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Chapter 50
“It’s Something to Check On”
I felt so embarrassed and ashamed that my face was burning like it would burst.
“I—I should do it. I can do it.”
Why didn’t I have a handkerchief? Why did I put that on my face and cause this mess!
Regretting it too late, I turned away from him.
I hurriedly took the handkerchief he gave me and rubbed my lips hard to clean them. He frowned and asked,
“Are you planning to bleed?”
His words made no sense, and I frowned, but then the pain hit me.
When I finally understood the situation and removed the handkerchief, my lips were swollen and hot from rubbing too hard.
I smiled awkwardly from embarrassment and stammered,
“I have to clean it properly.”
“If you clean it twice, there won’t be anything left.”
…Huh?
At that moment, my stiff body relaxed at his words.
I chuckled, and he frowned, asking,
“Why are you laughing?”
“It’s funny to imagine.”
“…”
“I imagined only my lips being erased from my face.”
“There’s a lot to laugh about.”
His face also had a smile.
At that moment, Laifan, who was leading the food distribution, approached Calier.
“It looks like everything is almost ready, Your Grace.”
Calier slowly looked around.
I saw some villagers who seemed to have heard the news, quietly watching.
“Alright, then let’s start…”
Calier’s words stopped suddenly.
He looked at me.
I looked around nervously but no one was near me.
“Am I…?”
I awkwardly smiled and asked with my eyes what was wrong.
Calier walked up to me quickly, took off his robe, and draped it over my shoulders.
“W-why all of a sudden?”
“It’s better if your face isn’t seen.”
“Huh?”
“You said Delphian will definitely come.”
Surprised by his words, I blinked. Then he silently put the hood of the robe on me.
From behind the covered sight, I heard his low voice:
“Then there’s no need to cause unnecessary gossip even here.”
“Thank you, I will eat well!”
I handed soup and bread to the last person. He thanked me repeatedly and disappeared.
We couldn’t feed all the villagers, but the hundreds of meals prepared were all gone.
Seeing him, I suddenly felt how many people lived here.
“You worked hard.”
“Huh? No, you worked hard too, May.”
Lost in thought, I shook my head quickly at May’s words.
She looked at me with a gentle smile and asked,
“Thanks to your help, it seems like this year’s distribution went a little easier. Are you very hungry?”
“Just a little?”
Hearing that, I remembered I hadn’t eaten anything since the soup Laifan gave me early this morning.
Suddenly, my stomach growled loudly.
May noticed and nodded, saying,
“I’ll ask the kitchen if any bread is left.”
“Is there any bread left?”
“Maybe one or two pieces. They saved some for the servants.”
“Okay, please.”
May hurried off but glanced back at me.
It seemed she wanted to say something.
After watching me for a moment, she asked carefully,
“Are you worried about something?”
“Me?”
“Yes. You looked troubled while handing out soup.”
I blinked and shrugged, unsure.
“Maybe I was thinking about when I can visit the village.”
“Oh! Wait a moment. I’ll get some bread and check where His Grace is.”
“No, it’s okay. Take your time.”
May shouted something and rushed toward the others.
I chuckled and sighed,
“The only person I’m really worried about here is His Grace, but still…”
Even while handing out bread and soup, Calier’s words stayed in my mind:
“It’s better if your face isn’t seen.”
“You said Delphian will definitely come.”
“Then there’s no need to cause unnecessary gossip even here.”
Maybe he remembered my warning that Delphian would come, or maybe he was worried about rumors following me here.
I never said Calier would lose against Delphian, only that Delphian would come.
At first, I said nothing to provoke him.
Then, I hoped no one would die from this kidnapping.
“…But why did his attitude change all of a sudden?”
Calier’s sudden care about gossip felt like he worried about what would happen after Delphian saved me and I returned to Zeros.
Though I don’t plan to go back, Calier should know what returning means.
“What is he really thinking…?”
Under the lowered hood, I saw a small hand grabbing the robe.
I lifted the hood and saw who held it.
“…What’s wrong, little one?”
“I’m hungry. Can I have some bread too?”
It was a skinny, dirty boy.
I was startled and looked around, then May came with a stern face, holding bread.
“No. You just got bread a little while ago.”
“I’m really hungry.”
“But the rule is the rule. One bread per person.”
The boy’s eyes filled with tears.
I looked at May and asked quietly,
“Did you bring the bread you promised me?”
“Yes, there was one left.”
“Then give mine to him.”
“Huh?”
“I’m okay. I’m not very hungry.”
I watched May carefully.
She was right — rules are important.
If we make exceptions, more people won’t follow the rules.
The boy spoke quickly,
“One bread per person, right? I only got one! But there’s one more person in my family.”
“What?”
“It’s true! I’m not lying!”
May laughed awkwardly.
She waved a paper.
“You live alone. It’s all written here.”
“…”
“No lying.”
“It’s true, really!”
May’s firm voice made the boy cry.
I hurriedly hugged the boy, and May looked surprised.
“Why are you crying…?”
“What’s all this noise?”
Calier came over from talking with Jenber and Laifan.
The boy cried in my arms, and May explained.
“We gave one bread per person, but the boy wanted more.”
“Even though the paper says he lives alone, he lied and said there are more in his house.”
“He’s not lying!”
The boy hugged me tightly and cried.
Calier looked awkward but finally spoke.
“Lead the way.”
“It’s something to check on.”
