80 What is the Name of the Secret Dessert?

With long strides, I quickly returned to the area where Asu was waiting. Or should be waiting, at least.

I glimpsed worriedly at the bench where she should've been sitting on… my eyes lit up.

She was there! She wasn't kidnapped nor did she go home! Instead, she had obediently remained seated on the bench, with her dark cloak and hood pulled close over her head and around her body.

My shoulders sagged with relief as I rushed forward to humbly present the delicacies I held, just like a lowly peasant trying to apease the ruler of a great nation.

But as I grew closer, I realized that she was quietly looking at something in the far distance. I followed her gaze.

Under a tree near a food stall stood a trio, 2 blonde boys in their adolescence and a girl who had long curly hair and seemed to be their younger sister. They were holding lamb skewers in their hands, the smoky oil smearing over their cheeks as they burst into childish laughter.

Scenes like this were commonplace during the festival, and I myself had spotted quite a few youngsters fooling around with their food. Quite honestly, I don't see why they would act in such a way, and the unsanitary conditions worried me.

Rather, it was Asu's reaction that I was worried about. As a noble who received an adequate education on eating etiquette, would she feel disgusted by the uncultured behavior of these commoners?

This was something I hadn't thought about.

However, when I anxiously glanced back at Asu, her expression, surprisingly, wasn't one of discomfort. Instead, she looked forlorn, which was not much better.

This was supposed to be a happy occasion! With my brain churning, looking for clues to solve Asu's unhappiness, I suddenly thought of something.

"Clare, I'm back!" I called out with a light smile.

When she turned to look at me, I held out an iced dessert to her with a wink. "Try it; it tastes phenomenal. Even better than strawberry cake."

As expected, Asu didn't even attempt to look like she was appreciative of my offer. Instead, her eyes were filled with indignation and despise, as if shouting out "Better than strawberry cake? I didn't know you were such a liar, Hall brat. Don't you know that NOTHING is better than strawberry cake?"

But as I stated, it was a reaction I expected.

Without minding her disdain, I didn't hide my greedy expression as I carefully held the cone that acted as the anchor for the iced dessert in front of me. "Asu, since you don't want it, I guess I'll just have to eat it myself!"

I bit into the delicacy, gasping at its icy temperature and smooth texture as it quickly melts in my mouth like a snowflake. However, unlike a snowflake, the delicate snack tasted like honey milk. Delicious!

My eyes lit up as I swallowed, shivering slightly at the chill the food brought. "Marvelous! Delicious! I had heard so much about this dessert, but I had believed that the rumors about it were blown up and only served as an advertisement for the product."

I felt a pair of eyes drilling holes into my head.

"But…" I glanced at Asu. "It turns out to be much more delicious than I had thought! I wonder what ingredients were used to make the texture so smooth and soft, even after freezing it for so long! Oh, and the sweet aftertaste that still lingers in my mouth… so delightful!"