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Chapter 31
Six Loaves. The Adversity I Thought I Escaped Catches Up (3)
After Ellie disappeared together with Edmund, Ban carefully held the basket she had brought with her.
He had eaten all the baguette he had saved from last night, so he had been feeling gloomy since morning.
Inside the basket were a baguette sandwich and two whole, uncut baguettes. Along with them were two egg tarts—something Ellie must have prepared at the same time she made Edmund’s portion.
No doubt Edmund would have grumbled that those were his, and Ellie would have scolded him, saying, “Why be greedy when there’s plenty?”
Ban felt the corners of his lips wanting to relax into a smile, so he coughed deliberately and said,
“Shall I go fetch Lord Hastings? He can’t have gone far yet.”
“I’ll take care of it myself, don’t worry.”
“Is that so? Very well then.”
As if his original offer had never been his real intention, Ban quickly dropped the pretense of escorting him and instead turned his gaze toward Irene, whose face was still wet with tears.
Sensing the look, Irene glared back at him.
“Do you still have business with me?”
“No. Just curious.”
“Curious? Haven’t you seen someone cry before?”
“I was wondering what on earth you could have done to make Ellie hate you this much….”
“……”
“Ellie’s not someone who gets angry easily. And even if she does, she forgives quickly. So what in the world have you been doing to her all this time?”
Ban grinned. He himself had once been disliked, but now he was the one receiving lunch deliveries—a winner.
“Well. I’ll just ask Ellie myself later. Unlike you, I’m neither hated nor cut off from her!”
The snide remark did not suit his gentle face and warm tone at all. Irene only bit down hard on her lips.
She seemed frustrated—wanting to argue but unable to. From the very beginning, she had disliked Ban.
That man was a fox wearing the skin of a dog. The way he jeered, all the while pretending innocence, was detestable.
Just as Irene, angered, was about to leave, Ban spoke again, as if he had suddenly remembered something.
“We won’t be seeing each other again, so I’ll tell you now. Never look for Ellie again. Don’t even acknowledge her, and don’t approach her. You’d better pass that along to the Duke of McClure as well.”
“And who do you think you are….”
“Do you really think the Duke of McClure knows nothing? He’s already aware he was deceived by you and is on his way back. Reports of where you went and what you’ve done must have reached him already. He’s sent people into the city since Ellie disappeared—to do exactly what, I’m sure you know.”
“……”
“I believe you know without me spelling it out. You’re not that stupid.”
Watching Irene’s face blanch and her figure vanish quickly from sight, Ban grinned.
The Duke of McClure hadn’t done anything yet.
But if the Duke were to discover Ellie’s whereabouts, his course of action would be all too predictable.
‘For some reason, it’s almost as if he doesn’t want to check whether Ellie is alive or dead….’
As though she still had some use left to him.
That, in fact, was what worried Ban more.
If it were the Duke of McClure, then as soon as Ellie disappeared, he should have immediately adopted Irene as his daughter, or altered the family register so that the “Ellie” written there became “Irene.”
Surely he wasn’t waiting for Ellie’s return—so why hadn’t he stripped her of her position at once?
The only one who could restrain the Duke was Irene.
Keeping her close, to prevent him from harboring reckless ideas, seemed the wisest course.
No matter what happened, Ban and Edmund would protect that little shop and Ellie, but it was best if it never came to that.
Because what Ellie loved was quiet peace.
Yes—this much was worthy of praise.
Thinking of the compliments he would coax from her, Ban smiled happily and took a large bite out of the baguette sandwich Ellie had packed.
Irene, dejected, returned to the lodging she shared with Franz.
Ellie’s words had struck a part of her she had never once considered.
Irene had truly believed she was acting for Ellie’s sake.
Once again, I only thought of myself.
She only wanted to protect Ellie.
Because no one else was searching for her, Irene had decided to do it herself. If Ellie was alive, she wanted to give back everything that rightfully belonged to her.
Everything taken away because of Irene’s very existence.
The dirty, ugly one was herself. Ellie was blameless.
That was what she had believed.
Really? Or was I just making excuses—using Ellie as a pretext to run away because I was suffocating?
It wasn’t that she hadn’t put in effort.
But slipping past her father’s watch, choosing her own path, training in swordsmanship with Franz—could she honestly say she hadn’t enjoyed it?
The indescribable sense of freedom, the thrill of testing her limits.
The exhilarating rush of feeling like she could do anything, the satisfaction when she traced the exact trajectory she had envisioned.
Amazingly, Irene succeeded at everything she set her mind to.
Franz had been an excellent teacher.
Strict when needed, but happier than anyone to celebrate her accomplishments.
Irene herself knew her progress wasn’t normal. People who witnessed it gaped in astonishment—it would’ve been strange not to notice.
Should she pretend incompetence, or slow herself down? While she debated, Franz had said firmly:
“To not do what you can do—that would be strange.”
Unlike her father, who always told her to avoid danger.
“So stop worrying about useless things and focus on learning properly.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
“You’re only obedient at times like this. Really.”
Irene had no desire to set down the sword she had only just begun to learn.
But Ellie and the Captain of the Foxes were right. If Father learns that I set out to find Ellie, he will never let it go….
From the Knight Commander’s words, it was highly likely her father already knew where Ellie was. If he resolved to act, no one could stop him—at least not within the kingdom of Rosso.
Irene was stunned at herself, realizing she had never once considered how her actions might affect Ellie.
Had she really not thought of it? She asked herself.
Hadn’t she perhaps wanted to lock Ellie away in the most stifling place, using her status as the Duke’s daughter as an excuse—just so Irene herself could be free?
Wasn’t it because she feared she would never escape her father’s side otherwise?
She had lived comfortably in his shadow all her life, and only now—
Irene couldn’t answer.
In any case… I must go back quickly. Seth said I had to return by tonight. That must mean Father will be back within days.
She needn’t worry about Seth Hastings spilling the truth.
As childhood friends, Irene knew very well how timid Seth was.
He acted arrogant, but he feared the Duke of McClure. He had only helped Irene run away because he was convinced she would accomplish nothing and return quickly.
By indebting her, he probably hoped to satisfy his sly desires later. Irene knew, but used him anyway—so she had no right to blame.
When her father grew angry, Seth shrank like meat searing on a grill. He would never be the one to expose her flight.
“Franz! Franz, sorry for disturbing you so late, but can we talk?”
No response.
He’s not back yet? But the subjugation request we took ended today. He said we’d take the next one tomorrow, so he should be here.
He wasn’t in the pub downstairs either, so he must be in his room. Ever since traveling with Irene, Franz hadn’t gone drinking without her.
Is he asleep?
If she left like this, she might never see him again. After all the help he had given her, she didn’t want to seem an ungrateful wretch who left without a word.
By now, even a light sleeper like Franz should have woken up. He often complained about how he only ever slept lightly.
A bad premonition stirred.
“Franz, I’m coming in! Sorry if you’re not dressed!”
She kicked hard at the locked door. Bang, bang—the frame shook, and finally the door swung open feebly.
And Franz lay on the bed.
The heavy scent of blood stung her nose. Instinctively, Irene understood what had happened. A sword was buried in Franz’s back—his own.
“F… Franz… Franz…”
Too shocked even to scream, Irene collapsed where she stood.
And in her mind echoed a voice:
Reports of where you went and what you’ve done must have reached him already.
If you don’t return by tonight, we’ll have no choice but to resort to harsher measures.
