Chapter 30
The guard flusteredly tried to help Daisy up.
“Please, just tell me where she went. I must see her.”
“No, how would I know that? The carriage left ages ago.”
Daisy felt all strength drain from her body. She'd believed something would resolve itself at Rohanson Mansion. Why had she thought that?
“Don't keep standing there uncomfortably—why not come back after Lady Evangeline returns?”
The guard demanded she leave, looking inconvenienced.
“Shall I call a carriage for you?”
“N-No, it's fine.”
She had no money for a carriage anyway. Daisy hauled her staggering body upright. She should've realized going to the temple first was better. Priority: find those knights from before.
First, head to her lodgings, grab money, and change into her nun's habit. That would make entering the temple much easier.
Daisy turned from Rohanson Mansion toward the inn. Her legs throbbed from running all the way here. Somehow, the urgency had faded now.
Along the way, drops began spotting the ground. Daisy looked up at the sky. When had the clouds gathered? Raindrops were falling. Rain mixed with tears streaked down her cheeks.
“It's raining—hurry!”
“Eek…!”
“Sorry…!”
Kids fleeing the rain bumped into Daisy. Just a collision with children, but her legless body toppled over. Fearing she'd get angry, the kids apologized and ran off.
Daisy lacked the strength to yell or even stand, remaining slumped there. It reminded her of nearly getting hit by that carriage earlier. If only it had struck then….
As Daisy hung her head, a shadow suddenly enveloped her.
Come to think of it, this was a busy shopping district— she was blocking the way.
“Sorry, I'll move.”
“Daisy.”
Daisy jerked her head up at the familiar voice. The shadow's owner was the polar opposite of the darkness she'd conjured—a pure white figure. And the very person she'd desperately sought moments ago.
“Evangeline… Lady Evangeline.”
Perhaps because she'd said it once, calling the being before her ‘Evangeline’ no longer felt difficult. Still terrifying and resented, yet somehow reassuring—it made her laugh at herself.
The world's rain seemed swallowed; silence fell. She'd thought it stopped, but it was just an umbrella. Tilted over Daisy, it soaked Evangeline's back.
“How… how did you get here….”
“I was looking for you.”
Really? She appeared because I was searching—like magic?
The thing that had flipped the skin of Miss Evangeline smiled mercifully. It closely resembled the smile of the Evangeline whom Daisy had once cared for.
“I have a request. You said you'd grant my wish.”
Daisy clutched Evangeline's dress desperately, as if it were her only lifeline.
“Yes. But there will be a price.”
You know what I want, don't you? Evangeline asked.
A price…. Daisy knew exactly what that meant. When she'd summoned the demon, it had eyed Berga Priest and called him an offering. It had also said it'd collect payment next time.
“I-I'll offer myself.”p>
Though Daisy had already killed and wasn't as pure as the demon might want, she had only herself to give.
“So please, help me.”
“Alright. I'll do it.”
Evangeline extended her hand to Daisy. Daisy knew she shouldn't take it, yet she grasped it anyway. A cold, snakelike texture coiled up her arm and tightened around her throat. Daisy thrust her face into the serpent's maw. How ridiculous that its insides were so warm.
***
It suddenly hit me in the carriage.
Wait. Aren't we heading to the orphanage right now? Sure, the goal is finding Daisy, but we'll end up there anyway. Is it okay to go empty-handed?
People volunteering at orphanages always bring heaps of food and gifts. Won't it be weird if I show up empty-handed?
For business etiquette and villainess-escape image management, I should definitely buy something.
“Let's stop at a nearby shop.”
“Yes.”
I hadn't even told the coachman, yet the carriage halted before a bakery as if he'd heard.
“I'll go.”
“Then buy plenty of bread for the kids.”
I handed Kanna a gold coin.
“All the bread in the shop?”
Oh right. Prices here are super low. But what can I do? I only have gold coins.
“Buy appropriately. The rest is your errand money.”
“Thank you!”
Kanna beamed and hopped off the carriage. Errand money makes her hum tunes audible from here. Should give her pocket money for small tasks from now on?
“Jelly, you go help too.”
“Yeees, sureee.”
Jelly dumped Pudding on me with a dissatisfied face and got off. Complaining about being bossed without pay? Kanna's working, but you're freeloading without labor and expecting pocket money too. Pudding meowed in agreement, utterly shameless.
Soon Kanna and Jelly returned with arms full of bread. They'd truly swept the shop clean. The savory aroma filled the carriage.
My mouth watered, so I snatched and ate a loaf from Jelly's pile. Hmm, just normal bread. The fresh-baked scent is killer, though. Not bad anyway. Guess Rohanson Mansion chefs spoiled my palate.
“Next, a ready-to-wear clothing shop.”
“More shopping? Do we have to?”
Jelly's clueless. To win someone over, start with their family. Of course, I'm not seducing Daisy—I'm going to kneel, apologize, and ask what she told Hena and Gabriel.
I got off at the clothing shop too. Haven't bought clothes for myself, Kanna, or Hena since possessing, yet buying for strangers first. Don't they feel neglected?
I subtly checked Kanna. She seemed delighted by the child-sized clothes half her size. Heroines are big-hearted indeed.
“Fun looking at clothes?”
“Yes…. I've never really shopped properly before.”
Kanna said shyly. Heroine backstory abuse is too much. If the male lead were here, he'd grab her hand and buy out the store from here to there.
But as a wannabe villainess, I can't ditch my errand to shop for Kanna first.
“Next time, let's come together. You and Hena.”
“Miss, really? Yay!”
Chicken instead of pheasant, but oblivious Kanna beamed like she'd won the world. Yeah, should I buy the whole shop? Matching outfits for Kanna and Pudding would fill my belly just looking. Smiling warmly, I met Jelly's eyes.
“What?”
Jelly flapped its mouth then gave up, piling more clothes. How many are we picking?
The heaping clothes from Jelly barely fit in the luggage. Buying so many kids' outfits made the shopkeeper eye us suspiciously.
Opportunity! I earnestly explained we were buying for orphanage volunteers as Evangeline Rohanson. Not a noble-frequented shop, so limited spread, but rumors might circulate.
“L-Lady, take this umbrella too. The sky looks iffy….”
The owner kindly gave an umbrella, hands trembling, tongue stumbling, head bowed—like I was extorting it.
It was well-used, probably his own. Giving it away in the rain—how's he getting home? I tried refusing, then took it.
Rejecting might spawn rumors of Evangeline Rohanson refusing commoner gifts.
“I'll use it well.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
He's giving it but thanks me? Why?
His face brightened upon handing it over. Back to crestfallen in five seconds.
Outside, rain truly fell as said. Kanna grinned, opening the umbrella. Not huge—just enough for me and her.
Would Jelly sulk? It ignored the rain, boarding dry. Romance-fantasy male leads don't use umbrellas? Cool.
Mystery solved inside: Jelly was bone-dry. Right, werewolf sorcerer. Rain-repelling magic, probably. Worried for nothing.
“Nothing else to buy now?”
“Yeah. Now to Daisy.”
Food and assorted clothes should suffice. No clue on romance-fantasy toys.
Rain intensified, drumming the windows. Stroking Pudding, leaning back, drowsiness hit. I dozed off unknowingly when Jelly woke me.
Already there? Peering out, still dense, narrow buildings—not far. No big structures…. Shouldn't orphanages be larger? Discrimination even here in stratified romance-fantasy?
“This Ainoa Orphanage?”
“Doesn't seem so….”
Kanna shook her head. Then why stop? Jelly pointed at a slumped figure outside.
“…Daisy?”
