The maid squad is too strong, what use is there for me, the Demon King?

Stepping into the commercial pedestrian street meticulously planned by the Grand Chamber of Commerce, a bustling and prosperous atmosphere immediately greets you.

Shops lined both sides of the wide, smooth stone-paved road, their banners fluttering in the breeze. Goods from all over the continent were on display, ranging from exquisite silk and porcelain, and glittering magical ornaments, to fragrant local snacks and novel and interesting alchemical toys—everything imaginable was available.

The crowds were bustling, and the shouts of vendors, the haggling of customers, and the laughter of children mingled together to create a vibrant and lively atmosphere.

"It's...unbelievable." Philippa looked at the bustling scene before her, comparable to the commercial district of the royal capital, and couldn't help but sigh softly, "Before, Bifeng Territory was just an insignificant border town, wasn't it? Now it's..."

Gray's gaze swept over the prosperity he (or rather, Gamma) had indirectly created, his tone calm yet tinged with a barely perceptible sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of deep emotion or regret): "The headquarters of the Grand Chamber of Commerce is located here, which has indeed driven the development of this area. In this respect, it can be seen as a way of repaying the kindness of the Brant family in taking us in back then."

After all, the prosperity of this territory ultimately benefited the Brant family, who were border nobles.

The two strolled along with the crowd, and soon Gray stopped in front of a beautifully decorated shop that exuded a sweet fragrance. The shop's sign, written in elegant cursive script, read—"Sweet Moments."

Choosing this place as the first stop was naturally because it was the top choice on a certain pink-haired succubus's "date spot recommendation list." Kappa confidently declared, "No girl can resist beautiful and delicious desserts! Especially a girl in love! Lord Shadow, starting with a dessert shop guarantees a surge in her favorability rating!"

The shop is bright and cozy, with glass display cases showcasing a variety of cakes and pastries that look like works of art. There are mousse cakes drizzled with glistening jam and garnished with fresh berries; opera cakes with delicate chocolate roses that look incredibly lifelike; macaron tarts with layers of soft colors; and cute animal-shaped cream cakes that are almost too beautiful to eat... The air is filled with an irresistible aroma of milk, butter, sugar, and fruit, enough to make any sweet tooth's heart race.

Philippa's gaze was instantly captivated.

Her amber eyes were wide open, just like a child seeing a favorite toy. Her gaze swept back and forth across the dazzling array of desserts, and her small nostrils twitched slightly, as if she wanted to inhale all the sweet aroma into her lungs.

She subconsciously swallowed, her face filled with the happy dilemma of "everything looks so delicious, it's so hard to choose".

Gray took in her reaction, thinking to himself, 'That Capa guy never miscalculates in this regard.' He noticed that Philippa's gaze lingered for a few seconds, especially on the most ornate "Swan Lake" cake, decorated with gold chocolate feathers.

'Sure enough, most girls like sweets that look fancy and delicate.' Gray smiled to himself, but he also agreed that these creations that exude a sweet aroma can easily evoke a sense of happiness in people.

Moreover, given Philippa's profession as a half-French, half-warrior, her metabolism far exceeds that of ordinary people, so she doesn't really need to worry too much about weight like a typical noblewoman. This allows her to enjoy this sweetness even more.

Speaking of which, Grey knew from their first meeting that this Princess Olmec was a little foodie.

"Anything you like?" Gray lowered his head and asked the bright-eyed girl beside him in a gentle voice, "Or, how about trying a little of everything?"

Upon hearing this, Philippa blushed slightly and averted her overly "ardent" gaze somewhat embarrassed, but the anticipation in her eyes remained undiminished.

Philippa's gaze lingered on the dazzling array of cakes displayed in the shop window, each exquisite dessert, like a work of art, filling her with longing.

However, her remaining rationality told her that this was only the first stop on the date, and it would be too unladylike to overeat here, and it would also waste the wonderful time that might follow.

She was caught in a sweet dilemma, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.

Just then, as if reading her mind, Gray offered a perfect solution: "If it's hard to choose, how about we each pick one or two different ones and share them? That way we can try more flavors."

(Kappa: MVP is a given)

This suggestion instantly solved Philippa's dilemma. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately nodded in agreement, "Great!" Almost without hesitation, she pointed to the "Swan Lake" cake, which was most attractive to her and decorated with golden chocolate feathers, as well as another red velvet cake that looked incredibly tempting, covered in fresh strawberries. Gray casually ordered a classic chocolate lava cake and a refreshing lemon tart.

The two settled into a quiet booth by the window. When the exquisite "Swan Lake" cake was placed in front of Philippa, she carefully cut off a small piece with her silver fork and put it into her mouth with great anticipation.

Instantly, the silky mousse, rich milky aroma, perfect sweetness, and the slight tartness of the berries blended perfectly on the taste buds, releasing a delightful sense of happiness. Philippa couldn't help but squint her eyes happily and let out a satisfied sigh: "Mmm~! So delicious!"

A desire to share arose spontaneously within her, and almost instinctively she used her fork to pick up a small piece of cake with berries, naturally offering it to Gray, her voice light and cheerful: "Gray, you should try this, it's really delicious!"

The words had barely left her mouth when she suddenly realized—this...this was the fork she had just used! This was...this was the legendary "indirect kiss"?!

Realizing this, Philippa's face flushed bright red. Her hand holding the fork froze in mid-air, caught between a rock and a hard place. Her eyes darted around, too embarrassed to look at Gray's expression. Her heart pounded, and she was so ashamed she wanted to disappear into the ground.

However, Gray seemed completely oblivious to the "ambiguous" meaning behind it. He naturally leaned forward slightly, took the small piece of cake from the fork Philippa offered, and calmly put it in his mouth. He savored it carefully, then nodded in approval: "Hmm, it's really good, the sweetness is just right, and the fruity aroma is refreshing."

He even very naturally picked up his clean, unused fork, cut a piece of his chocolate lava cake, and brought the rich, lava-like chocolate sauce slowly to Philippa's lips, his tone as natural as if he were doing something perfectly ordinary: "Why don't you try this?"

Philippa looked at the cake offered to her lips, then at Gray's completely open and innocent gaze. The shyness and embarrassment in her heart were instantly overwhelmed by an even stronger surge of sweetness. He... he hadn't even realized the "indirect kiss" he'd just shared, and he'd so naturally shared food with her...

This natural, heartfelt intimacy touched her more than any deliberate romance.

She opened her mouth slightly and accepted the treat. The rich, smooth chocolate melted in her mouth, bringing not only a delightful taste but also an irrepressible sweetness to her heart. She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn upwards, forming an incredibly sweet and blissful smile. She nodded gently, "Mmm...it's delicious."