TSBSFVW 57

Chapter 57

Nine Breads. Filth is Filth, It Can’t Become Soybean Paste (7)

It was a day from her childhood.

Irene was napping in the soft sunlight.

Billowing curtains, fluffy pillows, and a warm blanket—those were temptations no comfortably full child could resist.

But as much as it was hard to wake up, she also wanted to play, so in her hazy half-asleep state, she kept her ears perked. If her father came, she would jump up and cling to his leg.

Irene adored her father.

To her, he was someone who could do anything, a hero who would come running to rescue her anytime.

Every morning, he would come rushing to see her face first thing, kiss both her cheeks, and ask, “Did my beloved daughter sleep well? Did you have good dreams?”

No matter how busy, he always made time to have breakfast with her. On days he had to leave early, he would apologize and hand her a gift—usually a teddy bear, because that was her favorite. Those bears piled up one by one until they decorated one side of her room.

Irene’s bedroom was the brightest and breeziest in the whole mansion.

“For you, only the best. Because you are the daughter I love most in this world. You must always have the very best.”

Back then, Irene firmly believed her life was nothing but beautiful, happy, and warm.

“Ah, today I really should try going to the annex… Today’s my chance, since Father left early…”

The McClure estate was made up of the main house and the annex.

Her father let Irene do anything she wanted—except for one thing. She was never, ever allowed to go into the annex.

But the more you tell a child not to do something, the more she wants to do it.

Irene was convinced her father must be hiding her birthday present in the annex. After all, her birthday was coming up soon.

She forced her drowsy body upright, rubbed her puffy eyes, and stretched long.

“What will he give me this time? He already gave me a teddy bear as big as I am last time…”

Honestly, she was getting a little tired of dolls. She was grown up now—she wanted something more mature.

Like that shining silver sword the performer had brandished while soaring through the air last month.

But that would never happen.

Her father made a huge fuss if she so much as ran a little, insisting she’d get hurt—even though she never tripped, and there was no reason to.

That frustrated Irene. Just a little.

She crossed the garden and slipped quickly into the annex. Thankfully, no one saw her.

Her heart pounded with triumph, excitement, and curiosity.

But the annex was quiet.

Quiet, still, and dark. Irene faltered. This didn’t feel like the “home” she knew.

Then she saw some maids carrying laundry. Irene ducked out of sight.

“Truly pitiful. How did she end up like this?”

“They say the Mayer family has completely abandoned her. No reason to bother with her anymore.”

“Even so, she’s still the duke’s legitimate daughter…”

“Watch your tongue. His Grace won’t forgive you.”

“This isn’t the main house. No one’s listening.”

“Still…”

“Miss Ellie knows everything. That’s why she keeps eating, to relieve the stress.”

“Pfft. What an excuse. She’s just a pig stuffing herself and getting fat.”

“Do you really have to call a child that…?”

“I don’t care. Is she worse off than us? At least she never has to worry about food or clothes. Even if neglected, she’ll inherit all this one day. Why should we worry?”

“Not sure. I think His Grace intends to leave everything to Miss Irene instead. Even if Mayer won’t interfere, once it comes down to property disputes, it won’t be so simple. And the McClure elders are watching with hawk eyes. Even His Grace can’t just do as he pleases.”

“Ugh, whatever. That’s not for us to worry about anyway.”

“Exactly. I do feel a little sorry for Miss Ellie, but isn’t it fine as long as she eats and sleeps well? Honestly, I almost died laughing today, watching her stuff bread in her cheeks until they puffed out. Of all things, why bread? It doesn’t even taste good.”

“Right? Bread’s just for soaking up the grease on the plate. I never eat it.”

“Hey, don’t waste it. Food’s food.”

Their voices faded.

Irene let out the breath she had been holding.

“So someone lives here.”

They said she was a child… Could she be a friend for Irene?

Maybe her father was preparing a friend for her birthday present.

Irene’s heart raced with anticipation. She hadn’t understood half of what the maids said, but she did understand that someone lived here.

“Should I just go back and wait patiently? Or… sneak a little peek first?”

Her dilemma didn’t last long. Irene decided to search the annex further.

Soon enough, she found the girl from their conversation.

“Ellie” was in the dining room.

“They said she likes eating!”

Irene felt proud of her cleverness. If her father had seen, he would’ve showered her with kisses, praising her as his smart daughter.

“Miss, would you like some more?”

“More.”

“But aren’t you getting full now?”

“Are you talking back? Are you begrudging me food?”

“N-no, of course not. I’ll bring more right away.”

Ellie must have a bad temper…

Irene hesitated outside the dining room, suddenly uneasy.

“Maybe I should tell Father I don’t want this gift.”

But she wanted to see, just once. Pressing against the wall, she peeked inside. Luckily, she had a clear view of Ellie.

Brown hair swayed busily. Her round white cheeks puffed out like a little rabbit’s. Irene’s eyes widened.

“Oh wow, she’s really cute!”

Her plump arms and sausage-like fingers clutching bread, meat, and fruit were adorable too. But the cutest of all were her big eyes, with their soft drooping shape and blue irises.

Then Irene realized instinctively: those blue eyes were the same color as hers.

And Irene’s blue eyes were inherited from her father.

“Could she be my sister? Did Father prepare a sister as my gift?”

Forgetting she had snuck in, Irene leaned forward, straining her neck to see more.

Father might have hidden her, but if Ellie was her sister, it was fine to meet first, wasn’t it? Of course it was.

Besides, Father never got angry at Irene, no matter what she did.

Even if she spilled her soup, threw a tantrum about food, or sulked and buried her face in her pillow instead of saying goodbye when he left—he always forgave her.

So Irene wasn’t afraid. Her father was the strongest, most wonderful man in the world, and to her, endlessly kind.

Irene took a step forward. Ellie saw her.

First impressions were important! Irene smiled brightly and waved.

But instead of smiling back, Ellie’s big blue eyes widened in horror. The food in her mouth dropped out.

“Y-you…!”

Ellie shot to her feet. But she was too short and heavyset. She stumbled, the chair legs snapped under the sudden movement, and she lurched backward.

Irene saw it all happen in slow motion.

“Kyaaaah!”

“Miss Ellie!”

“Call the doctor! Hurry!”

Ellie fell backward, striking her head, and rolled across the floor. She didn’t move.

In the chaos of screams, Irene froze stiff, then slowly backed away and hid again.

She ran off, pretending she hadn’t seen the hatred and contempt that had flashed in those blue eyes—the same as her own.