He muttered in amazement as he looked at the glass jar containing the preserves.
"It's fruit cheong," I said shyly.
"I'm thinking of opening a store soon. So while I was doing it, I decided to make some for you too. But I don't know if you will like it."
"I like it. I really like it," he said emphatically.
"But do you even know what it is?"
"No," he said with a soft laugh.
"But it seems bittersweet."
"Oh, but you said you didn't like sweet things the other time," I said, remembering a conversation we had earlier. Xavier had a strange smile on his face.
"Since then, little by little I start to like it."
"Really?"
"Yes ."
"That's surprising. It's not easy to change taste buds."
"I see. I thought you two would have the same taste since the Emperor likes a light taste too."
"..."
- chapter 81-I will make it again for you
At those words, Xavier remained silent for a moment, before opening his mouth to speak.
"The emperor does not like sweets, but always looks for sweet things.".
" Are you like that?"
" These days I eat sweet things that I make myself, so it's different from the current situation." After he finished speaking, he smiled more. " Did you make this yourself?" He said, pointing to the gift I gave him.
" Yes, your highness" I replied with a slight blush. " But I don't know if you'll like it."
" I do not agree."
" I am flattered. I hope you like it."
Studying the bottle for a moment.
" This doesn't look like a common dessert in Jonas."
" I saw in a book that it is very popular in the East".
" Did you make it yourself by looking at the book?"
Xavier asked curiously, and I nodded, feeling guilty about lying.
Technically, I'm not referring to a book. I wasn't that smart. But I couldn't tell him the real truth, that I did it in the other world .
I said:
" But it will still be delicious. I'm sure about that".
" I'm sure it will be. There's no way I would dislike anything make do for me."
He gave me a smile.
" How is the store opening?"
I said cheerfully:
" Oh yes. I found a deal for the store, I will sign a contract in a couple of days. After that, I think the opening would be after a month."
Xavier's eyebrows were startled when he heard my answer.
" How did you come up with the idea of opening a shop? It is not easy for a young lady to run a Business."
" Well, starting a business is difficult for anyone. But no one should enter with a pessimistic mind. I'm just trying to do something."
" This is great. You could have let your idea remain an idea, but you put it into action."
Ah, Xavier's words gave me a sense of déjà vu. I stared at him with a purposeful look, and he was baffling to me.
" What are you thinking?" he asked.
I replied:
" Your words are the same, you are really the son of the emperor."
" Why are you saying that all of a sudden? …"
" His Majesty told me the same" However , Xavier's reaction was different from what I expected.
He said: " Yes"
And his expression suddenly became bitter.
" You can't cheat blood."
Excuse me! I just remembered that the father-son relationship was bad and that I internally scolded myself for my mistake. It is clear that Xavier does not want to talk about Emperor Henry.
However, I could not retract my words, with my regrets about the past. You quickly changed the subject .
" Well, I do not know if you like grapefruit. Cheung grapefruit can be divisive."
He looked at Xavier with a smile.
" Like I said, I don't really like sweet things. But I love grapefruit."
" Glad to hear that." She sighed as the mood changed. Wow, it could have been a disaster.
" Is there another fruit you don't like?" I asked.
He said: " I usually eat anything so please bring me anything anytime."
"…"
His smile was unbearably beautiful. There was no dispute there. I awkwardly clear my throat while trying to calm my irregular heartbeat .
Oh, that was too dangerous.
***
Due to my unexpected detour to the Central Palace, I came home later than usual.
It was night when I went up to my room, took a quick shower and went straight to sleep.
A whole day of fatigue built up in my body and I fell like a stone.
The next morning, I woke up slower than usual, because yesterday's events affected me a little.
I yawned lazily and looked around my room.
However, I felt really good after a night of rest.
Knock Knock Knock
"Come in"
I said automatically. The door opened and I smiled at whoever entered. I said as a greeting :
"Good morning Florida".
Florida said with a nod to correct me: " It's not good morning it's good evening , ma'am .
" Oh."
I looked at the clock with confused eyes.
It was really lunchtime.
It was 11:30 in morning it seems.
I shook my head with a frown. " Oh dear."
" This is not the time to say that now."
" What are you talking about?" I asked curiously. " What's going on?"
Florinda gave me the surprising news.
" There is a message from the Duke of Escliffe asking if he can visit you this afternoon."
"... What?" took me by surprise.
" Today? That's surprising!"
"He didn't say he should visit you today, but he asked."
" But why suddenly you asked? I heard he's been busy buying land lately."
He didn't mention any specific reason, only that it's been a while since his last visit".
" Um …" I put my finger on my lips in thought.
I was supposed to see Odietta tomorrow, so he had to make time today.
It's not too late, so it was possible to get ready and meet Claude in the afternoon.
Finally, I nodded.
" Tell him that he can visit us at any time in the afternoon. Hurry up and get ready."
" Yes, madam" Florida said with a bow, then left the room.
I had to get up now. I yawned for a long time and rubbed my eyes .
***
Claude sent a message saying that he would be arriving at 4 pm.
This afternoon, in the meantime, I prepared to make cheong fruit.
The Duke can let Cheung grow old in his palace.
Green grape cheong, cherry and lemon cheung were the ones I'd introduce to him today.
Since I expressed my ambition to sell fruit cheung, my parents supported me by providing a kitchen for making preserves.
Today I was picking green grapes and Florenta and the other servants helped me prepare for Claude's arrival.
"Miss" .
When I was measuring the sugar in a large cup, a voice stopped me looking at the maid who entered the kitchen. "
What is... ah?"
Before I finished speaking, a familiar man entered the room. I gave him a cheerful smile .
I said jokingly
"This place is off-limits to everyone except special people".
" Aren't I one of them?" Claude asked me with a smile, but he seemed aware of what I said and didn't take another step into the room.
His obedience to my words was so gentle that a smile spread spontaneously on my face.
" What kind of person are you?" I asked.
He said: " I think I was the first person to taste this fruit".
" Unfortunately, those were my family".
" Suppose I am the first intruder."
In the end, I couldn't contain the laughter. Claude took it as a sign of approval and entered the kitchen, where I greeted him with a smile.
" Come, your grace, it's been a while. I know you've been very busy,"
I said, pointing at him to enter.
" I'm sorry I couldn't contact you once the delicious fruit Cheung ran out."
" What?" I said, my mouth drooping in astonishment.
" Are you already done with that?"
He replied with a small smile: " It's from you after all I tried to get rid of, but it was so delicious I couldn't stop drinking it."
" Oh my God. That was definitely a lot."
" In the meantime, my mouth did not enter a single drop of black tea or herbal tea. Now, the only tea I'll drink is the chung fruit you're making."
" Oh no." I shook my head with a smile. I was one of those people who got nervous easily . " I'm afraid my gift will undermine your dignity as a noble".
Shaking his head he said " Dignity doesn't come from the tea you drink, it comes from a person's character. You worry too much."
" Is that true?"
" Really, in that sense …" He smiled and said what he wanted to say.
" I bluntly admit that I came here so that you could give me another gift. But if you want compensation, say so anytime."
I told him "I will open the store soon".
He complained about it by saying: "But it will take some time until then".
I smiled proudly. "I think you really like Fruit Cheung ."
" I realized for the first time that I had a preference for foreign flavours."