MPBGS 30

Chapter : 30

The guard, flustered, tried to help Daisy to her feet.

“Please, tell me where she went. I have to see her.”

“How should I know? The carriage left a long time ago.”

Daisy felt all the strength drain from her body. She had believed that coming to the Rohanson mansion would solve everything. Why had she thought that?

“Don’t just stand there awkwardly. When the young lady returns, go see her then.”

The guard, clearly uncomfortable, urged Daisy to leave.

“Should I call a carriage for you?”

“N-No, it’s fine.”

She didn’t even have money for a carriage. Daisy steadied herself on unsteady legs. She had thought it would be better to go to the temple anyway. First, she would find the knights she had seen earlier.

She decided to return to the lodging she had been staying at, gather some money, and change into a nun’s habit. That would make it much easier to enter the temple.

Leaving the Rohanson mansion behind, Daisy headed for the inn. Her legs ached from running all the way there, but strangely, her impatience had dissipated.

Meanwhile, raindrops began to fall. Daisy looked up at the sky. When had the clouds rolled in? Rain began to mix with the tears on her cheeks and trickle down.

“It’s raining, let’s hurry!”

“Ugh…!”

“I’m sorry…!”

Children running to avoid the rain collided with Daisy. Though it was just a child, her weak legs gave out, and she fell. The child apologized and ran off, worried Daisy might be angry.

Daisy didn’t have the strength to be angry or even to stand, so she remained seated on the ground. As she sat there, she remembered almost getting hit by the carriage earlier. Maybe it would have been better if it had hit her…

With her head bowed, a shadow suddenly fell over her.

Come to think of it, this was a busy commercial area—it made sense that it might be in the way.

“I’m sorry, I’ll move.”

“Daisy.”

Startled by the familiar voice, Daisy lifted her head. The figure before her was the complete opposite of the shadow she had conjured—pure and white. It was the person she had been searching for so desperately.

“Evangeline… my lady.”

Perhaps because she had said it once before, it was no longer difficult to call the person in front of her “Evangeline.” Even though fear and resentment still lingered, she found it oddly reassuring—and she found herself amused by that.

It was as if all the rain in the world had been swallowed up. Daisy realized it wasn’t that the rain had stopped—the umbrella had just shielded her. But because the umbrella tilted toward her, Evangeline’s back was getting wet.

“How… how did you get here?”

“I came looking for you.”

Really? She had come all the way here just by finding me? Like magic?

Evangeline’s face, gentle and smiling, reminded Daisy of the very smile she had once cared for in the young lady.

“I have a request. You said you’d grant a wish.”

Daisy clutched Evangeline’s dress tightly, as if it were her only lifeline.

“Alright. But there will be a price.”

You know what I want, right? Evangeline asked.

A price… Daisy understood exactly what that meant. When she had summoned the demon, it had looked at Priest Berga as a sacrifice. It had also said it would collect payment next time.

“I-I’ll give myself.”

Even though Daisy had already killed someone and wasn’t “pure” like a demon might desire, she could only give herself.

“So please, help me.”

“Alright, fine. I’ll grant it.”

Evangeline extended her hand. Daisy knew she shouldn’t take it, yet she clasped it anyway. The touch was cold and slithery, like a snake, coiling up her arm and tightening around her neck. Daisy buried her face against it. And yet, strangely, the snake’s insides felt warm.

While riding in the carriage, a thought suddenly struck her.

Wait a minute. We’re going to the orphanage, right? The goal is to find Daisy, but we’re still going to the orphanage, right? Can we really go empty-handed?

When people volunteer at orphanages, they usually bring food and gifts. I shouldn’t show up empty-handed either, right?

For etiquette’s sake, and for managing my image while escaping the role of the villainess, I should buy something.

“Let’s stop at a nearby shop.”

“Yes.”

Without even telling the coachman, the carriage stopped in front of a nearby bakery, somehow hearing my voice.

“I’ll go.”

“Then buy enough bread for the children.”

I handed Kanna a gold coin.

“Are you going to buy all the bread in the store?”

Oh, right. Prices here are low… but I only have a gold coin.

