🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 3
“Eek!”
I was startled and quickly turned around with an awkward smile.
Standing there was a silver-haired, gentle-looking handsome man wearing glasses and a pink rabbit apron that I had picked out for him.
Dias Hessen.
This man was the owner of this bakery—and also a widower… my dad.
“Uh, I was going to play with the kids at the square.”
I avoided my dad’s gaze and tapped the tip of my shoe against the ground.
Behind his glasses, those same honey-colored eyes as mine stared at me intently, but fortunately, he didn’t seem to notice my ambitious plan.
“Well, I’m in a bit of a hurry, so I’ll get going!”
Before he could stop me, I ran out of the house as if escaping.
“Be careful of carriages! Don’t take off your coat just because it’s hot! And don’t go into dangerous forests!”
As always, I waved off his nagging and ran toward the Edelvine mansion.
Sometime later, I arrived in front of the villa—and met an unexpected person.
“Rachel?”
In the same room on the third floor of the mansion as yesterday, stood Rachel, who I didn’t know had been watching me.
Same expression, different clothes.
“She wasn’t… waiting for me, was she?”
I stared blankly at her, then awkwardly bent at the waist and gave a deep bow.
“Maybe yesterday I was too rude for a commoner.”
But when I straightened up again, Rachel had already disappeared into her room.
“Tch. Our young lady really lives up to the ‘villainess’ title—so aloof.”
Just then—
“Hm?”
A servant hurried out of the villa. It was one of the servants I had greeted yesterday.
My eyes lit up the moment I saw him.
“My instincts are telling me something. The instinct of opportunity!”
I quickly approached him.
“Hello, sir! Where are you going?”
“Don’t follow me—I’m busy—”
The man tried to ignore me, but suddenly stopped as if remembering something and turned back.
“Hey, kid. Do you know where I can buy good cheese? I think I need to get some…”
At his question, the corners of my mouth slowly lifted.
“There’s nothing easier than getting close to someone than helping them.”
This was a perfect opportunity to get closer to my goal.
“Of course. I know this town like the back of my hand. Leave it to me.”
I smiled confidently and took the lead.
On the way back to the villa, the man’s face was full of smiles. In his arms was the finest cheese from our town.
Of course, it was thanks to me.
It took some effort to convince the stubborn old man Gerald, who hated nobles:
[“A noble wants my cheese? Would they even eat something like this?”]
But in the end, thanks to my effort, the man secured a long-term trade deal with Gerald.
I straightened my posture proudly.
Noticing it, the man beside me finally spoke with delayed gratitude.
“Thank you, kid.”
“It’s Vivian.”
“Right, Vivian. Thanks to you, we’ll be able to serve cheese at dinner tonight.”
“Oh, it was nothing. That’s what neighbors are for.”
And now—it’s your turn to help me, sir. Hehe.
I glanced at the approaching Edelvine mansion with a sly smile.
Then I subtly checked his reaction, slumped my body, and clutched my stomach.
The man who was about to enter the mansion looked at me with confusion.
“Hm? What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
“I walked so far I got hungry… I should probably just go home.”
Just then, my tiny stomach growled loudly.
I trudged away weakly, but my ears stayed alert to any hesitation behind me.
“Ugh… I’m so hungry I don’t even have strength…”
It won’t be easy to ignore someone who just helped you, right? Especially when it’s food-related!
I muttered loudly enough for him to hear.
“What if I die of hunger on the way home? My poor dad would be left all alone…”
But the man just stood there, hesitating—unable to either stop me or walk away.
“He’s really hesitating a lot…”
Right when I was about to dramatically collapse—
“V-Vivian!”
Finally, he called out to me.
I forced down my rising smile and turned back.
“Yes, sir?”
“W-would you like to come inside for a snack? I think there might be some leftovers.”
“Wow, really?”
“Yes. Just for a little while.”
He explained everything to the gatekeeper.
Since the mansion was large and frequently had outsiders coming and going for supplies and errands, they only checked belongings before letting us in.
I greeted the gatekeeper politely as well and followed the man inside the mansion.
With a victorious smile on my face.
So this is how I’ll meet our “villainess” if she never leaves the house—I’ll just come to her.
I looked around the back garden, hoping I might run into Rachel…
But sadly, not even a strand of her hair was visible.
I entered through the back door connected to the kitchen.
The servants chatting inside stopped when they saw us.
“James, didn’t you go for cheese? Who’s that kid with you?”
Before the man—James—could even introduce me, I stepped forward and bowed.
“Hello! I’m Vivian, from yesterday.”
“Oh, you’re the bakery girl from yesterday?”
Some of the servants who had seen me yesterday finally recognized me.
James placed the cheese we brought on the table.
“Everyone, try this. I—or rather, this kid—found an amazing cheese.”
“This kid?”
“She knows this town better than any of us. Anyway, she said she was hungry, so we thought we’d give her a snack. Is there anything left from the young lady?”
“Hmm? Wait a second, I think there was something.”
A woman in an apron went to the kitchen corner and soon returned with a slice of cake.
I swallowed my saliva looking at the luxurious, delicious-looking cake.
“As expected of the duke’s chefs…”
My dad runs a bakery, but… let’s be honest, his skills are terrible—loving him doesn’t mean I can lie.
It had been a long time since I had proper cake.
“Thank you for the meal!”
As I started eating, the adults gathered around me.
“Would you like a tour of the garden later? The landscaping here is amazing. We can’t show you inside the mansion since it’s the Duke and young lady’s private space, but the garden is fine.”
“Wow, yes please! I’ve always wanted to see it. This place feels like a princess’s palace.”
“She does live here. The Ice Princess.”
The woman who brought the cake muttered casually.
One of the other servants nudged her side.
I seized the moment.
“Yesterday I saw her on the third floor—is she the young lady?”
“Yes. That’s Lady Rachel.”
“She was so beautiful. What kind of person is she?”
Just as the servants were about to answer—
Bang!
The kitchen door suddenly burst open, and Sally stormed in.
“More ca—”
Her expression twisted when she saw me surrounded by the servants.
“What is she doing here?”
“She helped us, so we brought her in for a snack. We’ll send her away after she eats—so—”
“How dare you bring a filthy street rat into the duke’s villa? Ugh, disgusting!”
“Sally, that’s no way to talk to a friend!”
“Friend? Who’s friends with that dirty kid? Get her out right now!”
Sally stomped her feet, screaming wildly while ignoring everyone.
“If you don’t, I’ll tell my mom!”
The moment her shrill voice pierced through the kitchen—
“What is all this commotion?”
The door opened, and an elderly man with a sharp gaze stepped inside.
My eyes widened.
“That person is…?”
“Y-Your Grace!”
The servants all stood up in shock.
The old man, though his hair was streaked with gray, carried an overwhelming presence.
His eyes, sharp like blood-red blades, radiated authority that could force anyone to kneel.
Rachel’s maternal grandfather—and the head of Edelvine, the only ducal house in the empire.
That man was…
Kaltz Edelvine, the Duke of Edelvine!
