Chapter 789

Caitlin had always loved her grandmother Hannah’s peach blossom shortbread.
Because of that, whenever she saw the pastries for sale, she would buy a few to try. But the store-bought versions were never even close to the ones Hannah made by hand. They were either too sweet or too rich, and even when she found a bakery that got the balance right, the shortbread always lacked that unique, fragrant aroma.
During her time in The Capital, she must have tried over a hundred different pastry shops. It wasn’t just The Capital, either. In Neon Spire, Silverhaven, and every other city she visited, Caitlin bought countless boxes of peach blossom shortbread, but she never found one that tasted the same.
Until today.
Here, in a foreign land, Caitlin was tasting that exact same flavor, and it filled her with an indescribable feeling.
Tina noticed her expression and smiled. “I didn’t buy these.”
“You didn’t buy them?” Caitlin asked, incredulous. “Don’t tell me… you made them yourself?”
“No, not me,” Tina said, shaking her head. “They were a gift from the lady of the house. She made them herself.”
The lady of the house?
A prickle of unease went down Caitlin’s spine. Something wasn’t right. She couldn’t find this taste anywhere in Eldermere, so how could it possibly exist here, in the distant land of Valerium?
“Forgive me, Tina, I know this might sound a bit forward,” Caitlin began, carefully setting down the pastry and choosing her words. “But could you tell me her name and how old she is?”
Tina stared, clearly taken aback by the question. Even Celeste, sitting beside Caitlin, looked surprised.
Caitlin wasually a quiet person
arely showing interest in people she didn’t know well. But today, she was like a different person, grilling a stranger about who made a pastry.
Celeste’s mind raced. Something was wrong.
Could they be poisoned? After all, Caitlin was a doctor. She would know instantly
if something was off.
At that thought, Celeste immediately
dropped the shortbread she was
holding her eyes wide with panic ass she stared at Caithin. *Oh god, I’m → not going to die from poisonin a foreign country, am I?*
Zelda and John exchanged a puzzled look. Zelda had the same thought as Celeste and turned to Caitlin anxiously. “Miss Kensington, is something wrong with the shortbread?”
Caitlin offered a reassuring smile. “Mrs. Miller, please don’t worry. The shortbread
is delicious and perfectly safe. I was just curious about who made it.”
Zelda and Celeste both let out a sigh of relief. Celeste immediately picked up another piece. “It really is amazing! I’ve never tasted anything this good.” If someone opened a Shop selling these in Eldermere, the line would be out the door Google seaʀᴄh.net
Zelda gently nudged Tina. “Tina! Miss Kensington asked you a question. How old
is the lady of your house? What’s her name?”
Although the question was odd, Caitlin was the woman who had saved her
daughter. Zelda was going to get her an answer.
Tina finally snapped out of her surprise and met Caitlin’s gaze. “Our mistress is in
her forties, though I don’t know her exact age. She’s also from Eldermere. Her name is Flavia.”
Tina’s English was a bit accented.