Looking toward the sound, I could see Bate, with a rather disconcerted face, talking to someone.

  "Didn’t you hear that? I’m asking you to leave the store now. What do you think?"

  The skinny middle-aged man with a cranky impression seemed quite troublesome to talk to.

  When I see him keeps picking his ears and clicking his tongue.

  But at the same time, the man’s eyes kept glancing through the shop.

  His eyes were full of greed.

  "The contract is due next year! And at the time of the contract, It will allow me to run the store for the next 10 years without worrying……"

  "That’s what my father said before he died. I didn’t agree with you on that!"

  "No matter what……"

  Bate was always smiling softly, but now he’s pale.

  "It’s only been two years since I opened the store, and I’m barely settling in."

  "Oh, well, it’s none of my business?"

  The man who appeared to be the owner of the building had no interest in Bate’s circumstances.

  He seemed to inherit the building because of his father’s death, but the new owner was busy looking around the building that suddenly became his.

  "Oh, my father, this nice building at such a ridiculous price……"

  It was a murmur that I didn’t know if he was talking to himself or if he wanted anyone else to listen.

  The more so, the more Bate’s handsome face was imbued with despair.

  But he’s not giving up, Bate said, approaching the landlord once again.

  "I’ll raise the rent and give it to you. Please reconsider."

  However, rather than accepting Bate’s offer, the landlord was smitten with laughter.

  And Bate said while flipping up and down.

  "Looks like you’re quite young. Life shouldn’t be so easy to get there."

  "Ea, easy, easy…… Ha."

  Bate swept up his bangs and swallowed a grin.

  He had a lot to say, but couldn’t bring herself to say it.

  "This bakery is so famous, isn’t it? I was wondering how delicious it was. Now that I see it, it was thanks to a good seat.”


  The last thing the new landlord said seemed to be the limit of Bate.

  "We’re open now, so let’s make a timely appointment next time and talk again. I’ll visit you."

  "Oh, thank you."

  The landlord shook one hand in annoyance.

  "Not much longer to say. When you’re done with your contract now, be ready to leave."

  And the man left the store.

  "Sigh……"

  Bate sighed deeply.

  That’s the only way.

  It’s time for ’Caramel Avenue’ to go viral and recover its investment

  No wonder the new owner suddenly told him to leave the store.

  Bate with a frowned brow looked back at me and met my eyes.

  I said with a smile, not a panic.

  "Here’s, two more pieces of the same one."

  Nodding his head at my words, Bate quickly offered two more pieces of chocolate cake.

  But a glass of milk was also included.

  "I didn’t order this."

  "It’s a service."

  "Service?"

  What service if you’re about to be kicked out of the store?

  I looked up, dumbfounded, and Bate said, opening his eyes and scratching the side of his head lightly.

  "It’s good to drink a lot of milk while growing up."

  "Oh, yeah……"

  It’s been a long time.

  Being treated like such a proper child.

  Everyone around me treated me like I was already a half-grown, semi-adult.

  So did my father and cousins, not to mention Clarivan and Violet, who had me as boss.

  Because they know very well that I’m not just an ordinary 11-year-old kid.

  But that would be the same for Bate.

  "Thank you for the drink.”


  I took a sip of the milk as I bowed.

  Bate looked at me with a slightly pleasing face, but when he met my eyes again, he returned to his expressionless face as if he had never done so.

  He can’t control his facial expression.

  I drank a couple more sips of milk because I thought I would have a giggle.

  Then I had a conversation with Craney like that, Bate, who returned to his usual appearance, began working between tables filled with people on the second floor.

  He stood with his hands in the corner to see if the guests lacked anything, and when he saw an empty glass, he quickly approached and filled it up.

  Sometimes he looks downstairs at the counter, but most of the time he walks among the guests.

  It was Bate I saw after being a regular at Caramel Avenue for the past few months.

  For now, Bate was a better waiter than anyone else during the store’s business hours.

  During the opening hours of ’Caramel Avenue’.

  "That’s why these days the family is in huge debt……”


  "Is the third person in the Peamin family cheating on……”


  "I heard a rumor from a relative of mine in the west……”


  Looking outside and sipping milk quietly, I can hear the conversation of women sitting in groups on all kinds of topics.

  It’s as if my body is sitting here on ’Caramel Avenue’, but my ears are listening to what happened all over the Empire.

  Then I felt a strong look at me and looked up.

  A moment ago, Bate stood still in a corner, as if all the scuffles with the landlord were lies.

  He looked like a cat, shining amber bright eyes and standing unnoticed.

  It’s a cat that seems to be doing its job while being sneaky but has sensitive ears.

  I’m telling you.

  He can’t control his facial expression.

  I drank a couple more sips of milk because I thought I would have a giggle.

  Then I had a conversation with Craney like that, Bate, who returned to his usual appearance, began working between tables filled with people on the second floor.

  He stood with his hands in the corner to see if the guests lacked anything, and when he saw an empty glass, he quickly approached and filled it up.

  Sometimes he looks downstairs at the counter, but most of the time he walks among the guests.

  It was Bate I saw after being a regular at Caramel Avenue for the past few months.

  For now, Bate was a better waiter than anyone else during the store’s business hours.

