Chapter 14: Chapter 13: I Choose to Eat Poor Man's Bread!

Today was a rest day. Alicia didn’t have anything to do. She could’ve simply lazed around in bed, but without computer games to keep her busy, boredom set in fast. So, she skulked around the gate.

The reason she did this was because she was forbidden to do it. She was supposed to stay inside the mansion until she was at least fifteen years old—when she would be officially inducted into the Shadowstep military. Nevertheless, the rebellious Alicia decided to sneak out. She wasn’t a prisoner, after all.

“Caught you!”

A blue shadow startled Alicia as she crept near the gate.

“Hiek!” Alicia jumped. Her heart nearly leapt out of her mouth. She turned around—only to find the blue-haired loli smirking behind her.

“Eli!”

“So, what do you plan to do on this fine day?” Eli asked. “Sneak outside even though you're forbidden from doing so?”

“But it’s boring here.”

“It’s not safe. My father said we shouldn’t go out—there’s a risk of kidnapping. Child mages are vulnerable,” Elidranthia said.

Unlike adult mages who could fend off multiple hooligans, child mages could only charge arcane stones. They hadn’t yet learned proper combat spells from the Mage Academy.

“Hah… I know. It’s just so boring here,” Alicia sighed.

“I know just the thing if you want to go outside,” Eli smirked. “Let’s go to Mr. Jadenbale.”

If going outside was dangerous, then they’d just need to bring guards.

And so, Alicia and Elidranthia headed to the training grounds, searching for Shadowstep’s personal guard. As the two girls arrived, a nearby soldier quickly went to fetch their commander.

“Greetings, Lady Elidranthia. Would you like to see us sparring again? This time, we have more people—we could even do group battles if you like,” Mr. Jadenbale said, giving a crisp military salute.

Elidranthia replied with a graceful curtsy.

“Sir Jadenbale, are you busy today?” Elidranthia asked, trying to be diplomatic.

“Well, I train every day. We’re not in the capital, after all. Here, we’re constantly attacked by monsters. We need to stay sharp.” Mr. Jadenbale tilted his head.

“Well, if I may impose... I heard the streets aren’t particularly safe. Would it trouble you to guide us around?” Elidranthia asked politely.

“Erm…” Jadenbale tilted his head again, still unsure of what Elidranthia wanted. Eli’s communication skills had clearly deteriorated since she was transported here.

“Come on! Let’s go outside,” Alicia said, jumping in to take the initiative. She grinned, relentlessly pressing the attack. “Or are you saying you don’t want to guard these two precious and helpless ladies on their shopping trip?”

Elidranthia rolled her eyes at her maid’s absurd remark. She almost regretted letting Alicia take the reins. I’ll rein her in later, she promised herself. She can't be this selfish! She needed to be educated.

“Lady Elidranthia, do you wish to go outside?” Jadenbale asked directly.

“Well, if it’s not too much trouble,” Eli replied.

“Of course, Lady Elidranthia. Let me escort you. But we may not leave the town, Will that be alright? Outside, bandits and monsters run rampant. Will the market do?” Jadenbale offered with a smile.

“Yes!” Eli smiled back. Alicia might have a foul mouth, but she certainly helped. Due to Elidranthia’s past as a disabled child, she often acted meek and helpless. At first, it had been an act to gain sympathy—but over time, it had grown into part of her personality. She was always wary of inconveniencing others. She didn’t like drawing attention.

“Let us depart, milady,” Jadenbale said, smiling again. Eli noticed that he subtly gestured to four of his knights nearby. They sighed at his signal.

“Will they also be escorting us? I’m afraid we might draw a crowd,” Eli said quietly.

“You need not mind them, Lady Elidranthia. They have other missions at the market. We knights don’t just laze around the mansion—we uphold peace and justice. They were already tasked to patrol the plaza. It just so happens we’ll be walking together. If they trouble you, I’ll ask them to keep their distance.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Sir Jadenbale,” Elidranthia said.

The group then strolled through the market. Eli couldn’t help but notice the four knights guarding them from afar. They tried to blend in with the crowd, but their eyes were always fixed on her.

“Where would you like to go, Alicia?” Eli asked. “Would you like some Wastel? To be honest, I’d prefer some whole wheat bread.”

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“Really? Wastel bread might be unsatisfactory compared to modern sandwiches, but I think rye bread is worse. It’s tough—like biting through rubber. Not to mention the taste,” Alicia said with a grimace.

“Hm? Really?” Eli turned to Jadenbale, curious.

“Well, she must be referring to the cheapest rye bread—that’s at least two days old. Stale rye bread is certainly unpleasant, but only the poorest eat that. If you buy fresh half-bread or rye bread straight from the oven, it’s still edible, depending on the toppings. But Wastel is considered the best bread, Lady Elidranthia. I’m surprised it didn’t meet your expectations. Maybe their quality has dropped. We should suggest inviting another bakery to town, especially now that we have two new mages,” Jadenbale replied.

“Let’s not do that. I simply want to try new things. I want to try something new. You can still get tired of cake if you eat it every day, you know. So, where can I find that half-bread you were talking about?”

“Well, the bakery that sells Wastel should also offer half bread,” Jadenbale said. With Jadenbale's authority, they went past the guard without any issue.

It was the first time Eli truly experienced the outside world. She had watched the villagers through the window, but she’d never met them face to face.

And then, the smell hit her.

The smell of poverty.

It reminded her of the days before she became a U.S. assassin. It was the unmistakable scent of a third-world country's hardship.

