Chapter 11

After some superficial chitchats, I find an empty corner and seat down alone, Angelo has long been stolen from the younger girls who just debuted into society... Honestly I don't recall seeing him once since we entered this house.

I look at the nearby table and see a small forgotten tray of chocolate sweets, it's the same ones I saw at that party the other day... "I guess everyone's trying to earn that Duke's favour in a way or another, as if he would ever know about what happens here" is my though as I shove one in my mouth "I gotta pack some food for my mother when no one is looking"

-You're interested in those? I just recently discovered them too and have been in love since then, they seems to be a real hit in Turin-

Amazing, I had to catch the attention of the house's owner... Just my luck -Oh really? It's only the second or third time I try them-

-Do you like them?- I wonder why this girl is making such a fuss about it -Uhm, yes they're good...- I awkwardly reply -You don't really seem to mean it-

-Ah? I didn't mean to offend your hospitality, I'm just a bit tired I apologize... They're really good, I would be so nice to melt this chocolate into some coffee right about now- I fake a yawn to prove my point and hope she will leave me alone but instead she closes her fan and looks at me with a confused expression

-That's weird, those are born like candies for a reason... If they were meant to be melted and added to coffe then it would be a cream and not a chocolate candy, it's kind of disrespectful toward the culture behind those desserts-

I open my mouth, I can't believe my ears... "What bullshit is this? It's just some damn candy, leave me alone!" I force a smile out -Ah it must really be disrespectful to the... Candies, I apologize-

-Not only to the candies but to the inventor and all the people from that place who loves those sweet treats, don't you thinks so?- she fans herself and looks around

-Uhm yes... I'm sorry- I second her looking toward the floor, wanting to go home with my whole self.

Black shoes enters my field of vision -And why is that disrespectful?- my head shots up at that beautiful voice, dark green clothes and silver hair... The Duke of Savoia! What is he even doing here?

-Oh! My Lord, I apologize for disturbing you with my purposeless chatting... We were simply talking about those desserts from your homeland and how it would be disrespectful to denaturate them into other weird things- I'm afraid the disgust is showing on my face as I look at her terrible flirting

-It's not disrespectful... It's just a candy, it's not alive... Nor do we care about how you eat them at all in my city, chocolate is meant to be enjoyed so there's no need for rules on such a thing too- the girl's face turns serious, having failed her only chance to talk with the duke -Actually, we have a coffee and chocolate beverage in my city so it's not really an absurd idea... In our Kingdom we tend to party less and spend more time working, coffe is one of our most consumed beverages so it was only natural to experiment with it-

-Ah really? You never stop learning ahaha...- she says awkwardly and quickly leaves after that, I look at the man in front of me with adoration and he notices me. He rises an eyebrow and I recollect myself -Uhm, thank you-

-You're tired?- I shake my head -Of this Party? Yes, beside that I'm wide awake- he nods -Wants to try that drink?- I widen my eyes at this weird proposal from such a person -Excuse me?-

-Let's leave, I hate it here... A coffe would help both of us right now, my treat- I cannot believe my ears -Are you sure?- I ask in a whisper, he looks at me with a stern face and crossed arms -I wouldn't have even proposed it if I didn't mean to, are you doubting me? Do I look like the kind of person to go back in their words?-

He can be really imposing if he wants to -But everyone else will think...- he stops me -That I was in the company of someone with a low status? I'm a Great Duke, everyone is of lower rank than me. I'm practically a King, do I have to remind you of all the Kingdoms we own? For example the Kingdom of Sardinia, The County of Nice, The Kingdom of Sicily...-

-I get it, I get it- I say before he could start listing all the territories in their power... The Dukes of Savoia are probably some of the most powerful peoples currently alive in Europe now -Let's go- I say standing up, ready to follow him.

...

He leaves his coat to the waiter at the entrance and starts removing his gloves and scarf, I simply hang my own miserable coat to the wall instead and look around -Where are we...? I don't know this place-

We entered a very secluded alley and knocked on a seemingly plain door -Of course you don't, it's my private cafe. I hired some of the maitre chocolatiers from my city and took them with me for my stay in Venice- he makes way and rises a wine red curtain at the end of the dark hallway -I'm not a man who likes to lose time for mere plasure, but that doesn't mean I don't want to enjoy my free time... That's why I rented and arranged this place for me to have the best desserts with no hindrances around-

-So you just come here with a few friends to drink coffee after you're done with work?- I say going toward him and passing over the heavy curtain -I actually never took anyone in here, I told you I don't want to be bothered by others-

My eyebrows jump up at his words -I I I'm honoured... Even tho I am probably the biggest of burdens out there...- I say awkwardly before looking at the room around me and forgetting what I was even saying.

A circular room that looks like the inside of a circus tend even if we're inside an actual building, dim lights of a weird purple and red shade... Many mirrors all around the walls, some perfectly fine and some destroyed or burned in a few spots.

The ground is covered in flowers and only a small wooden runaway is present, leading to a platform at the center where a big bird cage lays open... Inside the finely decorated cage, there's a table with just two chairs and a chess board on top of it.

-Can this even be considered a Cafe? It's so beautiful... I've never seen something quite like it before-

He just barely smiles -You can judge by yourself, they make an amazing Bicerin here if you'd like one- he tilts his head toward the cage

-May I?- I ask -Unless you want to eat while standing, of course you can- he replies and heads to the lonely table at the center.