<h4>Chapter 90.2</h4>


    The fragrant steam from three cups of tea danced yfully in the air, as Lord Loden’s daughter was guided by Owen through the hidden pathways of Jasmins’ secret garden. Guests who sought grandeur and opulence in their gardens were often curious about this particr oasis, where the duchess had meticulously curated an exotic and orientalndscape, adorned with towering stones and Eastern nts.


    As the woman’s eyes were captivated by the stunning view, a hint of pink bloomed on her cheeks. “I had no idea that the Grand Duke would personally receive us,” she said, her voice tinged with wonder. “I had only hoped to see Mrs. Ihar and leave, but I am grateful for your hospitality.”


    ude set down his cup, its contents releasing a sweet aroma that tantalized the senses. “How does the tea taste?” he asked, his voice smooth and measured.


    The daughter of the Duke’s face lit up with a brilliant smile. “It is sweet and mysterious,” she replied. “Is this the tea that the Grand Duke prefers to drink?”


    ude’s eyes met hers, calm and steady. Though she appeared to be of Canillia’s age, there was something different about her.


    He couldn’t help but wonder what Lia was doing at that moment. Was she still in the nunnery? Despite knowing it was foolish, thoughts of her consumed him, and with each passing day, his symptoms only worsened.


    As ude remembered the letter sent by Rosina and the mother of Canillia, which Ian had rescued, his face hardened with anger. The count’s daughter, who had been chattering excitedly, abruptly stopped and stared at his expression in confusion.


    “The tea is a favorite of my fiancée,” ude said, his voice tight. “I loathe sweets.”


    The woman’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, you have a fiancée?”


    “Yes, of course,” ude replied curtly.


    “But I thought Miss Shelby was…” the woman trailed off, her confusion evident.


    The Countess, who had apanied her daughter, also looked taken aback.


    “We are nning to have the wedding soon,” ude said coolly. “I’ll send you an invitation.”


    The countess stood up abruptly, as if she had been insulted. “We will be leaving now,” she said haughtily. “We seem to have picked the wrong day.”


    Thedy, wearing a wide hat, led her distraught daughter, who was looking away, out of the room. Despite the women’s hasty exit, ude continued to drink his tea calmly and elegantly.


    “Didn’t you want to see my mother’s garden?” ude asked, his tone mild.


    “I’ve seen enough,” the countess spat.


    “Then, I won’t see you out,” ude said, his voice cold. “Owen, please escort them.”


    “Yes, my lord,” Owen replied, and escorted the two shocked women out of the garden. The image of the countess, who was leaving the garden while fiercely pulling her daughter’s arm, who couldn’t let go of her resentment, was reflected in the ss.


    As the guests departed, ude let out a deep sigh, his hand instinctively massaging his forehead as a headache began to take hold. Just then, Owen returned from escorting the guests. ude, as if he had been waiting for this very moment, reached for the hat sitting next to him.


    “Where is Canillia now?” he queried, his voice tinged with a hint of urgency.


    “I heard she went to a café in the city,” Owen replied.


    Without hesitation, ude stood up and dered, “Then let’s go too.”


    His head was pounding. He needed medication right away.


    ***


    The tea table was adorned with parfaits, topped with fluffy whipped cream, fresh fruit juice, and an array of sweet desserts, all proudly presented by the owner. Canillia, exhausted from ying with the children, scooped up a spoonful of whipped cream with a curious expression. The extreme softness of the cream melted in her mouth, disappearing as soon as it touched her tongue.


    As her eyes widened in delight, the face of the owner who had brought the new dessert brightened.


    “It is an honor to meet you, Mrs. Ihar. This is a gift from our store, so please enjoy it to your heart’s content.”


    “Thank you,” Jasmine replied, taking a sip of the fruit juice.


    Jasmine ced a honey-soaked, nut-heavy pie in front of Canillia, who picked it up in her hand and took a bite. “Delicious,” she mumbled.


    “I’m d it fits in your mouth,” Jasmine said with a smile. “The two of you, please go ahead and eat.”


    “Aren’t you full just by watching thedy eat?” Canillia’s friend asked jokingly. “Today was really helpful.”


    “It’s nothing. I’m d there’s something I can do to help. Besides, you were just ying with the kids, right?” Jasmine replied.


    Jasmine stared at Canillia, whocked confidence, and ced her hand on the table. “I don’t know why you underestimate yourself. You’re smart and bubbly, and your face is so pretty.”


    A thick shadow loomed behind Canillia as she clutched her pie, lost in thought. Suddenly, a voice from above her head interrupted her musings.


    “I agree,” the voice said.


    Canillia looked up to find the grand duke, ude, standing before her. He was thest person she expected to see here.


    “A girl who is ashamed and embarrassed of what she has,” ude said, his words cutting through the air like a knife.


    Without hesitation, ude reached out and took a bite of Canillia’s pie, the sticky honey smearing on his lips. The people around them were taken aback by ude’s sudden appearance, rising from their seats to greet the grand duke. But Canillia could only stare nkly at him.


    “I was born the son of my mother and father. I inherited the title of duke and my father’s estate at birth, but do you think it was earned through my own efforts?” ude asked as he sat down next to Canillia and took a mouthful of the disgustingly sweet parfait.


    “I can’t decide where I was born, so I can only assume I was lucky,” ude continued, wrapping his arm around Canillia’s shoulder and whispering in her ear. “And, my mother and father always said, ‘I couldn’t be more proud if I could make my people feel the same way.’”


    “So there’s a lot more you can do than this,” he added, gazing into her eyes.


    Jasmine sighed as she watched ude licked the cream off his lips with his tongue, then called the owner of the café to order another cup of coffee.


    “The reason you came here out of the blue… Are you worried about Lia?” Jasmine asked, her eyes scanning the café.


    “I expected it to be like this. Thinking that all of this is too much for her, she would hunch her shoulders and be lost in her own thoughts,” ude replied, looking at Canillia with concern.


    Feeling embarrassed, Canillia pulled ude’s sleeve and protested, “I didn’t. I was thinking about what to say. I worked really hard today, ude.”


    Jasmine added her own words of support, “Yes, I would have been exhausted without yourdy today. Why do children grow up so quickly?”


    ude looked at Canillia in disbelief. “Really?” he asked.


    Canillia nodded confidently. “Yes. I was really happy today,” she said, her voice filled with determination.