TSBSFVW 25

Chapter 25
Five Breads. To Get Rid of a Louse, You Must Burn the Cottage (2)

Ellie preferred bread over pastries.

Pastries were certainly excellent, but she thought nothing could beat the simple, wholesome taste of bread she could eat every day.

It had been the same in her previous life—she mostly baked bread for herself—but for gifts, desserts were more suitable, so she often made them.

Desserts looked nicer than bread, after all.

Even in this life, she hadn’t completely given up on attempting desserts.

However, the number of recipes she remembered was small, and since she needed to diet anyway, making something sweet felt unmanageable, so she had put it off.

“Honestly, the real reason is that I just hate whipping…”

Precision in measurement and temperature control was of course necessary, but whipping was what she hated the most. By the time she whipped, her arms, already exhausted from kneading, felt like they would fall off.

Meringue was especially risky: one drop of water or too high a temperature could ruin it. Her body had limits—it was just a consumable, after all.

Now that she had a magical whisk, an oven thermometer, and a freezer, she could try making desserts.

“But is this really something that would make someone’s eyes light up?”

Ellie had sought advice from Morris from the beginning, when preparing to open the shop.

She was confident her products would be well-received, but since it was her first time running a store, she needed help with pricing, menu composition, and production volume.

Morris readily agreed to help. Of course, Ellie had anticipated that it wouldn’t be free and asked first:

“How much is your consultation fee?”

“Consider it an investment in the future. If you’re planning to open branches across the continent, as you said, I’ll be the first to invest in you.”

“I don’t like investments…”

“Then call it a partnership? You’re ambitious.”

It wasn’t blatant dismissal, but the faint smile still scratched at her pride.

That look, as if she were a child to him.

In truth, as Morris had said, she couldn’t call her situation—a one-sided help—partnership. She resolved to succeed quickly and erase that faint smile from his face.

Ellie wanted to succeed.

She wanted to live well on her own.

“Desserts will look pretty, right?”

“They probably will.”

“Sweet too.”

“Because they’re desserts.”

“The nobles will go crazy over them and spend money.”

“That’s anti-noble talk…”

“Oh. Does that bother you? Should I be considerate?”

“No, you can go ahead.”

She was only surprised that Morris, who seemed meticulous and flawless, would make such blunt remarks in front of her.

Ellie shrugged, letting him say all he wanted. Morris chuckled and said,

“Why the pout?”

“I’m not pouting. Besides, if the nobles like desserts, so what?”

“Your cheeks are puffed up like you’re pouting, though.”

“That’s because I’ve gained weight.”

Couldn’t you tell?

When Ellie turned her head sharply, Morris squinted, rested his arm on the table, and leaned forward to inspect her face.

A handsome face looks good from any angle, but his gaze from below, studying her expression, left her unsure where to look. Ellie deliberately frowned to hide the flush rising on her face.

Morris let out a short laugh and lightly patted her head.

“Good, so you’re not pouting. That’s a relief.”

“Ah, crazy…”

Whether I’m pouting or not, why are you relieved… Ellie swatted his hand away.

“I’m not going to sell to nobles. You know that.”

“You just need to stay out of the spotlight, right?”

“But—”

“If you were afraid of your father finding out, you shouldn’t have opened the shop at all.”

“Who’s afraid?”

“Then there’s no problem. Avoid the awkward stuff, pick only the methods you like. That’s it.”

His words sounded less about the dessert business and more about his relationship with her.

A straightforward, light-cutting remark.

Ellie pursed her lips.

She couldn’t trust him. She couldn’t forget his true self, thinking he was just kind. He was a cold-blooded moneylender.

“What’s the plan then?”

“First, you’ll establish a new company. Then we’ll sign an exclusive contract. I’ll provide your desserts to my distinguished clients, introduce your company, and sell a little bit at a time.”

“But even if desserts are expensive, selling just a little won’t make much money.”

“What I’m selling is your name, not just pastries. That’s fine.”

“Excuse me? Just pastries?”

Bold, isn’t it? Ellie’s eyes flashed, and Morris sighed.

“Don’t get excited there… They’ll taste amazing because you made them, but that’s not the point.”

“I’ll hear more first.”

“Your desserts will gain popularity fast. I’ll make sure of your success.”

“I’m confident even without your help.”

“Sure, that may happen, but I can make it even more valuable. Leave it to me, Ellie.”

Morris looked straight into Ellie’s blue eyes and smiled slyly.

“There’s no better partner than me. I guarantee it.”

“I doubt that.”

“Feel free to find someone else if you want. Either way, I’ll be the best.”

“What’s with this confidence…”

Perhaps the secret to Morris’s early success was his way with words and his gaze—he made people want to trust him, even when they knew it was baseless.

His symmetrical, handsome face and warm brown eyes made him seem incredibly trustworthy.

“He looks people straight in the eye. Like he has nothing to hide.”

Edmund did look people in the eye, but not like Morris, who seemed to pierce right through you.

Ellie was certain he evaluated people’s worth in numbers.

Even a kind beauty must be viewed critically.

Being swayed by beauty could ruin three generations.

Beauty can destroy.

“I won’t sign an exclusive contract.”

“Eh, why?!”

“You said I could find someone else, right? If someone better comes along, I’ll switch.”

“Wow, cold…”

Ellie chuckled.

“How can you trust someone who charges 40% interest to a minor and blindly sign an exclusive contract?”

Morris patted her head, seemingly impressed.

“I really taught you well.”

“Taught? You just exploited me…”

Let’s be accurate about words.

Even after refusing the exclusive contract, Morris didn’t look upset. He actually seemed pleased.

“I’ll make a few sample menus. Since they have a lot of sugar, we’ll increase orders starting tomorrow. If you provide the names, features, and ingredients, it’ll be easier to sell.”

“How long will it take?”

“Not long. Marilina can now handle most of my work…”

She glanced at Morris while mentioning Marilina. He just smiled mysteriously.

“And I want to order a few more items. Can you get them? I’ll describe their features, even if I don’t know the names.”

“I can get anything you want.”

“Ew, how creepy.”

“I’m just appealing so you won’t abandon me.”

“I kind of want to abandon you right now.”

“That’s harsh.”

In truth, whether she signed an exclusive contract or not, Ellie had no choice but Morris, at least until the war was fully over and it was completely safe.

“To advance the story, the protagonists need to meet, but Edmund won’t leave…”

It was frustrating that the Tower Master didn’t seem to have anything to do, staying at the shop constantly.

“Ban moves around a lot; maybe they’ve already met somewhere.”

For some reason, Elaine seemed to have left home safely. Ellie hoped they’d combine their strength to save the country from war.

Pyramid makes bread; the protagonists save the country.

“Once the war is over, Ban or Edmund will probably kidnap Elaine, and Part 2, the intense romance, will unfold, right?”

Then Ellie would finally escape from the two lice—or leeches—and head to the empire.

She’d live well and eat well.

Meanwhile, at that moment:

Ban witnessed a shocking scene.

The thin blade of a rapier split the thick skin of a monster. The face, smeared with green blood, looked familiar.

A beauty with bright blonde hair and the same vivid blue eyes as Ellie.

It was Elaine.