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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy ‌‌‌‌the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Chapter 3
"Eek!"
I startled badly, but quickly composed myself with an awkward smile and turned around. ‌‌‌‌
Standing there was a fair-skinned, silver-haired ‌‌‌‌beauty in glasses, wearing the pink rabbit apron I had picked out for him.
Dias Hessen.
This man was the owner of the Bakery and the widower who would become my father.
"Oh, I promised to play with some kids at the Town Square."
I avoided his gaze and tapped the tip of my shoe ‌‌‌‌against the floor. ‌‌‌
Behind his glasses, eyes the same honey-gold as mine stared directly at me, but fortunately, he seemed not ‌‌‌to notice my ambitious plan. ‌
"Well, I'm busy, so ‌I'll be going!"
I rushed out of the house as if fleeing before he could stop me.
"Watch out for ‌‌carriages! Don't take off your ‌‌outer clothes just because it's hot! And don't go into the Dangerous Forest!"
I waved my hand dismissively at his usual nagging and dashed toward Edelwein Manor.
* * *
Shortly after arriving at the Manor, I encountered an unexpected person.
'Rachel?'
Rachel was in ‌‌the third-floor room of the ‌‌‌‌mansion, just like yesterday, watching me from who knows when.
Wearing ‌‌the same expression as yesterday, but different clothes.
'He couldn't have been waiting for me...'
I stared blankly at Rachel, then awkwardly bowed with a navel salute.
'Maybe yesterday I was too presumptuous for a commoner with my greeting.'
But by the time I straightened up, Rachel had already gone into the room without a sound.
'Tsk. Our young lady certainly lives up to her ‌‌‌reputation as a villainess—so aloof.'
Just as I was smacking my ‌‌‌‌lips regretfully.
'Hm?'
A servant hurried out of the Manor. It was one of the servants I had greeted yesterday.
My eyes sparkled at the sight of ‌‌him.
'My instincts are tingling. The instinct of opportunity!'
I quickly approached him.
"Hello, sir! Where are you going?"
"I'm busy, so don't follow me―"
The man, who was trying to ignore me and leave, ‌‌‌suddenly seemed to remember something, stopped in his tracks, and turned around.
"Say, little one. Do ‌‌‌‌you know where they sell quality cheese? I need to buy ‌some cheese..."
At the man's question, my lips curved upward.
'There's no easier way to grow close to someone than by helping them.'
It ‌‌was a golden opportunity to get closer to my goal.
"Of course. I know this neighborhood like the back of ‌my hand, so trust me."
I stepped forward with a confident smile.
* * *
On the way back to the Manor.
A smile bloomed across the man's face. In his arms was the finest cheese from our neighborhood, freshly purchased.
Naturally, it was thanks to me.
[A noble eating my cheese? Would a noble even deign ‌‌‌to taste something like this?]
I'd had quite ‌‌‌‌the time persuading the stubborn old Gerald, who despised the nobility.
But through my efforts, the man had secured a continuous trade contract ‌‌‌with Gerald.
My neck tensed slightly.
Sensing it, the man walking beside me offered a belated word of thanks.
"Thank you, little one."
"It's Vivian."
"Right, Vivian. Thanks to you, I can serve cheese at ‌‌tonight's dinner."
"Oh, it's nothing. That's ‌‌what neighbors do for each other."
And now it's his turn to help me. Hehe.
I ‌‌‌‌gazed at the Edelwein Manor, which had drawn closer, and wore a sinister ‌‌smile.
Then I glanced at the man's expression and deliberately let my body go limp, stroking my belly weakly.
The man, ‌who ‌‌had been about ‌‌‌to bid farewell and enter the mansion, looked at me with confusion.
"Hm? Why are you suddenly acting like that?"
"We walked so far that I'm hungry now.... I should hurry home, after all."
Right on cue, my small stomach let out an audible growl.
I turned away with dragging, listless ‌‌steps. But my ears were perked backward, listening intently for any hesitation in his footsteps.
"Ugh, I'm so hungry I can barely move...."
It's not easy to pretend ignorance after receiving so much help, is it? Especially when it comes to food!
I deliberately mumbled louder, making sure the man could hear ‌‌‌every word.
"What if I collapse from hunger on the way home? My poor father would be ‌‌left all alone...."
But the man neither grabbed my arm nor turned away to enter the mansion—he simply hesitated.
'Wow, he's really wavering!'
Just before I could unleash my masterful performance of stumbling and collapsing.
"V-Vivian!"
