Chapter 117: Alicia’s Cake

“Taking a day off, huh? Honestly, aside from the time I was in a coma, it’s been a long while since I’ve gone even a single day without doing anything,” I said, reflecting on everything that had happened over the past few days.

In fact, ever since I transmigrated to this world, there hadn’t been a single day when nothing happened—whether it was a fight or just traveling. Staying in a room and simply letting time pass was a luxury I didn’t have.

“It’s important to take a break from time to time, especially when your body is still in pain,” Justine said, adjusting her glasses.

“Ah, right!” Alicia said, as if she had just remembered something important, then turned to me. “Rick, I have a surprise for you.”

“A surprise?” Alicia’s words puzzled me.

“That’s right. Ingrid was kind enough to teach me how to bake a cake while you were unconscious.”

“Cake!” I said excitedly.

I must have overreacted, because all the girls were staring at me with wide eyes. I didn’t know why, but they seemed a bit uneasy, as if something were making them uncomfortable.

“Oh my,” Alicia let out a small laugh. “Do you like cake, Rick?”

“I really like cake!” I said bluntly.

“Hehehe, then I think this is a good opportunity. It’s a wonderful chance for you to try it.”

“I spent all of yesterday preparing it, and luckily there’s still plenty left,” Alicia said, clasping her hands together as if in prayer. “It’s a funny coincidence, but we figured it wouldn’t take long for you to wake up. Maybe it’s a miracle from Lady Freya.”

“Wait, Alicia. Don’t you think it would be better for Rick to eat something healthier? You know, to help him recover,” Sarah said, though there was a nervous expression on her face.

“I don’t think it will be a problem. Rick looks well enough to me. Do you feel any discomfort in your stomach, my prince?”

“I want cake!” I declared.

With the exception of Alicia, who gave me a big smile, all the other girls looked at me with expressions of disgust.

’What’s wrong with you all? Don’t you like cake?’ I thought, frowning at them.

“I’ll go get it,” Alicia said with a smile on her face, heading out of the room until her footsteps could no longer be heard.

“Rick, uh… how can I put this?” Diane said to me hesitantly.

When I looked at her more closely, I noticed something different. “Diane, your clothes…”

She was wearing something completely different from her usual outfit. Instead of her uniform—which looked more like a swimsuit—a buttoned blouse now covered her upper body, while a purple skirt partially covered her thighs.

“Ah, these clothes. You told me my uniform drew too much attention. As an assassin, I couldn’t continue like that, so I asked Ingrid if she had something else, and she gave me these. Do I look strange?”

“No, I’d never say that. I think they suit you very well,” I said to her.

Diane blushed, her face showing a bashful expression. “Thank you.”

From a distance, I could hear Alicia’s hurried footsteps—she seemed quite eager to have me try her cake. The other girls, however, grew more nervous the closer she got.

“Rick, I’m going to be direct about this,” Sarah said, without Diane’s hesitation. “Don’t eat the cake!”

“No way!” I replied immediately.

“Don’t be stubborn,” Sarah shot back. “You shouldn’t eat that cake.”

“Sarah, I really love cake. If it were any other time, I’d listen to you—but not now. Believe me when I say my body is fine enough for this.”

“It’s not about that…” Sarah tried to warn me, but it was already too late.

“I’m back~” Alicia said, carrying a plate with the cake in her hands.

It was a small, yellow cake with a golden tint on the outside. I couldn’t touch it yet, but its texture alone was a feast for the eyes. My mouth watered just looking at it.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Sarah said to me, then stepped aside to let Alicia come closer.

What was strange, though, was that such a beautiful cake had barely been eaten. It looked like only one or two slices had been taken.

’What a waste!’ I thought.

Alicia was kind enough to serve me a small plate with a slice of her beautiful cake. And it wasn’t just beautiful—the smell was so good, so intoxicating, that I felt compelled to eat it.

“It’s my first time baking a cake, so please give me your honest opinion, okay?” Alicia said with a sincere smile.

“You can count on it, Alicia. But there’s no way a cake like this could be bad.” I took a piece with my fork. “Let’s see.”

I guided the fork to my mouth, closing my lips around it, letting my tongue taste the sweet cake.

“Ugh!” My body reacted instantly as my taste buds registered the flavor.

Bad wouldn’t even begin to describe it. Disgusting, revolting, inedible—those were some of the words that came to mind, but none of them truly captured what I had just put in my mouth.

’But how is this even possible?’ I thought in that split second. ’The smell and appearance were perfect, especially considering the inn’s equipment… so how could someone make something like this? How can a cake be this hideous?’

I looked at Alicia. The beautiful blonde girl was watching me closely with a smile on her face. Her emerald-green eyes were filled with expectation.

So I went against every instinct in my body—and swallowed her cake. That was my biggest mistake.

“What did you think, Rick?” Alicia asked cheerfully.

I didn’t want to disappoint her. I simply couldn’t tell her it was the worst thing I had ever eaten in my life. So I chose to lie.

“It’s… really… go—” My mouth failed to finish the sentence.

My body collapsed forward onto the bed, powerless, as if I had been struck by death. I had barely come out of a coma, and now it felt like I was sinking back into darkness again.

“Rick!” Alicia shouted in panic.

’I think I’m going to die…’ I thought as my stomach began to churn like it was caught in a whirlpool.

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