“Your Grace, you may meet with Elodie as much as you’d like. However, if you wish to take Elodie away……”

I hesitated for a moment. Was this okay?

It might be digging my own grave. But how could I remain silent after seeing the tears welling up in Elodie’s eyes? I cleared my throat and continued.

“I cannot send Elodie to you unless she wishes it. Above all, Elodie’s will is the most important.”

Though I spoke politely, it was a firm refusal, implying that no matter how much the Duke insisted, I wouldn’t send Elodie away. Elodie said nothing and hugged me tightly. I closed my eyes, feeling the child’s warmth. I had said it all. Everything. I was confident that I wouldn’t regret it even if Duke Baniche became enraged by what I just said and tried to kill me again. This small child in my arms had given me an inexplicable courage.

“……I understand.”

What?

I couldn’t hide my surprise. I thought he would at least resist, if not try to kill me again but to acquiesce so readily? Was this the same person who had been acting so crazed just moments ago?

When I opened my eyes, Duke Baniche was gazing intently at Elodie. It was difficult to gauge the complex expression on his face. Pain, affection, and…… regret, perhaps?

“I don’t want to force Elodie to come with me either. Elodie’s happiness is my happiness.”

The Duke reached out to Elodie once more. It seemed less like he was trying to do something and more like he wanted to confirm Elodie’s existence through a slight touch.

Of course, Elodie turned her head away, openly showing her dislike. Fortunately, the Duke didn’t attempt any further contact and stood up. Instead of the madness that had spread across his entire face earlier, only bitterness remained on Duke Baniche’s face.

“Take care, Elodie.”

Those were his last words. I sat down in front of the gaping entrance, thinking blankly.

‘That easily?’

But Elodie didn’t give me time to dwell on my thoughts.

“Hic, huh-huh, waaah……”

As soon as the Duke disappeared, she burst into loud tears.

“Shh.”

I comforted Elodie, patting her back.

“It’s okay, everything’s okay now.”

But it was nearly impossible to console Elodie, who had even started hiccupping.

“Because of me, because of me that man almost killed Aria!”

……Ah. So that was the problem. I shook my head.

“It’s not because of Elodie. And everything turned out fine, didn’t it? Except for this door, that is.”

“……”

Elodie looked up at me blankly. She seemed to think I was lying to console her.

“Oh, Elodie……”

I stroked Elodie’s hair.

“Do you trust me so little?”

“……I trust you.”

Elodie’s small lips pouted, then quivered as if she wanted to say something. I felt I knew what words were swirling in that little mouth, but I said nothing. If I did, it felt like we would cross a river of no return.

***

The next morning, I hastily blocked the doorway with planks and went to work at the cafe with Elodie. I had no intention of claiming compensation for the door. I wanted to avoid getting involved with Duke Baniche as much as possible.

Fortunately, the day started very normally, as if nothing had happened the day before. As usual, the elderly lady who came in as the first customer chatted with Elodie for about an hour while drinking coffee.

After that, a quiet morning continued. The problem arose just after lunchtime. I had just finished preparing Elodie’s lunch and hastily swallowed a piece of bread myself when I heard the door open.

“Welcome!”

As I hurriedly headed towards the counter, I saw the face of the customer who had just stepped into the cafe.

“……!”

It felt like my heart plummeted to the ground. None other than Duke Theodore Baniche was boldly entering the store.

‘This is crazy, really……’

My head throbbed. This was the man who had attacked me and made Elodie cry just hours ago. I wanted to kick him out immediately, but I couldn’t.

There were already customers occupying three tables in the store. If I got into an argument with the Duke, it would certainly draw attention, and unwelcome rumors would spread through this small town in an instant.

“Please come in.”

I greeted him, trying my best to maintain composure. Duke Baniche walked in as if he had been waiting for this. His gaze fixed blatantly on Elodie, who was drawing in her sketchbook. Elodie didn’t even lift her head once, stubbornly focusing on her drawing. I cleared my throat.

“Your order, please.”

“……I’ll have the recommended menu.”

The Duke replied without taking his eyes off Elodie at all. I was annoyed by his apparent lack of intention to even glance at the menu and was about to say there was no such menu, but then I changed my mind. Would anything I served satisfy the Duke anyway?

It would be more profitable to just prepare the most expensive menu item and at least make some money.

“Understood. Please take a seat wherever you’re comfortable and wait.”

I answered as cheerfully as I could while glancing at the Duke. If he were to sit too close to Elodie without reading the room, I was planning to send the child home.

Fortunately, the Duke didn’t seem to be that shameless. Considering he sat as far away from the child as possible. Since Elodie was sitting right in front of the counter, the Duke ended up sitting by the window.

‘At least he has some conscience.’

I felt relieved that I wouldn’t have to confront the Duke and started preparing the ‘recommended menu’. It was…… a special shaved ice dessert that was easily 30cm tall. Shaved ice in late autumn, you ask?

Not my problem. The Duke ordered the recommended menu, and I’m just making the recommended menu. Anyway, the Duke was so busy staring at Elodie that he probably wouldn’t know whether the food was going in through his nose or his mouth.

I set the enormous bowl in front of the Duke.

“Sorry for the wait. Here’s the recommended menu you ordered.”

“……?”

The expression that momentarily appeared on the Duke’s face as he reluctantly tore his gaze from Elodie and looked at the shaved ice was quite a sight to behold.

“What…… is this?”

“It’s our cafe’s pride, a special shaved ice dessert, Your Grace.”

“Shaved ice? Was shaved ice always like this?”

The Duke had a point. In this world, shaved ice usually meant a mound of shaved ice with sugar syrup generously poured over it.

But the shaved ice I served had ice only spread around the outside of the bowl, emitting a subtle chill. Inside the bowl were layers upon layers of various fruits, cream, and cookies. It was called shaved ice, but it was essentially a giant parfait.

There was only one reason for coming up with this kind of shaved ice. Ice is quite expensive and difficult to store. So I devised a dessert that could be eaten cool even if the ice wasn’t in the best condition.

‘I hope he chips a tooth while eating it.’

Trying not to show my irreverent thoughts, I smiled brightly.

“It might not be up to Your Grace’s usual standards, but our shaved ice is quite palatable.”

“Yes, yes.”

The surprise was only momentary. The Duke turned his head back towards Elodie as if nothing had happened. He did take a spoonful of the custard cream from the top, but that was all. He showed no reaction to the food I had prepared with such care.

‘……Well, it’s not my concern.’

Duke Baniche has probably eaten only the finest foods all his life. He probably wouldn’t find any ordinary dessert tasty.

I shook my head and started taking orders from a group of customers who had just come in. How much time had passed? Beads of sweat formed on my forehead as I served the constant stream of customers. When I finally had a moment to catch my breath and look around the cafe, I noticed something unusual.

‘……What’s this?’

The gender ratio of the cafe customers was severely skewed to one side. More precisely, almost all the customers were women, with only a few exceptions.

All those female customers’ gazes were focused on the man sitting nonchalantly with the special shaved ice in front of him.

‘……’

I bit my lip to hold back laughter. I couldn’t fully grasp the situation due to the constant influx of orders, but it seemed that word had spread about the appearance of an uncommonly handsome man.