The afternoon of the following day.
The rain had briefly ceased, but the sky remained shrouded in heavy, dark clouds.
A damp wind, tinged with a briny scent, blew over the murky sea, stirring the drooping bouquets in the manor’s courtyard.
Finihiya sat as usual in the pavilion within the courtyard.
On the cold stone table lay an old leather-bound book, its rough, amber-hued pages bearing the weight of time.
Her slender fingers curled the corner of a page and turned it over, her delicate face serene, as if a century had passed without a single flicker of expression.
The rising wind lifted her lush, graceful golden hair, letting it flutter about.
Hmm…
Her gaze carefully scanned each line of text, Finihiya searching intently.
Because the shampoo essence made from soap trees and soap pods had not met expectations, she had spent the past two days combing through books for something to properly enhance the formula’s effectiveness.
From the ‘Encyclopedia of Botany’ to this very Alchemical Book before her, she had found no ingredients that could improve the essence’s effect.
If nothing else worked, she would have to try crafting the first type of essence, though its process was more complicated.
“Something to improve the cleansing effect…”
A quiet murmur slipped from Finihiya’s cherry-like lips, almost like a soft self-reminder.
She tilted her face upward, gazing toward the distant horizon.
Her gemstone-like eyes flickered with a trace of wistfulness.
Recalling deep-seated knowledge, Finihiya lifted a teacup and took a small sip of the dark tea.
The warm liquid gently stimulated her mouth, slightly dispelling the drowsiness settling in her heart.
Just as she was lost in such earnest recollection, the sound of playful chatter from the maids reached her ears.
Drawn by the cheerful voices, Finihiya tilted her head to look toward their direction.
Under the eaves a short distance away, two maids were leisurely carrying wooden basins filled with clothes toward the manor’s main door.
“The wine in the wine cellar—quite a bit of it has turned sour.”
“Is that so? That’s truly a shame.”
Their conversation gradually faded into the distance.
Watching their figures disappear around the corner, Finihiya tilted her head in puzzlement.
Wine?
Sour?
The wind.
As if struck by a sudden thought, Finihiya pursed her lips and delved deeper into her memory, when a sudden warm breeze brushed her ear.
Her ears were always sensitive; the hot gust made her body shiver slightly.
Hurriedly covering her left ear, Finihiya shifted her legs to put some distance between herself and the source, then subtly glanced behind her with a faintly wary look.
“Good afternoon, Miss Finihiya.”
“…Good afternoon.” Gazing at Darlian’s delicate face, Finihiya was silent for a moment before sighing helplessly, “I hope Lady Darlian won’t scare me with childish pranks again.”
“I’m afraid that hope is in vain.”
Darlian said this with a strangely regretful expression.
She sat down beside Finihiya.
Seeing this, Finihiya closed the open book in front of her and placed it aside.
“Guess what gift I brought you today.”
Hearing Darlian’s words, Finihiya slightly lifted her head.
Darlian gently set a wooden box she was carrying onto the center of the stone table.
Under Darlian’s soft gaze, Finihiya gave the box’s surface a cursory inspection before guessing with a faint tone, “Cake?”
“Correct.” Darlian chuckled softly, then removed the lid and placed it aside. “Try a bite.”
Darlian took out a generously sized cream cake, large for both of them.
The cake was exquisitely shaped into a triangle, topped with strawberries, grapes, and other fruits, the edges layered with richly textured cream and sponge.
Without cutting it with a knife or fork, Darlian pushed the whole cake toward her.
Seeing Darlian’s apparent invitation to eat the entire cake, Finihiya let out a questioning “Hmm,” then blankly stared at her.
“No need to be polite,” Darlian said, resting her chin on her hand. “Don’t you love it?”
“I do like it…” A subtle emotion flickered in Finihiya’s eyes. “But this is way too big.”
“What’s wrong with that?” Darlian smiled casually. “Just stuff yourself a little, it’ll all go down.”
“Stuffing yourself like that will kill you…”
Finihiya sighed in mild exasperation, then picked up the knife and fork beside Darlian and carefully sliced the cake into eight portions.
She cautiously placed one piece on a plate and put it in front of Darlian, then served herself a piece.
She cut a small bite and took it into her mouth.
Instantly, the delicate cream texture surprised Finihiya, reflected in her eyes.
“This tastes so good…”
“Right?” Darlian tilted her head and laughed softly, a strand of hair falling naturally over her chest. “I just knew you’d like it.”
Finihiya lowered her gaze, curiously studying the cake before her.
She had eaten plenty of cake before, both in the Church Nation and here.
Still, this finely textured cream cake gave her taste buds a slight shock.
***
After a moment’s appraisal, she raised her eyes to Darlian.
“This cake is from the castle…”
“No.” Before Finihiya could finish, Darlian shook her head and replied first, “It’s from a newly opened Karina Bakery in town.”
“To be honest, I was surprised the first time I tried it. I didn’t expect it to be much better than the castle’s pastry chefs’ creations.”
“…The taste really is quite good.”
As she spoke, Darlian’s well-shaped eyebrows arched slightly in a lighthearted manner. “The bakery has many new items. Shall we go try some?”
After chewing and swallowing a few bites, Finihiya looked up slightly.
“…Now?”
“Are you not feeling up to it?”
Hearing Darlian’s question, Finihiya was silent and turned her gaze toward the gloomy sky, ready to pour rain at any moment.
“Better to wait for the weather to clear up. With skies like this, rain could fall anytime.”
“That’s true.”
Following Finihiya’s line of sight, Darlian tilted her head and looked as well.
Just as they spoke, the drizzle began falling from the darkening sky.
Finihiya quietly watched the fresh rain as she forked another small piece of cake and ate it.
“Lady Darlian is quite free today.”
At this, Darlian raised one eyebrow and replied softly with a faint tone, “I’ve always been free.”