Dubai Crunchy Sablé (2)
Date: August 7th
Weather: Calm before the storm, light rain falling
Lady's mood: 🙂
— Brought the cookies I made last night to the lady.
— She was so cute, going "nom nom nom" while nibbling away like a sparrow pecking at seeds.
— Ugh, I just wanna pinch those cheeks so bad, for real.
— As expected, to stick with a job, the perks gotta be good.
— Yahoo!
The next day, at dawn.
The ground was visibly soaked from the rain that fell overnight. Which meant, "It's time for me to take over guard duty again."
Waking up early felt great. Changing into my work clothes was pure joy. That excitement carried into my steps as I dashed to the lady's door at top speed.
Standing there, I opened my mouth.
"Rosie, shift change."
"Yeah."
Rosie gave a listless reply as she emerged from a shadowy corner.
She looks extra worn out today.
I eyed her curiously. Dark circles deeper than usual. Dry, ashen skin. Eyelids drooping heavier by the second.
"Hey, Rosie."
"Yeah."
"You used your ability, didn't you?"
"......"
No answer? Yeah, she did. Totally did!
"Jeez. You're gonna kill yourself like that."
"......"
Rosie's ability is passive, but she can crank up the intensity. Normally, it's just enemy detection.
Full throttle lets her glimpse a split-second into the future.
But the risk is huge, so she rarely pushes it.
"Was there a reason you had to use it?"
"...Yeah."
"What is it?"
At my probing question, Rosie quickly scanned the surroundings with her eyes to check for anyone nearby.
"...Crown Prince. He's sending something."
"The Crown Prince?"
"Be careful. You might die."
"......"
Sudden death omen. And from Rosie of all people? She must've seen something.
Damn it. So I'm gonna get hurt, huh.
You can't fully rewrite a future that's already been glimpsed. The big picture keeps rolling.
"Got it for now. No clue when?"
"Yeah. Sorry."
"This much is plenty. Go recover. Don't remember where it happens?"
"Yeah."
I watched her vanish silently without a sound, then closed my eyes for a moment.
If I go in now, it'll show on my face for sure.
The lady's gotten way better at reading my expressions since the regression. Gotta hide it.
I crushed the rising tension, calmed my pounding heart.
Only then did I open my eyes.
"......"
"Huh, Captain?"
"What're you doing."
"Uh... nothing."
"Idiot."
Marie muttered as she knocked on the lady's door.
Knock knock—
"Lady."
—Nngh... just a bit more....
A whiny voice drifted from behind the door. I'd seen the study light on late last night, and apparently she'd stayed even longer after I passed by.
She must've been having a blast.
No more drowning in booze like in her past life—what a relief. Still, I wished she'd rest more properly. That tugged at a corner of my heart.
Maybe suggest a little picnic nearby.
Risky, though.
Knock knock knock—!
"Lady, you really not getting up? You said you had to finish those documents today."
While I was lost in thought, the captain knocked again.
—Ughhh... waaahhh...!
A deeper whine pierced through the door. Marie's brow furrowed slightly, then she flung the door wide open.
And left it open.
...Huh?
Okay, let's sort this out.
1. I'm standing in front of the lady's door.
2. The door suddenly opens.
3. Obviously, the lady's inside, right?
Conclusion. I just saw the lady all disheveled.
Rubbing her eyes in her pajamas, fresh out of bed.
Okay. Up to here, manageable.
But her clothes slipping off her shoulder, barely hanging on at her chest...
"Whoa."
Damn.
My heart started racing for a whole different reason. Heat surged from my core, up my neck, to my ears and face.
"Wh...? Whaa...?!"
Hearing my voice, the lady's head whipped toward the door.
And then.
Her eyes widened in disbelief, she checked her outfit, and flushed red from fingertips to roots.
"Get outttt!"
"Ah."
"Shut it noowww!"
Slam—
Marie hurriedly slammed it shut, but I'd already seen everything.
Not my fault, though.
All the captain's doing.
"......"
—Marie! How could you—!
—Sorry, Ladyyy!
—Who can I trust to live noow—!
Of course, the aftermath wasn't nothing. But manly trait.
"Heh."
Savoring the moment.
But manly trait.
"......"
"...L-Lady."
"Shut up."
"Yes, ma'am."
I ended up dying a heroic death in the end.
Rio sweated bullets, sneaking glances at Lucresia slumped in her chair. On the surface, she looked focused on paperwork.
But no.
Her frozen fingertips told the tale.
Can't concentrate at all, huh.
