Mid/late 1800s--Early 1900s Leto.
He attends a local event as an escape from his tedious work as Duke, perusing the local stalls. It was stifling, because his presence meant there were many, aristocracy and commoners alike that wanted to get a chance to meet or even see the beloved Duke.
In a bid to get away from the crowd and suffocating pomp from the rich who tried to hang on him and the frustrating politics others wanted to discuss.
Today was supposed to be fun! Not another stressful chore in the ever revolving door of politics.
He manages to get away, dropping some money on a counter, giving his coat to a poor homeless man in favor of switching to his "new" (many of his peers would say "inferior" in terms of craftsmanship) coat, snatching up a hat from the same stall (all hastily paid of course) and runs off again.
He is able to gain a sigh of relief until he hears the voice of a rather obnoxious noblewoman who has shamelessly been trying to "prove" her eligibility as a potential spouse for him rounding a corner nearby. Finding himself in a dead end, he rushes into a door to a nearby building.
After he closes it and waits a moment, he realizes the heavenly aromas filling the small space and discovers that he had ducked into the kitchen in the rear of a small bakery. A small bell rings in the front and cherry voices can be heard.
Awkwardly he tries to find somewhere else to duck so he can slip out as quickly as he slipped in; but the door jammed shut behind him. A patron rattles an order, an impatient child chattering beneath their words.
Before he can hide behind a pallet of flour... you round the corner, spotting the strange man in your business! (Well, technically it was your father's, but you handled all the baking, labor, and bills and whatnot).
You assume he's a drunkard from the fair going on--a welcome boost in business every year for you, definitely--and offer him a seat while you fetch the fresh pastries that were ordered.
Once that was done, you briefly close your shop and sit down with your "guest". You don't really bother to know the aristocracy, so Leto is shocked to find you don't know him. He bothers with no titles or pomp, instead just giving you his name.
He acts as though he is sobering up, getting to know you as you busy yourself in your kitchen (getting to sample your delicious baked goods). Once it is his time to leave, he finds his personal guard frantic in effort to try and find him.
Although he gets a reaming from his fellows, Leto can't help but feel much lighter than he did earlier in the day.
He makes a mental note of getting "lost" at your bakery again, soon.
Albdlhdlbfenc this it just popped into my head watching a few documentaries. Thank you for putting up with it lmao
WHAT IN THE BRIDGERTON-MEET-CUTE?????????????
"You assume he's a drunkard from the fair..." bahahahahaha!!!!
"He acts as though he is sobering up, getting to know you as you busy yourself in your kitchen (getting to sample your delicious baked goods)." 😏
This is a whole chapter of an AU that I LOVE!!!!!! THANK YOU for blessing me with it!!!!
