Kunimi Akira x Reader Oneshots

Bittersweet Caramel

Life in the capital of the Aoba Johsai domain was relatively easy and relaxed, even for us commoners who were usually worked to the bone. In fact, I heard that the quality of life here was only second to the Miyagi Kingdom Capital, Shiratorizawa City. Since my mother used to work for the Seijoh ducal family before managing our family's bakery, I heard and personally witnessed many good things about them as I grew up. 

There was the strict but caring Duke Hajime, who improved the duchy's military immensely and was the main reason our lives were so peaceful and our streets so safe. He also served as the financially competent husband to the more frivolous Duchess Tooru. Although, that wasn't to say that the Duchess didn't play a major role. In fact, Duchess Tooru was the reason they could remain in power for this long, ensuring that the domain didn't fall into the hands of corrupt nobles. He was probably the wisest in terms of political and diplomatic matters, working behind the scenes to boost his people's morale and to push through development programs...not to mention most nobles would agree to anything he proposed as soon as they saw him in his most stunning evening gown. Of course, that wasn't his only tactic. If it was, many nobles would have died by Hajime-sama's hand by now...

Ah, I went off on a tangent. Perhaps I know too much about politics and nobles' personal lives for a baker's daughter... But the Seijoh family truly is amazing.They have three sons in total, all close in age and immensely talented. There was Yuutaro-sama, the eldest and most warrior-minded, perhaps inheriting the trait from the Duke. I met him when I was a child, and his swordsmanship was truly reminiscent of Hajime-sama. Some time ago, he officially gave up the right to succeed as Duke, most likely because he wanted to serve as a Royal Knight. I didn't know much about the second son, Tobio-sama, since he was disowned when I was young. I only heard whispers around that despite having a less than ideal personality, he was a talented knight and was soon taken in by some fallen noble family.

And now, right in front of me, lazily waiting for his Salted Caramel Cake, was the third son. Akira-sama, the current young master and heir. I was well acquainted with him and we talked quite a few times when I was younger, due to the Seijoh family being closer to their subjects than most nobles, and my mother's job then of course, but it's not like I could really say I was friends with him. Friendships between commoners and nobles were unheard of, especially when said noble was the heir of a family second only in prestige to the royal family. Unless maybe you were from a rich merchant family...which I most definitely wasn't.

Unfortunately, he didn't seem to agree with the classist views of our society.

Today too, he was dressed simply, not much different from the clothes of a commoner. Conversing as if we weren't multiple classes below him, he gave a casual greeting before ordering, "Your biggest Salted Caramel Cake, please."

Truly, any way you looked at it, there was no reason for him to go to our bakery every week. His family had a legion of personal chefs, cooks, and bakers in their home! And even if our cake was really his favorite, he could just send a servant to buy it for him? Wasn't he always a "less effort the better" kind of guy?! It was more acceptable that we were quite close when we were young, but he's an adult now! And was made the heir! A Duke to be and a baker is a completely different situation from the lazy third son and the daughter of his personal cook!

"Your...cake is ready, Young Master," I found it hard not to mumble the words as I handed him the beautifully decorated white and blue cake box, careful so as not to destroy the cake inside.

"Mmm...you can call me Aki or Akira like when we were kids, you know. Young master is a mouthful," he responded, blinking the sleep out of his eyes.

"Er...Akira-sama, then..."

"...forgive me for asking, but why do you never bring servants with you?" I peeked behind him to confirm the fact.

"They're a bother, I guess..." he answered with a nonchalant shrug.