Let’s Just Make a Child, Your Grace - Chapter 8 Part 2

“If something’s tempting, I say it’s tempting. What else should I say?”

“This restaurant? Or the Grand Duke’s finances? Or… me?”

His playful voice trembled slightly at the end. However, it didn’t register with Arne, who was looking around the restaurant.

“All of it.”

Cedric chuckled at the perfunctory answer.

“You seem most tempted by this restaurant.”

“Honestly, it’s such a beautiful restaurant that it’s hard to take my eyes off it.”

“Is that so.”

“Of course, the garden was really beautiful too. At first, I was so enchanted by the statue in the Goddess’s Garden that I couldn’t take my eyes off it.”

“I see.”

“Of course, the Dragon Garden also made my heart swell.”

“I see.”

Arne looked at Cedric and tilted her head sideways.

“You seem rather indifferent.”

Unlike the excited Arne, Cedric’s monotonous replies continued as if his mind was somewhere else. Cedric’s outstretched hand touched Arne’s cheek. His thumb slowly caressed her cheek and gently pressed her lips.

“I want to hear how this happened.”

Cedric’s thumb pressed firmly on Arne’s swollen lips. A tingling pain gradually spread. The skin touching hers was hot.

Arne tried to avoid answering by changing the subject.

“More importantly, what did you like best here, Cedric?”

“Well…”

“There were so many flowers too. Roses, lilies, lilacs, hydrangeas… They were all so beautiful, weren’t they? What kind of flowers do you like, Cedric?”

“Well…”

“…What exactly did you see here?”

Arne asked, as if complaining, tired of his continued indifferent answers. This time, Cedric’s mouth didn’t open.

As the slowly moving fingertip stopped, it gently touched the tender skin below the parted lips. While the fingertip touching the moist, tender skin slowly became wet, Cedric’s gaze remained fixed on Arne. Cedric’s gaze deepened, and heat spread across Arne’s lips.

He was looking at Arne.

Arne’s breath trembled slightly with tension. As Cedric’s unwavering gaze deepened, Arne became confused.

‘Why are you looking at me like that? As if I…’

Wasn’t he the one who had repeatedly rejected and dissuaded her?

‘If you look at me like that, I might really misunderstand.’

Arne’s lips quivered slightly. At that brief moment, as the trembling breath was about to become audible after overcoming countless hesitations, Cedric’s hand fell away.

He firmly interlocked his fingers and pushed the chair back, creating distance. His body leaned back as if he was trying to get as far away from her as possible, creating a palpable tension.

Arne’s outstretched hand floated in the air. He who had seemed within reach suddenly became distant.

“Ced…”

“Sorry for the wait. Here’s your Earl Grey.”

The head chef brought the tea. Sensing the strange tension, the head chef quickly set down the teacups and tried to leave.

“How’s the restaurant management these days?”

The head chef’s steps halted at Cedric’s question. He expected them to want him to leave quickly, but this was an unexpected inquiry.

“It’s going well, thanks to your care.”

“And the others? I’ve come to the capital after a long time, I should see everyone’s faces.”

“It would be an honor if you came, Lord Cedric. Everyone will be delighted.”

“I’ll make sure to visit soon.”

The head chef nodded with a bright smile.

“My lady, excuse me for a moment. Mendel, please prepare an ice pack for the lady.”

As if not intending to give any chance for questions, Cedric quickly got up and left his seat. Arne’s hand, which had been floating in the air, slowly fell.

‘Was it my imagination? I feel like he’s avoiding me.’

Arne fiddled with the edge of the teacup. Perhaps even that gaze that had been looking at her was just her imagination.

* * *

Cedric pressed and rubbed his face with one hand. When asked what he had seen in the garden, he couldn’t give any answer for a moment.

Statues, flowers, none of these came to mind.

‘All that came to mind was…’

Cedric looked down at his wet fingertips. Until the body fluid that had seeped in disappeared. Even though nothing remained, the sensation at the tip of his thumb still wouldn’t fade.

“Lord Cedric.”

At the head chef’s voice, Cedric ran his hand through his hair and turned his head.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. More importantly, those people we saw earlier, were they Marchioness Wayne and her son?”

“Yes. As you saw earlier, they have a bad habit of manhandling servants, so they’re on the blacklist among restaurants.”

“Are they still downstairs now?”

