Chapter 53: Baked pastry

  Several days had passed since the banquet. Nitaan had returned to his usual routine. Although he still harbored a slight worry about potential ambushes or assassinations, nothing had happened in the past few days. To be on the safe side, Nitaan and Kiita had expanded the range of ‘Domain’, constantly monitoring their surroundings.

  Even though they hadn't found anything yet, Nitaan stubbornly kept ‘Domain’ activated at all times. Firstly, it served as practice, and secondly, it allowed him to react quickly in case of any emergencies.

  While Kiita usually kept it activated constantly, Nitaan was different. Using ‘Domain’ consumed a great deal of his concentration. Even a short period left him feeling mentally exhausted. Therefore, he tried to practice its use through his daily routine.

  This morning, Nitaan stopped by a market before going to work. Normally, when he went to work, he would simply wake up, eat in the canteen of City Guard unit, and then proceed to work. But today was a little different.

  He wanted something sweet!

  Although the canteen food was delicious and free, eating the same thing every day made him tired. So, he planned to have something sweet after work today.

  But after finishing breakfast, his craving overcame his willpower. This is why Nitaan was wandering around the market before work started.

  Nitaan always arrived early. Being on time for once wouldn't hurt. He'd heard Kasa talk about a really delicious pastry shop in this market. Many people lined up even before it opened. If someone wanted to eat there, they had to queue early in the morning. It was now 8:30 a.m., and the aroma of freshly baked pastry wafted from one of the pastry shops, making it easy for Nitaan to find his target.

  Nitaan's heart sank when he saw the long line that had formed even before the shop opened. He thought he had come early, but even that level of determination wasn't enough to compete with the sweet tooths of this city.

  Just as he was about to give up, he noticed another pastry shop not far away. This shop also had a wonderful aroma of freshly baked pastry, but surprisingly, there was no line.

  Nitaan thought that since he was already here, it would be a shame to leave empty-handed, so he opened the door and entered the pastry shop called Emily's Bakery.

  The scent of baked pastry and coconut milk hit Nitaan's nose hard. He was instantly captivated by the fragrant aroma that filled the air. A wide variety of pastries were neatly arranged on clean and orderly shelves.

  Kiita's mouth watered so much that Nitaan had to wipe it twice.

  "Welcome! Just a moment, I just opened the shop," a kind-looking elderly woman's voice called from the back of the shop. Soon, she appeared at the table.

  The woman had a radiant smile, a plump figure, and bright, clear eyes. If it weren't for the wrinkles and crow's feet on her face, Nitaan would have mistaken her for a middle-aged woman. She put on gloves and took freshly baked pastries out of the oven.

  The sound of the oven, the aroma of the pastries, and Granny's humming filled Nitaan with warmth. This comforting atmosphere helped him relieve the stress of the past few days.

  Once Granny had finished preparing everything, she approached them with a smile.

  "I've never seen you before. Have you moved in?" the kind old woman asked.

  "I just moved in recently," Nitaan replied. Although he had lived there for over a month, he hadn't gone out much.

  Granny smiled in return. She carefully placed the various pastries on a tray. The fragrant aroma instantly made Kiita wag his tail.

  "You can try these samples and tell me which one you like," she smiled gently, picking up a fresh piece and happily eating it.

  Nitaan didn't refuse. He politely accepted. Taking two pieces, he put one in his mouth and gave the other to Kiita. Judging by Kiita's reaction, it seems there is no problem.

  As soon as it entered his mouth, Nitaan felt the soft texture and the sweet, juicy taste. The deliciousness of the sweet made him smile uncontrollably.

  "That one is called Kanom Tian. It’s my special recipe." Seeing NitaanKiita's happy face, Granny smiled brightly.

  "Woof! Woof!"

  Yummy! Yummy! Yummy!

  Nitaan smiled faintly. Sweets always put him in a good mood.

  "It's very delicious," Nitaan smiled, taking another piece into his mouth.

  "This one is also very delicious. Hmm... I can't choose. Please give me three bags of each," Nitaan laughed.

  “Ruff!”

  More! More!

  "Isn’t it a bit too much?" Granny chuckled softly.

  "My colleague also loves sweets. Even if I want to, I can’t eat it all myself. I’m not Kiita." Nitaan laughed, pointing to Kiita, who was happily munching on the pastries.

  Granny laughed while patting Kiita's head. She carefully packed the fragrant pastries into a bag and handed it to Nitaan.

  "I'll definitely come again."

  “Woof!”

  Kiita too!

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  Kiita barked loudly as he got close to cuddle with Granny.

  "Good boy, good boy. Please come again." Granny gently stroked Kiita's head and waved goodbye.

  Nitaan walked out of Emily's pastry shop with a beaming face. Although he missed out on the pastry shop Kasa recommended, this one he had discovered was also very delicious.

