TSBSFVW 08

CHAPTER 08……

Two loaves of bread. Characters, please exit the stage (prayer) (3)

The next dawn.

“Ellie! Did you sleep well?”

“Ahhh!”

“Huh? Ellie, what’s wrong? Wait, I’ll open this in a second—just hold on.”

“Aaaahhh! It wasn’t even a dream!”

Clatter, clatter, clatter!

The doorknob rattled violently. Ellie gripped it tightly and glanced at the clock.

It had just passed 4:30 a.m.

And when she looked back out the window, there was a handsome man with dazzling blond hair and deep green eyes, standing pressed right up against the foggy windowpane.

Eek…

To Ellie, it was a scene more terrifying than any horror movie. Was this a dream? A nightmare?

“Ellie? Ellie! Can you hear me? Are you okay?!”

“…Yes. Please don’t shout…”

Because my heart’s about to freakin’ explode…

She was scared someone might hear. Ellie quickly opened the door.

“Ah, sorry for the noise.”

“Of course you were noisy. You’ve got a really loud voice.”

At her curt tone, Ban stared intently at her. Sensing his gaze, Ellie looked up uncomfortably, and he quickly changed his expression and smiled warmly.

“Sorry. I was worried something had happened to you.”

“Why would you be worried about me?”

“Well…”

Ban’s gaze shifted over her shoulder. Ellie smiled coldly, having guessed his meaning.

“Oh, because I bake bread?”

“That’s not the only reason, of course. As a knight, I have a duty to protect the capital.”

“Then go protect it. Why are you here before dawn, scaring people?”

“Ah. Am I being scolded right now?”

“…Not exactly…”

Right, I’m in no position to be sassy right now…

Ellie looked back up at him. Ban seemed a bit dazed, as if not used to being criticized, but he didn’t seem offended. That alone showed what kind of privileged life he’d led—someone with both status and talent who had never suffered unfair treatment.

So this is what they call an alpha.

Even with his friendly smile, there was an undeniable aura about him.

“It’s still a long way until opening time, but you knocked on the door so suddenly, I was startled.”

“Normally, I should wait outside, right? I’ll go wait out there.”

Ellie hesitated.

Honestly, she wanted to say, ‘We cannot sell our products to such a troublesome customer. Please leave (prayer).’ But she was afraid he might sincerely apologize or something equally terrifying.

And leaving this needlessly handsome, cheerful public figure standing outside the shop—was that a good idea?

Nope, definitely not.

She wanted to get rich selling bread, but she refused to become famous through gossip instead of taste.

“Just sit over there.”

“Are you sure?”

“Unless you don’t want to.”

“You’re so kind. I’ll wait quietly. Please don’t mind me.”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

Since he seemed willing to tolerate a bit of cheek, she decided to push him a little.

Ban replied with a cheerful “Yes!” completely unbothered.

If someone’s voice sounded like “Woof!” you’d know there was a problem. Ellie forced herself to look away from him.

Let’s just give him a loaf and send him off. Wait, no… if he’s like this after one taste, what if the symptoms get worse?

It was a smug, presumptuous sort of worry, but honestly—was she wrong?

People in this world, spoiled by an overabundance of monster and livestock meat, had fallen into carnivorous fanaticism. But the real addiction was carbohydrates.

They just didn’t know it because they’d never had truly delicious ones—but once they did, they’d be hooked.

Maybe I should beg him with tears in my eyes not to come anymore…

But she figured he was too soft-hearted, and probably couldn’t refuse a woman’s plea.

So Ellie decided to keep working while she thought it over—otherwise, she’d burn the bread.

She took out trays of freshly baked baguettes and campagne from the oven and displayed them. The shop wasn’t big, so the movements weren’t long, but the repeated work made her break a sweat.

And the more useless fat you had, the more easily you sweated.

“Want me to help, Ellie?”

“No! Please just sit there quietly.”

“Quietly?”

It must have sounded funny to him—like scolding a child—because Ban chuckled, suppressing the sound in his throat.

Where on earth had he learned that trick? Ellie began to suspect that, contrary to his gentle, upright image, he might be a major flirt.

In the novel, what was he like again?

Unlike the obsessive, possessive Tower Master, the Knight Commander was the model exemplary male lead.

Troubled by family issues, unloved by anyone, betrayed or bereaved by everyone he cared for, yet generally cheerful and kind.

The kind of man who would risk his life to grant the heroine’s every wish.

