Mr. & Mrs Meropide

Chapter Fifty-Two: The Cake

Another two weeks had passed by uneventfully, with some smaller dates here and there, but Clorinde had been requested for many court trials due to a group of criminals that had been caught. With her time consumed by legal proceedings, they didn't get to spend much time together.

With these two busy weeks behind her, Clorinde got up early and headed to the Court of Fontaine, her shopping list folded neatly in her pocket. She walked briskly to the shop, her mind set on getting all the ingredients she needed for the day, excited about the day ahead. She had planned to bake a cake with Wriothesley—a small activity she had read about, described as the perfect bonding time for couples. After careful consideration, she had chosen a Fruit & Cream Cake.

To her, it wasn't just any cake. Its colorful, neat presentation and light yet elegant flavor felt like a reflection of their relationship—sweet but sophisticated, with just the right balance of playfulness and depth. Plus, Clorinde could never tire of the natural sweetness of fruit, a flavor she thought would make the moment all the more perfect.

"Good morning, Boucicaut," she greeted the shopkeeper. "I'd like some milk and flour, please."

"I'm sorry, miss, but we had an issue with our delivery. We currently have no flour in store," Boucicaut replied, sounding apologetic.

Clorinde remained composed. "I see. I'll take some wheat, then."

"I do have wheat, but unfortunately, most of our wares have been affected by the issue," Boucicaut continued. "We don't have any milk either."

Clorinde frowned, realizing her task was becoming more complicated by the minute. "Then, please tell me you have some almonds in stock, at least."

"Almonds I do have," Boucicaut replied with a smile.

The rest of her shopping trip didn't go any better. Most stores were affected by the delivery issue, and finding basic ingredients became a hassle. Clorinde managed to buy coffee beans from Arouet at Café Lutèce, but not before dealing with an unpleasant encounter.

The man behind her in line kept interrupting her, grumbling about how long she was taking. Each time he spoke over her, it made it impossible for the barista to hear her order properly, prompting her to repeat herself. As she finally received her order, the man made a sarcastic comment, "See? Not so difficult after all."

Clorinde shot him a look that could kill, her jaw clenched with irritation. But not wanting to actually hold up the line or make a scene, she forced herself to move on to the next store, her mood soured by the encounter.

Determined, she headed to Hotel Debord, where she managed to buy cream, sugar, and jam—but at a price that felt like a scam. With her bags getting heavier and the frustration mounting, she realized she still didn't have milk.

Her only option was to take a massive detour to "The Rusty Rudder," where Pitot greeted her.

"Please tell me you have milk," Clorinde said, feeling exasperated.

"Of course," Pitot replied cheerfully. "You're not the first who took the extra trip for my goods. I haven't been affected by the delivery issue at all," he added as he carefully packed the milk for her.

Now balancing three heavy bags, Clorinde paid gratefully and made her way toward home, hoping Navia would have some butter to spare, something else she hadn't managed to find.

She boarded the aquabus, finding the only free seat next to a mother and her energetic child. The kid was gesturing vividly, telling his mom a story, and as the aquabus took off, the child accidentally knocked over his bottle of Fonta, spilling it all over Clorinde's shoes. The mother immediately began apologizing profusely, clearly flustered by the incident. Clorinde, understanding that parenthood could be stressful, waved it off and assured her it wasn't a big deal, offering a small smile despite the inconvenience, making sure to keep her image intact.