“Buy enough, and the rest is your allowance.”

“Thank you!”

Kanna jumped off the carriage with a bright smile. Hearing the word “allowance” seemed to delight her so much that she even hummed on her way. I should give her small errands with a bit of pocket money from now on.

“Jelly, you go with her.”

“Yes, yes.”

Jelly, wearing a displeased expression, handed Pudding to me and got off the carriage. Is she upset because she doesn’t get money? Meanwhile, Kanna works, but Jelly wants to freeload and get allowance too. Pudding seemed to agree, meowing as if mocking her conscience.

Soon, Kanna and Jelly returned with their hands full of bread. It really looked like they had taken all the bread from the shop. The aroma filled the carriage.

I couldn’t help but take one from Jelly. Hmm, just bread. But it smells amazing, freshly baked. Well, it tastes good, so it’s fine. I guess the chefs at the Rohanson mansion have made me picky.

“Next, a clothing store for ready-made clothes.”

“Buying more? Do we really need to?”

Jelly doesn’t understand. To entice someone, you start with their family. Of course, I’m not trying to tempt Daisy; I’m going to kneel, apologize, and ask Henna and Gabriel what they said.

I got off with them. Since I took over, I hadn’t bought clothes for myself or Kanna or Henna, yet here I am buying clothes for strangers. I wonder if it hurts.

I glanced at Kanna, who seemed delighted with clothes only half her size. The lady is truly magnanimous.

“Do you enjoy shopping?”

“Yes… I’ve never really shopped properly before.”

Kanna said shyly. Poor girl’s past was rough. If the male lead were here, he’d be holding her hand, buying everything she pointed at.

But I’m the villainess, so I can’t ignore what I need to do and just buy Kanna clothes.

“Next time, we’ll come together. You and Henna.”

“Really? That’d be wonderful!”

Kanna was overjoyed, not realizing this was just a substitute plan. I smiled, and noticed Jelly staring.

“Why?”

Jelly just kept picking clothes, mumbling that she was done. How many is she choosing?

The pile of clothes grew too large for the carriage. The shopkeeper looked suspicious of someone buying so many children’s clothes.

Seizing the chance, I explained that Evangeline Rohanson was buying so many clothes to volunteer at an orphanage. It might not make much impact since this shop wasn’t for nobles, but maybe the rumor would spread.

“My lady, please take this umbrella too. The sky isn’t clear…”

Thanks to that, the shopkeeper kindly gave us an umbrella. Though my hands shook, my tongue stumbled, and my head bowed, it might have looked like I was snatching it.

The umbrella seemed used but functional. I took it, thinking the owner would be stuck without it. Better to just accept it.

Refusing might give Evangeline Rohanson a reputation for not accepting gifts from commoners.

“I’ll put it to good use.”

“Thank you!”

Why am I saying thanks when I’m the one receiving it?

The shopkeeper brightened up when we took the umbrella, though the smile faded after a few seconds.

Outside, raindrops truly began to fall. Kanna smiled and opened the umbrella. It was just big enough for both of us.

I worried Jelly might sulk, but she didn’t care and got into the carriage, getting wet. Does the male lead in romance-fantasy worlds usually not use umbrellas? Strange.

Once in the carriage, the mystery was solved. Jelly was completely dry. Oh right, she’s a werewolf witch—of course she’d have a magic to stay dry. I worried for nothing.

“Nothing else to buy?”

“Yes. Let’s go to Daisy.”

Food and clothes of the right sizes would be enough. I wouldn’t know what toys to buy in this fantasy world anyway.

The rain intensified, hitting the carriage glass. I petted Pudding and leaned back, dozing off. I must have fallen asleep without noticing because Jelly had to wake me.

Have we arrived already? Looking outside, it seemed we hadn’t gone far. Narrow, dense buildings surrounded us. No large buildings… the orphanage should be bigger, right? Even in a world with strict social classes, there seems to be discrimination.

“Is this Ainoa Orphanage?”

“No, it isn’t…”

Kanna shook her head. Then why stop here? Jelly pointed out the person sitting outside the window.

“…Daisy?”