novelraw Chapter 707: The Blueberry Garden
Chapter 707: The Blueberry Garden
Cassius turned toward her with proud satisfaction, spreading his arms slightly.
"It’s the outfit the fathers wear for church services. What do you think, Maria? Do I look good?"
She stared, utterly captivated.
"You look...You look good. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with it at all. But...why are you wearing something like this right now?"
"Well..." He shrugged, a teasing grin breaking through the solemn facade. "You changed your clothes, so I thought I should change mine too. Try something different for once and swap out roles for a day."
He looked down at himself.
"It feels strange—like it doesn’t belong on me at all. But it’s comfortable. I don’t mind it."
"You look so handsome, Young Master!" One of the clerks called out, unable to contain herself. "So charming! If you started attending church, I would go every single day!"
Cassius laughed, waving off the compliment.
But Maria was staring at him with a different kind of appreciation.
He had changed his clothes to match her theme.
He had put on the vestments of a priest—the clothing of her world just to make her feel more comfortable.
It was such a small gesture. Such a simple thing.
And yet it touched her more than any grand romantic declaration ever could.
"You look..." She searched for the right words. "You look like a holy man. A man of faith. And yet..." She hesitated "...there’s something else there too. Something beneath the surface."
Cassius raised an eyebrow.
"A devil hiding underneath." She concluded. "No matter what vestments you wear, your eyes give you away. That crimson gaze...it’s impossible to hide what you really are."
"And what am I?" He asked, his voice soft.
She met his eyes.
"Someone who makes his own rules. Someone who follows his own path." She smiled. "Someone who would probably seduce the nuns right out of the convent if he ever set foot inside one."
The clerks giggled.
Cassius grinned. "Guilty as charged."
Maria shook her head, still smiling, and turned to Madame Elise.
"Thank you for everything." She said warmly. "The dresses are beautiful. Your hospitality has been wonderful."
Madame Elise bowed deeply. "The pleasure was all mine, Lady Maria. Please come again—anytime. You are always welcome here."
Cassius settled the bill—Maria tried not to look at the total—and together they made their way to the door.
The clerks waved goodbye, their faces dreamy, already planning to gossip about this day for weeks to come.
But before Cassius could even gesture toward the waiting throne, Maria gently caught his arm.
"Please, Cassius, there’s no need!" She said quickly, glancing around. "I’ve had quite enough of the throne for today. I would much prefer if we just walked for the rest of the day."
Now that she was wearing the light, revealing white dress, every eye on the street was already turning toward her. Men, women, and children alike stared in open awe and admiration.
A few passersby actually walked straight into lampposts or stumbled over their own feet, too distracted to watch where they were going.
The entire scene seemed to grow still, as if the world itself had paused just to admire her.
Maria felt a fresh wave of embarrassment and instinctively stepped closer to Cassius, hiding slightly behind him.
"If I stay up on that throne, even more people will stare." She added, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "Please?"
Cassius didn’t hesitate for a second.
"No problem at all, Maria. The next place is quite close by anyway."
Then his grin turned mischievous. He held out his hand.
"But of course, you have to hold my hand the whole way. After all, this part of town is still a little unfamiliar to you. I wouldn’t want you to get lost."
The excuse was so transparently shameless that Maria couldn’t help but laugh softly. Still, she smiled beautifully and slipped her hand into his, lacing their fingers together.
Then, unable to resist teasing him right back, she added with a playful lilt,
"You know, if I had a son, I would hold his hand and take him around everywhere like this. I suppose I can think of it that way for now."
Cassius’s smug expression instantly soured into a comically downcast pout.
"Maria...I’m not your son."
She burst into bright, delighted laughter.
"I know, I know! But if I did have a son, I would want him to be just like you—such a gentleman who knows exactly how to impress a lady."
His face grew even gloomier. Maria giggled again, thoroughly enjoying herself.
"Come along, Cassius. Let’s go—show your mother around town."
He groaned, but his fingers tightened affectionately around hers.
"I’m not your son, Maria."
She gave his hand a gentle squeeze, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Sure, sure. Now where are we going to take Mommy today?"
They walked hand-in-hand down the sunlit street, Maria giggling every time Cassius tried and failed to defend his dignity as a man—while he grew more flustered and adorable with every teasing remark.
—
Soon after, Cassius and Maria reached their destination, and Maria found herself utterly surprised by the sight before her.
It was a restaurant—but unlike any she had seen before.
A wooden placard swung gently in the breeze, painted with elegant letters: The Blueberry Garden.
The building itself was charming, a blend of rustic stonework and warm timber, with large windows thrown open to let in the morning air.
Green vines crept up the walls and cascaded from hanging planters, giving the place a living, breathing quality that made it feel almost enchanted.
Through those open windows, Maria could see customers inside—laughing, chatting, lifting forks to their mouths with obvious delight.
The restaurant didn’t hide its interior behind heavy curtains or frosted glass. It welcomed the outside in, and the outside couldn’t help but peek back.
But what truly captured Maria’s attention was the garden.
To the left of the main building, connected by a stone pathway lined with flowering bushes, lay a beautiful expanse of greenery.
Flowers of every color bloomed in organized chaos—roses, lilies, daisies, and plants she couldn’t even name.
Blueberry bushes heavy with fruit lined the edges, their sweet scent mingling with the fragrance of blossoms.
Tables were scattered throughout the garden, each one occupied by customers who seemed to be having the time of their lives.
Children ran between the tables, laughing. Couples held hands across white cloths. Elderly couples sat in peaceful silence, simply enjoying the beauty around them.
"What do you think, Maria?" Cassius turned to her with a hopeful grin. "What do you think of the place I chose for our breakfast?"
"...It’s beautiful."
Maria could not tear her gaze away.
