lot with her too.

When I got engaged, she was the first one I wrote to.

“Lady Celia, which necklace will you wear?”

Elise handed me a jewelry box.

It was filled with beautiful necklaces.

I had planned to use something I brought from home.

But Artern had already prepared matching accessories.

I knew the Pellis family was rich.

But seeing how much they spent on me made me truly realize their wealth.

‘I feel a little guilty…’

After all, I wouldn’t end up with Raiden.

The woman he would love was someone else.

Still, I chose a necklace.

“What about a hair accessory?”

I chose a gold floral hairpiece that matched my pink dress.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I stayed calm.

“I’ll just take care of it well… so I can sell it later.”

That was all I could do.

After getting ready, I met Raiden.

His silver hair flowed loosely, and his red eyes shone.

His beige suit matched mine perfectly.

‘Wow.’

Every time I saw him, I thought the same.

He was truly handsome.

Even compared to Majin.

Because I had seen Raiden in my dreams, I didn’t feel nervous around Majin.

Raiden drank water nervously.

“You don’t need to be nervous. They’re my friends.”

“My heart keeps racing.”

Even so, I was a little nervous too.

Artern said he would come later.

So only Raiden and I would welcome them.

It was my first time hosting both Shiran and Majin together.

We stood at the entrance and waited.

Soon, the door opened.

A man and a woman entered.

Both had golden hair and blue eyes.

They always looked dazzling.

Raiden greeted them properly.

“It is an honor to meet you.”

He followed noble etiquette perfectly.

He had even trained specially for today.

“Welcome.”

I smiled beside him.

“Celia!”

Shiran approached and carefully looked at Raiden.

Then she exclaimed in admiration.

Raiden really stood out.

“You don’t look like your father.”

Artern had a plain appearance.

“I’m Shiran Jin Cardiel Susian.”

She greeted him with a bright smile.

Raiden froze for a moment, then quickly greeted her.

“I am Raiden Pellis.”

Majin stepped forward.

“My name is Majin Jin Cardiel Susian.”

Shiran added teasingly,

“He looks more handsome than you.”

Majin complained.

“That’s not true.”

“Hmm, I think so.”

While they argued, I greeted them again.

“Welcome.”

Shiran looked at my dress, hair, and necklace.

Then she said,

“Approved!”

“What do you mean?”

“I love your outfit, Celia!”

She smiled brightly.

“You’re still beautiful.”

Majin agreed.

“No… have you become even more beautiful?”

“I become more beautiful every day.”

I said it calmly.

Majin laughed and looked at Raiden again.

“Nice to meet you.”

He offered a handshake.

Raiden reached out his trembling hand.

“Relax.”

I gently said and patted his shoulder.

“Hmm? Are you nervous because of me?”

Majin asked.

“It seems so.”

Everyone waited for Raiden to speak.

“Welcome to the Pellis family, Your Highnesses.”

He bowed again.

His manners were perfect.

“Let’s eat cake first.”

Shiran rubbed her stomach.

I was hungry too.

“Please come this way.”

I guided them gracefully.

Raiden followed beside me.