Kael's face instantly turned sour. It was just a few cakes, yet they were so expensive. Were these things made of gold or something?

The maid, adept at reading facial expressions, immediately explained upon seeing his displeasure, "Our shop offers thirteen types of bread, seven filled cakes, three desserts, fifteen fruit teas, and eight specialty bread desserts."

"Filled cakes are four silver coins each, five with cream frosting. Cream puffs and croissants are ten silver coins each. The priciest items are our five fruit wine drinks and eight sweet and savory pizzas."

"The fruit wines use this year's finest grape wine and our new high-proof spirits, costing one gold coin per glass."

"Our sweet and savory pizzas feature the Western Continent's best ham, premium shrimp, cheese, and rare fruits like pineapples and strawberries..."

"Enough!" Kael interrupted, a vein throbbing on his forehead. "It's just a dozen or so gold coins. I can afford it. No need for your long-winded explanation!"

He dumped a pile of gold coins on the counter, clutching his money pouch tightly. "Is this enough? You ignorant thing!"

One gold coin was twenty grams of pure gold, and this pile must have been seven or eight taels.

Kael's heart bled. Though a prince, he had little money to squander.

His father, an ambitious monarch, wanted to expand the principality's territory in his lifetime. To maintain sufficient military funds, everyone in the royal palace had to tighten their belts.

Moreover, King Kinoko strictly educated his children. Knowing that luxury could corrupt, he forbade his children from indulging in extravagant pleasures, wanting them to maintain clear minds to help choose the best successor.

The king provided his children with fine clothes and carriages to show their status, and food and lodging for healthy growth, but withheld territories or taxation rights. They couldn't even maintain private armies.

These dozen gold coins nearly depleted Kael's living expenses for half a month. How could he not be heartbroken?

He still had to pay Chad's salary and feed his money-devouring magical beast. Did he really have to pry the gems off his belt to sell?

Kael's face darkened, surpassing even the kitchen stove's blackness. The maid dared not reach for his gold coins.

"Sir, you've ordered too much. Perhaps... I could help you cancel some items?" she suggested kindly.

"Cancel? I said I'd throw away what we can't finish!" Kael raged. Canceling now would be a slap to his own face.

He'd just acted generous; if he immediately regretted it and canceled the cakes, how would those two greedy, vain women behind him see him?

"Now, immediately, prepare everything I ordered. Understand?"

The maid trembled. "Understood, sir."

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"If you understand, then take the money!" Kael glared.

"Al-alright." The maid took the gold coins with shaking hands, counting them one by one. She stopped at the fourteenth, then returned fifty-five silver coins as change.

"Sir, here's your remaining gold and silver change. Please count it."

Dozens of silver coins piled into a small mountain, mixed with seven or eight gold coins. She carefully placed them before Kael.

The maid felt nervous, thinking this face-saving noble probably wouldn't accept the change. She'd have to persuade him again, only to receive another angry scolding.

She had no choice. The owner stipulated that the shop couldn't overcharge customers by even a penny.

Moreover, the owner was right there. She dared not disobey openly.

"I said no—" Kael indeed wanted to refuse, but seeing that pile of shiny coins, he realized just how much money it was.

It could buy over two thousand steaks in the academy cafeteria, enough for over eight hundred meals, lasting an entire year!

His words caught in his throat, then squeezed out between his teeth: "No need to count. I don't mind if it's a bit short."

Unexpectedly, the maid became extremely serious: "Sir, at Escari Dessert House, we never short-change our customers. We've received professional training, and those poor at arithmetic can't become cashiers."

She produced a rectangular wooden frame from under the counter, with strings of black beads arranged in equal numbers, divided into two upper and five lower sections by a crossbar.

"This is our arithmetic tool, the abacus. If you don't believe me, I can recalculate for you."

Kael's face alternated between red and green. He wished he could punch this nitpicking maid who was making him lose face.

Bringing out some weird string of beads and calling it an arithmetic tool—something he'd never even seen. Who knew if it could calculate accurately?

"No need to calculate. I believe you." Kael gritted out each word, his ear roots straining with the effort.

If there weren't people watching, he would have killed this damned commoner today—killed them all!

Behind Kael, Luo Wei tried hard not to laugh, holding it in until her facial muscles ached.

Later, she would definitely give this maid a raise. Look at her dedication, willing to offend a noble to uphold the shop's reputation. She deserved praise.

Jane, initially starry-eyed over Kael, now seemed hesitant, as if her illusions about this idol had shattered.

Kael stiffly pocketed the coins, feeling his heart had died. He wanted to drag this shop down with it!

The maid, relieved after he accepted the money, smiled again and recited the shop's advertisement: "Sir, we also have a membership recharge promotion~"

"For esteemed customers like you, spending ten gold coins allows you to enjoy a buy-ten-get-one-free new cake promotion on all products. In the future, you only need to show your membership card for a 20% discount. Would you like to participate?"

Kael's expression improved slightly at "esteemed customer," but his eyes turned cold again at "ten gold coins."

"No need. I don't want to participate in such a cheap activity."

"Are you sure?" the maid asked, concerned. "The desserts you just bought already exceed ten gold coins. You can become our monthly gold member without additional charge. You'll enjoy VIP priority seating and delivery service, plus get two gold coins back at the discounted price!"

Kael's eyes flickered. Two gold coins back? Gold membership? VIP service?

He perked up immediately: "Ahem, well, in that case, I'll participate."

Let Luo Wei see what a generous man he was, treating her to a luxurious dessert feast worth over ten gold coins with just a wave of his hand, and even becoming a distinguished member here!

To show his generosity, Kael deliberately turned around, flicked his hair, and looked at Luo Wei with electrifying eyes: "Junior, let me give you this membership card. From now on, you'll be a gold member here."

To be continued