DKVM Ch 3

Chapter 3

‘Hic!!’

I exclaimed, startled, then turned around with an awkward smile.

Standing in his place was a handsome, silver-haired, clean-cut man with glasses and a pink bunny apron I’d picked out for him.

Dias Hessen.

This was obviously my dad, the owner of this bakery and a widower.

“Yeah, I’m going to play with the kids in the square.”

I tapped the toe of my shoe on the floor, sneaking away from his gaze.

His honey-colored eyes, identical to mine behind his glasses, stared back, but thankfully he didn’t seem to notice my ambitious plan.

“I’m busy, so I’ll head out!”

I rushed out of the house as if my father was trying to catch me.

“Watch out for the carriages! Don’t take off your coat because it’s hot! Don’t go into the dangerous woods!”

I gave a quick wave of my hand to the nagging voice that followed me, as always and ran toward the Edelwein villa.

* * *

A few moments later, I arrived at the front of the villa and was greeted by an unexpected figure.

‘Rahel?’

In the same room on the third floor of the mansion as yesterday, Rahel had been watching me for who knows how long.

Same expression as yesterday, different clothes.

‘Was she waiting for me…now way.’

I looked away from Rahel and gave her a low bow.

‘Maybe I was a little too cocky greeting her like a commoner yesterday.’

But by the time I stood back up, Rahel had darted back into the room.

‘Oh well. My lady, you’ve got a wicked streak in you.’

It was at that moment, while I was smacking my lips in regret.

‘Huh?’

I saw a servant coming out of the villa in a hurry. He was one of the servants I greeted yesterday.

My eyes sparkled when I recognized him.

‘Here it comes. An opportunity!’

I quickly approached him.

“Hey, mister, where are you going?”

“I’m busy, don’t follow me-”

He was about to ignore me and walk away when he suddenly remembered something and turned around.

“Hey, kid, do you know a place that sells good quality cheese? I think I need to buy some cheese….”

The corner of my mouth twitched up at his question.

‘There’s no easier way to get close to someone than to help them.’

This was my chance to get closer to my objective.

“Sure. I know this neighborhood like the back of my hand. Trust me.”

I smiled smugly and took the lead.

* * *

Back at the villa.

The man’s face was beaming, and in his arms was the finest cheese in town that he had just bought.

Of course, it was all thanks to me.

“My cheese for a nobleman? Would a nobleman eat such a thing?”

I had a little trouble convincing Grandpa Gerald, a crotchety old man who hated nobility.

In any case, after my efforts, the servant won a contract for continued trade with Grandpa Gerald.

I held my head up high.

As if sensing it, the man walking next to me gave me a belated thank you.

“Thanks, kid.”

“I’m Vivian.”

“Yes, Vivian, thanks to you, we’ll have cheese for dinner tonight.”

“Oh, come on, that’s what neighbors do for each other.”

And now it was his turn to help me. Heehee.

I grinned wickedly at the Edelwein villa, which was getting closer by the second.

Then I caught his eye and stretched out weakly, patting my belly.

He said goodbye and was about to enter the mansion when he looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Um? What’s wrong?”

“I walked a long way and I’m hungry…. I can’t wait to get home.”

Just then, my tiny stomach growled.

I turned around with a staggering, weak step, but my ears perked up toward the lingering figure behind me.

“Ugh, I’m so hungry I can barely walk….”

It’s not easy to play ignorant, especially when you receive help, and I’m only asking for food!

I muttered louder on purpose to make sure he heard me.

“If I die of hunger on the road, what will my poor dad do, all alone?”

He didn’t grab me, didn’t turn away, and didn’t go inside the mansion.

‘You’re so hesitant!’

I was about to give a masterful performance of staggering and collapsing.

“V, Vivian!”

Luckily, the man had the good sense to stop me.

I looked up, struggling to keep the corners of my mouth down.

“What’s the matter, Mister?”

“Would you like to…come inside for a minute and grab a snack? I think we might have some leftovers.”

“Wow, is that okay?”

“Yes. It will be fine as long it’s only a few minutes.”

The man explained the situation to the gatekeeper at the mansion’s main entrance.

The mansion was large and required a lot of manpower to maintain, and as a result, outsiders often came and went, but they only let me in after checking my belongings.

I gave the gatekeeper a deep bow and followed him into the mansion with a satisfied smile on my face.

‘Since our villainess won’t come out of the house, I’ll have to come and see her myself.’

I looked around the backyard to see if I could spot Rahel, but…

Sadly, not a hair of Rahel was in sight.

I walked in the back door that led to the mansion’s kitchen along with the servant.

A group of servants huddled in the kitchen, chatting away, and stopped when they saw us.

“James, who’s that kid next to you when you said you were going to get the cheese?”

I stepped forward before James could introduce us.

“Hello, I’m Vivian from yesterday!”

“Oh, you’re the baker’s daughter from yesterday?”

Some of the servants I’d seen in passing yesterday immediately recognized me.

Mister James put the cheese he’d bought with me down on the table and said.

“This cheese, everybody, just taste it. I-I mean, this kid found the most amazing cheese.”

“This kid?”

“She knows more about this town than we do. Anyway, she’s hungry, so I thought I’d give her a snack. Do you have any leftovers?”

“Really? Oh yeah, wait a minute, I’m sure there’s some leftovers from earlier.”

The aproned woman went to one side of the kitchen and returned with a slice of cake.

I gulped at the delicious, colorful cake.

‘The Duke’s chef is quite the talent.’

Even though my dad owns a bakery…he’s a terrible baker-and as much as I love him, I can’t lie to him-it’s been a long time since I’ve had a proper cake.

“Thank you for the food!”

As I started to eat the cake, the adults gathered around me.

“I’ll show you around the gardens later, the landscaping here is amazing. The inside of the mansion is reserved for the Duke and Young Lady, but the gardens should be fine.”

“Wow, great! I’ve always wanted to see it. It looks like a palace where a princess lives.”

“Of course, a princess lives here- The Ice Princess.”

The lady who had brought the cake to me earlier spoke.

Then another servant next to her poked her in the side.

I didn’t miss the opportunity to ask.

“I saw someone on the third floor yesterday, is that the lady?”

“Yes. Her name is Lady Rahel.”

“She’s very pretty. What is she like?”

Just as they were about to open their mouths.

The door to the kitchen burst open and Sally barged in.

“More cake―”

Sally’s face distorted when she found me surrounded by servants.

“What the heck, why is she here?”

“I brought her here to thank her for something, and to give her a treat. I’m going to finish feeding her this and send her on her way, so-”

“How dare you let a beggar from the bottom of the marketplace into the Duke’s villa? Ew, she’s dirty and disgusting.”

“Sally, you’re being mean to your friend!”

“What friends? Who’s friends with that filthy girl? Get her out of here!”

Sally stamped her feet and stormed off down the hallway, not caring whether the servants criticized her or not.

“If you don’t kick her out, I’ll tell my mom!”

Sally’s shrill voice escaped through the crack in the door.

“What’s all the fuss about?”

The kitchen door opened and a sharp-looking older gentleman walked in.

My eyes widened at the sight of him.

‘That person…?’

“Y-Your Grace.”

The servants jumped to their feet, startled.

The old gentleman’s hair was graying, but he possessed an aura that overpowered even the most dignified young men.

Furthermore, his eyes were blood-colored and fierce.

A man who could bring anyone to their knees with just a glance.

Rahel’s maternal grandfather, the head of Edelwein, the Empire’s sole duke.

‘That’s him, Duke Karlz Edelwein!’