  As Nitaan walked out of the market with three bags of pastries in his hands, he suddenly spotted a child crying not so far away through ‘Domain’.

  He estimates the time in his head before his work starts. He still has a bit to spare.

  Princess Pailin?

  A familiar figure appeared in his range as he walked closer to the crying child, who looked no older than ten. Princess Pailin was comforting a crying little girl. She smiled sweetly as she patted little girl's head.

  "There, there. Your father is coming."

  "Daddy..." little girl eyes start to well up.

  “It’s ok, big sis will be here with you,” Princess Pailin said softly. She gently cleans tears and snot on ittle girl's face with her golden embroidered handkerchief.

  Nitaan couldn’t help but smile at this scene.

  “Princess, the butcher and vegetable vendor are arguing again! Could you please go and talk to them?” A woman rushed over and spoke to Princess Pailin.

  “Sigh… again? Can you tell them not to argue? I need to wait for this child’s father.” Princess Pailin looked at the crying little girl.

  “But, Princess…”

  In the midst of the tense situation, it was the little girl who spoke up.

  “Daddy is coming, so Yodnam can wait. P’ Pailin should go and help Aunty.”

  “But… Yodnam…” Princess Pailin looked troubled. She really doesn’t want to leave little girl alone.

  “Yodnam wants to be strong and kind like P’ Pailin. Yodnam can stay!” she sniffled, gathering her courage to speak.

  Princess Pailin clearly sees her trembling eyes and shaking hands, yet she can’t bear to discourage her.

  Princess Pailin forced a smile. She couldn't help but pat the brave little girl's head.

  "Big sis will be back soon. Don’t go anywhere, ok?" After another hug, she stood up and jogged away.

  Nitaan smiled at little girl's courage. This girl was even braver than he was. He remembered his own childhood, when he often cried alone late at night after his parents passed away.

  He sighed a little after looking at the clock.

  Being late once in a while won't hurt, Nitaan thought. He put down the bag of pastry and found a seat not too far away. Keeping little girl within ‘Domain’’s range.

  He observed Princess Pailin trying to calm two elderly women around the corner of the building. Although they were arguing, there was no sign of violence. While they were talking, Nitaan saw many people surround Princess Pailin. They all smiled and offered her fruits and sweets.

  Even though she declined most of the gifts and looked a little uncomfortable, she still laughed and smiled beautifully amidst all the commotion.

  So she can smile like that too. Nitaan smiled.

  Rumble

  A sound rang in Nitaan's ears, drawing his attention away from Princess Pailin and the people. Upon checking, he realized it was a little girl's stomach rumbling. Nitaan couldn't help but chuckle. He picked up the bag of snacks and walked towards little girl with Kiita.

  "I heard some stomach rumbling around here! Is it yours?" Nitaan kept a distance of two or three steps so she wouldn't be startled by a stranger approaching. He smiled softly while Kiita sat down behind Nitaan, as if trying to use Nitaan's slender body to shield his large frame.

  Kiita, tilting his head from behind Nitaan, created a comical sight that made little girl smile.

  "Yod…Yodnam..." Yodnam remembered her daddy's teachings about being vigilant around strangers, but she couldn't help glancing at the fragrant bag of pastry in Nitaan's hand. At the same time, she occasionally caught a glimpse of Kiita's large, tongue-out face behind Nitaan.

  "I'm not a bad person. Look, I'm a member of City Guard unit." Nitaan pointed to the City Guard emblem on his body.

  Little girl still remained wary but seemed to relax a bit when she heard this big brother with a big dog was from City Guard unit.

  "You should try this pastry. It's very delicious! I just bought it from the kind Granny at that corner." Nitaan held up the fragrant bags.

  "Mommy taught Yodnam not to accept candy from strangers…" Even though her stomach was rumbling, little girl still remembered her mother's lesson.

  Hearing this, Nitaan chuckled softly. He crouched down to the ground so his eye level was the same as Yodnam's.

  "Then let me introduce myself so we can be friends," Nitaan smiled gently.

  "My name is Nitaan, and this dog is Kiita, my companion." Nitaan turned and held up Kiita's large body in his arm. Kiita wagged his tail and tilted his head to look at Yodnam while flapping his ears. The sight of the giant dog being held and wagging its tail made Yodnam laugh.

  "What's your name? Kiita and I want to be your friends," Nitaan smiled, playfully extending Kiita's hand to Yodnam.

  Although still a little nervous, Yodnam slowly reached out and touched Kiita's leg. Seeing that Kiita wasn't aggressive and was just wagging his tail adorably, Yodnam's face lit up with a wide smile.

  Nitaan put Kiita down and signaled for him to go play with Yodnam. Kiita, knowing what to do, slowly walked over, offering its large face to Yodnam's hand.