  During the opening hours of ’Caramel Avenue’.

  "That’s why these days the family is in huge debt……”


  "Is the third person in the Peamin family cheating on……”


  "I heard a rumor from a relative of mine in the west……”


  Looking outside and sipping milk quietly, I can hear the conversation of women sitting in groups on all kinds of topics.

  It’s as if my body is sitting here on ’Caramel Avenue’, but my ears are listening to what happened all over the Empire.

  Then I felt a strong look at me and looked up.

  A moment ago, Bate stood still in a corner, as if all the scuffles with the landlord were lies.

  He looked like a cat, shining amber bright eyes and standing unnoticed.

  It’s a cat that seems to be doing its job while being sneaky but has sensitive ears.

  I’m telling you.

  He can’t control his facial expression.

  * * *

  The conference hall where the members of the aristocracy gathered was hot.

  The reason is, issues that can be raised sharply by sitting opposite each other and divided into two camps are presented as the topic of the meeting.

  "Where there is a drought, it is natural to temporarily lower tax rates to ease the burden on the Empire!"

  "Is that the burden of the Capitals people? It’s a burden to the Eastern aristocrats!"

  The two nobles, who were at the forefront of each group, stood up against each other by putting blood on their necks.

  "The East was already tax-exempted last year’s drought. It’s greed to do so again this year, greed!"

  "There’s been a worse drought than last year, so what!"

  "Eastern aristocrats will either dispose of their private property or get money!"

  After such a long flight, this time, the nobles, who were a little older than the nobles who forefront the war, came forward.

  "The country’s finances are in a mess because of the tax cuts in the East. I don’t think you don’t know that either."

  "Our coffers are indeed down a little, but not really. Not enough to squeeze out the eastern blood."

  "But when the eastern nobles have fallen under the guise of drought, the rest of the country is suffering a great deal of damage. This is East selfishness, this selfishness."

  Lombardy and Angenas remained silent when each of them fighting with a loud voice.

  Lord of Angenas was listening to his aides who constantly whispering, and Lulak Lombardy was easygoing as if he were sitting alone in another world.2

  They were fighting fiercely as if national security was at stake right away, but in reality, it was not so serious.

  There is a drought in the east, so will they be exempt from their taxes this year or not.

  That was all.

  In fact, only a few members of the aristocracy sitting here were from the East.

  There was only one reason why everyone was fighting so hard over other people’s business.

  Pride.

  This was a battle of pride for the nobles, led by Lombardy and Angenas.

  When such a heated war of words reached a lull.

  Lord of Angenas spoke.

  "If we have to exempt Eastern taxes no matter what, the levy on families who oppose it here should not be raised at all.”


  “What kind of absurdity is that…… Of course, if the tax on one side decreases, the burden on the other side will increase."

  The calm offensive was poured explosively on the Lord of Angenas.

  But Angenas was silently receiving the grudges.

  If the embers seem extinguished, they talk again and continue the atmosphere.

  ’We must continue to stall on this agenda,’ Ferdick pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his sweat.

  He must ensure that the next agenda is moved to the next meeting.

  The aristocracy followed the majority rule.

  However, the number of nobles in the Angenas side present today was a bit small.

  If they move on to the next agenda in this state, Angenas were sure to lose a lot of money.

  But at that moment, the eyes of Ferdick Angenas and Lulak Lombardy met.

  Whoops.

  Lord of Angenas tried to put a handkerchief in his arms with a calm face, but it was a pity.

  It was because Lulak Lombardy, who sat across from the large conference hall, was seen raising the corners of his mouth strangely.

  "Stop stop"

  The noisy market-like hall was quickly silenced by Lulak Lombardy’s voice.

  The same was true of the Angenas camp, which stopped speaking.

  Lulak Lombardy had such a presence.

  "What’s the use of continuing our discourse here?"

  The nobles, who were slow and reluctant to admit it, we’re becoming calm little by little, excited by the dignified voices.

  "You can’t do this!"

  Angelas said something hastily.

  "What a contempt for our entire aristocracy! Apologize!"

  He said something out of the blue because he spoke hastily.

  Those who sided with Angenas also flinched for a moment and looked back at Ferdick.

  His face turned red, but Ferdick Angenas stared at Lulak, pretending not to know and very angry.

  "I mean, let’s hear the Emperor’s opinion. After all the taxes that we talk about here, who pays a lot and who pays less, all of them, belong to Your Majesty?"

  There was nothing to refute.

  There was an atmosphere of nodding and acceptance.

  Looking back at the crowd, Lulak Lombardy said softly.

  "Then why don’t we move on to the next agenda?"

  Ferdick Angenas bowed his head.

  No matter how hard he tried, he was no match for Lulak Lombardy.

  It felt like he was blocked by a huge wall.

  After the meeting.

  Ferdick Angenas steps toward the Empress Palace were heavy.

  In the end, they were completely defeated by Lulak Lombardy.+

  When he opened the door of the Empress Palace, the sound of breaking things from afar was already loud.

  One of the Empress maid-in-honor had already told what had happened at the conference hall.

  Lord of Angenas, who closed his eyes tightly, arrived in the drawing-room and opened the door.

  Clang!

  As soon as the door opened, a vase flew and broke into pieces at the feet.