Chapter 12
As promised, Brendan came to pick her up.
“Are you ready, Dorothy?”
Dorothy, dressed as neatly as possible, paused when she saw his outfit.
Brendan was wearing a perfectly tailored three-piece suit, pressed to perfection.
In his hands, he held a hat and cane, as if it were only natural.
It was an outfit without a single flaw.
His fingertips were impeccably groomed.
There wasn’t a wrinkle on his sleeves, almost obsessively so.
Moreover, he wore a fragrance Dorothy had never smelled before.
In Selbrums, a town mostly of farmers and merchants, such attire was rare.
“Yes, thank you,” she replied politely.
Perhaps because of this, Brendan drew attention from people on the street.
Ordinarily, such gazes might have bothered someone, but he didn’t seem to care at all.
He carried himself with the air of someone utterly indifferent to the opinions of others.
“Now, let me escort you. Take your time.”
He guided Dorothy’s hand onto his arm.
Having never been escorted like this before, she blinked.
Then again… did she really need an escort around here?
“Shall I take off my coat if the night gets chilly?” he asked.
“That’s alright. Thank you for your concern, Your Grace,” she answered politely.
She decided that this must be how gentlemen in the capital behaved.
On the way to the bakery.
Crossing a small bridge over a creek, the bakery came into view straight ahead.
“Looks like more people won than I expected.”
As they crossed the bridge, the line outside the bakery was full.
People leaving the shop carried cake boxes in their hands.
Clearly, this wasn’t some kidnapping or multi-level scheme aimed at a few winners.
“I guess there’s no need to be suspicious anymore, right?” Brendan said leisurely as he joined the line.
“Yes. I worried for nothing. The ‘thief’ Mrs. Horton mentioned must have just been a simple delivery man.”
“A thief?”
“Yes. Last night, someone said there was a suspicious person wandering the streets.”
“Oh, so that’s why you were suspicious,” Dorothy understood.
The corners of Brendan’s eyes curved into a pleasant smile.
“Not a thief, but a very generous person, it seems. Hosting an event like this—don’t you wonder what kind of person they are?”
“Well… probably very wealthy, right?” Dorothy replied thoughtfully.
“And quite whimsical, I’d say,” she added.
“Why? Can you explain? It could just be marketing for the bakery.”
“I don’t think it helps at all as promotion. In fact, this bakery is notorious for its rarity.”
The fact that their desserts were so hard to come by served as incredible marketing.
Some people even traveled from neighboring towns just to taste the limited desserts.
Because of the crowd forming from the early morning, all the items sold out within two hours.
Those who couldn’t get the desserts didn’t give up—they waited for the next chance.
“Perhaps they were paid an enormous amount to open just for tonight. And the bakery only opens at night…”
It wasn’t without reason that the bakery opened so early in the morning.
There were factors like customer demand and the preparation process to consider.
“Maybe some wealthy client instructed them to open just for tonight.”
“Wow…”
Dorothy simply answered Brendan’s question.
After she finished speaking, Brendan’s face turned red.
He covered his mouth with his large hand and stared at her.
“Your Grace? Are you feverish? Your face is red.”
Dorothy asked, flustered.
“Oh, just a bit dizzy. Must be a slight cold,” he replied.
Then Brendan’s previously absent-minded expression brightened.
For someone supposedly feeling unwell, he looked remarkably cheerful.
Perhaps he was forcing a smile to hide his discomfort.
“Goodness.”
Last time it was his leg, now it’s a cold.
Surely, he must be much more fragile than he looks.
“Why did you still come with me if you’re feeling unwell?”
“I know how much Dorothy wants to be happy. Naturally, I have to come.”
“Even so…”
Despite feeling a bit unwell, he followed her out of concern.
Feeling guilty, Dorothy looked up at him and asked cautiously,
“Are you alright? What should I do? Should we sit for a while? Or go straight home?”
“No. If you support me briefly, I’ll be fine.”
“Then excuse me for a moment.”
Dorothy carefully approached and supported him.
Even as wrinkles formed in his usually crisp clothes, Brendan didn’t seem to mind.
“Wow, supporting me like this makes me feel better instantly. The cold doesn’t stand a chance.”
Brendan smiled faintly, continuing in a teasing manner, whether aware of her worry or not.
On the way back home with the desserts.
Afterward, Brendan suggested a few times that they go out and play, but Dorothy rejected him sharply every time.
It was impossible for a patient to play outside.
Supporting him didn’t feel burdensome at all.
Was he being considerate on purpose?
As they neared her house, Brendan spoke up.
“You seem skilled at running a business, Dorothy.”
“My mother taught me when I was young,” she replied.
“You know, Dorothy…” Brendan smiled faintly at her response.
“What is it?”
“Your mother must have been an extraordinary person.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“No, really.”
Brendan’s gentle smile carried an ambiguous meaning.
“It’s just that people around here rarely understand terms like ‘customer demand’ or ‘marketing.’ Even people working in the guild rarely think about that.”
“…That’s because…”
Brendan’s casual remark sent a ripple through her heart.
“I naturally learned it under my mother’s guidance,” Dorothy explained.
“That’s fascinating. Did your mother work in the guild?”
“No.”
“Then it’s even more remarkable. How did a commoner, with little access to books, learn these things without working for the guild? Your mother must have taught you naturally. Truly impressive.”
Upon reflection, Brendan’s words were correct.
Dorothy, being a commoner herself, understood.
Commoners generally had little access to books or formal education.
They were too busy just trying to survive.
Yet Dorothy had learned all this naturally, thanks to her mother.
“Dorothy’s mother, running a small shop in a quiet village, was remarkably extraordinary.”
“….”
“Perhaps she wasn’t even a commoner.”
“Not a commoner? My mother was truly ordinary.”
“But didn’t you say you didn’t know much about your mother’s past?”
Brendan pointed out the key issue.
“…That’s true, but…”
“You don’t need to look so serious.”
He casually replied, after stirring her emotions.
“It’s just a hypothesis.”
“Have you discovered anything about my mother?”
“No, I just made a hypothesis.”
Brendan smiled, hands behind his back.
“So, Dorothy, if any memories about your mother or father come up, tell me.”
“….”
“It might be helpful.”
Brendan straightened, waiting expectantly for her.
“We’ve arrived. Thank you for supporting me this far, Dorothy.”
Perhaps lost in thought, she hadn’t realized they had reached her home.
“What on earth were you doing all this time…”
As they arrived, Rose opened the door, seemingly waiting for them.
She noticed Dorothy’s slightly confused expression.
Then Rose’s face stiffened.
“Why’s your expression like that? Something happen?”
“Oh, nothing…”
“Should I punish this child for you?”
Rose, with a ghostly expression, charged at Brendan.
“No! Lady Rose!”
“Hahaha.”
“Don’t just laugh—explain yourself!”
It took quite a while to clear up Rose’s misunderstanding.
