Chapter 28: The Bakery Confession That Almost Was

Verbena spent the rest of the night tossing and turning in bed, her face burning with embarrassment every time she remembered the balcony scene. The memory replayed in her head like a broken record—his teasing voice, the way he cornered her so effortlessly, and worst of all, the letter she had foolishly poured her feelings into.

"This is why villains should not be handsome," she muttered into her pillow. "Or charming. Or capable of leaning against walls like that."

Morning sunlight filtered through her window far too quickly for her liking, and just when she thought she could avoid Theodore for the day by feigning illness, the head maid knocked and announced, "His Grace requests you accompany him to town today."

"Town? Why town?!" Verbena shot up, hair sticking in every possible direction.

"He says there's an urgent matter regarding the bakery you've been asking to visit."

The bakery?

Oh. That bakery.

In her first life—the one where she was just an ordinary, broke college student—Verbena had always dreamed of owning a bakery. And the first time she arrived in this world, she heard rumors of a small but famous bakery in the capital known for its heavenly rosewater pastries.

She mentioned it once, months ago, during a passing conversation with Theodore. She never expected him to actually remember.

The realization made her heart do a confusing little flip.

---

An hour later, Verbena found herself sitting beside Theodore in the carriage, trying very hard not to look at him or breathe in his ridiculously intoxicating scent. Why did villains have to smell like cedarwood and storms after rain? It was completely unfair.

The carriage came to a halt outside a quaint bakery with ivy crawling up its brick walls. The scent of freshly baked bread and sweet pastries filled the air, instantly making Verbena's stomach growl.

"I thought you might like to visit," Theodore said casually, offering his hand to help her down.

Verbena took it, trying to ignore the warmth that spread from her palm to her chest. "T-this is just for the sake of marital appearances, right?"

"Of course." His smirk was anything but innocent. "I'm merely acting like a devoted husband for the sake of gossiping nobles."

"R-right." Verbena nodded firmly. "Good. Yes. Very logical."

They stepped inside, and Verbena immediately lost herself in the sea of pastries, cakes, and delicate confections lining the shelves. Her eyes sparkled like a child seeing snow for the first time.

"This… this is heaven."

Theodore, watching her soft smile, said nothing. But the fondness in his gaze was impossible to miss.

---

The bakery's elderly owner, a grandmotherly woman with flour-dusted hands, practically beamed at them.

"Oh, how lovely! The Duke and Duchess visiting my humble bakery!" she gushed, her wrinkled hands clasped together in delight. "And such a beautiful young couple, too."

Verbena opened her mouth to politely deny the 'beautiful couple' part, but Theodore smoothly placed his arm around her waist, pulling her close.

"She's been longing to visit," he said with a smile so charming Verbena almost forgot to breathe. "I'm simply fulfilling my beloved wife's wish."

Beloved wife?! Was he trying to kill her with secondhand embarrassment?!

The bakery owner's eyes practically sparkled. "Such a doting husband! Ah, young love."

Verbena's face turned bright red, and she elbowed Theodore in the ribs the moment the owner turned away to fetch their pastries.

"Are you trying to confuse me?!" she whispered furiously.

"I'm merely playing the role of a perfect husband." His smile was wickedly amused. "Unless… you want me to stop?"

Verbena's heart slammed against her ribcage. "I want you to stop playing."

The words tumbled out before she could stop them. Both of them froze. Theodore's eyes narrowed slightly, as if carefully studying her expression.

"Interesting," he said softly. "Perhaps I will."

Before Verbena could figure out what that meant, the bakery owner returned with a tray of rosewater pastries. "These are best enjoyed in the garden behind the shop. It's quite private."

Oh no. Not another garden.

Verbena's garden luck had been terrible lately.

---

They sat beneath a flowering trellis, sunlight filtering through the leaves as Verbena nervously nibbled at her pastry. Theodore sat across from her, uncharacteristically quiet, his gaze unreadable.

"Why did you really bring me here?" she asked, voice soft.

"You wanted to come."

"Yes, but… you never do things without a reason."

He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "What if my reason was simply you?"

Her heart skipped. Then sprinted. Then did an Olympic-level triple flip.

"Nonsense," she scoffed, trying to laugh it off. "You're too much of a villain for that."

"Maybe the villain has fallen for his foolish little wife."

Verbena nearly choked on her pastry. "Don't joke like that!"

"Who said I was joking?"

This time, her face turned so red she worried she might spontaneously combust.

Before the moment could turn too dangerous, a loud rustling came from the bushes nearby. Verbena jumped to her feet. "A spy?!"

Instead, a familiar gaggle of noble ladies peeked through the hedge, their fans hiding their giggles.

"Oh, it's so romantic! He's courting her with pastries!" one whispered.

"Did you see how he looked at her? Like a man utterly besotted!"

Verbena groaned. "Why are they everywhere?"

Theodore, unbothered as always, took her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles—right in full view of their audience.

The noble ladies collectively swooned and collapsed into the hedge like dominoes.

Verbena yanked her hand back, her heart a chaotic mess of confusion and warmth. "You—You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Immensely." His smirk was pure evil.

And yet, beneath it, there was something almost soft. Almost sincere.

As they walked back toward the carriage, Verbena couldn't help but wonder…

Was this villain actually starting to fall for her?

And more importantly—was she already falling for him?

End of chapter