Celestine Crocus.
She was the daughter of Duke Crocus, the preeminent noble of the Aiwood Kingdom, and the child of the Prime Minister himself.
In a kingdom currently without a princess of the blood, she was the realm’s top-ranking young lady, wielding an authority second only to the Queen. No woman of Rest's generation could hope to stand as her equal.
Possessing a flawless, refined beauty and the highest academic ranking in the Academy, she was further blessed with exceptional magical talent. She was a lady of profound wisdom and grace, a person so gifted she seemed favored by the heavens themselves.
"Rest-san, thank you for joining me today."
It was a certain holiday.
Rest had been called out by Celestine and had made his way into the bustling streets of the Royal Capital. When he arrived at their meeting spot, she was already waiting.
The hem of her one-piece dress swayed in the wind, and her platinum hair fluttered elegantly from beneath a wide-brimmed capelin hat.
"O-Oh..."
Rest found himself momentarily overwhelmed by the sight of her. Even just standing on a street corner, she looked like a masterpiece—a still-frame from a classic film. In fact, many of the passersby, regardless of age or gender, were utterly captivated by her presence.
(A duke’s daughter being out in the open like this is dangerous. If some creep tries to talk to her... no, wait, she’s fine.)
Looking closely, he spotted several men who were clearly guards lurking in the shadows of the nearby buildings. If anyone were foolish enough to plot mischief against the lovely daughter of a Duke, they would surely face a swift and painful correction.
"Is something the matter?" she asked.
"No, uh... right. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Not at all, I only just arrived. I must apologize for summoning you on your day off."
"I don't mind. We were going to get some sweets, right?"
"Yes. It is a shop that requires a gentleman as a companion to enter."
Celestine offered an elegant smile.
The reason she had reached out to Rest on a holiday was to visit a specific patisserie. Rest hadn't known it at the time, but the shop was holding a special event today. Since they only accepted pairs consisting of one man and one woman, she had called upon him.
"I love sweets. Actually, I’m glad you invited me."
"I am pleased to hear that. Well then, shall we go?"
"............Y-Yeah."
Rest gulped.
Given the situation, it was his duty to act as her escort. Stifling his nerves, he offered his arm, and Celestine took it with practiced ease.
As the two walked down the Royal Capital's main street, they eventually stopped in front of a shop that was currently the talk of the town among the youth. The sign out front was stylish, bearing the name "Patisserie Cheval."
"A Couple Fair, huh..."
Beside the sign hung a banner that read: Couples Only. Since a man and a woman were required for entry, the implication was clear.
"Is something wrong, Rest-san?"
"No, it's nothing... Shall we go in?"
A fresh wave of nerves washed over him, but Rest leaned into the warmth of Celestine’s touch as they stepped through the entrance.
"Welcome. Please, follow me to that table."
A waitress guided them to a seat by the window. As if she had decided exactly what to order long before they arrived, Celestine spoke without even glancing at the menu.
"Rest-san, would you mind if I handled the selection for today’s sweets?"
"Sure, I don't mind, but..."
"Then I shall call the clerk... Oh, please go ahead and choose your own drink."
Celestine beckoned a staff member over and recited a product name so long and complex it sounded like an ancient incantation. It was over so quickly that Rest didn't even catch the words.
"Thank you for waiting. Here you are."
"Whoa...!?"
A short while later, tea for two was served alongside an absolutely gargantuan cake.
It was the size of a wedding cake—a monumental fusion of strawberry shortcake, chocolate cake, and cheesecake, all piled high with an assortment of fresh fruits.
"This is incredible... The volume alone looks like enough for ten people..."
"Hehe... Impressive, isn't it? I’ve wanted to try this with you, Rest-san."
Celestine gave a mischievous little smile.
While she appeared to be a perfect, untouchable noblewoman, she actually possessed a surprisingly active and assertive personality. Only a select few were privy to this side of her.
(In other words, she trusts me that much... It’s a bit of an embarrassing thought, actually.)
"Whatever we cannot finish will be wrapped and delivered to the manor, so please, eat as much as you like."
"I’ll eat. As much as I possibly can."
Rest picked up his fork.
"To tell the truth, I’ve always wanted to eat more cake than I could handle, just once. It feels like a dream come true."
"I am delighted to hear that. Well then, shall we?"
"Yeah, let’s dig in!"
Rest and Celestine began their assault on the dessert. Being nobles, they maintained a modicum of decorum rather than stuffing their faces immediately. They sliced the cake carefully, rotating between the chocolate, shortcake, and cheesecake sections to keep their palates fresh.
"Ohh..."
"T-That’s amazing. Look at those two..."
The surrounding customers watched with stunned expressions as the pair steadily demolished the mountain of sugar.
Rest, whose background in both this life and his previous one was defined by poverty, harbored a deep-seated obsession with sweets. This massive spread was the literal manifestation of his childhood dreams.
Celestine, on the other hand, had been raised in luxury—but one should never underestimate a woman's devotion to dessert. She proved to be a remarkably hearty eater, her elegant movements never slowing as she carved through the layers.
An hour later, the ten-person cake was gone.
"Phew... I actually managed it..."
"It was only possible because you were here, Rest-san. I could never have done it alone."
Celestine wiped her lips with a napkin.
"I have wanted to order this cake at least once. I can finally say one of my ambitions has been achieved."
"The ambition of a duke’s daughter... I can’t tell if that’s humble or extravagant."
His stomach felt ready to burst, yet Rest felt a strange sense of contentment.
He had discovered yet another new facet of Celestine. The fact that he was the only person in the world who knew this beautiful duke’s daughter could look so satisfied after such a feat... it made him feel remarkably good.
"The tea has gone cold. Shall we order fresh cups?"
"Haha... I can't fit another drop in, so I'm fine."
As Celestine showed her natural consideration, Rest waved his hands with a wry, happy smile.