Fortunately, the man had the good sense to call out and stop me.
I turned back, deliberately suppressing the smile creeping up the corners of my mouth.
"Yes, sir?"
"Well... would you like to come inside for a moment and have a snack? I think there might be some leftovers."
"Really? I can do that?"
"Yes. It'll only take a moment."
The man explained the situation to the gatekeeper ‌‌standing at the mansion's main entrance.
Since it was a large estate requiring many hands to maintain, outsiders came and went frequently. After a simple inspection of my belongings, I was allowed through.
I gave the gatekeeper a respectful bow, making a good impression, then followed the man into the mansion.
A satisfied smile played at my lips.
'Since our villainess won't leave the house, I'll just have to come meet her myself.'
I glanced around ‌‌‌‌the back ‌‌garden, hoping to catch a glimpse ‌‌of Rachel....
But sadly, not a single strand of Rachel's hair ‌‌was visible.
I entered the back door connected to the Manor's Kitchen alongside the man, stepping into the servants' domain.
The servants who had been chattering among themselves fell silent the moment ‌they noticed us.
"James, you said you were going to fetch cheese—who's that girl with you?"
Before James could introduce me, I stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Hello! I'm Vivian, the one who came yesterday."
"Ah, so you're the Bakery owner's daughter from ‌‌‌‌yesterday?"
A few of the servants ‌‌‌‌who had glimpsed me in passing yesterday finally recognized me.
James set down the cheese we had purchased together on the table and spoke.
"Try this cheese, everyone. This girl found me an absolutely exquisite variety."
"This child?"
"She knows this Village better than any of ‌‌‌us. ‌‌‌‌Anyway, she mentioned being hungry, so I thought we might offer her a snack. Miss, do you have any leftovers?"
"Really? Wait a ‌‌‌moment—there should be something left from earlier."
The woman in the apron disappeared into one corner of the Kitchen and soon returned with a ‌‌slice of cake.
I gazed at the ornate, appetizing cake and swallowed hard.
'The Duke's pastry chef truly is exceptional.'
My father runs a Bakery, certainly, but...
His skills ‌are frankly abysmal—and I cannot lie even in love—so it had been ages since I'd tasted a properly made cake.
"Thank you for the meal!"
As I began eating the cake, the adults gradually gathered around me.
"Would you like to see the Garden later? The landscaping here is magnificent. We can't show you inside the Manor—that's the Duke's ‌‌‌‌‌and the young lady's private space—but the Garden should be fine."
"Wow, I'd love that! I was hoping to see it anyway. This place really does look like a princess's palace."
"A princess does live ‌‌here. The Ice Princess."
The woman who had brought the cake spoke bluntly.
Another servant beside her immediately jabbed her in the ribs.
I seized the opportunity and asked.
"I saw someone on the third floor yesterday—is that the young lady?"
"Yes. That's Miss Rachel."
"She was incredibly beautiful. What kind of person is the young lady?"
Just as the servants were about to speak.
The Kitchen ‌‌‌door suddenly burst open and Sally stormed in.
"More cake—"
Upon spotting me surrounded by servants, Sally's expression twisted violently.
"What is this? Why is she here?"
"I owed her a kindness, so I brought her to give her a snack. Once she finishes eating, I'll send her right back. So—"
"How dare you bring a beggar from the marketplace into the Duke's Manor? Ugh, how filthy and disgusting."
"Sally, that's no ‌way to speak to your friend!"
"Friend? Who said anything about being friends with that filthy ‌‌‌‌‌girl? Get her out of here right now!"
Sally threw a tantrum, rolling on the ground and shrieking regardless of the servants' reproaches.
"If you don't throw her out, I'll tell Mother everything!"
It was at that very moment when Sally's shrill voice pierced through the crack in the door.
"What on ‌‌‌earth is all this commotion?"
The Kitchen door swung open, and a sharp-featured elderly gentleman entered.
My eyes widened at the sight of him.
'Who is this man...?'
"Y-Your Excellency."
The servants gasped in ‌‌‌unison, scrambling to their feet ‌‌‌in alarm.
Though his hair was streaked with silver, the elderly gentleman possessed a commanding presence that eclipsed even the most accomplished young men.
Moreover, his eyes burned with a fierce, blood-red intensity.
A man whose very gaze could bring others to their knees—such was the overwhelming aura he emanated.
Rachel's maternal grandfather and the head of ‌the Edelwein family, the empire's sole duchy.
'So this is Duke Kaltz Edelwein!'

---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the ‌latest releases, please ‌read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------