  When Yodnam felt Kiita's soft fur, her eyes sparkled. She gently stroked Kiita.

  "Yodnam's name is Yodnam!" Yodnam introduced herself with a smile. Kiita, now taller than Yodnam's head, gently dove down, scooping Yodnam onto his back, making her cry out in surprise.

  As she held Kiita's fur tightly, a smile and sparkling eyes appeared on her face. She is laughing loudly as she cuddles with a soft and fluffy fur under her.

  "Woof!"

  Friend! Friend!

  "Kiita said, 'Friend!'" Nitaan laughed.

  "Yes! We're friends, Kiita!" Yodnam giggled.

  "Now that we're friends, can we eat together? It's delicious, look!" Nitaan picked up a piece of Kanom Tian and tossed it to Kiita. Kiita caught it perfectly, jumping to snatch it. Yodnam's body floated briefly in the air, eliciting another round of laughter from her.

  She slowly accepted the bag of Kanom Tian from Nitaan, picking up a piece and putting it in her mouth. As she ate one, her eyes lit up, and a bright smile appeared on her face. She quickly grabbed another piece and happily chewed it.

  "Yummy?" Nitaan took a piece of candy and sat down beside Kiita and Yodnam.

  "Very yummy! Thank you so much, P’ Nitaan!" She chewed happily. She didn't forget to offer one to Kiita, who had already put her down from his back.

  “Where’s Yodnam’s Daddy? Is he running late?”

  “Daddy went out to buy meat. Daddy’s not back yet, but Daddy will be back soon.” When her father was mentioned, Yodnam’s face clouded over again.

  “So Brave! You waited for Daddy all by yourself!” Nitaan quickly changed the subject.

  “Yodnam isn’t alone. P’ Pailin came and sat with me. P’ Pailin is the kindest!” Yodnam’s face beamed when she mentioned Princess Pailin.

  “Do you like Princess Pailin, Yodnam?” Nitaan asked.

  “Yodnam likes P’ Pailin very much! P’ Pailin is smart, capable, kind, cute, and strong! Yodnam wants to grow up and be like P’ Pailin! Daddy and Mommy like her very much too!” Yodnam said with a smile.

  “She really is strong and kind.” Nitaan smiled.

  “P’ Nitaan also likes her? Yay! P’ Pailin is the kindest!”

  “Yes, I admire her very much.”

  The two chatted a little more, Yodnam telling them about her school. Her favorite things, her favorite sweets, and how much she loved Princess Pailin and how kind she is.

  Nitaan listened to her chatter with a smile. He occasionally asked questions and answered in return so she wouldn't feel like she was talking to herself.

  After a while, Nitaan raised his eyebrows slightly before smiling faintly. He gently stroked Yodnam's head.

  "I have to go now. Someone will be here soon." Nitaan placed a new bag of pastry in front of Yodnam as he stood up.

  "P’ Nitaan has to go now?" Yodnam's face fell.

  "I'm sorry, but it's ok. Someone is coming to get you." Nitaan stroked Yodnam's head while Kiita rubbed her face against Yodnam's cheek, bringing another smile to her face.

  "Thank you for the delicious pastry! Kiita too! Let's play again sometime!" Yodnam bowed adorably.

  Nitaan said nothing, just smiled slightly, and walked away.

  Once he was out of her sight, a voice called out to her.

  "Yodnam, I'm sorry I left you alone. Were you lonely?" Princess Pailin ran breathlessly towards her.

  "No! A kind big brother was with me just now! I'm not lonely at all!" Yodnam smiled.

  "Oh, a kind big brother? He's not suspicious, is he?" Princess Pailin frowned. She knew how many perverse people in this world would harbor wicked intentions towards a small girl like Yodnam.

  "No, he's very kind. He's from a City Guard unit. He sat and talked with me and even gave me pastry!" Yodnam shook her head, showing the bag full of pastry to Princess Pailin.

  Princess Pailin took the bag and examined it briefly. She took a piece and tried it. The sweet, soft taste made her smile with relief.

  "That's wonderful! You met a kind big brother. Did you thank him?" Princess Pailin smiled.

  "Yes, I did! I also thanked the big black dog next to him!" Yodnam beamed.

  "He's my new friend! He's so cute! He even gave me a ride on his back!" Yodnam recounted with a big smile, waving her hands excitedly.

  Princess Pailin paused for a moment.

  City guard unit, a kind big brother, a big black dog… Princess Pailin suddenly thought of someone's face.

  "Is something wrong, P’ Pailin?" Seeing Princess Pailin's stillness, Yodnam couldn't help but ask.

  Princess Pailin turned her head slightly, revealing a gentle smile.

  "Nothing. Let's continue waiting for Daddy, shall we?"