The Tower Master would threaten to kill her if she left, while the Knight Commander would say he’d die for her. Honestly, being the heroine sounded exhausting.

“I’ll sit quietly, as ordered.”

Ellie chose to ignore him.

After two months of daily repetition, she finished organizing the store quickly.

Letting the fresh bread cool, Ellie said,

“It’s still far from opening, but I can’t just leave you waiting forever, so I’ll let you pay now. Will two baguettes do?”

“Do you have anything else?”

“There’s campagne with nuts, and white bread.”

She had already guessed he’d order the white bread—his eyes had lit up when she brought it out.

In fact, all her regulars who lined up before dawn had that same glint in their eyes.

Because she hadn’t increased production, the bread sold out far too quickly, leading to complaints.

After two months, word-of-mouth spread so far that even resellers appeared.

So Ellie limited purchases to two per person.

But instead of calming things down, the restriction made buyers even more intense—sometimes scary enough to rattle her.

“Is this the white bread? It looks so fluffy.”

“Yeah, pretty much. It’s not hard.”

“Then I’ll take one white bread and one baguette today.”

Today.

Ellie frowned unconsciously. That word sounded a lot like tomorrow and the day after, too.

No way. She couldn’t endure this trial every day. She swallowed hard and braced herself.

Thump-thump, thump-thump. She timed it in her head before speaking.

“Commander.”

“Call me Ban, Ellie.”

“I’m sorry to say this, but if you plan to keep coming to our shop, could you send a servant instead of coming yourself?”

“….”

She wanted to plead with tears, but her eyes stayed stubbornly dry.

Ban was silent for a moment, then asked,

“Is my coming here… uncomfortable for you?”

“Of course it is. Look, this is a tiny, shabby shop for commoners. If a noble frequents a place like this, rumors will start.”

“Even if I quietly just buy bread?”

“Your face is loud, Commander…”

It really sparkles.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“Why would you say that?”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but since the first time we met, you’ve always looked like you can’t stand me.”

“….”

So much for my poker face.

Ellie stared at him—so he had noticed.

“Ellie. I’d like to be friends with you. If I’ve done something wrong, please tell me honestly.”

Friends? What a horrifying thought.

Even letting him remain a regular customer was enough to destroy her liver and heart.

If I make him mad here, maybe he’ll never come back.

Even if she got hit, Ellie still had her trusty high-grade physical shield.

She decided to risk it—took a deep breath, and loaded her sharpest words.

“If I’m completely honest… you won’t kill me, right?”

“I swear on my honor.”

“Then, trusting in your honor… you don’t seriously believe we could be friends, do you?”

“….”

“Maybe you think you can extend a bit of courtesy or condescension and befriend a lowly commoner… but honestly, it just looks like deception to me.”

Ban’s smile vanished as he looked at her quietly.

“This is a shop run by a woman, just barely two months old. Do you know how dangerous it is if rumors start? And don’t tell me you don’t know how famous you are.”

She decided not to mention that she had Malina for protection.

“Maybe you nobles feel good about yourselves when you hand out titles like ‘friend’ to those beneath you—but for someone whose life could be at risk, it’s just scary. Honestly, even now I’m afraid you’ll suddenly turn on me and kill me…”

Ellie’s words were borrowed from what she knew of his past.

Looking down at me while holding my life in your hands—how dare you call that friendship?

Your kindness just makes me feel pathetic. Does treating me well make you think you’re a good person?

That was something one of his late friends had said to him—before betraying him for their family and dying. Ellie had just edited it slightly.

It wasn’t pleasant to deliberately poke at someone’s wounds, but she was doing it to protect her workplace.

“You’re very honest, Ellie.”

His voice was calm and even.

Ellie swallowed hard, bracing for a blow. But Ban continued steadily,

“But Ellie… we’re of a similar sort.”

“…What?”

“Does the Duke of McClure know his daughter is here?”

The blood drained from Ellie’s face.

Their eyes met—and Ban smiled sweetly.

Still kind, still gentle, still dazzling.

He stepped half a pace closer. Ellie tried to back away but stumbled. He reached to steady her, but she slapped his hand away with a sharp smack.

Ban looked at his hand in surprise, then chuckled.

“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone. I want to keep eating baguettes.”

Even scared, Ellie didn’t look away. Ban smiled at her.

“See you tomorrow, Ellie.”

Two months and ten days into business—

A smiley troublemaker had attached himself to her.

Damn it. Please leave. (prayer)