Chapter 14
The exterior decorations blended mint and white.
Beneath the wide windows opened on both sides, glass display cases held cakes topped with beautifully piped whipped cream, waiting for their owners.
One child standing in line outside quietly pressed a fingerprint against the glass before quickly pulling their hand away. Startled by the cold surface, the child’s mouth fell open in surprise, drawing fond smiles from the parents holding hands nearby and the other adults watching.
Jingle—
<Waterlight Gift>
As the glass door bearing the elegant cursive sign swung open, a cheerful bell rang throughout the shop.
Inside, the sweet scent of freshly baked bread mingled richly with the aroma of black tea.
On slightly mismatched wooden trays were light tea-time pastries, while farther in stood another glass display case—this one showcasing whole cakes rather than individual slices.
Ara looked around at the appetizing cakes in admiration.
The interior was much larger than it appeared from outside. Six tables, each partitioned for privacy, were arranged neatly, and beyond them a narrow hallway suggested a back area where staff moved in and out.
At the entrance to that hallway stood a man who had just greeted the new arrivals to <Waterlight Gift> with a perfectly measured smile.
“…Welcome. What an unexpected combination.”
Ah. Right. This was Colin’s shop.
“We ran into each other on the way. I thought I’d buy the young lady something sweet,” Herawin said casually.
“You’ve come at the perfect time.”
Colin noticed Nathan standing a step behind and gave him a slight bow.
Herawin turned to Colin with a mildly reproachful tone.
“I heard that Miss Edmon has never once visited <Waterlight Gift>. Is that true?”
“Ah…”
“If her guardian is the owner of Aten’s finest dessert shop, isn’t that a problem? She’s been living her life at half a loss.”
Only after hearing the explanation did Colin’s questioning gaze soften. He gestured subtly to a staff member.
“I prepared a separate table when I heard you were coming. Please, this way.”
As he guided the group inside, Colin finally looked at Ara.
“……”
“…What?”
He studied her face intently, his brows tightening just slightly—so subtly that only Ara, who was meeting his gaze directly, could notice.
Colin tapped his own cheek with his index finger.
“May I ask what you’ve attached to your face?”
At that, Ara fiddled with the gauze stuck to her cheek.
Mary had bought it at a pharmacy earlier as emergency first aid.
Is it really that obvious?
She had deliberately chosen one close to her skin tone. Was it really that unsightly? Feeling slightly self-conscious, she hesitated.
“Oh, this—earlier on the street…”
“I’m sorry, Young Baron!”
Mary, who had been quietly standing behind her, suddenly burst out tearfully.
“When I stepped away for just a moment—”
Unable to finish her sentence, Mary faltered, and Colin’s expression turned visibly grim.
“What happened?”
His voice was sharper and colder than usual.
Before Ara could answer, Colin motioned to the staff in the hall with his chin.
One quickly moved to stand beside Herawin, while another discreetly retreated down the hallway.
Once the seamless staff adjustment was complete, Colin spoke.
“Grand Madam, please excuse me for a moment.”
“Very well. We’ll head in first.”
“…Miss, let’s speak inside.”
He leaned in close and murmured near her ear. Ara instinctively hunched her shoulders.
I should explain properly inside.
Seeing customers laughing and chatting, she had no desire to make a scene in the hall.
Just as she turned to follow him, a dark shadow blocked her path.
“Lord Capernic?”
“This is not Miss Edmon’s fault.”
Nathan stood firmly in front of her.
“There was a mana rampage on the street.”
Nearby patrons began glancing toward Ara.
Colin, whose path had been obstructed, spoke in a calmer expression.
“Thank you for explaining, Lord Capernic.”
But his tone was anything but softened.
“However, Miss Edmon is capable of explaining herself.”
“……”
The words were edged, but not incorrect.
Nathan seemed flustered and began fidgeting. Ara was just as bewildered.
She couldn’t understand why Nathan—whom she had met for the first time today—was looking at her like a frightened animal being dragged away.
After hesitating a moment, Nathan called out to Ara as she was ushered inside. His voice lacked composure.
“Miss Edmon.”
“Yes?”
“What kind of cake do you like?”
“……”
“I’ll order it in advance. So you can eat right away when you’re done talking…”
He trailed off, looking like a dejected puppy.
