Chapter 15

After being carried from the training ground, Bellver struggled to get down from Bellatrix’s embrace.

They had inadvertently reached a spot where other students were starting to pass by.

Everyone this morning has given Bellver a startled look as he was seen being held by a man.

This greatly troubled Bellver.

Every time he felt someone’s gaze, his face would uncontrollably tremble with embarrassment.

However, Bellatrix had no intention of letting go.

She decided to enjoy the misconception that they were lovers.

“Please let me down…!”

“But I don’t want to. Didn’t you say you’d let me do whatever I wanted today?”

“Eh…! I’m so embarrassed I could d*e?!”

“You won’t d*e.”

Bellatrix looked down at Bellver who was cutely tapping her chest in case she might be hurting.

He lifted his head and their eyes met.

His face was so contorted with embarrassment it looked like he was about to cry, with dew-like tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.

It was clear that if touched, those tears would fall like a heavy rain.

Feeling truly sorry for teasing him further, she decided to let him down since they had arrived at their destination.

“Well, we’re here. Guess I’m pretty nice, huh.”

“Hii…! You went too far! I’m going to get mad at you!”

“But didn’t you promise to indulge me today?”

“Iieeek! I’ll hate you tomorrow! It’s improper for you to touch me like this!”

“It’s my body too, isn’t it? Besides, weren’t you the one watching me hold you like that?”

“Ugh…!”

“Alright. I’ll stop. Let’s go in. Time to start acting.”

Bellver couldn’t bring himself to hate her today, despite wanting to.

Because she had promised to let him have his way today.

He knew all too well that he caused many accidents during teatime yesterday.

So even if he gets teased all day, he can’t complain.

All he could do was puff out his cheeks and pretend to be upset.

Since they had already agreed to maintain Bellatrix’s image with only casual speech and arrogance, there was nothing to worry about.

Except for the feeling that he forgot something.

He thought he’d end up in a terrible state after being teased all day.

So he resolved to hate her tomorrow, though he had no idea how much hatred would be enough.

Bellatrix gently took Bellver’s hand and entered their destination.

“What kind of place is this?”

“A dessert café. They say it’s the most famous one in the academy. I wanted to come here once.”

“Do you like this kind of thing?”

“Wouldn’t you say it’s more for you than me?”

“I don’t really like sweets.”

Bellver genuinely didn’t like sweet things.

Being someone who should avoid sweets, he found them too sugary, which made him shiver.

Just thinking about it made his body shake, and his perfectly arranged face slightly distorted.

He assumed Bellatrix liked sweets.

But she doesn’t like sweets either.

She just brought Bellver because he looked like someone who would like sweets.

Sweets are only eaten as a palate cleanser when drinking coffee.

Who is this dessert café for?

Both thought it was for each other.

Then who is it for when they leave?

“I’ll take the most popular item.”

“Yes.”

Bellatrix left the choice to the staff since she didn’t know much about desserts.

Judging that choosing herself would be worse than getting the most popular item.

She was somewhat excited.

How delicious would the most popular dessert in the academy’s most famous café be?

Would it satisfy even her, who doesn’t particularly like sweets?

“Wow…!”

Seeing the chiffon cake generously topped with whipped cream, Bellver gasped in awe like a baby deer tasting carrots for the first time.

Not knowing much about desserts, it was a form he had never seen before.

The fluffy bread was generously covered with soft, creamy whipped cream, forming an incredibly beautiful shape.

Even if he didn’t like it, it was so pretty just looking at it made him hungry.

Bellatrix was also pleasantly surprised by the unexpectedly high quality.

The cakes she had seen at banquets weren’t as beautiful.

“This is somewhat exciting.”

“Is it really okay to eat something so beautiful?”

“If it’s meant to be eaten, eating it is the proper thing to do.”

Bellver felt incredibly sad that he had to eat the cake in front of him.

To ruin such a perfect form felt like putting a dot on a perfect picture.

He almost wanted to order another one.

Of course, ordering another would make him cherish it too much, so he didn’t act on it.

Bellver’s bright eyes turned toward Bellatrix.

It meant he wanted her to try it first.

Bellatrix smiled mischievously upon receiving his gaze and picked up the fork.

What kind of taste would this cake have?

Bellver’s excitement made him wiggle his feet ever so slightly.

It must be delicious if it looks this good.

Surely delicious enough to please even him who doesn’t like sweets.

“I’ll try it.”

“Yes…!”

Curious about the taste, Bellatrix readily picked up the fork.

