The Royal Deal Chapter 186

Chapter 186

There were hand-made cookies in cute shapes. “Wow! It looks delicious.” Athyst’s eyes glistened at the sight of the sweets. “Sit down. Let’s eat these together.”

“No, I’m fine, ”

“What do you an you’re fine? If you ca all the way here with the cookies, you must have a taste of them as well.”

Barden sat a little distant from Athyst, perhaps feeling shy. Slowly, he picked the cookies she was offering him and put them in his mouth. So did Athyst.

“How is it?” He couldn’t help but ask as the duchess finished her first bite.

“Mm, it’s delicious. It’s not too sweet, and I like the texture. It’s very savory the more I chew. Who made this?”

“I-it’s .”

“Pardon? Barden, you made it yourself?”

“Yes. It’s a hobby of mine.” Barden flushed.

“Wow, what an admirable hobby.”

With this sudden praise, Barden smiled a fraction. “Is that so? When I was at the academy, I was teased a lot for not being suitable enough as a brave knight. Hence, I abstained from baking always…”

“What? But with this skill, it must be sothing you’ve done more than once or twice.”

“It’s not to that extent. Whenever I was having a hard ti, I tried to bake and now, my cookies have finally beco an edible standard.”

“Edible?” Athyst shook her head, “Don’t lie! It’s really good!”

“Thank you.”

“By the way, Barden, do you have hard tis too?”

“Well…of course. When things don’t work out the way you want it to… like when the person you like doesn’t know how you feel…”

Oh, that’s right. He has a crush on my sister. Maybe it’s because we are like-minded? Sohow, I just can’t hate him.

“Haha, I see. I think I know how that feels.”

Hearing her reply, Barden asked. “I’ve been curious since before. How is your relationship with the duke?”

“Sorry?”

“Ah, I apologize, my lady. I simply… can’t help but feel concerned since you’re a family mber of the woman I like.”

“We…” His question was both simple and difficult to answer. Even though they were believed to be husband and wife, their marriage wasn’t real at all. What’s more, he was soone she loved but couldn’t love for everything will co at end soon enough—when the contract reaches its finality.

Her heart started to ache from being unable to speak the truth. Barden, sensing her discomfort, broke the silence first.

“If you feel uncomfortable, you need not answer . You’re not obligated to tell .”

Athyst nodded, finding it hard to say the right words. He must find it weird. Or maybe he’s already guessed what kind of relationship we are in.

Instead of answering his question, Athyst changed the subject. “Since when have you liked rril?”

“Well…When I was in the academy taking accounting as one of my minor modules, I knew then.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Every ti during the lesson, her sparkling attentive eyes stood out. I was amazed at how passionate she was for such a boring class.”

“I see.”

“Once I ran into her in the library. We started talking about the lesson…and t regularly after that. Everyti we did, she talked about her sister.”

“About ?”

“Yes. She said while she easily gives up on everything, she said you always do your best in everything. So, she was motivated to follow your footsteps to try her best not to give up.”

Was I like that? I guess Athyst’ past was very different from mine. She must have loved herself a lot.

Montarily, she wondered how the original Athyst loved herself. She wondered what kind of person she is and how was she so confident.

Now that I think of it I’ve never had a deep conversation with rril, so I’ll take the ti to talk to her next ti I visit.

Looking at the man before her, she felt fondness over him. He was a good person, and Athyst wanted to help him the best she could.

“Ah, rill likes to snack on things. She will always grab the cookies in the morning and place them on her plate. If not, she will steal them all.”

Barden listened to her with keenness, “Is that so?”

“Yes, it you get the chance you should give her your handmade cookies. She might like them.”

“But, if a knight who should be yielding swords, gifts her a cookie she might find it weird…”

“Oh my, what do you an?! From where I’m from, guys who cook are the big hit! They call them SGC.”

“SGC?”

“Yes, Sexy guys who cook!”

Barden had a blank expression on his face as he said, “Pfft, this is the first ti I’ve heard of such a thing. I didn’t know guys who cook are popular in the mansion.”

Ah, oh dear. That was a near miss.

There were tis when she made a big slip like this as she spoke of things that were out of context here. Fortunately, Barden seed to have misunderstood.

“By the way Barden, did you realize that your conversation skills has gotten better?”

“Really?”

“Yes, you can converse pretty naturally now.”

“It’s all thanks to you, my lady.”

“? I didn’t do anything.”

“You’ve let speak so casually and naturally.”

“Hmm…then try to continue this conversation.”

“Yes.”

“Barden, can you teach this recipe?”

“On how to make cookies?”

“Yes, it’s yummy so I want to make them myself.”

“Alright!”

The two continued with their conversation which was full of nonsensical things. Their laughter rang occasionally, and their hearts at ease.

But there was one person who couldn’t laugh at the picture of the two people having a great ti.

It was Alexcent who was staring at them from afar.