“Well, it wasn't as bad as them…” Eli muttered in her mind while comparing the eyes the civilians here had and the ones in the warzone. Their eyes still showed hope—not the despair and hatred she'd seen in the war zones where she came from. People here greeted each other cheerfully. The worst fear Eli had did not come to pass.

The smell of bread wafted through the air, and she instinctively turned toward the source—a wooden building at the corner of the plaza.

Eli opened the door to the bakery. The warm aroma of freshly baked bread immediately assaulted her nostrils.

“Welcome! May I have your or—” A plump, middle-aged woman began before recognizing Elidranthia. She immediately knelt. “I-I’m sorry, milord! Forgive my rudeness!”

Eli thought she wouldn’t be recognized if she wore a different dress. Even if someone did recognize her, she had hoped they would take the hint—she was trying to go incognito.

“You know, you’re supposed to say milady, not milord. Tsk tsk tsk! Peasants really don’t know their manners,” Alicia said with mock indignation. Who knew where the arrogance came from. Certainly not from a certain lord around here.

Eli quickly grasped her shoulder.

“Alicia. What are you doing? We’re not here to flaunt my noble status.”

“Well, Miss Laura said so, tee hee. I was just repeating one of her lessons…” Alicia said in defense.

Eli could only sigh before turning back to the baker.

“Ahem. I apologize for coming here unannounced. I was lured by the smell of your bread. I’ve heard you run the best bakery in all of Shadowstep. Might I sample one of your creations?” Eli switched to her noble-girl mode.

Nooo! This isn’t it. I should calm her down first. We need to stay casual! I can't believe how easily I speak like a noble despite only being taught for two weeks! Eli scolded herself inwardly.

“Ahem. Since this isn’t a formal occasion, you need not use honorifics with me. You may call me Eli. I’m just a village girl who happened to wander in,” she said more softly.

“O-of course! Lady—I mean, Miss Eli! Please, have a taste of our Wastel bread. It’s our best product in town, made with white flour that has been selectively sieved by our farmers.” The baker quickly prepared a Wastel and wrapped it in a bag.

Eli almost facepalmed. This isn’t a supermarket. You don’t pick the goods yourself here.

“Um... I heard you sell half-bread or whole-wheat bread. May I have one?”

“Eh? Um… I’m afraid those things may not be appropriate for someone of your status, Lady—uh, I mean, Eli…” The baker glanced at Jadenbale, silently asking for help.

“You need not be afraid, miss,” Alicia interjected. “Milady yearns to taste what her citizens usually eat. She already eats your Wastel every day. She simply wants something new.”

Alicia strolled around the shop, then pointed toward one of the loaves.

“I think this is it, right?” she asked. Jadenbale nodded.

Alicia picked it up, tore it in half, and handed a piece to Elidranthia.

Eli took it immediately and bit into it lightly.

“Well, what the heck. This one’s better than even the Wastel…” Alicia said. Her modern tongue certainly thought the nutty flavor of the rye bread better than wastel, which was more like a sandwich bread.

Jadenbale gave her a glare for her rude behavior. Alicia only shrugged.

“Why is Wastel more expensive, then?” Alicia commented.

What Alicia often ate was stale rye bread. This bakery didn’t sell stale bread. Almost all of it was fresh from the oven. The result: a crispy crust with a soft interior. The whole grain bread—or what they called half bread—had a healthy, nutty flavor. It was different from the soft Wastel bread, which tasted much like the supermarket sandwich loaves back in modern times.

“Wastel often uses eggs or milk. Those are more expensive,” Eli answered.

“Alicia, you’re being too rude to your master,” Jadenbale muttered.

“Well, can’t help it, right? One portion is too much for children like us. Besides, we’re incognito,” she smirked.

Eli giggled with her. “That’s right, Sir Jadenbale.”

Jadenbale sighed and scooted over to the baker, secretly trying to pay her while apologizing.

Unfortunately, the baker refused. She quickly ushered her guests out of the bakery with a polite but firm smile.

“We are happy to receive your patronage, Lady Elidranthia, Miss Alicia. Please send us your serf. We will surely give you our best bread. I am afraid our dirty bakery was beneath someone of your status.”

“Eh? Are we hated?” Alicia muttered. “Why? I thought I spoke their language. They usually spoke like that when talking with other customers.”

“I knew I shouldn’t have taken a walk…” Eli groaned.

Nobles do not mingle with commoners. Laura hadn’t said that just to stroke Count Shadowstep’s ego. It was the truth. If nobles wanted something, they didn’t go to the store—the store owner came to them. Nobles cared about their pride. While execution was unlikely, they could still make your life a living hell if you displeased them.

Elidranthia wanted to change this mentality. She didn’t want to be an arrogant noble. Instead of being worshiped, she wanted to be loved. Goddess Repeara watched over her, and she didn’t want to act like those arrogant FBI directors, presidents, mayors, or congress.

Nevertheless, her circumstances required her to do so.

“Want to go home?” Eli asked, already half giving up on this endeavor.

When she thought back on it, the people didn’t seem to hate Shadowstep. There was no reason for her to meddle. In fact, her intervention might only cause problems. That baker woman was certainly displeased when Eli showed up at her door unannounced.

“Let’s walk around some more! It’s bad for your health to stay cooped up in your room all the time,” Alicia said as she skipped along.

As always, she was too dense to notice the signs. Eli was half glad she did what she did. If Alicia had started to act like that baker and worshiped her, Eli would have felt incredibly lonely.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a familiar girl.

She sat slumped under a tree, moping as if the world were ending.

“Anne!” Alicia, the dimwit, called out to her innocently.