Reborn as the Failed Lord with my Resource Gathering System.-Chapter 249: A fun date with Yahoshi.
The City of Ishtar.
Since this city was specifically known for its zeal to entertain its people with sceneries, games, and other establishments, Dorian figured it would be the best place to have his date with the Evernight Witch.
As such, when the witches came to him, hinting at the fact their Master wanted the date that very day, he told them to inform Yahoshi exactly where she should meet him in the City of Ishtar.
Dressed in his black noble attire, Dorian stood at the corner of the City Hall, his back resting on the wall with his arms folded.
Not too far away from him, his golden carriage was present, along with Ciel standing close to it and three other bodyguards.
As he stood there, waiting for Yahoshi to show up, the crowd all had their eyes on him. Excited whispers echoed from every single person that watched.
After all, the great Duke of Miracles had chosen to show himself in public. It was not everyday they got to see their Duke.
Many were tempted to run over to Dorian and ask for a hug, but after seeing the security around him, none of them were dumb enough to take the risk.
'Leave it to Yahoshi to come late to a date.' Dorian frowned a bit.
He had been waiting there for quite some time, and by now, many of the onlookers were already questioning his real reason for being in a public space with guards around him.
Hell, if he had the choice, he would have headed back to the Duchy rather than having to wait for a witch that was probably intending to kill him anyway.
Or at least he thought.
Not even a second later, a soft voice echoed right beside him.
"Did I keep you waiting long?"
Dorian, who had been staring at the ground for the longest time, suddenly raised his head and looked to the side, where he was sure that soothing, familiar voice had echoed from.
There, standing close to him, dressed in a long white sundress, a hat, and wearing black heels, was none other than Yahoshi herself. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
She had a knowing smile on her face, one that seemed to grow the longer she scanned him from head to toe.
"There you are. For a second there I thought you chose not to show up anymore." Dorian stood upright as he too moved toward her.
Yahoshi didn't say a word. The look on her face screamed there was something she wanted him to say and he hadn't said it yet.
Dorian, picking up on it, was quick to speak.
"Your dress looks beautiful." He slightly panicked.
He could not risk messing up the date. After all, if things went well, there were so many things he could learn.
Once she heard his compliment, a smile etched onto her face, her once dark pupils lit up a bit, now filled with a bit more life.
Yahoshi leaned forward, eyes fixed on Dorian and arms behind her back.
"I'm glad you still remember what I like to hear. You don't look so bad yourself. If anything, you look handsome. Nothing compared to my Jacob though."
Dorian chuckled nervously.
"Too bad I am stuck in this body then."
"It's no problem. Nothing lasts forever."
Dorian paused for a while.
He could choose to start dissecting that to figure out what her words meant, but if he were to do that, it could also hinder the date plan he already had.
"Shall we begin with our date?"
With his hands on his chest, he slightly bowed, his other hand stretched forward for her to take.
Those who were observing from afar mumbled and gossiped amongst themselves.
Their Lord was seen outside with another woman. It was almost impossible for people not to get the wrong idea.
Yahoshi, with a calm yet predatory smile on her face, reached out to take Dorian's hand.
'This is the man I remember.'
Dorian didn't say anything. Instead, he led her toward the carriage and got in once she was already seated comfortably inside.
"Where to, My Lord?" Ciel asked from the driver's seat, her voice stiff. She clearly didn't like the aura radiating from the woman inside, but she maintained her professionalism.
"To the Night Market," Dorian commanded.
The carriage lurched forward, the wheels clattering against the cobblestone streets.
Inside, the atmosphere was thick. Yahoshi didn't sit on the opposite bench. Instead, she sat right next to Dorian, her arm looped through his, her head resting on his shoulder.
"The technology here is so primitive," she murmured, looking out the window as the magical streetlamps blurred by. "But it has a certain charm. It reminds me of the Renaissance Fair we went to. Remember? You won me that giant teddy bear."
"I remember. You named it Mr. Fluff."
Yahoshi giggled. It was a sound that would have been cute if it came from anyone else.
"I burned Mr. Fluff when you left me, Jacob. I watched him turn to ash. It was very therapeutic."
Dorian stiffened slightly but kept his composure.
Her way of speaking was strange, but it was something he could easily endure for a while longer.
"Well, maybe we can find a replacement tonight," he gave his response.
The carriage soon arrived at the bustling Night Market of Ishtar.
This district was alive with color and noise. Stalls lined the streets selling everything from grilled monster skewers to glowing magical trinkets. Bards played lutes on street corners, and children ran around with sparklers.
When Dorian stepped out, helping Yahoshi down, the crowd parted naturally.
"Oh! It's the Duke!"
"Who is that lady?"
"Is that a new wife?"
Ignoring the whispers, Dorian led Yahoshi into the heart of the market. He decided to play the role of the perfect boyfriend completely. If she wanted a date, he would give her the best date this world had ever seen.
"Hungry?" Dorian asked, stopping in front of a stall selling sugar-glazed fruits.
"I don't need to eat," Yahoshi replied, eyeing the red, glassy fruit. "But if you feed me, I might make an exception."
Dorian bought a stick of glazed strawberries.
He held it up, and Yahoshi leaned in, taking a bite directly from his hand, her lips brushing against his fingers longer than necessary.
"Sweet," she hummed, licking her lips. "It's been a while since i had anything sweet…"
Dorian chuckled nervously.
They continued walking, arm in arm.
Despite the underlying tension, the date proceeded surprisingly normally. They watched a street performer juggle fireballs, with Yahoshi critiquing his mana control under her breath.
They looked at jewelry, where Dorian bought her a simple silver necklace that she insisted he put on her right then and there.
Then, they arrived at the game corner.
"Step right up! Step right up!" A merchant yelled, standing next to a booth filled with moving wooden targets. "Hit three targets and win a prize for your lovely lady!"
Yahoshi stopped, her eyes lighting up.
"Jacob, look. A shooting game."
"Do you want to play?"
"No," she shook her head, looking up at him with wide, expectant eyes. "I want you to win for me. Show me that your aim is as true as it used to be."
Dorian sighed internally but smiled externally.
He walked up to the stall and paid the merchant a silver coin.
The merchant handed him a wooden toy crossbow. It was flimsy and clearly rigged to miss, but for someone with Dorian's stats, the quality of the weapon didn't matter.
He raised the crossbow.
Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.
In less than two seconds, three wooden targets were shattered completely.
The crowd that had gathered around cheered.
The merchant, sweating nervously upon realizing who his customer was, quickly scrambled to grab the biggest prize on the shelf.
It was a large, stuffed white wolf.
Dorian took the plush toy and turned to Yahoshi.
"For you."
Yahoshi took the wolf, burying her face in its soft fur. She inhaled deeply, her eyes closing.
"It's perfect," she whispered. Then she looked at him, her expression shifting from nostalgic to something darker. "I will take much better care of this one. I won't burn it. Unless… you give me a reason to."
Dorian cleared his throat, steering the conversation away from arson.
"There is a river cruise that starts in ten minutes. The view of the city is best from the water."
Yahoshi hugged the wolf tightly with one arm and grabbed Dorian's hand with the other.
"Lead the way."
