Chapter 6: Alice’s Worries
1332 Words
“Here’s your walnut tart… and this is a little gift for you. Please enjoy~” Doris beamed as she sent off a customer.
Doris was happy—not just because she was finally working in her long-dreamed-of pastry shop, but because of Alice’s selfless help.
To Doris, Alice was like an angel sent by the God of Light. Not only did she have the appearance of an angel, but her heart was as kind as one too.
Thinking of Alice, Doris felt a small smile creep across her lips, almost unnoticed even by herself.
“Hey! You don’t like commoner food? That’s not right, pampered young lady!”
A scolding voice snapped Doris out of her daydream.
Looking up, she saw a luxurious carriage pulled by two snow-white horses parked in front of the bakery. Outside stood a girl in a red noble dress, and someone seemed to be sitting inside the carriage.
The word that immediately popped into Alice’s mind:
“Noble.”
Doris frowned and pressed her lips together.
She despised nobles—no, she absolutely loathed them. The reasons were known only to her and her mother; not even her best friend Alice knew. Why didn’t she tell Alice? Doris thought keeping it a secret was protecting her.
She glanced back. Business had been brisk today, and pastries were running low. Her mother and Uncle Jean were in the back busy making more, leaving Doris alone in the front hall.
“Ah…” Doris sighed. Despite her strong dislike of nobles, she had no choice but to put on a brave face and greet the guest.
Greet a noble? Doris was just a pastry shop clerk—but a noble at the door demanded she step outside. She feared that failing to do so might be taken as a slight, or that the noble might do something unpleasant to the shop.
“Respected noble young lady, how may I serve you?” Doris bowed as properly as she could, though she wasn’t sure what a “proper” bow looked like.
“Uh? You’re… an employee of this shop?”
“Yes, esteemed young lady,” Doris replied, sneaking a glance at the girl before lowering her head again.
“Wait, I’ll call my sister over,” the girl said, turning toward the carriage.
“Alice, get down! Hmm? What’s wrong? Come on!”
Doris lifted her head slightly, puzzled by the girl leaning halfway into the carriage—and then caught sight of someone inside.
Golden hair?
Although the figure inside shrank back into the carriage, a strand of dazzling golden hair was still visible.
“Same hair color as Diana,” Doris thought to herself.
“Oh, sorry. My sister isn’t feeling well and doesn’t want to get out. Um… could you recommend some of your specialty pastries?”
The girl had turned around without Doris noticing and startled her. Doris quickly lowered her head.
“There’s… apple pie, almond cookies, donuts… and so on,” Doris stammered.
“Oh~ these seem like common pastries, but judging by how many people are here, the taste must be unique. Please pack some for me.”
“All right…”
Doris quickly packed the pastries.
“That’ll be eighty copper coins altogether…” she murmured, handing over the package.
“Here~ Keep the change!” The girl pressed a gold coin into Doris’s hand.
“Th… this…” Doris froze. A hundred copper coins made a silver coin, and a hundred silver coins made a gold coin.
“Take it. I hope your pastries are delicious; that way, this gold coin will be well spent.”
“B-but…”
“No buts. Take it. You seem a little hesitant. Is it because I’m a noble? Nobles are human too. My uncle often tells me that though nobles are superior, they mustn’t use their status to oppress commoners. Instead, nobles should use their position to benefit others. Well, I’ve said too much. Goodbye.”
Watching the girl leave, Doris fell into thought.
“Her uncle seems like a noble unlike any other… Hmm? Her eyes… violet, like Diana’s.”
The carriage finally left Doris’ pastry shop. Alice slumped back, exhausted, hearing Doris’ unusually restrained tone, which left her unsettled.
“Is this the distance between nobles and commoners?” Alice murmured, her own voice almost inaudible.
“Hm? Alice, what are you saying?” Leticia asked, munching on a pastry. “This apple pie tastes amazing~ Want some?”
Alice shook her head. Even her favorite apple pie couldn’t tempt her.
A few days later, Leticia and her mother finished visiting the Duke Alberon household and left for the imperial capital.
Alice stared after the departing carriage, lost in thought.
“Alice, you seem unhappy lately. Can you tell me what’s wrong?” Duke Alberon asked, smiling as he gently patted her head.
Alice looked at her father’s kind face, then at her slightly worried mother.
“If you don’t want to tell me now, dear, I can wait until you’re ready. Your father can always wait for you,” Alberon said, holding Donna’s hand, giving her a reassuring squeeze and glance.
“Papa… I…” Alice took a deep breath, then quietly confessed, “I’ve been hiding something important from my best friend.”
“Your noble identity?” Alberon guessed correctly. He knew about Alice’s habit of dressing as a commoner to interact with ordinary children.
“Yes…” Alice nodded slightly. She knew that the guards following her reported back to her father—a kind of protective surveillance—which she didn’t mind.
Alberon paused, unsure how to advise his daughter. Nobles and commoners belonged to different worlds; harmonious friendships were rare but not impossible. He glanced at his wife.
“Alice, I know you care for your friend, and fear that revealing your noble identity might hurt your bond. But you cannot hide it forever. Friends must be honest with each other. Right now, your commoner identity is a deception. You know that, don’t you? Hiding the truth from your closest friend is wrong. I hope you’ll confess soon, but don’t worry—I believe your friendship with Doris won’t break because of your noble status,” Alberon encouraged.
“Be brave, Alice. Look at your father—he’s brave too.” Donna crouched down, wrapping Alice gently.
Alice understood. Her mother had been a commoner, and her father, the Duke, had married her despite social pressure.
“Can I think about it a little longer?” Alice whispered.
Alberon gave her a comforting smile. “Everything will be fine.”
Because of Leticia’s visit, Alice hadn’t seen Doris for a week. Now, with Leticia gone, she finally could.
“Doris, why the new tables?” Alice asked, pointing to a few brand-new tables outside the shop.
Doris, arms crossed, said nothing.
“W-what’s wrong?” Alice asked nervously.
“Could Doris have recognized me in the carriage that day? Impossible… I tried to sit further in, and I even turned my face away…” Alice’s thoughts raced.
“Dear Miss Diana…”
“Hm… hm…? What is it?” Alice stepped back slightly, sensing Doris’ serious tone.
“You left the pastry shop to me and went off to ‘visit family’ while shirking your duties!” Doris scolded, though gently approaching Alice and picking her up.
“Uh… oh… really?” Alice exhaled in secret relief.
Alice hadn’t neglected Doris this long before—a week without a visit was unusual. Even gentle Doris was upset.
Alice inhaled Doris’ fresh orchid-like scent greedily, holding her close.
“All right, I’ll forgive you this time…” Doris released her, pinching Alice’s nose lightly.
Alice shook her head, freeing herself.
“By the way, why the new tables? Was the old one broken?”
“The old tables… were smashed by a few nobles…” Doris replied calmly.
Thud!
Alice’s heart skipped a beat.
- Writer
