Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 36: Would You Like To Go On A Date With Me?

Chapter 36: Would You Like To Go On A Date With Me?

The most renowned and expensive bakery in the Capital was "Rosy’s Pastry House," owned by Viscountess Roselle Davonn, a grumpy middle-aged noblewoman with an obsession for all things luxurious and exclusive.

However, the exclusivity of every establishment under her ownership was not just a mere whim. Roselle Davonn possessed a keen eye for business and trends. As a well-known socialite with numerous connections throughout the Kingdom, she leveraged her network to gather information and gossip, leading to valuable discoveries of business talents and trends.

"Rosy’s Pastry House" stood as one of her prized ’gold mines.’ The bakers employed there were distinguished individuals, their baking talents surpassing even those of the royal chefs. The recipes used for their pastries were held in strict secrecy, making it the sole bakery in all of Geraldion with unique, one-of-a-kind pastries and cakes.

These, along with meticulous supervision from Roselle’s loyal minions, ensured that only those deemed ’worthy’ could set foot in her store, contributing to its fame and subsequent exclusivity.

Aideen could never have imagined merely standing near "Rosy’s Pastry House," yet here she was, holding a bag filled with the unique baked goods it had to offer.

As the princess fidgeted with the paper bag, her expression revealing both childish excitement and utter bewilderment, Tillian seized this moment of quiet to bring in a hot kettle and two old porcelain cups he managed to find in the abandoned kitchen of the building.

He continued to pour the freshly brewed tea into the cup and added,

"Do not just fidget with the bag, Your Highness; you will crush everything inside. Eat while they are still hot, and have some hot tea as well. I bought the tea leaves in the shop as well."

Although feeling somewhat embarrassed, Aideen had to admit that the strong, enchanting smell of the freshly baked pastries awakened her hunger. Her mouth could not help but salivate at the mere thought of what might be hidden inside the bag.

She grabbed the first thing she could reach – a large round cookie with flowery ornaments drawn with cream all over it – and took a generous bite, nearly tearing up as the incredible sweetness touched her palate. The delightful flavors danced on her taste buds, creating a moment of pure bliss.

Savoring the fruity flavor on her tongue, the princess stretched her lips into a wide smile, and her body started moving on its own, eventually turning into a little happy dance.

Tillian watched as the princess danced happily with her upper body and could not help but cover his mouth with his hand to suppress another scoff that was desperate to escape his lips.

’So she has a sweet tooth, huh? Look at her dancing... What an adorable sight. If this is how you react to good food, I have no choice but to make sure you have countless even happier moments in your future. I am willing to do anything to make you smile like this more often. This is what I have been dedicating my life to so far anyway.’

The Duke took the teacup and settled beside Aideen, who was now relishing another pastry. He gently pressed his index finger against her cheek, wiping off a few crumbs left there from the first cookie, causing the princess to withdraw slightly and blush again.

"Oh, I apologize, Your Grace. I got too excited and forgot my manners."

She spoke those words while covering her mouth, embarrassed to talk with her mouth full, but Tillian paid no mind to that. He moved the lady’s hand away from her mouth and placed a porcelain teacup in it instead, saying,

"Have some tea, Your Highness; it will make it easier to eat."

"Aren’t you going to have some as well, Your Grace? You bought a lot, and I will not be able to finish them on my own."

Tillian shook his head and answered,

"No, I have already eaten, Your Highness; these are all for you. If you cannot finish them, we can give them to child beggars when we pass by the slums."

Still blushing, Aideen thanked the Duke with a subtle nod and took a sip of the offered tea. She was about to take another bite of the pastry when she suddenly widened her eyes and exclaimed,

"I beg your pardon? What do you mean when we pass by the slums? Are we going somewhere?"

"Yes, Your Highness, I am taking you to the Shopping District."

The princess had no idea how to react to Tillian’s reply. Taking advantage of her silent perplexity, the Duke offered an explanation,

"A messenger from the Main Quarters of the palace brought a letter from the King early today while you were still asleep. The duel of honor is scheduled for tomorrow, which gives us a whole day of freedom. I assume you have already noticed that the weather is quite nice today. So instead of wasting our time in this dusty, cold room, I have decided to take you out on a date. A shopping date in the Central Capital."

The Duke’s words finally began to slowly register inside Aideen’s brain. Still a bit confused, the princess set aside both the teacup and the pastry, and asked the man in a somewhat sad tone,

"I am not going to lie to you, Your Grace, this indeed sounds wonderful. However, you are probably aware that the Shopping District is a very expensive place to visit. It is one thing to buy a bag of pastries, which, in my eyes, is still a luxury, but buying clothes and accessories? I do not think it is wise, even for someone like you, to indulge me in this. Do not get me wrong, Your Grace, I am not trying to imply that your money is not good for the shops here. I’m just trying to say that you have provided me with enough things already. It was more than I could ever wish for, so––"

"Haa..."

Tillian interrupted Aideen’s timid lament with a long, loud sigh, then took another cookie from the bag and shoved it playfully inside the princess’s mouth, rendering her silent as he said,

"I apologize, Your Highness, but it looks like I have made it seem like I gave you a choice. Let me try another approach... I am asking you out on a date, Your Highness, and I am not taking a no for an answer. However, if at any moment of our outing, you feel like you want us to stop and go back here, I will listen and obey without a moment’s hesitation. So, once again, would you like to go on a date with me, Your Highness?"

The Duke’s voice was neither cold nor menacing, but something in his confident tone still made his offer irresistible. Thus, with a cookie still jammed between her teeth, Aideen nodded and replied,

"Yesh, Youh Ghace."