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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: I Thought I Was the Protagonist
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I had planned to just watch quietly and leave today.
Because I didn't want to leave any trace of myself at Mabel's.
But I couldn't let the atmosphere flow like this.
And standing by while watching my people suffer just to hide my secret funds would be foolish.
“What kind of insulting things are you saying?”
Pam shouted sharply, struck right in her weak spot.
When I received the related documents through Delia.
Pam's actions were laid bare: she periodically hired new cleanup staff only to fire them repeatedly.
There was more than one or two people who had suffered like Bell.
She had framed others countless times, so of course she'd react this way when called out.
“As I kept listening, you seem awfully skilled at inciting people and framing them.”
I walked calmly right up to Pam.
I didn't forget to flash a sly smile at the end to really rile her up.
Mae and Bell wore shocked expressions and started to approach, but I signaled with my eyes for them not to.
Fortunately, they got it and stayed put.
“Inciting? When did I ever frame anyone?”
Pam shook off her fluster and denied it flatly.
“You're the one framing our head baker! Watch your mouth, kid!”
“Someone who worked under the head baker opens a shop—how could we not suspect?”
“It's reasonable suspicion.”
The people behind Pam stepped forward to add their piece.
They were just as overbearing as Pam, barging into someone else's shop like they owned the place.
Bell's former fiancé at least had enough shame to hang his head low.
“Enough, everyone. What does a kid like this know anyway? Little one, who even are you? Stay out of it and go home.”
Pam put on a good-guy act, pretending to rein in the people she'd brought.
“Now that you mention it, it's just some kid spouting nonsense.”
'She's really sly.'
Pam was reinforcing to everyone around that I was just a child.
She was herding out anyone uninvolved.
With just a few words, she'd flipped the atmosphere— which had started turning thanks to me—back to exactly what she wanted.
So I didn't bristle at being called a kid and instead gave a composed smile.
“I wanted to play dumb and let it slide. But you're the one stirring up trouble, making that impossible.”
Uncouth.
Pam's mouth twitched under my icy stare.
She'd raised her voice on purpose to cause a scene, but she couldn't let it come off as a tantrum now.
“Stirring up trouble? A kid like you is exaggerating. I was just talking.”
Just as I'd predicted, Pam denied it.
“Everyone here was just trying to eat something delicious and enjoy their time.”
I shot back swiftly.
I scanned the room, locking eyes with customers to pull them to my side.
“But we've all been feeling annoyed since earlier. Because of you.”
I'd firmly labeled Pam's behavior as a disturbance.
“Yeah. I came for dessert, and what a mess this is.”
“Tell me about it—I've been irritated for a while now.”
“They should handle their own drama somewhere quiet. Why right here in front of everyone?”
“Totally ruining the vibe.”
One by one, the customers started echoing exactly what I wanted.
Pam's face hardened as she picked up on the growing murmurs.
I shot her a quick smile.
You think you're the only one who can work up the customers?
I can play that game too.
Pam's gaze sharpened at how fast the mood had shifted.
“Are you telling me not to speak out about the injustice done to me?”
'Well, now.'
It wasn't a solid rebuttal to my point, but one wrong answer and she'd look like she was silencing a victim.
“That wasn't what I meant.”
“Then unrelated people should butt out. I need to call out this owner's shady behavior. Unless you're connected here?”
Pam latched onto the end of my words quick as a whip.
“Something's been bugging me from listening earlier.”
I beamed and dodged the loaded question.
“We'll handle this ourselves, so scram.”
I could sense Pam's resolve not to engage me directly.
Years of manipulating crowds had sharpened her instincts, at least.
“But are you claiming these people stole your recipes?”
I kept up the oblivious act and pressed on.
“It's reasonable suspicion.”
Pam wouldn't admit it outright.
A dumb villain would've jumped at the opening and sworn they stole them for sure.
Pam only fed the doubt just enough—never committing to certainty.
'Still, I can work with this.'
