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Chapter 29.
Six Breads. The Ordeal I Thought I Escaped Comes Chasing (1)
During the week that Van went out on a subjugation mission, Ellie also took a break from her part-time work.
It was only a week, but Van grew miserably gloomy, agonizing over how he could possibly survive even a few days without eating baguettes.
The withdrawal symptoms were far too serious.
“If anyone saw him, they’d think I laced it with drugs.”
But aside from those three, no one else showed symptoms severe enough to be called an addiction, even though the bread was popular.
If every single person who bought bread had gotten addicted, Ellie would’ve been thrown in chains long ago.
“By now, he’s probably crying that he’s eaten it all.”
If it were Van, he really might sit in front of an empty basket and cry.
Ellie had realized just how earnest the robust knight-captain was about baguettes, and at least she acknowledged that sincerity.
“Edmund, should we go make a delivery?”
“To where? Why?”
“To the Captain.”
“What for?”
Edmund replied lazily. He was slouched like he owned the chair by the window now, looking up at Ellie.
“Because it’s pitiful. He’s probably crying right now.”
When Van had left, Edmund had teased him, saying he’d eat it all in his absence.
“Let that bastard cry or not.”
“Weren’t you two friends?”
“Friends? Hardly.”
Though his words were cold, his tone wasn’t sharp. Ellie thought maybe he was just shy. Yeah, love is more fun when it’s hidden.
She firmly believed the two of them were secretly dating.
Even if they fought over Elaine later, she hoped their friendship-that-felt-like-love wouldn’t change.
Edmund said,
“I thought you hated Van.”
“I do hate him. But I’ve grown attached.”
Ellie admitted it lightly.
Neither Edmund nor Van were as hateful as they had been at first.
When someone eats what you make so happily, praises it, and constantly shows affection—how could you keep hating them?
That’s the scary thing about attachment.
Like clothes getting wet in a drizzle without you realizing, Ellie had found herself unable to dislike them anymore.
They ate simple meals together at the little table, he helped with washing dishes he wasn’t used to, he ran a few errands since he came often. Now he even felt like family.
Like a frail picky-eater son and a mischievous little brother you just couldn’t hate.
The funny part was, despite them being the two most popular men in the Rosso Kingdom, she felt no romantic attraction to either of them.
“Family, huh. Ridiculous.”
She couldn’t even remember what family had felt like anymore. Her past life was too distant, and the family of this life was so rotten she didn’t even want to call them family.
So Ellie told herself this thin attachment wasn’t heavy.
Even people grow attached to a dog they pet once.
“Still, I’ve stuffed them with enough food. If anything happens later, surely they’ll at least let me live?”
But who could know?
Ellie suspected once they fell for Elaine, their attitudes toward her would change.
After all, male leads always became different people once they met the heroine.
She would have to mind-control herself not to feel betrayed or shocked when that time came.
And when the two of them inevitably fell for Elaine, she would slip away quietly. Very quietly.
“Watching him cry once might not be so bad.”
“Thanks.”
She packed a basket with baguette sandwiches she had already prepared, plus two whole baguettes.
“Ellie.”
“I’ve got it all packed. Let’s go.”
She answered without looking, but suddenly felt weight on both shoulders. Ellie lifted her head.
Before she knew it, Edmund’s face was right in front of hers. He had placed both hands on her shoulders and bent down to meet her gaze.
Her reflection showed in his clear amethyst eyes. Ellie blinked, thinking how thick and long his lashes were.
“Feeling dizzy?”
Maybe he was unwell again.
Though she knew he wasn’t as sickly as he appeared, there were times when he curled up in cold sweats.
A panic attack could strike at any time.
He leaned in, pressing his forehead to hers.
“No fever.”
“……”
Instead of being flustered, Ellie only looked worried. Edmund sighed in defeat.
“If you’re not well, we don’t have to go.”
“…That’s not it. Forget it, I wasn’t expecting anything from you.”
“What were you expecting? …Cream puff?”
