“Is there anything you want to do?”

“What I want…”

Ethelbert asked Charlotte, and she pondered it.

All that time, everything she did was for the sake of others, either for her sister or her people. She couldn’t remember the last time she fulfilled her heart’s desires.

“For now, I’d like to stroll around this place.”

“Of course. If a store catches your interest, just go in.”

Ethelbert entertained Charlotte’s whims, and the two of them began aimlessly wander.

They were on a main street lined with restaurants, bakeries, general stores, boutiques, etc. Asnot a single luxury store was in sight, that district was probably meant for commoners. Very few would be familiar with the face of Charlotte or Ethelbert.

Nevertheless, she couldn’t help but notice the stares of those passing by. Rather than because of their identities, their features made them stand out.

Charlotte was observing various shops from outside, trying not to pay attention to her surroundings. She found it fascinating how she could see so many unusual sights just by walking around.

Suddenly, a signboard caught her attention.

The signboard had an illustration of pancakes on it, and beside the store’s door was a standing bulletin board with part of the menu written on it.

‘Hey, it seems that the dessert café I went to the other day has a new menu.’

‘I want to go there again.’

As she checked the store name written on the signboard, she suddenly remembered a certain conversation between female students in the academy.

Isn’t this store famous for its pancakes?

Charlotte wasn’t participating in that conversation. She overheard it by chance as she was passing by. The female students were commoners from different grades with whom she had nothing to do. Apparently, it was quite a popular store.

Remembering that, she averted her gaze from the signboard. As they approached the front of the store, Ethelbert stopped. Wondering what was the matter, Charlotte turned to look at him.

“Since you came under the pretense that we’d be holding a tea party, you must be famished. Would you like to enter?”

Ethelbert pointed to the dessert café that Charlotte was interested in.

“I heard that this store is popular among women. I’ve heard rumors about it… It’s pretty self-explanatory.”

The interior of the store, which could be seen through the window, was made up of 90% women.

“It’s full of women, isn’t it? Won’t you feel uncomfortable?”

“I’m used to the attention.”

Due to his position as the brother of the emperor, the level of attention he garnered must be extraordinary.

Regardless, it was quite daring of him to suggest such a place. Rather than being accustomed to it, perhaps he was just the type who didn’t really care about being seen.

Did he notice that I was staring at the café?

Ethelbert, who was right beside her, probably noticed right away that Charlotte’s interest was piqued by the store, hence why he suggested entering all of the sudden. Didn’t that make him a good observer? Perhaps, it’d be more precise to say that he had excellent insight.

Call her rude, but if she were with Quentin, he’d most assuredly not notice at all. Although, she doubted that they’d even be walking around town together in the first place.

A sweet scent tickled her nose as she eagerly followed Ethelbert into the café, whetting her appetite.

There was an empty seat in the corner, so they decided to sit there facing each other. After the waitress had received their order, they waited for the dishes to be delivered.

How picturesque…

Once Ethelbert had finished ordering, he gazed vacantly at the menu. Even that listless appearance of his was reminiscent of a painting.

Just a while ago, Charlotte saw the staff members arguing about who’d come to take their order. That waitress from before, who’d won the right, was fixated on Ethelbert the whole time. Even now, the gazes of the female customers were directed at him.

The development was all too predictable.

“Do you like sweets?”

“It’s certainly not my go-to.”

“In that case, maybe we should go to another store…?”

Ethelbert closed the menu with a snap.

“I’m not saying that I don’t like it, so there’s no need to worry. Isn’t that what you were concerned about?”

He smiled at her kindly, reaffirming Charlotte’s thought from before.

—He was indeed accustomed to women.

---

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