The crumbly cake melted smoothly as she cut into it with the fork, heading toward her mouth.

When it finally reached her mouth, she tasted the unique sweetness of the whipped cream harmoniously combined with the savory bread.

Even to her, who thought desserts with whipped cream were unpleasantly sweet, it was satisfying.

Thinking of telling him the taste straightforwardly, she instead wore a mischievous expression.

Seeing that expression, Bellver got goosebumps all over his body.

Whenever Bellatrix wore that expression, it meant mischief was coming.

If only she would simply tell him the taste of the cake.

Bellver pleaded with his eyes for her not to do anything.

Naturally, Bellatrix easily ignored his gaze and smirked without saying a word.

“I really hate you…”

Even though it seemed like Bellver’s eyes were shedding sorrowful tears, Bellatrix endured.

Finally, Bellver picked up the fork with trembling hands.

To him, this fork now seemed more terrifying than a cursed sword that killed tens of thousands of people.

His hands shook violently as he held it, fearing its power.

Eventually, he steeled himself and prepared.

This was an inevitable farewell.

Though their meeting was brief, the chiffon cake must have been happy to meet Bellver.

Continuing to stare would disrespect the patissier who made it.

Ultimately, he tightly closed his eyes and pierced the cake with the cold fork.

Smoothly, the fork dug into the crumbly texture until it hit the hard bottom of the plate.

Ting. The sound of the fork hitting the plate echoed as he quickly put the piece into his mouth with his eyes still shut.

“Is it tasty…?”

Upon tasting the cake in his mouth, Bellver’s eyes widened in amazement.

There was no way to describe this fantastical taste.

Certainly, he disliked sweets.

Yet, he could eat this without hesitation.

The guilt of ruining the cake disappeared entirely, replaced by happiness at how delicious it was.

“Tasty?”

“Yes…! It’s really delicious…!”

Bellver began eating the cake enthusiastically in response to the question.

Bellatrix was no longer on his mind.

He wanted to immerse himself in this newfound world.

He didn’t even notice the warm gazes of those around him as he ate happily, unaware of how delicious it was.

Despite eating voraciously, he maintained elegant table manners, creating a picturesque scene.

The sight of a beautiful woman happily enjoying a delightful dessert was truly flawless.

Even Bellatrix was impressed by his impeccable posture.

“Ah…”

The fork ticked against the empty plate.

The cold reality resonated through his fingertips.

The happy time was now over.

The face of Bellver, who had just moments ago seemed to be wandering in paradise, gradually darkened.

His eyelids trembled pitifully, and his lips drooped.

He glanced at the remaining cake before him.

“Do you want to eat?”

“…!”

At Bellatrix’s question, Bellver nodded vigorously enough to make a buzzing sound.

He really wanted to eat that.

From now on, he would love sweets.

Disliking them was because he hadn’t tasted something this good.

She smiled gently and handed the cake over.

How could she play tricks on someone who likes it so much?

As someone who adores Bellver, it was impossible for Bellatrix.

“Waaah…! I love it…!”

Bellver started eating the cake again, forgetting about the act.

Luckily, there was no one nearby who knew Bellatrix or heard his voice.

Because this Bellver was too different from the Bellatrix they knew.

Even using honorifics.

Bellatrix interpreted this as a sign that she pleased him and smiled.

*

“Hmm! That was a good meal.”

“Yeah. You really ate well.”

“Don’t look at me like that! I was just thinking of the patissier’s efforts.”

Having finished the cake and emerged from the lingering aftertaste, Bellver was mortified.

Never did he think he would like sweets so much.

Trying to hide his embarrassment, he forced a blank expression.

The problem was that his ears were extremely red, but his face remained expressionless except for his ears turning crimson, clearly showing his embarrassment.

Bellver sent a glare meaning ‘stop it’ to Bellatrix.

The recipient, Bellatrix, smiled slyly and extended her hand as if asking him to come.

“Let’s go back. I’ll consider your cute moment earlier as punishment.”

“Ugh… Please forget it…”

“I can never forget it. I’ll keep feeding you.”

“Why did I do that…”

“You were adorable.”

“Ugh…”

Bellver couldn’t even argue this time.

He knew exactly how he must have looked.

Getting so distracted by just a dessert.

He was embarrassed by himself.

Especially since she said she would end the punishment with that.

She seemed to have deeper understanding than him.

He was frustrated.

Even though he had lived as a man all his life, he lost to her who had lived as a woman all her life.

That night, there’s a story that a mysterious maid witnessed Bellver burying his face in a pillow and pounding his bed.