Chapter 15

Chapter 15

“It’s so cold. Can’t we go in soon?”

“There are other people who are waiting too. That person there and even this other older sister, and behind her…uh, yeah.”

The young girl froze as she looked at the people behind me.

I could tell where the children’s terrified stares were directed at.

“N-Noona, I’m scared. The men in the back, you can’t even see their faces…”

“l-it’ll be alright, James.”

“O okay, but still, people who wear clothes like that are all…”

“No. Those men aren’t that scary.”

I bent my knees slightly and tried to comfort them. There wasn’t much! could do to soothe them as an adult, but I at least wanted to reassure them like this.

“Don’t worry. Those men aren’t bad men, I’m sure of it.”

” …R-really? But Noona, how do you know that?”

“People who like cake can’t be bad people.”

Shiing. The sharp sound of grating metal rang out again behind me, but I was too busy consoling the children to take notice.

The children’s hesitant faces relaxed into smiles. Seeing them, I was suddenly reminded of someone Id left behind.

It should be alright if I take this off

I swallowed my hesitation as I touched the black robe I was wearing.

I initially bundled myself up because I thought I should cover myself as much as possible, but now I felt stinging guilt as I saw the shivering children in front of me.

Excuse me, do you not see this?

glanced at the men behind me, who were even more warmly dressed than I was, but of course, they didn’t budge.

I thought they were pretty cold-hearted for a moment. But I wasn’t in the situation to curse them because I myself was unsure of what to do.

I mean, for three brothers to have come to a place like this, they must’ve needed some courage.

I smiled compassionately and tapped the children’s shoulders.

“You children will probably be able to get inside soon. See, the line’s shrunk this much already, I’m sure it will be your turn soon…”

“Noona, what’s that over there?”

“Hmm? What do you mean…”

*Ring*

At the sound of the bell, the kids turned around. At last, the dessert shop’s doors opened. But instead of what we expected, a man quickly came out and hung something in front of the shop.

“Alright then, please go back home. We are closing the shop for today!”

“…Non-noona”

What is this?

Sold Out.

Of all the words of this world that I knew how to read, why was this here.

My lips began to tremble as violently as those of the shivering kids.

“This can’t be

There are still so many pastries piled up behind the glass window!

Of course, that wasn’t what I was here for, but I was still in a predicament.

In the end, someone stepped away from the line and looked at the man.

“Excuse me. Why are you closing now?” (random person)

“Ahh, it’s closed because it’s closed. You can just return tomorrow.”

The shopkeeper in a white pastry chef coat looked at his shoes, visibly annoyed. He seemed unconcerned about the discontent reaction of the customers as they stirred and clearly just wanted to shoo them away.

“Don’t be like this, just come back tomorrow…”

“Then what are those pastries piled up there? What will you do with all those when you close the shop?” (Catherine)

“Those…”

The chef followed my accusing finger to the glass display case still fully stocked with cakes and smirked. Unfazed and clearly unapologetic, he pressed his lips together into an arrogant pout.

“There are people who will be taking all of those. Please stop being uselessly stubborn about this.”

“What do you mean by people who will be taking all of those? I thought you don’t take orders or reservations?”

“Look here, lady. Seriously.”

She really doesn’t get it.

Those words were clearly written on his face as he looked at me up and down.

The clothes I was wearing were from the Duchess’ closet, so they were of the finest quality. But even so, the man was quick to look down on me.

“I can’t see which family you belong to because I can’t see your face, but you will regret this.”

“…What do you mean that I will regret this?”

“I mean if you knew the person who bought the pastries, you would immediately regret your actions.”

I could hardly contain myself after hearing those words.

The pastry chef strutted towards me.

My hands that gripped the children’s shoulders immediately tensed.

“Though I don’t know exactly who bought them all.”

“It’s Lady Evendell. Surely you’ve heard of her if you live in the Northern Lands, right?”

People quieted down in an instant.

In front of their dazed eyes, the chef shrugged his shoulders as if he knew what was going to happen.

“Those are all what Lady Rebecca specifically ordered for her afternoon snack”

“If it’s Lady Rebecca…”

“Yes, we’re indeed talking about that Lady Evendell. You were about to greatly insult such a precious person. Since you know it now, please leave. Quickly now!”

He looked at me as if asking why I was still standing there and opened the shop door to go back in while cheerfully humming.

Shiing

The sharp sound of clanging metal echoed out once more behind the children.

