The morning in Solus City had already taken on the coolness of early autumn, with torn sunlight scattered evenly across the streets like orange-red cotton candy fluff, whispering of the shadows of summer now long gone.
But Cecilia’s hand was colder, held within Rita’s palm as if clutching a cobblestone that had been sleeping at the riverbed for ages.
Smooth, gentle, yet icy.
If it had been a few months earlier, before she had been thrust into this game world, she could never have imagined herself walking hand in hand with such an adorable girl.
Even if it took up her day off, the atmosphere wasn’t all that bad.
They walked and stopped intermittently; by now, more than half the morning had passed.
Rita had lost count of how many places they had wandered through, but she knew one thing: that hand had never warmed to her touch.
She didn’t know what Cecilia was thinking or what she wanted to do next.
All she could do was hold that cold hand and stroll aimlessly through the crowd.
Cecilia pressed her lips together quietly, silent and incongruous with the noisy surroundings.
It was like the distance between them—though close enough to touch—was separated by an invisible barrier, placing them in two different worlds.
As they walked, Cecilia slowed down in front of a crepe stand.
“Rita.” Cecilia squeezed her pinky finger with the small hand she’d tucked into Rita’s palm. “I want to eat this.”
Rita led Cecilia’s small hand to the stall. “Hello, please give me one crepe.”
“Two,” Cecilia corrected.
“Okay, two crepes.” The attendant smiled as she poured the sweet batter onto the griddle, skillfully spreading it into a thin pancake. “What flavors would you like?”
Cecilia seemed to have anticipated this question. “I’ve never tasted this commoner food before. Rita, you decide.”
Crepes were a luxury; one cost a silver coin! Hardly what anyone would call commoner food!
Besides, Rita had never picked food flavors for anyone else before—she’d even struggled for a while deciding whether to add eggplant or shredded potato to her braised pork rice.
But being entrusted like this by Cecilia gave her a strange feeling of trust.
Heh heh.
Rita glanced secretly at Cecilia’s expression, but Cecilia looked at the fruits displayed on the counter evenly, giving nothing away.
“Then, strawberry? And peach?”
Rita picked two flavors on a whim.
The attendant worked deftly, and soon the fruit pieces were spread on the crepe, topped with clouds of whipped cream and sprinkled with star-like chocolate flakes as decoration.
Watching the process alone brought an inexplicable sense of healing.
The two crepes were soon packed into a bag and handed to Rita, accompanied by the attendant’s blessing.
“Thank you for your patronage. Enjoy your date.”
“What… we’re not—”
Rita wanted to object but was gently tugged by Cecilia.
Under the attendant’s “I understand perfectly” gaze, they were pulled far away.
A date?
Rita’s eyes flicked to their intertwined hands.
Although a date with the blonde girl was exciting, thinking about Cecilia’s difficult-to-approach personality, even as a lover, she’d probably have her spun around in circles.
No, not her type.
She still preferred someone a bit more obedient.
Like that bunny girl she met last night? If a girl like that existed in real life, she’d probably fall fast.
“Rita.”
Cecilia’s stern voice snapped Rita back from her daydreams. “Did you hear what I said?”
Rita’s blank expression betrayed her wandering thoughts.
Cecilia sighed helplessly. “Be serious, Rita. I am the one you should protect. Also, I’m tired. Let’s rest up ahead.”
There was an empty bench just ahead.
Rita helped Cecilia sit down, finally releasing the hand she’d held all this time.
“Sit down.” Cecilia lightly tapped the bench with the hand Rita had just let go. “Standing here blocks my view.”
The bench wasn’t very large, and if Rita sat fully, they would inevitably be side by side.
Out of courtesy, Rita just rested lightly beside her.
“Move closer.”
Rita reluctantly scooted inward a little.
“Closer.”
Rita moved again.
Cecilia reached out and pulled Rita’s clothes, dragging her forcibly beside her.
As royalty, having a knight sit beside her at the same table was a great honor.
Though this was not a formal occasion, this was the utmost respect and glory Cecilia could offer Rita.
Yet judging by Rita’s nervousness, it seemed to make her a bit uneasy.
“Give me the crepe.”
At Cecilia’s command, Rita immediately offered both crepes.
Cecilia glanced at the small wooden spoons stuck in the crepes for scooping fruit and cream, speechless.
Did she expect her to just hug the crepe and eat it directly?
“One.”
Rita hastily took back the crepes, holding one in each hand as she agonized over which to give.
Several times she reached out, then withdrew.
After a few seconds of hesitation, she finally asked timidly, “Which one?”
“Either one is fine.”
That answer threw Rita into turmoil again.
Such a simple choice somehow felt unusually difficult under Cecilia’s gaze.
Apparently, this was something she wasn’t used to.
Cecilia thought for her and made a decision: “Strawberry.”
Rita nodded and, feeling a little shy, unwrapped the strawberry crepe and handed it to Cecilia.
“Eat with me. That’s an Order.”
Rita parted her lips.
Although she had expected this when she bought the crepes, the fact that Cecilia had actually brought one for herself left her feeling a bit flattered.
Honestly, when Cecilia had suspected her of being a courtesan, Rita had been a bit upset, and that misunderstanding still hadn’t been cleared up.
But no matter how clueless she was about etiquette, she knew that eating the same food together with her mistress was unusual, especially when she was thought to be a courtesan herself.
Yet it was this abnormality that made her feel a kind of respect.
“Yes.”
Rita softly agreed, opening the other crepe.
Meanwhile, not far off in the crowd, a pair of eyes was already fixed on the two sitting on the bench.
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