“So you do suspect them. And while assuming the recipes match, you've been calling the products sold here cheap knockoffs?”
I widened my eyes in feigned shock.
The key was letting my gaze scream, 'So all the desserts at Marigold are cheap knockoffs?'
Pam's face turned beet red as her words' contradiction hit her.
“Th-they clumsily stole mine, so of course they're cheap! My recipes are perfect. Everyone in the capital knows it!”
See? Fluster makes people slip.
“Ah, so it's not just reasonable suspicion—you're dead certain they copied you.”
The smooth talker ground her teeth, words failing her.
Deny it, and she'd undermine her own claims.
“Yes! They clumsily ripped off my recipes!”
Admit it, though...
“Got proof?”
My grin vanished in an instant.
“What?”
“You saying that with solid evidence?”
I grilled her.
That's why she'd hesitated before.
No clear proof to show.
Pam looked outright rattled.
“That kid couldn't even make a decent dessert under me. You think she came up with these on her own?”
“So you're just spouting this with zero evidence.”
I spoke slowly and clearly for all to hear.
Sensing the mood swing against her again, Pam yelled.
“My word is proof enough!”
Pure nonsense.
No one watching bought it.
But without revealing recipes, her fame gave her claims more weight.
Rumors of theft would hurt Mabel bad.
'That's why I need to nail this down now.'
Leave no room for her to pull this later.
“Then let's verify it ourselves.”
I proposed with a grin.
“Verify how, exactly?”
Pam snorted—no way she'd reveal recipes.
“Pick customers at random from here. Have them taste from both shops and decide.”
“What kind of ridiculous idea is that?”
“The tastier one has to be the real deal, right? You pick the tasters fair and square.”
Sophistry, sure, but with no pros around, it was the best play.
“No way—why should I bother?”
“Wouldn't you want it settled for good? Oh, and these folks get menu picks. You can swap taster or menu if you want.”
To block any 'unfair' gripes, I even offered exchanges.
Pam glared daggers at me for a beat.
Her face screamed she couldn't fathom why a nobody like me was pushing this.
I just smiled back.
After stewing a moment, Pam said,
“Fine. Perfect chance to prove they copied me.”
She caved easily.
But that glint in her eye? She planned to crush Mabel here.
“You two in?”
I checked with Mae and Bell.
They'd been playing clueless, so I needed buy-in.
They exchanged looks, then nodded with grim resolve.
“We'll do it.”
“Let's.”
Knew they wouldn't back out.
Everyone on board meant setup flew.
For credibility, we picked three items.
Mae and Bell went with pound cake, brownie, and egg tart.
One of Pam's crew ran to Marigold for their versions.
Pam, meanwhile, tapped seven customers.
They'd heard it all, so they jumped in eagerly.
Tasting station went up at the center table; seven judges sat in a circle.
First up: pound cake.
Two plates per judge.
Both pound cakes.
“You'll see the plates have different patterns. Taste and note the tastier one on your paper.”
Pam's eyes gleamed.
Confident she'd win on flavor.
'But so are we.'
“For a fair judge, no talking from here on. Begin tasting.”
Judges sampled carefully, scribbling notes at my cue.
Three items flew by quick.
Papers got opened public-style; one judge announced to nix tampering.
“First paper: flower, leaf, flower.”
“Yes!”
Pam's staff hollered.
Flower plate was hers.
Momentum theirs, all smug.
“At least we got one.”
Mae and Bell looked tense but played cool.
“Second paper: leaf, leaf, flower.”
“Tied up!”
Mabel's turn to cheer.
Relief washed over Mae and Bell.
“Third: flower, flower, flower.”
“All ours this round!”
Pam's crew crowed loud.
I'd banked on Mabel dominating.
'Guess she earned her spot somehow beyond dirty tricks.'
Mabel trailed worse than thought.
“Fourth: flower, flower, leaf.”
“Win's in the bag.”
Pam smirked, victory assured.
'What the—?'
Even I was legit thrown now.
I Thought I Was the Protagonist