“…Hyu, Hyungnim! Please…”

“Hey. We’re not done talking yet?” (Catherine)

*Click Clack

My brisk steps covered the sound of unsheathed metal behind my back.

Approaching the shopkeeper who was now holding onto the door, 1 reached my hand out and tightly closed the door shut.

“I thought this was a first-rate shop, but the service isn’t any better than the street vendors.” (Catherine)

“.Wh, what do you want now?”

As I looked at the pastry chef, whose expression showed that he didn’t understand me at all, I wasn’t in the mood to smile as I spoke.

“Say what you said before”

“..Geez, I already explained to you, we’re all sold ou-“

“No. Not that. Tell me the reason why you’re doing business like this.”

I’m telling you to say it again.

I stared straight at the shopkeeper with my eyes wide open.

Our surroundings had long gone completely silent.

“La, Lady Rebecca has told me to bring all of these pastries for her afternoon snack. Please let go. Though I may not know you…”

“That’s right, you did it because you didn’t know.”

“Hwoo, I can’t believe I’d one day end up saying this, but…”

Swish.

With a short sigh, I reached up to the string within my robe and began to undo it.

The last of the afternoon light fell onto my frowning, ice-cold eyes.

“I’m Rebecca’s mother.”

“Do you need me to explain more?”

I wasn’t trying to flaunt my power or status.

It’s just that this was the only way to prevent everyone’s hard work from going down the drain.

Speechless, the shopkeeper slowly raised his chin and stared at me.

“Is it your first time seeing someone’s face?”

“l-it’s not that ehem.”

My image was reflected in the man’s wavering eyes. They looked like the eyes of a guy seeing the world’s most beautiful woman in dramas or movies.

…Yeah, I understand that feeling

It wasn’t pride, but I was really just a shocking beauty, if I say so myself.

Even though I wasn’t the traditionally skinny, wispy beauty, you couldn’t find powerful, feline eyes like mine anywhere else.

Of course you couldn’t.

Authors would always spend so much time describing a protagonist of a novel and wouldn’t bother fully describing the antagonist’s looks.

But wouldn’t it be unfair if on top of being the villainess, they were subpar in looks as well? So perhaps to compensate for this and have the villainess be better at something than the heroine, they were usually described as being one with more splendid features.

So no matter how much the princess tried, she’d never be able to surpass Maleficent’s charisma

Black hair and white skin, red lips and purple eyes.

The colors of my face lay in beautiful contrast to one another.

This was the ravishing beauty of the strong older sister type. At one glance, anyone would see the ‘l have money, I have charisma, and I have a pretty good personality as well kind of feeling I was automatically giving off.

It didn’t matter where or what direction I was standing in, I’d always have the appearance of a winner.

“What are you doing? After making me show you my face.”

“Ah…”

In other words, an unscrupulous, small dessert shopkeeper wouldn’t be able to say squat.

“l-if your Lady-no, You Excellency is r-really Duchess Evendell…forgive me as I say this, but would you please provide some evidence…”

“Evidence?

The chef’s eyes swept over my dress, but even if he looked it was just a black dress. I didn’t think I would need to reveal my identity, so I didn’t bring anything with me.

Seeing his dazed eyes, I let out an amused laugh.

“And why do I need that?”

“That is…It, it’s rumored that the Duchess Evendell is un, unwell, and you seem to be different in many ways.”

“Different in many ways as in, I’m supposed to be a vicious, cold blooded witch?”

“The other factors are a little what? You mean that I’m supposed to be a tyrannical witch with no blood or tears?”

I knew what he was saying even if he didn’t say it, and I burst into laughter.

I’d prepared myself, but there were a lot more ridiculous rumors about me than I’d thought.

“S-so please, if you have anything to show…”

“Why do I need something like that? I am the biggest evidence.”

Pat.

Ismoothed out my dress and looked at him straight in the eyes.

As I didn’t have anything to hold in my hands, I straightened my shoulders.

“You said it yourself, didn’t you? There’s no one in the Northern Kingdom who doesn’t know me.”

“…That.”

“You think I would dare to impersonate such a powerful person? Do you think I look crazy enough to do that?”

“No, No, not at all! I just…”

“Fine then. But if you really need to know you’re free to call anyone from my house. Only…

I paused mid-sentence and looked imposingly down on the shopkeeper, who now seemed very small.

His wandering eyes told me he didn’t understand where I was going with this.

“If you call them and I’m right, it’ll be the end for you right then and there.”

You know my reputation, right?