No, I couldn’t afford to lose a point. I’ll stay in the safe zone.

“I would assume you meant organized.” 

He took another sip of his tea without breaking eye contact between the two of us. 

“I meant what I said. You have a boxed life and if I were you, I have died out of boredom.” 

Who said that the Duke of Athenesy knew how to console people? 

Mingming’s meow was the only sound we heard from the cafe. 

“Could you please look at the paintings on the walls?” 

Even if his intention was unclear, those oil paintings hung on the chocolate brown walls depicted how Daria Empire started got my attention.

“Now, tell what you noticed.” 

“The artist used Cubism art style to express his idea. I liked how the painter combined different geometric shapes and color schemes.” 

He formed an ‘X’ sign by crossing his arms together. Next, he pointed at the third painting on the right. I answered that those men in a white shirt and black cargo pants holding pickaxe were probably miners.

He proposed a question of whether mining was nonsense — it was normal that I would object!

“That is why you shouldn’t limit yourself, Lady Bethany.” 

 Also, he mentioned how great it was to seize what’s in front of me, and in chaos, I should celebrate because I fixed everything again.

I nodded because his statement had no fault. Why would I refuse to hear the truth? I also want to clarify that I only agreed to his statement about a chance to fix something new was great, not his statement of abhorring plans.

“By the way, who gave you these flowers?” 

And he plucked a piece of red rose from the bouquet and smelled it.

After he heard the story about Mingming’s savior, I shrieked when the rose petals became black. Its stem was dark green. Seconds later, the petals turned to ashes before they hit the ground.

Ming swished her tail twice, so I hugged her. What happened to this man?

I continued the story and emphasized that dating was not in my priorities right now.

“You should be careful with that guy. You shouldn’t trust men who would date a woman the moment he laid his eyes on you.” 

He wiped his mouth with a napkin after finishing two cups of coffee and picked up the periodical on the table.

“So, I should also be careful when I’m with you?” 

His brows arched as he put down the newspaper. 

“What did you just say?” 

I shifted my gaze to the grandfather clock by the window; after a few seconds, I gained enough courage to answer him.

“I would be careful with him from now on. Also, see a physician cause there must be something in your ears, Your Grace.” 

Now, he sat with legs crossed, ankle over the knee, and gave me a smile that could reach the heavens.

“Marquess Grimaldi’s daughter concerned about the trashy Duke of Athenesy. What should I feel about this?”

“Isn’t it normal for someone to check whether his or her friend is healthy?” 

His smile faded. He stood up and told me we had to leave. Mingming kept on pointing something from the glass shelf. So I bought her boxes of chocolate chip cookies, which I got for free since the store manager stated they included it in Duke’s payment.

A white mare welcomed us the moment we stepped out of the cafe.

“Hop on! Don’t worry, Rain is an amiable companion. She likes women more than men. I will also take care of your basket.”

“You’re Grace, I don’t crave for it anymore...you don’t have to take me there.” 

Keeping promises with your mother is a must, especially if you live in her house. I showed a piece of paper with written bulleted tasks as a backup for my claim.

I had to find my friend! How I wish we teamed up in finding Mingming.

For the second time, he expressed how stagnant my life was.

He turned his back on me, pulled out his sword, and returned my paper with another task written using his blood.

(Go to the boba shop with dashing Duke Frederick)

When he turned his back on me, he gave the same death stare Nora received when we were in Larson. 

“Don’t make me repeat myself. I promise you’ll arrive in time for dinner. Your friend is with Reyner, so let them be.” 

 Beks was a fan of a popular Kpop group...one of their albums was suitable for my situation. Love Yourself was the name of the said album. 

I put the excited cat on the horse and hopped. I slowly step my left foot on the chestnut brown leather stirrups.

 My hands were not touching the horse in case it doesn’t want physical touch and folded my hands in prayer. Horsey, I hope your mood would always be as calm as the sea in summer.

The Duke passed the basket on me and rode behind me. He held the rein and praised how kind his horse was.

Thirty minutes away from the capital was a coastal town. There was a small shop in the residential area, a mile away from the bay area. I admire the perennial plants they hung outside, which enhanced the store’s aesthetic. They placed a circular table with two chairs for people who wanted to enjoy their drink. An artist painted the name of the store in red font on the glass door. 

A whiff of the earthy aroma of black tea detoxified my soul, it put me in a relaxing state the moment we stepped our foot inside.

A woman in her forties wearing a mid-length green dirndl. She kept her curly hair from her face using a black bandana scarf. She dropped her rolling pin, wiped her hands clean using her apron, and ran towards us. 

We directed at the seat next to the window.

 “Your Grace! You kept your promise!” the woman said.

“I would appreciate it if you will keep your mouth shut.”

He put the basket on the table and carried Mingming in his arms while the woman pulled a stool from the other table and sat next to us. 

She put two rectangular thin slabs of wood with smoothened twig pens, then taught me how to order in her shop. 

When you touch the wood, the menu appears. Swipe left to see the other menus and write your order. Even without her help, I could navigate alternative systems easily. People should not piss off people who prepared food or beverage we don’t know if someone could turn into a frog. 

Her small tutorial ended. Then he got back from pissing the Duke off. Somehow, I support her because earlier; he made fun of me during our entire trip.

“Even if I kept my mouth shut, your Mother has her ways. By the way, who was that cat?” 

She stroked our lovely fur baby, but when her eyes widened after staring at her for a few minutes, that’s when I had to ask who was this woman.

Frederick answered she was the twin sister of her Mom. Why was she fascinated with our Mingming?