"The smell coming from the kitchen already tells me the food will be incredible, but sitting in a garden like this? Surrounded by all this beauty?"
She shook her head slowly.
"It would make even the simplest meal taste like a feast."
She then turned to look at him, her expression thoughtful.
"I’ve been to places like this in the capital. Restaurants with outdoor seating, gardens, the whole arrangement. But they were always so...formal."
She wrinkled her nose.
"You could barely breathe. Everyone was so conscious of who was watching, who was judging. It was full of officials and high-ranking nobles, all trying to impress each other instead of enjoying their meal."
She gestured at the scene before them.
"But this is completely different. Look at them—laughing, talking loudly, not caring who sees. Children playing around. People spilling their drinks and just laughing it off."
She smiled warmly. "It feels like a big family picnic. There’s no pretense here. No oppression."
She paused, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Not to mention...there are so many common people here eating with their families. It’s rather strange."
Her gaze drifted to a family nearby whose clothes were clearly worn and simple, then to a couple with dirt still smudged on their necks from a morning in the fields, and finally to a group of young ladies whose dresses had visible patches yet who were laughing freely together.
Cassius raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in his eye.
"What is this, my dear Maria? Is the Saintess of Compassion discriminating against others? Are you saying common people and commoners should not eat in a place like this?"
Maria immediately gave his arm a playful pinch.
"Of course not, Cassius!" She protested, though she was smiling. "Its just that usually places like this are reserved for the higher-ups—nobles and people with a lot of money."
"Only they are allowed to eat at establishments like this, while commoners usually have to go to pubs or bars or stuffy little restaurants that feel humid and crowded."
"They’re normally never allowed into places like this, and even if they are, they can’t afford it because everything would be so expensive. So it is rather surprising to see something like this."
"Good deduction, Maria."
Cassius’s expression softened into a knowing smile as he explained,
"Apparently the owner of this place saw the same discrimination you just described. He noticed how commoners had to settle for plain bread and stew while the higher-ups enjoyed all sorts of fancy dishes, and he wanted to change that."
"He wanted everyone—absolutely everyone—to experience something better. So he built this restaurant with affordable prices to the point that even a low-wage worker could come here and enjoy a proper meal."
Maria’s eyes widened.
"What? How is that possible? If the prices are that low, how is a place like this going to make any profit?"
Cassius simply shrugged, his tone casual.
"Apparently the owner doesn’t really care about profit. He just wants everyone to have a good time."
Maria stared at him in wonder.
She had never heard of such a thing. A business owner who didn’t care about money? Who built a restaurant not for profit, but for the joy of feeding people?
"The owner must be an admirable person." She said softly. "A truly admirable person. I would very much like to meet them. What they’re doing—it’s a genuine service to society."
She looked at Cassius hopefully.
"Do you know who they are? The owner?"
Cassius shook his head, his expression carefully neutral.
"No, not really. Apparently, they’re a rather mysterious individual. They don’t want their name known."
Maria sighed. "What a pity. I would have liked to thank them. To tell them how much good they’re doing."
But just then, a cheerful voice called out.
"My lord! My lord!"
Both of them turned.
A middle-aged man came hurrying toward them—plump and friendly-looking, with a thick mustache and an approachable, jovial face that made Maria smile despite herself. He looked like the sort of person who would tell the best stories over dinner.
Cassius, however, immediately frowned, as if he wanted to wave the man away. But before he could speak, the man reached them.
"My lord!" He panted, clutching his chest. "The dishes you sent us last week—they’re a complete hit! Everyone is craving them! Our business has exploded—we’ve even been mentioned in the capital!"
He beamed, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Not to mention, we can barely keep up with the demand. We might need to open another branch. Or two. Or three!"
Cassius’s face grew darker with each word.
Maria watched the exchange with growing confusion—and then, slowly, a look of dawning realization.
She turned to the man, her smile warm.
"Hello there. Are you someone who works at this restaurant?"
The man finally noticed her, and he couldn’t believe the sight. He stared at her like a man who had just seen the sun for the first time, completely dazzled.
But he recovered quickly, puffing out his chest with pride.
"Indeed I am, my lady! I am Duncan Leroy, head chef and proprietor of this establishment!"
He launched into his story without being asked.
"Not long ago, I was working at a common tavern, just like every other chef in this city. But the young master—" He gestured at Cassius with obvious reverence "—he noticed my talent. He plucked me from obscurity and gave me this position. And I am forever grateful!"
Maria’s smile widened.
"Not only do I get to cook delicious food and make people happy, but I get the privilege of running this entire restaurant. All thanks to him!"
He beamed at Cassius, who looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
Maria, already knowing exactly what was happening, teased Cassius by grabbing his arm and asking Duncan innocently.
"Then can you please tell me who this young man is? And why exactly was he able to employ you in this position?"
Duncan puffed up even more.
"This young man is Cassius Vindictus Holyfield! The third son of the Holyfield estate!" He spread his arms wide. "And most importantly, he is the owner of this restaurant! The founder! The visionary!"
He gestured at the building, the garden, the happy customers.
"He built this place from nothing. He created the concept, designed the menu, set the prices. Without him, this restaurant wouldn’t exist!"
He shook his head in wonder.
"The young lord is truly an impeccable man. A noble among nobles, thinking of us common folk and building such a wonderful place just for our sake!"
He clasped his hands together.
"I am forever in his debt."
Maria turned to Cassius, her eyes dancing with amusement.
"So." She said, her voice dry. "You don’t know who the owner is. You say, he’s some mysterious individual who doesn’t want their name known."
Cassius winced.
"And yet, according to this gentleman, you are the owner. The founder. The visionary."
She nudged him with her elbow.
"What’s going on, Cassius? Do you have something that you want to tell me?"