MPBAGS Chapter 50

While riding in the carriage, it suddenly occurred to me.

Wait. We're going to the orphanage right now, aren't we? The purpose is to find Daisy, but we are going to the orphanage, right? But is it okay to go empty-handed?

When I see people going to volunteer at orphanages, they always bring loads of food and gifts. Shouldn't I also bring something instead of going empty-handed?

It seemed like common courtesy, and for the sake of managing my image while escaping the villainess role, I felt I should buy something to bring.

"Let's stop by a nearby shop."

"Yes."

I didn't even tell the coachman directly, but somehow he heard my voice and the carriage stopped in front of a nearby bakery.

"I'll go in."

"Then please buy plenty of bread for the children."

I handed Kanna a gold coin.

"Are you planning to buy all the bread in the shop?"

Oops. The prices here are quite low, aren't they? But I only have gold coins, so what can I do?

"Buy an appropriate amount. Keep the change as an errand fee."

"Thank you!"

Kanna's face lit up as she jumped down from the carriage. She seemed so happy about the errand fee that I could hear her humming all the way here. I should give her small tasks and some pocket money from now on.

"Jelly, you go and help carry things too."

"Yes, yees."

Jelly got out of the carriage with a dissatisfied expression, dumping Pudding on me. Is he acting like this because I'm not paying him while making him work? No, Kanna is working while he's freeloading without any labor and even wants pocket money. Pudding seemed to think the same, meowing as if to say he has no conscience.

Soon Kanna and Jelly returned with their hands full of bread. It really looked like they had swept up all the bread in the shop. The savory smell filled the carriage.

My mouth started watering, so I snatched one of the breads Jelly was holding and ate it. Hmm, it just tastes like bread. The smell is amazing since it's freshly baked though. Well, it's not bad so it doesn't matter. I think my palate has become refined because the chefs at the Rohanson mansion are so skilled.

"Next, to a clothing store that sells ready-made clothes."

"Buying more? Do we really need to?"

Jelly doesn't understand. Originally, if you want to win someone over, you start by targeting their family. Of course, I'm not going to win Daisy over — I'm going to kneel and apologize while asking what she told Henna and Gabriel.

When we went to the clothing store, I got out too. Since possessing this body, I haven't bought clothes for myself, Kanna, or Henna, but now I'm buying clothes for strangers first. Isn't that disappointing?

I sneakily glanced at Kanna, but she seemed to find the clothes that were half her size adorable. As expected, the female protagonist is magnanimous.

"Is it fun looking at clothes?"

"Yes... I haven't really done proper shopping much."

Kanna said bashfully. Isn't the tragic heroine's backstory just too much? If there had been a male lead here originally, he would have immediately grabbed her hand and gone to buy Kanna clothes. He would have said to get everything from here to there.

But since I'm just a villainess, I can't suggest going to buy Kanna clothes first, setting aside what I need to do now.

"Let's come together next time. You, Kanna, and Henna."

"Miss, that would be wonderful!"

It's like settling for chicken instead of pheasant, but Kanna, who doesn't know this, was as happy as if she owned the world. Yes, should I buy a whole store? Just seeing Kanna and Pudding wearing matching clothes would be satisfying to watch. I was smiling contentedly when I made eye contact with Jelly.

"What?"

Jelly just moved his mouth wordlessly, then said never mind and continued sweeping clothes into the pile. Just how many outfits is he picking?

The pile of clothes that grew because of Jelly wouldn't even fit properly in the luggage compartment. Since I was buying so many children's clothes, the shop owner looked at me very suspiciously.

Thinking it was an opportunity, I enthusiastically explained that Evangeline Rohanson had bought so many clothes to volunteer at the orphanage. It's not a store mainly frequented by nobles so the impact would be limited, but wouldn't some rumors spread?

"Y-Young Lady, please take this umbrella too. The sky doesn't look clear..."

Thanks to that, the shop owner kindly gave me an umbrella too. Though his hands were shaking, he was biting his tongue, and his head was bowed, so to anyone watching it would look like I was threatening him to extort the umbrella.

The umbrella seemed to be one the shop owner had been using, as it had some signs of daily use. If it's going to rain and he's giving me the umbrella, how is he planning to get home? I was about to refuse, saying it was fine, but just accepted the umbrella.

If I had refused, it would probably just create more notoriety about how Evangeline Rohanson won't even accept gifts from commoners.

"I'll use it well."

"Yes. Thank you!"

Why is he thanking me when he's the one who gave it?

When I accepted the umbrella, the shop owner's expression brightened. Though it returned to dejection in less than 5 seconds.

When we went outside the shop, raindrops were indeed falling from the sky just as he said. Kanna smiled brightly and opened the umbrella. It wasn't that big, so it only fit me and Kanna.

I thought Jelly might sulk about this, but this time he didn't seem to care at all and just entered the carriage getting rained on. Do romance novel male leads usually not use umbrellas? How arrogant.