“……”
“You already stuffed yourself with egg tarts. Eat more and you’ll get a stomachache.”
“How old do you think I am, damn it—forget it.”
Grumbling sulkily, Edmund cupped the back of her head with his large hand. Because of his frail image, she often forgot—but he was tall, and his hands were large too.
His fingers were long and straight.
“Let’s go.”
“Shh.”
A cloak dropped over Ellie’s head. She quietly held her breath, nestled against Edmund.
“Elaine, this is enough.”
“No, I won’t go back!”
“The fake you sent outside the capital was exposed. The Duke will be back soon. My tricks won’t work anymore!”
“Leave me alone. I won’t go back. Not until I find her!”
“That pig’s been gone over four months, Elaine. If she still hasn’t been found, it means she’s already died somewhere.”
“Seth!”
“You know it too, Elaine. How could that dull girl survive alone? If she were at least pretty like you, someone might’ve taken her in—but her?”
“Watch your mouth, Seth. Don’t insult her in front of me.”
A quiet laugh escaped him.
“Why don’t you say that in front of your father?”
“……”
“Anyway, I’ve helped you enough. If you don’t return by tonight, I’ll have no choice but to use force.”
“Seth, please…”
“Elaine, I know you feel sorry for that pig.”
“……”
“But apart from her bloodline, she had not a shred of nobility in her. Ugly girl that she was. At least she knew her place from the start. Disappearing on her own was the best thing she could do—for your sake.”
The “pig” listening to all this thought:
“Sure, I disappeared for the heroine’s sake. But being insulted as some ugly pig-nose is seriously annoying.”
The man arguing with Elaine was her childhood friend, Seth Hastings.
The eldest son of the Duke of Hastings’ household—Ellie had even greeted him once when they were young.
Since childhood, Seth had been smitten with pretty Elaine, tagging along after her everywhere. And judging by now, he still hadn’t grown out of it.
But Ellie wanted nothing to do with the nasty brat who used to jab his finger at her, jeering “pig, pig” whenever he saw her. So she hid from him all the more.
“For the sake of the pig who sacrificed herself, you must inherit House McClure. That is your duty as the survivor.”
“Don’t talk as if she’s already dead.”
From the flow, it was obvious “she” meant Ellie.
“I’m only warning you to face reality, Elaine. I’ve said my piece. If you don’t want to see those around you hurt, go back to the McClure estate tonight.”
“…Are you threatening me?”
“If I must, yes. For now I’m just persuading.”
His words were smooth as silk. Ellie shuddered involuntarily with a “Ugh!”
It was unbearable—an ugly pig-nose acting like a dashing male lead.
“If you only read the lines, he could pass for a romance hero…”
But in truth, he was just a useless, ugly, scrawny anchovy relying on his parents’ power.
The pig-nosed anchovy strutted away.
Ellie glanced around, wondering how long they had to hide, then noticed Van awkwardly crouched nearby. He whispered, looking embarrassed.
“Don’t misunderstand. I wasn’t spying.”
As if anyone would believe that.
She shot him a cold glare, and Van’s face crumpled, like he truly felt wronged.
“I won’t go back… Not until I find Ellie.”
Yep, that’s me. But why are you looking for me, you lunatic?
When Ellie glanced toward Elaine, Edmund’s stern face suddenly blocked her view, his hand covering her eyes—shielding her from seeing anything harsh.
“Let’s go back.”
“Yes, Ellie. You should go back. There are too many beasts here.”
Van joined in. When Ellie brushed Edmund’s hand aside, she caught Van’s eyes. He smiled at her, but his green gaze at Elaine was as cold as ice.
How on earth would that man turn into someone who couldn’t live without the heroine? It baffled her.
But Ellie had something more urgent to deal with.
Since the Duke wasn’t around, she could speak.
“Sis.”
It was a problem that the heroine’s reason for running away was still “Ellie.”
Looking at Elaine’s wide, startled blue eyes when she spotted her, Ellie thought:
Even burdens have their limits.
