Lorne had yet to return home. Knowing that a mountain of social engagements and business would await him as soon as he did, he decided to savor this rare lull before the storm and simply wandered the streets.
Still, it wasn't quite right to say he had done nothing. First, he visited Rose Street to see his landlady, Mrs. Griffin, and paid several months' rent while he was there. Then he played with Orange Cat and coaxed her into a better mood. Although he had occasionally asked Melissa to bring Lucky over for some petting, quite some time had passed since Lorne left on his "business trip." Orange Cat still had plenty of grievances and needed soothing.
Afterward, he went alone to an Intis restaurant and treated himself to an extravagant royal dinner, supposedly "personally improved by Emperor Roselle."
Caviar, pan-seared foie gras, even baked escargot... Lorne inwardly snarked as he ate.
Old Huang even plagiarized his taste in food.
Once he had eaten and drunk his fill, Lorne bought a small cup of handmade ice cream and ate it as he walked.
A rich, milky flavor blossomed on his tongue. That cold sweetness did much to ease the tension that had gripped him for days.
"Still, after all this time, I don't think I've seen any ice cream cones in Backlund." Lorne scooped up another spoonful as he pondered.
"Didn't Roselle invent them?"
"I remember the earliest ice cream cones on Earth were made by rolling up waffles."
"Maybe I could open a restaurant too. I'd need somewhere for private meals with my companions..."
With that thought in mind, Lorne even took a detour through Cherwood Borough to look at the Southern Continent restaurant previously run by the Indulgence Faction.
He found its doors still apparently shut, the premises