“No. They left saying they absolutely couldn’t dine downstairs. But why do you ask?”

“Just that it’s two people.”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind. I’ll use the lounge for a bit.”

“Yes. This way.”

The puzzled head chef quickly guided Cedric. He seemed a bit strange today.

* * *

The head chef smiled gently at Arne. His gesture of placing the ice pack along with the salad felt kind.

“I apologize for the late introduction. I’m Mendel, the head chef. Lord Cedric is in the lounge. He’ll be back soon.”

“Raniarne Freya de Ronia. Nice to meet you.”

The head chef bowed slightly as if he already knew, showing respect.

“Let me pour you some more tea.”

Seeing that Arne’s teacup was empty, the head chef himself tilted the teapot. It was unprecedented in this restaurant for the head chef himself to pour tea instead of a servant.

“Thank you.”

Arne also responded brightly as she watched the head chef pour the tea.

“Your cufflinks are really pretty. Who’s the designer?”

“It’s the same person who made the dress you’re wearing, Your Grace.”

“Ah, I see.”

With a languid smile tinged with a hint of pride, the head chef prepared a napkin with his other hand. However, there was no cufflink on the other wrist.

“But aren’t cufflinks usually worn in pairs?”

“Ah, well…”

The head chef’s face turned slightly red.

“The other one is with my lover.”

“Oh, I didn’t know. I apologize. Is this a new trend in the capital?”

“It’s a recent trend led by Ella, so it’s understandable you didn’t know.”

“I see. Actually, I asked because I saw Ella wearing the same decoration. I thought it was a brooch, but to think it was half of a cufflink…”

For a moment, the head chef’s eyes wavered. Arne asked with a languid smile.

“Was it a secret romance? I had no idea.”

“It’s still a secret. I haven’t found the right timing to bring it up. Could you keep it a secret?”

“Don’t worry.”

“Thank you.”

Head Chef Mendel breathed a sigh of relief. He had been consoling himself by sharing the cufflinks, wanting to boast but not yet in a position to speak about it.

Unless someone was particularly observant, they usually didn’t notice. On the other hand, he had been secretly hoping that people would naturally become aware of the situation between Ella and Mendel.

“Please come often. This seat is always open for you, Lady Ronia.”

“Don’t I need Lord Cedric’s permission?”

“I don’t think we need to ask. Don’t you agree?”

Mendel’s eyes looked at her as if sharing the same secret. Arne also laughed at Mendel’s nonchalant question.

“I heard you were hungry. I’ll bring the food soon.”

Mendel bowed neatly before leaving. Arne took another sip of the now warm Earl Grey tea. As the warm tea swirled in her mouth, even her confused feelings seemed to warm up.

She closed her eyes and savored the sweet and calm aroma. Footsteps approached, and someone sat down in front of Arne. Arne slowly opened her eyes and raised her head.

“Cedric…”

Surprised, Arne dropped her teacup.

“What is this…”

* * *

Kale and Marchioness Wayne, who had been kicked out of the restaurant, fumed as they got into their carriage.

“Ha, to think that crazy villainess is really with Cedric. What is going on?”

The Marchioness repeatedly fanned her reddened face. It was the ultimate humiliation. The clinging gazes of other nobles and the laughter escaping from behind fans as they left the restaurant still echoed in her ears.

“That Arne is just never helpful until the end.”

Kale, still unable to calm his anger, struck the carriage seat. The Marchioness sighed deeply as she stroked Kale’s cheek, seemingly upset.

“Oh, my poor son, you must be so upset. I’ll make sure to deal with that girl later. You only have your mother, right? I’m the only one who truly loves you. In the end, blood is all that remains.”

“What a disgrace this is. I can’t show my face.”

Kale, still unable to calm down, irritably brushed off the Marchioness’s hand and messed up his hair in frustration.

“To think I have to be engaged to someone like her!”

“Son, just meet all women casually. Do you think I’d really send you to someone like that? You know a noble, young lord breaking off the engagement isn’t even a flaw, right?”

The Marchioness Wayne gently consoled Kale, holding his hand.

“If you just get engaged, you can get a dowry and even sudden business support from Duke Ronia, so be patient for a bit. When you succeed in business with that support, our family’s status will rise, and then you can marry a better lady. We’ll break this engagement! As if I’d let someone of such low birth into our family!”