And peeking through her silver hair, her round ears were beet red.
Obviously.
At first, the disheveled image overlapped and hid it, but now it stood out crystal clear.
"Hey, Rio."
"Yes?"
Lucresia set down her pen and called her guard, eyes still on the papers.
"Forget what you saw earlier."
"Ehhh?! How am I supposed to forget that! That doesn't even—"
"Heyyy!"
Scraaape—!
She shrieked, shoved her chair back, stood, and reached for Rio's head.
Target: hair, naturally.
Lucresia had oddly enjoyed grabbing Rio's hair yesterday.
Squeeze—
"Kyaaah!"
The victim, clueless, just screamed hoping not a single strand would pull.
"Forget it!"
"Agh, got it!"
"Tch...."
Tears welling in his eyes sparked her sadistic side.
Ah, wanna bully him.
Now she got why people itch to tease cute animals.
Then, post-yank, something forgotten popped up.
"Oh, right!"
"What. Why."
Rio met his lady's curt gaze.
"I said I'd make you chocolate cookies."
"Oh."
They glanced outside, gauging time. Post-morning fiasco, it was already between breakfast and lunch.
"Time flew."
"How about a couple now?"
"Sure."
Then.
Lucresia puffed her cheeks thoughtfully, eyes on the ceiling. Lips flapping open-shut like she was hesitating.
"...Um, call Marie in too?"
She puffed again, tapping the floor with her toe.
Hmm. Wants to, but.
Better if she says it herself.
Rio just grinned silently down at her.
"Lady."
"...What."
"Gonna hit the kitchen."
"Huh?"
She thought he misheard.
But, "Tell Maid Marie yourself."
And he was gone.
"......"
It was consideration.
But hesitation lingered. She'd vented all her frustration unfairly—what good was apologizing now?
No, no.
Momentum's key. Own up first when wrong.
Who said that?
Rio, maybe.
Anyway. After pacing the study minutes, Lucresia peeked out, easing the door.
There stood her maid in uniform, posture straight.
"Um, Marie?"
"Yes."
"Wanna come in for tea...?"
Marie gazed softly, like a mom at her kid—Lucresia's gut twisted.
"Sorry about earlier."
"I regret mishandling it too. Sorry you had to see that."
Marie accepted casually. Lucresia's chest cleared like unclogged meridians, deep breath filling her lungs.
"I'm fine now, come on in!"
"Yes, Lady."
Marie smiled faintly, nodding.
As they entered and shut the door—
"Waaait a minuteee!"
A voice filled the hall from afar.
Lucresia's eyes curved into crescents at the sight.
"Hurry up!"
A plate of small pastries sat on the study's little table. Round yellow bases dotted with black spots, like mold.
Three onlookers around it. Only one grinning ear-to-ear nonstop.
"This is just sablé, right?"
"Ehehe! No way just sablé!"
Rio hopped up, snapped one with thumb and forefinger.
"See!"
"...?"
"Sir Rio, this?"
Doubt lingered in their eyes.
"Like I said yesterday, noodles."
"Hmm...."
"Can a delicately raised lady like me eat this, sir?"
Pfft.
Delicately raised. Rio couldn't hold back the snort at Marie's line.
He dropped his gaze under her chilling stare.
Manly trait: lose when you gotta.
"Anyway! Try it! Try it!"
"Eat one, you mean?"
"Yes!"
At Rio's urging, Lucresia picked one up.
Still seemed weird.
Cuz, noodles are soft.
Crunchy cookie with squishy noodles? Stomach churned just thinking.
But with her guard's sparkling eyes? No resisting.
Smells good, at least.
She squeezed eyes shut, chomped.
Crunch—
"Mm...?"
No squish. Super crunchy instead.
Crunch crunch—
Crunchy crunchy—
"Huh?"
The more she chewed, chocolate sweetness and roasted pistachio nuttiness exploded in her mouth. The noodles teased her tongue delightfully.
Om nom gulp—
"Eh?"
Sip of tea.
Gulp—
"Huh?"
Lucresia tilted her head, then full 90 degrees.
"Why's it so good?"
"Right?! This'll sell!"
"Hmmm...."
Lucresia crossed arms, humming long.
Marie, who'd snuck one, reacted the same.
Seeing that, Lucresia spoke.
"What's it called?"
Rio beamed, lips splitting wide.
"Dubai Crunchy Sablé!"
"Okay! Prototype some as our first product and ship it out."
"Sir yes sir!"
Dubai Sablé launch!