Recalling that rather disastrous result, Finihiya felt a vague sense of unease for no apparent reason.
Noticing that Darlian was standing in front of the counter with no intention of putting on an apron, she had no choice but to pick up the other light white apron beside her, and motion to Darlian.
“Apron.”
“It’s fine.”
“What do you mean ‘it’s fine’? You’ll get your clothes dirty.” With a hint of resignation, she walked up to Darlian. “Let me tie it for you.”
Finihiya didn’t go behind Darlian to tie the apron, but did it from the front, making the distance between them quite close.
Darlian could even clearly feel Finihiya’s soft, light breath brushing against her collarbone, a ticklish comfort like feathers gently stroking her.
“The area around your neck is really cute.”
This rather sudden compliment made Finihiya’s hands, which were tying the apron, freeze for a moment. At once, Finihiya bashfully raised her face to meet Darlian’s gaze.
The expression on Finihiya’s delicate face was a mix of shock, confusion, and embarrassment.
Her cherry lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something several times, but in the end, she pressed her lips together in silence.
“Darlian, have you ever made a cake or any other dessert before?”
After helping Darlian tie the apron, Finihiya took two steps back, then took several large bowls out of the cupboard and placed them on the counter.
“No experience. First time making one.”
“No experience…” Finihiya murmured softly to herself, her cherry lips letting the words slip out as she searched for flour in the cupboard. Casually, she asked, “Is there any dish you’re good at, Darlian?”
“Good at?”
“Mhm! Sweets are fine, main courses too.”
Finihiya poured a small portion of the flour she found into the bowl.
“Hmm…”
Darlian propped her right index finger against her cheek, tilted her head, and thought seriously for a long time. Then her well-shaped eyebrows curved in a cheerful smile.
“I’m pretty good at boiling plain water.”
Preparing the cake ingredients, Finihiya suddenly stopped what she was doing when she heard this answer from Darlian, tilting her head and looking at her with a subtle expression.
Finihiya forced a stiff smile onto her face.
“Lady Darlian, you really have a sense of humor.”
“Your eyes aren’t smiling at all…”
Ignoring Darlian’s quip, Finihiya went on with her urging.
“Everything’s ready, Darlian, hurry and start.”
“Oh. So what should I do first?”
“First, put the cream cheese into the bowl, then add some sugar and vanilla extract.”
For this cake, Finihiya didn’t participate much, only giving Darlian step-by-step instructions on what to do.
She felt that this hands-on teaching method would make a deeper impression on Darlian.
As the two enjoyed a slightly warm and cozy atmosphere, time slipped quietly through their fingers. The sunlight filtering in gradually took on a rusty hue.
***
As evening approached, more servants bustled in the kitchen, busy preparing dinner.
Darlian carried her finished cake to the wooden table, then smiled and urged Finihiya,
“Try it and see how I did.”
Darlian’s cake was fruit-flavored. These cakes were relatively easy to make—just place various sliced fruits on the prepared cake.
Finihiya cut a small piece with a knife, placed it on a plate, and took a small bite.
As she savored it carefully, her teeth bit down on something hard.
That “crunchy” sound made her slender brows instantly knit together.
Working her tongue, she pushed the foreign object out of her mouth and used her hand to take it from between her lips.
“Eggshell…!”
“That’s strange. I could’ve sworn I cleaned everything up.”
Darlian muttered seriously with a stern face, then relaxed her brow and tried to comfort her in a light tone, “But it’s fine, Finihiya. Just consider it some extra calcium.”
Staring silently at Darlian’s face, Finihiya felt a hint of helplessness rise in her heart, and then sighed softly.
***
The next day was the scheduled meeting with the Belgrade Association.
Afternoon sunlight streamed through the cracks in the window, scattering fine, shimmering specks of light across the tidy room.
Finihiya sat at the edge of the bed, pulling silk black over-the-knee stockings up over her ankles. As she pulled the stockings up her calves past her knees, the snug elastic left a slight indentation on her thighs.
Standing in front of the full-length mirror, Finihiya turned her body left and right.
After confirming she was dressed appropriately, she picked up her little black hat and pressed it onto her head.
Then she opened the room’s door and walked straight toward the carriage waiting at the manor entrance.
Since it would be quite a formal meeting, Finihiya had to dress accordingly.
Her luxurious dress was woven with intricate black and burgundy lace, like a bouquet of flowers blooming at midnight.
The lace bow on her chest swayed with Finihiya’s light steps, and the little hat pressed atop her head was decorated with a blooming red camellia.
“There’s still plenty of time, Lady Finihiya. There’s no need to rush like this.”
Danila had already been waiting by the carriage.
To this, Finihiya didn’t know how to respond, so she could only offer a faint, dry smile.
The sunlight shone down intensely.
The carriage before her gave off a fresh scent reminiscent of hay.
This was not the same carriage as the one she’d taken on previous outings.
That carriage bore a compartment inlaid with the Royal Crest, so if she took it to the Belgrade Association, she’d be recognized right away.
If that happened, Danila’s effort in forging a new identity for her to avoid trouble would have been pointless.
Stepping onto the small wooden stool beneath the carriage steps, Finihiya entered the compartment.
After giving brief instructions to the two maids standing nearby, Danila turned and entered the carriage herself.
Naturally, Danila would be accompanying her.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
At Danila’s command, the driver in front nodded immediately in response.
The carriage turned around the large fountain in front of the manor, about to dash toward the gates, when a familiar voice suddenly rang out from outside.
“Where are you going?”
That always slightly cool voice was unmistakably Darlian’s.
The carriage, just setting off, stopped at once. Darlian also landed gently on the ground.
Seeing this, Finihiya raised her right hand and lifted the hanging light brown curtain, watching Darlian’s tall and graceful figure from inside the carriage.
“Darlian, what brings you here?”
“Of course I came to find you.”
Darlian walked forward two steps, stood by the carriage window, looked up at Finihiya, and asked again in a slightly puzzled tone, “Where are you headed?”
“To the Belgrade Association.” Finihiya answered truthfully.