The mystery was solved once I got in the carriage. Jelly was completely dry. Come to think of it, Jelly is a werewolf mage. He probably has magic to avoid getting wet. I worried for nothing.

"We're not buying anything more now, right?"

"Right. Now let's go to Daisy."

Food and various sized clothes should be enough. I don't know what kind of toys to buy in the romance novel world anyway.

The raindrops grew heavier and started hitting the glass. While petting Pudding and leaning back, I felt drowsy. When I was dozing off without realizing it, Jelly woke me up.

Have we arrived already? I looked outside, but we didn't seem to have gone far - it was still a place with narrow, densely packed buildings. There don't seem to be any big buildings... Shouldn't an orphanage be bigger? Is there discrimination even in places like this because it's a romance novel world full of class systems?

"Is this the Ainoa Orphanage?"

"That's not it..."

Kanna shook her head. Then why did we stop here? Then Jelly pointed to someone sitting collapsed outside the window.

"...Daisy?"

I couldn't recognize her immediately because she wasn't wearing the familiar nun's habit, but looking at her features, it definitely seemed to be Daisy.

This doesn't seem to be near the orphanage, so why is Daisy here getting rained on and looking pitiful?

"How did you recognize her?"

It was raining and would have been hard to distinguish.

"Jelly recognized her."

Ah. I nodded in understanding. Last time too, when I almost got lost at the temple, Jelly found the way. He probably found her by scent this time too. As expected, werewolves are known for their sense of smell.

So this is an event? Jelly discovers Daisy dejected in the rain and saves her, building something between them... As expected, Daisy must have been a character scheduled to appear briefly as a sub-couple with Jelly in the original story or side stories. Now she's become a character interfering with love because I ruined the original story.

Ah.

"Jelly. Want to go out and bring her in?"

"Me? I don't want to because it's cold."

Jelly buried himself in a fur coat that came from who knows where. Where did that come from? Don't tell me he secretly slipped one in at the clothing store earlier? That sounds very plausible. Well, buying one piece of clothing isn't too precious, but...

But isn't it a bit outrageous to refuse to go because it's cold? Is this guy really a sub male lead? With werewolf, mage, and that delinquent-like appearance - he has the perfect combination, but when his match is getting rained on, he throws a tantrum saying he doesn't want to go out? No, it's not Jelly's fault. This is all my fault for monopolizing routes and making the flow go awry.

This is annoying. I'll just go myself. I'll make a good impression on Daisy and clear up the past.

"Miss, I'll go instead."

"It's fine. Stay with Pudding."

I handed Pudding, who had fallen asleep on my lap, to Kanna and got out of the carriage to open the umbrella. I should really thank the clothing store owner who gave me this umbrella. Did he get home safely?

I strode over and stopped right in front of Daisy. Her lips were blue from how long she'd been outside getting rained on. She'll collapse with a fever tomorrow at this rate. I tilted the umbrella toward Daisy.

Daisy, thinking I was just a passing pedestrian, apologized and said she would move out of the way soon. Who are you worrying about right now?

"Daisy."

Whether she recognized my voice or because I called her name, Daisy, who had been half in a daze, slowly lifted her head.

"Evangeline... Young Lady. How... how are you here...?"

She was trembling last time too, and she's still trembling. Just how awful was Evangeline's personality before I possessed her? She just traumatized a perfectly normal person.

It's sad that cleaning up the mess is my job.

"I was looking for you."

It's a miracle I actually found her. If I hadn't come with Jelly, I would have gone to the innocent orphanage and waited, while Daisy would have sat in the rain all day. This is why romance novel protagonists go astray uncontrollably with one wrong step. I really felt the reality of being in a romance novel world.

Now I need to persuade Daisy skillfully to make her talk. First, I should get her in the carriage and take her to the Rohanson mansion instead.

I was about to help her up when Daisy suddenly grabbed my skirt tightly.

"I have a favor to ask. You said you'd grant a wish."

What? Ah. I definitely said that before we parted. I was going to compensate for bullying her and make a reasonable agreement to not spread rumors about what Evangeline had done.

I was about to ask what favor, when a good idea suddenly occurred to me. Actually, not good - a bad idea.

I was going to propose first, but Daisy said she had a favor to ask first. Plus, she already badmouthed me to Gabriel and Henna, so the scales are unbalanced.

So instead of granting a wish unconditionally, I should say I'll grant her wish if she tells me what she said to those two.

"Yes. But there will be a price."

It felt like I was finally living up to the Evangeline name after a long time. I abandoned my conscience long ago, so I'm fine with it.

"You know what I want, right?"

As if she would know. I was just asking her to answer anything. Evangeline would obviously want something like vast amounts of gold coins! Become my servant! That sort of thing. So I'd pretend to want something big, then reduce the scale later and ask her to tell me about the conversation, making her think this much is reasonable and spill everything!

"I'll... I'll give myself to you."

*cough* I almost choked without having eaten anything. That... that is big too.

Why is Daisy, who's still afraid of me, saying she'll give herself to me? Don't tell me the suspension bridge effect got mixed with romance novel devices.

