Mrs. Malin's Dessert Shop

While Altair was still thinking about which Potion to give her, Vera set down the Black Panther's little snack and came over, saying, "Count Altair, you're awake."

Following her voice, Altair noticed Vera staring at the "Black Panther" in his arms with her big eyes, looking utterly captivated.

Left with no choice, Altair handed the "Black Panther" to her and asked, "Where are Hahn and the others?"

Taking the "Black Panther," Vera came to her senses and replied, "Butler Hahn and Irene took a lot of servants to the Suburban Manor to prepare for tomorrow's banquet. Butler Freya went to deliver the invitations."

"When Butler Hahn left, he took a lot of things with him. There were even several carriages that they wouldn't let us go near. Only Captain Simon and a few others were allowed close. I thought it might be something delicious, so I tried sneaking over to take a look, but they absolutely wouldn't let me. I think they're disrespecting the authority of your personal maid, so we can punish them for that."

Watching Vera pout indignantly, Altair smiled and tapped her on the forehead. "Are you angry because they challenged your authority? Somehow, I feel like you're just getting revenge because they didn't give you anything tasty."

Vera immediately protested, "Of course not! I'm Count Altair's personal maid. Even if they were acting on orders from Head Butler Hahn, they had no right to refuse to let me inspect things."

"Of course, if they came to apologize with a little cake from Mrs. Milin's, I'd forgive them."

Looking at her now, Altair knew she wasn't angry at all. She was just craving some little cakes.

"All you think about these days is delicious food. Aren't you afraid of getting fat? Your sister Irene knows to help Hahn with his work. If you get fat and become ill-mannered, I'll throw you out."

Vera wasn't frightened by this. Instead, she smiled and said, "Count Altair, you're lying. You'd never abandon me. Besides, I exercise every day, just like my sister, to stay in shape."

"And I'm so adorable. Butler Hahn even said that ever since we came here, you've been in a much better mood. He said he was glad he bought my sister and me."

"But I still don't understand what Butler Hahn meant by that last part. He said he bought us to be your bed companions. Does that mean we're supposed to sleep with you?"

"Vera's not very clever, so she doesn't know what that means. I do know about men and women, though. They taught us that."

"But I don't know what it means to be your bed companion. When I asked my sister, she wouldn't tell me. She just blushed and said we're adults now, so we can, and things like that. So what does it mean?"

Watching Vera shake her head, Altair felt that he really did need her. She could be a little silly at times, but that was also part of why she was so lovable.

Still, she'd had a rather unlucky life. She was a beautiful orphaned twin with elven blood—every kind of misfortune had piled up on her.

If she'd been born into an ordinary family, she might have had a good life.

"If you want to know the answer, you'll have to figure it out yourself."

"Go get ready. We'll go out for a stroll in a little while."

The first part left Vera deep in thought, but the mention of going out immediately brought her back to her senses. "Count Altair, you're the best! I don't have much to get ready, so I'll help you change right away. I'll get your clothes ready..."

"Uncle Neil, please drive us to Mrs. Malin's Dessert Shop on Royal Mile Avenue in Daqiao South District."

Hearing Vera rattle off the address so effortlessly, Altair could only shake his head in resignation. She was even more of a homebody than he was, so how did she know the address so well? Was this the power of a food lover?

Vera turned around and said happily, "Luckily, Butler Hahn didn't take all the carriages out today. Otherwise, we'd have to rent one."

Listening to Vera chatter, Altair teased her, "I think you're just lazy and don't want to walk. And why did you bring the Black Panther? Aren't you afraid it'll hurt someone?"

Vera didn't argue. "The Black Panther would be so lonely at home. We're going out, and it would have to stay all by itself. Just thinking about it makes me feel sorry for it. I'll keep an eye on it."

After a journey of less than twenty minutes, the carriage finally arrived at Mrs. Malin's Dessert Shop, which Vera had been thinking about all along.

After getting out with Altair and entering the shop, she looked around at all the different desserts.

Seeing Vera's expression, Altair casually said, "Pick whatever you like."

At those words, Vera smiled and walked over. Pointing at the display case, she told the server, "I'll have this little lemon cake, this strawberry cake, this chocolate cake, this one... and this Black Forest cake..."

As Altair drank his tea and watched Vera eat dessert after dessert, he couldn't help feeling surprised.

How could her tiny stomach hold so much? She'd already eaten four little cakes. The cakes weren't big, but they were so sweet they were almost cloying. Altair had stopped after one.

When Vera finally stopped eating, Altair asked, "Are you full?"

She shook her head. "The little cakes are delicious, but I don't feel like eating any more today. I'll take the rest back to share with everyone, and save some for tomorrow."

Altair could only smile as he reminded her, "We're going to the countryside for a banquet tomorrow. Do you think there won't be any desserts there? Besides, it's summer. Do you think the cakes you bought today will still be good tomorrow?"

In the end, Vera still left the Dessert Shop with a big bag of little cakes. She just wouldn't save any for tomorrow.

The desserts weren't expensive. They bought twenty-five cakes, and including the tea they drank in the shop, the total came to five soli and six and a half pence—about 250 yuan. Each cake averaged less than three pence, and this was in a country's capital. It showed just how much money that hadn't been affected by inflation could buy.

Now that Vera had gotten what she wanted, she hummed a little tune to express her delight.

There should be a Church of the Earth Mother in Daqiao South District. They could stop by and take a look.