Chapter 55: Precious bread

“It was just something I said. Forget it.”

Cecil’s casual dismissal sounded strangely…sad, tinged with a deep self-deprecation.

I felt a pang of…something, a bitter taste in my mouth, even though I hadn’t been eavesdropping intentionally. I wished I had some candy.

The conversation ended there, leaving me alone with my unanswered questions.

****

“Ta-da! What do you think?”

Cecil beamed, waiting for my reaction. I couldn’t bring myself to smile. She led Linne out of the back room, her hand on Linne’s arm.

“St…stop staring. It’s embarrassing.”

Linne was finally wearing a properly fitting uniform, buttoned up and looking surprisingly demure, her cheeks flushed under my gaze.

Linne, dressed modestly…
It was what I’d wanted, and yet…

I felt empty, a hollow ache in my chest. Was this what it felt like to achieve a goal?

“This…this isn’t…”

“Ellie? What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?”

I stumbled, and Cecil rushed to my side, her voice full of concern. Linne stepped back hesitantly.

“Wh…what is it? Don’t…come any closer…”

“This isn’t what I wanted!”

I grabbed Linne’s shirt, ignoring her surprised yelp.

Rip, rip.—

The flimsy buttons popped off, revealing the valley between her breasts.

There.
That was better. I smiled, satisfied, and brushed my hands together.

Smack!—

“Ouch?!”

****

Linne sighed, holding her new uniform. She looked disappointed.

“Haa…it’s the same size as the old one.”

She clearly wanted a reaction, but I didn’t care. I touched the growing bump on my head.

“Ow…it hurts.”

“Hitting such a cute girl…you’re so mean, aren’t you?”

Cecil and I stuck our tongues out at Linne, who just sighed dramatically.

It was almost noon. Cecil clung to me as we left the shop, her surprisingly flat chest pressed against my face.

“Why don’t you just stay here? I’ll treat you much better than that…child predator…”

“Who are you calling a child predator?!”

Cecil tightened her embrace, her body trembling slightly.

Drip…drip.—

Tears fell onto my face.

“…Cecil?”

“Ha ha…sorry. I just…need a moment.”

I hugged her back, her stiff, unyielding form a stark contrast to her earlier…enthusiasm.

I didn’t know much about her. What she was thinking, who she was reminded of when she looked at me… We’d just met.

But I felt…compelled to offer her some comfort. A small act of kindness, perhaps.

“You can…think of me as your little sister. …Cecil… Sister.”

Cecil…Sister’s body stiffened, then a small tremor ran through her, followed by a choked sob.

“Hngh…waaaaah…!”

“C…Cecil…Sister?”

Did she…hate the idea that much? I felt a little hurt.

“Just…leave her alone.”

Linne, despite her harsh words, looked away, her gaze fixed on some distant point. We waited for Cecil to calm down.

“Thank you…sniff…”

“There, there. Good girl.”

She’d finally stopped crying, so I patted her head. She wasn’t very tall; I could reach it easily, even on my tiptoes.

“Me…me too.”

“You’re such a good girl.”

“Why do you always treat her better…?”

I patted Linne’s head too. She was a child at heart, despite her size.

With Linne’s new uniform purchased, it was time to go. Cecil, sensing my intention to leave, released me.

“Wait, Linea. Where are you going?”

“…What now?”

“You have to…fix this.”

…I was trapped. She pointed at the broken door Linne had…demolished earlier.

“…Just kidding. Put it back.”

Linne easily lifted the door and placed it back in its frame. Cecil smiled faintly.

“You were crying just now, and now you’re smiling?”

“Hee hee, it’s just…Linea has changed so much.”

She looked at me warmly. I was confused.

“It must be because of…a good influence in her life.”

Linne turned away, her expression unreadable. I hurried after her.

Cecil waved as we left. I bowed politely, then followed Linne.

“Cecil is really nice.”

“…Yeah, I guess.”

Linne’s tone was indifferent.

“She’s our age, by the way.”

“Really? Wait, what?!”

Not an older sister, but…the same age? I hadn’t asked about her age, assuming she was older, due to her…mature demeanor.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I thought she was older!”

“You’re the one who called her ‘Sister’.”

“Well, yes, but…”

That was… strange. Why had I done that? I must have been swept up in the moment.

I looked down, unable to argue. Linne placed her hand on my head.

“Thank you.”

Her words disarmed me. I looked up; she was blushing slightly, a shy smile on her face.

“…You’re welcome.”

I quickly looked away, my heart fluttering.

****

We continued exploring the city after leaving Cecil’s shop, even though we didn’t have a specific destination. It seemed like a waste to return so soon.

“How about that bakery?”

The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted towards us. Trays of pastries were displayed outside the shop, a tempting sight for a hungry passerby. We were drawn towards the bakery, as if by an invisible force.

The bakery was a delight. I bought a large assortment of pastries, my arms overflowing. Linne looked at me, exasperated.

“What are you going to do with all that?”

“Eat it, obviously.”

I couldn’t help myself. This was the result of careful restraint, only choosing the most delicious-looking pastries. Linne, who hadn’t bought anything, was the strange one.

The aroma of the bread made my mouth water. I cast a spell, the kind that enhanced the flavor of food.

“Hee hee, you’re not getting any, so you can just suck your fingers.”

I stuck my tongue out at Linne, who remained indifferent. …How boring.

I took a bite of the cream puff I’d been eyeing since we entered the shop. The soft, fluffy pastry and the sweet cream melted in my mouth.

I devoured the rest of the pastries, my hunger insatiable.

“Slow down. You’re making a mess.”

Linne wiped my mouth with her finger. She’d been doing that a lot lately, wiping my face after meals. Was I really that messy of an eater?

As I pondered this profound question, I noticed Linne wasn’t beside me.

“Linne? What are you doing, just standing there?”

“Oh, uh?! Nothing!”

Linne quickly pulled her hand from her mouth, her startled reaction surprising me.

Had she really been…sucking her fingers? I hadn’t meant it literally… I was amused and a little touched by her…simplicity. I felt a pang of sympathy for the idiot and offered her a pastry.

“Here.”

“…Why?”

She looked at me, confused, as if questioning why I’d bestow such a gift upon a lowly commoner like her. Though I couldn’t read her mind, I understood her perfectly. I decided to be honest.

“It’s…a reward.”

A tribute to her perseverance, her ability to remain…law-abiding despite her unfortunate circumstances. I bestowed upon her the gift of bread, as a token of my respect.

I’d moved past such petty prejudices as social class and…intellectual ability, something a commoner like her wouldn’t understand.

Linne looked at me with a strange mixture of embarrassment and gratitude as she accepted the pastry. I understood her feelings, somehow.

“Thief!”

A shout from behind us. We turned, and someone darted between us.

“Eek?!”

My bag of pastries ripped open, the contents scattering onto the ground. All except for the large baguette, thankfully.

The thief disappeared down an alley. I caught a glimpse of their face; it was familiar. The child who’d stolen the skewer earlier.

“E…Ellie? Calm down. Here, have some of my bread.”

Linne looked from me to the alley, then, seeming to make up her mind, she turned to me, clearly more upset than I was.

“Don’t worry, I’ll catch them.”

“Okay, don’t cry… Wait, what?”

I ran before she could react. I had to hurry. I turned down the alley, chasing after the thief.