Suppressing a laugh, Ara answered brightly.
“As long as it’s not green cake, I like anything.”
Inside the small room at the corner of the hallway, a chilly draft brushed against her skin—it seemed the heating wasn’t turned on.
The space resembled a storage room, with a single desk and no chairs.
With nowhere appropriate to sit, Colin lifted Ara onto the desk. Then he bent down and examined her ankle carefully.
“Are you acquainted with Lord Capernic?”
“Ow—no?”
At her small cry, his hand paused.
“I met him for the first time today.”
“……”
“Maybe when we were much younger…?”
Technically, today was the first time she herself had seen Nathan, so it wasn’t entirely false.
Still, since she couldn’t clearly recall Arachne’s memories, she let her words trail off slightly out of conscience.
“Ow, ow! My ankle is fine!”
“If it hurts when I move it like this, then it’s sprained. And stop struggling—you’ll fall.”
He stopped manipulating her ankle and retrieved a short wooden rod from a shelf to use as a temporary splint.
“I’ve sent someone to fetch a healer. They should arrive shortly.”
Ah—so that’s why the staff member left earlier.
As Ara nodded, Colin added,
“They’re skilled, so there shouldn’t be any scarring on your cheek. At the very least, it will be better than this… dangling gauze.”
Mary attached that so carefully!
His sarcastic remark drew an equally prickly response from Ara.
“Were you being so sharp because you were worried I’d scar?”
“Yes.”
“……”
“If you walk around like that, it reflects poorly on me as your guardian.”
Colin flashed a bright smile.
“Now it’s my turn to ask. Where exactly did you get hurt like this?”
“Lord Capernic already told you.”
“I brought you here to hear it from your mouth.”
The sudden seriousness made Ara stop swinging her legs.
“I understand if you’re displeased with me. But like it or not, I’m your guardian now. I have both the right and the duty to hear things directly from you—not from someone else.”
“……”
“So tell me.”
Pressed by the weight of his gaze, Ara haltingly explained how she had ended up there with the Capernic family.
She mentioned browsing shops when the commotion broke out. Naturally, she omitted the part about going out to buy a mana-measuring device.
As he listened quietly, Colin’s expression remained indifferent when she spoke of shopping. His brow twitched slightly at the mention of the mana rampage. When Baron Brondor came up, the space between his brows creased faintly before smoothing out again.
When she finished by saying the guards had taken the man away, his expression became unreadable.
The changes were subtle—only noticeable from very close range.
After finishing her explanation, Ara finally checked her necklace.
…It’s transparent.
The mana-measuring device showed no change.
Earlier, it had glowed red during the poor man’s mana rampage. When she met the Capernic family, it had turned a dark bluish hue.
Now, it shimmered only with its usual clear radiance.
As Ara absently fiddled with the necklace, Colin finally spoke.
“You decided not to pursue punishment against that man?”
“Yes. Though the baron seemed to think otherwise.”
“Why?”
“Well… I’m not sure I can explain it well…”
Colin urged her on with his eyes.
“It bothered me that he said it should have been resolved ‘peacefully.’”
“That bothers you?”
His eyebrow lifted slightly in question.
Even now, Ara found it fascinating how he could move just one eyebrow so precisely.
“They said the man begged several times. That baron definitely pretended not to receive the message on purpose. He probably waited until the man caused a scene so he could play the victim.”
“……”
“Someone’s livelihood was at stake. If you insist on ‘peaceful methods,’ people will starve. It’s strange that the one who started it all gets to walk around freely.”
“……Baron Brondor does have a poor reputation. It would be wise to keep your distance in social circles. Still, you managed to send him to the guards. What did you say to persuade him?”
Persuade was a generous word—she had simply pressed him with status.
“Well… I asked Baron Brondor if his household was perhaps struggling financially.”
“What?”
“I said that if he was too poor to pay wages, Edmon could offer assistance.”
A soft snort escaped from beneath his lowered head.
Colin covered his mouth briefly, then looked up with a fresh smile as if nothing had happened.
“Well now…”
Even Ara, who often found his expressions hard to read, understood this one clearly.
“It seems my lessons in rhetoric have paid off.”
He looked thoroughly pleased.