"So please, please help me."

I couldn't tell if Daisy's face was wet from rain or tears. Her desperate voice made the words I was about to say disappear.

"Alright, fine. I'll help you."

I reached out my hand, telling her to grab it and get up. After hesitating briefly, Daisy took my hand.

"First, get in the carriage."

Daisy, who got into the carriage, looked shocked at seeing Kanna, and when she saw Jelly, she seemed to have no strength left to be more surprised and sat quietly in the corner.

Kanna also glanced at Daisy sideways, then bustled about when she saw me following in.

"Oh my, you're all wet."

I just had a few drops on me, but Daisy looked like she'd just been pulled out of water. It seems like Kanna is treating Daisy coldly because of what Daisy said to Henna, which made Henna's condition worse.

When Kanna took the fur coat Jelly was wearing to give to me, I put it on Daisy instead. When Jelly saw his coat pass through several hands and eventually reach Daisy, he laughed bitterly.

"Hey, your good times are over now too."

"Shut up, Jelly."

What? Did I mishear? I looked at Kanna in surprise, but she was acting innocent as if she'd never said such harsh words. I... I must have misheard.

"Long time no see?"

Jelly called out to Daisy. It felt thrilling, like watching someone else's romance firsthand. Daisy didn't respond.

"Are you ignoring me after what we've been through?"

What we've been through! What we've been through! I pretended not to be interested in the two while focusing all my attention on them.

"There's not really anything between us."

"We held hands and ran away together, didn't we?"

"Who held hands...!"

Daisy was about to shout loudly but closed her mouth. I was worried last time because Daisy was so scared, but seeing them now, they really seem like a perfect sub-couple combination. A sulking female character and a sly male character? It's a combination with a long history.

I expected them to continue bickering, but since Daisy kept her mouth shut, the conversation couldn't progress, so I decided to get to the main point.

"So what's this favor?"

Daisy clenched her clasped hands tightly.

"I'm... an orphan."

This must be about revealing Daisy's backstory and bringing her closer to Jelly. It's progressing smoothly even with my interference.

"I was abandoned when I was too young to remember and grew up in an orphanage. Fortunately, the director was a good person, so even now that I'm independent, I sometimes visit the orphanage to see the director."

Since I heard all this information beforehand by threatening the butler, I don't know how to react. If I say I investigated her background, I'll be despised for being truly villainess-like. Let me just keep quiet and pretend I don't know.

"So I visited the orphanage today too, but everyone at the orphanage had disappeared."

What's that? Why is there suddenly a missing persons case in a romance novel?

I do have one guess. Daisy and Jelly escaped from slave traders. There's a concern that an incident could happen again using that plot.

"Young Lady, this is my wish. Please bring back the director and the children."

"Wow, sounds troublesome just hearing about it."

I want to shut Jelly's mouth! Why are you trampling on the romance route that was progressing so well?

No, thinking about it, even though Daisy's story is deep, the heroine is Kanna. Sub-couples only get together in the latter half, so it's natural he's not interested yet. Jelly, you'll regret this bitterly later.

"Alright. I'll find them."

I glared at Jelly while answering instead. Jelly is a freeloader at our house anyway, so he has to do what I tell him to. Don't complain about being overworked - I'm doing this all for your future.

Since I ruined Kanna's romance route, I want to at least properly pair up the sub-couple. I'll find the most amazing person in this world and pair them with Kanna. Gabriel is tied to my lifeline, so...

But would Kanna even want romance? Looking at what she's doing now, she seems like the original heroine who got entangled with the villainess and goes around shouting "Friendship over love!"

"Do you have any guesses?"

"Troy."

"Troy?"

There was a possibility it was the same place as the slave trader who had captured Daisy. That's why I asked if she had any guesses, but suddenly a person's name came up. Is that the slave trader's name?

"He's the director's son. Her biological son. That bastard must have done something to the director and the children."

Daisy went on to explain about Troy.

The kind director's son had been nasty and cranky since childhood. Since the director loved not only her own child but other children equally, he was particularly prone to an inferiority complex.

He especially didn't hesitate to use violence against children the director cared about.

"Once he poured hot stew on the arm of a friend who was about to be adopted, leaving a scar and eventually causing the adoption to be canceled."

He would bully chubby kids by calling them pigs and preventing them from eating, and if there were opportunities to catch the eye of volunteering nobles, he tried to take them all for himself.

"And he said it was okay for him to do this because he was the director's son. No matter how much the director scolded him, he wouldn't change."

What kind of trash exists in this world?

"When he got a bit older, the director and children couldn't stand it anymore and kicked him out. But even after that, he kept coming back causing disturbances, saying to stop 'this kind of thing' and demanding they close the orphanage."

And given romance novel logic, Troy was probably closely related to the slave traders. Maybe Troy was involved in the disappearance of the children from Daisy's orphanage too.

Wait for me, Troy. I've never seen your face, but I'll let you taste a villainess-style iron hammer.